The Sound of Sirens
David Carter
Author Bio
David Carter is based on the south coast of England at Christchurch in Dorset, and this is his eighth book. He writes both fiction and non fiction, while his syndicated articles have been read more than a quarter of a million times.
His new detective novel “The Sound of Sirens” is out now in paperback and on Kindle, and he is already working on the next Inspector Walter Darriteau murder mystery.
His previous release was the contemporary love story “The Life and Loves of Gringo Greene”, while the one before that was “The Murder Diaries – Seven Times Over” which introduced readers to David’s detective, Inspector Walter Darriteau.
David is also planning to write a sequel to “Gringo Greene” after receiving many requests to do so, although as he says, it is much more likely to be a prequel.
Besides writing, David is also an active and busy bookseller with several online stores, and currently has more than 12,000 titles in the house.
As he says: he sells books every day of the year, including Christmas Day, though they are more often other people’s titles than his own.
“The Sound of Sirens” and “The Life and Loves of Gringo Greene” may well change all that!
Description
“The Sound of Sirens” is the latest case for David Carter’s black detective, Walter Darriteau. It is set in and around the ancient city of Chester in the north-west of England.
It is Friday, a hot summer night and the pubs are just about to close. The bar’s still packed, pretty girls in short skirts, summer frocks, and tight jeans, all out for a good time. Smart guys looking for action, and they are about to see some action too, but not the kind they were hoping for.
A young guy, a boyband look-a-like kind of guy, enters the pub, walks through the crowd to the stage, pulls a gun from his jacket, points it at the lead singer of the band who are just packing away their instruments, and shoots him dead on the spot.
Girls scream, yelling and hollering breaks out, guys take pictures, as the assassin waves his gun at the crowd and walks through the valley of death and out into the balmy night, smirking as he goes.
Inspector Walter Darriteau lives locally and it won’t be long before he is on the scene, and soon after that the local crime reporter, Gardenia Floem, shows up too, poking her nose in, asking questions. Nice woman, smart clothes, good teeth.
“Is this a drugs related killing?” she asks.
“How the hell would I know,” says Walter, as he turns to his sergeant, Karen Greenwood. “Get her out of here.”
So begins David’s thrilling new murder mystery, “The Sound of Sirens” and no one yet knows that this is only the first of three equally brutal and baffling killings. Walter Darriteau will have his work cut out to track down the killers before they kill again.
“The Sound of Sirens” runs to 325 pages and it is out now in paperback and on Kindle.
“Overall, this is a well-written novel worthy of a writing award—Carter has again demonstrated he’s at the height of his powers, and that there are a lot more awesome things up his sleeve. ‘The Sound of Sirens’ is an absolute page-turner that fans of the genre must not miss. A solid five-star rating for this one.” – Goodreads.com review.
” It’s high calibre writing but then one wouldn’t expect anything less from David Carter. It’s meticulously researched giving substantial historical background particularly to immigrant life and present day cultural integration, which is worth mentioning, though it does not constitute the main focus. Indeed this sense of insight in all its variety permeates and enhances the whole story leaving the reader with a sense of satisfaction from time enjoyed and very well spent in the reading of this book.” – Margaret Henderson Smith – Author of “Amber”.
” David Carter’s writing style is unique and intriguing. Fragmented sentences shouldn’t work in a book, that’s what all writers are taught, but Carter uses them in such a way that his writing has a tempo of its own, much like a familiar song that soothes one’s soul. He masterfully weaves words in and out of the story, planting a perfect picture in the reader’s head.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is fun, exciting, humorous at times, and bloody and shocking in all the right moments. If you’re salivating for a new crime-solving hero, look no further than Inspector Walter Darriteau. ” – Angie Martin – Author of “False Security”.
Book excerpt
The Sound of Sirens
Chapter One
The young man hid in the shadows, cigarette in hand. Moonless night, dry too, a hint of June balminess in the air. He thought he heard someone coming and peeked out from the disused shop entrance. He was right. He had heard someone, but not the man he was waiting for. Pulled back into the shop doorway, took a drag on the fag. The stranger ambled by on the other side of the road, dragged along by a shortsighted Alsatian dog.
There was music in the air, soft rock, slipping from the Friday night pub across the way, drifting down the road, floating across the river, vibrating through the city.
Another man came round the corner. This time, the right man, an older guy wearing an expensive tweed cap, carrying a packet. He walked fast toward the doorway where the young man was taking one last suck on the ciggie, before tossing it to the ground and dancing it out. The older guy stopped in the doorway, right up close, peered through the darkness at the young guy. Said, ‘You ready?’
The young bloke nodded. Didn’t speak.
The older guy handed him the packet. It wasn’t sealed, just folded over at the flap end, and said, ‘It’s the tall white guy, the guitarist, lead singer, you can’t miss him.’
The young bloke grabbed the packet and nodded and said, ‘When do I get paid?’
‘When you deliver the goods.’
‘Tomorrow?’
‘OK, two o’clock, by the clock.’
‘I’ll be there.’
‘Don’t fuck up!’ the old guy said, and he turned around and walked smartly away.
The young guy opened the packet. Took out the handgun. Gleamed in the moonlight. Nice piece. Easy in the hand. Easy on the trigger. Not too large, not too small. Slipped it in the right blouson pocket. Stepped out of the shadows. Headed toward the pub.
The music was getting louder, reaching a climax, the end of the song, the end of the session, it had gone eleven and the live music licence expired at eleven o’clock.
Sissy Burke, the licensee nodded at the boys to stop. She’d already had one warning from the police about over-running, and she didn’t want another. Her licence was at stake.
Sweat was pouring down the lead singer’s face. Half a dozen pretty girls were hanging about, sipping the last of their drinks, glancing at the singer, seeking eye contact, looking for recognition, hoping to get lucky. His straight black hair was sticking together, plastered to his forehead. He was very sweaty, but still cool.
You can read more at David’s website at www.davidcarterbooks.co.uk.
Author Website
http://www.davidcarterbooks.co.uk
Best place to buy your book