📖 Blog Tour ~ EXSILIUM by Alison Morton

27 February 2024

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book
and for inviting me to take part in this blog tour

AD 395. In a Christian Roman Empire, the penalty for holding true to the traditional gods is execution.

Maelia Mitela, her dead husband condemned as a pagan traitor, leaving her on the brink of ruin, grieves for her son lost to the Christians and is fearful of committing to another man.

Lucius Apulius, ex-tribune, faithful to the old gods and fixed on his memories of his wife Julia’s homeland of Noricum, will risk everything to protect his children’s future.

Galla Apulia, loyal to her father and only too aware of not being the desired son, is desperate to escape Rome after the humiliation of betrayal by her feckless husband.

For all of them, the only way to survive is exile.

EXSILIUM is the sequel to JULIA PRIMA and the two books make up the Foundation strand in the Roma Nova series.

Delighted to be able to share an extract from EXSILIUM today

Rome AD 389 at the marriage of Lucius Apulius’s daughter Galla to Proculus

Maelia Mitela narrates.

‘You were lucky to find a traditional priest in this day and age,’ a voice murmured nearby. ‘Risking somebody sneaking to the Christians about him…'

I spun round. Marcellus Varus. But his smile was sympathetic.

‘We had a contact via the Senate, so hopefully, nobody will,’ I said. ‘But it’s only animal sacrifice that’s forbidden, and telling the future.’ I smiled up at his friendly open face. He was a good fifteen years older than me with white wings to the hair above his ears. ‘I don’t think the cook’s honey cakes would offend anybody,’ I continued. He laughed a warm, throaty chuckle. I leant in closer so he could hear my whisper. ‘And the great relief is that we don’t have to stand around looking pious when the haruspex opens the animal up and wriggles his hand around its smelly insides.’

‘Gods, yes.’ He scratched the side of his head and gave a rueful look. ‘I’ll give the Christians that. I don’t like the way things are going, but they have at least stopped those barbaric things from the ancient days.’

‘You’re not… You’re not one of them, are you?’

‘Jupiter, no. Of course not. Where are your wits, my girl? We might deal with them and stop using the gods’ names in their presence, but all that serious praying and submission? And that nonsensical idea of the afterlife. No, I thank you.’

‘I’ve had a few cold looks and one of my friends actually turned her back on me in the baths since Silvanius’s death. She’s now a Christian, I gather, but is no longer a friend,’ I added drily.

‘Ah, Silvanius supported Magnus Maximus?’

‘Yes, he died at Marcellinus’s side at Poetovio.’

‘Ah, I remember now. I’m so sorry.’ He took a sip from his cup. ‘Still a good crowd to celebrate Quintus Apulius’s granddaughter’s marriage. Surprised not to see Symmachus, though.’

‘Lucius invited him for his father’s sake – Quintus and Symmachus are good friends despite the age difference. But giving that eulogy last year to Magnus Maximus in a full Senate session has damned Symmachus. Gaius heard he’d even taken refuge in one of the Christians’ churches, then ridden as if the Furies were after him to his estate in Campania.’

‘Hm. He’s going to have to grovel mightily to keep his head on his shoulders after that. Theodosius won’t forgive that kind of public commitment. He’s probably finished in political life in any case.’

I shivered. If Emperor Theodosius condemned such a respected and powerfully connected man as Quintus Aurelius Symmachus – a former prefect of Rome – then what hope was there that we would survive?

 © Alison Morton, 2024

📖 My Review..

Those readers who follow these historical thrillers will be delighted with EXSILIUM which is the sequel to JULIA PRIMA. It's a thrilling story which takes us back to the very foundations of Roma Nova and into an ancient world which this author recreates so vividly. 

We meet up with Maelia Mitela and Lucius Apulius both characters we have met before but this time their destiny lies in a very different direction. With pagan Gods being replaced by Christian Gods, and with families facing ruin, the old way of life is changing, and with this change comes intrigue, and danger, especially for those who find that their futures are becoming more and more uncertain. Moving from an old way of life and into exile is never easy and yet the author describes everything so vividly I felt like I travelled with them on their epic journey as they face the perils and pitfalls of moving into the unknown. Strong female characters find their rightful place in this Roma Nova world and it has been a real delight to see them flourish and progress in this new world.

With a thrilling historical adventure at its core EXSILIUM has a strong story-line with equally strong characters. Beautifully written, and authentically researched, the author recreates this ancient world with imaginative flair bringing time, place and people to life in glorious detail. It's been a real pleasure to follow the Roma Nova series from the beginning and now with JULIA PRIMA and  EXSILIUM added to the catalogue of stories we have a unique perspective on the foundations of the Roma Nova world.

About the Author

Alison at Virunum
Photo courtesy of the author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. The latest, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the very foundation of Roma Nova.

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit.

Social media links

Connect with Alison on her thriller site: here

Facebook author page: here

X/Twitter:    @alison_morton

Alison’s writing blog: here

Instagram: here

Goodreads: here

Threads: here

Alison’s Amazon page: here

Newsletter sign-up: here

Buying links for EXSILIUM:

Amazon: here (universal link)

Other retailers: here 

📖 Featured Book ~ Tenth Anniversary Edition INCEPTIO by Alison Morton

 

Ten years ago when Jaffareadstoo was in its infancy I was approached by Alison Morton to read the first book in her proposed series of historical thrillers set in the alternate world of Roma Nova. Six full length novels, four audio books and a set of short stories later, the first book in the series, INCEPTIO is now celebrating a special anniversary. 

To help celebrate INCEPTIO's 10th birthday today, the author, Alison Morton has published a special edition hardback.

“It's about Roman blood, survival and money. Mostly yours."

In an alternative New York, Karen Brown is running for her life. She makes a snap decision to flee to Roma Nova - her dead mother's homeland, the last remnant of the Roman Empire in the 21st century. But can Karen tough it out in such an alien culture? And with a crazy killer determined to terminate her for a very personal reason?

Stifled by the protective cocoon of her Roma Novan family, deceived by her new lover, she propels herself into a dangerous mission. But then the killer sets a trap - she must sacrifice herself for another - and she sees no escape.

A thriller laced with romance and coming of age, this first in series is Roman fiction brought into the 21st century through the lens of alternative history and driven by a female protagonist with heart and courage.

This 10th Anniversary hardback edition includes bonus content: Three character ‘conversations’, two short stories and the story behind INCEPTIO.

You can read Alison's thoughts about this special anniversary here 

Here's my review of INCEPTIO from back in 2013...

In present day New York, Karen Brown’s daily life is starting to unravel. When inexplicable events shake the very foundations of her world, she at first disbelieves what is happening around her. However, after a failed kidnap attempt, Karen is advised to flee to her dead mother’s homeland, but even as the mysterious Roma Nova offers a sanctuary, it also opens more questions than answers. The action is fast and furious, and soon Karen finds that she is drawn into a dangerous set of circumstances, which will test her endurance to limit and which will force her to question the structure of her belief.

What then follows is a well written and decidedly competent alternate history novel which draws you in from the very beginning and which offers an intriguing look at Roma Nova, a world which has been ruled by women for the past sixteen centuries, and whose secret anonymity comes alive on the page. Alternate history is a fascinating concept, and yet can so easily become a minefield of improbability, where the world within a world being created can become a mere parody of what is real. However, I had no such issues with Inceptio, which thanks to the author’s skill, Roma Nova and its role in the world, soon became a real and very authentic place.

I think that this is one of those books you could so easily miss, particularly if alternate history is not your genre, but you would be missing out on a real treat. It is ideal escapism, with the ingredients of history, mystery and romance expertly combined to form a well balanced and perfectly presented start to a promising series.

About the Author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue. INCEPTIO starts the adventure...

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading historical, crime and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Six full-length Roma Nova novels, including INCEPTIO, have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selected SUCCESSIO as Editor’s Choice in its inaugural indie review. The Historical Novel Society recently selected JULIA PRIMA, the first Foundation story set in the 4th century, the accolade of Editors’ Choice.

Alison lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

Website 

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Twitter @alison_morton #10YearsINCEPTIO

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📖 Blog Tour ~JULIA PRIMA by Alison Morton

 

2022

My thanks to the author for the invitation to read this book

“You should have trusted me. You should have given me a choice.”

AD 370, Roman frontier province of Noricum. Neither wholly married nor wholly divorced, Julia Bacausa is trapped in the power struggle between the Christian church and her pagan ruler father.

Tribune Lucius Apulius’s career is blighted by his determination to stay faithful to the Roman gods in a Christian empire. Stripped of his command in Britannia, he’s demoted to the backwater of Noricum – and encounters Julia. 

Unwittingly, he takes her for a whore. When confronted by who she is, he is overcome with remorse and fear. Despite this disaster, Julia and Lucius are drawn to one another by an irresistible attraction. 

But their intensifying bond is broken when Lucius is banished to Rome. Distraught, Julia gambles everything to join him. Following her heart’s desire brings danger she could never have envisaged…

Lucius and Julia...maybe ?

Huge thanks to Alison Morton for the invitation to be part of this blog tour today and for the opportunity to share a tantalising excerpt from JULIA PRIMA...

From Chapter 1 – Julia is simply dressed for supervising the household making the inventory, and has hurried down to the town market. There, she has a fateful encounter.

Weaving between ambulant hawkers with trays suspended from their necks, I nearly tripped over a pile of metal vessels and tools. Why they had to cover half the street with their goods, I didn’t know. One hot-food trader stirred the contents of a large cauldron suspended over a fire and steaming in the chill, partly tempered by the spring sun. Next to him, a pie and sausage man who wiped his nose on his sleeve. Ugh. More permanent stalls were set up under awnings strung between stakes in the ground. Towards the centre, shops had disgorged onto the pavement and even into the street. The bread and vegetable vendors displaying their produce on wooden tables were more circumspect. At least I didn’t have to make a detour round them like the dratted shoe seller who had set out wooden benches for his customers and marked out his place of sale with curtains hung between columns.

And did they all have to shout so loudly and wave their arms about so much? Along with the chickens squawking, mules braying and children shrieking, my head was fit to burst. At last, it quietened as I reached the crafts and household goods area. Fine pottery, leather and beadwork; one tribesman with curly blond hair and a friendly smile was selling beautifully worked fibula brooches and belt buckles.

At last, I found the Gaul in front of a small glassware shop at the end of the row. The leather cover of the cart behind him was half drawn up to display stacks of redware, bedded in wooden frames lined with straw, but on the table in front of him were the best.

The redware was beautiful; exquisite figures chased one another on the widest part of one serving bowl, another showed a hunting scene with hare and hounds that my father would love. I stayed silent, picking up each piece, examining it slowly and putting it back. He shuffled behind his counter watching intently. Did he think I was going to steal it?

When I stopped and looked him direct in the eye, his face was expressionless. But I decided I would take the two serving dishes, a dozen of the cups and half that number of small bowls and plates. In the end, I relieved the Gaul’s agony, gave the order and told him to deliver them to the service area of the palace.

‘And who are you to give me orders?’ He looked me up and down. ‘I’ll deal with your steward. You run back and get him.’ He flicked his hand at me.

‘How dare you! Do you know who I am?’

‘No, but I know more than to go on a fool’s errand started by some kitchen wench.’ He wiped his hand on his checked tunic and turned towards a newcomer – the new Roman officer. A tall man, he must have been several years older than me, possibly in his late twenties. His face tight with anger above his red neck scarf and scale armour shirt. His boots were dusty as were his breeches. He walked a little wide as if chafed from being on his horse all day. He stopped, set one hand on his belt, the other on the pommel of his short sword. He glanced at the Gaul, then turned his gaze on me. Brown eyes, reflecting the pale light.

Something twisted inside me, immobilised my breath, then settled in my core. Perhaps a meeting of something familiar, a recognition. He didn’t move, just stared at me. I returned the stare. I couldn’t find a word to say. Heat crept up my neck and into my face. Venus Suleviae, he must have thought I was half-witted.

Eventually, he moved, pointing at the Gaul.

‘Is this man cheating you?’

‘What business is it of yours?’ It was out before I could think.

‘None,’ he said, frowning. He looked at me again, then turned away.

Oh, gods, I had behaved like a true barbarian and was ashamed. And he was walking away from me. I had to stop him.

‘Wait, Roman.’

He walked on, ignoring me.

Please, Great Mother, make him stop.

‘I said wait!’ I cried after him.

He walked on. I knew I’d been rude, but he could at least stop and let me apologise. He didn’t need to be so uncivil, even for a soldier. I hastened after him, determined to make him hear me. Nobody turns his back and walks away from me.

When I caught up with him, I seized his arm. He instantly grabbed his sword pommel. The gladius was halfway out of the scabbard by the time he saw it was me. He released it, then looked at my hand on his forearm as if it were a viper about to bite.

‘How dare you touch me!’ He looked at me as if I were the meanest drudge. ‘Remove your hand or I’ll have you whipped.’

‘You can’t,’ I retorted. ‘You have no right.’

‘We’ll see about that.’ He went to raise his hand – to summon some of his men, I supposed – then he let his hand drop. His eyes gleamed and he looked down his Roman nose. I caught my breath and tipped my chin up at him. I knew my face was flushed – I could feel the heat – but I was going to teach him a lesson. When he found out who he’d insulted he’d be broken and sent back to Rome in disgrace. I opened my mouth to tell him exactly what his fate was going to be, but as he prised my fingers off his arm they tingled. The rough skin on his hand chafed my softer one. My fingers were jammed together but I hardly noticed. Before I could protest, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him. Gods, he was strong. His arm slid round the back of my waist, and he crushed me against his body. Solid, unyielding. He smelt of horse, a day’s sweat and pine resin. His eyes narrowed then gleamed again. His breath shortened.

I should have struggled, but I didn’t want to. His other hand gripped my buttock. I stared into his eyes. I was lost.

📖 My Review..

It’s AD 370 and Julia Bacausa lives with her father in the Roman province of Noricum, neither married nor divorced, Julia has a modicum of freedom which is unusual for a woman of her noble status. However, it is this very freedom which leads her to an unexpected meeting with the tribune Lucius Apulius and a connection that will alter the course of their lives forever. As the cherished daughter of a local prince Julia is used to a life of power and privilege but when danger and intrigue beckon she has no hesitation in following her heart.

Beautifully recreating the dying days of the Roman Empire, the rise of emerging Christianity and the role of women in Roman society we follow Julia as she embarks on an eventful journey from Noricum to Rome with only a couple of servants to protect her from harm. Thanks to impeccable research the Roman world, with all its faults, foibles and failings comes to vibrant life, add into the mix a vengeful enemy who is determined to track Julia down and you have the perfect ingredients necessary for an exciting historical adventure.

Those who are familiar with the Roma Nova world, which this author has so lovingly created, will be just as excited as I was to go back to the very foundations of this dynasty to discover an ancient world which smoulders with passion and is alive with intrigue and danger.

🍷Best Read with… an earthenware mug of honeyed wine

About the Author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

Follow Alison on Social Media

Connect with Alison on her Roma Nova site: click here

Facebook author page: click here

Twitter: click here @alison_morton

Alison’s writing blog: click here

Instagram: click here 

Goodreads: click here

Alison’s Amazon page: click here

Newsletter sign-up: click here

 Thank you for joining us on the JULIA PRIMA Blog Tour Today

📖 Book Review ~ Double Pursuit by Alison Morton

 

Pulcheria Press
19 October 2021

Mélisende Thrillers #2

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

She's hunting arms smugglers. But who is hunting her?

One dead body, two badly injured operatives and five crates of hijacked rifles.

In Rome, former French special forces intelligence analyst Mélisende des Pittones is frustrated by obnoxious local cops and ruthless thugs. Despite the backing of the powerful European Investigation and Regulation Service, her case is going nowhere. Then an unknown woman tries to blow her head off.

As Mel and fellow investigator Jeff McCracken attempt to get a grip on the criminal network as well as on their own unpredictable relationship, all roads point to the place she dreads - the arid and remote African Sahel - where she was once betrayed and nearly died. Can Mel conquer her fear as she races to smash the network and save her colleague's life?

📖 My Thoughts..

We originally met with Mélisende des Pittones in the first book in this series so we know that she is a highly motivated special intelligence analyst currently attached to the European Investigation and Regulation Service based in Brussels.  In Double Pursuit we meet up with Mel in Rome where she has been assigned to a complex investigation which, in the first few pages, sees her come into contact with some rather nefarious characters, who are definitely working on the wrong side of the law. With the circumstances stacked heavily against her, Mélisende needs to keep one step ahead of those who wish to do her harm, and as tensions run high, and danger is ever present, she soon discovers just who is on her side.

I was a bit alarmed at the start of the novel to see Mel paired with a new intelligence officer and hoped that we hadn't seen the last of Mel's love interest from the previous book. I needn't have worried as Jeff McCracken is definitely back, and who, it must be said, has his own share of the adventure. Throughout the story there is a distinctly European feel which makes for fascinating reading. I particularly enjoy seeing where the fast action of the story takes us, from the mean and moody streets of Rome, to the aridness of the African Sahel, there is never a moment when the plot, the place and the people don't draw you into a world of deadly deals and even deadlier resolutions.

The author is so skillful in bringing these highly complex thrillers to life. Her impeccable research shows in the way that everything feels scarily realistic, and even though Mel gets into more scrapes than an all action hero there is a definite likability to her character which keeps you turning the pages faster and faster just to see what happens next for this feisty heroine.

It is possible to read Double Pursuit as a stand alone story however, as with any series it is better to start at the beginning as that way you see the characters grow and evolve especially in the case of Mel's complicated feelings for Jeff McCracken. One thing is guaranteed with any novel by this talented author, there is a never a dull moment in any of her complex and highly original stories. I am sure we will see more from Mélisende des Pittones in future thrilling adventures.

About the Author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

She blends her deep love of France with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of the heroine of her latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

Twitter @alison_morton

Website

📖 Author Interview ~ Alison Morton

 

 I'm delighted to welcome back to the blog author, Alison Morton

Alison it's such a pleasure to have you as our guest today

Where did you get the inspiration for Double Pursuit?

Well, the first book Double Identity was written in reply to a challenge by Conn Iggulden, the historical fiction author. While he’d endorsed INSURRECTIO, one of my Roma Nova thrillers, he (strongly) suggested I have a go at a contemporary thriller. So I did.

Readers (and reviewers!) seemed to like Double Identity and urged me to write a sequel. For myself, I really wanted to know what was next, professionally and personally, for Mel and Jeff.

How does Double Pursuit fit in with the previous book in the series?

Although it follows Double Identity chronologically, it’s written as a standalone. I dislike cliff-hangers or books written as episodes, so each story must be properly resolved. I wrote a short prequel to Double Identity (The Sand Beneath Her Feet) while drafting Double Pursuit and that links in with events in both books, but none of them is dependent on any of the others. (Readers can get a short copy of The Sand Beneath Her Feet free if they sign up to my newsletter.)

The second book in a series is sometimes considered more difficult to write – were there any challenges with this book, and if so, can you tell us how you overcame them?

Although I was familiar with military procedures and weapons, I had to research additional things such as shipping, the French presence in the Sahel in Africa, the Belgian military and the Italian police. Mel’s employer, the European Investigation and Regulation Service (EIRS) is tasked with the difficult, awkward or near impossible cases, so they often look into murky parts of life – more research!

You seem to have a penchant for feisty, female lead characters, is there anything of you in Mélisende des Pittones?

Apart from saying I had six years in uniform in a specialist unit, I couldn’t possibly comment!

Your writing is very atmospheric – how do you ‘set the scene’ in your novels and how much research did you need to do in order to bring this series to life?

Thank you! I’m a ‘picture person’ so I visualise the scene in my mind and my fingers have to type furiously to keep up as I try to put the scene into words on the screen. I will have read up about the places if I don’t know them, plus here I must confess to using Google street view to walk/drive down places I don’t know.

What characteristics do you think make a good fictional detective and equally, what makes a good fictional villain?

They both have to be unique characters with plenty of quirks. Similarly, they’re probably both very determined. A fictional investigator must be persistent, dogged even, and not deterred from using their imagination as well as their logical brain. A villain must demonstrate a motivation a reader can understand such as envy, greed, resentment, insecurity, perhaps emotionally scarred, vain or neglected; they can’t just be ‘bad’ or ‘evil’.

Tell us about your writing day – are you disciplined, strictly 9 til 5, or are you more of a have a cup of tea and think about it sort of writer?

I’m a ‘fits and starts’ writer and tea flows throughout the day. I try to write in the morning, and sometimes I’m back at the keyboard in the evening. It depends on whether the characters are running around in my brain, hammering on the inside of my skull desperate to get out.

Can you tell us if you have another novel planned in this series?

I’m pretty sure there will be at least a third one, but not until next year. I have half a Roma Nova book drafted, the story of Julia Bacausa and Lucius Apulius meeting in the late fourth century leading to the foundation of Roma Nova.

Published 19 October

She’s hunting arms smugglers. But who is hunting her?

One dead body, two badly injured operatives and five crates of hijacked rifles.

In Rome, former French special forces intelligence analyst Mélisende des Pittones is frustrated by obnoxious local cops and ruthless thugs. Despite the backing of the powerful European Investigation and Regulation Service, her case is going nowhere. Then an unknown woman tries to blow her head off.

As Mel and fellow investigator Jeff McCracken attempt to get a grip on the criminal network as well as on their own unpredictable relationship, all roads point to the place she dreads – the arid and remote African Sahel – where she was once betrayed and nearly died. Can Mel conquer her fear as she races to smash the network and save her colleague’s life?

 

About the Author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

She blends her deep love of France with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of the heroine of her latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

Twitter @alison_morton

Website

Buying links

Kindle

Kobo 

Apple

B&N Nook

Books2Read

Paperback

Thanks so much Alison for being such a super guest today.

Happy writing.

📖 Book Review ~ Double Identity by Alison Morton

 

Pulcheria Press
January 2021

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

Deeply in love, a chic Parisian lifestyle before her. Now she’s facing prison for murder.

It’s three days since Mel des Pittones threw in her job as an intelligence analyst with the French special forces to marry financial trader Gérard Rohlbert. But her dream turns to nightmare when she wakes to find him dead in bed beside her.

Her horror deepens when she’s accused of his murder. Met Police detective Jeff McCracken wants to pin Gérard’s death on her. Mel must track down the real killer, even if that means being forced to work with the obnoxious McCracken.

But as she unpicks her fiancé’s past, she discovers his shocking secret life. To get to the truth, she has to go undercover with the European Investigation and Regulation Service and finds almost everybody around her is hiding a second self.

Mel can trust nobody. Can she uncover the real killer before they stop her?

📖 My thoughts..

Mélisande des Pittones wakes in a London hotel with her dead fiancé in the bed beside her. As the last person to see Gérard Rohlbert alive Mel is under suspicion of causing his death and the British police will stop at nothing to lay the blame on her. However, when they they realise that there is far more to Rohlbert's death than at first appears, the police investigative team make the decision to utilise Mel's exemplary military background, as an ex-member of the French special forces, to move the investigation forward.

Anyone who has read Alison Morton's Roma Nova series will be aware of just how good she is at creating strong and decisive female characters and in Mélisande des Pittones she gives us a capable and determined protagonist who knows her own mind, and who won't be bullied by men of rank. That she is grieving for the loss of her fiancé is evident at the start of the story but as the many twists and turns in the plot start to get underway, so Mel begins to doubt if in fact she ever really knew the complexity of Gérard Rohlbert's true character. 

Setting the story primarily in London gives the book a good starting a point, especially pairing Mel with DS McCracken, a typical British police detective, but I think the strength of Double Identity lies in the way the plot encompasses both British and European surveillance and takes this clever, crime thriller from London and into Europe with seamless precision.

Double Identity is the first in a proposed new series of crime thrillers by this talented author and it certainly gets the series off to a cracking start. The pace is fast and furious, the characters both likeable and detestable in equal measure and the complex, and decidedly dangerous, plot kept me guessing from start to finish. I look forward to meeting up with Mélisande des Pittones, and hopefully, DS McCracken, in future crime thrillers.

 

About the Author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers series featuring tough, but compassionate heroines. She blends her deep love of France with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical, adventure and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

"Grips like a vice - a writer to watch out for" says crime thriller writer Adrian Magson about Roma Nova series starter INCEPTIO. All six full-length Roma Nova thrillers have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selected SUCCESSIO as Editor’s Choice in its inaugural indie review.

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, where part of Double Identity is set and is writing a sequel as well as continuing her Roma Nova series.

CONNECT WITH ALISON:

Connect with Alison on her thriller site: https://alison-morton.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alison_morton @alison_morton 

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/ckNeFL

📖 Double Mirror Blog Tour with Alison Morton and Helen Hollick

 

 📖 Delighted to host a stop on this blog tour 📖 

 

Thank you, Jo, for hosting a stop on our joint tour around the blogs. We thought that, as we are about halfway through the tour, your readers would be interested to hear a little about the supporting characters in our newly released mystery/thrillers Double Identity by Alison Morton and A Mirror Murder by Helen Hollick. You start, Alison... 

ALISON MORTON – DOUBLE IDENTITY 

My main character is Mélisende des Pittones, known as Mel, 29, daughter of a French father and English mother and has just left her French Army job as an intelligence analyst in a special forces team. She’s well educated and from a privileged background and chose to enter the French army at 18 rather than pursue her studies. She’s been on some gritty and extremely dangerous missions in French-speaking parts of the world, but tends to keep it all shut away in a different part of her mind. 

At the start of Double Identity, she’s engaged to marry Gérard Rohlbert, who has been working in the City of London. But sadly, Mel’s future life with her perfect partner, living a Parisian metropolitan lifestyle, possibly with children, is wrecked on page 1. 

The investigating officer is DS Jeff McCracken, 37, an inch or two taller than Mel; well built without being overweight; dark brown hair in a conservative/classic style; grey eyes. Cynical and intelligent, he’s an ex-council estate boy who’s shucked off the petty criminal environment of his youth and worked tenaciously to achieve a solid reputation for success. 

He appears to be no respecter of persons – he doesn’t rate ‘posh birds’ like Mélisende. He seems as crackly as his name but he’s not quite the rough diamond he likes to project… 

Both Mel and McCracken are intelligent, competent and persistent; his problem is his mouth, hers is attitude, coupled with a secret dread of failure. He mistrusts her methods and must learn to appreciate and respect a colleague with different expertise and professional background. She must acknowledge that not everybody is honest, even her adored, now dead, fiancé, or as stubborn and insensitive as McCracken appears to be. 

Whether they survive working together when forced to, let alone liking each other, is anybody’s guess. 

📖 A taster excerpt… 

‘What sort of a name is Mellysand?’ 

She clutched the bathrobe tighter and braced her legs to steady her balance. This was surreal. Gérard was dead and they suspected her. Why? How was she supposed to have done it? She shook her head which seemed full of mush thumping to escape. 

‘It’s pronounced “Mél-i-send-uh”,’ she said. ‘And it’s the name I was given by my parents.’ 

‘Not very English, is it?’ 

Le bon Dieu save me from these parochial Brits, she thought. And this cop was even worse than most. He didn’t look like one either in his jeans, tan leather jacket, unshaven and with a single earring. But his warrant card looked genuine, and the two uniformed police outside had let him in. 

‘You got any ID?’ he barked. 

Mel pulled a pale turquoise and blue card with her photo and signature out of her purse and offered it to him. 

‘French?’ He frowned, flicked it over to the other side, then back. ‘You don’t sound very French.’ 

‘That’s where I was born. My mother is English.’ 

‘What are you doing here?’ 

‘Visiting friends and doing some shopping.’ 

‘I’ll need a list of those friends and dates.’ 

‘Why? Am I under suspicion?’ 

The cop looked down at the bed, duvet pulled back, bottom sheet stained by body fluids. 

‘When there’s a dead man in your bed and you were presumably the last person to see him alive, let’s say you’re at least a person of interest.’ 

Who is your main character’s ‘opposite’, Helen? 

HELEN HOLLICK - A MIRROR MURDER 

Several characters from A Mirror Murder will appear throughout the (planned) series set in the 1970s. Eighteen-year-old Jan Christopher takes the lead role, her father died when she was young, so her guardians are her Aunt Madge and her uncle, DCI Toby Christopher. (Jan is short for January... she rarely uses her full name!) She meets her uncle’s new Detective Constable, Laurie Walker, one rainy Friday evening when they pick her from her place of work, a North London branch library. For Laurie and Jan, it is love at first sight. 

Jan is quite a shy person, whereas Laurie, being a DC, is more sure of himself, but he still has a lot to learn. He had transferred to Hackney, London, from North Devon in order to gain more experience – as he says, there is not a lot to learn in rural Devon where the most notable crime of the month is someone stealing a village noticeboard. He finds the East London suburb to be very different, however, with colleagues more intent on getting results than arresting the right culprit, where racism and sexism run alongside bullying and corruption. He therefore jumps at the chance to transfer again to a different suburb, Chingford, which is on the border of Epping Forest and Essex. 

Nowadays, Chingford is a busy town, but back in the ’70s it still had an air of the countryside, which Laurie discovered was more to his liking, especially when his new Guv, DCI Christopher, turned out to be ‘one of the good guys’ and an excellent copper. 

I have based Laurie Walker on a variety of TV cops, but most notably Lewis, when he was Morse’s sergeant, and DS Hathaway from the Lewis series itself. I want him to be likeable and competent, devoted to his job, but even more devoted to Jan, although I intend for their relationship to not always be plain sailing as the series develops! There will be bumps in the roads ahead! 

📖 A taster excerpt… 

My uncle settled himself in the front passenger seat and waved his hand informally at the young man sitting behind the steering wheel. “This is my new temporary Detective Constable,” he said. “DC Lawrence Walker, meet my niece, Jan Christopher.” 

I smiled, and DC Walker turned round to smile back and hold out his hand for me to shake. 

“Pleased to meet you, miss.” He had a nice voice, with a slight accent, which I couldn’t place. 

“And you, Detective Constable!” 

“Where do we take the young lady, sir?” he asked, smiling into the mirror so I could see his grey eyes shining at me. 

“Oh, Jan lives with my good lady wife and myself,” my uncle explained. “Has done ever since her father, my brother, passed away.” 

Walker’s smile wavered slightly into a small frown. 

Don’t say it I thought. Don’t say that you’ve heard of my dad, DI Christopher, who was shot dead by a person or persons unknown when I was a child. To ensure he didn’t, I said quickly, “Anyone ever told you that you look like Cary Grant?” 

DC Walker laughed, “Grant in his younger years, I hope! But yes, I’m told it often. It’s the cleft in my chin that does it, I think.” 

* * * 

ALISON MORTON – DOUBLE IDENTITY 

Deeply in love, a chic Parisian lifestyle before her. Now she’s facing prison for murder. 

It’s three days since Mel des Pittones threw in her job as an intelligence analyst with the French special forces to marry financial trader Gérard Rohlbert. But her dream turns to nightmare when she wakes to find him dead in bed beside her. 

Her horror deepens when she’s accused of his murder. Met Police detective Jeff McCracken wants to pin Gérard’s death on her. Mel must track down the real killer, even if that means being forced to work with the obnoxious McCracken. 

But as she unpicks her fiancé’s past, she discovers his shocking secret life. To get to the truth, she has to go undercover and finds almost everybody around her is hiding a second self. Mel can trust nobody. Can she uncover the real killer before they stop her? 

A stunning new thriller from the author of the award-winning Roma Nova series, fans of Daniel Silva, Stella Rimington and Chris Pavone will love Double Identity. 

Buying links

Kindle: https://mybook.to/DoubleIdentity (ASIN: B08P5YD3CN) 

For all ebook and paperback retailers: https://bit.ly/3s0XUlV

HELEN HOLLICK - A MIRROR MURDER 

The first in a new series of cosy mysteries set in the 1970s... Will romance blossom between library assistant Jan Christopher and DC Laurie Walker – or will a brutal murder intervene? 

Eighteen-year-old library assistant Jan Christopher’s life is to change on a rainy Friday evening in July 1971, when her legal guardian and uncle, DCI Toby Christopher, gives her a lift home after work. Driving the car, is her uncle’s new Detective Constable, Laurie Walker – and it is love at first sight for the young couple. 

But romance is soon to take a back seat when a baby boy is taken from his pram, a naked man is scaring young ladies in nearby Epping Forest, and an elderly lady is found, brutally murdered... Are the events related? How will they affect the staff and public of the local library where Jan works – and will a blossoming romance survive a police investigation into murder? 

Buying link: 

Amazon Author Page (Universal Link) http://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

ABOUT ALISON 

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers series featuring tough, but compassionate heroines. She blends her deep love of France with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical, adventure and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history. 

"Grips like a vice - a writer to watch out for" says crime thriller writer Adrian Magson about Roma Nova series starter INCEPTIO. All six full-length Roma Nova thrillers have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selected SUCCESSIO as Editor’s Choice in its inaugural indie review. 

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, where part of Double Identity is set and is writing a sequel as well as continuing her Roma Nova series. 

CONNECT WITH ALISON:

Connect with Alison on her thriller site: https://alison-morton.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alison_morton @alison_morton 

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/ckNeFL

ABOUT HELEN 

Helen and her family moved from north-east London in January 2013 after finding an eighteenth-century North Devon farmhouse through BBC TV’s popular Escape To The Country show. 

First accepted for publication by William Heinemann in 1993 – a week after her fortieth birthday – Helen then became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she also writes a pirate-based nautical adventure/fantasy series, The Sea Witch Voyages. 

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She also runs Discovering Diamonds, a review blog for historical fiction. She is currently writing more Voyages for the Sea Witch series and the next in the Jan Christopher Mysteries series. She has other ideas for other tales – and would like the time to write them! 

CONNECT WITH HELEN: 

Website: www.helenhollick.net

Newsletter Subscription: http://tinyletter.com/HelenHollick

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HelenHollickAuthor

Twitter: @HelenHollick

Discovering Diamonds Historical Fiction Review Blog : 

https://discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks so much to Alison and Helen for sharing their exciting new books with us

Follow the blog tour throughout February

#DoubleMirrorTour