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Claire Ladds

Crime and suspense author

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Darker Minds Crime and Suspense

OUT NOW! No Deadlier Time

3rd November 2022 by claireladds Leave a Comment

No Deadlier Time is OUT NOW!

I am thrilled to announce that you can now get your hands on the third book in my Darker minds crime and suspense series. No Deadlier Time, on many of the e-book stores. So if you read your dark and suspenseful fiction from Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and a host of other retailers, you’ll find it, sitting there, lurking, waiting… Or maybe that’s just what the ravens do in this story of murder, mystery, and psychological torment, all tinged with Gothic undertones. But is there a darker force controlling this – or is it all in the mind? I can tell you what each of the main characters think – but that would really spoil the book!

Let me introduce you to the most important people in the story, and see what you make of them.

Who’s who at Ravensmead?

HARRY ELDRITCH

Harry loves his wife, and is devoted to his best friend. Harry is susceptible to superstitions and the like, much to the amusement of his wife, Neve. But he has his reasons for owning a four-leaf clover, not walking under ladders and, in particular, being wary of the ravens and the beliefs that surround them. He left home a long time ago, refusing ever to go back there. But now it looks as if he has no choice. And no choice means fate has claimed him… but what is his fate – and will he survive it?

NEVE ELDRITCH

Neve is Harry’s wife of several years, and has known him since he was introduced to her by Mark Taylor years before. She’s happy, pregnant, and just wants one thing – for Harry to heal the rift between himself and his family. She doesn’t know what went on between them, but when the chance to get Harry back to his family home appears, she thinks this will be the perfect opportunity for them to create the perfect family life at Ravensmead. But she has no idea why Harry left in the first place, or what lies in store for them when they get there. Is reuniting Harry with his family going to be a dream come true or a nightmare waiting to happen?

MARK TAYLOR 

He is Harry’s best friend. Once upon a time he was in a relationship with Neve, but that was a long time ago. But feelings can’t always be buried, can they? His life is currently one of work, takeaways and failed – or more accurately – non-existent relationships. So, when Harry asks him to return to their childhood home of Ravensmead, he can’t think of a single reason why he would want to stay in Oxford on his own – and a number of reasons why going with Harry is the much better option. But is he going so he can help Harry with the business, and give him a shoulder to lean on, or does he have other motives?

JONAH ELDRITCH

He is Harry’s dad and, well, let’s call him a rather unpleasant chap. But he does have his reasons. From childhood, he has been told that his success and his fate lay in the hands – and the ticking – of the watch which has been passed down through his family for generations. We meet him in the prologue as a mesmerised sixteen year old, and in the book ‘proper’ as a 65-year-old man who is determined that his own son will not inherit anything from him (and, in particular, the watch). He is tormented by the darkness he believes comes from the watch, by the ravens which guard (or torment) the house, and by his own dark deeds. And the steps he takes to protect his son… they have consequences.

CLEMENCY ELDRITCH

Clemency is Harry’s mum, but they haven’t seen each other in years. She brought him up in a world of imagination, on the family library full of tales of mythology, folklore and beliefs. How much is fiction, she doesn’t know herself. Her life revolves around this library and her greenhouses, where she grows plants you’d be best not asking about! When she becomes afraid for Jonah, she writes to her estranged son and begs him to return to the family home and live there. But she doesn’t tell him the full story. Just maybe the whole horrific picture hasn’t yet unravelled for her. But it will…

RACHEL HAINES

Mrs Haines, sometimes called Rachel, is one half of the Haines couple who see to everything for the Eldritch household. And I really do mean everything. Rachel looked after Jonah after his father’s death and both she and her husband maintain complete loyalty to the family, no matter what happens. She is the eyes and ears of the house, the one to be trusted to do what’s best for the family, no matter what the cost – and she has her own secrets. In a house like Ravensmead, everyone has secrets. Rachel idolises Harry and there is nothing she wouldn’t do to protect him. Nothing at all…

And what about Ravensmead House itself? Why would Harry not want to return?

[Read more…] about OUT NOW! No Deadlier Time

Filed Under: Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, News Tagged With: crime and mystery fiction, Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, gothic fiction, psychological horror, psychological thriller, suspense fiction

That Killer Image OUT NOW!

11th April 2022 by claireladds

I am delighted to announce that my new suspense novel, That Killer Image is OUT NOW!

Three people. One killer. And a picture that someone will die for.

When Vicky meets Anthony, she sees him as a happy distraction from her claustrophobic relationship with her housemate and self-appointed guardian, Fran.

Anthony already knows Vicky because he has been following her every move. She is perfect for what he needs – a model for the ultimate photo of his life’s work – and he will do anything it takes to get that shot.

But Fran is not so easy to get rid of. Haunted by the disappearance of her sister, and blaming herself, she is desperate not to make the same mistakes again with Vicky. And when push really comes to shove, she has other ideas about that killer image.

Beneath obsession lies something more deadly…

You can buy the e-book of That Killer Image from a variety of bookstores, and find it in subscriptions, such as Kobo Plus and Scribd. You can also order it from your library, including (excitingly) through Borrow Box! The paperback and hardback are coming soon…

Thank you so much to everyone who pre-ordered a copy. Your support really does mean the world to me. It was fantastic to wake up to find that the book had already landed on the devices of readers in different countries, and that it had been bought it from a variety of retailers.

If you haven’t got your copy yet, you can find it at your preferred retailer using the link below. I hope you enjoy reading That Killer Image!

BUY THAT KILLER IMAGE
That Killer Image by Claire Ladds

Filed Under: Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, My books, News Tagged With: crime fiction, Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, new release, psychological suspense, suspense fiction, That Killer Image

That Killer Image: Limited Time Pre-Order Price

31st March 2022 by claireladds Leave a Comment

I am thrilled to say that you now pre-order That Killer Image from (almost) all of your favourite bookstores! If you enjoy reading on a Kobo, or buy from Apple Books, read on your Kindle, or prefer Barnes & Noble (or others) as your go-to store, then you can pre-order That Killer Image. I am adding to the stores all the time, and I’m equally excited that this book will also be available on certain subscription sites.

That Killer Image is very much a psychological and suspense thriller. It releases on 11th April, and is part of the Darker Minds Crime and Suspense series, books which thrive on the premise that dark minds are at work, and sometimes it takes a darker one to stop them. Each book in the series is a standalone story, but they are all linked by this theme.

In case you’ve not yet come across the book description, here it is:

Three people. One killer. And a picture that someone will die for.

When Vicky meets Anthony, she sees him as a happy distraction from her claustrophobic relationship with her housemate and self-appointed guardian, Fran.

Anthony already knows Vicky because he has been following her every move. She is perfect for what he needs – a model for the ultimate photo of his life’s work – and he will do anything it takes to get that shot.

But Fran is not so easy to get rid of. Haunted by the disappearance of her sister, and blaming herself, she is desperate not to make the same mistakes again with Vicky. And when push really comes to shove, she has other ideas about that killer image.

Beneath obsession lies something more deadly…

I have loved creating the tense and tumultuous relationship between Vicky and Fran. Both have plenty of emotional baggage that impacts how they behave, and the decisions they make. But – I have to say it! – I have enjoyed creating the character of Anthony SO much! From the moment I read the first chapter he appears in to one of my beta readers, he was described as ‘creepy’. He’s an awful lot more than that, I can assure you!

For a LIMITED TIME ONLY, you can pre-order That Killer Image for a reduced price on all stores where it is available (around about half price, dependent on your country and exchange rates).

If you don’t want to miss out on this cheaper price, you can pre-order That Killer Image using the button below:

PRE-ORDER THAT KILLER IMAGE

Have you joined my Readers’ Club yet? Join to get EXCLUSIVE behind-the-scenes info and sneak peeks into forthcoming books before anyone else, as well as other Readers’ Club-only news and goodies. You’ll also get a FREE copy of Beneath the Flesh, a Darker Minds novella, when you join.

Ready to join? Click the button below to go to the signup page.

JOIN MY THE READERS’ CLUB

Filed Under: Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, News Tagged With: crime fiction, Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, psychological thriller, suspense fiction, That Killer Image

Show Me Dead now available in e-book, paperback and hardback!

28th January 2022 by claireladds Leave a Comment

I’m thrilled to tell you that Show Me Dead is now available in three formats. If you read (as opposed to listen to) your books, then you can now find a format for you!

Show Me Dead is available to read on all Kindle devices and the Kindle app, in paperback, and also in hardback. So, whether you’re happy reading on-screen, or whether you love the feel of a physical book in your hand, I’ve got you covered. Not only that, but if you’ve got a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can read it for FREE. 😊

If you’ve not yet delved into what the book is about, then let me help you:

~

THE DEEPER YOU GO, THE DARKER YOU GET. THE STAGE IS SET…

Ripped away from her circus family and kidnapped, Angel finds herself the unwilling ‘guest’ in a dilapidated theatre, belonging to a man who calls himself the Puppet Master.

She’s not the only captive, either. All of the broken and terrified people below ground are forced to perform for a very darkly discerning audience.

When performers begin to go missing, no one knows why, or who will be next. Fear is growing and Angel intends to ensure one thing – that it won’t be her. What is happening here? Just who is the Puppet Master, and what does he want with her? Angel may well wish that she’d never found out. But is he really the one pulling the strings?

To save them all and get to the truth, Angel has to perform the darkest show of all. But truth comes at a price. And someone will pay…

This book is part of the Darker Minds crime and suspense thriller series: Dark minds are at work. Sometimes it takes a darker one to stop them.

Perfect for readers of Martin Edwards, Joanna Penn, Mark Tilbury, Sarah Pearse, Helen Phifer, and those who like their dark crime mixed with a good dose of suspense.

~

I’ve had some truly lovely comments about the book, the story itself, and my writing. I really do appreciate every single one. I’ve even had several people tell me they could imagine it as a film. When i wrote it, I did so very much with the visual aspect in mind – and how brilliant would it be to have a book made into a film?! (If you know any directors who work for Netflix or who produce Amazon Originals, feel free to send them my way! 😁).

If you’d like to take a look at Show Me Dead, and grab yourself a copy, then the button below will take you straight to the book on your Amazon store.

Buy Show Me Dead

Happy reading!

Claire 😊

Filed Under: Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, News Tagged With: crime and mystery fiction, crime fiction, Darker Minds Crime and Suspense, horror suspense, kindle unlimited, Show Me Dead, suspense fiction

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