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Claire Ladds

Crime and suspense author

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historical crime fiction

Backstory: plotting and planning vengeance

30th August 2021 by claireladds Leave a Comment

Somewhere, hiding among the pages of every book, there is a backstory, a story that happened to the characters before the book you read actually begins on the page. It’s the characters’ personal histories, if you like: things that happened to them, memories they have, people they’ve met, events that shaped them into the person you see on the page.

I want to share with you a small piece of the backstory for The Secrets That Haunt Us. It occurs right at the beginning of the book, and takes the shape of five letters, sent to two different members of the same family – mother, Emmeline, and daughter, Julia. These letters, sent months before the book ‘proper’ begins, gives the reader an inkling that all is not only not well at home as the book gets started, but that clearly there have been events in the past which have led to the letter-writing of Alex, a man who is a most unpleasant man indeed. Vengeance has been plotted with malice and a great deal of forethought, and he intends to execute his plans for betrayals and secrets long since past.

But is he the only villain of the piece? The Secrets That Haunt Us blurs the lines between what we would automatically consider ‘good’ and ‘bad, or ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. When I wrote it, I often wondered what courses of action I would have taken, had I been in the various characters’ shoes. And the question will probably haunt me for a very long time.

I hope these five letters intrigue you into wanting to know what could have prompted Alex to plot and plan his own very particular type of vengeance – and what happens once his plans have been set in motion!

[Read more…] about Backstory: plotting and planning vengeance

Filed Under: Free Reads, My books Tagged With: backstory, characterisation, Claire Ladds, dark women's fiction, free reads, historical crime fiction, read an extract, suspense fiction, The Secrets That Haunt Us

Free on Kobo for one week only!

15th August 2021 by claireladds Leave a Comment

Do you read your e-books on a Kobo device? Have you got the Kobo app on your mobile or tablet? And do you love historical psychological crime and suspense books? If so, you’re in luck!

I’m delighted to say that The Secrets That Haunt Us is included in a Kobo deal for crime, mystery and suspense books. For one week only, The Secrets That Haunt Us is available to download from Kobo, worldwide, for FREE from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd August.

If you’ve not encountered the book before, let me enlighten you:

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Dark and haunting secrets, lies, betrayal and vengeance.

A diary that holds an unbearable secret. Misplaced jealousy with devastating consequences. Threatening letters which unearth traumatic memories and have the power to destroy lives. One man, back from the dead, who has only one thing on his mind – vengeance.

Set in 1970s England on the day of the Women’s Liberation March, this is a novel of four people’s haunting memories, shadows of the past and truths that threaten to destroy them.

When the lines between memory and reality are blurred, and honesty is more devastating than the secrets that haunt us, what do you do? Do you ignore it? Do you try to protect those you love? Or do you seek revenge?

Some secrets can’t be forgiven.

PLEASE NOTE: This book was previously published as Baby up the Chimney.

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You can find The Secrets That Haunt Us on Kobo here. If you’re searching for your free copy on Monday 16th, please allow time for Kobo to filter the price through to your country – time zones may skew this a bit!

Please do take this chance to download your freebie copy, and don’t be shy – tell your friends! I’d love the book to be read by as many readers as possible who enjoy historical psychological crime and suspense books. 😊

If you read on any other device and buy your e-books from a different store, you can still buy your copy (with grateful thanks from this author!). You can buy it on your preferred store here.

The Secrets That Haunt Us by Claire Ladds ebook

Join my Readers’ Club to get updates, news of works-in-progress and upcoming releases, sneak peeks and special offers that I have from time to time, as well as other crime, mystery and suspense-related snippets. When you join you’ll also receive a FREE gift to read!

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Filed Under: Free Reads, News Tagged With: Claire Ladds Author, crime fiction, free novel, free on Kobo, historical crime fiction, historical womens fiction, suspense fiction

The Secrets That Haunt Us: a lovely 5-star review

9th July 2021 by claireladds Leave a Comment

I was absolutely thrilled to see this 5-star review pop up on Amazon from a reader who clearly loved The Secrets That Haunt Us. I have no idea which lovely reader wrote the review, but it’s extremely kind and means a great deal.

I find it very humbling when I know someone has read and enjoyed my books. In my heart of hearts, all I really want to do is write stories that people find fascinating, thought-provoking, terrifying at times, occasionally heart-wrenching, and satisfying. And crime-filled, of course!

The Secrets That Haunt Us will probably always be the book I have the softest spot for. It means many things to me.

If you would like to take a look at the book (including that first 5-star review since I re-released the novel with its new title), then you can find it on Amazon here:

Buy The Secrets That Haunt Us on Amazon

If you read on another device and buy your books from Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble and others, you can find the novel here:

Buy The Secrets That Haunt Us on your favourite ebook store

If you do read, or have, read it, or any of my work, I’d love to know what you think. Hearing from readers is always lovely. 😊 Please do consider leaving a review – or my books or on any author’s books that you enjoy. It really helps other people who might also enjoy them to find them more easily.

Happy reading!

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Filed Under: News Tagged With: 5 star review, crime fiction, dark women's fiction, Hearts and Crimes, historical crime fiction, suspense fiction

Kobo Long Weekend Sale: Baby up the Chimney for 0.99

12th February 2021 by claireladds Leave a Comment

https://www.kobo.com/en/ebook/baby-up-the-chimney

I’m thrilled to tell you that my historical crime novel, Baby up the Chimney, is in Kobo’s long weekend sale. The sale starts today and finishes on the 15th February (next Monday). Right now UK, Canada and US-based readers can grab the ebook for 0.99. That’s a whopping amount (about 75%) off the usual price of the e-book.

I hadn’t realised that this weekend’s sale would also include UK readers as well as Canadian and US readers, so if you’re in the UK, do please feel free to take up the opportunity to grab a copy at this rock-bottom price while you’ve got the chance! If you’re not a Kobo reader, however, read on because I have a “tester” freebie for you.

[Read more…] about Kobo Long Weekend Sale: Baby up the Chimney for 0.99

Filed Under: Baby up the Chimney, Events Tagged With: Baby up the Chimney, ebook sale, historical crime fiction, kobo readers, kobo sale

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