Author of the Week: D. J. Bennett.

Each week I will feature authors on my blogsite, and in my first post on this topic I will spotlight D.J.Bennett.

Debbie has told me she is a middle-aged boring civil servant with a secret life as a writer...  Which I disagree with as she is anything but boring.  She's worked in law enforcement for over 25 years, in a variety of different roles, which may be why the darker side of life tends to emerge in her writing.  This can be seen in her novel Hamelin's Child, a thriller set in the seedy world of London's drug rings. Below is a picture from Amazon. Don't click on the image, click on the direct links near the bottom of the page.

Here is the opening sample from Hamlin's Child (Please note this book contains strong scenes and adult material).

Michael Redford died on his seventeenth birthday – the night Eddie picked him up off the street, shot him full of heroin and assaulted him.

Michael had been drinking steadily all night, matching Jenny’s Breezers with export-strength lager, and when he saw Jen wrapped around his mate’s brother across the dance floor, he didn’t feel at all inclined to slow down. Totally oblivious to observers, they were all hands and lips – a human octopus of limbs on the red chesterfield sofa with Jenny’s long dark hair covering both their faces. She’d dropped an E in the toilets; he could tell by the shine in her eyes and the way she moved when they’d been dancing earlier – she always came onto him when she was high, then pulled away when he got interested. Michael kicked the pillar next to him in disgust. He hated nightclubs anyway.

‘She came with you, didn’t she?’

Michael turned to see a man standing next to him. Blond hair, cream chinos, polo shirt and too much jewellery. He seemed older than the rest of the punters.

The man waved his hand in Jenny’s direction. ‘The girl,’ he added, by way of explanation. ‘I was watching the two of you earlier.’

Michael nodded. ‘Don’t think she’ll be leaving with me.’

‘Girlfriend?’ 

‘Ex.’

‘Evidently.’ The man smiled sympathetically. ‘Women are bitches, aren’t they? He’s a dealer, by the way – saw him outside the bogs before. What’re you drinking?’ He pointed at Michael’s empty glass.

Michael shook his head. ‘No, thanks.’ Now fuck off, creep. Something about the stranger made him uneasy.

‘Suit yourself.’ The man shrugged and went off to the bar, returning a few moments later with a pint and what looked like a whisky chaser. He held the pint out. ‘Got you one, anyway. You look like you could use it.’ He had an impressive assortment of gold rings on his hand, which suggested serious money, even if the guy was a poser.

Oh, what the hell… ‘Cheers.’ Michael emptied half of it immediately. He had less than a fiver left from the eighty quid his dad had given him earlier that day and not enough for a taxi home. Still, he couldn’t complain – there weren’t many parents who’d let their underage son celebrate his birthday in a club, and it was largely due to the intervention of his elder sister Kate that they’d let him go at all. On top of that, she’d even managed to talk them into giving him enough money to enjoy it in style. The money had come with strings of course, but listening to the ten-minute evils of drink and drugs lecture had been a small price to pay for his freedom.

End of sample.  Below are links to Debbie's blogsite and Amazon, where you can purchase her book and read her reviews.  ~Thank you~

Website/Blog

www.debbiebennett.co.uk

http://kindleauthorsuk.blogspot.com

UK Amazon Links

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004PLNLWY

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Debbie-Bennett/e/B004PGSOXU

US Amazon Links

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PLNLWY

http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-Bennett/e/B004PGSOXU

Reviews

“Hamelin's Child is an unputdownable read to rival any of the big name authors”

“This is a superbly dark and gripping novel”

“Written with an assured confidence, this book gripped from the first page to the last. Dealing with the side of life most of us have no first hand knowledge, it entertains and informs. Highly recommended unless you have to get up early for work the next morning.”

“I was amazed that this book could cover such a sensitive story yet come across so warm! I couldn't put it down and read it within 48 hours. I just HAD to know what would happen next! A great story, well presented.”

“This book is not my usual cup of tea, but I couldn't put it down.”

“This isn't a 'happily ever after' book; and the questions it raises about self-control and accountability are at best uneasily answered, but it is well written and will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Recommended.”