Shire Magazine September-October 2019

Page 155

Books&Poetry DENIS LAUNCHES FIRST OF HIS DEADLY TRILOGY Retired Shropshire resident Denis Brookes put his new-found spare time to good use by penning not one but three thrilling novels

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man is drawn, through his own hat should you do with your greed, into an Iranian international retirement? It’s a question with terrorist operation that threatens many answers, but for one Market Drayton man, Denis Brookes, it afforded the world’s democracies, as well as Middle Eastern stability, and how he the opportunity to write a trilogy of is used and deceived by a thrillers, the first of which female MI5 agent with whom has just been published. he falls in love,’ says Denis. ‘The A Very Deadly Sin is set ‘The third in Shrewsbury and the novel starts by introducing the novel will draw characters before becoming surrounding area, and was on Denis’s more sinister as it progresses. informed by Denis’s life as a extensive Some parts are horrific – Shrewsbury-born Salopian. experience in especially the Iranian secret For the plot, Denis drew on his UK politics’ biological testing establishment experiences as an army vehicle which uses human guinea pigs.’ mechanic, a driver/bearer with a firm of Shrewsbury undertakers, a self-employed grave-digger and as Three times the drama a detention officer with West Mercia A Very Deadly Sin is the first in a planned Police. Denis also received invaluable trilogy of thrillers featuring the lead assistance from a firearms-trained police character Justin Parkes, described as a officer for accuracy with the armed ‘likeable and easy-going man who makes police response account in the book. his living as a grave-digger’. Denis is ‘The first book in a trilogy, A Very currently working hard on the the Deadly Sin, relates how an innocent follow-up, which is due to be published

Denis Brookes with his first published novel

at the end of the year. The third and final part of the trilogy will draw on Denis’s extensive experience with a UK political party, as a county councillor and parliamentary candidate; in the book, Justin Parkes – now working for MI5 – has to infiltrate organisations who seek to destroy democracy through a new world order. A Very Deadly Sin: A Justin Parkes Thriller by Denis Brookes is available as an e-book or paperback from Amazon

B O O K E VE NTS Mark Radcliffe, 9th September, Neston Cricket Club, Parkgate The radio and TV presenter launches his latest book, Crossroads, a personal reflection on the crucial turning points in the history of music. The intimate account of music and its power to transform lives is set against Mark’s own sense of being at a crossroads in his life. 7pm. Tickets from £16.99 including book. Call 0151 342 7290 or visit linghams.co.uk. Writing A Novel, 16th-21st September, Ty Newydd Writing Centre, Llanystumdwy, Criccieth Whether you’re halfway through a first draft or deep into a fifth, this course is designed to assist you in refining your own voice, deciding what form your novel should take, creating convincing characters and settings, and plotting and pacing

to keep your reader hooked from the opening lines. Most importantly, you’ll write and write and write, and move another step closer to The End. £550 per person. tynewydd.wales

Max Hastings, 18th September, Lion Quays Hotel, Oswestry Join bestselling and critically acclaimed military historian Max Hastings as he talks about Operation Chastise and the famous Dambusters raid of 1943. In his new book, Chastise, Max offers a

fresh and compelling account of the Dambusters raid. 6.45pm. Tickets £25, including signed book, from Booka Bookshop. bookabookshop.co.uk David Baldacci, 25th September, Heswall Hall, Heswall David Baldacci is one of the world’s bestselling thriller writers. With more than 130 million copies in print, his books are published in over 80 territories and 45 languages, and have been adapted for both film and television. He has established links to government sources, giving his books added authenticity, and he’ll be in Heswall for one night only to mark the release his latest book, One Good Deed. 7pm. Tickets from £18.99 including book. Call 0151 342 7290 or visit linghams.co.uk.

September/October 2019 | SHIRE MAGAZINE 155

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