I am delighted to share an extract todayĀ ~ thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for organizing.
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Genre:Ā Mystery Thriller
Publication Date: December 31, 2025
Estimated Page Count: 280
Standalone Novel in a series
Author Content Warning: There is the killing of a cat, so some animal lovers might be put off by that, but it is only a very tiny part of the story.
Get your copy on Amazon Ā ā” https://amzn.to/4s4p49x
Extract:
This extract is the entire third chapter. This is where Joe Wildeās good friend, DI Carl Whatmore attends the crime scene of a woman who was murdered in her home.
3
As he entered the property of number seventeen Ashdown Lane, DI Carl Whatmore was immediately struck by the foul stench of burnt human flesh, which even the forensic face mask he was wearing couldnāt help disguise. He was greeted by a member of the forensic team who was dabbing for prints at the bottom of the staircase banister.
āMorning Sir, itās just through there,ā the forensic technician said as he nodded his head in the direction of a doorway which was behind him and to his right.
DI Whatmore walked through the door into a large living room where he was confronted by the sight of a corpse with a grotesquely contorted face tied to a chair; the victim had been burnt beyond recognition.
āMorning Guv.ā
āMorning Sergeant Webber. So what have we got here?ā
āThe victimās name is Meredith Cartwright, fifty nine years of age and married. The husband is currently in Dubai on business. He has been contacted and will be taking the next available flight to the UK.ā
āI saw the chief of the fire service just leaving as I arrived, who called the fire department?ā
āThat was her next-door neighbours, Mr and Mrs Scullion. They were driving home after dining out with friends and noticed a strange orange glow in the lounge window as they drove past. After they parked their car they walked up to the window for a closer look, there was a slight gap in the curtains and they could just about make out fire and smoke in the middle of the living room. When they rang the doorbell and there was no answer Mr Scullion called the emergency services.ā
āI assume our victim here was already dead by the time the fire brigade got here? Asked DI Whatmore.
āYes and the fire had already burned out by then. As she had been placed in the middle of the room well away from the furniture the fire did not spread. Petrol was the accelerant.ā
āHas anything been stolen?ā
āThere is a class cabinet in the corner over there which has been smashed and is completely empty, same with the one in the dining room. Also upstairs in the master bedroom it looks as though a jewelry box has been emptied. Obviously we will need Mr Cartwright to confirm what has been taken.ā
āIf all they planned was to burgle the house then what they did to Mrs Cartwright seems very unnecessary not to mention extremely sadistic. I wonder if they planned to take more than what they actually got away with, maybe they tried to force her to give up the combination of their safe or the PIN number for her bank account. Have they got a safe?ā
āWe havenāt come across one, but Iām sure Mr Cartwright will tell us its location if there is one.ā
DI Whatmore was just about to ask his sergeant what Mr Cartwright did for a living when he noticed something on the floor behind the charred remains of the victim. He walked behind her and saw a cat with a bloodied head lying prone.
āYes thatās the other thing Guv, they must have bludgeoned that cat to death as well.ā
āBut they didnāt set it alight so it would appear.ā
DI Whatmore felt a presence in the doorway ā he looked up and saw the police doctor entering the room.
āGood evening Detectives, what have we got here?ā
āA nasty one, Dr Sloane. The victim was tied to this chair then set on fire. Iām hoping you might tell us she was killed first before being set alight, that would at least have been a small mercy.ā
Dr Sloane walked towards the victim and took a good look at her head.
āOn first inspection I canāt see any indication that she was bludgeoned or had her throat cut, but due to the state the body is in only the pathologist will be able to determine the exact cause of death. Oh what have we got here? A dead cat as well. I can definitely confirm that this victim died of a blow or several blows to the head with a blunt object.ā
āYes thank you Dr Obvious, but weād managed to work that one out for ourselves.ā
āNo need for the sarcasm Inspector, I am just trying to be as helpful as possible,ā grumbled the doctor.
āYes well itās getting late and Iām not at my best, anyway we shanāt detain you anymore Doctor,ā replied DI Whatmore.
With that Doctor Sloane left the room.
āCan I take it Mr and Mrs Scullion have made official statements and the other neighbours are currently being interviewed?ā
āYes Guv, DC Fitzsimons and a couple of PCs are currently in the process of doing it now. So what are your initial thoughts?ā
āWell I doubt burglary was the only motive. In fact it may not have been a motive at all, but we will get a better idea after we receive the pathologistās report and interview Mr Cartwright.ā
Book blurb:
Private Investigator Joe Wilde is investigating the murder of Philippa Redmond a former Labour MP. She had been found dead in her sauna over the Christmas holidays six weeks ago. The majority of her family had been staying with her at the time, but the police didnāt regard any of them as suspects. Evidence suggested an intruder had got into her home.
Joe also takes on a cold case of a missing woman named Julie Turnbull. She had disappeared six years ago without a trace. Meanwhile Joeās good friend DI Whatmore is investigating the horrific murder of a woman who was burnt alive in her own home. His investigation crosses over with Joeās missing person investigation. As they conduct their own investigations there are more killings.
DI Whatmore and Joe must join forces to track down a serial killer and solve a puzzling mystery, but doing so puts them and others in grave danger.
Purchase Links
UK Paperback link – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book/dp/B0GDKW3HZG
US Paperback Link – https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book/dp/B0GDKW3HZG
UK ebook link – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book-ebook/dp/B0GDHY9NP6
US ebook link – https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book-ebook/dp/B0GDHY9NP6
Author Bio ā C.D Steele works as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service. He has a degree in Recreation Management and lives in County Down, Northern Ireland. This is his third novel and is the next book in the Joe Wilde Series after False Truth and Dark Truth.
Social Media Links ā
CD Steele on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/C.-D.-Steele/author/B0BTX9BSYJ?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Giveaway to Win 3 x copies of False Truth (book 1 in the Joe Wilde series) and 1 x copy of Dark Truth (book 2). (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions āUK entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachelās Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winnersā information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachelās Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
https://gleam.io/KfGfH/win-3-x-copies-of-false-truth-and-1-x-copy-of-dark-truth-open-to-uk-only
