A Cold Case. A Murder Suspect. A Silenced Witness.

Book blurb

DI Sheridan Holler is used to solving crimes on Liverpool’s streets, but after a decayed corpse turns up in a cemetery, she finds herself reopening not one but two cold cases. Seven years earlier, two women were gunned down and the only suspect, small-time drug dealer John Lively, was never seen again. Case closed. Until the body in the cemetery is identified as his.

Holler needs to work out if Lively was killed out of revenge, or was just a victim of the criminal world he inhabited. When shocking evidence is revealed about the murder weapon, Holler’s cold case starts to look hopeless once more.

But defeat is not an option. Driven by the unsolved and traumatic murder of her brother when they were children, DI Holler’s pursuit of justice is relentless. As old wounds are reopened, the police close in on the killer, but the threat of them striking again is all too real. Can DI Holler put the pieces of the puzzle together before anyone else winds up dead?

My thoughts

The storyline is very well written and plotted. It brings this new author rightfully into the spotlight and gives us, the readers, a wonderful new series to read with great depth of story and characters. It’s set in Liverpool and I enjoyed how it showed T M Payne is a fervent advocate for the city, a place I know quite well.

I really like the main character D I Sheridan Holler along with Sam and Maud, okay Maude’s a cat but you animal lovers out there will know that Maude may only be a cat yet she is a great vehicle for some of the humour that runs through the book and as such deserves to be heard. Those of you who came to Stockport Noir or follow the author on X (formerly Twitter) will know what a great sense of humour this author has so it’s no surprise that it comes through in her writing. She uses it well as readers of crime fiction know it’s a good way to lighten what might otherwise be an overwhelmingly dark story.

As it’s the first in a series we are getting to know not only the main character but the supporting cast who will be appearing in future books, no doubt, so we will be able to see them grow together. Indeed we are already seeing how much her colleagues are a team and how a strong bond is building between Sheridan and Sam, not forgetting Maude of course! Nevertheless, T M Payne still gives sufficient depth of character to those who may only be part of this story. I’m so looking forward to seeing how it all develops.

Long Time Dead is an excellent first book by T M Payne. The author has written a crime fiction novel that has both a cracking story and wonderful characters. I look forward to reading book two This Ends Now soon and having preordered book three. Yes, you’ve got, I’ve found a new series to read, love and enjoy.

Book: Purchased

Stockport Noir

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I was delighted to meet the author at Stockport Noir and having bought a copy of This Ends Now (DI Sheridan Holler #2) by T M Payne not only get a photo with her but also got the book signed.

Information

Published: Thomas & Mercer (1 April 2024) | 393 pp | ISBN‏ : ‎1662511302

Thomas & Mercer is an imprint of brilliance publishing (an Amazon company) – publishes unputdownable mysteries, thrillers, and true crime from debut, acclaimed, and bestselling authors.

Buy: AmazonSmileUK | Amazon.com | Hive | Bookshop.org (affiliate link) | Waterstones | Your local bookshop | Your local library

Author: T. M. Payne was born in Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire and now lives on the Wirral with her wonderful partner Susie, who works very closely with her on her novels, but takes little credit!!! 

Having worked in the criminal justice system for most of her working life, she spent 18 years in Norfolk police, the last 14 of which, she was a Police Case Investigator within the Domestic Violence Unit.

Her previous jobs include: a Store Detective (she once got thrown in a river), a Prisoner Custody Officer in all the London courts including the Old Bailey (yes, she’s been handcuffed to a few dangerous characters, including murderers, rapists and a cannibal), and a Detention Officer (where, during night shifts, she was known for playing practical jokes on her colleagues).

She now writes full time. Usually at the kitchen table (because she hides chocolate in the fridge and therefore has easy access).

If you see her at Crime Fiction events, please say hello….she’s pretty friendly.

She is crazy about animals and if you walk past her with your dog, she will probably ask if she can pat it on the head. Or take it home with her. Or both. She loves laughing, Christmas, playing golf (badly), walking along New Brighton beach (not walking her dog because she hasn’t got one) snow, sunsets, family, friends and cats. And penguins. She is also partial to tea (not tea) and Jaffa Cakes (actual Jaffa Cakes). She dislikes beetroot.

T.M. Payne’s Detective Sheridan Holler series is published by Thomas & Mercer.

Her debut novel, LONG TIME DEAD, was published on 1st April 2024 and became an Amazon #1 bestseller in the UK and Germany (under the title SCHON LANGE TOT.) 

The second in the DI Sheridan Holler series, THIS ENDS NOW, was published on 15th October 2024 and also became a #1 bestseller.

Book 3 in the series, PLAY WITH FIRE will be published in March 2025 and is available to pre-order now.

Having signed a further 4 book deal with Thomas and Mercer, T.M. Payne is busy writing the next books in the series.

Twitter: @Tinap66Payne

Books

Long Time Dead | This Ends Now | Play With Fire