Book Extract & Review: Tick Tock by Mel Sherratt

You made it everyone. It’s the weekend. Today, I am pleased to welcome back Mel Sherratt and the blog tour for her new book, Tick Tock. 

TICK…

In the city of Stoke, a teenage girl is murdered in the middle of the day, her lifeless body abandoned in a field behind her school.

TOCK…

Two days later, a young mother is abducted. She’s discovered strangled and dumped in a local park.

TIME’S UP…

DS Grace Allendale and her team are brought in to investigate, but with a bold killer, no leads and nothing to connect the victims, the case seems hopeless. It’s only when a third woman is targeted that a sinister pattern emerges. A dangerous mind is behind these attacks, and Grace realises that the clock is ticking…

Can they catch the killer before another young woman dies?

Mel and Avon have shared an extract today. Enjoy. 

***** beginning of extract*****

‘Robert?’ Perry queried.

‘Robert Carmichael. He’s the PE teacher. The classes get very competitive and it gives the pupils a good workout in the fresh air.’

‘Who owns the field where Lauren was found?’ Grace questioned.

‘Arthur Barrett and his family – a local farming generation. The school have been using it with their permission for over twenty years.’ Nathan shook his head in disbelief. ‘I hope I don’t have to suspend Robert for not watching them all.’

‘He can’t have eyes in the back of his head,’ Perry said.

‘I guess. But it only takes one person to blame him. And me.’ Nathan ran a hand through his hair and swallowed.

‘Although, according to some of the pupils, he shouted at them to hurry up a few times.’

‘We need a list of the pupils who took his class, too,’ Grace said. ‘We’ll have to speak to them all over the course of the next day or two. If there aren’t enough teachers spare to sit with the pupils, or if any parents or guardians specifically want to be with their children when we speak to them, we’ll arrange appointments. Whatever happens, everything will be dealt with in a sensitive manner.’

Nathan nodded his understanding.

‘What’s the school like?’ she asked next. ‘Any problems you’re aware of?’

‘Dunwood Academy is doing well this year.’ Grace heard pride in his voice as he continued. ‘There used to be two high schools until we joined forces, covering a wider area. There was initially concern about the number of its pupils, and special measures being in place at one of the two previous schools. It could have gone either way. One could have brought the other down to their level, but it didn’t. The academy’s performing well now.’

***** end of extract*****

About Mel: 

Mel Sherratt is the author of over ten novels, all of which have become bestsellers. In 2017, she was named as one of her home town of Stoke-on-Trent’s top 100 influential people.

She lives in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with her husband and terrier, Dexter.

Tick Tock was released by Avon Books on 2nd May. Click to view on Amazon UK. 

Say hi to Mel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/writermels

Tick Tock Review: 

Grace Allendale, after the events of her previous case in Hush Hush, is now settling into her new life in Stoke.

She is called to the local school when the body of a sixteen year old girl is found on the boundaries of the grounds.

Grace quickly finds herself on the trail of a new serial killer; one who seems to stop at nothing and is getting closer to people she cares about. This person needs to be stopped before it’s too late.

Oh how excited I am to see a new release by Mel Sherratt especially as it’s the next instalment in the DS Grace Allendale series.

Grace is shaping up to be one of my favourite fictional detectives. It was great to be catching up with her again.

The plot has many twists, turns and gasp out loud moments. It pretty much only took me a day to read. One more chapter turned into ‘ah, it’s now three in the morning.’ I certainly had a book hangover when it ended. Totally immersive from the first page to the end.

No spoilers I promise.

What I will say is that this novel has a wonderful blend of mystery, great characters and tension. The author has a great way of pulling you in and getting the reader totally invested. For me, there wasn’t a slow moment.

Although there are characters mentioned that were involved in the previous novel, this can be read as a standalone.

If you’re looking for a new compelling, topsy-turvy crime series that will have you guessing and second guessing until the last page, I really recommend this one.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.