Book Extract: A Death Of Fresh Air by Helen Golden

I’m so excited to be welcoming Helen Golden back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, A Death Of Fresh Air, book 10 in the A Right Royal Cozy Investigation book series.

In a charming seaside town, secrets don’t stay buried for long…

‘Body of Chef Found in Wall Three Years After He ‘Left to go to Australia’

Human remains found inside the wall of a disused building have now been identified as those of Victor Blackwell. He was the head chef at Windstanton’s The Seaside Lounge until just over three years ago, when, according his friends, he left for a job in Australia. Detective Inspector Albert Finch from Fenshire’s Cold Case Unit has asked for anyone who has information about the chef’s movements three years ago to come forward.

We have no choice! With only three weeks until the Grand Opening, the last thing Bea and Perry need is the grim discovery of a skeleton in the wall of Simon and Ryan’s soon-to-open restaurant, SaltAir. But when it’s designated a crime scene, and the policeman in charge of the investigation into Vic’s murder refuses to let them have access to continue the refurbishment, they have no other option than to investigate the murder themselves or risk letting Simon and Ryan down.

But in a town where everyone harbours secrets, can they uncover the truth in time or will SaltAir’s opening be a damp squib?

Helen has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

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

In the serene seaside town of Windstanton, royal amateur sleuth Lady Beatrice, and her best friend and business partner, Perry Juke, embark on the restoration and refurb of Ryan Hawley, and Perry’s husband, Simon Lattimore’s, soon-to-open restaurant, SaltAir.  With the Grand Opening only three weeks away, the town is buzzing about the new restaurant and advance bookings are flooding in. Everything is looking great. There’s just a stud wall and an ugly old bar to knock down and they’ll be finish on time. What could possibly go wrong?

*****

Donning their hats and goggles, they moved to stand next to Charles. They watched as one of the men ascended a ladder, stepped onto the scaffolding platform, and began to pummel the wall with a sledgehammer. The first strike reverberated through the room, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air. Bea automatically put a hand up to shield her eyes even though she was wearing safety goggles, a thrill of anticipation coursing through her veins. Once this goes, we’ll have a clear view to the water.

As the builder continued his relentless assault on the wall, piece by piece, flakes of aged paint and plaster rained down like confetti. Then suddenly the man paused. He kneeled down on the wooden planks that made up the platform and peered into the widening crevice in the wall. He plucked a torch out of his top pocket and turned it on.

“I’ve got something here, boss,” he shouted down in a gruff voice.

“Probably just an old rat’s nest,” Charles said to Bea and Perry as they moved towards the wall. “We’ve already found a few of them around the back of the offices.”

Bea shivered at the thought of rats scurrying around the place. As she looked up at the workman, who had carefully pulled away another piece of plaster, a look of confusion spread across his face. What is it? Her pulse quickened, intuition telling her he’d found something more than a rodent’s ex-home.

With a final tug from the builder, a large shard of dry wall collapsed, revealing a large cavity. As dust billowed around them, Bea coughed, waving a hand in front of her face. She lifted the goggles onto the top of her hard hat and peered through the settling haze as the man shone his torch into the hole—then recoiled. Crikey!

“Blimey,” he muttered, the word hanging in the air like a shroud.

Indeed! A musty smell of decay seeped into the room. Bea instinctively put her hand up to her nose and moved to get a better look.

There, nestled within the hollowed-out wall, was a large roll of heavy-duty plastic sheeting. What the? As she leaned closer, her arm knocked Perry’s, and they both jumped.

Giving her a nervous smile, he whispered, “I don’t have a good feeling about this…”

Me neither.

The worker, his face pale, retreated down the ladder and stood behind them as Charles stepped forward gingerly, his face solemn as he stared into the gaping hole. “Good Lord,” he mumbled. He looked around and grabbed a large pair of scissors.

Bea’s heart skipped a beat. What’s in there? She lowered her hand, the smell having dissipated, but held her breath as Charles began to carefully cut through the plastic.

As the blades sliced through the sheeting, she noted clumps of chalky crystals attached in patches to the inside. As the fragile layers fell back the sheeting was stained dark.

She couldn’t help herself. She inched forward.

As she gazed into the cavity, her breath hitched. Oh my goodness!

“Oh my giddy aunt,” Perry gasped, his face only inches from hers.

Silence swaddled the room as they stood frozen in time for a few minutes, gawking at the mass of bones.

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

About Helen Golden –

Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.

I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.

It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes

Say hello via Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. 

A Death Of Fresh Air is book 10 in the A Right Royal Cozy Investigation book series and was released on 30th September 2024. Click here to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

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.