Following the release of my second novel in August 2022, the book of short stories titled Old Ned’s Secret, I’m proud to announce the publication of my third work of fiction. Sure, in relative quick succession but really, I’m not a prolific writer frantically pounding the keyboard into the small hours of every waking day. It’s just that I do tend to write several storylines concurrently. For example, some of the stories contained within Old Ned’s Secret began to percolate during the latter stages of my first novel’s evolution: The Tramp (and of course the music CD The Tramp: The Music of Robert Aitken), way back in 2016.

This next fictional work is no different, with the seedling of an idea sprouting in January 2016. Surely it is a work of fiction … unless I’ve stumbled upon something that might land me in strife.

Enter FLOOR THIRTEEN.

Inspired by an eavesdropped conversation in the aftermath of a particularly gruesome act of cruelty, where the perpetrator received little more than a slapped wrist, Floor Thirteen tells of a system clandestinely generated to right the failures of our usually trusted but sometimes maligned judiciary system.

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From the back cover:

“What happens to ex-Special Forces personnel once they retire from careers addressing the failures of the justice system?

Raymond and Elizabeth do what is right for them. They marry, relocate to Tasmania and take on a commercial flower business — all the while striving to keep their past lives from everyone including, and especially, their children.

Fast forward thirty years when circumstances draw them back into the lives they’d left behind a generation ago. The challenge for Raymond and Elizabeth is adapting to the expectations of their earlier vocations, coupled with the greater angst of confessing to their now adult children.

Trixie and Joseph must overcome their incredulity and cooperate with their parents or risk a catastrophic mission failure.”

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Spanning over 530 novel pages, Floor Thirteen gives us action, intrigue, dastardly acts, camaraderie and government sanctioned reparation — plus a love interest or two and a sprinkling of humour.

Floor Thirteen is available online through amazon.com.au, barnesandnoble.com and other fine bookstores (by order). Signed copies are available directly from the author (me) on request for a little extra to cover postage and handling.

Happy reading!