I was supposed to be taking some time off after the birth of my gorgeous daughter in early October.

Famous last words.

In the month my wife and I welcomed our second child, my latest crime thriller, One Step Closer, also released and… wow! It’s been crazy ever since.

I couldn’t believe it when I logged on to view my sales reports to find that One Step Closer was raking in the orders and topping the charts in the UK, US, Canada and Australia; stuff I could only have dreamed of when I hit the big ‘publish’ button a few months ago. But the success of One Step Closer is just the start of what has proven to be some of the biggest weeks in my writing career so far.

Going solo (again)

Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that One Step Closer was originally scheduled to be traditionally published, but after long delays (through no one’s fault) I decided to formally request the publishing rights back from my publisher. Traditional publishing has been a great experience, and I’ve learned so much. But ultimately, it’s not been for me. I won’t go into the reasons why here, as I’ve already written an article about my experiences and decisions to go indie again.

I’m so glad I made the decision. I really didn’t want to miss out on the autumn months, when readers love a good thriller in front of the fire. I felt that getting One Step Closer out on the shelves for this rush would give it the best chance to get seen. Getting back the rights was a risk, but I’m thrilled with the results.

Over 5,000 copies sold in one month!

When October came to a close, One Step Closer had surpassed a whopping 5,000 orders, becoming my fastest book to reach 100 reviews and topping the Amazon charts in the UK (Psychological Thrillers), US (Traditional Detective Mysteries), Australia and Canada (British Detectives). And the response has been mind-blowingly positive!

Here’s just some of what readers are saying:



"OMG, This read was amazing. I couldn’t put my kindle down. I absolutely loved it. What a twist. This is a MUST READ. I’m hoping it will be a movie one day soon. Thank you Alex."

— Reader review, Goodreads



"A tale of love, hate, abuse, fear and very well written. Had me gripped from the start and caused me to be late on an occasion! Highly recommend!"

— Reader review, Goodreads



"Really enjoyed this book. Was gripped and couldn’t put it down!"

— Reader review, Goodreads



I’m not an author who reads reviews all too much – I’m a firm believer that reviews are for other readers – but I can’t lie, seeing that people are enjoying the story is really heart-warming! Honestly, thank you to everybody who has already picked up a copy of the book.

Then came novel #9!

The start of November has kept the momentum going, with no sign of things slowing down. Earlier this month, I announced my ninth novel, The Girl Who Lives By The Sea, which is now available to pre-order! This novel is my return to romance, a genre I absolutely love to read, and really enjoy writing when I fancy taking a break from crime and thrillers (which I love too, by the way).

The story came to me quite quickly. It was one of those moments where I could see the main beats all stacked in a row in my head, waiting to be written. It’s not often it happens – usually it’s just a scene or situation which sparks something – but this novel was right there in front of me, and within two months, the first draft was written. It’s the quickest I’ve ever written a draft, and for the most part, it was pretty tidy as first drafts go.

I’m now working through the final edits, but overall the book is in good shape and almost ready to go. I’ve even commissioned the audiobook, so this could well be the first book I release with an audiobook option from day one, although I can’t promise anything just yet!

I really can’t wait to share this one with you. With its Cornwall coastal setting, I think it will be the perfect Kindle companion to take to the beach.

Mysteries, mysteries, mysteries…

And because I clearly can’t sit still, I’m also deep into not one, but two new thriller projects. Both are packed with mystery, tension and those dark little twists I love writing just as much as you love trying to guess.

One of them is already at the final-draft stage. I’ve been quietly refining it between bottle feeds and late-night pram walks, and it’s shaping up to be something really special. If everything goes to plan, I’m hoping to get this one out into the world next year. It’s definitely on the more atmospheric side of my thriller spectrum, and I’m excited to see what readers make of it.

The second? Well… it’s a little earlier in the journey. I’ve written the prologue and a handful of notes, and that’s about it for now. But the idea has been haunting me, in the best way. You know when a story taps you on the shoulder every few hours, reminding you it exists? That’s this one. Very different set-up, very different vibe, but still firmly rooted in the kind of mystery-driven storytelling I love. Two thrillers, at two completely different stages, both fighting for my attention. It’s a good problem to have!

The adventure (through time) continues…

Alongside everything else, I’m also working on the third instalment of my Jerome Series. I’m holding my cards close to my chest with this one for now, but honestly… wow. Things have levelled up. This is the first time I’ve ever properly dug into writing lore, and it’s been such an exciting challenge. The world is expanding in ways I didn’t expect, and I’m loving being back with these characters again.

All I’ll say is: stay tuned. The clock is still open. But… is that the problem? 😉

One Step Closer Audiobook begins production!

I’m absolutely loving what I’m hearing from the One Step Closer audiobook. I’ve teamed up with Katy Brixey, who is doing an incredible job bringing these characters to life in ways that genuinely surprised me. Her performance hits all the right emotional beats, and I knew instantly that I wanted her on The Girl Who Lives By The Sea too.

I’m thrilled to say she’s officially signed on to narrate and produce the audiobook, and I cannot wait for you to hear what she’s doing with it.

Wrapping up…

And breathe…

So, as you can probably tell, I’ve not taken the break I intended. But the truth is, those late nights watching over my daughter while she sleeps have actually given me more time to write than ever. It’s been a huge couple of months, and things aren’t showing any sign of slowing down.

I’m loving the ride, and I can’t wait to share all the exciting things still to come over the next year or two.

Thank you, as always, for reading, for picking up my books, and for allowing a guy to live his dream.

Alex.