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Sam Turner #4
Walking With Ghosts
When Edward Blake's wife is kidnapped he doesn't trouble the police, just pays out the twenty-five grand. But three months later she finally turns up - in a box. The police are interested now, especially when they hear about the two and a half million pounds' worth of insurance Blake had taken out on her life...
“One of those wonderful books in which the reader is pulled into the story no matter how unwillingly. The characters force you to read on. (Baker is) a novelist who combines a light humour with a viciously sharp penetration into how our minds work.” G. Lock, Shots.
“A really fine book. Splendid writing, very convincing characterization, a plausible crime, and central relationships that really work. Dora is a marvellous character, wonderfully developed.” Michelle Spring, novelist.
“The over-riding force in the book is Dora, the relationship between her and Sam, the unspoken messages that convey to the reader the strength of their love, and the power of the mind, as Dora reflects on her past, and sees truths that had previously eluded her. A terrific book. Highly recommended.” Lizzie Hayes, Editor, Mystery Women Magazine.
“One of those wonderful books in which the reader is pulled into the story no matter how unwillingly. The characters force you to read on. (Baker is) a novelist who combines a light humour with a viciously sharp penetration into how our minds work.” G. Lock, Shots.
“A really fine book. Splendid writing, very convincing characterization, a plausible crime, and central relationships that really work. Dora is a marvellous character, wonderfully developed.” Michelle Spring, novelist.
“The over-riding force in the book is Dora, the relationship between her and Sam, the unspoken messages that convey to the reader the strength of their love, and the power of the mind, as Dora reflects on her past, and sees truths that had previously eluded her. A terrific book. Highly recommended.” Lizzie Hayes, Editor, Mystery Women Magazine.
Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
16 people want to read
About the author
John Baker
10 books5 followersI’m a novelist and blogger based in the UK. After some time spent in Norway and the South of France I came to settle in York.
On my blog are details of my published novels. My blog, in one form or another has been running since August 2002. The main focus of the blog is fiction and writing but it often expands into general cultural or political questions.
You may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Apart from the above the blog posts regular items of literary news, tips and hints on the writing process, quotations, interviews, extracts from novels and original shorter fiction, book, film, and theatre reviews. Go ahead, subscribe to the feed.
My latest published novel is entitled Winged with Death. It is partly set in Montevideo in the seventies in the midst of civil war. Another arm of the novel is set in the present day in the North of England. Winged with Death is about time and tango and revolution, abduction and denial. It is published in the UK by Flambard Press. You can read an extract from Winged with Death by following this link. You can read extracts from my earlier novels at John Baker’s Fiction Pages, together with photographs, interviews, reviews, quotations and biographical info.
You can also purchase any of my novels directly from me.
On my blog are details of my published novels. My blog, in one form or another has been running since August 2002. The main focus of the blog is fiction and writing but it often expands into general cultural or political questions.
You may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Apart from the above the blog posts regular items of literary news, tips and hints on the writing process, quotations, interviews, extracts from novels and original shorter fiction, book, film, and theatre reviews. Go ahead, subscribe to the feed.
My latest published novel is entitled Winged with Death. It is partly set in Montevideo in the seventies in the midst of civil war. Another arm of the novel is set in the present day in the North of England. Winged with Death is about time and tango and revolution, abduction and denial. It is published in the UK by Flambard Press. You can read an extract from Winged with Death by following this link. You can read extracts from my earlier novels at John Baker’s Fiction Pages, together with photographs, interviews, reviews, quotations and biographical info.
You can also purchase any of my novels directly from me.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 29, 2023
When India Blake is kidnapped, her husband pays the ransom, and only contacts the police when she fails to re-appear. The police take little action, until that is, she turns up dead three months later.
Because Edward Blake had recently insured his wife for two and a half million pounds, the insurance company call in PI Sam Turner to investigate. As Sam is trying to spend as much time as possible with his wife Dora, as her life slowly ebbs away. He hands the day to day running of the case over to his colleagues Geordie and Maria. As Geordie investigates the people around Edward Blake, his own personal life takes a drastic turn, so too does Maria’s.
The over-riding force in the book though, is Dora. The relationship between her and Sam, the unspoken messages that convey to the reader the strength of their love , and the power of the mind, as Dora reflects on her past, and sees truths that had previously eluded her. The allusions to Lady Day were particularly poignant, as for me too, Lady Day had slipped away before I ever heard her sing.
Interspersed with the investigation of the death of India Blake, the changes in the lives of both Geordie and Maria, are flashes into Billy’s life, and Dora’s estranged son who she longs to see.
A terrific book. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
Because Edward Blake had recently insured his wife for two and a half million pounds, the insurance company call in PI Sam Turner to investigate. As Sam is trying to spend as much time as possible with his wife Dora, as her life slowly ebbs away. He hands the day to day running of the case over to his colleagues Geordie and Maria. As Geordie investigates the people around Edward Blake, his own personal life takes a drastic turn, so too does Maria’s.
The over-riding force in the book though, is Dora. The relationship between her and Sam, the unspoken messages that convey to the reader the strength of their love , and the power of the mind, as Dora reflects on her past, and sees truths that had previously eluded her. The allusions to Lady Day were particularly poignant, as for me too, Lady Day had slipped away before I ever heard her sing.
Interspersed with the investigation of the death of India Blake, the changes in the lives of both Geordie and Maria, are flashes into Billy’s life, and Dora’s estranged son who she longs to see.
A terrific book. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
April 8, 2014
not really my style of book at all but thought I'd give it a go. Not a bad read really. Even though it was book 4, I hadn't read any of the others and all was ok.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews