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Write Me A Murder
When the lines between reality and fiction become blurred, the results can be deadly. An escape from the trauma of her recent past heralds the beginning of a new life for Investigative Psychologist, Dr Carolyn Harkin. With a burgeoning career as a bestselling crime fiction author, a consulting role with the police service and taking ownership of the legendary Langford Villa and Uther, its Irish Wolfhound guardian, everything is finally on track.
Until she’s offered the chance to tutor a writing class in the nearby Clotsworthy House.
There, two strangers have stories to tell, each sharing a dark connection to her past. As her old cases become the subject of one man’s ‘fiction’,
the other’s work reconnects her with a teenage crush who may not be what he seems.Now, she must navigate the new chapters of her life as they intertwine with two dangerous adversaries bringing her face to face with the ghosts of her past and threatening to be her own unravelling.
Until she’s offered the chance to tutor a writing class in the nearby Clotsworthy House.
There, two strangers have stories to tell, each sharing a dark connection to her past. As her old cases become the subject of one man’s ‘fiction’,
the other’s work reconnects her with a teenage crush who may not be what he seems.Now, she must navigate the new chapters of her life as they intertwine with two dangerous adversaries bringing her face to face with the ghosts of her past and threatening to be her own unravelling.
455 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2024
8 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
James Murphy
6 books20 followersJames Murphy is a writer working within the genre of Crime Fiction.
His first novel in the Terror Trilogy, The Rise of Terror, was first published in 2016 and achieved a second print run with Excalibur Press in 2017. Having been met with excellent reviews, James has since achieved Professional Membership Status with the Irish Writers Centre and has recently released the second book in the Terror Trilogy, The Terror Within.
After obtaining a Single Honours English Degree from Queen’s University Belfast, he embarked on a teaching career, first entering the classroom almost 20 years ago. In the intervening years he has become a successful educationalist, holding the offices of Head of English Department, Vice
Principal and School Principal along the way and guiding schools both in Northern Ireland and across the UK to leading edge status.
It was after a visit to a Medium and a well-timed word from his wife that gave the west Belfast man the confidence to get writing, and he’s never looked back since.
His first novel in the Terror Trilogy, The Rise of Terror, was first published in 2016 and achieved a second print run with Excalibur Press in 2017. Having been met with excellent reviews, James has since achieved Professional Membership Status with the Irish Writers Centre and has recently released the second book in the Terror Trilogy, The Terror Within.
After obtaining a Single Honours English Degree from Queen’s University Belfast, he embarked on a teaching career, first entering the classroom almost 20 years ago. In the intervening years he has become a successful educationalist, holding the offices of Head of English Department, Vice
Principal and School Principal along the way and guiding schools both in Northern Ireland and across the UK to leading edge status.
It was after a visit to a Medium and a well-timed word from his wife that gave the west Belfast man the confidence to get writing, and he’s never looked back since.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 27, 2025
A tense all encompassing crime psychological thriller mostly set in N.I. ( Antrim ) where our lead lady Carolyn Harkin has moved back to and as a successful author is holding a ‘writing workshop’…..however via one of the attendees she soon realises he knows more about her than he should….Carolyn also re meets her first love who seems to now be the perfect man, but is he?…her past is now again her present and as the story unfolds our questions are answered…and the plot (s) thicken
A really well written story, filled with characters, good descriptions easy to ‘get into’ also a very valid look at toxic masculinity and the treatment of women, I found this really well highlighted and sincerely brought into the story/book
I liked the ending, so much so am starting Book 2 to see what Carolyn is up to next
A new author for me and a great find ( thanks Philip Jordan )
A really well written story, filled with characters, good descriptions easy to ‘get into’ also a very valid look at toxic masculinity and the treatment of women, I found this really well highlighted and sincerely brought into the story/book
I liked the ending, so much so am starting Book 2 to see what Carolyn is up to next
A new author for me and a great find ( thanks Philip Jordan )
February 26, 2024
A killer read
A well plotted police procedural, psychological thriller that ekes out the tension until it’s tighter than catgut. A brilliant debut for Carolyn Harkin and a welcome edition to the growing library of NI set crime novels.
A well plotted police procedural, psychological thriller that ekes out the tension until it’s tighter than catgut. A brilliant debut for Carolyn Harkin and a welcome edition to the growing library of NI set crime novels.
February 24, 2024
This is a clever idea for a novel featuring crime authors getting drawn into investigating crime. Although none of the characters are all that likeable apart from Uther there is a lot of interesting stuff in this book and a couple of delightfully nerdy references as well. 4.5* from me
March 4, 2024
Wow, that was something else. It's intense, it's riveting and it's an extremely well-written and clever story.
Carolyn is back, ostensibly to lead a writer's class and also assist the police in a consultant role. Things take an interesting turn when two of the participants in the class divulge stories which seem to have links to events in Carolyn's past. One in particular results in a kind of cat and mouse type game. It is so cleverly done that I found this so hard to put down. The need to read more to see what was coming was constant throughout. The nastiness of one of the characters just leaped off the page and I devoured this looking forward to their comeuppance.
Although it's a long enough book, I didn't notice it and I didn't think there was any unnecessary padding throughout. It's certainly put this author in the spotlight for me and I will look out for more from him in the future.
Carolyn is back, ostensibly to lead a writer's class and also assist the police in a consultant role. Things take an interesting turn when two of the participants in the class divulge stories which seem to have links to events in Carolyn's past. One in particular results in a kind of cat and mouse type game. It is so cleverly done that I found this so hard to put down. The need to read more to see what was coming was constant throughout. The nastiness of one of the characters just leaped off the page and I devoured this looking forward to their comeuppance.
Although it's a long enough book, I didn't notice it and I didn't think there was any unnecessary padding throughout. It's certainly put this author in the spotlight for me and I will look out for more from him in the future.
May 13, 2024
More of a 4.5
This is the first book by this author I have read and it definitely won't be the last.
This was a very clever psychological thriller with the main plot of crime author/criminal psychologist Dr Carolyn Harkin being terrorised by what appears to be her stalker back from the dead whilst she leads a writing class and assisting the PSNI with cases.
The only reason I deducted half a star was that due to the multiple points of view style it wasn't always initially clear who's point of view you were reading, especially if it was Carolyn or Bella so was discombobulated a few times till I'd worked it out.
It was definitely refreshing to read something set "back home in Northern Ireland.
Looking forward to the next book.
This is the first book by this author I have read and it definitely won't be the last.
This was a very clever psychological thriller with the main plot of crime author/criminal psychologist Dr Carolyn Harkin being terrorised by what appears to be her stalker back from the dead whilst she leads a writing class and assisting the PSNI with cases.
The only reason I deducted half a star was that due to the multiple points of view style it wasn't always initially clear who's point of view you were reading, especially if it was Carolyn or Bella so was discombobulated a few times till I'd worked it out.
It was definitely refreshing to read something set "back home in Northern Ireland.
Looking forward to the next book.
March 29, 2024
A great page turner based on the premise of a criminologist getting involved in a real-life murder drama. Full of inventive shifts between first and third person to keep the reader on their toes, along with an array of realistic characters, this promises to be the first in a series of novels featuring investigative psychologist Carolyn Harker. James Murphy teaches crime writing so you know he can handle a complicated plot. The tension ratchets up nicely and the pace quickens just when you want it to. What is impressive is that the characters sound like real people and avoid slipping into the stereotypes typical of many psychological thrillers. I am looking forward to the next one already.
August 1, 2024
My first book by this author, & it certainly won’t be the last if this psychological thriller is anything to go by.
Ex-DI, Dr Carolyn Harkin is a successful crime author/criminal psychologist & steps in to run a weekly writing class for a friend. She is also moving back home to Antrim into her dream childhood property as well as buying an Irish Wolfhound puppy - all pertinent plot points. Together with Bella, who she meets on the course & is also helping to renovate her house, she becomes embroiled in a real life criminal investigation which has more than a touch of life imitating art or is it art imitating life?
Don’t be put off by the number of chapters, they are short & flit between characters as well as first & third person, so as a reader you are kept on your toes. The characters are very believable & the pacy writing style makes this a very enjoyable read. It is a complicated plot but not overly so, there is enough ‘downtime’ to let you catch your breath. I hadn’t finished reading, yet I was hoping there was going to be a sequel even if just to see more of Uther but then that ending! Book 2 incoming? Pretty please Mr Murphy.
Ex-DI, Dr Carolyn Harkin is a successful crime author/criminal psychologist & steps in to run a weekly writing class for a friend. She is also moving back home to Antrim into her dream childhood property as well as buying an Irish Wolfhound puppy - all pertinent plot points. Together with Bella, who she meets on the course & is also helping to renovate her house, she becomes embroiled in a real life criminal investigation which has more than a touch of life imitating art or is it art imitating life?
Don’t be put off by the number of chapters, they are short & flit between characters as well as first & third person, so as a reader you are kept on your toes. The characters are very believable & the pacy writing style makes this a very enjoyable read. It is a complicated plot but not overly so, there is enough ‘downtime’ to let you catch your breath. I hadn’t finished reading, yet I was hoping there was going to be a sequel even if just to see more of Uther but then that ending! Book 2 incoming? Pretty please Mr Murphy.
July 26, 2024
Wow! A clever book featuring a Crime Writer teaching a crime writing workshop, where students are encouraged to come up with chapters for their own murderous book! Dr Carolyn Harkin is the teacher and she has started to assist the PSNI as a consultant working on their cases. The book is set in Antrim, Northern Ireland. I loved the friendship that formed between Carolyn and Bella along with a gorgeous Wolfhound called Uther that Carolyn owns. The book is told in different points of views. It is a page turning and fast paced read full of plot twists that come together for a dramatic ending! I would be more than happy to read book 2!! I highly recommend this book.
July 28, 2024
a whip-sharp psychological thriller - it builds at the start developing Dr Carolyn Harper as an advisor to The Northern Ireland Police Service (PSNI) and the writing class she sets up only to discover, that her former tormentor / stalker has returned.
Murphy hits all the right notes without falling into the pitfalls of cliche and delivers a fast-paced thriller.
recommended. A perfect holiday read.
And, hopefully, the start of a series featuring Harper.
Murphy hits all the right notes without falling into the pitfalls of cliche and delivers a fast-paced thriller.
recommended. A perfect holiday read.
And, hopefully, the start of a series featuring Harper.
July 11, 2024
What a creepy read this was, but very good. So many characters are not what they seem. Very well written. At times I had to stop reading due to what I thought might happen next, but I would then have to keep reading to see what did happen. Well done on a great book.
May 26, 2024
A gripping storyline, interesting characters and a fast pace make this a great read. You'll be fascinated to meet Dr Carolyn Harkin and have to hold your breath as she faces death and danger. I just can't wait for a follow-up.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews