A Bloodthirsty Scrape and a Midnight Escape

by Simon Michael Prior

Shiraz Jones had the perfect New Year’s Eve soirée planned: dazzling guests, flowing champagne, and her hair styled to perfection. What she didn’t anticipate was a dead supermodel in the shower.

Now, her glittering life of film premieres and celebrity parties is overshadowed by police questions and whispers of scandal. To make matters worse, her best friend is hiding something, her husband seems more focused on securing a new superstar than supporting her, and, to cap it all, her beloved curling wand is missing.

Reluctantly swapping stilettos for sleuthing, Shiraz tries to identify the killer, only to find the biggest secrets lie with the people she trusts most. And when a shocking betrayal shakes her world, she faces an impossible decision.

Should she hide the truth, or flee London before the clock strikes midnight, and she becomes the next victim?

106 pages, Hardcover

Published January 7, 2025

About the author

Simon Michael Prior experiences constant adventures, hazards and exciting situations as a marine rescue skipper and a commander of rescue operations.

Although Simon is absolutely nothing like Murph, Redcliff Marine Rescue’s burly, grumpy coxswain, many of the scenes in his stories are inspired by events he encounters during his duties.

Simon has also lived on two boats and sunk one of them; sold houses, street signs, Indian food and paper bags for a living; visited almost fifty countries and lived in three; qualified as a scuba diving instructor; nearly killed himself learning to wakeboard and built his own house without the benefit of an instruction manual.

He now lives in it by the sea with his wife and twin daughters, where he spends his time regurgitating his experiences on paper before he has so many more that he forgets them.

Reviews

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shiraz's New Year's Eve plans are falling apart. Her party's star guest has just dropped out (mainly because she was murdered) and now she's stuck investigating a murder because her best friend discovered the body. The year is going out with a bang all right.

Perhaps I got off on the wrong foot with Shiraz. It's always irritated me when the haute monde summons the help with a snap of the fingers. And, Shiraz's constantly name-dropping brands felt childish and superficial. Moreover, the surprise twist was an easy spot and further exasperated me. Finally, the condescending and dismissive attitude of the oh-so-important husband made me wonder how Shiraz stayed married to the ignorant pig for eighteen years.

Alas, it's not the series for me.

[S. Bavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a prequel to Simon Michael Prior’s Marine Rescue series starring Shiraz Jones.
In the main series, main character Shiraz often refers back to her vapid previous lifestyle as arm candy to a rich public relations executive in London. The novella shows this period of her life, which is full of insincere relationships, designer labels and non-stop partying, all with the goal of being seen to be in the company of the “right” people. It’s a world away from Redcliffe-on-Sea and she fondly remembers vacations there with her parents and dog. In the main series she has relocated to the seaside town and is qualifying to work with the marine rescue.
In the prequel, the murder of a fellow model throws her hectic life into disarray and she starts amateur sleuthing, determined to figure out who did the dastardly deed! In this way we see the seeds of her Redcliffe-on-Sea personality beginning to germinate.
I enjoyed this prequel novella, but not quite as much as the main series. It does fill in some gaps that are hinted at in the amateur detective series and will no doubt be enjoyed by anyone who has already read those books, but I did not find the glamorous lifestyle of the rich and famous as interesting to read about, and the short length of the novella made for less depth and a less-satisfying mystery than I am used to in this series.

[Julie Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable.

I've loved this author's travel memoirs, and was very interested to try this series; something a bit different. I came to the prequel first, and wasn't exactly sure it was going to be my cup of tea.  With an engaging first chapter, I soon got quite engrossed.

It continued great.  A very enjoyable, quick read (although quite substantial for a short book).

Models, the high life, gowns that cost more than a house is not really my thing.... but it looks like Shiraz is having an about-turn, so I'm sure I'll enjoy the rest of the series even more where she gets away from all that to revisit childhood favourite place Redcliff-upon-Sea.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this prequel. It’s a real page-turner. The Shiraz Jones Marine Rescue Mystery series has provided me with hours of delightful escapism filled with intriguing mysteries. This prequel shared how the witty, wonderful, and warmhearted Shiraz lived before something significant happened, causing her to move to a quaint English fishing village where her many adventures continue. I look forward to reading many more books by the talented Simon Michael Prior.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun book and I recommend it. Shiraz was a model and now she was married to a PR agency owner much older than her. Her friend turns up at her home and tells her she found the body of another model dead. Shiraz becomes involved after she finds out Carla left the scene and did not go to the police. This was a great start to a new series and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

[Linda Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting to read after reading the exciting mystery books in the series set in Redcliff on Sea. Previously we only knew that Shiraz had left the celebrity lifestyle behind in London. And it’s no wonder that she did! A short, fun read with a twist.
Do read the rest of the series of intriguing murder mysteries, involving Redcliff Marine Rescue Team.

[Carol Nauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Shiraz series and the prequel, although short, does not disappoint. In this book we get a peak at Shiraz's life as a model in London and what triggered her move to Redcliff-upon-Sea. Add a mysterious murder of a model and Michael Simon Prior scores another home run.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous prequel to the Shiraz Jones series. It provides a pleasing back story, which fills in a lot of loose ends and explains why she arrives in Redcliff on Sea at the start of A Murderous Clamour At Redcliff Manor. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Stef O'connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy and enjoyable read. This is a short story but had enough in it to keep me reading until I finished it.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting