Protection Song

by Bill Randall

Ian Wren is a successful music producer, with a skill for spotting raw talent. When he meets young singer-songwriter Ellie Beck, he knows he’s found something special. But Ellie is running from her past, and it catches up with her faster than either of them can imagine. Ian is drawn into a web of lies, betrayal and violence that stretches far beyond the music industry. As the hunt for the truth intensifies, what will Ian be prepared to lose, and what can he salvage, as he risks both life and livelihood to solve the crime at the heart of Protection Song?

296 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2025

Reviews

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceptional debut psychological thriller has everything you could want: mystery, thrills, secrets, and twists. Together, these elements create an amazing book that will keep you captivated until the very end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with genuine insights that make the story engaging and realistic. The chapters are told from the perspectives of Ian, Marlon, and Ellie's diary.

The author skillfully explores the psychological aspects of the characters, allowing readers to empathise with their thoughts and anxieties. Tension builds throughout the narrative as the author keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the shocking climax, which is revealed at the end.

This is definitely a worthwhile read, full of mystery!

[Moz Copestake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great debut novel from Bill. I didn't expect too much but the main characters, a sound studio engineer and his trainee, each have chapters written in the first person. A lot of the plot is delivered in conversations.
The engineer is an empath who, I think is broadly based on the author. He describes his audio work in geometric, sound sculpting terms, not too techie but an interesting insight into producing good music.
That said, the main plot is a thriller, searching for reasons behind mysterious deaths and talking to dangerous people; there are a lot of them on the edges of the music business.
The trainee gets involved, or is involved tangentially anyway. He is young and niaive, sometimes his well meaning actions are not too helpful.
The characters and story unravel slowly, maybe a few too many characters who I found hard to figure out how they all connected and some added little to the tale - although they were well realised, each having a distinct personality. There are ebbs and flos, disappointments, red herrings but we weave towards a dramatic finalé where it all becomes clearer.
Looking forward to the second novel.

[Riette Beling · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible start to a writing career for Bill Randall! I was invested from the start, and I felt Ian's pain and anguish as he went through the book. I felt it was incredible that he had this pull towards Ellie and her story. Marlon was such a good edition, also showcasing who Ellie was truly. I loved the music aspect and how involved the storytelling was about setup and gigs. The mystery kept coming, adding in new characters as the story developed. I did not figure it out until the end. A massive bonus is the song at the end. It just rounded it off nicely, and it felt like I personally knew the people.
Thank you to Booksirens for my ARC it was amazing, guys!

[Clive Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started The Protection Song, I consumed it within three days. I was gripped, enthused and, so involved with the well-created characters, I was on the edge hoping they’d make it through one more scene.

The book holds its cards close and gives up its secrets sparingly but enough to keep me hooked. Every character has a story and it feels each is a piece in the puzzle to be twisted, turned and placed to form the right picture. Distractions divert the perception of the reader and keep you guessing who is behind the tragedy and why.

From cameo roles to the mainstays of this tale, every character has their place and their background. Most are wrestling between their pasts and the challenge presented in the moment to move forward, to find who they are.

As the story neared its conclusion, I couldn’t read it fast enough to sate my desire for the satisfaction of a story well told.

[Soumya Purohit · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this was my first time getting a mix of music industry and crime thriller, and that was really a creative narrative to write a story. But I felt a bit off at some places because the characters' back story was something I wanted to know more about. The premise was discussed very nicely and in a detailed manner, I appreciate that.

What exactly happened and why, that's the main point of the story. Ian's dedication to find the reasons went to a verge of obsession but i guess that's the way for him to cope up with the death of Ellie and finding himself a closure. I liked Marlon too. Overall, for a debutant writer it was a nice work.

Thank you Booksiren for the free ARC. All the views are my own.

[David Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is not a keen reader, I found this book difficult to put down. It was captivating and it drew me in like a moth to a light and had me hooked from the first chapter.. The characters were fantastic, and I was surprised at how quickly I felt like I knew all of them, I enjoyed the references to an area that I know very well. The story was executed brilliantly, and despite several guesses along the way, I never figured out who was responsible and was quite surprised when it was presented. I loved the last line of the book and the sentiment of hope. It was a fantastic read, and I loved everything about it.

[Rachel Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this fantastic thriller. I was immediately pulled into the world of Ian and Ellie and was captivated right through to the thrilling climax. It was refreshing to follow an investigation through the eyes of a hip music producer and the multiple viewpoints kept the pace tight and engaging. An excellent debut!

[Dan Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a music producer, it was refreshing to read a book where music creation is at the heart of the story. The writing pulled me in completely—I’m already looking forward to reading more of Bill’s work.