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Invisible
Louise Bradshaw harbours a secret. One that she refuses to share. Her distant and unfriendly behaviour has made her a social outcast. Suddenly she is pulled out of her slump when she is befriended by Joe, a maverick colleague who attempts to help her engage. However, things take a dangerous turn in this debut novelette when Joe gets too close....
55 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2016
4 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Billy McLaughlin
15 books64 followersBilly McLaughlin is a 38 year old writer from Glasgow who has published four novels in the crime genre.
The first is Invisible, a novelette about a woman who hides the true nature of her private life from a colleague that she's befriended. However, he delves in further under the belief that he can help her with horrible consequences.
The second of his books, and the first in the DI Morris series, tells the story of a young woman who has lost her way and ends up on the streets. As her life continues to break under the rubble, she finds herself at the heart of a murder where she's the obvious suspect.
In the Wake of Death picks up six months after the events of Lost Girl where DI Morris is caught up in a mystery of a more personal nature. When Marc Adams, the brother of an old flame, is left for dead it is up to Morris to get to the bottom of the crime. However, something darker lies beneath the surface.
In March 2017 McLaughlin released The Dead of Winter, a 40k crime novella that tells the story of two missing children, one a baby and one the teenager next door. The ugly truth of a middle class community on the edge of Glasgow reveals how these people react to the crime and how they'll protect their own at any cost.
McLaughlin is working on the third DI Morris book The Daughter which will see a 2017 release.
Get updates from Billy McLaughlin;
www.twitter.com/bilbob20
www.facebook.com/BillyMcLaughlinBooks
The first is Invisible, a novelette about a woman who hides the true nature of her private life from a colleague that she's befriended. However, he delves in further under the belief that he can help her with horrible consequences.
The second of his books, and the first in the DI Morris series, tells the story of a young woman who has lost her way and ends up on the streets. As her life continues to break under the rubble, she finds herself at the heart of a murder where she's the obvious suspect.
In the Wake of Death picks up six months after the events of Lost Girl where DI Morris is caught up in a mystery of a more personal nature. When Marc Adams, the brother of an old flame, is left for dead it is up to Morris to get to the bottom of the crime. However, something darker lies beneath the surface.
In March 2017 McLaughlin released The Dead of Winter, a 40k crime novella that tells the story of two missing children, one a baby and one the teenager next door. The ugly truth of a middle class community on the edge of Glasgow reveals how these people react to the crime and how they'll protect their own at any cost.
McLaughlin is working on the third DI Morris book The Daughter which will see a 2017 release.
Get updates from Billy McLaughlin;
www.twitter.com/bilbob20
www.facebook.com/BillyMcLaughlinBooks
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 6, 2017
It will be difficult writing a review for this book without giving anything away. There's a huge intriguing story packed into this "novelette." My attention was grabbed from the beginning and held to the end of the story. I felt appropriate intense emotion over a certain situation and attribute that to the author writing effective character descriptions, scenes, and dialogue. There's a major twist that I'm still stunned over. Psychologically imaginative! I think this story could and should have been a bit longer. I would have liked to have gotten to know Brian more. I look forward to reading full-length novels written by this author.
February 13, 2017
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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Louise is an outcast and even her coworkers ignore her. Joe notices this and befriends her. They become close and talk constantly. Bruises start showing up on Louise and she begins missing work and Joe becomes concerned for her. Then the direction of the short story goes somewhere you don’t expect. Despite its short length of 31 pages, I could not put this story down. Billy McLaughlin does a great job pulling you in and making you want to know what is going to happen next! There are even short ‘chapters’ in this short story which seemed to help me read it even quicker!
I look forward to reading more by Billy McLaughlin in the near future! Use your lunch break to read Invisible!
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Louise is an outcast and even her coworkers ignore her. Joe notices this and befriends her. They become close and talk constantly. Bruises start showing up on Louise and she begins missing work and Joe becomes concerned for her. Then the direction of the short story goes somewhere you don’t expect. Despite its short length of 31 pages, I could not put this story down. Billy McLaughlin does a great job pulling you in and making you want to know what is going to happen next! There are even short ‘chapters’ in this short story which seemed to help me read it even quicker!
I look forward to reading more by Billy McLaughlin in the near future! Use your lunch break to read Invisible!
December 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this short story from a new author to me. Ideal for a tea break or if you are short for time and fancy something quick but gripping.
Hard to say to much without giving the plot away but for a short story it certainly packs in some shocks and surprises. Needless to say I devoured it in no time. Will certainly be checking out the authors other work after this thrilling taster.
Hard to say to much without giving the plot away but for a short story it certainly packs in some shocks and surprises. Needless to say I devoured it in no time. Will certainly be checking out the authors other work after this thrilling taster.
December 31, 2016
I read ‘In the Wake of Death’ by Billy a few weeks ago so when this short story came to my attention I was keen to give it a go.
A very short book that you could read in a coffee break, ideal to keep your attention and get swept up in a mystery.
Louise is the office worker who seems to feel the brunt of gossip, colleagues have taken a dislike to her and she appears not to care. Aloof or just plain unfriendly who knows?
Joe feels sorry for her and they strike up a slow build friendship .. nobody can understand why he bothers with her but he is drawn into her circumstances and believes there could be a sinister reason behind her behaviour.
Her relationship with her husband/kids and Joe’s with his partner are put to the test in this story which is filled with drama, it may only consist of 39 pages but it is jam-packed with twists and an unseen outcome.
Very enjoyable and well worth a read.
A very short book that you could read in a coffee break, ideal to keep your attention and get swept up in a mystery.
Louise is the office worker who seems to feel the brunt of gossip, colleagues have taken a dislike to her and she appears not to care. Aloof or just plain unfriendly who knows?
Joe feels sorry for her and they strike up a slow build friendship .. nobody can understand why he bothers with her but he is drawn into her circumstances and believes there could be a sinister reason behind her behaviour.
Her relationship with her husband/kids and Joe’s with his partner are put to the test in this story which is filled with drama, it may only consist of 39 pages but it is jam-packed with twists and an unseen outcome.
Very enjoyable and well worth a read.
August 12, 2018
A story of Deceit...Lies and A twisted mind...
Louise Bradshaw is working for a PR firm and has distanced herself from her colleagues .They find her cold ,aloof and in general poke fun at her or just ignore her.Jo is a gay man..a decent human being and feels sorry for her.Over the course of a few weeks he befriends her and in time the rest of the workforce stop making fun of her..But when one day Jo notices bruising he begins to think her husband is abusing her..Then when she is off sick he starts to get worried...From here things take a dark turn..as Jo finally goes to confront an abuser..Nothing is ever as it seems...and danger tinged with madness is about to blow hard and fast into the equasion...What happens next cannot be undone...A fast paced dark little story..where at the heart...lies deceit..darkness and a twisted mind...
Louise Bradshaw is working for a PR firm and has distanced herself from her colleagues .They find her cold ,aloof and in general poke fun at her or just ignore her.Jo is a gay man..a decent human being and feels sorry for her.Over the course of a few weeks he befriends her and in time the rest of the workforce stop making fun of her..But when one day Jo notices bruising he begins to think her husband is abusing her..Then when she is off sick he starts to get worried...From here things take a dark turn..as Jo finally goes to confront an abuser..Nothing is ever as it seems...and danger tinged with madness is about to blow hard and fast into the equasion...What happens next cannot be undone...A fast paced dark little story..where at the heart...lies deceit..darkness and a twisted mind...
March 23, 2017
I had no problem giving Invisible a five star rating.
Invisible, a short novella, packs a punch! It is pacy, great characterisation and a plot with twists. Just when you think you are getting there, the author hits you with another one. A good short story writer is hard to find. It takes a certain discipline that the author must adhere to and Billy McLaughlin has what it takes - he is a natural at it. I read it in one sitting - I had to find out what happened at the end! In it's entirety Invisible examines, friendship, betrayal, trust and so much more.
I have read other Billy McLaughlin books and thoroughly enjoyed them.
Invisible, a short novella, packs a punch! It is pacy, great characterisation and a plot with twists. Just when you think you are getting there, the author hits you with another one. A good short story writer is hard to find. It takes a certain discipline that the author must adhere to and Billy McLaughlin has what it takes - he is a natural at it. I read it in one sitting - I had to find out what happened at the end! In it's entirety Invisible examines, friendship, betrayal, trust and so much more.
I have read other Billy McLaughlin books and thoroughly enjoyed them.
March 10, 2018
Sometimes you never know
A woman sits on her own at lunchtimes till a man befriends her unsure of why she doesn't mix with everyone else.
What follows shows you that you never know someone and the shock of this.
A great short story very clever loved it!
A woman sits on her own at lunchtimes till a man befriends her unsure of why she doesn't mix with everyone else.
What follows shows you that you never know someone and the shock of this.
A great short story very clever loved it!
January 30, 2018
GRABBED MY IMAGINATION
This was a short read and I enjoyed it. The story was well constructed, the characters were real, even Louise appeared perfectly sane and you felt for her for most of the time. Quite an interesting ending, it wasn’t what I was expecting, but all the better for that, I like surprises.
This was a short read and I enjoyed it. The story was well constructed, the characters were real, even Louise appeared perfectly sane and you felt for her for most of the time. Quite an interesting ending, it wasn’t what I was expecting, but all the better for that, I like surprises.
October 16, 2017
A brilliant short story with an unexpected twist that keeps you turning the pages to the end. When Joe befriends Louise, the office pariah, he becomes worried about the bruises she keeps trying to hide. Is she a victim of domestic abuse? Determined to find out what is going on, he soon regrets the day he met her.
Well-written, with a story that draws you in right from the first pages, the author has created a tale of suspense that will keep you guessing. Highly recommend.
Well-written, with a story that draws you in right from the first pages, the author has created a tale of suspense that will keep you guessing. Highly recommend.
March 26, 2016
An excellent read
Would highly recommend this short story to anyone looking for a quick read. Very well written especially from a first time author. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope he's planning to publish a novel in the future
Would highly recommend this short story to anyone looking for a quick read. Very well written especially from a first time author. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope he's planning to publish a novel in the future
October 22, 2019
Louise is a hard person to get to know. Joe wants to change all of that, but sometimes dark secrets change all we know. This is a short read but I enjoyed the author's style and the way his characters intertwine.
March 7, 2024
This was a great novella, only a short story but it still managed to pack a lot in.
This would be great for when you have a spare hour and want something quick to read.
A story that makes you stop and think about how someone can convince you that what they say is true, but everything you believe, is lies.
Great storytelling from the author.
This would be great for when you have a spare hour and want something quick to read.
A story that makes you stop and think about how someone can convince you that what they say is true, but everything you believe, is lies.
Great storytelling from the author.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews