New cover. Career conman Reuben Littlejohn is determined to go straight after his latest stint in prison - until he stumbles upon a plot to kill his parole officer Lucy, with whom he is madly in lust, and is blackmailed into becoming an accomplice.
Never have his skills in lying and cheating been so vital, as he tries to save Lucy's life, and his own - without his wife finding out.
After many years as a freelance writer, I'm now hooked on fiction writing and love being an indie author. I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia - beautiful one day, perfect the next - where we complain if the temperature drops to below 14 degrees Centigrade.
I'd love you to come and visit me on my blog http://storey-lines.com/ and if you subscribe to my readers' group (there's a form on the home page) you'll receive a FREE e-book of my comedy crime novel How Not To Commit Murder.
My other books are romantic comedy Perfect Sex, an e-book of four short comedy/mystery stories Comedy Shorts, noir romance novella An Affair With Danger, memoir Making The Breast Of It - Breast Cancer Stories of Humour and Joy and suspense-noir A Time For Penance.
As you can see, I love writing in a variety of genres. After writing An Affair With Danger, I realised how much I enjoy writing edgy, suspenseful stories with flawed characters who are often the underdogs and frequently don't act like heroes.
My latest novel A Time For Penance, published in May 2017, is about a woman who travels 20 years back in time to undo a murder she committed.
I'm a certified book nerd (too many books, not enough time!) and am a useful team member on quiz nights for the literary questions - but not much else. When I'm not writing or reading, I enjoy hiking and chilling out at the beach, which is five minutes drive from my home.
My partner and I walked the full Camino Frances pilgrimage across northern Spain in September 2016. It was a life-changing experience which will satisfy my appetite for adventure for a long time.
Although I have attended many workshops and seminars over the years on various aspects of creative writing, the one thing that I believe has been of the most value to me in my writing is reading a wide variety of books. As well as a good writing critique partner who'll give you honest feedback, which I'm also lucky enough to have.
I liked it so much excitement but there were errors about Alec and Alex, same person but for some reason the author was using Alex instead. besides that, I like it.
I didn't really mean to do it....Ahhhh how I love Reuben! I have never been a big fan of crime novels, but this one blends just the right amount of comedy with the right about of crime. Reuben is a WONDERFUL character. Seeing his struggles big and small was an enjoyment. However, Frank is evil! I guess you can't reform them all right. It's up to Reuben.....can he prevent a murder or is it pointless? This story keeps you guessing to the very end. Very well written and paced great. Totally recommending!
How Not to Commit Murder - a review by Rosemary Kenny
It's often said the path to true love is seldom straight - never more true than in Reuben Littlejohn's case!
Ex-criminal and white collar conman Reuben is married to Carlene, a demanding, (but rich) woman who doesn't trust him when he's modelling swimming trunks - with busty beach-babes to ogle - or staying out til all hours, supposedly providing a shoulder to cry on for his (imaginary), friend Finn, when actually being embroiled in a plot to murder Lucy his parole officer, whom he's got the hots for.
Will Reuben get back on the straight and narrow and free himself from the clutches of murderous 'Mr Big', Frank, without alerting Carlene that he's slipping easily back into wicked ways and be able to save Lucy - you'll have to read Robin Storey's amusing will-he-won't-he novel to find out!
If there was ever such a thing as a well-meaning criminal, then Reuben, the central character, is just that. The problem is other people don't get hit good intentions at all. After coming out of prison and marrying his prison visitor who is able to provide for him, one of his former fellow inmates, Frank, catches up with him and he is blackmailed into becoming involved in a plot to kill his parole officer Lucy. Given little choice but to comply, Ruben has to go more than the extra mile to ensure that his parole officer remains unharmed, yet at the same time be seen by Frank to be fully co-operating. It's a perfect blend of comedy arising from a complex situation. Reuben has no boundaries to what he will do, in this desperate situation. A charming book that warmed my heart.
Marty Langenbergon September 18, 2017 I liked this book a lot. For me, it was never in doubt how this would end, but that's okay. The way that we get to the end is what's important and there were enough twists and turns to keep me keen. Well done! BUT, I'm convinced that humour is like beauty - it's in the eye of the beholder, or in this case, the reader. Obviously, not my kind of humour. Again, that's okay. It's a darn good yarn.
This books’ main character Reuben is someone I alternately thought was a “pig”, a sort of a Ziggy character with the black cloud following him, a diamond in the rough, and a guy with a good heart. The author made me root for him.
The book also had a ton of humor! I laughed a lot. The story was complex and well written. It was also well edited. I would recommend it.
This wasn't my favourite book but I did like it. It had some interesting parts but seemed to drag in a lot of places. I don't know what I would do to make me like it more but I have read other books by this author that I liked better, but I did like the story idea.
im not a huge murder mystery fan but I am glad I read this one. I loved the comidic timming. The book has a great flow but lagged some much needed details I was dying to know. 3.5*
This suspense will keep you page turning as you follow Rueben who tries to go straight after being released from prison. The system keeps trying to ensnarl him. It's a fun real and well written. If you like suspense stories, you will like this book.