With Courage With Fear

Alicia Friend Investigation #3

by A.D. Davies

Detective Sergeant Alicia Friend: perky, insubordinate, utterly brilliant.

Since returning from assignment in America, Alicia Friend has been grounded at a desk, her new boss at the elite Serious Crime Agency unwilling to risk her in the field. But when her former partner, newly-promoted Detective Chief Inspector Murphy requests her input, the SCA cannot refuse.

It only involves interviewing a young terror suspect, after all. What can go wrong?

But Alicia backs Murphy’s suspicion and links the crime to a seemingly unconnected incident. Then a third attack occurs, and there is no denying it: someone is coordinating these vicious incidents, and the endgame is building.

Back in full flow, the sometimes-annoyingly-perky detective summons all her brain power to push the investigation toward a seemingly benign cult of rehabilitated violent offenders, hindered at every turn by the group’s lawyer, by the detective seeking to replace her, and by a hierarchy as interested in politics as they are in catching the killer.

With Courage With Fear sees DS Alicia Friend face her most devious serial killer yet – one who may be even smarter than her.

The Alicia Friend Series

To follow Alicia’s journey through the dark world of murder, it is encouraged to read all the novels, but each books main plot is self-contained, so reading order is not 100% necessary.

1: His First His Second

2: In Black In White

3: With Courage With Fear

*Note: all Alicia Friend novels contain violence and many of the less-severe swear words

Author Questions

Q: Alicia Friend is kind of an oddball, isn’t she?

A: I’d say she’s unique. She knows who she wants to be and she doesn’t compromise. Most police officers she meets are dour and grumpy, and she sees how that impacts their personal lives. She doesn’t want to be like that so radiates the sort of perkiness that sometimes grates on her fellow officers. But it’s who she is. That said, With Courage With Fear picks up with her in a “down” place. Down for Alicia, anyway.

Q: So who is your ideal reader?

A: Fans of serial killer books in general. If you like James Patterson or Steven James, Mark Billingham or Ian Rankin, Alicia Friend’s series could be worth checking out.

Q: What levels of violence and bad language are there?

A: Some of the violence is quite graphic, With Courage With Fear in particular has some distressing moments, but the language goes as strong as references to one’s posterior and some faecal synonyms, if you get my meaning. No “F” or “C” words, as I don’t think Alicia’s audience appreciates that.

Q: Unlike your other series?

A: No, my Adam Park private detective series (starting with The Dead and the Missing) is very popular, but it somewhat darker, with harsher language. My UK stand-alone Three Years Dead is even grittier.

Genres: Crime

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

A.D. Davies grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire. In high school his ambition was to be a writer of horror novels, although in adult life he became an avid fan of crime fiction. He also dabbles in action-adventure.

After a long stint in an unsatisfying job, he attended the University of Leeds where he attained a degree in creative writing.

He is well-travelled, his favourite destinations being New Zealand and Vietnam, which have influenced his writing immensely, especially obvious in his Adam Park novel.

For now, however, globe-trotting is taking a back-seat to raising his two children and writing, although he hopes to one day combine all three.

He now resides in Staffordshire, UK, with his wife and two children.

Connect in the following ways:
Twitter: @authoraddavies
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoraddavies
Website: www.addavies.com (including email list sign-up)

Do say hi.

Reviews

[Sandy Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

I have been winding my way through allof mr.Davies' books. I haveound that whatever the genre his writing is so good I cannot put it down. I have already acknowledged that all work or other life necessities will not be accomplished until I have read the last of Mr. Davies' sentences. His writing is up there with Dean Koontz's best works and his plots are more believably complex than Steven King.
Thank you Mr. Davies for giving me tens of hours of entertainment

[Janet Cardillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too confusing at times

I really like the character Alicia, but I find it difficult to believe anyone would put up with her for very long. I read the first 2 books and found it difficult to get into this book. Too many characters. Didn't understand the plot at all. May be the end of our friend...ship. the writing was good. So kept me til the end.

[James L. Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!!

I must say the author has a great intriguing plotting imagination. I really enjoyed this book plus the other two previous books. I will continue to read this series. These books are page ( I can not put this book down ) turners.

[Lucas Kelly]

Great book and series

[CHERI · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I don't know why I have to use twenty words to say it's a good book and you should read it

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the quirkiness of Alicia Friend. She is a different kind of detective and now she is very pregnant and is having a terrible time with her new supervisor, Janine Paulson. But, DCI Murphy is still with her and together they manage to get to the solution alluding the others on the task force. Alicia still visits her baby's father, Richard, the serial killer who she spent time with in the first book and managed to get pregnant before she found out he was in fact a serial killer. His daughter, Katie, plays a role in this book but only around the edges until the end anyway. Apparently, Katie will be more involved in the next adventure. I love the writing style of Mr. Davies and hope he writes another Adam Park book soon. His grittiness and the interesting aspects of Leeds makes for an interesting set of books.