More than Ashes: A tale of truth and lies

by Isabella Muir

When a community is threatened does it come together or split apart? In this second novella of the Sussex Crime series the people of Tamarisk Bay are learning to deal with tragedy. It is one year after the start of the Second World War and coastal communities are having to cope with relentless German bombings. Hardship is affecting families on every level, from food rationing to clothing shortages. Everyone is trying their best to make do. Then an item of clothing turns up in the Latimer household, just a short time after a gentleman’s outfitters is bombed. Nearby towns and cities are experiencing looting on a grand scale and there is talk of severe punishments being handed out – a lifetime in prison; maybe even hanging. Has a crime been committed? Can Sergeant Snow root out the truth before the close community of Tamarisk Bay is split apart by suspicion and accusations?

This heart-warming range of novellas explores life for many of the characters in Isabella Muir’s popular Sussex Crime series. Pick up your copy of More than Ashes to discover the story behind the Sussex Crime characters in this thought-provoking tale and look out for the other novellas in the Divided we Fall, Waiting for Sunshine, The Harvest and Choices.

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2019

About the author

Isabella is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of family life from the Second World War years through to the 1960s. Researching all aspects of life back then formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then she has gone on to publish six novels, three novellas and two short story collections.

Her love of Italy shines through all her work and, as she is half-Italian, she has enjoyed bringing all her crime novels to an Italian audience with Italian translations, which are very well received.

Her latest novel, After the Storm, is the second novel in a new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi who is escaping from tragedy in Rome, only to arrive in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to come face-to-face with it once more.

Her first Sussex Crime Mystery series features young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot. Janie uses all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.

Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.
Find out more about Isabella and her books by visiting her website at: www.isabellamuir.com

Reviews

[Trick Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of a three book series by "Isabella Muir",who everything I have read of here had not been a disappointment at all! In this short story,I read in one night,you are taken into the lives of the people who live in this small town near the sea in England during WWII. It shows you how a very upstanding citizen of the town can go wrong with the best of intentions. You get a glimpse of each characters personality and how they are involved in the crime that hits their small town. The characters they become real to you and you didn't even know it happened. You will enjoy this story and it has you thing at the end! Off to book number three,keep it up Isabella Muir!

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accurate description of what meant to live in London during WWII with food shortages and coupons, bomb shelters, lack of coal, petrol and everything we usually take for granted. The plot has a totally unexpected ending and it was a really enjoyable reading!
I received a free copy of this book from the author/Bookfunnel in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1940 Tamarisk Bay. How did looted goods end up in ARP warden Latimer's home.
An enjoyble well-written historical novella