As Joffe Books announce their book of the week, they tell us they are over the moon to bring you the Joffe Books Prize-winning novel THE RAVEN’S MARK by Christie J. Newport. Don’t miss this award winning debut crime thriller with an incredible twist — out now for the special launch price of just £0.99 | $0.99.
Meet Beth Fellows, a Preston detective haunted by her mum’s murder when she was only four. Now Beth faces the biggest case of her career: Rose Danes’s throat was cut, her body discarded in a council estate. Seared into the teenage girl’s skin is the image of a raven.
Six years ago, another girl was attacked. The victim survived but now languishes in a coma. She also had a raven burned onto her body. Beth must break all the rules to stop any more girls from suffering. But will her everything be enough to stop a sick murderer
Gripping and unexpected.’ Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author of The Last House on the Street
‘Taut, pacy and gritty story that kept me guessing the whole way through.’ Philippa East, author of Little White Lies and I’ll Never Tell
*Please note that launch prices are available for a limited time only. Please check all price offers are live and available in your location before purchasing.
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE RAVEN’S MARK BY CHRISTIE J. NEWPORT FOR £0.99 | $0.99.
ANGEL AND THE NUN by Roger Silverwood £0.99/$0.99
DETECTIVE MICHAEL ANGEL IS BACK IN A BRAND-NEW MYSTERY It’s a cold foggy night on the Yorkshire moors when a priest is discovered dead. With just five nuns living in the convent and no sign of a break-in, Detective Inspector Angel assumes this will be a straightforward case. Can Angel catch the killer nun before any more innocent lives are lost? Or has he finally met his match
GIRL WITH SECRETS by Carol Rivers £0.99/$0.99
A wartime saga by a SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR.
1938. After her father makes an ill-advised investment, nine-year-old Daisy is swept from the country into crowded London. While her family try to settle, whispers about war grow louder. With schools closed, Daisy listens to conversations around her and learns that adults, as well as children, have secrets.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY by Emma Bennet £0.99/$0.99
Come along, let’s get swept away to to Barcelona in this heartwarming feel-good cozy romance. Iris is falling in love with the father of her child. The only problem is she never told him they had a daughter. He broke her heart once. Iris must learn to trust all over again if she has any chance of happiness. Well worth a reach. Cozy anything warms my heart
NEWS
CHRISTIE J. NEWPORT, WINNER OF THE 2021 JOFFE BOOKS PRIZE FOR THE RAVEN’S MARK, ON HER WRITING JOURNEY
With The Raven’s Mark, I wanted to write an instantly captivating story from a detective’s perspective. Not least because I had always wanted to be a detective, but never had the good health to follow that path. Being a detective and being an author are the two careers that have always called to me. I have written since I was a child, making up stories as a form of escapism, creativity, and exploration.
The Raven’s Mark allowed me to indulge in all of that by escaping into the world of Detective Beth Fellows and her team.
As I wrote The Raven’s Mark, the characters jumped free of the page and began dictating how the story should develop. Of course, at times I needed to steer them and realign the story, but they followed their own paths. Sometimes, I feel that my books hit a point when the characters begin to take over. There is no better feeling for me, because when that happens, I know I am onto something.
I wanted to write Beth as a strong mixed-race detective who is also a gay woman. It was important to me that she be very diverse and to have her navigate her professional world with poise and confidence. I also intended to give her an equally diverse team that reflects society.
I submitted The Raven’s Mark to the Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour and thought no more about it.
Then one day I received a call while out in the car with my wife. At first I thought it was a cold caller, but then Emma Grundy Haigh introduced herself as the Editorial Director at Joffe Books, and something clicked . . .
I asked if I could phone from the next service station. It was the longest fifteen miles we had ever driven. I called back and Emma told me that I had won the competition! What a feeling that was! Not only had I won, but Dorothy Koomson had chosen my book. The judges — Emma, CEO Jasper Joffe, agent Susan Yearwood and of course Dorothy Koomson — had unanimously chosen me.
When we finished driving was I able to tell my parents and sister that I had just won the Joffe Books Prize and a two-book deal. There were hugs, congratulations, whooping and some tears. After many years of being in and out of hospital and intensive care, it was incredibly special to deliver such great news for a change.
Then Emma called out of the blue to tell me that Audible would be supporting the Joffe Books Prize with a £25,000 audiobook offer and that I would be the first beneficiary. I was in utter shock, and my wife Amy almost passed out.
Now my book is going out into the world. When I first flicked through a physical copy an overwhelming feeling rose in my chest — inside were my words, my story. I had written a book and it was in my hands and soon it will be in the hands of readers.
I can’t begin to explain what that means to me, and I am so very grateful to be where I am today.
I hope the raven flies and I hope you all enjoy the ride just as much as I have.
CLICK TO BUY THE RAVEN’S MARK BY CHRISTIE J. NEWPORT FOR £0.99|$0.99 .
More information on the books available here