Firing Line by Mike Hollow

No Comments on Firing Line by Mike Hollow

firinglineGoodreads ~ Purchase ~ Sample

1940s – England

Flames leap skyward from a blitzed factory in West Ham as an air raid destroys all in its path. When the blaze threatens neighbouring houses a volunteer fireman breaks in to rescue a trapped resident – but instead finds only the body of a young woman, strangled in her bedroom. For Detective Inspector John Jago the scene brings back memories of the Soho Strangler. He suspects this woman had a secret – that she is not what she seems – and that this may be the root of her untimely end. Investigation reveals a drunken sailor may hold the key to what happened in Joan Watson’s flat. But his information points Jago towards family jealousies, violence, robbery, and the underworld of political terrorism. Was Joan as innocent as her friends claim, or was she mixed up in crime? Jago must unpick multifarious motives if he hopes to reach the truth.

Enemy Action by Mike Hollow

No Comments on Enemy Action by Mike Hollow

enemyactionEnemy Action

1940s – England

A thirteen-year-old boy finds a man stabbed to death in a public air-raid shelter early in the morning. Detective Inspector Jago learns that he is Paul Ruckland, a school teacher with no known enemies and a pacifist–a member of the Peace Pledge Union. On searching his flat they’re surprised to find a packed suitcase containing a revolver, a strange item for a pacifist to be carrying. Did he have enemies after all, or was he intent on harming someone–or even himself?

As the investigation gets under way, DI Jago discovers that Paul was not the only one whose pacifist convictions are challenged when the going gets tough. For many, anger and violence lie just below the surface. But who has a motive for murder?

Fifth Column by Mike Hollow

No Comments on Fifth Column by Mike Hollow

fifthcolumnFifth Column

1940s – England

Detective Inspector Jago investigates, uncovering deception and betrayal

At first glance, the young woman found in the early hours of the morning where bombs have landed is just another casualty of the previous night’s air raid. But when the post-mortem shows signs of strangulation, Detective Inspector Jago is called on to investigate.

The dead woman is smartly dressed but carries no identification. However, a local engineering company reports a staff member has failed to appear at work that morning and the body is quickly identified as that of Miss Mary Watkins.

DI Jago’s initial interviews yield little fruit; no one can think of a reason why Mary would be murdered. But as the investigation continues DI Jago begins to uncover a trail of deception and betrayal.

Direct Hit by Mike Hollow

No Comments on Direct Hit by Mike Hollow

directhitDirect Hit

1940 – England

On the first night of the Blitz, a body is discovered in a van in the back streets of West Ham. DI John Jago is called to the scene and recognises the body as local Justice of the Peace and businessman Charles Villiers. Shortly afterwards a blast destroys the scene. Jago quickly establishes that Villiers’ wife and adult son Edward both have possible motives, and that there was a rift between Villiers and his brother Arthur. But as he begins the investigation, Jago is annoyed when his boss tells him to help an American journalist who’s writing about public morale – even more so when he finds it’s a woman, Dorothy Appleton. As Jago and Appleton follow leads, they realize that the dead man held many secrets, some of which reach back to World War I. Rather a lot of people wished Villiers dead – and an air raid is a good time to bury bad news.