Orpheus
In 2013 I wrote the first draft of a thriller thriller that I provisionally entitled Orpheus. I thought it was blinking brilliant, but no publisher seemed to agree, (crossgenre, they said, difficult sell.) Given the old maxim no-one knows anything — especially in publishing — I have reworked it whenever I have had a moment. Then reworked it again. And again.
What is it about? Here is the blurb...
England. July. A heatwave. A billionaire buries a case with what he believes to be Excalibur inside and challenges the nation to find it. Each day he uses a series of brilliant stunts to release clues to its whereabouts- and a golden ticket. At the end of the week there will be seven golden ticket holders, who will go head to head in a televised hunt for the treasure.
It’s a well-meaning, clever idea that captures the public imagination. But as each ticket is found a gruesome murder takes place. Detective Inspector Frank Moke recognises the killers’ signature: he always takes his victims thumbs...Is there a connection between the murders and the game? As the body count rises Moke finds himself sucked down into a nightmare from which there is no return …
Outrageous stunts, ritual killings, weird online relationships between avatars and a live televised shootout at the end…This thriller is a fable of the now.
Will you ever get to read it? Lets hope so. One day...