Lethal Legacy by H.R.Kemp ~ Book Extract.

I am thrilled to be today’s stop on the blog tour for; Lethal Legacy by H.R.Kemp, this book sounds so interesting, I love the cover – isn’t it gorgeous?! I am delighted to be sharing an exclusive book extract to tempt you with.

About the Book

When Innocent questions have dangerous answers.

Laura’s life is plunged into turmoil when her husband, Tom, dies suddenly. On that same night, an intruder steals files from his home office. He’d been researching his previous employer’s Iraqi operations but hadn’t shared his concerns with Laura. Why would anyone want his notes?

Staying ignorant won’t protect her.

Learning Tom’s death could be murder, Laura takes matters into her own hands. She’s fifty-nine but it’s not too late to turn amateur sleuth. She uncovers a dark mystery, a deadly conspiracy involving organised crime and corruption. Powerful people will kill to silence their enemies and now she’s been warned. But who can she trust?

Staying silent won’t keep her safe.

Buy Links

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lethal-Legacy-Australian-conspiracy-thriller-ebook/dp/B09TNB4T53

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Lethal-Legacy-Australian-conspiracy-thriller-ebook/dp/B09TNB4T53

Book Extract

As she turned to lock the front door, a clunk sounded from down the hall. The hairs on her neck bristled. There was someone in Tom’s study.

‘Hello,’ she called out.

Silence.

She called again, but no one answered.

They crept down the hall. Laura reached forward tentatively and gently pushed the door ajar. A faint beer odour perturbed her. She had no time to adjust to the darkness before the door was wrenched from her hands. Laura flew forward. A blow to her shoulder sent her crashing to the floor. Something jabbed her side and her hands flew up in protection. Material brushed her fingers but eluded her grasp. Mel cried out, followed by a thud and footsteps receding down the hall. The front door slammed.

Laura moaned as she struggled upright.

‘Are you alright?’ she called out to Mel.

‘I think so.’ Mel rubbed her head. ‘What about you?’

‘I think I’m OK.’

Laura wrapped her arms around Mel before reluctantly dragging herself away to limp to the front door and lock it.

Blood trickled down Mel’s forehead.

‘It’s nothing,’ Mel insisted as Laura steered her into the bathroom to examine it more closely.

When the doorbell rang, Mel clutched a walking stick from her father’s collection, and together they approached the door. The sight of Laura’s best friend, Eva, on the doorstep made them both relax.

Eva examined their injuries, then phoned the police while Laura checked her jewellery box and keepsake drawer. Nothing was missing. Only Tom’s office had been disturbed.

When the police arrived, Eva took charge. Laura couldn’t provide a description, and Mel only recalled a balaclava-clad thief in black clothing. There were no signs of a forced entry and the police suggested Laura had forgotten to lock the front door. At first, it seemed plausible, until she remembered unlocking it when she arrived home.

The police dusted the door handles, window locks, and surfaces in Tom’s office for fingerprints and searched for clues. The laptop and Tom’s old work satchel appeared to be the only things missing.

‘One of my officers found a key under the hall table. Is it yours?’ the short, squat, police officer asked.

‘It must be the spare from outside,’ Laura suggested. Hers was still in the back of the door.

‘It could be how they gained entry,’ the police officer said. ‘They might dump the laptop and satchel somewhere nearby if they’re not valuable. Make sure you lock up after we leave and don’t leave a spare key outside.’

Laura shivered. Was he suggesting they might come back?

He handed her the paperwork with a reference number. ‘They don’t appear to have taken anything valuable. It could be identity fraud,’ he suggested.

The top two filing cabinet drawers were open and there were spaces in the previously crammed second drawer, indicating files were missing. The locked desk drawer had been jimmied open and was now empty. Tom stored his most recent precious concerns in there.

About the Author

I’m an Australian author and I’ve lived in Adelaide, South Australia, for about forty years. I grew up in country areas near Melbourne.

My second novel, Lethal Legacy, is a conspiracy mystery/thriller set mostly in Australia. It’s available on pre-order until release day 8 April 2022. Deadly Secrets, my debut novel, is an Australian political conspiracy mystery thriller. It was released in 2020. My short stories have appeared in the UK anthology When Stars Will Shine; the Australian anthology Fledglings; the online Canadian Scarlet Leaf Review Magazine; and the UK Writers’ and Readers’ Magazine.

My work experience includes a public service career spanning roles as diverse as Management Trainer, Team Facilitator, Statistician, and Laboratory Assistant. These required business writing skills, so when I retired, I successfully completed a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing at Adelaide University. I’d also completed numerous short creative writing courses at Writers SA and WEA. My first degree was a Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, and I have a Graduate Diploma in Education.

Besides writing; another of my passions is travelling and discovering new places. I’ve visited many fabulous countries and cities around the world. I keep a daily travel journal and take copious photos and many of these inspire scenes for my stories e.g. Deadly Secrets begins in Paris and has scenes set in Normandy, Nice, and Barcelona before returning to Australia where the action happens in Adelaide, Sydney, and outback SA. I’m an avid theatre-goer and subscribe to the Adelaide State Theatre company. I enjoy art exhibitions and galleries and of course, I love to read. In March each year, I take full advantage of the Adelaide Writers’ festival to discover new authors and to hear my favourites. Some of the writers I admire are Elliot Perlman, Anna Funder, John le Carré, and Peter Temple.

Follow her at:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/hrkemp01

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hrkempwriting/

Website: https://www.hrkempauthor.com/

Follow the Tour

A big thank you to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for the invite to this tour.

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