The End of the Roadie (A Mystery for D.I Costello) (26 page)

Although the Apollo theatre at Hammersmith is a real place, I would like to make it clear that all characters in this novel are fictitious. Where I have depicted members of the staff they have no bearing on, or connection with, the actual personnel of the theatre.

I’m also very grateful to the team at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, for allowing me to use the theatre as a backdrop to this story, and for the advice and help they gave me along the way.

Writing might be a solitary occupation but getting published is a group effort, and I can’t let this opportunity to acknowledge the debt I owe to various people who’ve helped in the process slip.

Thanks to Tess for your support and helpful suggestions. I’m also very grateful to Tony Collins, Pen Wilcock, Jessica Tinker, Sheila Jacobs, the team at Lion Fiction, for their support and help.

I owe a continuing debt to Ann Murphy, Gordon Berry, and Dave Howard of the Brent and Harrow Coroner’s office for their help and advice on police procedure – thanks, guys.

As this book is set in the pop world, I needed “insider” advice on how road crews work and for this I am indebted to Richard Bryce, a former roadie himself, who patiently answered all my questions.

It’s the first day of Wimbledon. And a dead body is lying on Court 19.

Newly-promoted detective inspector Angela Costello recognizes the dead man as Croatian champion-turned-coach, Petar Belic. A double grand-slam winner, Petar was famous, and much loved.

However, Petar had an ex-wife who wanted him back; a girlfriend who wouldn’t let him go; a business partner with secrets. Then there was the temperamental leading Brit, Stewart Bickerstaff, whom Petar had been coaching.

“The aces keep coming chapter by chapter.”

–
Tony Jasper
, author

“A witty and intriguing whodunnit.”

–
Cindy Kent
, broadcaster

ISBN 978 1 78264 072 1 | e-ISBN 978 1 78264 073 8

Kirsty Manners is young, beautiful, and ambitious. And dead.

Kirsty was trying to make it in the fashion world. As the in-house model for Ivano King and having dated the great designer himself, she believed she was well on her way.

But Kirsty is found dead in her flat one Sunday afternoon, and D.I. Angela Costello is called to the scene.

Kirsty has left behind a lovesick ex-boyfriend and a jealous flatmate. And what about King’s new girlfriend, who openly admits she has a reason to wish Kirsty dead?

Behind the flawless make-up and gleaming catwalks, Angela’s enquiries uncover theft, drug addiction, prostitution – and suddenly her own life could be in danger…

“Flynn creates an appealing detective in Angela Costello. She find solutions because she cares about people. Let’s hope there’s more of her to come.”

–
Publishers Weekly

ISBN 978 1 78264 131 5 | e-ISBN 978 1 78264 132 2

“It stands for Jazz Files,” said Rollo. “It’s what we call any story that has a whiff of high society scandal but can’t yet be proven… you never know when a skeleton in the closet might prove useful.”

Set in 1920,
The Jazz Files
introduces aspiring journalist Poppy Denby, who arrives in London to look after her ailing Aunt Dot, an infamous suffragette. Dot encourages Poppy to apply for a job at
The Daily Globe
, but on her first day a senior reporter is killed and Poppy is tasked with finishing his story. It involves the mysterious death of a suffragette seven years earlier, about which some powerful people would prefer that nothing be said…

Through her friend Delilah Marconi, Poppy is introduced to the giddy world of London in the Roaring Twenties, with its flappers, jazz clubs, and romance. Will she make it as an investigative journalist, in this fast-paced new city? And will she be able to unearth the truth before more people die?

“What a delight to escape into the world of the irrepressible Poppy Denby in this cleverly-plotted debut.”

–
Ruth Downie
, author of the
Medicus
series

ISBN 978 1 78264 175 9 | e-ISBN 978 1 78264 176 6