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WORK TITLE: Beneath the Ashes
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WEBSITE: http://www.janeisaac.co.uk/
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PERSONAL
Married; children: daughter.
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Writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Crime novelist Jane Isaac is the author of the “DCI Helen Lavery” series and the “DI Will Jackson” series. The later begins with Before It’s Too Late and continues with Beneath the Ashes and The Lies Within. Isaac publishes roughly one installment per year, and she told a Barbara Copperthwaite Blog interviewer: “The best thing about being an author is the readers. I know, it’s a cliché, but it’s true. I’ve met so many lovely people and made some wonderful friends through writing books and I’ll always be thankful for that.” Isaac added: “The worst part is the extreme worry when a new book is about to be released. I don’t worry about the story so much, that has passed through readers and editors and been signed off, it’s more the fact that reading is such a subjective experience and I never want to let readers expectations down. Also, I’m incredibly hard on myself because I feel that every book should be better than the last.”
Beneath the Ashes
In Beneath the Ashes, DI Will Jackman is working on two related sexual assault cases. Then a college student named Jo Lamborne is found dead in nearby in Leicestershire, and (aside from being dead), details of her attack point to a serial rapist who has now graduated to murder. Jackman thus joins his cases with Homicide and Major Incident Team, but there are few clues and little evidence to go on. In the meantime, Jo’s mother, Grace Daniels, is left to pick up the pieces on her own. Grace mourns her daughter’s violent and untimely death while coming to terms with the idea that Jo’s killer may never be brought to justice. As Jackman’s investigation unfolds, Grace learns that Jo had many secrets of her own, and these secrets inspire Grace to open her own investigation.
Lauding the novel in Publishers Weekly, a critic announced that “Isaac does a superb job of escalating the tension and dread.” Online Bookbag correspondent Sue Magee was also impressed, and though she noted that “some minor characters were a little two-dimensional . . . This was balanced to a certain extent by an impressive plot with a good feel for how policing really works as opposed to what many crime writers would have you believe. But the Jackman character has legs and I can see this series developing into something special.”
The Lies Within
Jackman’s adventures in The Lies Within center on a case of arson and murder at a nearby farm. Nancy Faraday is visiting her boyfriend, Evan Baker, on the farm, when someone knocks her unconscious. When she wakes up, Evan is missing and the barn has been burnt to the ground. Detectives find a body in the ashes, and it’s presumed to be Evan, but forensics dispel that notion. Now, Jackman must identify the body and located Evan, who’s still missing. The plot thickens when Jackman finds a hidden basement beneath the charred remains of the barn, a room that’s clearly been used for a marijuana growing operation.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer was somewhat ambivalent, describing the story as one “that holds the reader’s interest without ever getting too exciting.” Yet, as a C J Browne Blog writer put it, “once the plot moves in a different and unexpected direction and the pace speeds up [,] the need to read on is compulsive.” The writer went on to assert: “I read the book in one sitting.” An online A Lover of Books critic was also impressed, noting: “The Lies Within is a must read for fans of crime fiction. You won’t be disappointed. I will certainly be reading all the books Jane Isaac has written and her future novels too.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, March 6, 2017, review of Beneath the Ashes; July 31, 2017, review of The Lies Within.
ONLINE
A Lover of Books, https://aloverofbooks.wordpress.com/ (May 23, 2017), review of The Lies Within.
Barbara Copperthwaite Blog, https://www.barbaracopperthwaite.com/ (November 28, 2017), author interview.
Bookbag, http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/ (November 28, 2017), Sue, Magee, review of Beneath the Ashes.
CJ Browne Blog, https://cjbrownecrimewriter.com/ (May 2, 2017), review of The Lies Within.
Jane Isaac Website, http://www.janeisaac.co.uk/ (November 28, 2017).
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Jane Isaac
About
Jane Isaac, Crime fiction author
Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo.
Some people have a fixed idea of their calling from a young age. I never did. I ambled through life, fell upon a career in the civil service, made great friends, met my husband and holidayed frequently – all endless fun. But there was something missing. To fill the void I took up numerous courses including French, art, law, pottery, personnel management and even sign language.
The turning point for me came fifteen years ago when my husband and I took a year out to travel the world and a friend gave me a journal to keep as a present. This journal was to become my most treasured travel companion, apart from my husband of course! The photos we took drew on memories but, even years later, when reading the diary I could smell spices in Kuala Lumpur, hear the street music of Bangkok, feel the thick heat that pervades the wonderfully clean Singapore, see the red earth of Australia.
Realising the power of words, my love affair with writing began. I enrolled on a creative writing course and started writing articles for newspapers and magazines. Then I discovered writing fiction and, in 2007, embarked on my first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, which was picked up by an American publisher. And I’ve never looked back.
It can be difficult to find a publisher for a novel. I blogged about the trials and tribulations of my own journey which you are welcome to read at ‘Diary of a Newbie Novelist’ on www.newbiewriters.com. In 2013 I teamed up with the lovely Legend Press in London who published The Truth Will Out in 2014 and have gone on to publish three further novels in the new DI Will Jackman series.
Over the past few years I have visited some great places and met some very interesting people. Visit the gallery for some of my highlights.
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Jane Isaac
Jane Isaac, Crime fiction author
Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo.
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© 2017 Jane Isaac. www.janeisaac.co.uk. Website by BhambraBland
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Jane Isaac
About
Jane Isaac, Crime fiction author
Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo.
Some people have a fixed idea of their calling from a young age. I never did. I ambled through life, fell upon a career in the civil service, made great friends, met my husband and holidayed frequently – all endless fun. But there was something missing. To fill the void I took up numerous courses including French, art, law, pottery, personnel management and even sign language.
The turning point for me came fifteen years ago when my husband and I took a year out to travel the world and a friend gave me a journal to keep as a present. This journal was to become my most treasured travel companion, apart from my husband of course! The photos we took drew on memories but, even years later, when reading the diary I could smell spices in Kuala Lumpur, hear the street music of Bangkok, feel the thick heat that pervades the wonderfully clean Singapore, see the red earth of Australia.
Realising the power of words, my love affair with writing began. I enrolled on a creative writing course and started writing articles for newspapers and magazines. Then I discovered writing fiction and, in 2007, embarked on my first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, which was picked up by an American publisher. And I’ve never looked back.
It can be difficult to find a publisher for a novel. I blogged about the trials and tribulations of my own journey which you are welcome to read at ‘Diary of a Newbie Novelist’ on www.newbiewriters.com. In 2013 I teamed up with the lovely Legend Press in London who published The Truth Will Out in 2014 and have gone on to publish three further novels in the new DI Will Jackman series.
Over the past few years I have visited some great places and met some very interesting people. Visit the gallery for some of my highlights.
Writers Bureau badge 2013winner-award-may14 (3)
Signup to Jane's Newsletter
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Jane Isaac
Jane Isaac, Crime fiction author
Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo.
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Follow me
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Signup for details of new releases, events, giveaways and book recommendations.
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The Crime Writers Association
© 2017 Jane Isaac. www.janeisaac.co.uk. Website by BhambraBland
ShareThis Copy and PasteSkip to content Home About The Books Reviews & Interviews Upcoming Events Blog Gallery Contact About Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo. Some people have a fixed idea of their calling from a young age. I never did. I ambled through life, fell upon a career in the civil service, made great friends, met my husband and holidayed frequently – all endless fun. But there was something missing. To fill the void I took up numerous courses including French, art, law, pottery, personnel management and even sign language. The turning point for me came fifteen years ago when my husband and I took a year out to travel the world and a friend gave me a journal to keep as a present. This journal was to become my most treasured travel companion, apart from my husband of course! The photos we took drew on memories but, even years later, when reading the diary I could smell spices in Kuala Lumpur, hear the street music of Bangkok, feel the thick heat that pervades the wonderfully clean Singapore, see the red earth of Australia. Realising the power of words, my love affair with writing began. I enrolled on a creative writing course and started writing articles for newspapers and magazines. Then I discovered writing fiction and, in 2007, embarked on my first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, which was picked up by an American publisher. And I’ve never looked back. It can be difficult to find a publisher for a novel. I blogged about the trials and tribulations of my own journey which you are welcome to read at ‘Diary of a Newbie Novelist’ on www.newbiewriters.com. In 2013 I teamed up with the lovely Legend Press in London who published The Truth Will Out in 2014 and have gone on to publish three further novels in the new DI Will Jackman series. Over the past few years I have visited some great places and met some very interesting people. Visit the gallery for some of my highlights. Signup to Jane's Newsletter Jane Isaac Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo. Read More → Follow me Signup Signup for details of new releases, events, giveaways and book recommendations. Signup to website → © 2017 Jane Isaac. www.janeisaac.co.uk. Website by BhambraBland Skip to content Home About The Books Reviews & Interviews Upcoming Events Blog Gallery Contact About Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo. Some people have a fixed idea of their calling from a young age. I never did. I ambled through life, fell upon a career in the civil service, made great friends, met my husband and holidayed frequently – all endless fun. But there was something missing. To fill the void I took up numerous courses including French, art, law, pottery, personnel management and even sign language. The turning point for me came fifteen years ago when my husband and I took a year out to travel the world and a friend gave me a journal to keep as a present. This journal was to become my most treasured travel companion, apart from my husband of course! The photos we took drew on memories but, even years later, when reading the diary I could smell spices in Kuala Lumpur, hear the street music of Bangkok, feel the thick heat that pervades the wonderfully clean Singapore, see the red earth of Australia. Realising the power of words, my love affair with writing began. I enrolled on a creative writing course and started writing articles for newspapers and magazines. Then I discovered writing fiction and, in 2007, embarked on my first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, which was picked up by an American publisher. And I’ve never looked back. It can be difficult to find a publisher for a novel. I blogged about the trials and tribulations of my own journey which you are welcome to read at ‘Diary of a Newbie Novelist’ on www.newbiewriters.com. In 2013 I teamed up with the lovely Legend Press in London who published The Truth Will Out in 2014 and have gone on to publish three further novels in the new DI Will Jackman series. Over the past few years I have visited some great places and met some very interesting people. Visit the gallery for some of my highlights. Signup to Jane's Newsletter Jane Isaac Hi! My name is Jane Isaac and I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my husband and daughter where I can often be seen trudging over the fields with my dog, Bollo. Read More → Follow me Signup Signup for details of new releases, events, giveaways and book recommendations. Signup to website → © 2017 Jane Isaac. www.janeisaac.co.uk. Website by BhambraBland ShareThis Copy and Paste
Jane Isaac lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire, UK. Her debut novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, introduces DCI Helen Lavery and was nominated as best mystery in the 'eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013.'
The Truth Will Out, the second in the DCI Helen Lavery series, was nominated as 'Thriller of the Month - April 2014' by E-thriller.com and winner of 'Noveltunity book club selection - May 2014'.
In 2015 Jane embarked on a new series, featuring DI Will Jackman and set in Stratford upon Avon, with Before It's Too Late. The second in the series, Beneath The Ashes, will be published by Legend Press on 1st November 2016 with the 3rd, The Lies Within, to follow on 2nd May 2017.
Both DI Jackman and DCI Lavery will return again in the near future. Sign up to Jane's newsletter on her website at www.janeisaac.co.uk for details of new releases, events and giveaways.
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Authors|Updated 01/06/2015
Jane Isaac
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Author of the DI Will Jackman Series and 'The Truth Will Out'
Jane Isaac lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire.
Her first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, was published in the US in 2012 and was nominated as best mystery in the ‘eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013’. Jane is also the author of The Truth Will Out, Before It's Too Late and Beneath the Ashes, published in the UK by Legend Press. The Truth Will Out, was selected ‘Crime Thriller of the Month by EThriller.com and ‘Noveltunity Book Club Winning Selection’.
Jane’s next novel The Lies Within - the third in the DI Will Jackman series - will be published by Legend Press on 2nd May 2017.
Follow Jane on Twitter @JaneIsaacAuthor
THE DI WILL JACKMAN SERIES:
Book 1: Before It's Too Late (June 2015)
Book 2: Beneath the Ashes (November 2016)
Book 3: The Lies Within (May 2017)
Visit Jane's Website
Follow Jane on Twitter @JaneIsaacAuthor
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Home / About us / Find An Author / Isaac, Jane
Jane IsaacJANE ISAAC
Sub-genre: detective, Police procedural, Psychological Thriller
Jane Isaac lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire, UK. Her debut novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, was nominated as best mystery in the eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013.
The Truth Will Out was nominated as Thriller of the Month – April 2014 by E-thriller.com and winner of Noveltunity book club selection – May 2014. Jane’s latest title, Before It’s Too Late, is published by Legend Press on the 1st of June 2015.
Jane was runner up, Writers Bureau Writer of the Year 2013. Her short stories have appeared in several crime fiction anthologies. When she is not writing she loves to travel, is an avid reader, mum, dog lover and enjoys spending time with her family. She believes life should be an adventure!
Jane loves to hear from readers and writers. Visit her website at www.janeisaac.co.uk
WebsiteTwitterFacebookLinkedInBlog
OTHER AWARDS
Runner Up Writer of the Year 2013 with the Writers Bureau
BOOKS BY JANE ISAAC
Before It's Too Late BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
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Jane Isaac An Unfamiliar Murder AN UNFAMILIAR MURDER
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The Truth Will Out Jane Isaac THE TRUTH WILL OUT
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A Death at Fountains Abbey A Death at Fountains Abbey by Antonia Hodgson
Someone Else's Conflict Someone Else's Conflict by Alison Layland
A Crown of Lights A Crown of Lights by Phil Rickman
Six Four Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama
Eileen Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
Striking Murder Striking Murder by A.J. Wright
The Jazz Files The Jazz Files by Fiona Veitch Smith
Dear Amy Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan
Mr Scarletti's Ghost Mr Scarletti's Ghost by Linda Stratmann
An Appetite for Violets An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey
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Crime authors spill their guts about writing...
This week: Jane Isaac
Tell us about yourself.
How do you pick character names? Do any have special meaning to you?
How do you go about plotting your book?
When I started out I didn’t plan anything and wrote chapter by chapter, researching along the way. My first book, An Unfamiliar Murder, took almost eighteen months to complete.
My forthcoming release, The Lies Within, was my fifth book and written to a deadline, so I needed to be more organised with my writing time. I wrote a four/five page outline in advance to give me a sense of direction, although inevitably some things did change along the way, and the book took a little under a year to complete.
Research: do you find it fascinating or laborious? How do you conduct your research?
How easy/hard was it to get your first break?
Like many writers, I’ve had rather a rollercoaster ride to publication. When I finished my first book I was still studying creative writing with the Writers Bureau. My tutor read the sample chapters and recommended that I send it to a small publisher called Crème De La Crime who accepted submissions from unpublished writers. They responded within a week to say that they couldn’t accept new submissions, having just been taken over by a large publisher, but they enjoyed the piece and suggested I send it to a couple of agents who were interested in new crime writers. I really didn’t expect to hear anything, you get so many rejections in this industry, so I was stunned when they both wanted to sign it!
To cut a long story short, after a lovely day at their Kensington offices I signed up with one of the agents and they submitted the novel to the big publishing houses. The result was disappointing: We had lovely feedback, they all seemed to like the work, but nobody offered to sign the novel. My agent suggested I submit to the independent publishers and I signed with US based Rainstorm Press within a month.
Rainstorm Press were only able to distribute books online in the UK, so when I finished my second book, The Truth Will Out, I decided to throw myself back into the slush pile and try for a British publisher. Luckily I signed with Legend Press who have gone on to release all my subsequent books.
Jane Isaac is interviewed by Barbara Copperthwaite
Hi Barbara! Thanks so much for inviting me to your lovely blog. My name is Jane Isaac and I write both the DCI Helen Lavery and the DI Will Jackman series. My books have been described as detective fiction with a psychological edge and my next novel, The Lies Within, was released on 2nd May 2017.
What book do you wish you had written?
The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith.
I think books are always a mix of reality and fiction. As writers we observe the world around us, picking up tips and anecdotes that inform our work and make it come alive on the page. I'm a huge dog lover and, like myself, DI Jackman owns a Labrador.
I also enjoyed using my experience of the Scottish Highlands, an area I have visited annually for the past twenty years, as a setting for part of my second book, The Truth Will Out.
What’s the best and worst thing about being an author?
Which book or character are you most proud of creating, and why?
That’s a difficult question to answer, especially as I write two series, but if pushed I would probably say DS Annie Davies in the Will Jackman series is my favourite character. Annie is wonderful to work with, she is sensitive and compassionate, yet manages to find humour in almost every situation.
The best thing about being an author is the readers. I know, it’s a cliché, but it’s true. I’ve met so many lovely people and made some wonderful friends through writing books and I’ll always be thankful for that.
The worst part is the extreme worry when a new book is about to be released. I don’t worry about the story so much, that has passed through readers and editors and been signed off, it’s more the fact that reading is such a subjective experience and I never want to let readers expectations down. Also, I’m incredibly hard on myself because I feel that every book should be better than the last.
Read voraciously in and around the genre you intend to work with and try to write something every day, no matter how short. When your script is complete, send it to people you trust to give you honest and constructive feedback, then rework until it is the best you can do before you submit.
It can be difficult to find a home for a novel and publishers reject submissions for many reasons which are not necessarily anything to do with your writing: It may not fit with a publisher’s list, they may have something similar, or they may not be looking for submissions in your genre at this time. So, if you receive a rejection, don’t give up; take heed of any advice, rework your script if necessary, and submit elsewhere. Never give up.
What is the best writing tip you have ever been given? How has it influenced you?
I find names incredibly difficult and spend a long time working through lists of possibles to come up with a name that I feel ‘fits’ a character. It’s also important to ensure that names in your book aren’t similar too, or all start with the same letter, so that they don’t confuse the reader. I use an alphabetical index system for each book (a great tip another writer gave me a few years ago) for names, descriptions and potted histories of each character, so that I don’t have too many people with similar names or features.
I have noticed that I have a penchant for character names ending with the letter ‘a’ though. Throughout my books I have an Eva, an Anna and a Carmela. Even my own daughter is called Ella!
Research is one of my favourite aspects of writing novels and one I probably spend far too much time doing! It might only be for a paragraph, or even a single sentence, but it is interesting where it can lead.
Share
How much do your own life experiences appear in your writing?
Deception, family secrets and betrayal.
Describe your current work in progress in five words.
Jane Isaac writes detective novels with a psychological edge. She lives with her husband and daughter in rural Northamptonshire, UK where she can often be found trudging over the fields with her Labrador, Bollo.
Her first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, was nominated as best mystery in the 'eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013.' Her fifth book, The Lies Within, is scheduled for release by Legend Press on 2nd May 2017.
Bestselling crime author Jane Isaac is interviewed by Barbara Copperthwaite
About the author...
To find out more about Jane Isaac...
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For Beneath the Ashes, I spent time with senior officers in Northants Fire Service who explained how different building structures, accelerants, and even the weather affect the damage that fires do. The reality of fire damage wasn’t what I’d imagined at all.
Aside from all the books about serial killers and psychopaths – the real case studies that keep me awake at night and haunt my dreams – I also spend a lot of time on the police procedural research. For Before It’s Too Late I met up with a former Detective Superintendent, who managed murder squads all over the UK during his 30 year career, for some in-depth research into some of the cases he has managed. Boy, did he have some tales to tell...
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Blog tour: Beneath the Ashes with Jane Isaac
October 30, 2016
With an unconventional route to publication as gripping and twisty as her novels, Jane Isaac’s new release, Beneath the Ashes has just been released, and I was over the moon when she invited me to include this interview as part of her official blog tour. Let’s get stuck into the questions!
Your publishing career seems to have started off a little unusually in that your first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, was released by an American publisher – how did that happen for an English author?
Like many writers, I’ve had a rollercoaster ride to publication. When I finished my first book, An Unfamiliar Murder, I was still studying creative writing with the Writers Bureau. My tutor read the sample chapters and recommended that I send it to a small publisher called Crème De La Crime who accepted submissions from unpublished writers. They responded within a week to say that they couldn’t accept new submissions, having just been taken over by a large publisher, but they enjoyed the piece and suggested I send it to a couple of agents who were interested in new crime writers. I really didn’t expect to hear anything, you get so many rejections in this industry, so I was stunned when they both wanted to sign it!
To cut a long story short, after a lovely day at their Kensington offices I signed up with one of the agents and they submitted the novel to the big publishing houses. The result was disappointing: we had lovely feedback, they all seemed to like the work, but nobody offered to sign the novel. My agent suggested I submit to the independent publishers and I signed with US based Rainstorm Press within a month.
Rainstorm Press were only able to distribute books online in the UK, so when I finished my second book, The Truth Will Out, I decided to throw myself back into the slush pile and try for a British publisher. Luckily I signed with Legend Press and Beneath the Ashes will be my third title with them.
“I’ve always loved the twists and turns of a good mystery”
What attracted you about writing crime thrillers in the first place?
I was one of those children who used to read Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven under the bedclothes by torchlight, desperately trying to get to the end of the book before my parents found me. Later I used to sit around the television with my family watching Hercule Poirot on a Sunday evening, trying to guess ‘whodunit’. I’ve always loved the twists and turns of a good mystery, so when I started writing fiction it seemed the obvious genre for me.
You have two series, the DCI Helen Lavery series, and the DI Will Jackson series – when you get a new idea for a story, what factors determine which of your fictional detectives gets the case to solve?
In theory, the themes could relate to either one of the characters as they both head homicide investigations. The progression of the DI Will Jackman series is largely due to my publisher and I’ve already written the third in this series, The Lies Within, which is due to be published in May 2017.
I am also working on an outline for a new DCI Helen Lavery novel though, and very much look forward to working with her again.
After all this time, with four novels under your belt, what writing process do you find works best for you? Do you outline at all, or simply make a start and see where the story takes you?
When I wrote my first book I didn’t outline or plan at all, I just worked through chapter by chapter. It was a completely self-indulgent process (At the time I didn’t know whether it would ever be published or even if I would ever even finish it!), which took me around eighteen months to complete.
I have sped up a bit as I’ve gone along. With my last two books, I’ve had to write to a deadline which rather focuses the mind, and I’ve got into the habit of writing a three/four page outline of the story in advance now, before I jump in, so that the novel does have some sense of direction, although inevitably things do change along the way.
When you’re not writing or promoting your work, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Since I still have a day job and a family to look after, spare time is quite rare. I enjoy trudging over the fields where I live in rural Northamptonshire, UK with my Labrador, Bollo. I also love indulging my other passion of travel and am always daydreaming about what country or city I can visit next. Needless to say, my bucket list is endless!
Beneath the Ashes, the second in the DI Will Jackson series was released on 1 November – can you tell us a bit about this new crime thriller?
Beneath the Ashes is a novel about secrets. You think you know someone really well, but do you ever truly know them? Let me share my blurb with you:
The floor felt hard beneath her face. Nancy opened her eyes. Blinked several times. A pain seared through her head. She could feel fluid. No. She was lying in fluid.
When a body is discovered in a burnt-out barn in the Warwickshire countryside, DI Will Jackman is called to investigate.
Nancy Faraday wakes up on the kitchen floor. The house has been broken into and her boyfriend is missing. As the case unravels, DI Jackman realises that nothing is quite as it appears and everyone, it seems, has a secret.
Can he discover the truth behind the body in the fire, and track down the killer before Nancy becomes the next victim?
Huge thanks for hosting me, Rachel. I loved answering your questions!
Thanks for being a guest on the blog, Jane and all the best with Beneath the Ashes.
You can buy Jane’s books here:
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The Lies Within
Publishers Weekly.
264.31 (July 31, 2017): p67.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* The Lies Within
Jane Isaac. Legend (IPG, dist.), $12.95 trade
paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-78507-927-6
British author Isaac's mesmerizing, harrowing third crime thriller featuring Det. Insp. Will Jackman (after Beneath the
Ashes) focuses on the impact' of the worst kind of loss--the murder of a child. The discovery of college student Jo
Lamborne's body in a Leicestershire country lane devastates her mother, Grace Daniels. Jackman is in the area on
another case, sifting through evidence in Operation Ascott, two unsolved sexual assaults that have similarities to Jo's
attack. He and the other members of the Homicide and Major Incident Team have little to go on and no clue to the
assailant's identity. Worse yet, Grace learns much about her daughter's life that's new to her. As she sinks deeper into
despair, a long-lost friend persuades Grace to investigate on her own--which leads to the uncovering of secrets from
her own past and another murder. Isaac does a superb job of escalating the tension and dread, as the reader begins to
recognize the psychological warfare unfolding on each page. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Lies Within." Publishers Weekly, 31 July 2017, p. 67. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA499863425&it=r&asid=8dc99e8c9fd359eb275f0bb605d4b97b.
Accessed 13 Nov. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A499863425
11/13/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Beneath the Ashes
Publishers Weekly.
264.10 (Mar. 6, 2017): p43.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Beneath the Ashes
Jane Isaac. Legend (IPG, dist.), $14.95 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-78507-947-4
In Isaac's well-plotted second mystery featuring Warwickshire Det. Insp. Will Jackman (after 2014's The Truth Will
Out), Jackman investigates a case of arson and murder at a farm whose owners are absent. In the house is Nancy
Faraday, who has suffered a knock on the bead. Nancy tells Jackman that she spent the night with her boyfriend, Evan
Baker, who lives on the farm, but she can't remember what happened to her. In the barn are the charred remains of a
body, which turns out not to be Evan's. Under the barn floor, Jackman discovers a hidden room used to grow cannabis.
Jackman and his team interview a number of suspects with connections to the farm as they seek to identify the victim.
Meanwhile, Nancy remains unhelpful, even after recovering from her injuries. Working through an imposing pile of
difficulties, Jackman emerges as an engaging as well as competent detective in a story that holds the reader's interest
without ever getting too exciting. (May)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Beneath the Ashes." Publishers Weekly, 6 Mar. 2017, p. 43. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA484973643&it=r&asid=81fe8956418f28adb2e223eca9c04608.
Accessed 13 Nov. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A484973643
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Blog Tour – ‘The Lies Within’ by Jane Isaac
‘The Lies Within’ was published as an eBook and in paperback by Legend Press on the 2nd May. It is the third book in the DI Will Jackman series. I was delighted when I was asked if I wanted to take part in this blog tour and was very kindly sent a copy of ‘The Lies Within’ to review.
The body of Grace Daniels daughter is found in a Leicestershire country lane. Someone murdered her, but why? Jo was a young woman with most of her life still ahead of her. Grace and her family are falling apart and the investigation doesn’t seem to be leading anywhere. Then Faye, an old friend of Grace’s turns up and is of great comfort to her.
DI Will Jackman finds himself getting involved in the case as it seems it might be connected to others that he is reviewing. When another person is found dead all evidence points to Grace. But Jackman believes there is more to it and that Grace isn’t the killer. What happens next? That’s for you to find out.
Until now I had never read any of Jane Isaac’s books. I have heard so many good things about them though. So, when the opportunity arose to review ‘The Lies Within’ I just couldn’t refuse. Although this is the third book in the series it can be read as a standalone.
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Lies Within’. What a fantastic read! It was totally gripping and very hard indeed to put down. I really like Jane Isaac’s style of writing. It was obvious just how much hard work and research went into this book with regards to police procedurals and court cases. The mostly short chapters left me eager to know more.
I had a couple of hunches and I was proved right, but there was still a shock or two in store. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters. There was something about Faye that I really didn’t like. I didn’t warm to her at all and felt that she had an ulterior motive.
‘The Lies Within’ is a must read for fans of crime fiction. You won’t be disappointed. I will certainly be reading all the books Jane Isaac has written and her future novels too.
I give this book 5 out of 5.
About Jane Isaac
Jane Isaac lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire.
Her first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, was published in the US in 2012 and was nominated as best mystery in the ‘eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013’. Jane is also the author of The Truth Will Out, Before It’s Too Late and Beneath the Ashes, published in the UK by Legend Press. The Truth Will Out, was selected ‘Crime Thriller of the Month by EThriller.com and ‘Noveltunity Book Club Winning Selection’.
Jane’s new novel The Lies Within – the third in the DI Will Jackman series – was published by Legend Press on 2nd May 2017.
Follow Jane on Twitter @JaneIsaacAuthor
‘The Lies Within’ is available to buy from Amazon UK:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lies-Within-Shocking-Page-Turning-Thriller/dp/1785079271/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1495479207&sr=1-1
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Beneath the Ashes by Jane Isaac
Beneath the Ashes by Jane Isaac
Category: Crime
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Reviewed by Sue Magee
Summary: A neatly-plotted police procedural with plenty of red herrings to get your teeth into.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 304 Date: November 2016
Publisher: Legend Press
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1785079474
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Nancy Faraday woke up on the kitchen floor of the farmhouse where her boyfriend was living. She'd no memory of what had happened the night before, but she was injured, the house had been broken into and her boyfriend, Evan Baker, was missing.
The police had been called to the farm by the fire brigade. There'd been a fire in one of the farm's barns and when they investigated a badly-burned body was discovered. It's up to DI Will Jackman to discover who's responsible - and before whoever it is who is stalking Nancy makes her their next victim.
There's a major obstacle though: when Evan Baker's sister is asked to identify the body she's adamant that it's not him. She hasn't seen him for six years but she produces convincing evidence that she's right. Only, when Nancy views the body - or what the fire has left of it - she knows that it is the man she's known for the last three months and he was Evan Baker. Then there's someone threatening Nancy, suggesting that she owes them money. Nancy's immediate reaction is that it's something to do with her mother, an alcoholic who has a history of running up debts, but £6000 seems a bit much in the circumstances and her mother swears that it's not her.
I liked Jackman: his wife's in a vegetative state after an accident. She's completely unresponsive and no one has any idea how much - if anything - she can understand of what's going on, but Jackman and his daughter are loyal to her. His daughter's away at university and it strikes Jackman, quite suddenly, that - essentially - she's left home. There'll be many a parent who empathises with that light bulb moment. He's got opportunities for other relationships - in the circumstances you really couldn't call it womanising - but his heart's in the job, or rather, the hands-on policing part of it. He's not a man for the political, paperwork, policy side of the force and he has mixed feelings about a possible promotion as it would take him further away from the job he wants to do.
Some minor characters were a little two-dimensional: even quite late in the story I was struggling to remember who was who, particularly amongst the female characters. This was balanced to a certain extent by an impressive plot with a good feel for how policing really works as opposed to what many crime writers would have you believe. But the Jackman character has legs and I can see this series developing into something special.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
If you're in the market for a good police procedural you might like to meet DI Grace Fisher.
Buy Beneath the Ashes by Jane Isaac at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy Beneath the Ashes by Jane Isaac at Amazon.co.uk.
Buy Beneath the Ashes by Jane Isaac at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy Beneath the Ashes by Jane Isaac at Amazon.com.
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Categories: Jane IsaacReviewed by Sue Magee3.5 Star ReviewsCrimeNovember 2016Reviews
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The Lies Within by Jane Isaac
Posted: May 2, 2017 in Book Reviews, Legend Press, Police procedural
Tags: Book Reviews, Daughter, Mental Health, Police, series, Suspense 0
‘The Lies Within ‘opens dramatically with grieving mother Grace Daniels in the dock being tried for murder. The novel goes on to tell how she became a suspect and ends with what happens next. It is the third book in the series featuring Jane Isaac’s DI Will Jackman and it is good to be in his company again. The core of the book is about how Jackman and Grace’s stories interrelate. He is the SIO investigating the murder of her daughter, and it makes for a clever plot with some really good twists which I didn’t see coming.
The story is told alternatively from Will Jackman and Grace Daniels points of view and it is the emotional resonance of Grace’s sections that make this book so compelling. Jane Isaac’s writing captures all Grace’s roller coaster of emotions: her shock, despair, guilt, anger and isolation verging on mental breakdown in a realistic and empathetic way. Will Jackman is a sympathetic police detective with problems of his own and you want him to solve the case and not be let down. But it is Grace’s story and her characterisation in the heartbreaking situation of being the mother of a murdered daughter that make this crime novel different and cause the reader to reflect on what they would do in Grace’s situation.
Having said that, I did find the first part of the novel rather slow to get going, but once the plot moves in a different and unexpected direction and the pace speeds up the need to read on is compulsive and I read the book in one sitting.
‘The Lies Within’ is a satisfying read and I look forward to DI Will Jackman book four.
With thanks to Legend Press for providing an advance copy to review.
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