It’s less than two months until my first psychological thriller novel (not counting HIM) is published by Bookouture, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Because this is a new departure for me, there were a lot of questions about it from readers. I answered a lot of them over on Facebook and in my email newsletter, but I’m sharing them here, too.

Feel free to ask any additional questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

My Daughter is Missing Reader Q&A

Q. What’s the book about?
A. I mean, the title is fairly self-explanatory. However, I should stress that it’s not MY daughter who is missing – she’s in the living room – but the daughter of Elizabeth, the main character in the book. The how and the why of the missing girl is what drives the story.

Q. Is it a DCI Logan book?
A. No. It’s a whole new standalone novel, with none of my existing characters appearing in the story. However, I see it as being set in the same world, and you can expect the usual mix of tension and humour, with characters you’ll either root for or hate. And possibly both at the same time.

Q. So it’s funny?
A. I mean, there’s nobody dressing up as a giant squirrel in it, but yes, there’s definitely humour woven through it. Dark, dark humour, but humour all the same.

Q. That’s not how you spell ‘humor’.
A. Clearly, you are American. And incorrect.

Q. Is it a crime novel?
A. In the sense that one or more crimes happen, yes. It’s a psychological thriller, though, so you’re inside the head(s) of the main character(s) for every twist and turn. It’s pretty tense at points, if I do say so myself. In fact, from a pure thriller perspective, it’s the most tense and dramatic thing I’ve probably ever written.

Q. Will it be a new series?
A. No. It’s written as a standalone. There is perhaps one other story to tell using some of these characters, but we’ll see how this first one does before I decide.

Q. Is it only on Kindle?
A. No, it’ll also be available as a paperback and audiobook.

Q. Can I pre-order the paperback or audiobook yet?
A. No, but they will be available at release date in April, don’t worry.

Q. Do you know who the narrator is?
A. Yes, I do.

Q. Can you tell us?
A. Not yet.

Q. Is it Angus?
A. No.

Q. Why not? I really like Angus.
A. I like Angus, too, but the main characters are women, and while Angus is many things, a woman is not one of them. At least, not as far as I’m aware. I’ve never checked.

Q. That’s fair enough, I suppose.
A. That wasn’t a question.

Q. Oh, yeah, sorry.
A. Nor was that. Focus. Try again.

Q. Will it be on Kindle Unlimited.
A. Yes.

Q. Does this mean there will be no more Logan books?
A. It absolutely does not mean that. I will keep writing Logan books forever.

Q. So you’re not going to ditch them to write psychological thrillers like you ditched Space Team to write police procedurals?
A. No. In fact, I’m already hard at work on the next Logan book. It has my favourite opening line of anything I have ever written, but you’ll have to wait until July to read it.

Q. Will you ever write more Space Team?
A. The answer to that is not just a yes, it’s a SPACE yes.

Q. Are you worried that people won’t like the book, given that it’s quite different?
A. I’m worried that people won’t like every book I write, and have been pleasantly surprised so far that they’ve gone down so well with readers. In fact, I’m constantly amazed by the response they get. I hope people enjoy this one, too, but in answer to the question, yes, I’m terrified.

Q. Did you write this entire post with a cat lying on your chest?
A. Yes. That was remarkably astute of you.

Q. Can I pre-order the Kindle edition of the book?
A. Absolutely. I’d love it if you did. You can do so here: My Daughter is Missing