Murder in the New Town
- authorvalpenny
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
This is an exciting time for me. I moved publishers to Joffe Books at the end of last year and am thrilled that the company is re-publishing my back catelogue of DI Hunter Wilson novels as well as having commissioned new books. It is a delight to be able to share my stories with new readers.
The third book in the series, Murder in the New Town, is set in Edinburgh and finds Hunter and his team investigating a crime rather closer to home than usual because Hunter's son Cameron finds his flat mate dead when he comes home with new friends after a night out.
The book will be able to pre-order next week, so I wanted to share an extract with you now, just to whet your appetite.
The Extract
DI Hunter Wilson looked at the time on his phone before he answered the call. 4.03am. If this was some comedian from the sub-continent calling to tell him about putting in a claim for the accident he hadn’t had... Then he noticed it was Cameron calling him.
“What’s the matter, son? This is a hell of a time to phone,” Hunter whispered.
“I didn’t know who else to call.”
“What’s the matter? And it had better be good.”
“It’s far from good.” Cameron told his father of the scene that had met him and his new friends when they got back to his flat.
“She’s had what cut off? Bloody hell!”
“I know, Dad, I know. And her head has been bashed in too. What do I do?”
“Well, now we have Police Scotland in place there is a Major Incidents Team, imaginatively know as MIT, that deals with cases like this.”
“Oh, Dad no! The other girls’ll go mental. You come. Please? At least at first. I need your help.”
Hunter thought back to the days when Cameron used to ask for his help regularly: tying his shoelaces, drying him after swimming, learning to ride a bike. Those had been the golden years. It had been a long, long time since his son had sounded so desperate and pleaded for his help. It made Hunter feel good. He could help Cameron again. Brilliant!
“You’re not back on the cocaine are you, Cameron? You’re not hallucinating?” Hunter said suddenly.
“No, I’m bloody not! But thanks for the vote of confidence. Believe me, I will be if you don’t get your arse over here pronto!”
“And that’s how you ask for help from your dad? A favour? Stuff you!” Hunter shouted back.
“What is it?” a bleary voice beside Hunter said.
“Please, Dad. Just come. I need you.” Cameron sounded like a little boy about to burst into tears. “Another person’s in my flat too. I’ve never seen her before. Just come, quickly, please Dad! I can't tell you how awful it all is here.”
Hunter got out of bed and patted Meera’ s arm. “Go back to sleep, pet. I’ve got to go and see Cameron. It’s an emergency.”
“At four o’clock in the morning? What’s wrong? Is he using again?”
“No. But he was out for the evening and got back to his home to find his flat mate dead on the floor”
“No. But he was out for the evening and got back to his home to find his flat mate dead on the floor.”
“Why does he need you? Shouldn’t he call an ambulance?” Meera asked.
“It’s a bit late for that. She’s been mutilated; her head has been bashed in and the tops of her fingers cut off.”
“I’d guess she's probably dead, right enough. But doesn't Cameron need me more than he needs you? I’m coming with you,” Meera said in a determined voice that brooked no contradiction.
The Author
Val Penny’s crime novels featuring DI Hunter Wilson, form the bestselling series of Detective Hunter Wilson series set in Edinburgh.
She is an American author living in SW Scotland with her husband and their cat.
You can find out more at:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Authorvalpenny/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/valerieepenny
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