Syn (The Merseyside Crime Series Book 2) - Malcolm Hollingdrake (world of reading TXT) 📗

the sound and its constant and steady motion play a key part in the sinister crime. If you do visit, do not forget to look for the one-legged diver, as he too is there, perched high on his pole looking down on the promenade.

Herbert Silcock’s Victorian carousel is situated on Southport’s promenade at the entrance to the pier. This historic and beautiful fairground ride was built in 1896 by Savages of King’s Lynn. It was purchased by Silcock’s in 1989 and took three years to restore fully, making its first appearance at the Shirdley Show in St Helens.

The Golden Gallopers weighs eighteen tons with a forty-two-foot diameter, standing eighteen feet tall. The three cockerels and thirty-three horses are each named after a member of the Silcock family and their friends. The three cockerels and the horses on the inside of the ride are original Anderson carvings and date to when the ride was first constructed. Wear and tear has necessitated replacements being made for the rest. However, the quality of workmanship in both the carving and painting of the replacements, is truly outstanding.

The Silcock family has been in the entertainment business for over five generations.

If you are in Southport, do pop along and behold the spectacle that can only be captured when watching an old fairground ride. You will still hear the sound of children’s laughter.

Malcolm

About the Author

You could say that the writing was clearly on the wall for anyone born in a library that they might aspire to be an author but to get to that point, Malcolm Hollingdrake has travelled a circuitous route.

Malcolm worked in education for many years, even teaching for a period in Cairo before he started writing, a challenge he longed to tackle for more years than he cares to remember.

Malcolm has written a number of successful short stories and has more than ten books available (and more to come).

Born in Bradford and spending three years in Ripon, Malcolm has never lost his love for his home county, a passion that is reflected in the settings of several Harrogate Crime Series novels.

Malcolm has enjoyed many hobbies including works by Northern artists; the art auctions offer a degree of excitement when both buying and certainly when selling. It’s a hobby he has bestowed on DCI Cyril Bennett, of his characters in the Harrogate Crime Series.

Acknowledgments

Books are not written in a dark garret over endless hours – well not actually a garret, but many hours do go into each and every one. During the course of that work, many people are involved at various stages from the research to the proofing and editing, as well as those who read it to ensure it is not just a collection of paragraphs but a gripping and captivating crime novel. So, it is here that I must take a moment to express my words of thanks.

First and foremost, my thanks must go to my publisher, Hobeck Books; the team has worked so tirelessly in bringing this series to market. It has been a pleasure working within this supportive family.

A massive thanks also to a vital part of that family, the HART of Hobeck, the Hobeck, Advanced Readers’ Team for their guidance and dedication.

As always to my wife, Debbie. She helps keep the motivation alive but sadly, she cannot do the same for some of my characters!

Helen Gray has worked with me now on a number of my books and her sharp eyes check every word and sentence. Her skilful advice has been confidence-boosting and inspirational. Thanks, Helen.

Meeting the scarecrow at Johnson’s farm was the catalyst for this story so sincere thanks to the man and wife team, Philip and Sandra Speakman, who create these fabulous human-like objects.

Writing is a lonely business but I have found people are always willing to offer a great deal of help and support whenever it is requested. So, thank you Carry Heap, Dee Groocock, Ian and Gill Cleverdon, Georgie Eadington, Lucy Teraoka and also to Malcolm and David at Reputation Menswear, Southport.

I have received tremendous support from authors this year so my thanks to Rob and Karen Ashman, Wes Markin, Tony Millington, K. A. Richardson and Robin Roughley.

All writers need their names whispered far and wide. This never happens magically but through dedicated readers who turn their reading hobby into a passion, either by writing reviews, administering social media and readers’ groups or just by commenting on various social media platforms. Each and every one of you deserves a medal but I can only offer my sincere thanks. You know who you are. Bless you!

Finally, as always, last, but certainly not least, I mention you, yes you, holding the Kindle or the paperback, the reader, for without you I would not be here. Thank you for buying and reading this, the second book in the series.

If you have enjoyed it then please mention my work to friends and family, as word of mouth is the best way to encourage more people to read The Merseyside Crime Series and Hobeck Books.

Until Book Three

Thank you

Malcolm

Also by Malcolm Hollingdrake

Bridging the Gulf

A thriller set in Yorkshire and Cyprus

The Harrogate Crime Series

Only the Dead

Hell’s Gate

Flesh Evidence

Game Point

Dying Art

Crossed Out

The Third Breath

Treble Clef

Threadbare

Fragments

The Merseyside Crime Series

Catch as Catch Can

Hobeck Books – the home of great stories

This book is the second in the Merseyside Crime Series, the first book, Catch as Catch Can, is published by Hobeck Books. There will be many more to follow after that (we hope).

If you’ve enjoyed this book, please visit Malcolm’s website: www.malcolmhollingdrakeauthor.co.uk to read about his other writing, inspirations, writing life and for news about his forthcoming writing projects.

Malcolm is also the author of the acclaimed Harrogate Crime Series of which there are ten books.

Hobeck Books also presents a weekly podcast, the Hobcast, where founders Adrian Hobart and Rebecca Collins discuss all things book related, key issues from each week, including the ups and downs of running a creative business. Each episode includes an