Past Sins

Past Sins by Dave Cook

Dave's second novel ...

If you like your fiction with real-life drama and a
touch of the supernatural then this book is for you.

— Book Description

Cover artwork : TBA

ISBN : 978-0-9555185-7-7
Paperback : 216x138mm : ? pages

£ price to be confirmed

Due to be published 2008

A supernatural tale of horror and revenge, which involves a close-knit community determined to punish three innocent people for the sins of their forefathers.

The story begins when three seemingly unconnected people are left property in the Northumberland mining village of Netherdale. The first beneficiary, Philip Cartwright, disappears shortly after moving into his new home. Young widow Debbie Randall and her adopted son, Zack, head north to begin life afresh in what should be a more benign environment. In America, meanwhile, Matt Armstrong receives news of his gift and, desperate to escape a messy divorce, returns to his country of birth. But after moving into his newly-acquired property he begins to experience strange flashbacks.

Niall Reynolds recounts the tragedy of 1930 when Netherdale colliery lost almost its entire dayshift during a roof-collapse of the main shaft. Despite a botched rescue attempt the bodies of the trapped miners were never recovered. As a mark of respect Netherdale pit was capped and sealed, the final resting place of fathers, sons, uncles and brothers. Only one miner survived the disaster: an eleven year old foaly called Arthur Bowman.

Extract from the book :

All was silent except for the wind thrumming intermittently against the bay window. The sun arced slowly downwards, casting the furthermost corners of the room into shadow, and only the orange glow of the fire prevented the room from slipping into total darkness.

Bowman lent towards a brass table lamp. He flicked a switch, swathing the desk in soft-yellow ambience. From an inside pocket he withdrew a black Conway Stewart fountain pen and began to take notes, while back at the bay window, a layer of frost formed unnoticed on the inside window pane.

Not even Luke Bowman could ignore the cold forever. When an icy shiver finally coursed his veins he cursed, emitting wisps of white vapour into the air from pinkish-blue lips. He then turned to scowl at the fireplace, only to observe the flames licking and lapping each other with the vitality of two young lovers.

Download Chapter 1 (14 pages) : PastSins.pdf : 136kb

— About The Author

Aside from Past Sins, Dave is the author of one other full-length novel, several short stories, and a veritable bucket-full of computer-related articles and reviews. Not surprisingly for someone whose work has appeared in IT magazines across the globe, Dave’s first novel, A Gift To Die For was published in the USA. Plenty Long Enough also saw light of day on the other side of the pond, winning the 2003 Darklines short story award. British success arrived one year later when The Stuff Of Life And Death appeared on the world famous, Jack the Ripper Casebook site.

Have a look at Dave's website for more information : www.d-cook.co.uk