Five and a Half Tons: the Blurb

The year is 1962 and Westerby-on-Sea is slumbering through its drab off-season. Life is quiet for J.F. Springer, Private Detective – and, although he dreams of emulating Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, and Sexton Blake, that is pretty much how he likes it.

 Springer finally gets the chance to be a real detective. when he is called in to find a missing woman. At first it seems pretty straightforward, and he has high hopes of solving the case and getting paid in double-quick time. But for Springer, life is never so simple. Soon he is embroiled in an affair that involves housebreaking, missing diamonds, threats to his life, an apparent suicide, and a pigeon-fancier who thinks Springer has amorous designs on his daughter. When the police take an interest, first it’s to arrest Springer, then  use him as bait in a trap. Then there’s Jim Tarbet, the local wideboy, seemingly determined to make Springer repay a trifling debt…

Like a famous predecessor, Springer tries to be taller, but all around there are too many goons and not enough brains.

Not so much film noir as seaside gris.

Five and a Half Tons is published by Grey Cells Press TOMORROW! Available online via all the usual outlets, or direct from the publishers.

Five and a Half Tons: the Cover

Five and a Half Tons. Cover designed by the multi-talented B. Lloyd.

“Not so much film noir as seaside gris”

The year is 1962 and Westerby-on-Sea is slumbering through its drab off-season. Life is quiet for J.F. Springer, Private Detective – and, although he dreams of emulating Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, and Sexton Blake, that is pretty much how he likes it…

Coming very soon is Springer’s first adventure, Five and a Half Tons. It will be published by Grey Cells Press on September 1st, and be available from friendly on-line book sellers on that date, and bricks-and-mortar book sellers soon after.

Springer now has his own Facebook page. As he lives in 1962, before the Internet (let alone Facebook) was invented, he’s left it to me to update the page for him. There’s not much there at present, but arriving on Friday will be the cover and the complete blurb of Five and a Half Tons. with more interesting stuff to follow.

And I do know he’d appreciate a few “likes” if you’re in the neighbourhood.

Here we are again…

I’m afraid that there’s been a bit of a hiatus in the News from Westerby blog over the past few months. Sorry about that. That thing called “real life” got in the way, throwing a few curve balls and other annoying clichés in my direction, and I forgot to duck. Anyway, I have finally returned to the task of introducing Springer to the world, and I can confirm that Five and a Half Tons is well on schedule to be published on September 1st, available as a paperback and all the popular e-book formats. I will be revealing the cover (designed by the wonderfully talented B. Lloyd) to the world next week.

And another thing. Springer’s been having more adventures that needed to be written down, so I’ve been scribbling away as fast as I can to keep up with him. The poor man does get himself into some awful predicaments…