Silver Dagger Book Tours
  • Welcome!
  • Current Tours
    • Book Tours
  • Book a Tour
  • Open Sign Ups
  • Contact
  • About
  • Welcome!
  • Current Tours
    • Book Tours
  • Book a Tour
  • Open Sign Ups
  • Contact
  • About
Silver Dagger Book Tours

 

The Two Fathers - Book Tour and Giveaway

11/14/2020

65 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

The Two Fathers
Sam Dyke Investigations Book 11
by Keith Dixon
Genre: Mystery 

Picture
Why does Jessica Hastings come home late several times a week?

Her husband asks Private Investigator Sam Dyke this simple question. Dyke doesn't want the case: he doesn't do divorce work ... but Brian Hastings doesn't want a divorce, he wants an explanation.

When Sam finds out what Jessica is doing, it opens up more questions. And when Brian Hastings goes missing, they're questions he feels compelled to answer.

At the centre of the mystery is a man who most people in Manchester don't know--Larry Stone. But those who do know him, know that far from being the simple florist he seems to be, he's actually the biggest crook in town. He's powerful, he's dangerous, and he's currently working a deal with a Dutchman who's even worse.

And Sam is now caught in Stone's sights as he works to find Brian Hastings, to solve a couple of murders, and to prevent Stone corrupting even more members of his own family than he already has.

Before the biggest deal of Stone's crooked career goes down.



Goodreads * Amazon ​

​
Picture
Picture
from Chapter One 

​In my line of work it’s not good to hear a knock on your door at eleven o’clock at night. It sends all kinds of images scampering through your imagination and plucking your nerve ends.
But the knuckle-rap was tentative, faintly rhythmic, and suggested an approach by someone who didn’t want to punch my lights out or stick a gun in my stomach.
Both of which I’d experienced at one time or another.
Perhaps, I thought, it was someone selling water purifiers or de-icer sprays and trying a novel sales approach.
Given what was to happen later, perhaps I should have wished harder for either of these options to be true.
Whoever it was knocked again, this time a little louder. I walked from my lounge to the front door and stood a moment. A real private investigator would have had a spy-hole and taken the opportunity to peer through it, or would have strapped on his shoulder holster before drawing back three bolts on the door. I suppose it says something about my professionalism that I did neither.
I turned the knob and pulled the door open.
A slight man a little older than me, perhaps fifty, stood shivering in a dark suit, the knot of his woollen tie pulled away from his scrawny neck. He glanced up at me as though I’d taken him by surprise, and I caught in that glance a universe of suspicion, fear and resentment. He was reasonably good-looking, with short fair hair greying at the temples and a small, pointed nose, and his head was set forward on his shoulders, giving him an air of hunched anticipation. His grey eyes looked past me into the house like a starving man looking at a heaving table of food, both greedy and somewhat resentful at the same time.

​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Keith Dixon was born in Yorkshire and grew up in the Midlands. He's been writing since he was thirteen years old in a number of different genres: thriller, espionage, science fiction, literary. Two-time winner of the Chanticleer Reviews CLUE First in Category award for Private Eye/Noir novel, he's the author of eleven full-length books and one short-story in the Sam Dyke Investigations series and two other non-crime works, as well as two collections of blog posts on the craft of writing.


Website * Facebook * Twitter * Youtube * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
​


Picture
Ideas and How to Get Them

This was a real headline in the UK’s Guardian newspaper recently:
Russia’s ‘Sausage King’ killed in Moscow in crossbow attack.

I posted it on Facebook, suggesting that it wasn’t a headline you saw every day, and a writer friend commented that there were at least 5 crime novel plots encapsulated in that sentence.
And he wasn’t wrong!

-Who was the ‘Sausage King’ and why was he under threat of assassination?
-Why did the assassin use a crossbow?
-Why did it take place in Moscow?
-Who hired the assassin, and why?
-Did the King know who did it, and would investigators be able to track down the murderer?

So when people ask – as they often do, despite it being somewhat of a cliché – ‘Where do your ideas come from?’, I only have to point them to the news. At least half a dozen of my books took their inspiration from a stray headline or story I happened to see in a newspaper. Here are just two examples:

-there was the story of the mother and daughter pair who were fooled by a Scottish con-woman into paying thousands of pounds for a fake health treatment … in despair, the mother and daughter later committed suicide. (I used the con-woman but softened the ending!)

-there was a trial in Liverpool of two brothers who ran a building firm – officially – but were notorious local gangsters on the side. (I later saw a pair of brothers, massive in black tee-shirts, who became the physical models for my Ginger Twins.)

And in my latest book, The Two Fathers, the beginning of the story was a report that a £50m burglary at a house belonging to Tamara Ecclestone – daughter of former F1 boss Bernie – was carried out by a mother and son team, possibly with some inside help.
In my books I’ve grown more and more interested in family relationships in the world of crime, so a news item like this immediately sparks interest: how did this couple become involved in crime? Which one of them was the boss? Was one of them reluctant to get involved but was persuaded by the other … ? All of these were excellent areas to explore.

I developed the story as part of my Sam Dyke Investigations series, where Sam is a private investigator in the UK, so he was, as usual, the central character. But as the story moved on I began to make the couple more sympathetic than reports of the original crime suggested, and created a Mr Big as the real villain of the piece. And even he solicits some understanding at the end—it’s never good to have your villain be 100% evil!

And this is what usually happens. A character or a situation or a set of facts piques your interest and you can’t stop thinking about it. For me, primarily writing a private eye series, I then have to work on how to fold the headline into a case he can investigate. This is both the hard part and the fun part, and it’s where the fiction begins to diverge from the fact. Inventing the story background, the characters and the plotline that holds them all together is a really creative act and is sometimes more fun than writing it all down afterwards!

But being creative with the facts as they exist is an essential part of the process. Otherwise, I’d just be re-posting the news, and where’s the fun in that?


Picture
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Nov 14
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
My Plans Are Booked
Books all things paranormal and romance
Sylv.net

Nov 15
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
Drako's Den
Bayou Queen Book Fanatics

Nov 16
Hurn Publications
Indie Author Book Reviews
Interesting Authors | Eclectic Readers!

Nov 17
IndiePowerd by No Sweat Graphics
Books, Authors, Blogs
A Pinch of Bookdust

Nov 18
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
Bedazzled By Books

Nov 19
eBook Addicts
Craving Lovely Books
Midnight Book Reader

Nov 20
Breaking Genre
Anna del C. Dye official page
The Book Dragon

Nov 21
Girl with Pen
Inside the Insanity – GUEST POST
T's Stuff

Nov 22
All the Ups and Downs - GUEST POST
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
Why I Can't Stop Reading

Nov 23
4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ – GUEST POST
Insane Books
Twisted Book Ramblings

Nov 24
A Wonderful World of Words - GUEST POST
❧Defining Ways❧
The Faerie Review

Nov 25
Book Lovers 4Ever
ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ
The Bookshelf Fairy

Nov 26
Literary Gold
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
Scrupulous Dreams

Nov 27
Books A-Brewin' - GUEST POST
Our Town Book Reviews
Musings From An Addicted Reader

Nov 28
I'm Into Books
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
The Sexy Nerd 'Revue'
Teatime and Books
​

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Picture
65 Comments
Bea LaRocca
11/14/2020 08:55:07 am

An intriguing cover, synopsis and excerpt, this sounds like a good book and series. Thank you for sharing your book and author details and for offering a giveaway.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/14/2020 10:59:04 am

Thanks, Bea - I've enjoyed writing the books and I hope you'd find them interesting and rewarding, too.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/14/2020 10:57:38 am

Thanks, Maia, for organising this incredible blog tour and for giving me the opportunity to write about myself ... always a bonus. :)

Reply
Wendy Jensen
11/14/2020 10:59:40 am

Great looking book cover.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 04:56:15 am

Thank you, Wendy. Took quite a while to get it right.

Reply
Rita Wray
11/14/2020 12:11:28 pm

Sounds like a great read.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 04:55:24 am

Thanks, Rita. I hope so!

Reply
Eva Millien
11/14/2020 12:53:02 pm

Nice to meet you, sounds like a thrilling read, thanks for sharing with me and good luck with the tour!

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 04:54:40 am

Thanks, Eva! There are a lot of dates on the tour so I'll try to keep up!

Reply
Susan Smith
11/14/2020 01:23:06 pm

Sounds like a great book. I love mysteries.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 04:57:32 am

Me too! Although I'm a Brit I read American mysteries almost exclusively. I used to teach American Literature so I suppose it's a way of keeping in touch.

Reply
Beyond Comps
11/14/2020 03:25:08 pm

Awesome cover!

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:20:16 am

Why thank you!

Reply
Debbie P
11/14/2020 03:59:51 pm

This sounds like a good read.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:20:58 am

Well far be it from me to say ... ;)

Reply
wendy hutton
11/14/2020 05:22:38 pm

sounds like a great book thanks

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:21:50 am

Thank you!

Reply
Sherry
11/14/2020 06:10:34 pm

I love the cover and the excerpt.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:22:22 am

Thanks very much, Sherry. Much appreciated.

Reply
Ann Fantom
11/14/2020 07:19:04 pm

I like the cover. It has beautiful artwork.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:22:54 am

It took a while to get it right! Thank you.

Reply
Stephanie Liske
11/14/2020 07:19:11 pm

I like the cover.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:23:22 am

Thank you, Stephanie. I appreciate the comment.

Reply
Lisa
11/14/2020 07:26:36 pm

Really great cover.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:23:44 am

Thank you, Lisa.

Reply
Calvin
11/15/2020 01:24:06 am

Lot of things to take in from seeing your book, nice work!

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/15/2020 05:24:31 am

Thanks for the comment, Calvin. Much appreciated.

Reply
Kiara
11/15/2020 06:18:57 pm

I like the cover and the excerpt.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/16/2020 06:00:32 am

Thank you, Kiara! I appreciate it.

Reply
David Hollingsworth
11/15/2020 06:53:20 pm

The story really sounds interesting and compelling.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/16/2020 06:01:36 am

The story is based very loosely on a real event, where a mother and son were found guilty of burglary. I thought that was an interesting premise!

Reply
Rachel Schichtl
11/16/2020 01:39:39 am

Looks like a great cover and great read.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/16/2020 06:02:46 am

Thank you, Rachel. Covers have got to appeal, don't they? And if you don't like this book, there are more in the series! ;)

Reply
kelly tupick
11/16/2020 08:44:54 am

I love the book cover.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/16/2020 10:32:02 am

Thanks, Kelly, glad you liked it!

Reply
beth shepherd
11/16/2020 06:22:45 pm

this looks like a great read

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/16/2020 07:30:07 pm

Thanks, Beth - I hope so!

Reply
Danielle Day
11/16/2020 07:37:45 pm

Love it!

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/16/2020 08:03:31 pm

Thanks, Danielle - I try to please! :)

Reply
Ginger Hafer
11/17/2020 04:06:33 am

Interesting cover. It has a rural look to it. Sounds like a good read.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/17/2020 05:50:27 am

Thanks, Ginger - yes, there is a rural aspect to the book, particularly in the latter stages ... I can say no more!

Reply
Christina Gould
11/17/2020 11:19:48 am

I like the photo on the cover. Thanks for the giveaway!

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/17/2020 12:37:36 pm

Thank you! ... and you're welcome!

Reply
Marcy Meyer
11/18/2020 01:02:24 pm

The cover looks good. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/18/2020 06:55:01 pm

Thank you, Marcy. Much appreciated.

Reply
Francine Anchondo
11/19/2020 12:18:07 pm

I like the cover

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/20/2020 04:51:55 am

Thanks, Francine!

Reply
Mary Cloud
11/19/2020 08:37:18 pm

I like the cover - thanks for sharing

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/20/2020 04:52:32 am

Thank you, Mary. I think it represents certain parts of the book well.

Reply
Rebecca Joiner
11/20/2020 08:21:48 am

I think the cover looks really cool! I like it!!

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/20/2020 12:03:13 pm

Thank you, Rebecca! I appreciate your comment!

Reply
Laura Rubenstein
11/21/2020 01:13:54 pm

Great cover!

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/21/2020 07:21:45 pm

Thanks, Laura! Glad you like it!

Reply
LYNN CLAYTON
11/21/2020 08:12:07 pm

oh nice cover looks like a great reasd

Reply
John Dixon link
11/22/2020 05:02:13 am

Thanks very much, Lynn. Covers have to attract, don't they?

Reply
Karin
11/22/2020 07:26:47 pm

The cover matches the book blurb really well

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/22/2020 07:50:51 pm

Thanks, Karin - it's a trick to try to get the cover and the blurb moving along the same lines!

Reply
Nancy
11/25/2020 07:57:03 pm

I like the haunting, misty illustration on your book cover. Your title makes me wonder: Who are the two fathers?

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/26/2020 08:32:46 am

Ah-ha! When you read the book you discover they're not who you thought they were!

Reply
Dawn Snow
11/26/2020 12:59:51 pm

I love the scenery!

Reply
Belinda Shaw
11/27/2020 10:55:57 am

I really like the cover since it appears like there is a mystery involved.

Reply
Heather Mahley
11/28/2020 12:25:09 am

The cover is great

Reply
Betty Curran
11/28/2020 11:03:29 pm

I love the cover. The colors are beautiful. I enjoyed the blurb. It's definitely on my must read list.

Reply
Jerry Marquardt
11/28/2020 11:56:38 pm

I would like to give thanks for all your really great writing, and wishing the best in keeping up the good work in the future.

Reply
Keith Dixon link
11/30/2020 01:21:35 pm

Well that's very kind of you, Jerry! I greatly appreciate the fact that you took time to write that - thank you!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Activity Book
    Adventure
    African American
    Alt History
    Anthology
    Apocalyptic
    Audiobook
    Australian
    Bdsm
    Billionaire Romance
    Biography
    Chick Lit
    Childrens
    Christian
    Coloring Book
    Comedy
    Coming Of Age
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporaryromance
    Contemporary Romance
    Cookbook
    Cozymystery
    Cozy Mystery
    Crime
    Cyberpunk
    Dark
    Dark Romance
    Drama
    Dystopian
    Educational
    Eroticromance
    Erotic Romance
    Fairytale
    Fantasy
    Financial
    Giveaway-hop
    Gothic
    Health-and-wellness
    Historical
    Historicalromance
    Historical-romance
    Holiday
    Horror
    Humorous
    Inspirational
    Legal-thriller
    Lgbtq
    Literaryfiction
    Mafiaromance
    Mafia-romance
    Magicrealism
    Magic-realism
    Mcromance
    Mc-romance
    Memoir
    Menage
    Middlegrade
    Middle-grade
    Military
    Mystery
    Newadult
    New Adult
    Nonfiction
    Paranormal
    Paranormalromance
    Paranormal Romance
    Parenting
    Pets
    Poetry
    Postapocalyptic
    Pulp-fiction
    Reverseharemromance
    Reverse-harem-romance
    Rockstarromance
    Rockstar-romance
    Romance
    Romanticcomedy
    Romantic Comedy
    Romanticsuspense
    Romantic Suspense
    Satirical
    Sciencefiction
    Science Fiction
    Scifi
    Scifiromance
    Scifi Romance
    Selfhelp
    Shortstories
    Short-stories
    Speculativefiction
    Speculative Fiction
    Sportsromance
    Steampunk
    Supernatural
    Suspense
    Sweetromance
    Thriller
    Timetravel
    Time-travel
    Urban
    Urbanfantasy
    Urban Fantasy
    Western
    Womensfiction
    Womens Fiction
    Ya
    Youngadult
    Young-adult
    Youngadultya
    Young Adult Ya

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

© 2021 Silver Dagger Book Tours