Former police officer and priest Patrick Jones has returned to Rye to launch his first murder mystery novel, The Deconstructionist. Patrick was signing books at the George on Saturday, August 27, which appeared to be selling like hot cakes to friends and strangers alike. Patrick used to live in North Salts and is now based near Dover.
The protagonist is ex copper turned private eye Russ Walker, who lives in Rye Harbour and works in Market Street (or Road) in Rye. A lot of the action takes place around the local area. For some reason I had assumed that the book would be an Agatha Christie or Dorothy L Sayers “cosy” but I was quite wrong. The murders are vicious, explicit and shocking and there are a lot of “adult” scenes. Patrick did warn me of this when I bought the book, but I wrongly assumed that an ex-monk’s idea of what was racy would be well below my every day tolerance level. I was wrong about that.
It is a fast paced, very readable book which will I am sure will create a stir amongst the many local readers.Patrick’s second novel featuring Russ Walker should be out later this year.
In the meantime, The Deconstructionist is available from the Rye Bookshop on the High Street. Next Saturday September 3, the Rye Bookshop is hosting another book launch, this time for The Body on the Doorstep,the first in a new series by AJ Mackenzie, set in the Romney Marshes in the 18th century. All are welcome to pop into the bookshop from 6pm for a celebratory glass of wine.
Photo: Seana Lanigan
I read this book some months ago ‘brilliant’ after hearing about it on Radio Kent. Just waiting for a follow up?