The explosive sequel to 'They Have No Graves as Yet'

I can finally reveal the plot for my latest novel Death To Touch. It will be published in late November or early December, in print form and as an e-book, so add it to your Christmas list.

It’s 1941 and the Germans continue to develop evermore sophisticated mines to confuse the British minesweeping forces and Royal Navy Rendering Mines Safe Officers (RMSOs).  It is Lt Cdr ‘Monty’ Montcalm’s task to travel the country to investigate any new weapons, during the course of which, he learns that the Germans may be developing an acoustically-guided torpedo.  Such a weapon would be devastating to unescorted fast transatlantic convoys.  Meanwhile, he continues to pursue his romance with Lucy Cunningham, sister of his best friend, Stephen.  He knows he’s in love, but does his future lie with Lucy or his friend from their days at Oxford?  Meanwhile, Stephen, now a highly-decorated RMSO, is in love, too. He has fallen head-over-heels with his former nurse, Carol Templeton, but the path of true love is not clear and a beautiful and wealthy temptress crosses that path.  Sent on instructional duties for a rest to Orkney, but it doesn’t take him long to volunteer for more active RMS duties.

Colonel Ernst Scholtz of the Luftwaffe, a committed member of the Nazi Party and expert in mine warfare, meanwhile learns of the success of the British in countering his latest magnetic mines and determines a means to defeat the minesweepers.  However, personal tragedy hits him and brings him to learn first-hand the cruel racism towards the Jews.  An incident in a factory manned by Jewish slave labour threatens him being brutally tortured by the Gestapo and horribly executed.

In 1942, disenchanted with perceived lack of recognition for risking his life repeatedly in dealing with mines, Monty accepts an invitation to join Cdr Ian Fleming’s Intelligence Assault Unit, later called 30 Commando.  He is despatched to the Mediterranean with the brief to ‘pinch’ enemy documents and equipment related to mines and torpedoes, continuing his hunt for an example of the new acoustic torpedo before it can be used to prevent the Americans sending over precious men and equipment in preparation for the invasion of Europe.  Stephen, too, finds himself in the Mediterranean as a member of a Naval Demolition Party tasked with port clearance.  In Sicily he faces his most dangerous challenge yet – a harbour chock-full of depth charges linked to deadly and mysterious booby traps.  Unless he can clear the port quickly, there will be no Allied invasion of Italy.

Based on true events, I have again tried to write an authentic and gripping description of the cold, almost suicidal courage displayed by the mine disposal teams of the Royal Navy during WW2.  Initial feedback suggests that this is an even better novel that its predecessor, They Have No Graves as Yet.  I will soon start work on the final book in the trilogy He Who Would Valiant Be.