The Plumber's Mate Mysteries Series by J.L. Merrow

Some things are better left hidden.... Tom Paretski’s not just a plumber with a dodgy hip courtesy of a schoolboy accident. He also has a sixth sense for finding hidden things. Called in by the police to help locate a body near Brock’s Hollow, he’s staggered to encounter Phil Morrison, his old school crush—and the closeted bully whose actions contributed to Tom’s accident. Phil’s all grown up now, and Tom’s unwilling attraction to him is back with a vengeance... moreSome things are better left hidden.... Tom Paretski’s not just a plumber with a dodgy hip courtesy of a schoolboy accident. He also has a sixth sense for finding hidden things. Called in by the police to help locate a body near Brock’s Hollow, he’s staggered to encounter Phil Morrison, his old school crush—and the closeted bully whose actions contributed to Tom’s accident. Phil’s all grown up now, and Tom’s unwilling attraction to him is back with a vengeance. Phil’s now openly gay—and what’s more, he’s interested in Tom’s personal charms as well as his psychic talents. As a private investigator called in by the dead woman’s parents, Phil is sceptical about Tom’s unusual gift, but nevertheless quick to spot its potential to aid him in his work. The further they go with the investigation, the less they can ignore their shared past, and the more the pressure and the heat build between them. But Tom isn’t certain he wants to know the secrets he’s helping to uncover, while there’s a murderer on the loose who won’t hesitate to kill again—and this uneasy couple is moving right into his sights. * * * * * * * NOTE: This is lightly edited reprint of a previously published novel. Word count: 70,200; page count: 256 less

Book 2 in The Plumber's Mate Mysteries series If you dig up the past, be prepared for some dirt to stick. The relationship between Tom Paretski, a cheeky plumber with a gift for finding hidden things, and PI Phil Morrison may only be a few weeks old, but already it’s under attack. Tom’s friends and family are convinced the former bully isn’t good enough for him, and they’re not shy about saying so. Then Tom’s prickly older sister, Cherry, is poisoned at her own engagement party... moreBook 2 in The Plumber's Mate Mysteries series If you dig up the past, be prepared for some dirt to stick. The relationship between Tom Paretski, a cheeky plumber with a gift for finding hidden things, and PI Phil Morrison may only be a few weeks old, but already it’s under attack. Tom’s friends and family are convinced the former bully isn’t good enough for him, and they’re not shy about saying so. Then Tom’s prickly older sister, Cherry, is poisoned at her own engagement party. Tom’s left reeling and not knowing who to suspect. Could it be her new fiancé, Gregory, a cathedral canon with an unfortunate manner and a taste for taxidermy? Or someone from her old writers’ circle, which she left after a row? Or could the attack be connected to her work as a barrister? Meanwhile, Tom’s honorary auntie’s left him a gag gift from beyond the grave that could be more significant than anyone knows. Phil’s fighting against the clock to solve the case before somebody ends up dead. And with the poisoner hiding a dark secret, Phil’s terrified Tom could have been the target all along. NOTE: This is lightly edited reprint of a previously published novel. Word count: 91,100; page count 341 less

Book three in The Plumber's Mate Mysteries series Old flames can leave a nasty burn. It’s been six months since plumber Tom Paretski was hit by a shocking revelation about his family, and he’s been avoiding dealing with it ever since. His lover, PI Phil Morrison, wants Tom to dig deeper into his history and try to develop his psychic talent for finding things, but Tom’s not nearly so keen. Just as he decides to bite the bullet, though, worse problems crawl out of the woodwork... moreBook three in The Plumber's Mate Mysteries series Old flames can leave a nasty burn. It’s been six months since plumber Tom Paretski was hit by a shocking revelation about his family, and he’s been avoiding dealing with it ever since. His lover, PI Phil Morrison, wants Tom to dig deeper into his history and try to develop his psychic talent for finding things, but Tom’s not nearly so keen. Just as he decides to bite the bullet, though, worse problems crawl out of the woodwork. Young Devil’s Dyke barmaid Marianne has an ex, Grant Carey, who won’t accept that things are over between them, and he’s ruthless in dealing with anyone who gets in his way. When Carey threatens an old friend of theirs, Phil and Tom step in to help—but that makes them targets themselves. What with his uncertainty about Phil’s motives, Tom’s family doing their best to drive a wedge between them, and the uncovering of an ugly incident in Phil’s past, Tom’s not sure who he can trust—and the body he finds in the pub cellar isn’t the only thing that stinks. NOTE: This is lightly edited reprint of a previously published novel. Word count: 84,200; page count: 310 less

Capital Crimes is an exciting anthology of short stories from ten members of the International Thriller Writer’s Organisation. It includes: INSCRUTABLE by Douglas Steward Three Asian men are taken captive and set alight in Chinatown. Det. Inspector ‘Ratso’ Holtom investigates their murder, which has many similarities to another, unresolved case ten years earlier... BADAMI by Charlie Flowers Holly Kirpachi, aka Bang-Bang, is an ex-heroin user whose friend has been murdered... moreCapital Crimes is an exciting anthology of short stories from ten members of the International Thriller Writer’s Organisation. It includes: INSCRUTABLE by Douglas Steward Three Asian men are taken captive and set alight in Chinatown. Det. Inspector ‘Ratso’ Holtom investigates their murder, which has many similarities to another, unresolved case ten years earlier... BADAMI by Charlie Flowers Holly Kirpachi, aka Bang-Bang, is an ex-heroin user whose friend has been murdered. While her husband guards the suspect, she goes in search of the killer. THE DRAG QUEEN WORE RED by J L Merrow During Pride day in Trafalgar Square, Tom is in a bar with his female friend. A drag queen called Scarlett enters, and some time later she leaves and is stabbed in the street. Tom goes after the suspect. DEVIL LAW by Maynard Sims Marshall Masters is a married barrister who enjoys a lavish lifestyle. He is skilled in getting guilty people off if they can pay him well, and he has never lost a case. He everything changes when he defends a gangster named Board... CONTAINED by Lambert Nagle A man discovers a dead body at the docks but leaves without reporting it to the police. He decides to take matters into his own hands and soon realises the tailor was not who he seemed ... GAME OF CHANCE by Charlie Cochrane Jonty Stewart is a Cambridge don who spends his time investigating crimes. But he himself becomes the victim on his last night of freedom before he is due to go and fight in the war MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT by Graeme Shimmin After a failed suicide bomber attack on Buckingham Palace parachuters land on the Jewel House of the Tower of London in order to take back the Koh-I-Noor jewel that the British stole from India over a hundred years ago. KARMA by Alan McDermott Vlatko Kasun, the Butcher of Bosnia, is a cruel man. After his death he ends up in another world where he is told that he is between the last life and the next, and is forced to relive his past wrongs. HACKED by Alex Shaw Neill Plato’s aunt has been conned out of a large amount of money due to her bank account being hacked during her house sale. He and a friend try to find the culprit. WHAT GOES AROUND by Stephen Edger Chris Butler has recently got engaged to Tina, and it is their wedding day. Chris receives a call from Victor, the man who has taken Tina hostage. Victor is part of the Russian mafia in Soho, and has been searching for Chris ever since Chris escaped from prison after being framed for murder. 'A rich and varied assortment of dark minds and dark deeds. Deliciously disturbing.' Peter James -2015 Voted by WH Smith readers The Best Crime Author Of All Time "For anyone whose literary tastes run to the dark and the twisty, CAPITAL KILLS is a damn near perfect taster menu." - Simon Toyne - international bestselling author of the Sanctus trilogy Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. less

Book four in The Plumber's Mate Mysteries series Death is what happens while you’re making other plans . . . The last thing newly engaged plumber Tom Paretski needs is to stumble over another dead body. He’s got enough on his mind already as the reality of his impending marriage sinks in. Not only is his family situation complicated, but his heroism at a pub fire has made him a local celebrity, and now everyone knows about his psychic talents—and wants a piece of them... moreBook four in The Plumber's Mate Mysteries series Death is what happens while you’re making other plans . . . The last thing newly engaged plumber Tom Paretski needs is to stumble over another dead body. He’s got enough on his mind already as the reality of his impending marriage sinks in. Not only is his family situation complicated, but his heroism at a pub fire has made him a local celebrity, and now everyone knows about his psychic talents—and wants a piece of them. Hired to recover a missing necklace, Tom and his fiancé, private investigator Phil Morrison, find themselves trying to unmask a killer. And there’s no shortage of suspects, including the local bishop. As Tom and Phil try to uncover the truth, they’re pulled in all directions by the conflicting pressures of their families and their own desires. But the murderer they’re up against is a ruthless schemer who won’t baulk at killing again. If Tom and Phil don’t watch out, their love—and all their plans for the future—could be blown down like a house of straw. NOTE: This is lightly edited reprint of a previously published novel. Word count: 88,000; page count: 330 less

Still waters run deadly.Tom Paretski, plumber with a talent for finding hidden things, and his private investigator fiancé Phil Morrison have been hired to locate a runaway husband, Jonathan Parrot. The job seems simple enough—until their quarry turns up dead in a canal, and a photofit of Tom’s face is splashed all over the news, making him chief suspect.The widow, petite ex–porn star Lilah Lovett, is convinced her husband was killed by his gay lover, but Tom and Phil aren’t so sure... moreStill waters run deadly.Tom Paretski, plumber with a talent for finding hidden things, and his private investigator fiancé Phil Morrison have been hired to locate a runaway husband, Jonathan Parrot. The job seems simple enough—until their quarry turns up dead in a canal, and a photofit of Tom’s face is splashed all over the news, making him chief suspect.The widow, petite ex–porn star Lilah Lovett, is convinced her husband was killed by his gay lover, but Tom and Phil aren’t so sure. Worried they may have precipitated Jonathan’s death, they’re determined to find the real killer. But with a web of incestuous ties linking the suspects, it’s hard to know who to trust. Especially when a second victim dies a gruesome death.Meanwhile, with their wedding looming and them sharing a house now, Tom’s worried it may all be too much, too fast. The last thing he needs are the mixed messages Phil seems to be sending out. They’ll need to get back on the same track if they want to make it to their honeymoon together—and alive. less

A match made in heaven – but the honeymoon from hellPlumber Tom Paretski and his newly-wedded husband, PI Phil Morrison, plan to enjoy their honeymoon in Italy to the full. It should be the start of a wonderful future together. But when Wayne—Phil’s ex best mate and Tom’s former bully—turns up unexpectedly at their hotel, issues from their schooldays threaten to derail the fun... moreA match made in heaven – but the honeymoon from hellPlumber Tom Paretski and his newly-wedded husband, PI Phil Morrison, plan to enjoy their honeymoon in Italy to the full. It should be the start of a wonderful future together. But when Wayne—Phil’s ex best mate and Tom’s former bully—turns up unexpectedly at their hotel, issues from their schooldays threaten to derail the fun. Tom may not bear a grudge against Phil for past injuries any longer, but Wayne’s another matter—or is he?Wayne now seems determined to make friends, but Tom’s struggling to forgive and forget. To add to his confusion, cryptic messages from home spark the question: Are he and Phil are really as in tune as he thought? Tom’s not the first man Phil ever made a commitment to, and that marriage turned sour sooner rather than later.It shouldn’t surprise them when death explodes onto the scene in shocking fashion, and their honeymoon turns into a murder investigation. When the group of locals Wayne had been meeting with turn their attention to Tom’s psychic abilities, he and Phil will need to pull together to figure out what’s going on—or risk this trip being the last they’ll ever take. less