It is my great pleasure to welcome author Jo Fenton to the blog today. Her crime fiction novels are always an excellent read and I'm thrilled that the second editions are hitting the market in time for Christmas.
Thank you so much, Val for allowing me to share an extract of the first of my re-released thrillers, The Brotherhood. This book and its sequel, The Refuge, has been re-released by Bloodhound Books on 10th December.
The Blurb
Faith. Love. Manipulation.
After the sudden death of her parents, 22-year-old Melissa falls under the spell of Dominic, the enigmatic leader of The Brotherhood. Drawn into the Abbey’s world, she finds solace but soon becomes trapped in Dominic's web of control.
Caught between her growing affection for the kind-hearted Mark and her dangerous infatuation with Dominic, Melissa's life spirals out of control. When she becomes pregnant, Dominic’s jealousy turns violent, and Melissa is imprisoned, her life and sanity at risk.
As the truth about Dominic unravels, Melissa takes matters into her own hands, leading to a shocking and deadly confrontation. In the aftermath, can she and Mark uncover the Abbey's dark secrets and rebuild a future free from Dominic’s influence?
The Brotherhood is a dark and suspenseful psychological thriller about grief, control, redemption and love.
The Extract
This extract is from quite early on in the story, shortly after Melissa has arrived, and it’s a very special day for the community…
I’m at the tail end of our group as we file into the Chapel after breakfast. Brie turns round and grabs my arm; that excited grin is lighting up her face again.
“Come on, Mel, get a move on. We don’t want to be late. I heard a rumour that we have a visitor.”
My heart rate accelerates as if I’ve been running around the hospital. What have I got into here? What’s going to happen? Who’s this visitor?
An impatient look from Brie stops the thoughts rocketing around my head. I speed up and follow her to our position next to the painting of Samson and Delilah.
As we get into place, the side door begins to close. It’s stopped by Tina. She seems flustered as she takes her place next to me. Her hair is coming loose from its clips and a button is undone on her dress. Her breathing is rapid, and her expression anxious. I point at the button, and she sorts it out with fumbling fingers. Tidying her hair will have to wait.
At the front of the hall, the double doors are flung open. The group heads enter first, as they did yesterday, and take their seats on either side of the doors. There’s a brief silence – an air of anticipation. Then Dominic arrives, smiling, handsome and immaculately dressed once again in his dark suit and clerical collar. Over the suit is a white robe trimmed with purple and gold. Looking spectacular, he approaches the lectern.
“My children, good morning. Welcome to this assembly. I wondered how to make this anniversary into a very special occasion. So, when the local parish priest approached me last week, and asked if I could help a young man in his care, this seemed to be the answer. This young man, Trevor, was recently blinded in a fire.
He is suffering physically and emotionally. I consulted with the Almighty Lord, and he decreed I should help this poor fellow.
What better day to choose for a miracle than this? The first anniversary of our Lord’s visitation. Before I bring him in, we should prepare ourselves and ask for the Lord’s help with this difficult but worthwhile task.”
He signals to the pianist and she plays some opening bars. I don’t recognise the music. My heart’s racing again and my mouth is dry. Where’s the water fountain when it’s needed?
“The Abbey Prayer,” Brie whispers in my ear.
Everyone is joining in around me, but I don’t know the words. There’s a chorus after every ten lines or so, and after a few repetitions I’m able to sing a few lines here and there. There’s a thrill in the air. Anticipation sparks around me.
I can’t believe I’m about to witness a miracle. Will he actually be able to cure this man, Trevor? Surely it’s not real. But then, Dominic’s supposedly the Messiah. Everyone here believes it.
Maybe it is real. A small voice at the back of my head interrupts the thought. He can’t bring Mum and Dad back though. What use is a miracle if he can’t do that? A lump forms immediately in my throat. I swallow it impatiently. There’s another chorus, so I try to join in again, but my throat is too full. The song ends, and I focus on the activity at the front.
A bulky man in a grey uniform comes forward. There are several men in grey standing around the edge of the Chapel.
Dominic whispers to the stocky grey man, who then leaves the Chapel. He returns a moment later, leading a short man in his mid-twenties. As he gets closer, I gasp. I can’t help it. His face is covered in scars. They’re red and inflamed. The fire must have damaged more than just his eyesight.
A shudder runs through me. My face tingles as I imagine the pain he must be enduring.
Please let Dominic help him. Please don’t let it be a sham. Please let Dominic really be the Messiah. I can feel doubt running through me, and do my best to exude positivity and belief – in case it helps.
Trevor stands close to the lectern. I try to see his expression, but my view of his face is blocked by a tall woman in front. Tina shifts, and pulls me across to get a better view. We aren’t precisely out of line, but it’s an improvement.
I glance again at our visitor. Sweat glistens on the right side of his forehead; the only normal patch of skin on his face. The room’s hot. It’s only May, but temperatures are soaring into the nineties. I don’t think he’s sweating from the heat though.
“My dear young man,” Dominic addresses Trevor, his voice gentle, yet loud enough to be heard at the back of the room. “I have prayed for guidance so I can understand the best way to help you. I believe you are blind and in pain. Is that correct?”
“Yes sir.” Trevor’s voice sounds thin and feeble. Perhaps it reflects his state of mind.
Dominic rests a hand on Trevor’s shoulder. The young man winces. How far does the scarring extend?
“In order to help you, I need to call on the services of The Brotherhood.” He raises his voice slightly and turns his face to us.
“My children, I must ask you to sing. Please raise your voices and embrace the beautiful and apt hymn, O What a Miracle, My Lord.”
The Author
Jo Fenton grew up in Hertfordshire, UK. She devoured books from an early age, particularly enjoying adventure books, school stories and fantasy. She wanted to be a scientist from aged six after being given a wonderful book titled “Science Can Be Fun”. At eleven, she discovered Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer, and now has an eclectic and much-loved book collection cluttering her home office.
Jo combines an exciting career in Clinical Research with an equally exciting but very different career as a writer of psychological thrillers.
When not working, she runs (very slowly), hikes and chats to lots of people. She lives in Manchester with her husband and Golden Retriever and near to her two grown up sons. She is an active and enthusiastic member of two writing groups and a reading group.
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