by M. A. Hunter
She lifted the top folder and pulled out the picture of Faye McKenna – or Precious, as she had known her. The fire at Pendark last year was bound to uncover her remains eventually, but without help the police would be unlikely to connect her death with the man responsible. Her only hope was a gentle push in the right direction, but who could she trust?
Opening the glovebox, she extracted the book she’d found on the shelf in the library. Here was a woman writer who did seem to care about the plight of others, and if the detective skills she’d demonstrated in the book were anything to go by, she might just be able to unpick the conspiracy. If Mr Brown was right then she had more work to do if she was to find the head of the organisation.
Writing Faye’s name on the photograph, she slipped it into one of the prepared brown paper envelopes she’d brought with her. Then, putting the copy of Ransomed back into the glove box, she exited the car in search of a post box.
THE END
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Emma Hunter will return in Repressed…
Acknowledgments
I always find writing acknowledgements in a book challenging, because I’m always terrified that I’ll end up inadvertently omitting a key collaborator, and just waffling. But here goes.
For once I’m going to start by acknowledging my personal support network whose love and support enables me to keep writing. What is any writer without the support of a loving spouse? My brilliant wife Hannah keeps all the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff of my life in order and our children’s lives would be far duller if I was left in sole charge. They are my reason for getting up and soldiering on every day, and I want them to know how much I love them all.
I’d like to thank my parents, Ann and Nick, and parents-in-law, Marina and Robert, for all they do for us as a family. Thank you as ever to my best friend, Dr Parashar Ramanuj, who never shies away from the awkward medical questions I ask him. Thank you to Alex Shaw and Paul Grzegorzek – authors and dear friends – who are happy to listen to me moan and whinge about the pitfalls of the publishing industry, offering words of encouragement along the way.
And thanks must also go to YOU for buying and reading Discarded. You are my motivation for waking up ridiculously early to write every day, and why every free moment is spent devising plot twists. I feel truly honoured to call myself a writer, and it thrills me to know that other people are being entertained by the weird and wonderful visions my imagination creates. I love getting lost in my imagination and the more people who read and enjoy my stories, the more I can do it.
I want to finish by thanking every member of the One More Chapter team who’ve played some part in the production of this book. I’m lucky to have an editor like Bethan Morgan who ‘gets’ Emma and her close friends, and is always there to fine tune character voice and to point out when one strays into another. I’m always nervous when I’m waiting for Bethan’s first reaction to the latest manuscript, as I’m always thinking: is this going to be the one she doesn’t like? Thankfully, four books in and she’s loved every one more than the last. The only question that remains is will this continue to be her response with the final two (keeping my fingers crossed).
Thanks to Lucy Bennett for her work in producing the series’ covers; to Tony Russell, whose copyediting is always relatively painless; and to Lydia Mason, who kindly completed the proofread to pull out those all embarrassing spelling mistakes. Finally, no book release is complete without the fervent effort of the publicity team, so big thanks to Melanie Price and Claire Fenby for all they’ve done to raise awareness of the series and encourage new readers to pick up the books.
I started writing Discarded in June 2020, back when we’d already survived one lockdown and were being encouraged to try and get back to some semblance of normality. I found it odd writing about characters who didn’t have to socially distance, and could hug one another when the mood struck. I’ve been asked several times why I’ve made no reference to the global pandemic in my writing, and to be honest it’s because I want this series to be a means of escape for readers. Who really wants to be reminded of all the sacrifice we’ve all endured these last eighteen months? I certainly don’t, and if you’re reading this years from now and the world has returned to normality, I hope you’re finding your place in it.
I’d love to know what you thought about Discarded, and whether you spotted the twist that it was Anna who started Emma on the quest to find Faye and Cormack? I am active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so please do stop by with any messages, observations, or questions. Hearing from readers of my books truly brightens my days and encourages me to keep writing, so don’t be a stranger. I promise I will respond to every message and comment.
Thank you for reading…
We hope you enjoyed Discarded!
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Do leave a review if so on all your preferred platforms to help spread the word!
You can also add the paperback edition to your collection!
Dying to know what happens next?
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Treat yourself to the fifth nerve-shredding instalment in The Missing Children Case Files series by M. A. Hunter with the utterly gripping Repressed.
Get your copy right here!
And don’t miss the explosive conclusion to Emma Hunter’s story of buried secrets, feral reckonings, and found family with the unputdownable Exposed…
Get your copy right here!
You can also get your hands on the first standalone psychological thriller from M. A. Hunter today with the absolutely gripping Mummy’s Little Secret…
Get your copy right here!
Be sure to follow M. A. Hunter on Twitter @Writer_MAHunter for all the latest updates.
You will also love…
In the mood for even more unputdownable fiction?
You will love The House of Killers by Samantha Lee Howe, a trail-blazing new spy thriller series starring an agent with an agenda, a killer with a conscience, and a showdown that will bring a country to its knees…
Get your copy here!
You will adore Secrets of a Serial Killer by Rosie Walker, an utterly addictive psychological thriller following a notorious murderer who has been terrorising the streets of Lancaster for decades, far longer than should ever have been possible for a single killer…
Get your copy here!
You will also love the brilliant Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle Holten, in which the relentless titular detective of the Staffordshire police must contend with secondment to a specialised unit as well as the savagery of arch nemesis and brutal serial killer Bill Raven, all the while trying to protect Irish criminal psychologist, new friend, and instant crush Dr Kate Moloney from any and all harm.
Happy reading!
About the Author
M. A. Hunter has been a huge fan of crime fiction series since a young age and always fancied the idea of trying to write one. That dream became a reality when One More Chapter signed The Missing Children Case Files.
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Born in Darlington in the north-east of England, Hunter grew up in West London, and moved to Southampton to study law at university. It’s here that Hunter fell in love and has been married for fifteen years. They are now raising their two children on the border of The New Forest where they enjoy going for walks amongst the wildlife. They regularly holiday across England, but have a particular affinity for the south coast, which formed the setting for the series, spanning from Devon to Brighton, and with a particular focus on Weymouth, one of their favourite towns.
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When not writing, Hunter can be found binge-watching favourite shows or buried in the latest story from Angela Marsons, Simon Kernick, or Ann Cleeves.
Also by M. A. Hunter
The Missing Children Case Files
Ransomed
Isolated
Trafficked
Repressed
Exposed
About the Publisher
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United Kingdom
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United States
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