The Angel of Whitehall
Page 59
Regretting the decision not to wear the Green Beret, he forged out a highly unsuccessful and miserable career in sales; a way to pay the bills and provide a home for his growing family.
In 1988, a cathartic event changed his approach to life and he spent two frustrating years trying to forge a new career as a police officer. By doing this he would in fact continue a family tradition stemming back to the early 1800s.
His career commenced with the Nottinghamshire Constabulary at a time of enormous change. He was soon posted to some of the most beautiful and equally dangerous locations in the county where he learned the noble art of policing, including response, community, intelligence and vice work (the latter, whilst challenging, at least offered a secondary income).
In 2003, wearing a different uniform, he found himself in a new country, soon realising that the age-old maxim about familiar excrement and days of the week still rang true.
This is the fourth novel in the Jack Cade series. The Seventh Wave trilogy including Seventh, Seven Degrees and Seven of Swords was initially released between 2017 and 2019 to great acclaim, readers revelling in the ‘highly realistic’ and ‘cinematographic’ writing that fully embeds them in the story.
Lewis is married with two children, a lake-loving Labrador, and lives in a house.
Acknowledgments
I wrote my first thriller Seventh in 2017. That it ever appeared in print was a feat of Herculean strength. That people enjoyed it was a revelation. That they lapped up its successors, Seven Degrees and Seven of Swords even more so.
Writing and thus books are subjective. Show me an author who doesn’t lay awake at night hoping that their work entertains and I’ll show you someone who is neither a writer nor an author. Which begged the question, which of these noble artists am I? According to Masterclass.com an author is someone whose written work has been published – they originate the ideas and content. For this reason, it says, most authors are writers, but not all writers are to be considered authors…
Why am I telling you this? Well, dear reader, as I press ‘print’ on this my latest work I saw the final literary planet align when Rebecca and Adrian at Hobeck Books offered me a five-book publishing contract. They saw the writing on the wall and heard my voice and I am truly grateful and unusually, for once, struggling for the right words.
All that remains is to thank the team behind the author – my simply amazing wife and children for their love and endless support, which I sometimes fail to recognise fully. For listening, when no one else might. For listening when they know that they should! For humouring me when they have heard it all before.
To my dear old mum for telling all of her nursing staff that her son is an author and that yes, they really should buy his books…
To Casey, the lake-loving Labrador for allowing me to convert her precious walking time into ideas. To Jason, JD, Bridie, Carrie and Johnnie. To Kate and ‘Red’ and all the other wonderful people who have allowed me to craft them into characters that are believable, lovable and above all intriguing and entertaining. To Dave Bradley for his tactical firearms reminders about which colour is which when describing a house – only important when you are there, weapon drawn.
To my proof-reading giants Lee and Kitty – as always, thank you.
To Russell. What can I say apart from sorry and Southampton FC are simply amazing? Seriously lost without your knowledge and patience, my friend. I promise to never tamper with my own books again. Ever…
To the very special authors and friends of the social media world and Jim and the whole team at londoncrime.co.uk.
To Claire, for always skilfully placing the right-sized boot in the right place at exactly the right time and for believing in me. And to Donna Siggers, an author who I admire enormously for her ability to fight back when all else had failed. A lighthouse if ever I needed one.
To the men and women of the thin blue line I salute you – remember, the actions of the minority do not represent you. Stand tall – always.
To the brilliant British author Peter James for inspiring me to write at a stage in my life when I thought the chance had passed me by. And for giving me half an hour of his time. Those thirty minutes really did make all the difference.
To retired Detective Chief Superintendent David Gaylor (the real Roy Grace) for reading my first novel Seventh and telling me that I had, with a bit more seasoning, got the recipe just right.
To Digby. With love, shipmate. The rock when you are in a hard place. Keep dressing to the right, young man.
To the many and courageous old men and women who sit in high-backed chairs lost in the memories of adventures past.
And finally, to Tom. A dear old man who came into my life many moons ago and filled my mind with colourful stories of faraway places, of a life in the Royal Navy, whilst still in his teens, fighting a war for a cause he probably knew little about. He now sits in heaven and has no idea that this novel is dedicated to him and the men and women of the armed services who fought to keep us safe and free.
Thank you to you all for supporting me in my own adventures and for allowing me via this story to try to expand our understanding of one of nature’s cruellest, yet kindest illnesses.
Lewis
Postscript: The morning I finished Angel a young colleague was shot and killed whilst patrolling his community and keeping it safe. At only twenty-eight he had barely experienced policing, yet alone life. This one’s also for you, Matthew.
Hobeck Books – the home of great stories
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this book by the brilliant Lewis Hastings. To find out more about Lewis and his work please visit his website: https://lewishastings.wixsite.com/is-the-author.
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The Seventh Wave Trilogy
Friends and enemies call him the ‘Jackdaw’. He’s Europe’s most wanted man. Now he’s ready to unleash the full power of his organisation, the ‘Seventh Wave’. To what lengths will the Jackdaw go to get what he wants?
There is only one man who can stop him. Former British cop John ‘Jack’ Cade is still recovering from the impact of a past encounter with the Jackdaw, but events force him to face his old foe again.
Only one man can be victorious, and victory will only come at great personal cost.
Reader reviews
Seventh
‘Emotions run high reading this thriller and I feel totally spent now.’
‘Expect adrenaline surges, plenty of testosterone, deceit, empathy and extreme hate in this intense journey that is full of tension, suspense, action, drama and intrigue.’
‘Clearly written from the heart.’
‘I literally could not put it down.’
‘Every page is a delight to read and the story takes you through an amazing journey.’
‘A real page turner, I couldn't put it down.’
‘This book is a must read.’
Seven Degrees
‘A fast paced crime thriller with enough twists to keep readers guessing.’
‘…gripping…’
‘If book 1 of this trilogy blew me away, then this one blew me harder.’
‘…edge of your seat stuff…’
‘Fantastic.’
Seven of Swords
‘Twists and turns in every chapter.’
‘Had me gripped from the start…truly magnificent writing.’
‘I didn’t want it to end!’
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‘WOW what a read!’
‘I implore you to pick up this trilogy.’
‘Read it, this will not be a disappointment to you.’
The Angel of Whitehall
‘I would recommend this book unequivocally with no reservations, my one issue is that it will ensnare you and leaving it will not be an option until the last page. This is a story destined to be remembered as crossing a threshold of this specific genre. It is that good.’