Book Jacket

 

rank 1595
word count 18394
date submitted 15.11.2011
date updated 26.11.2011
genres: Fiction, Thriller, Crime
classification: moderate
incomplete

Walk Away

Amanda Reynolds

A desperate mother plans her own murder as an act of twisted revenge against the man she believes is responsible for her son's disappearance.

 

Five years ago fourteen year old Jack East caught the bus home from school, walked down a country lane and vanished. His mother Sherry has never recovered, her life poisoned by grief. Gray Cummings is a man with a past, ambitious, arrogant and afraid. When their worlds collide it looks like a simple hit and run accident. But as DCI Julia Miles often tells her dishy younger Sergeant, Matthews, things are never that simple. What if Sherry deliberately walked in front of Gray’s car? Was she really executing her own murder? What is the connection between Sherry and Gray? Could he have something to do with her son’s disappearance? But Sherry survived the collision and now she is denying any knowledge of Gray and he is on the run from the police. Set in the sleepy village of Gothen, nestling in the Cotswolds Hills, Walk Away is a modern murder mystery. We follow Matthews and Julia as they flirt and eat their way through the investigation. They search for Gray and in doing so finally uncover what happened to Jack East and why his mother chose Gray Cummings as her murderer.

 
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tags

crime, family, humour, love, modern, murder mystery, relationships, thriller

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19 comments

 

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AmandaR wrote 111 days ago

Many thanks for your review - this book has been on here a while and is now published as an ebook on Amazon so it's very nice to get some fresh feedback - I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Amanda, This is so well written and compelling too. It has got so much going for it and should do really well on here and further on after here. I like the practical flow that the book has and with that and the descriptive nature of the narrative it pulls me into the story and keeps me there for a long time. It is hard to put down the more I read and can find myself concentrating on whats coming next. That is a good thing for me as I normally lose concentration unless the book grabs me. So well done and I liked it. Scores high in my opinion.
Sean Connolly. British Army on the Rampage. (B.A.O.R) Please consider me for a read or watch list wont you?? Many thanks. Sean

Seringapatam wrote 113 days ago

Amanda, This is so well written and compelling too. It has got so much going for it and should do really well on here and further on after here. I like the practical flow that the book has and with that and the descriptive nature of the narrative it pulls me into the story and keeps me there for a long time. It is hard to put down the more I read and can find myself concentrating on whats coming next. That is a good thing for me as I normally lose concentration unless the book grabs me. So well done and I liked it. Scores high in my opinion.
Sean Connolly. British Army on the Rampage. (B.A.O.R) Please consider me for a read or watch list wont you?? Many thanks. Sean

AmandaR wrote 426 days ago

Many thanks for reading my book and your lovely comments. Amanda

An excellent, well written book with good narrative and engaging story. The pitch is well constructed with fascinating description. Really an interesting and hooking book. Highly starred.

Adeel wrote 426 days ago

An excellent, well written book with good narrative and engaging story. The pitch is well constructed with fascinating description. Really an interesting and hooking book. Highly starred.

AmandaR wrote 428 days ago

HI Dave,

Thanks so much for reading and backing my book. I haven't been on Authonomy much lately and your message dragged me back.

Your comments were mainly spot on. I have employed a professional editor and she picked up on 'unsavoury' trousers too so it has gone! I am smoothing the MS at the moment and will put up the new version when it's done as well as restarting the submissions to agents.

Thanks again

Amanda

Hello Amanda,

I'm not much cop at critiquing. I start off well-intentioned, with pen and pad poised ready to make salient notes but find that if the book is good enough I soon end up chewing the pen instead. This was definitely the case with yours, and these are the few meager notes I made:

Prologue-thingy: I felt that you overused the character's name in this section. It was Jack Jack shine-a-light all the time, when just a "he" would often have sufficed.

Also not sure if "unsavoury" is an apt word to describe someones trousers.

Ch3: Missing word in the passage concerning Julia: "she took out (her?) mobile phone"

Ta-daa! That's all I have, and I read the full posting. Beyond those quibbles I enjoyed the upload very much. I'd say that your real skill as a writer lies in establishing strong characters quickly and effectively through detailing their inner monologues. If it weren't for that, I might have struggled to keep up with the ever-expanding roster of new arrivals - but, as it was, I always remembered who everyone was as soon as they started thinking.

The only negative I would express is that sometimes the dialogue felt a little perfunctory and starchy, but only when viewed in contrast to the rich cadence of the character's inner voices. Beyond that, this is a skilfully executed piece of work and your reach happily never exceeds your grasp in collating all those varied perspectives that gradually pull the plot together.

I'm bobbing it on my shelf!

Dave

daveocelot wrote 429 days ago

Hello Amanda,

I'm not much cop at critiquing. I start off well-intentioned, with pen and pad poised ready to make salient notes but find that if the book is good enough I soon end up chewing the pen instead. This was definitely the case with yours, and these are the few meager notes I made:

Prologue-thingy: I felt that you overused the character's name in this section. It was Jack Jack shine-a-light all the time, when just a "he" would often have sufficed.

Also not sure if "unsavoury" is an apt word to describe someones trousers.

Ch3: Missing word in the passage concerning Julia: "she took out (her?) mobile phone"

Ta-daa! That's all I have, and I read the full posting. Beyond those quibbles I enjoyed the upload very much. I'd say that your real skill as a writer lies in establishing strong characters quickly and effectively through detailing their inner monologues. If it weren't for that, I might have struggled to keep up with the ever-expanding roster of new arrivals - but, as it was, I always remembered who everyone was as soon as they started thinking.

The only negative I would express is that sometimes the dialogue felt a little perfunctory and starchy, but only when viewed in contrast to the rich cadence of the character's inner voices. Beyond that, this is a skilfully executed piece of work and your reach happily never exceeds your grasp in collating all those varied perspectives that gradually pull the plot together.

I'm bobbing it on my shelf!

Dave

stoatsnest wrote 570 days ago

I like the Cheltenham scene,all of it. The ones that follow are fine,but perhaps a few too many names-difficult to follow without re-reading.
This is boiling up to be an interesting book and the end of the chapter is excellent. Ronnie is an engaging character.

stoatsnest wrote 574 days ago

This story goes along well,raising all sorts of questions.
Julia is a good,sympathetic character and I can see a possible relationship with Matthews looming.
Good start and I would read on if there was any more.

Shepback wrote 579 days ago

Hi Amanda,

I don't feel I am qualified to critique your work. Suffice to say, I believe you have a very strong story going here, and I really like your style of writing. I've only read four chapters and you have me hooked.
Backed and starred.

Cheers
Wilie (MIssing)

AmandaR wrote 581 days ago

Thank you for your lovely feedback.

Amanda

Amanda, this is a fabulous concept. Great plot with great characterisation. I really enjoyed it and would be mad keen to read more. For me, the strongest aspect was definitely Gray and Lydia. You've really got these characters. Excellent dialogue too.
I thought the ending of the opening chapter was brilliant but I suspect you could tighten it so we get there a little sooner. For me, this really started to work as soon as he got off the bus. That's when the suspense - and his character - really kicked in.

Overall, this is a rollicking read - great fun and absolutely original (and totally different from mine with the same name, I'm glad to say!). I really think you're onto something with this one. I will shelve tomorrow as soon as I have space.
Sheila

AmandaR wrote 581 days ago

Thanks so much for backing my book, I'll take a look at yours too

Amanda

I really like the premise and the writing is high quality stuff - backed with pleasure. Feel free to check out my book..

MP Jones (They Shoot Birds Don't They?)

AmandaR wrote 581 days ago

HI Fran,

Thanks so much for your rating, I'll take a look at your book too.

Amanda

I found your book by looking at Joe Kovak's page and I am glad I did. I have just read the first three chapters of this gripping tale, and I am really impressed. It runs well, feels convincing, it has all the ingredients of a successful story and it is truly engrossing. Brilliant. I give it six stars and it goes on my WL for now.

All the best,

Fran Macilvey. "Trapped"

AmandaR wrote 581 days ago

Thanks so much for your comments, I'm getting such a buzz from people actually reading my book and all the lovely things that are being said about it.

Amanda

I found your book by looking at Joe Kovak's page and I am glad I did. I have just read the first three chapters of this gripping tale, and I am really impressed. It runs well, feels convincing, it has all the ingredients of a successful story and it is truly engrossing. Brilliant. I give it six stars and it goes on my WL for now.

All the best,

Fran Macilvey. "Trapped"

mapleyther wrote 581 days ago

I really like the premise and the writing is high quality stuff - backed with pleasure. Feel free to check out my book..

MP Jones (They Shoot Birds Don't They?)

FRAN MACILVEY wrote 581 days ago

I found your book by looking at Joe Kovak's page and I am glad I did. I have just read the first three chapters of this gripping tale, and I am really impressed. It runs well, feels convincing, it has all the ingredients of a successful story and it is truly engrossing. Brilliant. I give it six stars and it goes on my WL for now.

All the best,

Fran Macilvey. "Trapped"

strachan gordon wrote 581 days ago

Hello Amanda , a very good start - the individuality of the boy is very clearly established as his milieu .Then he is put in a sinister situation which is very effective . Watchlisted and starred.Would you have the time to read the first chapter of my novel 'A Buccaneer' which is set amongst Pirates in the 17th century , with best wishes from Strachan Gordon

Wussyboy wrote 582 days ago

Wow, Amanda, what a great read! You've perfectly captured the innocence, awkwardness and sensitivity of a 14-year old boy and have also somehow managed to break one of the cardinal laws of fiction - predicting a key event (in this case, Jack's impending disappearance) - without losing any of the tension of the piece. In fact, it enhances it, for I got to the end of your chapter one and went furiously scanning ahead to find out what happened next!

This is writing of a very high standard. High-starring you and will definitely be reading on.

Joe Kovacs
Rupee Millionaires

Sheilab wrote 582 days ago

Amanda, this is a fabulous concept. Great plot with great characterisation. I really enjoyed it and would be mad keen to read more. For me, the strongest aspect was definitely Gray and Lydia. You've really got these characters. Excellent dialogue too.
I thought the ending of the opening chapter was brilliant but I suspect you could tighten it so we get there a little sooner. For me, this really started to work as soon as he got off the bus. That's when the suspense - and his character - really kicked in.

Overall, this is a rollicking read - great fun and absolutely original (and totally different from mine with the same name, I'm glad to say!). I really think you're onto something with this one. I will shelve tomorrow as soon as I have space.
Sheila

HayleyVada wrote 582 days ago

This is great stuff - am totally absorbed and intrigued by the intertwining lives of your characters. Is is wrong to have a bit of a crush on Matthews?! Lynda La Plante meets Kate Atkinson - good work!

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