On board the Condor ferry for research for THE GUERNSEY FERRY MURDERS

THE GUERNSEY FERRY MURDERS opens in Guernsey when Detective Inspector Andy Horton’s meal with his old friend, Inspector John Guilbert of the States of Guernsey Police, is cut short when a woman is found dead in her cabin on the ferry from Portsmouth to Guernsey.

When the idea for this crime novel came to me I contacted Condor Ferries and asked if they would mind me using one of their ferries as one of the settings. I am delighted to say they gave me their permission and went further than that in offering to open up the ship for my research.

This DI Andy Horton Solent Murder Mystery was first published as Lethal Waves and I'm delighted that this one and the entire series have been re-published with new covers and titles by the dynamic independent publisher, Joffe Books.

My research therefore for THE GUERNSEY FERRY MURDERS took place in 2015. My visit to Portsmouth International Port and Condor Ferries was to check out my facts.

I am extremely grateful to the Condor team who were incredibly helpful and generous with their time, and for their patience in allowing me to badger them with questions.

It was also fantastic to see over one of my favourite ships, which I watch regularly sailing in and out of Portsmouth - DI Andy Horton's patch.

Here are some photographs taken from my research visit to Portsmouth International Port where the Condor Commodore Clipper ferry sails from to the Channel Islands. Click on the images to enlarge them.

It's early morning, January, when the woman arrives at the Portsmouth International Port 

She buys a single ticket, with cash, to Guernsey at the Condor Ferries desk. She is travelling as a foot passenger and has hand luggage only, a handbag.

On board the ferry she asks the Cabin Management team at the Information Desk for a double superior en suite cabin. Again she pays by cash. She goes straight to her cabin and locks the door. 

When the ferry docks in Guernsey just after four p.m. there is no sign of her. She hasn't shown up to board the minibus to take her to the terminal, what's more her cabin is still locked. The deputy cabin manager enters it using a pass key and finds, lying between the cabin beds, the body of Evelyn Lyster. (We didn't go as far as to enact this you'll be pleased to know!)

 The Captain is informed and the States of Guernsey Police are called in. Inspector John Guilbert, along with DI Andy Horton, board the Commodore Clipper.  However, as Evelyn Lyster has sailed from Portsmouth and also lived there,  the investigation of her death lies in DI Andy Horton's hands but before he can even look into her affairs he is called by Sergeant Warren as soon as he arrives back on his boat in Southsea Marina where he lives. A vagrant’s body is discovered under one of the old houseboats near Langstone Harbour. He's been shot in the chest. 

The two investigations seem totally unconnected - a wealthy woman dead in a superior cabin - a vagrant dead under a rotting boathouse.  Troubled by questions surrounding both deaths, Horton dives headfirst into his investigations, where dark secrets lead to destruction.

I would like to express my sincere and warm thanks to Condor Ferries for allowing me to feature them in my crime novel and for all their help. It was a superb visit.

Condor Ferries was founded in 1964 and initially operated a passenger service between France and the Channel Islands. In 1987 the first service linking the Channel Islands with the UK was launched and since then Condor Ferries has operated a year-round service connecting the UK, Guernsey and Jersey and the ports of St Malo and Cherbourg in France.

In March 2015, Condor Ferries introduced a new addition to its fleet - Condor Liberation which serves Guernsey and Jersey from its UK base of Poole. Each year Condor Ferries carries more than 1 million passengers and 200,000 passenger vehicles. Condor Ferries Commodore Goodwill, freight only vessel carries 100,000 freight vehicles into the Channel Islands each year as well as exporting tonnes of local produce.

"Nothing in this police procedural is as it first appears. The Harley Davidson-riding, boat-dwelling Horton is a fascinating man to get to know, and his thoughtful approach to detection is a pleasure to read." Publishers Weekly

"This heart-breaking story of ambition, greed, jealousy, and revenge makes a good choice for fans of no-nonsense British procedurals." Booklist