As she was about to go into the kitchen, her mobile phone started to ring. She looked at who it was. Vaguely she recognised the number, but it wasn’t one that was saved to her contacts. She answered.
‘Hello?’
‘Hello Claire, how are you?’
The voice on the other end made her stop in her tracks and her stomach lurch into her throat.
‘I hope it’s OK to talk now?’
‘I don’t understand,’ Claire said, her voice sounding breathy.
‘I guess you heard the news then.’
‘I heard…’
‘You heard I’m supposed to be dead. I know.’
‘Rachel, what’s going on?’ Claire said, breaking out of her shock.
There was a moment’s thinking silence.
‘I hope you don’t mind but I’m calling because I need a favour. You’re the only one I can trust Claire and I need your help.’
If you’d like to read more…
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Home Help. The next book in the series is due out at the end of 2018. I’ve also written a short novella about Rachel’s mother, Sally Hill’s life. If you’d like to read that it’s available exclusively, and for free, for members of my readers’ club. The club itself is also free to join
https://www.gwyngb.com/readersclub
If you would like to receive a free Reading Group guide to Home Help, which includes suggested discussion points and some information about the topics and inspiration for the book, then that is also available for download now at: https://www.gwyngb.com/hhreaders
Finally, thank you again for choosing to read my book, if you have enjoyed it I would really appreciate you leaving feedback on the Home Help Amazon page. Reviews are extremely important to authors, not only do they guide other readers, but I write for you and so hearing about your reading experience is a huge part of my motivation to keep writing. Many thanks and happy reading
Gwyn GB
THE VILLAGERS
Written by Gwyn GB
Darkness Falls - Shadows Kill
After her husband is killed in an accident, Alison and her daughter, Sophie, move from London to a village in Dorset, and a fresh start.
The village looks idyllic – but it hides a dark secret.
They get tangled in a web of evil that challenges their relationship and everything they believe in.
Can Alison save her daughter? And who or what is it she needs saving from?
The Villagers is out Summer 2018 on Amazon
Islands
Written by Gwyn GB
Set against the real-life events of 2008 that shocked the beautiful island of Jersey, this is a story that deals with difficult subjects, honestly and compassionately.
When a major murder and child abuse investigation launches in her home island of Jersey, the news shocks the island and brings the world’s media to its idyllic shores.
As the island of Jersey faces up to its hidden past, Katherine is forced to face up to hers. A letter arrives from the dying mother of her teenage friend – the friend whose death Katherine caused 32 years before.
She knows she must return home and tell the truth; but Katherine isn’t the only one with secrets…
Will the truth heal or destroy her? Will she ever come to terms with what drove her away from the man she loved and the sister that needs her?
Available on Amazon
About the Author
Gwyn GB is a writer living in Jersey, Channel Islands. Born in the UK, she moved there with her Jersey-born husband and their children. Gwyn has spent most of her career as a journalist, but has always written fiction. She loves to hear from readers, so please get in touch.
Get in touch
@gwyngb
GwynGBwriter
www.gwyngb.com
British Spelling Glossary and Police terminology
British spellings have been used throughout this book. Despite sharing a common language, there are clear differences between British and US English including using an ‘s’ instead of a ‘z’ and ‘ou’ instead of ‘o’.
For example:
analyse vs analyze
Colour vs color
Centre vs center
Grey vs gray
Theatre vs theater
Traveller vs traveler
etc
For American readers, I hope this hasn’t reduced your enjoyment of Lonely Hearts.
Ballistic ‘he went ballistic’ = he was crazy/furious
Bedsit = Small one room apartment with bed/kitchen/living areas as one
Bloke = Guy/man
Cadaver = Corpse
CCTV = Closed-circuit television or security cameras
Chit chat = Small talk/chatting
CID = Criminal Investigation Department – plain clothed detectives investigating major crimes
Copper = Police officer
Coronation Street = Longest running British soap opera
DCI = Detective Chief Inspector
DI = Detective Inspector
DS = Detective Sergeant
Drag = Inhaling smoke from a cigarette
Duty Solicitor = The lawyer assigned to be on call to help someone who has been arrested with their legal defence
Estate agency = Real estate agents
Feral = Wild, untamed, often formerly domestic animals gone wild
Fess up = Confess
Flat = Apartment or condo
Fork out = Pay for something
Footy = Soccer/football
Gawping = Staring stupidly or rudely
Georgian = Period of British history, 1714-1830 when George I to George IV ruled
Gutted = Really upset
Hedgehog = Small, spine covered creature that lives wild in Europe
HOLMES = The IT/computer system used by police in major investigations
Intel = Intelligence/information
Jager Bomb = Short cocktail shot, usually Jagermeister and Red Bull.
Jots = Notes down
Lads/laddish = Young guy/young guy behaviour
M & S = Marks & Spencer UK retailer – sells food/clothes/homeware etc
Major Incident Room = Office/room used by police team put together to investigate big crimes like murder
Mare ‘Having a mare’ = is having a nightmare/terrible time
Mate = Good friend
MO = Modus Operandi – a particular method of doing something
Noses put out of joint = Upset or irritate someone
Nutter = Crazy person
Pathologist = Medical Examiner – trained to investigate deaths and carry out autopsies or post-mortems
PC = Police Constable
Poxy = Rubbish, poor quality
Puked = Threw up/sick/vomited
Reccy = Reconnaissance
Scraggy = Scruffy/untidy
SIO = Senior Investigating Officer
Slob = Lazy, scruffy and often unclean person
SOCO/Scenes of Crime Officers = CSI/Crime Scene Investigators
Sod it = Expression of anger/annoyance or couldn’t care less attitude
Social Services/Social workers = UK social support service for vulnerable adults and children
Squeaky clean = No police record or signs of past trouble
Stroppy = Bad tempered/grumpy
Takeaway = Takeout food
Tanked up = Drunk/inebriated with alcohol
Tod/On his tod = On his own
Truncheon = Short thick stick or baton carried as a weapon by police
Uniforms = Uniformed police officers, not Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives (who don’t wear uniforms on a daily basis)
Weasel = Small, slender wild animal – s
imilar to a polecat
Whack ‘cost a whack’ = Cost a lot of money
Zero hours contracts = Work contract where neither employer or employee is obliged to offer/work a minimum number of hours