#Blogival 2017. Guest Post from Author of ‘Porcelain, Flesh of Innocents’, Lee Cockburn.

Welcome to my spot on the celebration month of Blogival. If you haven’t heard of Blogival, it is a celebration of all the Clink Street Authors. I participated last year too, and it is a wonderful way to celebrate all the brilliant Authors from this publishing group. Thank you very much to Rachel Gilbey for organising this and getting me involved. Last year during Blogival, I found an Author that I really liked – Lee Cockburn. Ms Cockburn writes very dark thriller stories, and I love them! 

The first book I read by Lee Cockburn was Devils Demise. I have to say it was the darkest most disturbing book I have read in a while. Then I read her next book, Porcelain, Flesh of Innocents. This one was equally dark and equally brilliant. I have wondered what makes an Author choose to write about such dark and unsettling topics, so I was very happy when Ms Cockburn explained it to me. Today I bring you a guest post from this talented Author, whereby she explains to us, why she writes about disturbing topics!

 

You can read my review for Lee Cockburn’s first book ‘Devils Demise’ 

HERE!

 

Lee’s latest book Porcelain, Flesh of Innocents was published by Clink Street Publishing on February 21st 2017. There are some bloggers who are writing reviews of her book especially for Blogival, so be sure to check them out too.

 

 

You can read my review for Porcelain, Flesh of Innocents 

HERE!

Description:

Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks is back and in charge of tracking down a sadistic vigilante, with a penchant for torturing paedophiles, in this unsettling crime thriller by a real-life police sergeant. 

High-powered businessmen are turning up tortured around the city of Edinburgh with one specific thing in common — a sinister double life involving paedophilia. Leaving his ‘victims’ in a disturbing state, the individual responsible calls the police and lays bare the evidence of their targets’ twisted misdemeanours to discover, along with a special memento of their own troubled past — a chilling calling card. Once again heading the investigation team is Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks, along with her partner Detective Constable Marcus Black, who are tasked not only with tracking the perpetrator down but also dealing with the unusual scenario of having to arrest the victims for their own barbarous crimes. But with the wounded piling up the predator’s thirst for revenge intensifies and soon Nicks discovers that she is no longer chasing down a sinister attacker but a deadly serial killer.

Vivid, dark and deeply unsettling Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents is the perfect next read for serious crime and police thriller fans.

Published February 21st 2017 by Clink Street Publishing

 

I am happy to welcome Ms Cockburn to ChocolatePages where she explains to us why she writes about disturbing topics. It is a question I have wondered about, so thank you and I hand you over to the talented Author of Devils Demise and Porcelain Flesh of Innocents, Lee Cockburn.

Why I write about disturbing topics?

This is actually very hard to answer, as I find myself recoiling a little when I read my own work, just at the level of violence and the graphic detail involved.  I suppose I wasn’t prepared to leave it to the imagination of some people, because that might not stretch far enough to reach, what is the harsh reality of the crimes portrayed in my first two novels.

I actually regret the first chapter of my first novel Devil’s Demise being quite so brutal, taking the advice of a female colleague that it wasn’t brutal enough and that I hadn’t explained what was going on in full detail.  So me being me, I had to prove a point and I think I took it too far, as it makes me uncomfortable reading it, and I wrote it!  However, I always knew she was going to live and the book is about her strength and will to live and her fight against the perpetrator.

The sequel Porcelain Flesh of Innocents is equally harrowing, another uncomfortable read, but again highlighting the crimes that go on on a daily basis against the most vulnerable amongst us, the victim’s silent in their torment, trusting, fearing the threatening lies they are told, to ensure their silence.  However again this is another story of the victims taking back control of their lives, and the consequences of the crimes committed against them and the lasting damage they have to live with.

Book three, the title a secret I’m afraid, I promise to try and bring some happiness to the main characters, although the first chapter is another hard hitting and terrifying start to the book, with graphic scenes and more tragedy to endure (apologies).

I may write brutal and graphic books, but I think I am genuinely a kind, humorous, fun loving decent person and don’t know where the dark side I write about comes from, I presume fear of the topics I have chosen. 

I set out to write an exciting, gripping and slightly scary book, with tension and suspense throughout, and love scenes that don’t end after one line, as this is something that annoys me when I am reading, as a little titillation goes a long way to the enjoyment of a book for me (although I might take this a little too far sometimes too!).

To some people my books will shock, to others they seem to love them, the more graphic and violent the better, and I am well aware that you will never please everyone, although I do try.  The erotic scenes are probably an indulgence on my part, some people say it detracts from the story line, and they may be right, but I think a little personal interaction and passion is an exciting little interlude from the suspense and horror of the actual plot.

One critique given, suggested that officers would never think of lust and desire when they are on a case, I disagree, because if they are on cases all the time, then there would never have time to think about things like that?  The officer’s work is high pressure, full on and you practically live in each other’s pockets day in and day out, and of course there would be attractions and liaisons between colleagues, the nature of the job would lead them to steal away precious moments together, as all they ever seem do is work!.

I digress, I hope this has explained a little why I write what I write, and you will either like it or not, happy reading, and make sure you lock the door.

 

Thank you very much Lee for explaining that to us. I am very happy that there is a third book on the way, and I am intrigued as to the title and plot this time. I guess we will have to patiently wait and see. 

Here are the links for Lee’s books and for Lee herself. Take a look at these and remember to check out all the rest of the posts for this summer’s Blogival.

 

Goodreads

Barnes and Noble

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Twitter/lee_leecockburn

 

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Book Review: Porcelain, Flesh of Innocents, by Lee Cockburn

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Lee Cockburn’s new release ‘Porcelain’. I took part in a Clink Street Publishers event last year called ‘Blogival’, and this is where I found the talented Author that is Lee Cockburn. I read and reviewed ‘Devils Demise’, which you can read HERE! So when Rachel from Authoright asked me if I wanted to read and take part in the blog tour for Lee’s new book, I was very happy. ‘Porcelain’ is out now, and you can read more about it here, and in all the other lovely blogs that are taking part. The tour banner looks rather creepy doesn’t it? Well, its a spine tingling kind of read.However, I do recommend it. Keep reading to see my thoughts on the latest book from Lee Cockburn. 

Description:

Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks is back and in charge of tracking down a sadistic vigilante, with a penchant for torturing paedophiles, in this unsettling crime thriller by a real-life police sergeant.

High-powered businessmen are turning up tortured around the city of Edinburgh with one specific thing in common — a sinister double life involving pedophilia. Leaving his ‘victims’ in a disturbing state, the individual responsible calls the police and lays bare the evidence of their targets’ twisted misdemeanours to discover, along with a special memento of their own troubled past — a chilling calling card. Once again heading the investigation team is Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks, along with her partner Detective Constable Marcus Black, who are tasked not only with tracking the perpetrator down but also dealing with the unusual scenario of having to arrest the victims for their own barbarous crimes. But with the wounded piling up the predator’s thirst for revenge intensifies and soon Nicks discovers that she is no longer chasing down a sinister attacker but a deadly serial killer.

Vivid, dark and deeply unsettling Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents is the perfect next read for serious crime and police thriller fans.

Clink Street Publishing (21 Feb. 2017)

 Advice: This book contains scenes of violence, sex and child abuse, it may cause upset to some readers.

My Thoughts:

When I looked at interviews that Author Lee Cockburn has given previously, she stated that her books are about good conquering evil. This book contains true evilness, the bad guys are really bad and the good guys good. Sergeant Taylor Nicks and Detective Constable Marcus Black are on the search for a vigilante who has been torturing paedophiles, and while the incentives for their mission is understandable, they are still a wanted criminal. This in turn leads the police to finding paedophiles, which of course is another job in itself.

As I was reading this, I got about half way through and I thought I could see the end in sight, I just couldn’t see how it was going to take another half a book to finish it. But the glorious-ness of an Author’s imagination gave us the twists that we needed to set the second half of the book up for an intense twisty read. The plot made me shiver and can totally be described as spine tingling.

I loved that the book was set in Edinburgh, the streets I know, and the language I know. Though I know Edinburgh, the book writes about a side I have never and I expect never will see. But it also speaks briefly about the wonders of Edinburgh, the extinct volcano and the wonderful Edinburgh Festival. I get the feeling that the Author is writing partly what she knows, in the city, the police work but would have had to delved deep into the dark minds of criminals she has perhaps come into contact with to make the true evilness of the criminals mentioned in the story. 

When Lee Cockburn said its good versus evil, she puts me in mind of the goodness still in people, where police will go without sleep, seeing family and put themselves in danger to find the evil ones that are in this world. So although part of this book is very disturbing, we can also take comfort that there are real ‘Goodies’ in the world too. This is the kind of book I could only read occasionally as it is so dark. However, the plot is twisty and well planned – totally worked. The characters are well developed, I remember Taylor, Marcus, Kay and Fran from the last book, while enjoying the addition of the newest member of the police force too. I will definitely read more from Lee Cockburn, as I have a feeling she will write more about Taylor and Marcus, but I will read some lighter hearted books in between. 

Will good defeat evil, and will they find the torturer of paedophiles, or will they continue their rein of revenge? And what will become of Taylor and her relationships? You will have to read to find out.

About the Author, Lee Cockburn:

Lee Cockburn has worked for Police Scotland for 16 years including as a Police Sergeant in Edinburgh for 7 years and also as a public order officer. Before joining the force, she played for Scotland’s Women Rugby team for 15 years, earning over 80 caps for the Scottish Ladies and British Lionesses teams. She also swam competitively for 12 years, successfully representing Edinburgh at the age of 15 in the youth Olympics in Denmark in 1984. Lee lives in Edinburgh with her civil partner Emily and their 2 young sons Jamie and Harry. Her first book Devils Demise was published in November 2014 by Clink Street Publishers.

Links:

Goodreads

Barnes and Noble.

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Twitter/lee_leecockburn

 

Book Review: Devils Demise by Lee Cockburn. #Blogival

I am very happy today to bring you a great book recommendation with my review of Devils Demise by Lee Cockburn. If you like the sound of the book, you will be pleased that Author Lee Cockburn has offered a giveaway of one ebook of Devils Demise. So, have a look at my thoughts on this brilliant book, then hop down and enter the giveaway. Good Luck and enjoy #Blogival.

This is my stop and celebration of #Blogival, which has been going on throughout the month of June. There are many other stops and celebrations for #Blogival, you can see the other posts by using the the hashtag #Blogival on Twitter, and by looking at the calender at the end of this post.

Incase you have been sleeping and don’t know what Blogival is, its a book online festival where we are celebrating all the Clink Street Authors. So far its been amazing, and there is still over a week to go. 

Description:

A cruel and sinister killer is targeting Edinburgh’s most powerful women, his twisted sense of superiority driving him to satisfy his depraved sexual appetite. He revels in the pain and suffering he inflicts on his unsuspecting victims but a twist of fate and an overwhelming will to survive by one victim ruins his plans for a reign of terror. His tormented prey will need all her courage if she is to survive the hunt. 

• Publisher: Clink Street Publishing (10 Nov. 2014)

 

My Thoughts:

This book was griping from the very first chapter. It was very dark, gritty and in some parts hard to read because it was so violent. But all of this considered, it made me want to finish the book so that I knew the devil would demise! Whether or not he does, you will have to read it and see. 

I was initially attracted to this book because it was based in Edinburgh, from the description it sounded like a thriller I would enjoy. I also liked the cover, which I think represents the book really well. The cover shows what I think is Edinburgh castle and over it the evil eyes which represent the killer in this book. The gritty descriptions of the killer has made me shiver as I looked back at his eyes on the cover. This is the most evil fictionary man I have read about. Lee Cockburn has some imagination to think up such a twisted terrible bad guy. The title is so correct in calling him the Devil!

The book was written in a different way to other thrillers that I have read, as we know exactly who the killer is and his motivations from the start. So, we hear about what the killer is thinking and the victims and the police. It is a cat and mouse chase type book, which continues right the way through to the very end. (Though he is certainly not mouse-like).

The characters are very well developed, even the killer is described in such a way that although you can’t understand why he is so evil, you see why he thinks he is entitled to do what he does. I didn’t read this book at night time, which is when I read most often. The reason for this is that the ‘devil’ was so creepy and scary! This is one example of why I didn’t read this at night.

“..everyone knows someone that is a little different, but that does not make them serial killers who enjoy torture and sexual abuse”

The two cops that are on the hunt are Taylor and Marcus. We hear about their private lives aswell as their intense police work. In with this horrendous serial killer case that they are working on, we are given a few small reprieves from the intensity of the chase, which was welcomed.

“….Hungry?” Tayor smiled….

“Starving!” he repied, “I don’t know why I ever ask you. You’re a gannet.” 

As I mentioned I liked that the book was based in Edinburgh. This is increased as I was reading, because occasionally there is Scottish colloquial words used in the writing. A very nice touch to make the Scottish fictional police force authentic.

“…she was a real salt of the earth and loved a blether”

I am going to give this book 5 stars because it was well thought out, it was so intense that I wanted to read it faster and faster to see if the victim was ok, if John would be caught, and to see how things worked out for Taylor. (the police woman who was leading the case). If you don’t mind some violence and very descriptive words within a book, then this is a brilliant read. If you are of a weak stomach and easily freaked out, its maybe not the book for you. I however, loved it.

 

 

Remember to check out the rest of the blog posts during Blogival, you can see what has been going on in the poster below. And big thanks to Rachel for organising it all. 

 

 

And now for the GIVEAWAY. Don’t you think the book sounds so gripping, I really loved it. If you like the sound of it, enter this rafflecopter giveaway, by clicking on the link and entering your details. One winner will be picked randomly. It is an international giveaway, so get entering. Thank you and good luck.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Links:

GOODREADS

AMAZON.COM

AMAZON.CO.UK