CRIME FICTION
The Bartell Crime Thriller Series
About the series
The Bartell family’s world is one of loyalty, betrayal, and ruthless ambition. Spanning decades and locations, this dark and thrilling series takes you from the rave-fuelled scenes of 1990s South East England to the shadowy streets of Amsterdam and the deadly county-line battlegrounds of London. As rivalries ignite and loyalties are tested, devastating secrets and violent feuds shape a relentless fight for survival. Drawn into their dangerous orbit, ordinary people are forced to make impossible choices, where every decision comes with deadly consequences.
A Deception on Cold Hill
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A Bartell Crime Thriller
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Prequel
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"The hunt is on, and the guilty had better run."
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When Jack Bartell and Marcus Chillcott have a huge shipment of ecstasy tablets hijacked, it’s a desperate race against time to uncover the culprit and set things right.
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Conrad Roman is panicking. As the newest member of Jack’s outfit, he’s suspect number one, especially with a rumour spreading fast that he’s been handling the stolen product. Now, he must find out who’s setting him up, and quickly.
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As Conrad searches for answers, the net closes in. He can trust no one as he hunts for evidence to clear his name and protect himself from vengeful dealers seeking retribution.
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What measures will Conrad take to keep himself and his loved ones out of harm’s way?
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A Deception on Cold Hill is a dark crime thriller set in the ‘90s.
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Available as a FREE download in November 2024 for a limited time.
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The Feud on Dead Lane
A Bartell Crime Thriller
Book 1
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"Two tough families – Two mysterious deaths – One night of brutal violence."
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Nino and Elena dream of sharing a normal life together. They are desperate to escape the shadow of Nino’s domineering and dangerous family, the Bartells.
After a shocking revelation is made, and a family member dies in strange circumstances, Elena urges Nino to take drastic action.
But some outsiders are drawn into the mix. Two best friends who have made a grave mistake, a no-nonsense financial adviser searching for his missing son, and a proud new mum. Soon all of them will be caught up in a deadly world where betrayal, violence and even cold-blooded murder are acceptable methods of settling scores.
Will anybody walk away unscathed?
“This is an amazing book with a complex plot; twisty, edgy, vengeful, explosive, violent, humorous in parts and at times utterly heartbreaking."
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Attention: If you’re new to the series, these blurbs may spoil key details!
A Lethal Encounter in Amsterdam
A Bartell Crime Thriller
Book 2
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"A family divided – A sister seeking answers – One man driven by desperation."
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Whilst the Bartells deal with the fallout from their clash with the Chillcotts, and the betrayal from within their own family, another enemy obsesses over how they can take them down.
Nino and Elena are stuck in limbo and living in fear of reprisals from both families. The pair hide up in Brighton, and Elena’s brother tries to mend some bridges on their behalf. But have things gone too far for that?
Ruby Mullard is searching for her sister, Amy. She’s sure her sister’s boyfriend, the smooth-talking Oscar Maplethorpe, isn’t being straight with her, and she becomes hell-bent on finding out the truth.
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Since his life-changing ordeal with the Bartells, Duncan has become bitter, unstable, and irascible. Now Karl needs his help with a scheme that might lead to more trouble. Nevertheless, Duncan feels obliged to support his best friend.
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The Bartells receive news that Karl is living in Amsterdam, triggering an immediate response. Barry and Johnny head straight to the city, seeking revenge, even though trouble looms on their own doorstep.
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Ruby is certain there is something very sinister behind Amy’s disappearance. But what lengths will she go to learn the truth? And what will the consequences be when she delves too deep?
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As old wounds are reopened, loyalties are pushed to the limits, and when events reach boiling point, nobody is safe in the face of an explosive climax.
COMING 2025
A Reckoning on The Blackwater
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A Bartell Crime Thriller
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Book 3
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"New Alliances — Old Rivalries — Deadly Consequences."
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With a new Dutch supply line secured, the Bartell family prepares to flood the south with their imported White Scorpion cocaine. But first, they must deal with the county line network now dominating their former territory, while handling threats from enemies closer to home.
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Karl is on a downward spiral, consumed by his obsession with uncovering the truth behind what happened to Amy and Francesca. Joost convinces the Bartells that resolving the matter is in everyone’s best interest. Only Oscar has the answers they need; however, fearing arrest by the Dutch police for his assault on Ruby, he has discharged himself from the hospital and, despite serious injuries, gone into hiding.
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Meanwhile, Duncan is tasked with setting up a supply network with an up-and-coming gang in Brighton, but his first foray into the world of crime doesn’t go as planned. He soon finds himself in way over his head, and his growing drug addiction isn’t helping.
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As Nino fights for his life, Elena navigates the escalating tensions between the O’Connell family and the Bartells, further complicated by their feud with the Chillcotts. When she stumbles upon an old secret that could impact all three families, she must finally decide where her loyalties lie.
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With Davey Keane’s help, Johnny devises a bold plan to dismantle the county line network, operating out of the Blackwater, a notorious North London housing estate. Driven by a need to avenge his mum and brother, Davey assures Johnny that their strategy to take down the network’s leaders and cut the supply line will work. But as the plan unfolds, Barry starts to have second thoughts, convinced that Davey’s thirst for revenge is leading them all into a deadly fight they’re not prepared to handle.
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As Duncan and Karl drift further apart, they’re bound by one grim truth: both are heading down paths that will leave them changed – and there may be no turning back.
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With betrayal lurking in every corner, control over the drug trade may come at a price none of them are ready to pay. When the reckoning comes, only the ruthless will survive.
