The idea behind the Classic Comfort posts is that each featured writer chooses a favourite title from the classics – we’ll define ‘classic’ as pre-1940 – and a favourite comfort read, a book they always return to, for whatever reasons. As third book in each post, we’ll have one by the writer, usually their latest book. This week, we have crime writer Kerena Swan, who has written three psychological thrillers as well as her new book, Blood Loss, a police procedural which was published last week. Over to Kerry:

Classic:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.

I was given this by a neighbour on my tenth birthday and felt honoured to be gifted such a grown-up novel. I read and enjoyed it even though it’s a dark and somewhat depressing story. A few years ago, I saw the Northern Ballet perform Wuthering Heights and was blown away by the drama and passion they displayed. The neighbour also ‘gifted’ me the oak tree at the end of our road and for years I told everyone that it was my tree.

Comfort:

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

It’s difficult to choose my comfort read as I have so many but this is one book I’ve read several times. I love the history, the insight into building cathedrals and the way the baddies always get their just desserts. Since studying the craft of writing I now detect a few flaws – people are either good or bad and no redeeming features in between – but who am I to judge? Ken Follett is a master story-teller who has sold millions. I’ve read all his books and enjoyed every single one.

Kerena Swan’s latest book is Blood Loss, which I’ve been looking forward to ever since I read Here She Lies, the prequel to the series. Here She Lies can be downloaded free on Kerry’s website. It’s a novella, and like Blood Loss it’s a standalone story featuring DI Paton and his son Tommy.

Sarah
With one eye on the rear view mirror and the other on the road ahead, Sarah is desperate to get as far away from the remote Scottish cabin as she can without attracting attention. But being inconspicuous isn’t easy with a black eye and clothes soaked in blood…
… and now the fuel tank is empty.

DI Paton
When a body is discovered in a remote cabin in Scotland, DI Paton feels a pang of guilt as he wonders if this is the career break he has been waiting for. But the victim is unidentifiable and the killer has left few clues.

Jenna
With the death of her father and her mother’s failing health, Jenna accepts her future plans must change but nothing can prepare her for the trauma yet to come.

Fleeing south to rebuild her life, Sarah uncovers long-hidden family secrets. Determined to get back what she believes is rightfully hers, Sarah thinks her future looks brighter. But Paton is still pursuing her…
… and he’s getting closer.

Thank you, Kerry! I’m halfway through Blood Loss now – a really suspenseful read!

I qualified as a social worker nearly thirty years ago and progressed to Head of Disabilities for the county of Bedfordshire where I managed social work teams and residential services. Sixteen years ago, I left to set up my own agency to provide much-needed community support for children with disabilities. Now, with over eighty employees to manage and hundreds of families to oversee, my days are long and busy.
It wasn’t until I nearly lost my eyesight through a detached retina in my good eye and a diagnosis of cancer and brutal surgery, that I decided it was time to tick something off my ‘yet-to-be-achieved’ list. A builder friend enabled me to help with one task – build a brick wall – another was to write a book and get it published. I signed up to a novel writing course and within nine months had written a full-length novel and found a publisher. I’ve now written four novels and a novella and am currently writing the fifth, which is book 2 of the DI Paton series. I write whenever I can snatch a spare five minutes from my full-time job because I find it helps me de-stress.

You can find out more about Kerry and her books on her website: www.kerenaswan.com, on Twitter and on Facebook.

April’s Classic Comfort post will be with romance writer Morton S. Gray – I can’t wait to see which books she chooses!