Degustabox Advent Calendar, Part II

I continue opening the doors of Degustabox Advent Calendar. To catch up with the contents of the first half of calendar, check out Degustabox Advent Calendar, Part I. 

 

Day 13:

Heinz Chicken Broth (£1.70) is a comforting soup made with pearl barley, carrots, parsnips, swede, chicken, leeks and other ingredients. Heat it gently in a pan before serving. A handy standby in the kitchen pantry, for a quick and easy meal, when you have no time or desire to cook. 

Contains no artificial colours or preservatives.

Typical values: 68kcal and 1.8g of sugar per 1/2 can.

Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA and Ocado.

Day 14:

Dinky Muscle Moose - Blueberry Cheesecake flavour (£1.50) is a low-sugar and high protein bar. A much healthier alternative to chocolate snacks for when you have a sweet tooth craving, or need a little protein boost.

Typical values: 11g of protein per bar, 125kcal and 1.5g of sugar.

Available at ASDA.

Day 15:

H!P Gingerbread Oat Milk Chocolate (£3) is a festive plant-based chocolate bar, made with less sugar and more cocoa. 41% single origin Colombian cacao is mixed with creamy oat milk and crunchy gingerbread pieces. 

It is vegan-friendly, wrapped in a plastic-free film, with a lower carbon footprint, and looks very pretty.

Typical values: 534kcal and 39.2g of sugar per 100g.

Available at Selfridges, Fenwick, and on hipchocolate.com.

Day 16:

Knorr Onion Gravy Pot (£2.25) is gently cooked for a homemade taste. Especially handy for busy cooks who don't have time to cook a gravy from scratch, i.e. when you just chuck in some sausages, either meat-based or vegetarian, under the grill. 

Very easy to make: just add one gravy pot to warm water, keep whisking, let it boil for a minute, and that's all. 

Free from artificial preservatives, colours; no added MSG, suitable for vegetarians.

Nutritional values: 15kcal and 0.91g of salt per portion.

Available in Tesco and Ocado.

Day 17:

Baxters Silverskin Onions (£2.40), crunchy & sweet, are full of flavour. They are pickled in sweet vinegar, ginger and cinnamon.

Add them to casseroles, serve with fish and chips, cheese platters, and of course, as part of the Ploughman's lunch.

Typical values: 45kcal and 0.48g of salt per 100g.

Available at Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and on Ocado.

It so happened that I won a couple of food prizes on Insta during the advents, and got another couple of jars of silverskin onions (a different brand), and thus this jar ended up with our friends. 

Day 18:

Kettle Dill Pickle & Jalapeno potato chips (£2.39) are made with 100% British potatoes. The new flavour is inspired by the US roots, with a sprinkle of aromatic dill and a splash of tangy vinegar.

During the holiday season, many brands play around with new flavours.

I love crisps and I love dill pickle, and on the surface it's an inspired combination, but somehow it didn't quite work, and let's say it's not my favourite flavour from Kettle.

Typical values: 497kcal and 0.97g of salt per 100g.

Available in ASDA and Morrisons.

Day 19: 

Bart Black Peppercorns (£1.50) is a useful store cupboard essential. Grind on a steak, while cooking, or over the roasted vegetables, shakshuka with eggs, scrambled eggs etc. 

I usually salt a piece of salmon with spices, salt and sugar, as a starter, to go with blini, for Christmas, Easter and other festive meals. I don't grind pepper, but crush it before adding to the cure.

Bart peppercorns are aromatic and flavourful.

Available at Bart.co.uk, Ocado, Morrisons and Booths.

Day 20:

E.Wedel Snack Fizzy Cola and So Salty chocolate bars (£1.20 each) - milk chocolate with popping candy and salty crispy cereals.

E.Wedel is a famous Polish confectionery brand, known for its chocolate, cakes and snacks for over 170 years. Their boxes of chocolate covered marshmallows are delicious. We used to have a Polish deli in town, where I would often buy E.Wedel treats, but sadly the deli has closed. I can still find some of E.Wedel chocolate in Tesco and Sainsbury's, but the choice is not as good.

We were curious to try the chocolate bars, and they didn't disappoint. Both Rainforest Alliance certified.

Typical values: 546kcal and 520kcal per 100g.

Available on Amazon, & Market, FoodPlus, Delikatesy Mleczko.

Day 21:

Fruit-Tella In the Snow (£1.50) disappeared so fast that I haven't had a chance to try even a single little shape, but clearly my family enjoyed the selection of Fruit-tella jellies. They come in Penguin, Walrus and Polar Bear shapes, in Strawberry, Raspberry and Blackberry flavours.

Jelly in texture, made with more real fruit juice (compared to Fruit-tella juicy chews). Natural colourings and flavours.

Available in Sainsbury's.

Day 22:

Free From Fellows Mini Pink & White Vanilla Vegan Mallows (£1.89) are super fluffy treats.

Egg and dairy free, vegetarian and vegan, gluten and gelatine free, soy and GMO free, natural colours and flavours.

Lovely added to a mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream.

Typical values: 68kcal and 15g of sugar per 21g.

Available at H&B, Waitrose, Ocado and Grape Tree.

Day 23:

Guylian Seashells Original Praline (£2) is a welcome treat from Guylian. A mini box contains 3 chocolates with hazelnut praline filling. This is a premium Fairtrade Belgian chocolate with a praline paste made with hazelnuts roasted in copper kettles for that deep nutty taste.

Palm and soya free, only 100% natural ingredients.

This small box makes a lovely stocking filler, that is if you are willing to share it. 

Available at all major supermarkets.

...and finally,

Day 24:

St Dalfour Fruit Spread (£2.85) - there is one item of three (Strawberry, Blueberry or Orange).

I often buy St Dalfour spread for our breakfast. My family likes it on toast, or PB&J sandwich, as well as with croissants. 

100% from fruit, no added sugar, no artificial colours, sweeteners, flavours or preservatives. Gluten free.

These award-winning fruit spreads are crafted near Bordeaux in France. Handed down over three generations, the traditional recipe uses only 100% fruit with sun-ripened grape "must" as a natural sweetener. 

Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado and selected independent health stores.

And that's it, folks, the last door of the lovely advent calendar is open. It's been a pleasure to discover lovely treats ever day. And though it's now a long way until the next Christmas, I imagine I will be tempted to buy another advent calendar. 

Well done, Degustabox team, for another smashing selection! 

Degustabox Advent Calendar, Part I

December mornings are pretty dismal, and the early evenings just call you to curl on a couch with a warm drink. To fill the days with extra joy, treat your family or yourself to the daily little pleasures of advent calendars. My boys opted for the standard chocolate calendars, and even my husband has been enjoying his white chocolate calendar. 

Oh the pleasure of opening the little doors every day! Last year I received the delightful Degustabox advent calendar for reviewing, and we liked it so much, that I ordered one this year.

The selection differs from the previous two advent calendars (and yes, I have looked at the spoilers in the little booklet).

First of all, the colourful box is huge - it includes 24 foods and drinks, and comes in a well-designed sturdy box, which opens into two parts like a gigantic book with windows. The cardboard box is recyclable, and there is no plastic. 

The box has a secret game zone.

There is a little booklet enclosed to give you clues of what to expect in the coming days. You could either ignore it, if you want a complete surprise, or if you're impatient like me, you might have had a quick look and rub your hands with glee. 

What did we get? 

Day 1:

TrueStart Barista Grade Instant Coffee (£5.50) is the only Instant coffee on the market that is made with specialty grade beans. 

The 100g tin makes 55 cups, and mixes hot and cold. 

We typically buy Illy instant coffee for a quick cuppa, when we don't have time to brew coffee from the ground beans. TrueStart was a very pleasant surprise, as it tastes really good. It's definitely an instant coffee to keep an eye for. 5/5

Made from rich, smooth Arabica, TrueStart is top rated by coffee lovers.

This is a British brand made by an independent, carbon negative company.

Available in Co-Op, Booths, on Amazon and TrueStart's website.

Day 2:

Baileys Mini Delights Salted Caramel with a hint of Baileys (£2.50)  - the Original Irish Cream liqueur in milk chocolate truffles with salted caramel.

If you enjoy Baileys (and probably there aren't many who don't), you will be happy with this bag of chocolate truffles. There's a crisp milk chocolate shell, and an indulgent salted caramel filling, with a hint of the iconic Baileys liqueur. 

Share with friends and family, or scoff them all by yourself (nobody is judging).

Typical values: 507kcal per 100g, 48g sugar.

Available at selected retailers.

Day 3:

The Jelly Bean Factory 36 Huge Flavours (£1.50 for 113g) is a bag of gourmet jelly beans. These little candies vary in colour and flavour, and are very pretty. 

A great "building and decorating" material for homebaked gingerbread houses. When my boys were little, we used to decorate cookies with jelly beans.

They have crispy shells and chewy cores, and are naturally coloured, gelatine and gluten free, 

Typical values: 375kcal and 76g of sugar per 100g.

Available at ASDA and Amazon.

Day 4:

The Food Doctor Caramel Biscuit (£2.20 for a 45g bar) is a high fibre, lower carb snack bar

It contains a good amount of protein - 12.8g per bar, and at least 30% less carbs than average UK snack bars.

Keto friendly, low sugar (0.7g per bar), high fibre (5g per bar), vegan, 144kcal per serving.

Available at Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Day 5:

Cadbury Dairy Milk Christmas Chocolate Puds 35g (£0.72 each) are cute little chocolate treats for Cadbury lovers. On the outside it's a classic Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, while inside you'll find a truffle centre with hazelnut pieces and puffed rice pieces for extra texture and taste.

A lovely stocking filler, that looks and tastes festive.

Available at all major retailers. You should receive 2 items.

Day 6:

Ryvita Thins Three Cheese (£2.20) might not be the most Christmasy thing, but they are a great dipping and dunking tool for a variety of dips and salsas.

Crunchy, and full of flavour, they are baked full of goodness. 

Typical values: 29kcal and 0.12g of salt per thin.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Day 7:

Capsicana Mexican Burrito Tomato & Chipotle Cooking Paste (£1.60) is a cooking ingredient for a tasty Mexican dish Chicken Tinga, which is a classic shredded chicken dish, originally from the state of Puebla.

This is a mild cooking paste, made with tomato and chipotle chillies. You will need tortillas and chicken mini fillets, rice, cheese and lettuce to prepare a tasty and easy meal. 

The paste itself is vegetarian, and could be also used in vegetarian dishes. 

No artificial colourings or flavourings.

Typical values:

41kcal and 0.65g of salt per 30g serving (one pack serves 2).

Day 8:

Shaken Udder Chocolush (£1.69) is a creamy, velvety smooth milkshake made with real Belgian chocolate.

Packed of goodness including vitamin B12, calcium (51% RI calcium per 330ml serving) and protein, they are also gluten free and suitable for vegetarians. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, less than 5% added sugar.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Waitrose, Morrisons, Boots, Booths and Co-Op.

Day 9:

SimplyCook Keralan Curry or Creamy Chorizo Penne (£2.50) is a handy recipe kit, which contains 3 flavour pots to create an authentic dish. We've tried several recipe kits from SimplyCook throughout the year, and they all offer an inspired recipe.

Cook 140+ chef-created recipes in 30 minutes or less with SimplyCook unique recipe kits. It's lovely to try another recipe from their vast range. You will receive 1 item of two.

We received Simply Cook Keralan Curry. It serves 2-4 people. 

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Day 10:

Maldon Himalayan Pink Salt (£2.50)

Himalayan Pink Salt selected by Maldon, who for four generations have been making and sourcing exceptional salts and seasonings

This pink coarse rock salt from the foothills of the Himalayas has been prized for centuries. Fantastic flavour. Very pleased to try this salt. Definitely something to add to my shopping list for the future.

Available on Amazon UK.

Day 11:

Filippo Berio Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (£3.25) is made from specially selected grapes. Its unique flavour is the perfect complement to their olive oil. Smooth, sweet and sour, it's a perfection in a bottle.

Ideal in salads, to use in grilled fish, meat and vegetables, and of course, as an ingredient of dressings and sauces.

Typical values: 95kcal and 19g of sugar per 100ml.

Available at Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, on Ocado and Filippo Berio.

Day 12:

Yogi Tea Turmeric Chai (£2.75) is an ayurvedic blend with turmeric, cinnamon and ginger. The blurb on the box calls it intensive, multifaceted and magical.

While magical might be stretching too far, it is a delicious chai, especially if you add half a teaspoon of honey and a generous helping of milk (dairy or plant-based).

Already regarded as sacred in India for over 5,000 years, the turmeric root is known for its medicinal and health properties and a beautiful colour. A delicious drink for a cold day.

Available at Waitrose, H&B, Ocado, Amazon and independent stores.

And that's one half of the excellent advent calendar. Part II is going to be separate due to the number of products. 

Murder by Christmas by Lesley Cookman (guest post)

 

Murder by Christmas

The twisting twenty-fifth instalment of Lesley Cookman's much-loved Libby Sarjeant series

Libby Sarjeant is deep into rehearsals for the annual pantomime when a body is found in a doorway two weeks before Christmas - and Libby and her friend Fran are called into action once again, when their investigation leads them to a local brewery and the sale of many of its pubs.

With the help of a team of local publicans, can Libby and Fran unravel the case before it's too late?

Purchase Link -  https://mybook.to/wWqwaY8

Author Bio – Lesley started writing almost as soon as she could read, and filled many Woolworth's exercise books with pony stories until she was old enough to go out with boys. Since she's been grown up, following a varied career as a model, air stewardess and disc jockey, she's written short fiction and features for a variety of magazines, achieved an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Wales, taught writing for both Kent Adult Education and the WEA and edited the first Sexy Shorts collection of short stories, in aid of the Breast Cancer Campaign. Lesley is a member of the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers' Association.

Lesley has also written pantomimes performed all over Britain, and published a book on how to do it!

Learn more about Lesley by visiting her blog.

 

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/LibbySarjeantMysteries/

https://twitter.com/CookmanCrime

https://www.instagram.com/lesleyrcookman/tagged/

I'm delighted to invite Lesley Cookman to share her views on how to write a good murder mystery.

How To Plan A Murder

 

When I was a child, my parents let me loose on their bookshelves and I devoured all their Golden Age Mystery novels. There wasn’t much differentiation between genres in those days, and they were just novels – and I loved them. So when I grew up – which is debatable  - I decided to write them. When I thought about it in a vague way before I morphed into a crime writer, I assumed you would start with the murder and work backwards. Now I know it isn’t as simple as that.

 

There are no rules for crime writing. If you write in a specific sub-genre: thriller, medical, psychological, police procedural or cosy (like me) there are lines over which you do not cross, but little is hard and fast. What are incontrovertible facts are – if you are writing a “puzzle” story, remember to insert unobtrusive clues from fairly early on. If the police are involved, get the details of an official investigation right. Those are self evident, of course, and everything else is exactly the same as any other novel – do your research, don’t let the story get away from you, create good characters. Unless it’s an integral part of the story don’t let an unfolding romance send your protaganist (s) off the rails. Romantic suspense is different – but there, the romance is an integral part of the story – think Mary Stewart.

 

So, here are a few wise words for the new crime writer. Don’t start with a dream or a flashback (although I think I have...) and Don’t Start Bland! [sic]. Don’t start the story too soon. Don’t forget that a mystery, or crime novel, is plot driven but the plot is driven by the characters. Depending on what sub-genre you have decided on, there should be at least one murder. The great Carter Dickson got away without one occasionally, but lesser mortals should stick to the rules. Make sure the murderer appears early in the story. If he, she or it doesn’t appear until late on in the book, the reader is likely to feel cheated.

 

If the detective/problem solver is to be the main protaganist, make sure they also appear early and unless they are official, give them a definite reason for getting involved. If they are a suspect in the main crime, the reason for getting involved is obvious – they must clear their name – but otherwise, don’t make them a suspect! However, introduce at least one suspect by the end of the second chapter, and make sure there are several VIABLE suspects by the end of the book. Not just people you’ve stuck in to make up the numbers.

 

The actual plot – my original idea of starting with the murder and working backwards is actually quite a good one, taken from the murderer’s point of view. A needs to kill B. Set that up and watch A cover his/her tracks. Then, with a bit of luck and careful concentration, you can go back and unpick it. This, of course, would be the ideal method, and I’m sure if I did this every time my life would be easier.

 

The other wise words are no different from those given to any writer, crime or otherwise, as I’ve already said. And here are my final exhortations: DON’T DO WHAT I DO.

In the first Libby Sarjeant I was told at the end that the murderer wouldn’t do, and could I put in a new character.  I did. With two weeks to go.

We have got stuck with the “Murder” titles. So whatever story I decide on has to have a suitable title. And frequently I then have to fit the story round the title. This is NOT a good idea.

Don’t have a brilliant idea for a title with a bit of a story wafting round the edges, tell your publisher and then get stuck with it. Most of my books are written out of desperation.

 

Actually, of course, a good murder mystery is both satisfying to read and to write. It can be bent into all sorts of shapes by all sorts of people. After all – look at me!

November Degustabox

  Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in November Degustabox box?

Terry's Chocolate Mint (£1.50) is the Product of the Month. This is the minty version of the much loved classic, so festive and moreish. I might buy another one for festive brownies.

This delicious mint-flavoured chocolate is made with milk chocolate and natural mint. 

You know what to do, tap it, whack it and enjoy!

Nutritional values: 164kcal and 18g of sugar per 4 segments.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

I was pleased to see a little bag of Love Corn BBQ Crunchy Corn Snack, as it's one of my favourite snacks. You might receive a Sea Salt or BBQ flavoured corn as a free gift in the latest Degustabox.

Whole corn kernels are roasted off the hob to make a delicious crunchy snack. The BBQ corn is covered in smokin' spices and has just the right amount of saltiness for a satisfying savoury treat.

A small bag contains 178 kcal and 0.2g of salt. Gluten free.

Other sizes are available in major retailers, like Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, ASDA, Boots and WHSmith. 

Forest Feast Salted Dark Chocolate Almonds (£1.50) is another scrumptious snack. Tasty almonds are coated in mouth-watering dark chocolate, with a sprinkling of salt and a dusting of cocoa.

Available in both on-the-go 40g packs and 120g share pack (though I can easily eat a sharing pack all by myself).

Gluten free and vegan.

Typical values: 566kcal, 28.1g of sugar and 0.72g of salt per 100g.

Available at Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Ocado, Amazon and Fine Food independents.

PhD Nutrition Smart Bar (£1.50/half size, see above) is just right for the on-the-go snack. With 10g of quality protein and 1.1g of sugar, this mighty little snack, contains a soft protein centre, encased in a gooey caramel with protein crispies.

I didn't even notice when this snack has disappeared from the box, but someone must have enjoyed it in the family. 

Available at phd.com.

SlooOW Stone Oven Baguette White (£1.60) is an organic wheat baguette, partially baked and made with the best and 100% natural ingredients. The bread dough is given more than 24 hours to rise, to later becme a very tasty crusty bread.

Bake it in the oven for 12 minutes for a crispy crust. We've tried this bread earlier this year for the first time, from one of the summer boxes, and it is truly tasty. Great for bruschetta, with tomatoes, basil and olive oil, or make hot mini sandwiches with it, with lots of grated cheese.

Nutritional values: 263kcal and 0.95g of salt per 100g. 

Available at Tesco and Co-Op.

Nissin Demae Ramen Chicken or Tonkotsu Pork (£0.65) is a Japanese-style ramen, which allows you to prepare a variety of restaurant-quality ramen dishes.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We got the Chicken flavour ramen. Add some green beans, pickled ginger, a dash of soy sauce, and whatever else you fancy, perhaps bamboo shoots, sprinkle sesame seeds, or seaweed flakes.

Typical nutritional values: 91kcal and 1.1g of salt per 100g prepared product.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Knorr Vegetable Stock Pot (£1.90) is one of my kitchen pantry essentials. Whenever I cook soup, or a casserole, I reach for one of these stock pots. They add a lovely flavour, and you can choose whether to dissolve it in hot water first, or add to the saucepan directly.

Slowly simmered with garden vegetables, these pots are gluten free, have no added MSG, artificial colours or preservatives.

Nutritional values: 8kcal and 1g of salt per 125ml.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Kühne Gourmet Gherkins with Herbs (£3.55) are traditional German pickles. These delightful little gherkins have a lovely dill flavour. Excellent with cold meats and a cheese platter, or just as a sneaky treat straight from the jar in the fridge.

Crunchy and flavourful, these pickles deserve the Winner of a Great Taste Award.

Also available with honey or chilli.

You can find them in Waitrose and Ocado.

Heinz Spicy Parsnip Soup (£1.70) is a low sugar, low fat vegetarian soup. Sweet parsnips are gently cooked with carrots, onions, as well as warming spices, like chilli and red pepper.

Soups are made for cold weather, and this parsnip soup will be a comforting meal after a long walk in the cold.

Nutritional values: 74kcal and 4.9g of sugar per 1/2 can.

Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Iceland, ASDA and Ocado.

Plantastic Creamy Pasta Sauce Tomato & Chargrilled Pepper (£2.80) is a plant-based pasta sauce. The ingredients include tomato, smoky chargrilled peppers, herbs and spices, plus coconut milk.

Nutritional information: 147kcal and 0.96g of salt per 175g portion. Source of protein and fibre, no artificial colours or flavours, 1 of your 5 a day.

Simply cook your pasta of choice, stir in the heated sauce, and add the grated cheese (whether dairy/vegetarian or vegan).

Also available in Spicy Cajun Tomato and Caramelised Onion & Sweet Potato.

Available at Morrisons and Tesco.

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Multigrain Honey 350g (£3) is a popular cereal. This breakfast meal contains no artificial colours or flavours.

And if you are not a morning cereal person, how about making some lovely treats, like rice krispie cakes with golden syrup, and chocolate?

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Double Dutch Lemon (£1.20) is a carbonated lemon flavoured soft drink. Its combination of lemon, lime and quassia makes a great base for a cocktail with vodka or a citrus-flavoured gin. 

It is like a sip of summer in winter.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

There will be one last box of the year delivered soon, and in the meantime we're enjoying opening the doors of the huge Degustabox advent calendar. 

What is your favourite product from the November box?

Spread: Tales of Deadly Flora, edited by R.A.Clarke (book excerpt)

 

Spread: Tales of Deadly Flora

Green thumbs beware. Plants are beautiful, peaceful, abundant, and life-sustaining. But what if something sinister took root in the soil, awakening to unleash slashing thorns, squeezing vines, or haunting greenery that lured you in? Perhaps blooms on distant planets could claim your heart, hitch a ride to Earth on a meteor, or simply poison you with their essence. Imagine a world where scientists produced our own demise in a lab, set spores free to infect, even bred ferns to be our friends only to witness the privilege perverted. When faced with botanical terror, will humanity fight to survive, or will they curl and wither like leaves in the fall? Read ten speculative tales ripe with dangerous flora to find out.

Purchase Link -  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKX9PGVY/

Social Media Links – Website: www.pageturnpress.com

Instagram & Twitter: @pageturnpress

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pageturnpress/

An excerpt from Spread: Tales of Deadly Flora (Page Turn Press).

Plant Friends by Jen Mierisch. A pair of well-meaning scientists develop a ground-breaking plant to be a friend for lonely people around the world. But nothing ever goes to plan, does it?

 

April tossed her coat onto a chair, flopped onto her couch, and sighed out the stress of three interminable meetings, two train commutes, and one micromanaging boss. She kicked off her high heels, extended one bare toe, and rubbed the lowest leaf of her Plant Friend, whose pot sat next to the couch.

The leaf wound itself around April’s foot and gently squeezed. “Ahhh,” sighed April, sinking into the cushions. “That’s the stuff.” She wiggled her toe against the leaf, and it squeezed again, massaging the soreness away.

She sat forward a bit and nudged an upper leaf with her elbow. It extended itself across her upper back and kneaded her shoulders. Grip and release, grip and release. “You’re the best, Boo,” April told it.

The people who sold April the plant had mentioned that it would adapt itself to her and might begin to anticipate her requests. A natural element of its design, they’d said. The mechanism, of course, was a trade secret, but the people in the online Plant Friend forums theorized that it had to do with plant estrogens.

April picked up a leaf and kissed it. “Boo,” she said, “you were worth every penny.”

She tucked her throw blanket around her legs and flipped on Disney Plus. A nice cartoon would be a way to forget the day.

The beginning of Up was cute and funny. Then came the montage of Carl and Ellie’s life together, ending in poignant loss and never-realized dreams. April watched, devastated, tears dripping onto her dress. A leaf snaked its way around her shoulders in a comforting embrace.

April’s cell phone rang. Eyes glued to the TV, she fumbled with the device, saw an unknown number on the display, and rejected the call.

A minute later, the phone pinged with a text message.

Hey. I think you left something at the café this morning.

April sat bolt upright, seized the phone, and stared.

That morning, she had ordered her usual hazelnut latte, plus a breakfast sandwich, then lingered at a table in the bookstore’s café. When Thanh left the counter with a spray bottle and a rag, April had stood to leave. Beneath her empty plate, she’d tucked her business card, on the back of which she’d written her cell phone number.

She paused the movie, found the number in her call history, and smashed the callback button.

He answered after the first ring. “Well, hello there, Hazelnut Latte.”

“Hi.”

“Can I call you Hazel?”

The plant stood at attention as April leaped from the couch and paced the living room, talking animatedly. Its leaves seemed to rise a bit taller, invigorated by the kinetic energy of her motion and laughter.

When April hung up the call, she immediately dialed again. “Devora! Guess who just called me!”

Still talking, April walked into the kitchen, disappearing around the doorframe. The plant’s leaves drooped a bit, like the jowls of a bloodhound.

 

The Silent House of Sleep by Allan Gaw (book extract)

 

The Silent House of Sleep

‘No one likes death. It just happens to be our business.’

Nobody who meets Dr Jack Cuthbert forgets him. Tall, urbane, brilliant but damaged, this Scottish pathologist who works with Scotland Yard is the best the new DCI has seen. But Cuthbert is a man who lives with secrets, and he still battles demons brought back from the trenches.

When not one but two corpses are discovered in a London park in 1929, Cuthbert must use every tool at his disposal to solve the mystery of their deaths. In the end, the horrifying truth is more shocking than even he could have imagined.

As he works the case, Cuthbert realises that history rarely stays in the past. And even in the final moments, there is still one last revelation that leaves him reeling.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-House-Sleep-Cuthbert-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CK8SZJLF/

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-House-Sleep-Cuthbert-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CK8SZJLF/

Author Bio –

Allan Gaw is a Scot who lives and works near Glasgow. He studied medicine and is a pathologist by training but a writer by inclination. Having worked in the NHS and universities in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and the US, he now devotes his time to writing.

 Most of his published work to date is non-fiction. These include textbooks and regular magazine articles on topics as diverse as the thalidomide story, the medical challenges of space travel and the medico-legal consequences of the Hillsborough disaster.

 More recently, he has been writing short stories, novels and poetry. He has won the UK Classical Association Creative Writing Competition, the International Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize, the International Globe Soup 7-day Writing Challenge and was runner-up in the Glencairn Glass/Bloody Scotland Short Crime Fiction Competition. He has also had prose published in the literary journal, From Glasgow to Saturn and anthologies from the Edinburgh Literary Salon and Clan Destine Press in Australia. His poetry has been published by Dreich, Soor Ploom Press and Black Bough Poetry. His debut poetry collection, Love & Other Diseases, was published in 2023 by Seahorse Publications.  

 

The Silent House of Sleep is his debut novel and is the first in the Dr Jack Cuthbert Mystery series. 

 

You can read more about him and his work at his website: https://researchet.wordpress.com/ .

 

Social Media Links 

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/ResearchET

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allangaw8/

The Silent House of Sleep

by

Allan Gaw

 

EXTRACT 

 

In this extract from the opening chapter of the novel, the protagonist, the Scottish pathologist Dr Jack Cuthbert, has just completed giving his expert testimony at the Old Bailey.  On the witness stand, he has been assured and in complete command of the situation.  Now, on his way home, we see a very different side to him.

 

 

London: December 1928

…

‘Dr Cuthbert, thank you for your testimony. You may stand down.’

With that, the reporters in the courtroom were readying themselves for a swift conclusion to the trial. One or two were already reaching over the rail, trying to pass notes to Mrs Everett’s lawyer in order to secure an exclusive interview with her when she was released. The lawyer read these and scrunched them up, scowling at the press benches as he did so.

Cuthbert did not stay in the courtroom to hear the outcome, for that was not what interested him. He regarded his task as one of examining the evidence in order to provide the truth of the matter. This was a truth that would only reveal itself through logical enquiry of the circumstances, careful evaluation of the physical evidence and detailed analysis of the human remains. When he delivered this truth, it was up to others to use it appropriately.

 

He left the Old Bailey and as it was already almost five o’clock, he chose to walk back to his home in Bloomsbury rather than return to the hospital. The late afternoon air was cold and damp, and the pavements of London were still wet with the melting slush from the previous week’s snowfall.

Cuthbert trod carefully to avoid the worst of it, but as he turned on to Fleet Street, there were large, dirty puddles of melting ice everywhere. He cursed his decision to walk. His boots, normally black and polished to the highest of shines, were already wet and dull. He shook his head in irritation, and before their condition affected him any further, he hailed a cab.

It would only be a short journey to Gordon Square and Cuthbert spent it bent over, trying to polish the worst of the slush away. However, the damp, dirty stains on his boots were refusing to yield to his handkerchief. He rubbed all the more, almost scratching the leather as his force became frantic.

Suddenly, he was caught by the bitter cordite burning his throat. He tried to swallow to rid himself of it, but his mouth was dry and his tongue was rough. His heart began to thump in his chest. The colour drained from his face. It was starting again. Taking great gulps of air, he shook his head from side to side, vainly trying to clear his mind of the noise and the gunfire. He flinched and cowered on the seat of the cab at the monumental thuds of the exploding shells all around him. The cab driver was watching him in the rear-view mirror. His fare was sweating and shaking. He had seen it before but never in a gentleman like this.

‘All right, guv’nor?’

Cuthbert could not speak to reply. He just gripped his briefcase close to his chest, trying to steady himself and hide the worst of it from the driver. Finally, he managed to nod and was relieved that they had already stopped outside his front door on the square. His hand was still shaking as he handed over the coins, and he did not wait for his change. Fumbling, Cuthbert managed to get his key in the lock. He almost fell into his hallway and slammed the street door behind him. With the door at his back, he sank to the ground waiting for the horror to subside. It would pass for it always did, but not before it had crushed a little bit more of him.

He was grateful at least that his housekeeper had been spared this sight of him. The attacks were now less common than they had been, but when they came, they always caught him unawares. For a man so guarded and always so much in control of his own feelings, that was the worst of it.

His heart was now slowing in his chest, but his hands were still shaking as he wiped the tears of the terror from his eyes. He struggled to his feet and found his way into the sanctuary of his study on the ground floor. It was too late to think about anything else.