Title: The Body at Back Beach
Author: KJ Sweeney
Genre: Murder Mystery
Book Blurb:
Helena Statham never imagined herself as a sleuth. But when she stumbles upon the body of a young woman while on a walk, she can't resist the urge to discover who she was and how she got there. Even if it means upsetting the tight-knit community of the small New Zealand town she lives in, and uncovering secrets that have long been buried.
Thirty years ago, a young woman went missing, but no one tried to find out what had happened to her. As Helena investigates deeper, she learns more about what took place back then, putting herself in danger now.
Join Helena on her journey as she becomes an unlikely amateur detective, determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to the long-forgotten young woman whose story has been buried in silence for far too long.
Excerpt:
The bones of a skeletal arm sticking out of the ground may well have been the last thing Helena expected to see while out on a walk that afternoon. But there was no denying what they were. Those long, bleached white objects were not old branches or tree roots, but finger bones. The slip in the bank had uncovered something sinister and unexpected.
Helena felt sick. Suddenly, the cold air and dark sky was overwhelming. She struggled to tamp down the fluttering panicked feeling squeezing her chest. This had supposed to be the chance to get some fresh air, by going for a walk. The recent storms had meant staying inside more, not getting out and stretching her legs. Now, finally out here for the first time here in what felt like weeks, she had stumbled on something else the storms were responsible for.
The bank was little more than mud and soil, and after the recent weather, they didn’t always hold up well. In more than one place there were small slips where mud, rocks and branches had fallen onto the track below, blocking access to vehicles and creating fresh angry gouges where the unstable ground had crumbled and fallen. The place where the bones seemed to be was one of the worst slips. It must have disturbed whatever had been hidden there, and now part of this body or skeleton, or whatever these strange looking objects were had been uncovered.
This wasn’t how it should be. She’d had the track around Back Beach to herself. It was such a wonderful place to walk, and many other people seemed to feel the same. Being here alone had been a real treat and with the heavy rain they had been suffering recently, it was a welcome one. There were still heavy clouds precariously suspended in the sky, threatening to embark on another deluge. Even on wild and stormy days, the views across the harbour were stunning and instantly created relaxation and peace. Right now, that feeling was a long way off. If anything, being alone was the last thing anyone would want. If only someone could be here as well. Someone who could confirm what those strange objects were. Someone who could help decide what to do.
There was no avoiding it, getting a closer look would surely help, even though the thought made her heart race. Trying to climb up the slip seemed to be the best option. But no, a few tentative steps forward and it soon became clear the ground wasn’t safe. Even before reaching the bright orange netting barrier that had been hastily erected blocking a usually a popular walking track, the ground began to move. The slip hadn’t completely settled, and loose stones were already rolling away under her feet. Getting close enough to look might be possible but would run the very real risk of finding herself engulfed by a mountain of mud and earth. Rather than discovering a body, there was a very real chance of being buried in this resting place herself. No, risking getting any closer to it was simply not a good idea.
Helena reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Despite the wonderful feeling of isolation here on Back Beach, it was just an illusion. Civilization was only minutes away and help shouldn’t take long. Surely what she had seen was nothing more than a product of an overactive imagination. Perhaps she should just leave it, if there was something there then surely someone else would notice and it would be their problem to deal with. If there really was a body up there, then there was no option but to call the police. Taking a deep but shaky breath she dialled emergency services quickly before there was any chance to talk herself out if it.
“Police please,” she said to the operator. Nibbling on the corner of her thumb while waiting for the call to be connected. Eager to pass the responsibility of the discovery to someone else. The sudden sound of a voice on the other end asking about the emergency made her jump, nerves strung right on the edge. “Hi, yes. I think there might be a body buried in the side of the hill here. The land has slipped away, and I can see what looks like fingers and an arm, well, a skeleton.” Her words came out in a rush. Running fingers through her hair with agitation, pacing back and forth.
“Can you give me your location please?” the brisk voice on the other end asked.
“Oh, yes, sorry. I’m at Back Beach in Port Chalmers, on Peninsula Beach Road, around past the boat sheds.” Helena gestured towards the boat sheds standing behind her, as though the person on the other end could see them through the phone line.
“And you can see a person buried, are they injured or able to move? Is the person breathing?”
“No, oh, no. It’s not a person, or at least not now it isn’t. Just, well, bones.” She paused, peering up at the bank where the arm seemed to have become more obvious. “It looks like a skeleton arm. I mean it might be nothing of course, but that’s what it looks like. The bank has shifted away and slid down and kind of uncovered something. It’s old I think, not recent.” Helena moved from foot to foot with agitation. The body, if it was a body, had died a long time ago. Having found it like this left her feeling nervous and on edge. Almost as though someone might be watching.
“We’ll send someone out to you. Are you able to stay in your location until someone arrives?”
“Yes, of course, no problem.” Helena bit back the impulse to demand they come quickly, the sooner someone else came here to face this with her, the better.
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What’s your favorite thing about springtime?
The days getting longer and the hope of warmer weather on the way after the cold and dark of winter is always welcome. I love watching the trees starting to burst back into life and colour.
Why is your featured book a must-read this spring?
If murder mysteries are your thing, then this book should be perfect for you. Set in beautiful New Zealand you’ll love this mystery that focuses around the discovery of a long dead body that throws a small community into confusion and unrest.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs April 1 – 30, 2025
Drawing will be held on May 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Kelly Jo Sweeney grew up in England before moving to New Zealand where she lived for 15 years with her kiwi husband and four wonderful children. An avid reader from an early age, crime novels have long been a favourite. She always likes to work out whodunnit before the big reveal and writing her own novels means that there’s at least one that she’ll always get right. Her debut novel is set in and inspired by the unique scenery of New Zealand, infusing her stories with a wonderful sense of place and atmosphere.
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