Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Share an Excerpt from a previous books 2021 – Dead Dry Heart: A #psychological thriller by Toni Pike

We put a great deal of effort into promoting our new, recent and upcoming books but often our previous releases get sidelined.

In this latest series I am offering authors in the Cafe and Bookstore a chance to promote an earlier book (not your most recent) by sharing an excerpt from the book of 500 words. At the end of the post you can find out how to participate.

Today Toni Pike is sharing an excerpt from her psychological thriller Dead Dry Heart

About the book

“A suspense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!”

Tyler Thompson is Australia’s young, brilliant and charismatic Prime Minister, riding high on a wave of popularity. But the past has come back to haunt him and there is a shocking secret from his childhood that he will do almost anything to conceal.

The one man who knows what happened twenty-five years ago is back – and he is hellbent on revenge. Tyler’s precious wife and baby have disappeared and their safe return will cost him everything: family, career and freedom.

But even that may not be enough to satisfy his nemesis – and the truth may be more terrible than he could possibly imagine.

A chilling novel about deceit, betrayal and murder, with twists and turns that you will not see coming.

An excerpt from Dead Dry Heart – Chapter Fourteen

I drove at high speed but pulled over after thirty minutes to switch off every radio, GPS and security device in the car, determined not to be found. From there, I travelled several hours into the desert, wondering if there would be another rebirth for Tyler Thompson in the middle of nowhere.

The sound of waves could be heard lapping on the shore before the ocean appeared, a dull roar rising up from the wide expanse of Eighty Mile Beach. It was easy to find the spot where we had our campsite all those years ago. I recognised the sand dunes and the outcrop of red rocks – my hiding place when Joshua first arrived.

There was no sign of anyone else around. I parked the car and slowly opened the glovebox. Inside was a semi-automatic pistol, the last line of defence for my security detail. I sighed with relief as I ran my fingers over it. But then I reminded myself that I was the Prime Minister and that I should be able to outsmart him. I could negotiate and compromise to solve my problems like a grown man.

I closed the glovebox, leaving the gun inside.

Flies buzzed around me as I stepped out of the vehicle and walked towards the beach. The heat beat down on my skin. Although I knew the precise spot of the campfire there was no sign of it after all those years or the spot where my parents lay with blood oozing from their skulls. The sand was still as hot as hell and that reminded me of how I feared my father.

“Hello, Tyler, you’ve grown up,” said a man’s voice, kind and gentle. I looked up in alarm as Joshua Byrnes stepped out from behind a rock. He smiled as if he was pleased to see me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “Hello, Joshua, how are you?” I asked.

He gave me a blank look for a moment, but then words started to pour out of his mouth. He stood there giving me a thirty-minute monologue about the last twenty-five years of his life. He described how he followed my career from his jail cell, watched my election night victory on television, travelled to Queanbeyan after his release and moved into a boarding house. Then he talked about his expertise with computers.

I’d been completely wrong about him. I imagined him in jail, isolated from the outside world, unable to hear the news about me. When he left prison I thought he’d head into the outback, resume his old lifestyle and be far away from me.

But now the reality struck me. He knew as much about me as anyone could.

Finally he stopped talking and stared at me in silence for two long minutes. He seemed to age by a hundred years.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“Tyler, you took my life away.”

An adrenaline rush made my heart rate soar. I needed to do or say something. “You saved me and gave me a whole new life,” I said.

©Toni Pike

One of the five star reviews for the book

Uma Iyer Van Roosenbeek5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant, electrifying, riveting psychological thriller!  Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2018

Tyler wins the hearts of the readers when he exhibits a very amazing attitude in the face of all the abuse meted out on him by his parents. Just when the reader is compelled to step into the book to take Tyler away from the abuse, an “angel” in human form intervenes, saves the boy, sends him off to safety with specific instructions. Tyler’s memory of the events is very hazy. Tyler makes a strong enemy of the ‘angel ‘ when he points to him as the killer of his abusive parents in the court!

Tyler is adopted by an extremely loving couple who encourage him to reach stupendous heights. Thanks to them, he progresses from excellence to excellence and his momentum reaches the pinnacle of success when he gets elected as the PM of Australia, an immensely popular one! He also has acquired a very loving wife and a very precious baby. This is when the ‘angel’ who has been released from the jail comes back to seek his revenge.

Events take such an unexpected turn that the readers are on tenterhooks to know what happens next. Are Tyler’s family rescued from the clutches of the mad man, what exactly transpired twenty five years ago when Tyler’s parents died, does Tyler get redeemed are questions that are answered in this outstanding thriller. Added to the delightful mix are all the 4-legged family of both dogs and cats!

The narrative is magnificent, the characters are endearing and it was an incredible reading experience. Thank you Ms. Pike!!!  

Also by Toni Pike for children and adults

Connect to Toni: Buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Toni:Goodreads – Website: Toni Pike – Twitter: @piketoni1

About Toni Pike

Toni Pike is a multi-genre author who enjoys writing exciting thrillers for adults, non-fiction, and hilarious books for children. She also loves travelling and being with family and friends. She lives in Australia and firmly believes that coffee and long walks are an essential part of any day.

Do you like books that you can’t stop reading? Pike is the author of DESOLATION BLUFF, DEAD DRY HEART and The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS, THE MAGUS EPIPHANY and HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS.

The Brody Cody Series is for children aged 6-9: BRODY CODY AND THE STEPMOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE and BRODY CODY AND THE HAUNTED VACATION HOUSE.

She’s also the author of two non-fiction books. THE ONE WAY DIET is a no-nonsense guide to losing weight and coping with the journey. HAPPY TRAVELS 101 is a short book of travel tips with great advice for anyone who wants to travel overseas.

I hope you will participate in this series.. there are currently 130 authors on the shelves with reviews within the last six months and you can check your entry at this link – Cafe and Bookstore – and Children’s Reading Room

 

Thanks for dropping in and I know that Toni would love to hear from you.. thanks Sally.