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John Dean's books;

To Catch a Lie – a DCI Jack Harris mystery eb/pb

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CW1BHSB2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4B445JGU2N1Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7oop-yxsmpNWPOgKIC0JCtZqqG_0ycZWQiRgINPsoWBKvMSLmY4mKX28kaJs8rtKRJ2FywLu8MJCgxYeZ19QNco4GsbsKt09Y3JysAPfinWsDSpnlReP1vjmqkVBM6kOolV99hpEk5lhCOWsPxda3v5OtSUz2ZTvv-_azA_CLklBcWV4A6pA11gIied5_IBXN7iETLPxPNfCiA3N2Q9MCf0HxKSsQDrRUJxDNAJIY_k.6dnakA_GSBKEGRGGgY_ib6bdKmQlLiEavm6wVByDPJo&dib_tag=se&keywords=to+catch+a+lie&qid=1711471286&sprefix=to+catch+a+lie%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-124th

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1BHSB2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=A9X3CN83G59I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UHiONMArpaPHOLUKp8tgKQh7XwZWfLOVu2XyYHU2iNpHQLbMkjcpOgkz0btAmNCPVWLfHKJQ1VJYUWsJacUopXt2MG4_fcZ-goSJ1LflutFX2UPtwtSVKlgZNvQ3KqSW6fbPlvo-5QCJkdePlEprA8QH5V_enJXItBdZBb1VpdSVpipVTNGZVjBuSuqxgamlgg_RyBlFe9GXaFZrdQSiy5FwjeCfEXmffsnuxGJkR-Q.8NB8JQDS8hCPnS1h_5fHxvSwhARP9FPS633aMUy8LLQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=to+catch+a+lie&qid=1711479927&sprefix=to+catch+a+lie%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1

Blizzard box-set - seven  books for 99p

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DCI-BLIZZARD-MURDER-MYSTERIES-books-ebook/dp/B0CPT8LNGD/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1K5U0R74X6TZQ&keywords=john+dean&qid=1702225927&sprefix=john+dean%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-3

Welcome to my site. I am a crime novelist living in South West Scotland who was published by Robert Hale between 2004 and 2014 and now by The Book Folks. I have had twenty four titles published

The Book Folks titles are 

Dead Hill eb pb/audio

The VIxen's Scream eb pb/audio

To Die Alone eb pb/audio

The Long Dead eb pb/audio

Strange Little Girl eb pb/audio

The Railway Man eb pb/audio

The Secrets Man eb pb/audio

To Honour the Dead eb pb/audio

A Breach of Trust eb pb

Thou Shalt Kill eb pb

Death List eb pb

Error of Judgement, eb pb

The DCI Blizzard Murder Mysteries Books 1 to 3

A Collection containing the first three books in the DCI John Blizzard series of murder mysteries (The Book Folks) has been published in e-book format, as well as second one containing another three and, most recently, one with the first seven for just 99p

A Flicker in the Night eb pb

The Killing Line eb/pb

The Latch Man eb pb 

Kill Shot eb pb 

No Age to Die eb pb 

Last Man Alive eb/pb

The Vengeance Man eb/pb

The Girl in the Meadow eb/pb/hb

The Name on the Bullet eb/pb/hb

Writing as John Stanley

The Numbers Game – a DCI Danny Radford novel

Sentinel – a DCI Danny Radford novel

You can buy my Book Folks titles at:

Dead Hill

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-HILL-featuring-Detective-Inspector-ebook/dp/B06XH2ZJQ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1498230104&sr=1-1&keywords=john+dean+and+dead+hill

The Vixen’s Scream https://www.amazon.co.uk/VIXENS-SCREAM-captivating-mystery-featuring-ebook/dp/B06Y45R6B4/ref=pd_sim_351_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6QY89RN533S2REGRQBZB

To Die Alone https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIE-ALONE-Gripping-British-Detective-ebook/dp/B071JFLFKJ/ref=pd_sim_351_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M03ECYTSSRXZZT8XD1R6

The Long Dead https://www.amazon.co.uk/LONG-DEAD-gripping-detective-Blizzard-ebook/dp/B075WC7SBN/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1506413197&sr=1-1&keywords=john+dean+and+the+long+dead

Strange Little Girl https://www.amazon.co.uk/STRANGE-LITTLE-GIRL-Detective-Blizzard-ebook/dp/B076TBXS9W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1509018472&sr=8-2&keywords=strange+little+girl+and+john+dean

The Railway Man https://www.amazon.co.uk/RAILWAY-MAN-Blizzard-murder-mystery-ebook/dp/B077SMPNDP/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512399387&sr=1-2&keywords=the+railway+man

The Secrets Man https://www.amazon.co.uk/SECRETS-MAN-gripping-murder-mystery-ebook/dp/B079MHXRH3/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1517995404&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Secrets+Man

To Honour the Dead 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CMK9GYW/

A Breach of Trust 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FVXBQ1F/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1532524937&sr=1-9&keywords=john+dean

Thou Shalt Kill 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HKQL7XS

 

Death List

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEATH-LIST-following-prison-targets-ebook/dp/B07MHXS9JM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1546678064&sr=1-1&keywords=Death+List+and+john+dean

Error of Judgement, eb pb

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07R11FB77/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=john+dean&qid=1556042858&s=digital-text&sr=1-2

The DCI Blizzard Murder Mysteries Books 1 to 3

A Collection containing the first three books in the DCI John Blizzard series of murder mysteries (The Book Folks) has been published in e-book format.

You can find out more and buy the book at

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RHZWH8H/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=john+dean&qid=1557390139&s=digital-text&sr=1-3

The DCI Blizzard Murder Mysteries Books 4 to 6 is out.

This is a collection containing the second three books in the DCI John Blizzard series of murder mysteries (The Book Folks) published in e-book format.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VWR9RGF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=john+dean&qid=1564663149&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

A Flicker in the Night

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07WSGYX1S/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=john+dean&qid=1566287620&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

 

The Killing Line - The Book Folks (eb/pb to come) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B084WR73YH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=john+dean&qid=1582032771&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

The Latch Man

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B089KMBLLG/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=john+dean&qid=1591101401&s=digital-text&sr=1-5

The DCI Harris Murder Mysteries Books 1-3

The box set featuring the first three DCI Jack Harris mysteries published by The Book Folks, is on sale. DCI Jack Harris loves the peace and solitude of the rolling hills of the Pennines in the north of England so when criminals interrupt his quietude, he makes no qualms about catching them, even if his actions run the townsfolk and his fellow officers up the wrong way.

You can find out more, or buy the boxset, at

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085NZQFF9/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=john+dean&qid=1583766058&s=digital-text&sr=1-2

The second DCI Jack Harris boxset has been published by The Book Folks in Kindle format, including books four to six in the series.

You can find out more, or buy the book, at

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B087QFCQ9T/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=john+dean&qid=1588059094&s=digital-text&sr=1-2

Kill Shot https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LVZ86MX/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=john+dean&qid=1603724047&s=digital-text&sr=1-2

No Age to Die

NO AGE TO DIE: The release of a dangerous prisoner leads to murder eBook: Dean, John: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Last Man Alive eb/pb 

LAST MAN ALIVE: a classic British murder mystery (Detective Chief Inspector Jack Harris Book 9) eBook: Dean, John: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

The Vengeance Man

eb /pb

THE VENGEANCE MAN: vigilante justice meets mob rule in this murder mystery (DCI John Blizzard Book 10) eBook : Dean, John: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

 

The Girl in the Meadow

THE GIRL IN THE MEADOW: British crime fiction at its best eBook : Dean, John: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

 

The Name on the Bullet A DCI John Blizzard mystery

Pb eb hb https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C1GNRDRS/

 

Writing as John Stanley

The Numbers  Game

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NUMBERS-GAME-gripping-crime-thriller-ebook/dp/B00GVHK5KQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1530016765&sr=1-4&keywords=numbers+game

 

Sentinel

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SENTINEL-exciting-British-detective-thriller-ebook/dp/B016MDIIKC/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1530016867&sr=1-6&keywords=sentinel

 

Courses and mentoring

Crime novelist and creative writing tutor John Dean, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway, has launched an online Crime Fiction Course.

John, author of 20 crime novels and currently published by London-based The Book Folks, is the creator of DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris.

The online course, which runs in eight parts and can begin at a time and date to suit the student, will help writers to improve their technique and improve their chances of being successful, either in competitions or admissions to publishers.

When they enroll, students will be offered ongoing one-to-one feedback on their work, be it short stories or novels.

John, who is a member of the UK-based Crime Writers’ Association, said: “Writing can be a lonely pastime and my aim is to help aspiring writers to improve their technique and improve their chances of being successful in a very competitive market.

“Crime fiction remains hugely popular and, hopefully, I can help aspiring writers to develop their ideas, and because it is online it does not matter where they live.

"In recent years, I have worked with writers from everywhere from Croatia to Australia and New Zealand.”

There is no official certificate of qualification at the end of the course, which will be led by John.

The course costs £75.

For further details you can contact John at deangriss@btinternet.com

Mentoring

A reminder that, in addition to the various free things we do, one of the paid-for services I offer is one supporting writers.

Why should you hire a professional writing mentor, though?

Isn’t it enough to attend a class/workshop or a writing group? Or ask a friend or relative to comment?

Well, it depends what you want and need and bespoke mentoring can help some writers, providing the experience and expertise to -

• understand your work

• nurture you and your writing

• let you retain control of your ideas and your writing

* provide expert, specific advice about what is working and what isn’t.

I focus on major issues, such as how your story hangs together, what your characters are doing or could be doing, what is hurting your story’s momentum, what story elements are not pulling their weight.

I identify the differences between good and great and point out your writing strengths, so you become confident about what not to change.

I also give suggestions and help you establish good processes and writing goals and suggest markets for your work.

If long-term mentoring does not appeal, I run short writing courses as well.

You can contact me at deangriss@btinternet.com

Events

 

Blog Posts

Latest DCI Jack Harris novel is published

I am delighted to announce that that my twenty fourth crime novel has been published and it plunges DCI Jack Harris into a murder investigation that takes him to Scotland in search of a killer.

In To Catch A Lie (The Book Folks) a man’s body is found on a country estate in the North Pennines area for which Harris is responsible.

The DCI…

Continue

Posted by John Dean on March 26, 2024 at 18:30

The catalyst - the author's friend

Much of the writing process relies on catalysts, little bombs that explode and infuse the narrative with energy (I appreciate that chemistry practitioners may now be yelling at the page in protest at the mixed metaphors contained in that sentence but you get the idea).

So what do these catalysts look like? Well, an example from the new DCI…

Continue

Posted by John Dean on March 26, 2024 at 15:53

An exciting character

Author Ian Robinson has a new crime novel out - and it’s attracting plenty of glowing reviews.

Criminal Justice (The Book Folks) introduces undercover police officer Sam Batford, a man who walks the narrow line between successful detective and corrupt cop. The novel sees him sent to work with a serious crime team in London in an…

Continue

Posted by John Dean on March 22, 2024 at 10:00

Authors highlight different ways of starting to write a book

I have just started writing my next crime novel and I have more time to concentrate on it now that Kirkcudbright Book Week, which I help organise, has come to an end for this year.

In fact, the subject of how best to begin a story cropped up during Book Week, not least when I chaired an in-conversation event at the Selkirk Arms, featuring…

Continue

Posted by John Dean on March 13, 2024 at 11:09

Talks, festivals, workshops, courses and manuscript assessments

 Author launches online crime fiction course

Crime novelist and creative writing tutor John Dean, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway, runs an online Crime Fiction Course.

John, author of 22 novels and currently published by London-based The Book Folks, and the creator of DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris, is based near Castle Douglas.

The online course, which runs in eight parts and can begin at a time and date to suit the student, will help writers to improve their technique and improve their chances of being successful, either in competitions or admissions to publishers.

When they enroll, students will be offered ongoing one-to-one feedback on their work, be it short stories or novels.

John, who is a member of the UK-based Crime Writers’ Association, said: “Writing can be a lonely pastime and my aim is to help aspiring writers to improve their technique and improve their chances of being successful in a very competitive market.

“Crime fiction remains hugely popular and, hopefully, I can help aspiring writers to develop their ideas, and because it is online it does not matter where they live. In recent years, I have worked with writers from everywhere from Croatia to Australia and New Zealand.”

Themes to be included are:
An examination of where ideas come from - what triggers ideas in writers? Once you have the idea, how do you develop it? The course will look at the art of turning ideas into plots

How can you use sense of place, creating locations and landscapes to aid your storytelling?

How to pick characters to do the job. What are their functions in storytelling? This will include a look at everyone from lead investigators to villains and take in everyone in between

How conflict can be used to develop stories that assume a life of their own

That all-important start to your story - how do you grab the reader right from the off?

Writing with pace - how do you produce a narrative that keeps your reader turning the page?

Pulling it all together - how to edit the finished piece of work, how to make those changes that make all the difference and spot the passages that need to be deleted and the new ones that require writing

How to pitch to publishers and agents

The course costs £75 and can be timed to fit in with the writers’ lives. Because the course is online, those writers taking part can do the work at a time and pace that suits them. There is no official certificate of qualification at the end of the course. For further details you can contact me at deangriss@btinternet.com

Manuscript assessments

John works with his daughter Laura, a skilled editor and manuscript assessor, to provide manuscript assessments. Should you be interested in finding out more, then feel free to drop John a line and he and Laura can discuss your needs.  For further details, you can contact John at deangriss@btinternet.com or ring 07889 554931. 

Talks

John gives talks on crime writing to organisations ranging from library reading groups and writing groups to men's forums. He also delivers creative writing workshops at venues including arts centres and libraries. He can be contacted on deangriss@btinternet.com

 
 
 

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An exciting character

Author Ian Robinson has a new crime novel out - and it’s attracting plenty of glowing reviews. Criminal Justice (The Book Folks) introduces undercover police officer Sam Batford, a man who walks the narrow line between successful detective and corrupt cop. The novel sees him sent to work with a serious crime team in London in an investigation which sees him play the good…See More
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Tom Southern is now a member of John Dean Crime Novelist
Mar 14
John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
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John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
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John Dean posted a blog post

Authors highlight different ways of starting to write a book

I have just started writing my next crime novel and I have more time to concentrate on it now that Kirkcudbright Book Week, which I help organise, has come to an end for this year.In fact, the subject of how best to begin a story cropped up during Book Week, not least when I chaired an in-conversation event at the Selkirk Arms, featuring crime writers Traude Ailinger,…See More
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Ann Bloxwich updated their profile
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Ann Bloxwich is now a member of John Dean Crime Novelist
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John Dean shared their blog post on Facebook
Feb 27
John Dean posted a blog post

Tackling the dreaded blank first page

 I am working on a new DCI John Bizzard crime novel for my publisher The Book Folks, and that means being faced with the dreaded blank first page.So, how do writers get going under such circumstances? How do they start writing their story? Well, in this hectic world, I have always felt that there is a lot to be said for holding back and allowing myself a little time to…See More
Feb 27

Videos

Members

Forum

Manuscript assessments

Are you an aspiring crime writer who is keen to develop your craft? Then perhaps I can help. I work with my daughter Laura,…Continue

Started by John Dean Feb 23, 2021.

Mentoring programmes and online writing courses

Novelist John Dean is offering online courses for writing groups who may be struggling to meet in person during the current coronavirus restrictions.Crime writer John, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway and has been a creative writing tutor for…Continue

Started by John Dean Feb 7, 2020.

Libraries Champions

John Dean is one of three UK Libraries Champions appointed by The Crime Writers’ Association.Key elements of the role…Continue

Started by John Dean Sep 12, 2018.

Blizzard series 1 Reply

I have read a number of the Blizzard series on Kindle—Strange Littke Girl,The Railway Man, The Secrets Man and The Long Dead. Got The Latch Man from a third party seller on Amazon. Are there others in the series?

Started by Deborah Kaback. Last reply by John Dean Aug 8, 2018.

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