App Store

Google Play

Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Step into an infinite world of stories

Listen and read

Shawe Ruckus

Delve into mystery, intrigue, and mayhem in this 2023 Readers' Favorite Book Award Urban Fiction Finalist!

When the sister of an Asian tycoon is found dead, can an unlikely consultant from China discover whether she was suicidal or died at the hands of another?

Forced from her flat by a nearby fire in Central London, Joyce Peng seeks refuge with her ex-girlfriend Tilly Wurman, a now-married pharmacist. And, when Joyce begins acting strangely, seemingly obsessed with methods of suicide, Tilly grows concerned. However, when Joyce winds up dead a few days later, her brother isn't convinced that his sister's state of mind led to her end.

Elsewhere, in a different London borough, Catherine Roxborough is settling in after returning from a year abroad in India. But her relief at returning is short-lived when a mysterious scarred figure attempts to break in, leaving Catherine in terror.

This isn't an ordinary day's work for M&A consultant Chance Yang, especially when his boss, Felipe Kazama, seems to know more about Joyce Peng's death than he's letting on, and personal feelings begin to cloud Chance's judgement. And, as the reluctant fixer finds, the deeper he delves into the cases, the harder it becomes to uncover the truth.

What critics and readers have to say

"Chance and Felipe make an engaging duo that readers will surely welcome in sequels." – Kirkus Reviews

"Ruckus creates the illusion that we are part of the case and we are figuring it out along with the characters." – Readers' Favorite

"A thoroughly entertaining yarn packed with intrigue and a slightly off-kilter narrative style that adds an element of dream logic to an otherwise recognizably contemporary London landscape." – IndieReader

"Fast paced and fun. It reminded me of a Quentin Tarantino movie." – Amazon

Deborah Balm

Mercenaries in Suits

A Chinese Remedy: Mercenaries in Suits Book 1

When part-time fixer Chance Yang is enlisted to investigate a pair of suspicious deaths, the trails lead him from the sunny shores of Spain to the posh boroughs of London.

Responding to the wishes of a dying man, Chance is called to Spain to find answers to a decades-old mystery surrounding the death of a young governess. Allegedly, Emma Milken died of tuberculosis, but her brother, Lewis, suspects foul-play and seeks answers in his final days. But, as Chance searches for the truth, he can only hope his investigation will bring closure rather than vengeance.

As life leads Chance back to London, he encounters Detective Nigel Weatherby of the Metropolitan Police. Referred by his flamboyant former boss, Felipe Kazama, the Detective is searching for answers into what should be an open-and shut-case of murder. But ominous evidence discovered in the victim's backyard hints at the possible involvement of the deceased's influential neighbours and their adopted daughter, who was once a child soldier - meaning that finding answers isn't as simple as it seems.

To discover the truth, Chance must go undercover to infiltrate the lives of a wealthy and powerful family as he searches for answers that may be best left buried. Undeterred by the death threats he receives, the fixer must unravel the twisting mystery as lies begin to crumble. But, can Chance use his unique skills and cunning to unveil the grisly secrets in the leafy London borough?

What critics and readers have to say

"The final act provides a shocking character turn and a memorable denouement." – Kirkus Reviews

"Will the secrets remain hidden? By all means possible, the truth is what stands out the most. In the leafy London borough, the search for answers is only one step toward uncovering the mystery, though let it not deceive you." – Readers' Favorite

The Learning Curve of Pain: Mercenaries in Suits Book 2

On the annual Ghost Night when spirits wander, newlyweds Catherine Roxborough and her partner Chance Yang never imagined death would stalk their summery seaside destination.

Excited to meet her husband's family on their honeymoon, Catherine crosses paths with new acquaintances, young and old, as they journey from London to northern coastal China. However, the couple's celebrations are marred when ghosts of the past come back to haunt the Yangs, as three naked dead bodies are discovered in a nearby seaside derelict - three people the honeymooners had only just met.

Was it murder, an act of revenge, or an affair gone wrong? The answer to these questions may hit closer to home than Catherine could ever expect or than Chance is willing to admit. And as the couple chases the clues, the bride realizes that her new husband may have ghastly secrets to hide.

As the mystery unravels and the pair becomes entangled in a decade-old investigation, Catherine faces a dilemma: stand by her partner or expose the truth and implicate a beloved family member. But amidst the turmoil, only one thing remains certain: the path they choose could forever reshape their lives.

What critics and readers have to say

"With memorable characters, immersive descriptions, and astonishingly clever sleights of hand, All Body Bags and No Knickers is a literary mystery, a travel guide, and a delicious thriller standing on each other's shoulders in a trench coat." — IndieReader

"The book's ability to transition between sorrowful and humorous moments provides readers with an emotional rollercoaster, adding depth and unpredictability to the plot. This is, without a doubt, an enticing page-turner that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end." — OnlineBookClub

Mercenaries in Suits

Mercenaries in Suits

Books in order

Listen and read