Herts writer Drums up support from readers with new book
Added: (Sat Mar 04 2023)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Overnight writing sensation Tom Phelan believes he’s perfected a way for drawing readers into his gripping thrillers.
The 62-year-old from Hertfordshire made an instant impact with his stunning 2020 debut novel, Beyond Any Reason.
The successful Life Coach’s first book was described by reviewers as ‘riveting’, ‘had me hooked’, and ‘one-liners and wit throughout’.
Tom was also described by critics as the ‘new writer to watch’.
He’s now returned with a thrilling sequel, A Solitary Drum, which carries just as much punch as his opener – and the same sized chapters to pull in the most resistant of readers.
Tom explained: “Initially I wanted to write a book that I would like to read, full of my interests - boxing, crime, London and Spain as well as my Irish heritage”.
“I also wanted to make it reader-friendly by keeping it to short chapters that are easy to read and put down when someone is too tired - like most people I have often fallen asleep by thinking ‘I’ll just finish this chapter’.
“The short chapters make it very readable and I have lost count of the people who have said to me that they loved the book as it is the only book they have ever been able to read from start to finish”.
“It has opened up a whole new genre of readers.”
A Solitary Drum sees a return for protagonist Joe Fitzpatrick as he faces a race against time to save a young mother and her child from human traffickers.
As with Tom’s debut, the thrills are to be found at every turn with A Solitary Drum while the characterisation and pacing makes it difficult to put down.
As well as the dangerous cartels of the Costa Del Sol, protagonist Joe must face up to Polish drug smugglers, Russian traffickers and even the IRA if he wants to save the day.
Tom added: “Ex-boxer Joe is lured to Spain to rescue a kidnapped mother and son”.
“Along the way he encounters dangerous drug cartels, Polish smugglers and the IRA - before falling foul of a powerful London crime family”.
“He eventually returns to London to take on the gangsters in their own back yard”.
“A Solitary Drum is mainly set in southern Spain, as the Costa del Sol is the main region that drugs are brought into Europe from South America and Africa”.
“The book required a lot of geographical research as well the current trends in the drug dealing world and how the dynamic has shifted from traditional to man-made synthetic drugs.”
Tom, who only started writing in his late 50s, credits his bookworm father for providing the influence for literature.
For more details, visit Amazon and search for Tom Phelan, where the paperback and Kindle formats of A Solitary Drum are both available.
Notes to the editor
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