Chain Reaction
By Alan Scholefield
Stark images… and sharp snapshots of evil’ – Publishers Weekly
Alex Bridgman, a freelance journalist, is deeply in love with David Clarke. Their relationship is strong and she couldn’t have been happier … well almost … David’s young son, Simon, wasn’t too keen on Alex replacing his mother.
With Simon still reeling from the effects of his mother’s sudden death, David is keen to ensure Simon takes priority … even over Alex.
Meanwhile, Carriac, one of the dream villages of the Dordogne, was reeling from a disaster. Survival was heavily dependent on tourism, but with the recent rainfall, the local’s hopes were shattered. One storm after another followed. Even worse, when a thousand ton of rocks flattened houses, Carriac was nothing but a scene of disaster.
Alex is unsure of her relationship with David. She knows there is love, but she isn’t prepared to take on the responsibility of a young boy. When their planned vacation looms, Alex accepts a job … to cover the disaster of Carriac.
On her arrival in Carriac, she finds the locals unwelcoming. Suddenly, otherwise empty hotels are booked up … her tyres are slashed … there is no welcome for her. The locals are tired of the media and the coverage of the disaster … another journalist in their midst is certainly not something they will allow lightly.
Alex struggles to understand the local’s resistance to her looking into the disaster. She knows the story was already covered … but she wants to cover it from a different angle. But the locals would have none of it. What have they got to hide?
When a series of sinister events occur, Alex becomes wary. Determined to continue her story, she seeks support … the one person she can rely on to help her tell the story … without being killed …
About the author…
Alan Scholefield is the pseudonym of the writer Alan Scholefield. Born and brought up in South Africa, he worked as a journalist until he decided to concentrate on novel writing. His first novel, A View of Worms, appeared in 1966 and since then he has published many others, one of which, Venom, was made into a film starring Oliver Reed and Sarah Miles.
