Less You Know (Ashes to Ashes book 2) is another gripping suspense and this time it is Charlotte and her best friend Allie share the story. The relationship between Allie and Charlotte is fundamental to the mystery. They met in Bad Things Happen and today I wanted to share an excerpt from their first meeting. Keep reading for the excerpt.
This second book on the Ashes to Ashes series continues Charlotte’s journey to prove herself as a journalist, but the story revolves around Allie’s disappearance. As such it can be read as a stand-alone suspense thriller.
I loved writing Allie. She developed and deepened throughout the rewrites and took the novel places I hadn’t planned. You’ll hear more about Allie in forthcoming launch emails, and I hope you find her as intriguing as I do.
Read an excerpt of Allie and Charlotte’s first meeting…
The following excerpt is from Bad Things Happen. For anyone unfamiliar with book 1 (Bad Things Happen), there are plenty of references to this meeting in Less You Know to understand how they met, but I thought it would be fun to revisit it–or even visit it for the first time 😉
Chasers Wine Bar, London, Tuesday, 1st August 9.30 pm
Hollow. That’s how she’d felt as she left the hospice. As if that big wave of disbelief had scooped out her insides and she was no more than a shell. An empty casing. She still couldn’t believe it. Maddie had seemed so alert. And then Charlotte had stumbled through her feelings of love and admiration—all the things she had never told her—and Maddie had smiled and closed her eyes, telling her to keep talking. And sometime while Charlotte was still talking, recalling their good times, that first meeting, Maddie had slipped away.
She was gone. Gone so quickly it was surreal.
Sal had said to go like that was the best thing for Maddie. Charlotte knew she was right. It should have made it easier. It didn’t. She’d wanted to scream and throw a tantrum at the unfairness of it. And there had been so much to sort out. But she just couldn’t deal with it. Couldn’t take it in. Kept wanting to confer with Maddie. And each time that longing for her friend refreshed the pain of losing her. At some point she’d left the hospital. Somewhere along the way she had dropped onto a bench, recalled staring at the ducks on the water as dusk became twilight. Where? She had no idea. How long she’d sat there? Not a clue. Someone had spoken to her. Concerned, perhaps. Whatever they’d said she’d replied, ‘I’m fine. Fine.’ Some lies were just easier.
During her long, aimless walk, the hollowness had filled up with grief. Wave after wave of it until she felt sick. Her feet must have been on autopilot, destination set to Chasers, because the first time she became aware of another person it was Duncan, her friendly barman, pushing her into a booth away from prying eyes and leaving her usual at her elbow. For strength, he’d said.
One hadn’t been enough. Her third dirty martini had numbed the pain, but the only way she could still her thoughts was resting her chin on her hands and playing eye-spy through the thick stem of the cocktail glass.
A mug was slid in front of her. Hot chocolate with marshmallows. A comfort drink. She cupped her hands around the mug and breathed in the aroma. The only thing more perfect would be her PJs and her bed. ‘Thanks Duncan.’
‘I’m not Duncan.’
Charlotte raised her eyes. A girl stood at the edge of the booth. Shy smile, hands clasped. She was all bones and freckles with the most amazing copper curls falling across her shoulders. ‘I thought you might need it.’
‘Thanks. It’s perfect.’ As an afterthought she added, ‘What do I owe you?’
‘Oh, nothing. You…you don’t remember me?’
Charlotte gazed at the girl’s Raphael curls and conservative office clothes and came up blank. All she could think about was Maddie, pale and still. No more dirty laughter. No more inappropriate but bullseye-accurate observations about her colleagues or the state of the world. ‘Sorry. It’s been a bad day.’
‘You shouted me a drink a while back. Rescued me from some oaf with wandering hands.’
‘Was I all up in your face about standing up for yourself?’
The girl nodded.
‘Sounds like me.’
‘You were absolutely right. I’m trying.’
‘That’s the way.’ Even her words were on autopilot. She could almost hear Maddie sitting in her ear telling her to be original. Yes, yes Maddie, she thought, but allow me time to miss you.
The girl slid into the bench opposite. ‘You don’t mind do you?’
Too bad if she did. She didn’t have the energy or the wit to fob off a fan. Fan? Listen to her. Once Sir Douglas got wind of her blog post she’d be lucky if she had a job. Stupid to post it. Should have gone through the proper process. Shouldn’t have let Piers rile her like that. Yet Maddie had taught her there were always reasons why someone wanted you to sit on something, to keep quiet, and that was when you had to shout loudest.See, Maddie. I did listen.
She tried to smile at the girl opposite. It felt alien. Wrong. ‘Sorry, you’ll have to remind me of your name.’
‘Oh, that’s all right.’ The girl blushed. It clashed with that hair, but her sudden smile made her beautiful. ‘Alison Knowles-Parker-Brown.’
‘That’s a mouthful. Your family posh, are they?’ Christ, she never asked things like that. Must be the three cocktails. Then again, as she’d said, it hadn’t been a good day.
‘Used to be. Now they’ve just got the triple-barrelled name and the shotguns.’
‘I imagine both come in useful.’
‘Yes, though not usually at the same time.’
Charlotte laughed. The girl blushed, but smiled that shy smile.
‘Call me Allie. Most people do.’ The girl’s gaze dropped to the mug. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward.’
‘Not at all.’ She sipped the drink. Still hot, and made with real chocolate. ‘A much better choice than another cocktail. Thank you.’
‘The barman was all for giving you another Grey Goose, or whatever you’re drinking, but I said it looked like a hot chocolate emergency. Should’ve seen his face.’ She laughed, and it wasn’t the girlie giggle Charlotte expected. It was throaty and warm and hinted at someone with depth. Someone like Maddie.
About the Series
The central character is the Ashes to Ashes series is Charlotte Ashe, an ambitious journalist who begins the series trapped in the role of weahter girl and the light relief. A role she detests. Ashes to Ashes follows her journey in pursuit of her longing to be a respected investigative reporter. in a world that values immediacy and opinion over resource and labour-intensive investigation.
As the series progresses, new characters enter and leave.
Each of the books in the Ashes to Ashes series can be read as a stand-alone suspense thriller. Bad Things Happen (book #1) is Joey Baptiste’s story; Less You Know (book #2) is Allie Brown’s story. If you like the sound of my Ashes to Ashes series the eBooks can be found exclusively on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. My print books are available everywhere. Just ask you friendly bookstore owner.
About Rowena Holloway
I consider myself a reformed academic who discovered fiction writing was preferable to the real world. My love of suspense fiction is thoroughly indulged through writing novels and short stories about Fractured Families and Killer Secrets. My novels have been nominated for the Ned Kelly Award and semi-finaled in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, and my short stories have been included in several anthologies including the Anthology of Award Winning Australian Writing. I also review my favourite books, interview fellow writers, and blog about books and writing.
- the links to various sites in this article are purely for your convenience. I do am not affilliated with any businesses and do not generate income when you click a link.