How it feels to have an audio book published

How does it feel to have one of my crime novels published as an audiobook?

You’d think I’d be used to it by now.

Seventeen of my novels have been produced as audiobooks, and the latest—THE BOATHOUSE MURDERS, number eleven in the DI Andy Horton Solent Murder Mystery series—was released in April 2026.

But no. It never gets old.

Every time, it’s a mix of excitement and nerves. Will the story translate well to audio? Will the narrators capture the characters’ voices, their accents, their moods, just as I imagined them?

And here’s a small confession…

I can never listen to them.

That’s not the narrators’ fault—it’s mine.

They’re excellent. I have complete faith in their performances and in the high production quality of the audiobooks. But I simply can’t switch off my writer’s mind. Instead of being swept along by the story, I find myself thinking: Could that sentence be tighter? Could that scene be sharper?

It’s impossible to just listen.

Fortunately, my readers—and listeners—don’t have that problem.

They often tell me how much they enjoy the audiobooks, and one thing comes through clearly: the narrator matters. A lot. That’s why I’m delighted to have such talented actors as Andrew Scarborough narrating the DI Andy Horton series, and Jonathan Rhodes bringing the Inspector Ryga mysteries to life.

Another point readers raise is dialogue—particularly swearing. Some of my characters do curse (as real people do), but I’m always careful not to overdo it. Too much can jar—not just on the page, but even more so in audio. It’s about striking the right balance.

So if audiobooks are your preferred way to enjoy crime fiction—whether you’re relaxing, walking, travelling or working—I hope you’ll enjoy the latest release.

THE BOATHOUSE MURDERS
DI Andy Horton Solent Murder Mystery #11

Detective Inspector Andy Horton is handed a troubling case on the Isle of Wight: the disappearance of private investigator Jasper Kenton.

Kenton had been following a suspected cheating husband. But when his naked body is discovered wrapped in sailcloth on a private beach, the case takes a dark and unexpected turn.

The post-mortem reveals a brutal truth—Kenton was executed at close range with a crossbow.

As Horton digs deeper into Kenton’s last investigation, he uncovers a tangled web of secrets, lies and betrayal along the south coast. And this time, the case is dangerously close to home.

Forced to conceal vital information, Horton knows one thing for certain: if the truth comes out, it won’t just jeopardise the investigation—it could end his career.

Available now in audiobook:

DI Andy Horton Mysteries (1–11)
Inspector Ryga Mysteries (1–2)
In For The Kill (standalone thriller)
Art Marvik Mysteries (1–3)