Author releases first psychological thriller at the age of 80

Christine McHaines, who was born, lived, and worked in Portsmouth until she moved to Cornwall after she retired, sees The Wrong Guest published this week.

The novel marks a new direction for the author, who already has five cosy crime novels published in her popular Quentin Cadbury and Wanda Merrydrew series, with the final instalment already with her publisher and due for release later this year.

The Wrong Guest sees Christine venture into darker territory, weaving a tense story of deception, blackmail, and survival.

The book tells the story of two men who appear to have nothing in common except their initials – Charles Winston and Cameron Wilson. When they check into the same hotel in the French Alps and a blackmail letter intended for one guest is delivered to the other, a deadly chain of events is set in motion.

As lies and manipulation spiral out of control, only one of them can survive.

Christine said:

“I love writing cosy crime, but I’ve always been fascinated by psychological thrillers. It’s exciting to explore a darker story where the tension comes from the characters and their motives.”

The book is set partly in Hampshire and partly in a hotel in St Anton in the Austrian Alps, a place that holds special memories for the author.

“My husband and I actually honeymooned in St Anton many years ago. I’m very grateful that neither the trip nor my husband turned out anything like Charles or Cameron.”

Christine’s publishing journey began later in life. Although she had always enjoyed writing, she only began working seriously on novels as she approached retirement. It took nearly a decade of writing and submitting manuscripts before a publisher offered her a deal.

That moment finally came when independent publisher The Book Folks offered her a four-book contract on her 77th birthday. The company later extended that to a seven-book deal and has since been acquired by Joffe Books, one of the UK’s largest independent book publishers.

Christine hopes her story of securing a publisher will encourage others to pursue creative ambitions at any stage of life.

“I didn’t start writing novels until later in life and I didn’t get my first publishing deal until my late seventies. It just shows you’re never too old to try something new or to follow a dream.”

The Wrong Guest is available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardback https://geni.us/the-wrong-guest-fb