Order your  Kindle copy of Bloodlines-Traces, sequel to Bloodlines Touch Not the Cat, during the countdown days Saturday July 8 to Tuesday July 11 starting at 80% …..

Here’s the Bloodlines Traces Kindle Countdown Schedule from, 4,99 GBP to: …drumroll…:

• Saturday July 8 2017, Kindle Copy of Bloodlines -Traces for less than a pound: 0.99 GBP
• Sunday July 9 2017, Kindle Copy of Bloodlines -Traces for less than half price: 1.99 GBP
• Monday July 10 2017, Kindle Copy of Bloodlines -Traces for only 2.99 GBP
• Tuesday July 11 2017,  Kindle Copy of Bloodlines -Traces still with 20% discount: 3.99 GP

Cathy’s quest to find out more about her Scottish ancestry, leads her past the battlefields of  WW I Gallipoli and follows the life and times of one of the first fictional woman to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1897.

Historical Fact mixed with fiction as real as life itself

What a great read. Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Tom and Ingrid have a way with words, made me feel I was right in among the story.

Douglas Black- Sydney, Australia

As a sequel to Bloodlines – Touch Not the Cat, here is another well researched Genealogy Mystery novel, Bloodlines – Traces, once again set against the majestic, moody backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.  With a multi –layered, page-turning narrative, it combines an atmospheric Gothic romance with a gripping contemporary  murder mystery – Charlotte Bronte meets Sara Paretsky. !

Vivien Devlin, Arts and Travel Writer.

Click here for More Reviews or Take A Slide Show Tour (keep an eye on the Ballindalloch drawing for about 3 seconds)

Many homicides are never solved in the real world, particularly those involving espionage.

In the 17^th century a ‘tulip-mania’ raged through the provinces of the lowlands, Holland that is. Bulbs were sold and bought at astronomical amounts, which seems odd for something organic that is prone to decay through weather conditions and other outside influences and very likely to eventually die.

Even a, what could be called 19^th century marketing-study (1841), written by Scottish poet, journalist, author, anthologist, novelist, and songwriter Charles Mackay,1814-1898 was dedicated to the phenomenon
In his book ‘Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds’ Mackay describes how people spent and lost fortunes, also involving foul play.

Back in the seventies, Dutch television broadcasted a children’s crime series, titled ‘The Black Tulip’ telling the story of deceit and theft surrounding one single bulb. It seems inevitable a sort of Maffia evolves, when something is much in demand.

Throughout the centuries whisky as well has been the subject of smuggle and illicit trade.
Bloodlines – Touch Not the Cat, describes a ‘whisky tunnel’, used as an Aladdin’s cave by smugglers.
While doing the research for Bloodlines –Traces, McKerley & Schippers came across stories of bottles of whisky being sold for over a hundred thousand pounds and more, in circles where presenting a valuable bottle sets the tone of the business meeting. For this reason there is a huge increase in interest from countries like Russia and Ukraine, to make its own way into the industry. Efforts to take over old and famous Scottish distilleries, at times leave few tricks untested to reach the goal.

A whisky-murder, may seem far fetched, but is in fact not at all unlikely. With potential buyers willing to pay extreme amounts of money for the status of a famous brand, bottles of whisky have become like Rembrandts, Icons (the pre-computer ones) or tulips for that matter.

This knowledge triggered author Tom McKerley, to set up the privately owned  whisky distillery ‘GlenFraoch’ for Bloodlines-Traces. The label is shown as part of the photogallery on the home page
Owner Doug Stein gets into trouble when he refuses to sell the family business.
Had it happened in real life the following article could well have shown up in the newspaper:

(slight spoiler warning)

The Scottish Daily Mail
Thursday 13^th October, 2011

Whisky Tycoon Poisoned
Mystery over Glen Fraoch owner Doug Stein baffles Police

Tuesday’s death of the CEO and major shareholder of Glen Fraoch whisky distillery has now been confirmed as a murder investigation. Chief Constable Gardner of the Grampian Police Force issued the following press release;

‘First of all we would like to convey our condolences to family and friends of the deceased, Mr Doug Stein.
We would like to confirm investigations have been under way since last Tuesday when the body was found. We would like to talk with anyone who witnessed a black BMW in the area of Aviemore between the hours of seven and eight am on Tuesday October 11th. The prime suspect goes by the name of Richard Stillwater. His picture has been circulated to all media outlets. Given the possibility this murder could have been committed by individuals outside of this country, the Home Office and Interpol have been informed. I would also like to say our officers who arrived on the scene reacted quickly to the situation, but so far we do not have any leads or possible motive for this crime.

This is Richard Stillwater as pictured in his personnel file. If you see him, do not approach but notify the police immediately at the following number: 013-1313

Are you sharing this blog in the social media?
Send proof of your share to info@touchnotthecat.com.
Every month we draw a winner from among the sent in e-mails, who receives a complimentary copy from either Bloodlines – Touch Not the Cat or Bloodlines – Traces.
Read More..

Bloodlines -Traces

It all started on 5^th June 2012, when authors Tom McKerley and Ingrid Schippers were attending a book signing event for Bloodlines -Touch Not the Cat in the actual tearoom of the prime location of the novel, Ballindalloch Castle, in the Scottish Highlands.

They were pleasantly surprised when a group of passengers travelling on the Royal Scotsman made an appearance for afternoon tea, after visiting the Castle as part of that day’s excursion itinerary.

Among them was Arts and Travel writer Vivien Devlin, who shared with the authors her enthusiasm for their debut genealogy mystery novel. When the authors in turn revealed their plans for a sequel, Vivien spontaneously suggested they should include a ‘ ‘Murder on the Orient Express’.

During the month that followed, the idea didn’t lose its foothold in the authors’ minds while working on Bloodlines- Traces, even though it provided logistical problems.

The book’s Editor, Hans Offringa, at some point even came back to the authors asking what genre their book belonged to. Was it a crime novel? A story of romance? A genealogy tale?
Struggling with providing a suitable answer, Tom and Ingrid considered taking the Royal Scotsman murder out, and perhaps use it in a third book of their series.

The outcome of this experiment, however, left them with a curious result.
The glue between the several threads seemed to have disappeared.
It felt as if the main story line was asking for the Royal Scotsman to come back and put the book’s direction back on track.

Inspired by this well-known writers’ phenomenon of novels apparently guiding themselves through their storylines and plots, the authors again changed their course and introduced a new character, Diane Cox. She literally came to life after being assigned the task to be a key witness of the murder, even though she had completely different reasons for being in Scotland.

It took a couple of rewrites, and a great deal of literary sweat and tears to produce the multi-layered novel that Bloodlines-Traces has now become.  In retrospect, it was an extremely gratifying learning experience for the first time sequel writers, who initially thought it would be a simple edit to include a murder on a train.

But this is not entirely where the story ends.  When finally, after numerous months of delay, Tom and Ingrid were able to send a proofreading copy to Vivien, they were supported in turn with excellent feedback as well as articles on the actual train journey and its excursions to historic castles and whisky distilleries.

Reading this blog of Vivien Devlin before reading Bloodlines -Traces will most certainly enhance the reader’s experience of witnessing a murder on the Royal Scotsman!