S. J. Mantle

S J Mantle is a graduate of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology. She is married and has two grown-up children. She divides her time between writing and running a smallholding in the West Country. She served as a police officer for twenty-seven years during which time, she was involved in some high-profile criminal investigations which included murders, a terrorist attack, abductions, and other major incidents. Her debut novel, ‘The Accidental Warrior ‘is a crime thriller with a strong female lead and an intriguing historical twist. An assassination from the ancient past is somehow linked to a present-day murder enquiry.

In 2020 she completed her second novel, ‘Hiding the truth, seeking the truth.’ Written as a stand-alone, it is also the sequel to ‘The Accidental Warrior.’ It is a dual-timeline story and features the same strong female character. Amidst a difficult murder case, personal attacks, old dangers and, an unexpected search for a Knight Templar, the central character searches for the truth. But, in the end, it is the truth seeker who finds herself concealing the very thing she holds so dear.

“Sometimes the truth is hidden for a reason.”

S J Mantle has just finished her third novel 'Wating to Die.' Also, a dual-timeline tale, it is written as a stand-alone and a sequel to her other two books. (Part of the Harriet Lacey crime book trilogy). The author drew inspiration from the Roman Occupation of the area where she lives and local myths for the historical element of this book. Sergeant Harriet Lacey and her team are sent to investigate a series of unexpected deaths at a retirement home. They face a web of lies and deceit and the deaths keep occurring. In the end, it is not Harriet or her team who stops the killings.

"Hope may be all that stands between waiting to die and wanting to live."