Betrayal has never been so deadly

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“A great conspiracy story set in Cambridge and Rome” – Paulina Lowe

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CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US TO REQUEST A REVIEW COPY OF THE JUDAS DECEPTION

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A Cambridge don is dead, his student stands accused of the murder. The boy’s father turns to his old friend, Professor Daniel Huxley for help. The only clue is an obscure fragment of parchment belonging to the Gospel of Judas Iscariot.

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As Huxley and brilliant linguist, Samantha Davison, begin to investigate the link, they are astonished to find a trail that leads to the very depths of the Vatican - a trail strewn with the untimely deaths of any who have tried to follow it and that could expose the greatest lie ever perpetrated by the Church.

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It takes them on a frenzied chase through the streets of Cambridge. The renowned, historical city is transformed into a sinister, threatening stage where Vatican secrets and buried revelations lead them to a truth so powerful and damaging that some will stop at nothing to protect it.

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“If you like Dan Brown books and the intrigue of the Catholic church's secrets, you will love this. A great conspiracy story set in the University city of Cambridge with its interesting and quirky history and traditions. Well developed characters and a plot that kept me interested throughout” – Susan Craig

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CONTACT US HERE TO REQUEST YOUR REVIEW COPY OF THE BOOK

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About the Author

Although originally from Northern Ireland, Mike Scott has lived in Cambridge for the past 15 years.

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Mike studied accountancy at university in Belfast and specialised in payroll.  He has worked as payroll manager for a number of years, including at University of Cambridge.  Whilst there he learnt about the Cambridge Constables, and knew it was a story he wanted to share.  His first novel, The Judas Deception, was published in November 2017.

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Married to Katharine for 3 years, the couple have a 2 year old son, Noah.

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Excerpt

A couple of constables sat nearby with bored expressions, their attention directed towards the large canvas draped from the ceiling further along.  Behind which, thought Huxley, was Simms’s body.

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He was wondering if he should go through when the canvas was pulled to one side and a tall, thin man in a crumpled suit came through before letting the drape fall back into place.  But not before Huxley glimpsed a pool of red on the carpet.

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“Vice-Chancellor,” said the thin man, “To what do we owe the honour?”

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Huxley now knew who the constable had been conversing with on his radio.  “I’m here to offer any assistance that I can, Inspector Blackburn.”

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“Well, I appreciate your very kind offer, Professor, but I think we have everything under control.”

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“I don’t doubt it for a second, Inspector, so I’m sure you won’t mind my taking a look around.  And having a chat with my student,” nodding towards the boy who sat head in hands.

“Let you look around?”  Blackburn’s voice rose in incredulity.  “What do you think this is, a travelling circus for all and sundry to come wandering through and watch the clowns?”

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“I’m not here to pull rank on you, Inspector, I just want to see things for myself and make sure that my student’s best interests are being looked after.”

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“Pull rank?  What the fuck is that supposed to mean?  He looked at Huxley, waiting a second before continuing.  “You’re not on about the Cambridge Constables?  You have got to be shitting me.  That’s nothing more than a tin pot organization here to wipe the backsides of local dignitaries and conduct the odd disciplinary hearing for a student who’s farted during formal hall.  This is a fucking murder, Huxley, so don’t be giving me any bullshit about jurisdiction.”

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“Regardless of what you believe our functions to be, Inspector, the fact remains that this is squarely in my jurisdiction and you are only here by my decree.  Now, I don’t want to stop you from conducting your investigation but I expect full cooperation from everyone.”  He stared intently at Blackburn, waiting until the Inspector broke eye contact.  “You can start by filling me in on the facts so far.”

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“Fine.”  Meaning that it was anything but.  However, Blackburn knew it was pointless getting into a pissing competition with a man like Daniel Huxley.

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“I have to warn you, it’s pretty gruesome, a lot of blood Professor so careful not to get any on that nice tuxedo.  You’d better put these on.”  Blackburn handed him a pair of white shoe coverings.

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“I’ll be just fine, Inspector,” Huxley answered, putting the coveralls over his shoes.

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As they walked through the partition, Huxley was hit by the smell.  He glanced down at the body which was being fussed over by SOCOs dressed in full white coveralls.  The little he could see turned his stomach and the pool of blood surrounding the body caused the bile to rise to his throat once again.  Swallowing hard, he followed Blackburn further into the body of the shop, grateful to get away from the corpse.

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Blackburn stopped in one of the many alcoves that gave the shop such character.  “At the moment, we don’t have a lot to go on.  We got a call from one of the owners.  Apparently he and his partner, and I mean that in every sense of the word,” raising his eyebrows in Huxley’s direction to emphasise his meaning, “if you get my drift.”

“In glorious nineteen seventies Technicolor.”

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“Yes, well they were cashing up for the evening when Simms arrived.  They were just about to close up but Simms was a regular and said that he knew exactly what he wanted so they let him in.  He went around the corner and they continued with their counting waiting for him.”

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“And?” queried Huxley.

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“The pair own the rooms above the shop and Jeremy, he’s the older of the two – trust me, it’s obvious, a real May and November if ever I saw one,” rolling his eyes as he said it.  Huxley rolled his eyes too but for another reason entirely.  “He needed a piss….sorry, I mean, and I quote, ‘to use the gentlemen’s room’ so went upstairs leaving...” here he consulted a notepad, “Brian to go and hurry the good Dr Simms along.  He came down here and found...” Blackburn indicated the body with a sweeping flourish.

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“The deftly-woven plot makes for a fast-paced and tense reading experience” – Dr Catheryn Sara Price

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