Journeyman Joe: Published.

Posted on 10/10/2026 by Jack Marsh

If you’ve not picked up on the news, I released Journeyman Joe last week. This is a standalone romance that’s more about the people of the story than the mystery, which comes second to the characters and location. Rather than an action/adventure style mystery based in London, it’s a slower and more descriptive journey through a season in a Kent village. There are, of course, quirky characters, a handsome lead, some class distinctions, and some humour, but I hope it has some literary merit in its writing. Having said that, I’m not the sort to explore and understand the ‘human condition’ (whatever that is), or to raise great moral themes intended for discussion at book groups. Just a simple storyteller telling a simple story. You’ll have to make up your own mind.

Here’s the blurb and a universal link to Journeyman Joe:

Spring 1895. As London is gripped by the scandalous trials of Oscar Wilde, a blacksmith’s apprentice in a parochial Kent village is fighting a much quieter, lonelier battle.Joe Webster is desperate to escape the suffocating expectations of his family and his village. The only way out is to free himself of his indenture, which he can only do by becoming a journeyman. To do that, he must forge a new casket for the church, include a secret compartment, and swear an oath of absolute silence.

Joe is lost for inspiration until the archdeacon’s office sends the handsome and erudite historian, Harvey Cade, to inspect the parish records. As Harvey investigates a historical mystery, Joe realises what he needs to succeed: The forbidden love Harvey offers.

But navigating a double life under the watchful eyes of the village is a dangerous game. In the shadow of Oscar Wilde’s ruin, a single slip could cost them everything. When the casket’s secret threatens to publicly expose them both, Joe must choose: Protect the truth he was sworn to hide, or protect the man he loves.
Kindle, KU & paperback

What’s Next?
As usual with me, I am already onto what to write next, and I have two ideas, both returning us to the Clearwater world.

The first would be another set of Clearwater Tales, as requested in my Facebook group the other day. I’ve asked members of the group to suggest who they might like to see appear telling short stories, and I am building a list. No promises! The other idea, and this has only just started bubbling, is to start another series with the series title of the Merrit Brothers Mysteries, or similar. This would be set 10 years ahead of the last Jack Merrit story, starting in 1904, but it’s very early days yet, and I am still waiting for that surge of barely controllable inspiration to land on the desk, so we will see.

Meanwhile…
I have a few promos this month, and two starting later in the month, which I will announce and also put into next month’s newsletter when there will be more talk about my next project. There may even be a free giveaway; I am still working on that. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

If you’re currently looking for detective stories, though, you can check out the 34 titles in this collection of varied detective stories.

Detective Fiction
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, British Detectives, Crime, Suspense, Thriller

https://books.bookfunnel.com/detectivefictionoct26/nyvziw62qv

Journeyman Joe – Coming Soon

Posted on 03/10/2026 by Jack Marsh

Good morning.

The news this week is that I am on my last read-through of ‘Journeyman Joe.’ I hope to have this book published for you within the next two weeks. To whet your appetite, here is the blurb and a moving cover I had a machine make for me. (Click play.) This isn’t based on the actual cover (we are still tweaking that), but it reflects a scene from the book.

Spring 1895.

As London is gripped by the scandalous trials of Oscar Wilde, a blacksmith’s apprentice in a parochial Kent village is fighting a much quieter, lonelier battle.

Joe Webster is desperate to escape the suffocating expectations of his family and his village. The only way out is to free himself of his indenture, which he can only do by becoming a journeyman. To do that, he must forge a new casket for the church, include a secret compartment, and swear an oath of absolute silence.

But navigating a double life under the watchful eyes of the village is a dangerous game. In the shadow of Oscar Wilde’s ruin, a single slip could cost them everything.

When the casket’s secret threatens to publicly expose them both, Joe must choose: Protect the truth he was sworn to hide, or protect the man he loves.

The monthly newsletter is out today with a featured book, some more news, and a couple of promo lists of detective and mystery novels on offer.

If you want to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world of Jackson Marsh, keep an eye on this site, subscribe to the newsletter, and keep watch on my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/jacksonmarshauthor

Jackson’s Amazon Author Page
You can also see the full catalogue of novels on my author page.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jackson-Marsh/author/B077LDT5ZL/

Eight Deviant Years

Posted on 18/07/2026 by Jack Marsh

Eight years ago, in 2018, I decided I wanted to write a story based around the infamous East End murders of 1888, and ‘Jack the Ripper.’ Wheat came out was ‘Deviant Desire,’ and as I’ve mentioned before, this was meant to be a standalone book. However, it clearly wasn’t, because it led to another 29 full-length novels over three series. The world I’d created grew organically from one book to the next, keeping to its own rules, and, in my opinion, with the writing style improving in confidence all the time. The entire collection of novels and related publications amounts to well over 3,000,000 words, and most of them are spelt correctly.

Along the way, we met a large cast of characters, some of whom survived all the way through. Although they didn’t necessarily play parts in every book, they continued to exist in what became known as the Clearwater World. They still do, even though ‘Deviant Desire’ led to a 10-book Clearwater series, which led to a seven-book Larkspur series, which then led to the 12-book Delamere series.

A few weeks ago, I prepared myself to say farewell to this world and its cast. Reaching the end of ‘The Delamere Dilemma’ was like waving off a train taking friends and family to further pastures, perhaps never to be seen again. Still, that’s what had to be done, for I was worried that if I carried on in the same vein for much longer, the stories would become samey.

So, here we are at the end of the Clearwater, Larkspur and Delamere journey, and the entire set of 30 novels and three side-novels/collections is all done, and I can (and have) started on something new. Thank you for your support so far.

If you missed the announcement, ‘The Delamere Dilemma’ is now published in the usual formats, Kindle, KU and paperback.

What’s Next?

Those who know me won’t be surprised to learn that I have already started on something new, but it is something completely different. A mystery, yes, but that is the subplot, not the main story. That is to be a character-focused love story set in the Kent countryside in 1895, so it is still a historical MM romance mystery. I am currently working on ways to make the narration authentic to the time and place, and will come back to you in the future for your opinion on the style as I start writing.

Also along the way, I will continue to promote my indie author promos as I do, and will continue to send out my monthly newsletter, and attend to this blog each week, so no change there.

As I always say: keep reading, and I’ll keep writing.

The Season Finale is Coming

Posted on 07/07/2026 by Jack Marsh

Honestly, it is, but it will be a couple of weeks yet before we get to see how the Delamere Files ends (if it ends, or if it ends for now). While it is away with my proofreader, I have been in touch with the wonderful Andjela, who is working on a cover, and in a moment, I’ll order the layout from my usual guys at: https://www.otherworldsink.com/, and then, I have to wait for it all to come back.

I’ve not been lazy while this is going on in the background. I have already begun work on an idea that is very far removed from the mystery and mayhem of the Delamere boys, the Larkspur students, and the Clearwater crew. After seven years in the lives of Silas Hawkins, Lord Clearwater, Dalston Blaze, Joe Tanner, and now Jack and Will Merrit, it’s time to turn my attention to something more literary, and I have an idea for something more considered than one of my usual tales of mystery and adventure with some gay romance overtones.

There’s no title for this idea yet, apart from the working title, ‘Lockbox’, because that’s what the story is all about, metaphorically as well as physically. It’s currently set to be a considered MM romance set in 1895 against the background of the Oscar Wilde trials, although they happen as a backdrop to the action, rather than being a story about the trials.

There is, though, a setting — a small village in Kent — a main character (A 20-year-old blacksmith’s apprentice), an impact character (a 25-year-old historian/architect), a mentor — the apprentice’s uncle and master blacksmith — and a connecting mystery plot. However, in this case, the story isn’t about the mystery, that’s the catalyst, although it does provide intrigue around the main relationship plot.

As this is a completely new start, I have started with a ‘bible’, a long document listing and discussing all information needed for characters, setting, time and so on, and that is building up well, so far.

I always have trouble naming characters, and today’s job is to settle on a MC name (everyone, it seems, was called John or William, James or Edward in those days, so I’m trying to think of something more memorable), and do some character work on the impact character – the one who upsets the MC’s real world and causes him to change in some way.

That’s what’s going on in the background. In the foreground, there was a free eBook giveaway in my newsletter this month, and if you missed it, you might like to sign up for it on the newsletter page. https://jacksonmarsh.com/newsletter/

I’m hoping to do another giveaway next month, so get yourself registered and verified.

One of the newsletter features is the list of promos where other indie authors are offering their work, and we provide each other with, hopefully, a new audience.

Here’s one presented in simple form to give you an idea. Click to view the list of books, and click further to read blurbs and make up your mind.

July MM Romance

This promo holds 58 varied MM romance titles with some of our favourite authors on the list: Ann Lister, for example, and Jackson Marsh.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/julymmromance/vlc6qk25ye

Back soon with more news about The Delamere series finale, ‘The Delamere Dilemma.’

The Delamere Dilemma Blurb

Posted on 01/07/2026 by Jack Marsh

The publishing process has started. The manuscript is with Anne for proofreading, Andjela has my cover ideas and notes on which to base her own, and the Author’s notes are ready. I am waiting to hear back from my nephew, who may be able to make me an illustration for the inside, as we have had in the other books. I am aiming to have the book published for you by the end of the month at the latest.

Meanwhile, I did some fiddling about with some image software and managed to come up with this – it’s not part of the title, just an aide.

I also managed to produce another image with use of the dreaded AI, and it was rather good. However, this is only for publicity and has not been designed or put together by a real person, so I shan’t be using it for anything other than publicity. I will always pay a designer to do my covers, no matter how good AI gets at doing them. Why? Because it’s morally right, I know I will get the correct spacing for the spine and page numbering, and it keeps consistency across the series.

However, this does rather sum up a dramatic moment from the story.

The blurb may also help make sense of that image, so here it is.

The Delamere Dilemma

The Delamere Files Book Twelve

Such games we played in those dark days.

The Metropolitan Police suspect Lord Clearwater of being the infamous East End Ripper, the murderer responsible for the horrific deaths of five young men in 1888. Without proof to the contrary, Clearwater and everyone connected to him are finished, including his charities, the Larkspur Academy, and everyone at Delamere House.

The only way to save Clearwater is for Jack Merrit and his men to uncover the Ripper’s true identity and find the only evidence that can reveal the truth: a document that may not even exist — the Ripper Diary.

As the hunt intensifies, the return of the notorious murderer, Lucas Temple, and a wave of poisonings plunge London into chaos. Following clues from the past and present, Jack and his men uncover an unbelievable conspiracy that links the Ripper, Temple, and Clearwater himself.

With time running out, a city-wide catastrophe looming, and the Ripper Diary still beyond his grasp, Jack must outwit a ruthless enemy before everything he holds dear is destroyed in what could be the Delamere detectives’ deadliest case.

Newsletter

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. This month, you have the chance for a free eBook download. To join, fill out your details on the newsletter page https://jacksonmarsh.com/newsletter/ and then authorise via the email that you will receive, and you’re in.

The next newsletter is due on Saturday, so be quick!

The Delamere Dilemma is the twelfth and final book in the Delamere Files series. It contains a spoiler for anyone who has not read the first Clearwater Mystery, ‘Deviant Desire.’ However, whether you have been following the Clearwater world from the start or not, your enjoyment of this series finale should not be affected.

Expecting a Knock on the Door. The Delamere Dilemma.

Posted on 23/05/2026 by Jack Marsh

Saturday morning: Woke to the sound of the overflow gushing outside the bedroom window, and managed to prevent it from making me rush to the bathroom. It was just before five, and I remembered that, when falling asleep the night before, I had heard the clock tower bell strike the half, as clear as what it was, a bell. I also recalled what various people had said the day before about the coming weather. These forecasts ranged from a possible shower to a yellow weather warning, but that is to be expected these days. There are as many variations to weather reports as there are apps to predict them, yet the simplest one is free, easy, and accurate. You stick your head out of the window, and if it gets wet, it’s raining.

Not long after five, the thunder started, and stayed with us until at least half ten (which is when I am writing this).

It was one of those storms where, when it makes itself really known, you cry, ‘Unplug everything, Maureen, and fetch the sandbags!’ Except we don’t actually say that because we don’t have sandbags, and neither of us is called Maureen. Not even in private.

When it was safe to plug back in again, I spent much time researching the effects of cadmium ingestion (in powdered form), and what might be safely mixed with it to give it the appearance of flour. (Don’t try this at home.) Following that, it was a case of discovering how one could test flour for cadmium without causing it to give off poisonous fumes (again, don’t try this at home). That successfully researched, I then went on to source the address of the Jewish Master Baker’s Association, so I could be accurate when describing the antisemitism taking place outside. Having recently addressed the issue of how one made explosives in the late 19th century, the progress of the Irish Question in 1894, and other anarchist related subjects, I fully expect a knock on the door any day now.

It is all, of course, for the latest novel, which is now at over 120,000 words and almost at the top of the hill. The hill is metaphoric, but once my imagined carriage of clues gets there, it will face a downhill race to the, hopefully, thrilling climax my characters have yet to invent for me and me for them.

Once again, I will say it: If you have been following the Delamere series, but have not yet read the Clearwater stories, now is the time to nip back and start at ‘Deviant Desire.’ By doing this, you will avoid a couple of spoilers that come to light in ‘The Delamere Dilemma.’ If you don’t intend to read the Clearwater series, don’t worry. You won’t miss out on anything, as the past is explained in ‘Dilemma’, hence a couple of spoilers.

Basically, ‘Dilemma’ gives away the identity of the East End Ripper quite early on, but if you’ve read Clearwater, you will already know it. What you won’t know, and what the book fills in, is the Ripper’s point of view during and after the murders.

It does a lot more than that, however, as I hope you will see in a couple of months.

Meanwhile, you might like to take a gander at this promo.

LGBTQIA+ Romance Reads

A collection of 52 titles with new authors and established writers side by side, all doing our bit for each other by cross sharing these promos, with folk who like to read, and thus, support indie authors.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/lgbtqrom-may/xd3t5js6qx

News About ‘Bobby’ and a Visit

Posted on 08/04/2026 by Jack Marsh

Hi all,

While we wait for ‘A Night of Opposites’ to come back from being set out and made ready for publication, I have two pieces of news to tell you. Firstly, the island has just enjoyed a visit from a keen Jackson Marsh reader from the USA, who called in for a few days while on his travels. I often meet readers who come here regularly on holiday. These are kind folks who have supported my James Collins books, such as my travel tales and the Saddling series, the older novels I wrote when I was first starting out, and my other blog, the one about living on a Greek island. It’s always great to see them and chat, but it’s more unusual to meet someone who came here because of reading my books and blog. Here we are up on the roof with the island view behind us.

I’m casually dressed in my old faithful sweatshirt that was once black, I think, or certainly a different colour, and which I can’t bring myself to throw away. It’s my hanging-at-home look. The weather has been good for the visit, and here on the island, the annual summer season is starting to get underway, with Greek Easter taking place this weekend.

In the meantime, I have had an approach from a major publisher (in the USA) interested in reading a second edition of ‘Bobby, a Life Worth Living.’ In order for them to consider this, I need to a) expand and refresh the book, and b) have it represented by an agent. In this case, the publisher was very helpful and pointed me to an agent they recommended and he/she/they have agreed to take a look at the second edition when I have completed it, with a view to representation.

So, as well as finishing the Delamere series, I am now to start work on ‘expanding and refreshing’ Bobby. There is no deadline, but I intend to start on the project tomorrow afternoon. (I would start today, but I play the piano on a Wednesday afternoon.)

The mornings will be taken up with ‘The Delamere Dilemma’, the final instalment in the series, and a story which will bring the Clearwater, Larkspur and Delamere series full circle. At least, that’s the intention. In the meantime, ‘A Night of Opposites’ should be back with me soon (the guys have been really busy), and all being well, I will upload that as soon as I’ve checked it. Hopefully, it will appear within hours, as all bar one of the others has done (with one, I had to wait over a week for it to appear, and that’s very unusual).

When the chairman of London’s Thirteen Club wakes to find 13 dead rabbits in his bedroom, he hires Jack Merrit to track down the intruder. The questions are many: Why were the rabbits each missing a foot? How did someone break in through bolted doors, and what is the criminal’s goal?

Jack and Baxter face a table of thirteen suspects. Among them are Jack himself and his lover, Larkin Chase. The case becomes a personal minefield as the mystery thickens, and when a more chilling threat appears in the same impenetrable house, a disturbing story from the property’s past intrudes into the present.

As Will Merrit investigates suspicious events from thirty years ago, the other Delamere men move in on their only suspect. Except, this is a game of opposites, superstitions and deception, and when the truth finally comes to light, Jack faces the most difficult decision of his career.

So, a new Delamere out soon, the 12th in the series already started, work on ‘Bobby’ to start again tomorrow (Delamere in the morning and Bobby in the afternoon), visitors from abroad, agents, publishers, and all the while still trying to sell what I have already written. I tell you, being an indie author is an ongoing battle of adventures and challenges.

Also, I have several promos to send you to this month, and most are MM Romance, but a couple are also historical mystery and mystery/thriller reads. All are ideas for new reads. Let’s start the list with this one:

Crime Fiction – Sequels

Genres: Mystery & Suspense / British Detectives, Mystery & Suspense / Crime, and Mystery & Suspense / Thriller

You know when you read one book and want there to be another? This collection of 26 titles from a variety of crime authors tells you straight off that these are sequels or another book in a series, meaning there are others that come before and possibly after.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/crimesequelsapr26/kquu04cym5

The Final Chapter

Posted on 21/05/2025 by Jack Marsh

I’m on it – the final chapter of Holywell Street. I’ve reached 95,000 words of the first draft and for the last couple of days, have been struggling with the last chapter, only because I wasn’t sure of the best order in which to do things, and which point of view to do it from. Still, within the next few days, I can commission a cover and an illustration, set about the blurb and rewrite/edit, and book in my proofreader. I aim to get this draft to Neil to start beta reading later today. Yay!

Meanwhile, you may have seen from my Facebook page that I have been experimenting with technology that brings the characters on the covers to life. Basically, it makes them move, and some of these have been more successful than others. I’ll be dropping more on the FB pages in due course, but I wanted to share one here with you as a Wednesday treat. I love the way the water moves here, but something very strange happens with the hands, and the wrong man goes under the water, lol. It was fun spending half an hour experimenting with the thing though, but I am a long way from taming it completely. I’ll leave you with this moving cover and get back to the final chapter.

Release Day: Acts of Faith

Posted on 26/03/2025 by Jack Marsh

The Delamere Files book seven is now available on Amazon in Kindle format and in KU. As I write, I am waiting for the paperback version to go live too, but this can take a few days longer than the Kindle version. Here’s the universal link:

https://mybook.to/ActsOfFaith

Click that, and you should reach the Kindle page for your local Amazon online store, though, I believe, you can buy Kindle books from any Amazon site.

What’s Next?

That’s a good question. I have some ideas floating around, but right now, I am finishing a re-edit of an old James Collins horror novel called, Lonely House. I hope that the version I am editing is the original unedited version because it’s riddled with typos – and I also hope I catch them all. This ancient story was written in 2014 and released in 2015, and it’s in a completely alien style. I mean, the style is nowhere near anything I write these days. It’s very ‘filmscript black stuff’, with much being in the present tense, and lots of ‘He sees…’ and ‘He hears…’ Which I hate to do these days. So, I am trying to edit while remaining true to the original and will rerelease it, hopefully, next month. I need to save for a new cover and then attempt to format it myself via Kindle Create, as it’s never going to make its money back otherwise. I’ll let you know when it’s ready, in case you have a taste for twisty, creepy, modern, strangely written horror (with a kind of bromance feel).

What’s Next for Jack Merrit and Co.?

I can’t give too much away about how ‘Acts of Faith’ finishes, and how things develop at Delamere, not until enough time has passed for you to have read the story, but…

I am thinking about hot air ballooning, Holywell Street (home of seditious publications and Victorian porn), while also scouring the newspapers of the time for ideas and thinking about something cosier than the last few mysteries have been.

So far in the Delamere series, we’ve covered:

Criminal gangs and kidnapping (East End gang culture)
Historic murder at a public school (Private school homo-relationships)
Police crime, gangs and assassination (The music halls)
Feuding brothers, wills and murder (Creepy isolated castle and family feuds)
Child kidnapping and murder (Theatre of the Grand Guignol)
Graverobbing (Gay cruising grounds of the late 19th century)

And, in ‘Acts of Faith’ more weird and wonderful ways to kill someone, as you will see, plus, the difficulty of men securing relationships in a time of extreme discrimination.

My Amazon page for all my titles (click the banner)

So, what next…? Ideas on a postcard to jack@jacksonmarsh.com...

Actually, that’s not a bad idea. If there’s a subject you feel might work for a Victorian, gay, mystery series, drop me a line.

Meanwhile, be sure to join my mailing list for monthly news of new books and promotions and ideas for other things to read while you wait for the next Delamere, whatever it turns out to be.

Grave Developments

Posted on 04/12/2024 by Jack Marsh

After what seems like months, Grave Development will be off to the proofreader this weekend. I have a little tidying up to do here and there, but yesterday, I started really thinking about the blurb, which is a sign I am nearly at the end of this particular path.

If you signed up for the newsletter, you would have received a link to the cover. I sent this out on Monday and will reveal the cover to everyone else on Saturday, here and on my Facebook page.

Also in the newsletter was news of this month’s promos. These are where you can find new authors and titles in my chosen genres, and all you need to do is click and take a look. Doesn’t cost a thing to browse. Many of the titles are on offer, or reduced in price, or simply craving a little attention.

Here’s one to highlight this month, Kindle Unlimited Mystery Novels. If you’ve already signed up for KU, you can add any of these to your reading list. If you’re not in KU, you can buy them for as little as $2.99.

While you’re doing that, I will set about fixing a couple of minor things in Grave Developments, have another bash at finalising the blurb, and check through my author’s notes. This time, they include a couple of personal anecdotes which concern a couple of the places mentioned in the story.

Don’t forget to be here on Saturday for the cover reveal.

Jackson Marsh Author

Gay Historial Mystery

Category Archives: Novels