An Explosive Time (The Celtic Cousins' Adventures) [Kindle Edition]

Julia Hughes (Author), Mervyn Walker (Editor), Laura Wright LaRoche (Illustrator)

Book Description

When a circus elephant goes missing on Detective Inspector Crombie's watch, he immediately thinks of Celtic Cousins Wren and Rhyllann, who have to his mind made a career out of being the collective bane of his existence. And his instincts are correct: the cousins HAVE been up to something--but when Crombie finds out what it is and why, he runs into resistance not only from his immediate superiors, but also from the corridors of power in Whitehall itself. 

Described by one reviewer as a "Masterful British Thriller" this is the third and shortest of the Celtic Cousins Adventures, and contains adult humour and some strong language. Especially when an unsuspecting Rhyllann discovers what's lurking in his bathroom! 

An Explosive Time starts with a fatal explosion; the action comes thick and fast, and Crombie will need all his wits about him to prevent his world - and London town - going supernova.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A dangerous rip-roaring thriller with a wonderful witty flair!' 

"There is a well-integrated flow to the story. I found myself captivated by the detailed descriptions of people, places and countryside ...There are some tough, heartless characters involved in torture, animal cruelty and corruption. Yet they have more than met their match in Crombie, Wren and the other Celtic cousin, Rhyllann"  Doreen "Dody" Cox 

'More Please!'

"Vibrant and unusual plot themes abound in what can only be described as the wackiest police story ever told." Daniel

'Explosive from start to finish'

"The writing is suspenseful during moments of tension and gritty when action is involved, so the pace of the book is absolutely spot on. ...Phrases such as 'the PC Brigade' at the police seminar and 'the dog's personal hygiene' when describing a camera strapped to a dog's head provided real laugh out loud moments." Terry Lander, West Country poet, author and publisher. 

Product Details

• File Size: 309 KB
• Print Length: 107 pages
• Publisher: Talon; 4 edition (February 23, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007COSZX6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,132 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
  • #1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > British Detectives

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Look left! Look Right! Up Above! Down below! Darn, you missed it. July 4, 2012

By S

Format:Kindle Edition

The book opens with a major explosion, and a dead body inside. This sets the scene for a chilling police procedural or similar.

Then an elephant is nicked.

Poor copper Crombie doesn't know whats hit him as the most unique case of his career comes to pass, while his family exacerbate his stress levels with crocodile pranks.

With a colourful police cast of not only exasperated DI Crombie but the inimitable Miss Mooney, this is a lightheared romp with witty dialogue, and Hughes' trademark London landmarks (including a flying visit to the crumbling edifice that is Hammersmith flyover, quite possibly the ugliest part of one of the priciest London boroughs), An Explosive Time is fast paced and delectable at a mere 40,000 words.

I would advise readers to start at beginning with this series. This is book 3, and the character arcs make more sense if you have read the others first. The two cousins who give poor Crombie grey hairs have been on two advenutres previously, A Raucous Time (The Celtic Cousins' Adventures) first and then A Ripple in Time - Angel of the Titanic (Celtic Cousins' adventures).

If you liked the previous Hughes stories, you'll love the latest installment. A truly explosive narrative packed with witty banter, and some of the most unusual facts to ever inhabit a police file.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A scary, dangerous plot..a wonderful, witty flair! August 1, 2012

By Doreen E. Cox

Format:Kindle Edition

What does a `thumping great beast' of an alligator named `Alfie', the `Prince of Geeks' known as Wren and a resolute yet winsome detective named Crombie have in common? They are the charming, fearless central players cast in a rip-roaring, skillfully woven novel, AN EXPLOSIVE TIME by Julia Hughes.
The problems begin because the circus came to town. An elephant is missing and DI Crombie from the MET Police begins to investigate. He is an irascible yet captivating character, reminding me of the old TV show detective, Columbo. Crombie, though often appearing to be distracted, doggedly follows each crumb of evidence. I found myself laughing out loud as Crombie dealt with London traffic, cantankerous characters and even his cranky yet beloved Passat. The fun, and the danger, escalates when the evidence ends up leading him to Wren, the youngest of the Celtic Cousins. Though Wren has an endearing quality to his character, his unconventional ways to solve problems leaves quirky mayhem in its wake. The dialogue, especially between these Crombie and Wren, is rich and zesty.
There is a well-integrated flow to the story. I found myself captivated by the detailed descriptions of people, places and countryside. It felt as if I were present in the story instead of being merely an observer, a reader. The problem of corruption in both high and low places is one of the themes. To portray yet keep less prominent the gritty scenes, i.e., descriptions of the underbelly of society where torture is commonplace and government corruption exists, is a challenge that Julia Hughes cleverly met. There are some tough, heartless characters involved in torture, animal cruelty and corruption. Yet they have more than met their match in Crombie, Wren and the other Celtic cousin, Rhyllan, who joins the team later in the story. His encounter with `the..crocodile in my room' is hilarious!
Julia Hughes has an uncanny ability to write a scary, dangerous scene with a wonderful, witty flair. The most delightful scenes are those that involve Alfie the alligator. He has been rescued from the circus and is being hidden upstairs in a hot tub in Rhyllan's room. Since gators literally live in my back yard canal, I reveled in the author's realistic descriptions of Alfie's movements and behaviors. A favorite line depicting his movements during feeding time is spot on. Alfie is moving towards Crombie and his food. I could literally visualize Alfie as his legs `churned against the floor in an ungainly dry land dog paddle, too quickly covering too much ground.' Readers will take delight in the many antics that Alfie's `normal' gator behaviors cause to occur for Crombie and Rhyllan. Animal lovers will take notice of the many instances in which Wren and, even Crombie, voiced concern for handling Alfie in ways that minimized his stress levels.
I found myself paying attention to the titles of each chapter. Each title whetted my curiosity as to what Julia Hughes had next in store for me as a reader. AN EXPLOSIVE TIME has all the elements that could make a great movie: engaging main characters who play off each other so well, involved in a gritty, complex plot. AN EXPLOSIVE TIME now sits on the top shelf of my Kindle bookcase.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid descriptions and fast paced dialogue! July 22, 2012

By Ms J. Worstall

Format:Kindle Edition

An Explosive Time (The Celtic Cousins' Adventures)

We are plunged into excitement and mystery from the very onset as we read of an amazing night time explosion with a body burned almost beyond recognition.

This is the third adventure story of Wren and Rhyllann, the "Celtic Cousins", by Julia Hughes. DI Crombie, the long suffering policeman, is determined to get to the bottom of the bizarre events which unfold, involving a missing eight ton African elephant, a stolen alligator and a host of unpleasant villains. I particularly liked the fact that Crombie, as the father of four daughters, was very difficult to fool, even when sinister criminals tried!

Vivid descriptions and fast paced dialogue introduce a host of characters; Charlie Bozen (Sorry Charlie!) who goes commando under his grease stained jeans, WPC Holland, often close to tears and out of her depth in the force, long legged circus girls wearing feathers and not much else and an enormous alligator with a taste for fish and chips, to name but a few.

As the breathless adventure rattles towards a violent climax, the sub plot of an unexpected love story pusues a gentler but no less satisfying path.

This is very well written, extremely entertaining and a jolly good read! Highly recommended!

More About the Author

The London born author of the Celtic Cousins' Adventures: A Raucous Time; A Ripple in Time; and An Explosive Time. The Bridle Path, and her latest title is a young adult/crossover action adventure: The Griffin Cryer.

"I'm an eldest child and walking my younger brother and sister to school and back, I'd tell them stories - a captive audience! On leaving college, I worked at the BBC, helping write stories for their "Schools' Programmes". That was back in the day, before satellite telly made it over to the UK and 'Auntie Beeb' ruled the air waves! I gave it all up for the good life, and moved down to Cornwall, one of the most beautiful counties in England, and often known as 'God's own country.' I think the greatest compliment I received was 'Julia's more Cornish than the Cornish.' I picked daffodils in winter and made pasties for the holidaymakers in the summer. But all good things come to an end: I upped sticks to be closer to my family, and landed in a little village just outside London, and have been here ever since, scribbling away at my stories. "
I don't specifically write in any one genre, an idea will flitter into my mind, and the story develops. My first three titles, "A Raucous Time", "A Ripple in Time" and "An Explosive Time" are action adventures, while "The Bridle Path" is romance. I think I'd overdosed on the testosterone flying around in the previous three books and wanted something a little more feminine and romantic.
My latest title "The Griffin Cryer" is an adventure/fantasy. What makes this genre special is the opportunity to really allow imagination to take flight, and even create whole new worlds for readers to explore.