A Bloody Hot Summer by Trevor D’Silva

5/8/2020

Multi-volume author, Trevor D’Silva, introduces us to his latest novel, a wonderful, murder mystery set in England in the early 20th century, “A Bloody Hot Summer”:
It’s 1927 and Great Britain is sweltering in an unprecedented heatwave. On the morning after her eightieth birthday party, Lady Fitzhugh is discovered bound and butchered in her bed, with her family and staff the prime suspects...
Whilst holidaying at nearby Meadowford Village, Detective Dermot Carlyle is asked to help investigate the brutal murder. The clues all point to a robbery gone wrong, but Dermot suspects that there is more to the horrific crime. The Fitzhughs’ secrets take Dermot along a path linking some of the biggest events of the British Colonial Empire – from India to Africa, to the dark days of the Great War itself.
As more murders take place, Dermot is racing against time to discover the killer’s identity. What are the family hiding, why did Lady Fitzhugh have to die, and what horror was committed in the colonies that led to this trail of death and deceit?

This story is such a delight! An English murder-mystery in the tradition of one of the finest authors in the genre. I can’t imagine any person who enjoys this type of reading being disappointed in some way.
The author has proven he is a journeyman writer in all accounts. His handling of important aspects such as plotting, action and dialogue are masterful. His scene-setting and narration is elegant. I find nothing to complain about. Not even a single spelling error popped up to irritate me as I read.
I award 5 stars to “A Bloody Hot Summer”! Well done, Mr. D'Silva, well done!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Bloody-Hot-Summer-Trevor-DSilva-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-a-bloody-hot-summer
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/a-bloody-hot-summer-trevor-dsilva

You can follow the author:
http://trevordsilva.com
https://twitter.com/TrevorDAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/trevordauthor
https://www.pinterest.com/trevor_dsilva
mailto: [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/Trevordsilvaauthor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-d-silva

I reviewed Trevor’s other book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fateful-decisions-by-trevor-dsilva

Tags: British fiction, murder, mystery, international, the Great War, Boer War, South Africa, crime, action, detective, Scotland

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

62 Comments

Trevor D'Silva link

5/10/2020 10:55:17 pm

Thank you Mark. I appreciate the time you have taken to read the book and also to write this wonderful review. I'm glad you enjoyed the book. Hope you did not figure out the killers before the ending.

Mark

5/11/2020 09:51:57 am

You are welcome, Trevor. I did not figure out who the killers were. It was wonderfully convoluted with so many suspects.

We started a great conversation in the interview of "Fateful Decisions", the link for that is just above. We are going to pick up that chat where we left off.
Dear reader, feel free to jump to that portion of the interview and then continue here or just start here.
New questions.
Do you have a newsletter you send out to fans? Why or why not?
If you do have a newsletter, which mailing service do you use? Is it the same one you started with or not? Why?
Have you ever thought of adding music to your books, like what the characters listen to or they went to a concert as a plot point?

5/11/2020 05:01:27 pm

Do you have a newsletter you send out to fans? Why or why not?
No, no newsletter. Just don’t have the time. I do post announcements on my website and also on social media.

If you do have a newsletter, which mailing service do you use? Is it the same one you started with or not? Why?
No newsletter.

Have you ever thought of adding music to your books, like what the characters listen to or they went to a concert as a plot point?
Yes, I did. In the first book Fateful Decisions, my characters at the end of the novel are dancing to Sing Sing Sing, and Glen Miller’s Moonlight Serenade. I’ve even mentioned that they sing songs like Knees Up Mother Brown, and Auld Lang Syne.
In this book, I thought of mentioning a song or two, but felt that it was not required and I should just stick to the plot.
In my next book, which takes place in the 1960s, I will mention a few songs from that era. Many good songs were made then especially in the late 50s and early 60s and I think mentioning a few of those songs will make the readers connect with the characters even more, especially if they grew up then.

5/11/2020 05:03:37 pm

A newsletter can be a good part of a marketing plan, with a mailing list of several thousand, many publishers are far more inclined to consider an indie author's book. It represents near guaranteed sales to a publisher. The downside is it either takes time away from writing or money to have someone else handle it for you.
Nonetheless, setting aside an hour or two every couple of weeks to work on marketing builds results over a period of time in small steps.
New questions.
What can you tell us about your new WIP? Do you have a title in mind?
How did you know when "A Bloody Hot Summer" was finished?

5/11/2020 05:31:16 pm

What can you tell us about your new WIP? Do you have a title in mind?
The new book is set in the 1960s. I’ve just started it, so cannot say much as I’m not sure how it will proceed. But it will be a historical fiction novel like Fateful Decisions. So, anybody who likes books about hippies, the counter culture revolution and the Vietnam War, then they would like reading this book.
Not sure about the title as I haven’t decided what it should be.

How did you know when your book was finished?
With A Bloody Hot Summer, I know that the book is finished because the killers are caught and all loose ends are tied up. That’s the way murder mysteries usually end.
With historical fiction novels, it depends on where you want to end it by choosing the setting and time period. If the ending is a happy or sad one, that decision is totally yours to make. Usually, I know what the gist of my novel is and I try to work using that as a guide, but if I find something interesting during the time period and I can incorporate that into the novel, then I would extend the ending a bit. However, you don’t want to bore the reader by extending the ending unnecessarily and using an event totally unrelated to the gist of the novel.

5/11/2020 05:47:09 pm

That is the period I grew up in. I even moved off the small farm in a small town to San Francisco. That was some serious culture shock. That was also the period of the Jesus Revolution, I was part of that.
You did a good job of wrapping up ending for this book, I was very satisfied.
New questions.
Did anything in the book come as a surprise while you were writing?
How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you write the book?
How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?

5/11/2020 07:03:42 pm

Did anything in the book come as a surprise while you were writing?
Not really. I learned about the tonic (I’ll let the readers discover the name when reading) only when researching topics related to tonics with small traces of substances which in large doses can kill a person. What fascinated me was that the tonic was prescribed to people for more than 150 years and then it was discovered that it causes cancer and other health issues and now it is no longer prescribed to patients.
In terms of the historical events, I knew about the topics I was writing on and did not learn much or nothing surprised me as I uncovered more.

How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you write the book?
I actually started the book before my debut novel was officially published in 2017. I had a lot of ideas to write many books as I was getting my education, and this novel was also brewing in my mind along with Fateful Decisions and other novels. So, I knew how I wanted the novel to start and in what direction to proceed. I researched as I wrote the book and then changed certain things to suit the gist of the novel.
With the internet it’s faster to research various topics. If you had to do it like in the pre-internet days by going to a library and searching for topics, then that would take longer than usual. With the internet, you also come across various topics by accident and that gives you more ideas. But as always since it is the internet, it is always good to double and triple check as anyone can post anything on the internet.

How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?
Depends on situations in life and also time. The most important factor is time. If you have a lot of time and nothing restraining you in terms of commitments like work, family, school and other things, then you can start immediately. Also, it depends on how your brain functions and gives you ideas to put down.
With A Bloody Hot Summer like I mentioned above, it was brewing in my mind for a long time. I just had so many commitments to fulfill and also wanted to write my debut novel first, since that was first idea I had and I’d already begun writing it many years ago.

5/11/2020 07:33:43 pm

There are many substances that are beneficial in minute amounts, but harmful in large doses. Much of life is like that, excess can lead to harm. Moderation in all things seems like a good idea.
I remember spending hours with encyclopedias and books from the libraries when doing research in school. It was so easy for me to go down a rabbit trail and wind up very far from my beginning. I still do that, but not nearly as much as before.
New questions.
Do you keep a log of book ideas? No more than a page or two of notes about whatever is pertinent and sparks your imagination?
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

5/12/2020 03:13:31 am

Do you keep a log of book ideas? No more than a page or two of notes about whatever is pertinent and sparks your imagination?
I have a log book given to me by my cousin. I should start using it, but I usually write on scraps of paper or envelopes. I just write a few words or sentences. They help to jog my memory.

How long did it take you to write the first draft?
I would say nearly a year of continuous writing. Of course, I change stuff and also add more to it if and when I get additional ideas. But all that depends on time and personal commitments

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?
Probably like 2 or 3. With WORD it is easier to change stuff. So, I don’t really keep track of drafts per say, but I make sure that things are saved and that it is suitable to send it to the editor. After that obviously more changes are made and when people read it and offer suggestions, you have to decide to follow their suggestions or not. You are always working until the last minute to make your manuscript perfect.

5/12/2020 09:27:33 am

The first draft is just getting the story out of your head, So all kinds of changes are to be expected. I think it's important to get it down on paper, no matter how good or bad it is. You can't edit a blank page.
I expected you to say a higher number than two or three drafts. But as you say, changes are happening constantly.
New questions.
A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

5/12/2020 06:30:54 pm

A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

Yeah, if I were to count every time, I made changes to my document, I think it would be around 8 or 9 drafts. I try and get everything into it the first time, so that time and energy is not wasted later to insert certain portions which will not be compatible with the rest of the chapter or with some of the characters. So, I’m thinking ahead most of the time and not trying to rush to finish it.
In terms of Alpha readers, my mom I guess could be that. She helps to smooth out some major errors and to use better words. I also go through the manuscript many times
Now finding a reliable editor is very hard. After the almost disastrous editing done by the editor for my first book, I had to find someone who would be very reliable. I wanted someone who was British since my book was set in England and I used British English to write the book. I also needed someone to do the Cockney and Scottish accents. Finally, I found Dr. Angela Stokes, and we worked well together. She went through the manuscript and pointed out places which needed some work and also places which were not clear. So after I agreed, she edited the book, and made her recommendations. I also hired a British proof reader from an agency, who proofread the manuscript and then her boss went through her work. Both of them made recommendations.
In reality, the greater the number of fresh eyes that read the manuscript, the better. Since my eyes and that of my editor’s are very used to the manuscript, it is hard for us to find each and every mistake. It is also a good practice to read some sections aloud and see if the grammar and punctuations are correct. Also, putting the manuscript aside and reading it after a day or two is another good way to enable your eyes to spot more mistakes.
It is a lot of work, but it is very rewarding in the end as you know that you and others did their best to make the manuscript as close to perfect as possible. You also end up learning many new things.

5/12/2020 07:16:55 pm

Yes, it takes multiple drafts to polish a book into presentable condition. The more sets of eyes you can get on your book the better.
I think that was genius to hire British editors and proofreaders. That explains why an American can write such a thoroughly British story. I love it.
The longer that you can put a manuscript away the better. Two days is good, two weeks better, and two months even better. That distance works in the author's favor. Even more so if the author has another project to on, that keeps the creative juices flowing. I am a firm proponent of reading aloud also.
New questions.
Do you belong to any writing groups, virtual or otherwise?
Are there any writing groups for the genre you write in?

5/12/2020 09:30:57 pm

Do you belong to any writing groups, virtual or otherwise?
No. None whatsoever

Are there any writing groups for the genre you write in?
Yes, there are, but I’ve not joined any. I am a member of Crime Writer’s Association, but that’s in the United Kingdom. It’s not a writer’s group, but more of a association for writers who write crime fiction.

5/12/2020 09:41:50 pm

That was easy. One of the hazards of conducting a live interview. There are no wrong answers, but some are short and some are long.
New questions.
Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

Rhani D'Chae

5/12/2020 09:40:40 pm

Hi, Mark. I thought I would pop in and check out this review. It looks like an excellent book, and I will have to take a closer look. 😀

5/12/2020 09:43:44 pm

Hi Rhani,
Thanks for dropping in. If you like murder mysteries in the classical vein, you will love this. The clues were there, but I was stumped all the way to the end.

5/12/2020 09:44:12 pm

I hope you enjoy the book.

5/12/2020 10:16:59 pm

Thanks Rhani. I hope you enjoy the book. Please leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and B&N if you can. Also, if you have questions, please feel free to get in touch.

5/12/2020 10:25:50 pm

...via my contact page.

5/12/2020 10:13:54 pm

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?
No, we never did any creative writing. I was born and raised in another country. So the way of teaching was different. We did have to write essays. Maybe once or twice we had to write stories in class just for fun. I did provide stories for the main school notice board once in middle school and once in high school.
I wrote short stories when I was at home. I guess they’ve been lost while clearing things out.

How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?
I had always heard the quote, ‘the pen is mightier than the sword,’ and was told that with words you can make changes or stir up people towards a cause. It was only when reading biographies of certain historical figures that I really understood what that meant. I was probably around eleven or twelve.
They even say that words can hurt more than physical violence. Well, that depends on who you ask, but words are very powerful and can be used to manipulate people and history.

5/12/2020 11:17:42 pm

Education can be conducted quite differently in other parts of the world.
For a long time, I didn't realize how widely English was taught in so many different countries. Either as a second language or as the language of business and government. The country you were born and raised in, they must have taught English also.
Seeing your work posted on the school bulletin board must have been proud moments for you.
Words can have an impact long after the wounds have healed. There is no doubt about that in my mind.
New questions.
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

5/13/2020 02:06:50 am

What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?
I learned how important it is to some or many of the readers to have the book written using show and don’t tell technique. The events should take place in real time, like as if the reader is seeing what is taking place through the eyes of the characters rather than through summarization and description by the author.

What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?
One is that the book should be written using the show and don’t tell technique. Another is that some readers would like to have more information on the characters to feel a sort of a kinship with them. Third, I got the title of one of the characters wrong. This was told to me by someone who walks in those circles. Therefore, many people even in England would not even know that. So, unless you are one of the upper classes, you wouldn’t know that it was wrong.
I mean it is not possible to please everyone, but you do the best you can to make your book interesting and to incorporate all the suggestions. Luckily before publishing we managed to include the feedback we received and made the book better. But still, there will be some picky readers; you just cannot please everyone. Part of life, I guess. Got to take the good with the bad.

5/13/2020 09:31:27 am

There is a balance between show and don't tell. Anything that isn't important to the plot and is common to people and activities of daily living can be told; walking out of the house and driving somewhere can be summarized in one or two lines, as long as it's not a plot point. Showing everything would get boring very fast.
Fleshing out important characters is crucial, unless the reader can understand what crisis is driving the protagonist out of their comfortable life, the reader may lose interest.
Correct, we do have to take the bad with the good.
New questions.
Do you have a hero, real or fictional?
Why and how did you choose this particular time period?

5/13/2020 03:55:41 pm