‘In Flames’ by Dave Sivers

Independently Published,
6 June 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-99973976-8 (PB)

Anthea Swallow, one time top of the pile model and darling of the popular press, has retired to a Hertfordshire mansion with her rock star husband Jimmy Steele. 

Here we have a couple living the dream that world-wide success and vast amounts of money generate. Until a series of events begin to expose past lives of massive indulgence in the great cliché “sex drugs and rock ’n roll”. 

Andrea has recently endured a torrent of abuse following the posting of fake online sex videos. Jimmy has employed experts in forensic technology to dig out the video maker. 

But all of this is only a prelude to the main event. 

A body bag containing the charred remains of a man is dumped outside the gates to the estate. A police team headed by DI Nathan Quarrel begins to investigate. The victim is identified as Ryan Pooley, a man from far away Leeds, and not on the list of potential fake video makers. It soon becomes clear that Pooley’s death is just the beginning of a new onslaught of online terrorism. So... no more plot spoilers from this point in the review. 

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not true, if somebody believes it.” – DI Nate’s rationalisation to his team and the real issue the novel deals with. And a good story base it is. 

Dave Sivers has a dark, gritty, intricate, twist filled story to offer, along with a fascinating detailed police investigation. 

The last half dozen chapters produce a nail-biting ending.
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Reviewer: Jeff Dowson. 

Dave Sivers grew up in West London, England and left school at 16 to embark on a successful civil service career. Along the way he gained a first-class honours degree from the Open University and moonlighted as, among other things, a nightclub bouncer and a bookmaker's clerk. He is now a freelance writer and author. His books include the Archer and Baines contemporary crime novels, the DI Nathan Quarrel series and the Lowmar Dashiel crime fantasy novels. He lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with his wife Chris.

Crime Fiction Author | Dave Sivers 

Jeff Dowson began his career working in the theatre as an actor and a director. He moved into television as a writer/producer/director. Screen credits include arts series, entertainment features, documentaries, drama series and TV films. Turning crime novelist in 2014, he introduced Bristol private eye Jack Shepherd in Closing the Distance. The series developed with Changing the Odds, Cloning the Hate and Bending the Rules. The Ed Grover series, featuring an American GI in Bristol during the years following World War 2, opened with One Fight At A Time. The second book New Friends Old Enemies was published in May 2021. Jeff is a member of BAFTA, Mystery People and the Crime Writers Association. 

www.jeffdowson.co.uk