Irex

Irex is a richly-drawn historical thriller set in the late 19th Century, based on an actual event.

Captain Hutton struggles to contain the unfolding disaster that faces him aboard the ill-fated cargo vessel Irex. He must maintain his ship and crew in the face of terrible storms, while he tries to contain his conflicting feelings for his three passengers. He is enamoured of married Salvation Army wife Mrs Barstow, and resents the antagonism of the mysterious Mr Clarence, an intriguing but dangerous gentleman who hides a horrifying secret. As he becomes more fatigued by the pressures upon him, he begins to lose the respect of his crew and must stand alone to face the terrible consequences of his own perfect storm.

Meanwhile, six weeks later, coroner Frederick Blake begins an inquest into the shipwreck of the Irex. It quickly turns into an investigation as he realises that the events that led to the Irex’s loss are far from concluded. Racing against time, he must solve the mystery of the Irex before the sinister agents who are shadowing his inquiry close the door for good.

Irex combines suspense, mystery and thrills, with plenty of twists, set pieces and shocks to captivate the reader; the rich, evocative late Victorian world will also immerse the imagination as much as the characters themselves.