Book Blurb
When Gregory Hoffenbach unearths a valuable stone while ploughing, he believes it could put an end to all his woes.
It doesn't. In fact it's just the beginning.
Greg heads into the city of Calver with his brother Ralph to try and sell the stone but soon they discover that there are plenty of people in the Kingdom who'd like to own Greg's red stone.
Over the next few days, the brothers strike a deal with a prominent crime boss, stumble into a plot to overthrow the King and have a hand in the death of an over-ambitious hay salesman.
Fortunately for them, they've got help. Some very useful and very violent help.
It seems everyone wants Greg's stone and they'll stop at nothing to get it.
Greg? He just wants a new plough.
A story about working out what's valuable in life and then trying to take it from someone else.
Buy on Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greed-Tim-Beeden-ebook/dp/B096BHHK7Q
Buy on Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/Greed-Tim-Beeden-ebook/dp/B096BHHK7Q
Excerpt
‘It’s a long story, which gets a bit embarrassing in
places. Me and Ralph don’t really come off too well in the telling of it, to be
honest.’
Eve looked down at Ralph, who had his hands down his
jerkin and was trying to massage the feeling back into his extremities.
‘And here’s me with such a high opinion of you
already,’ she said.
So Greg told Eve the story about the red stone. He
wasn’t quite sure why he did, and the look on Ralph’s face told him to keep his
mouth shut, but what was the point? If they’d had the red stone with them, then
maybe telling a paid killer such a story would’ve been a bad idea, but they
didn’t. The red stone could be anywhere at this moment so telling someone how
they’d managed to lose it twice in as many days didn’t seem to matter so much.
To her credit, Eve didn’t laugh too much and when Greg finished; she simply
stood shaking her head.
‘You realise that you two won’t last two minutes in
Lower Calver?’
Greg stiffened. ‘We’ve been to the market before. We
should be all right. Granted we’re not mercenaries, but…’
‘That’s my point,’ Eve said. ‘You’ve been to the
market, sold a few turnips and gone straight home like good farmer boys. Who in
their right mind would waste their energy on a couple of farmers and their root
vegetables?’
‘We also sold some cucumbers.’
‘My point, Greg and Ralph Hoffenbach, is that this
time you’re going to Lower Calver to find something that’s been taken from you.
Which means leaving the market and asking around. Maybe even venturing into the
backstreets. Where the people of Lower Calver actually live. The difference
between most people and those who live in the backstreets is; you get in a scuffle
with someone where you’re from and they’ll bite, scratch and claw till they
can’t fight anymore. You get into a scrap with anyone from the backstreets and
they’ll cry off the minute you get serious then rip your kidneys out the minute
you turn to walk away. If, however, you do manage to somehow get your red stone
back, then you’ll want to sell it and let me tell you, it’s probably going to
create more interest than a sack of turnips.’
‘And cucumbers.’
Eve looked up at Greg. Even though she was almost
half his size, Greg still felt the weight of her gaze. ‘Will you help us?’ he
said.
‘Now wait just a minute,’ Ralph said several octaves
higher than his normal voice. ‘This person just assaulted me.’
Eve whirled around to face Ralph who instinctively
crossed his legs and clamped his eyes shut. She then turned back to Greg.
‘Ralph,’ Greg said. ‘We could use her help. It’s not
like we’ve been all that successful on our own, now is it?’
Ralph opened one eye and peered at his brother.
‘But she kicked me in the dangle-berries.’
‘I know, Ralph, I know. You did have it coming,
though. Look on the bright side: ten minutes ago, you nearly had your innards
cut out. A kick in the dangle-berries is nothing compared to that.’
Tim Beeden is
someone who likes to make things up. Things like stories, ideas and friends.
He’s lived a varied life, has had thirteen different jobs, likes piña coladas
and getting caught in the rain. He loves to travel and is utterly convinced
he’s part Viking (much to his wife’s continual annoyance. Although he was once
on holiday in Denmark where the locals often spoke to him in Danish which
pretty much confirmed it as far as he’s concerned).
Greed is his first novel in a planned series of eleven books but he’s pretty new to this so isn’t aware of how ridiculous an ambition that is.
Website : https://www.sevendeadlyandfour.com
Thank you so much for sharing this extract today and for being a part of the tour x
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