Special Guest Post: A Deadly Fall, by Jon Neal

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

What lengths would you go to in order to keep a secret? When private investigator Stanley Messina is called to a secluded Sussex manor house to re-examine an unexplained death, he hopes it might be a straightforward job - a few interviews, a tidy conclusion, and a chance

to catch his breath.

A Deadly Fall: Psychology, Secrets and a Sussex Manor

When a private investigator is called to a secluded Sussex manor house to re-examine an unexplained death, he hopes it might be a straightforward job. Behind the estate’s idyllic façade, however, lies a tangled web of strained loyalties, festering resentments and carefully curated lives. Every inhabitant has something to protect, and every story comes with a shadow…

A Deadly Fall is the third novel in my Stanley Messina Investigates series. Set in a grand house tucked away in the Sussex countryside, it is a mystery driven as much by the psychology and relationships of its characters as by the tragic event at its centre. Readers have described the series as intriguing, and this atmospheric instalment continues that tradition while remaining fully readable as a standalone.

As with my earlier books, the investigation into what happened at Lanthorn Manor provides the spine of the story, complete with clues, suspects and motives. Yet my primary interest as a writer has always been what makes people tick—the quiet tensions, hidden histories and shifting loyalties that shape how they behave under pressure. Along the way, readers also learn a little more about Stanley Messina himself, whose own backstory continues to unfold across the series.

I publish as an independent author exclusively through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. The greatest advantage of this is complete creative freedom and control over every aspect of the creative and business processes. I promote the books through social media and will soon launch a website and regular e-newsletter so readers can stay more closely connected.

The publishing landscape has changed markedly in the last five years. While greater opportunities for writers also mean more competition, I remain convinced there is still ample space to build an engaged audience for authentic stories.

I’m always grateful to readers who take the time to leave a rating or review on Amazon. These not only provide real encouragement but also help future readers decide whether a book might be one they would enjoy too.

Jon Neal 

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About the Author

Jon Neal is a British author. His first book, A Twin Room, was published in 2022 and reached number 1 in its Amazon category, selling copies around the globe. The Other Path introduced private investigator Stanley Messina and began the series of page-turning mysteries that continues with A Deadly Fall. Jon completed a Master of Arts in Writing while living in Australia and holds a Music & Media Studies degree from the University of Sussex. He was runner-up in the 2010 Sydney Mardi Gras short story competition, has been shortlisted for other prizes, and has had poems published in numerous anthologies. He grew up in Kent and now lives with his partner in East Sussex. To keep up to date with Jon’s news, follow his author page on Facebook and Twitter/X