‘Members of the jury, I have your note indicating that you have reached a verdict. Will the Clerk of the Court please take the verdict?’ ‘Mr. Foreman, has the jury agreed upon a verdict?’ ‘They have.’ ‘As to the count of murder in the first degree what is the jury’s verdict? ‘Guilty!’

Today I received my copy of Arabian Noir, the anthology that features my first crime story set in the Middle East. I rushed through the contents to read my friend Glen R Stansfield’s story: Footnote. As expected, it was Glen’s usual slow-burn thrill, with realisation and things clicking into place at the end of the tale.

Pardon my cliché, but this story truly was a page-turner. I absolutely had to know how it ended. I suspect every story in the collection will serve up its own brand of hair-raising tales. I am looking forward to reading them all. With titles like The Reddest Dress by Sara Hamdan, Dubai Heat by Alex Shaw, Jack and the Box by S.G. Parker this promises to be one screaming-in-my-head adventure.

More soon. Or get your copy today!