The Strange Tale Of Clara Lazare

By Christopher J. Bailey

Jim Doyle takes shelter in a bar in Dublin, Ireland, to escape a storm. There he meets Clara Lazare, a woman who isn't who she claims to be. Clara has a deadly secret, and Doyle is about to find out what it is.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher J. Bailey
• Release date: Sep 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463741801

Christopher J. Bailey

Christopher J. Bailey was born and raised in the United Kingdom and now lives in sunny Sarasota, FL, with his wife, Melissa, some of his children and grandchildren, four birds, and two cats. He loves to cook, write, travel, and spend time with his family. All of this keeps him very busy. He became disabled in 2015 due to diabetic complications, but, despite this, he still loves life to the best of his ability. His work has previously appeared in The Literary Yard, and Scars TV. Another short story will also be published in print in June 2020 by Children, Churches and Daddies magazine.

Book preview

Jim Doyle was sitting at the bar alone. He had rushed into the bar looking like a drowned rat to take shelter from the high wind and stinging heavy rain that had sprung up out of nowhere. He had been there for about three beers now. The rain outside was showing no sign of abating anytime soon; in fact, the weather forecasts were predicting a worsening of the weather. That was fine, it fit in perfectly with his sour mood. Doyle had no place to be right now, thanks to Roberts, the lowlife. Doyle figured he’d be here for a few beers more. The only other patrons in the bar were two elderly men sitting at a table at the far side of the room, talking quietly to each other. A strong gust of wind rattled the building, seeming to shake it to its very foundations, which only added more emphasis to Doyle’s already dark mood.

McNamara’s bar was sparingly lit; the light coming through the huge window was wan on this miserable day. The overhead bar lighting was doing its best to chase away the gloom from the rest of the room along with the Irish-green lights crisscrossing the window. The homely warmth in the bar came from two sizzling logs spitting smoldering embers past the fireguard in the fireplace, along the far wall. The warmth of the fire was very much appreciated by Doyle.

A sign on the polished rosewood bar promised: Welcome to all! Good Health! Long life and happiness to all of