English Independence: An Alternative History Mystery Novella

By Connor Whiteley

An Alternative History. A Complex Mystery. A Gripping Race Against Time.

Scotland rules the UK. England wants Independence.

When Detective Inspector Jack Painter investigates a mysterious murder, he ventures into the dark heart of English politics.

Brilliant. Shocking. Intriguing. Connor Whiteley's gripping, unputdownable English Independence offers readers an excellent retelling of UK history through the lens of politics, forbidden romance and nationalism. A stellar novella.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: CGD Publishing
• Release date: Feb 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215233177

Connor Whiteley

Hello, I'm Connor Whiteley, I am an 18-year-old who loves to write creatively, and I wrote my Brownsea trilogy when I was 14 years old after I went to Brownsea Island on a scout camp. At the camp, I started to think about how all the broken tiles and pottery got there and somehow a trilogy got created.Moreover, I love writing fantasy and sci-fi novels because you’re only limited by your imagination.In addition, I'm was an Explorer Scout and I love camping, sailing and other outdoor activities as well as cooking.Furthermore, I do quite a bit of charity work as well. For example: in early 2018 I was a part of a youth panel which was involved in creating a report with research to try and get government funding for organised youth groups and through this panel. I was invited to Prince Charles’ 70th birthday party and how some of us got in the royal photograph.Finally, I am going to university and I hope to get my doctorate in clinical psychology in a few years.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

20th February 2024

Rochester, England

Detective Inspector Jack Painter absolutely loved the wonderfully historic town of Rochester, it was always filled with so much life, happiness and cheeriness that he was really glad he got the honour to call it home.

He stopped at the very edge of the old Victorian high street because he just wanted, needed to savour its amazing look and appreciate it like he always wanted to but the sheer busyness of Rochester normally made that impossible.

Except when the area was shutdown because of a so-called high-profile murder but possible assassination if his bosses were to be believed, but as far as Jack was concerned they were mere desk jockeys well past their sell-by date in their policing careers.

The grey cobblestone high street was slightly lumpy and small puddles of water gathered in places, and Jack had always enjoyed running up and down the high street with his brothers when they were wee kids. They had laughed, played and fallen so often on this high street that he was fairly sure if he really looked then some of the stones would be chipped at the very least.

The old Victorian buildings in their red, dark greens and blues lined the street with freshly painted signs showing how great and wonderful Rochester actually was, and it wasn’t quite the awful place that posher people made it out to be.

He really loved the warming, rich aromas of cinnamon, cloves and freshly roasted peaches that clung lovingly to the air from nearby bakeries and if he wasn’t here to investigate a murder then he would have tried to enjoy the delightful taste of peach tarts forming on his tongue, one of his favourite desserts in the entire world.

People talking, police sirens and police officers shouting at people to get back made Jack frown as he saw there were tons of people behind him and behind thick blue police tape as everyone wanted to know what exactly had happened on the high street. And maybe his bosses weren’t wrong after all maybe this was a high-profile murder if so many people were walking past.

Jack went down the high street, feeling a little unnerved by the sheer amount of white political posters on the shop windows advertising the English Freedom League and how they were going to save the almighty England from the Scotland that ruled the UK.

Jack just shook his head because he really couldn’t understand the English Freedom League, they might have been the largest English political party in the English Parliament (even then they only had 40% of seats) but Jack just couldn’t understand why they wanted Independence from Scotland and the rest of the UK. This was a union of equals and Scotland seriously treated England, Wales and Northern Ireland like their own and sometimes even better than their own people.

Jack went straight up to the two black uniformed police officers that bowed their heads slightly to him and then Jack grinned at the sight of Doctor Richard Baker.

He might have been leaning over a dead body that was covered in a thin bed sheet as he made notes, but Jack had to admit he was hot.

Richard was easily the same age as him but Richard was also very hot, handsome and really had a sensational body that he really wanted to see. It was just a shame that Richard had a wife and three children and was a firm member of the English Freedom League.

Jack knelt down next to Richard and Richard uncovered the body and Jack just wanted to be sick.

It had been a while since he had seen a body but this looked to be a very young man, maybe 19, with pale white skin, blond hair and blue eyes wearing a business suit with a white tie.

Jack seriously didn’t want this man to belong to the English Freedom League because all their members wore a white tie and with an election in two days, this would be an absolute nightmare.

Thankfully Richard closed the young man’s eyes for Jack but Jack couldn’t understand how the man actually died because there were no gunshot wounds, stab wounds or obvious signs of poisoning. It was a little strange.

What you think then Ric? Jack asked.

Richard smiled. You won’t like this one. He died earlier today. The cause of death I won’t have for a few hours until I get him back to the morgue but he is your worst fear,

Jack shook his head. You know him don’t you? Is he a member of the League?

Richard stood, clapped his hands and the two police officers who had bowed to Jack earlier signalled that the morgue attendants could come and move the body.

He isn’t just a member of the League. He is the Member of English Parliament for Strood and Rochester and he is the son of Alpha Jetson,

Jack just laughed because Alpha Jetson was the party leader of the League and he was about as far right as a human could