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About
Harry Navinski‘s first home was in Colchester (Britain’s oldest recorded town). At the tender age of 15, straight from school, he left home to join the Royal Air Force. Harry spent the first half of his RAF career as an aircraft technician and the latter half as an engineering officer. Based in numerous locations in England, Scotland, Germany, and Malta, he also travelled the world with the RAF.
Harry’s first taste of writing came when asked to write short pieces for the RAF Wyton station magazine.
Many years later, he created and edited the RAF’s magazine for sports and adventurous training, ‘RAF Active’. His articles, written from his experience of sports and adventurous activities, included: skiing, sailing, judo, adventure travel, and scuba diving, to name a few. He was also published in the UK Defence Journal.
After his time in the RAF, Harry spent six years on voluntary service in West Bengal on anti-human trafficking work (see Causes page). It was whilst in India that he made his first attempt at writing fiction.
On his return to the UK, Harry attended a creative writing course and was inspired to write his first novel – ‘The Glass’. His travels around the world have provided Harry with a huge source of knowledge and experiences for new books – yet to come – and he looks forward to sharing these.
See more about Harry on his Amazon Author page
Writing Environments – Harry’s blessed with two wonderful, inspiring places from which he can write and view the stunning scenery.
At home, he has incredible views across the Derwent Valley to the Lake District fells.
And at his caravan in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, where he also does much of his writing, another gorgeous countryside vista.
Books
Coming soon: The Glass Audiobook
Responding to popular demand for an audiobook, I have been working with talented Scottish voiceover artist David John Jenkins. The audiobook is planned for release on 28th September 2024. Email me on harry@harrynavinski.com, if you’d like to be informed when it’s live.
Fourth in series: The Last Walk
Was it just the wrong place and time, or had Isla Muir’s brutal death been meticulously planned and executed?
On a foreboding damp day, an early morning walk turns deadly, leaving a popular businesswoman brutally murdered.
Detective Chief Inspector Suzanna McLeod is thrust into the action, charged with untangling a web of potential enemies and uncovering the elusive motive behind the crime. With enthusiasm and determination, she embraces the role of Senior Investigating Officer, deftly juggling multiple leads while managing the complexities of her relationships, career, and personal journey. At times, these extraneous factors threaten to overwhelm her. But Suzanna’s no quitter!
DCI McLeod steers her new team down roads they’d have not taken alone, leading them to uncover a hidden world of corruption and deceit, with shadows stretching into the ominous realm of organized crime.
Prepare to be captivated as you witness Suzanna McLeod’s unwavering determination to uncover the truth. In this fourth instalment, get ready for a complex and gripping detective story that will keep you wondering until the very end.
The Last Walk’s official launch date is 8 February 2024. Sign up to Harry’s VIP Club if you’d like to be informed when it’s published, and get Harry’s free e-novella, The Test.
Third in series: The Key to Murder
Some women join the #Me Too movement to seek justice; others take matters into their own hands…
Winter arrives early for George White. He was already housebound and relied on carers, but no one expected the cheeky octogenarian to be murdered. What motive could there be? As Suzanna digs into his past, a darker side becomes evident, and a number of suspects emerge. The investigation uncovers a prostitution racket and sex trafficking. Suzanna’s worry is that George’s murder could be the first in a series. The chase is on to find the murderer before they strike again.
Reviews for The Key to Murder from Amazon and Goodreads
5 Stars – “A really good read. I enjoyed the other books in this series and I found this one even better. We hear some of the back story of the characters, which makes them more believable and likeable. The plot was good and very thought provoking. It is so good to read a book that is not littered with foul language.” Kindle Customer
5 stars – “The story seems simple at first, but soon gets complicated. The characters are all well written and the solution is not obvious.” Lillian13
4 stars – “I hadn’t read any of the earlier books and this stands well as a story in its own right. Good, well developed characters and a strong story line, which will keep you guessing.” C E Wake
4 stars – “I love the way Harry Navinski puts so much detail into describing locations and people because they are Crime novels, and you never know which bit of the detail will be relevant to the investigation and final conviction of the criminal(s)… I am hooked on finding out what happens to DCI Suzanna McLeod.” Amazon Customer
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‘The Glass‘ First in the DCI Suzanna McLeod crime-fighting series.
A daring armed robbery, a meddling boss and a stolen heirloom.
Shots have been fired in Edinburgh’s New Town. Criminals are on the run. Will her team catch them before they strike again? Edinburgh’s top female detective is under pressure from her interfering boss to catch armed raiders before they strike again. But she must also recover her inherited magnifying glass, dealing with physical and mental challenges along the way and led by her gut right to the unexpected end.
DCI Suzanna McLeod is a fighting fit and highly intelligent crime fighter. Her Edinburgh-based team is legendary in Scotland for being one of the UK’s best at locking up criminals. She has a reputation to live up to and a team to lead. But the Chief Superintendent is a by-the-book meddler and her team has personal problems that need her assistance. She comes under pressure to catch armed robbers before they strike again – perhaps with deathly consequences.
When Suzanna’s apartment is burgled, and a family heirloom goes missing, her focus is distracted. She just has to recover the antique magnifying glass. It was her inheritance from a distant relative whose actions had shaped her life. But she knows that catching the armed robbers must take priority. As the chase is underway, Suzanna takes on the most dangerous of the criminals. But even after the case appears to be drawing to a close, something is nagging at Suzanna’s gut. What could they have missed?
Out soon as an audiobook.
5 Star Reviews for The Glass:
“I could easily see it made into a TV series. The ending definitely left me hungry for more and I look forward to the next book in the series!” Stacey W, England.
“Loved the twists and turns of this fast-paced novel and look forward to reading more by this author.” S Moore, Scotland.
“An engaging book, with a new DCI on the block. Set in my home town of Edinburgh it’s atmospheric with twists and turns. I recommend it and I hope this is the first of many featuring DCI Suzanna McLeod” Debbie Irvine, Scotland.
From the prologue, I was hooked.’ Holly Jones, UK.
“loved the way this book was written, a new detective and an interesting case from start to finish, loved the way you find out what the glass is, can’t wait for the next one.” Adams.
“Harry Navinski tells a tale that holds the reader’s attention, with interest, drama and bonus pieces… In many ways, this book is more than a good fictional story. There are gems within.” John, India.
“Clever and intriguing read, following DCI Suzanna McLeod and her team investigating a number of cases, the main one being a bank robbery, with muggings and thefts too. A mysterious magnifying glass, previously belonging to a famous detective, also features. Well written, easy read, left me wanting to read the next one to find out what happens next” Julie, UK Crime Book Club.
The Glass is the first book in the DCI Suzanna McLeod mystery series. If you like fast-moving police investigations, engaging characters, action and twists along the way, you’ll love Harry Navinski’s new crime novel. See more reviews on GoodReads.
Buy The Glass today, to uncover the twists and turns of this exciting mystery series.
Suzanna’s back story: The Test (Murder in the Mews)
A 1920s murder and a failed police investigation. Time to call in London’s incomparable investigator.
Victorian-era consulting detective, Silvester Locke-Croft, is called in to investigate the murder of a solicitor in 1920s London, uncovering hidden evidence and revealing the incompetence of Scotland Yard’s detectives. His investigation concludes with dramatic exposure of the murderer, revealing corruption and collusion along the way.
The detective who wrote this short crime story bequeathed his estate to a relative who, on reaching the age of 18, passed a test he had set. This novella is that test, as mentioned in The Glass – the first DCI Suzanna McLeod mystery. In The Glass, his great-great-niece, Suzanna, passed the test to win herself the magnifying glass and the proceeds of his trust fund.
Or get this novella free (as an e-book) by joining Harry’s VIP Club to get occasional updates on new releases and news.
5-star reviews for The Test:
“One amazing, well written story! Brilliantly well crafted! A steady, well paced mystery! Intriguing, interesting plot! A fast read! Quick and easy! One fantastic, page turner! Hard to put down! So engaging! Suspenseful! Smart, likeable characters! One fantastic author! Read! Find out for yourself! Enjoy” Margaret
Second in series: The Duty (A not-so-Scottish Murder)
5-star review – “Great Read. It drew me in from the beginning and didn’t let go until the end and left me wanting more. A definite must read.” Mrs C Newton
A nearly naked young woman’s lifeless body is discovered on the riverbank in Queensferry. As the investigation unfolds, the identity of the victim and the perpetrator who callously dumped her in the water remain elusive. Meanwhile, a colleague of Edinburgh’s top detective, DCI Suzanna McLeod, is brutally attacked with a knife, yet the suspect manages to slip away without a trace.
Now, DCI McLeod faces the daunting task of solving a murder and tracking down a dangerous assailant. From the picturesque River Forth to the far-reaching shores of the Ganges, she embarks on a relentless pursuit that uncovers a web of illegal immigration, slavery, and unspeakable brutality. Along the way, she must navigate the challenges of her nit-picking boss while relying on her exceptional mental and physical abilities.
As Suzanna delves deeper into the case, she finds herself unexpectedly confronted with her own past, reuniting with old friends and colleagues and reliving the pivotal Test that set her on the path to becoming a detective. However, her focus is put to the test as she grapples with a complex love life that reawakens the emotions of her youth.
The Duty is the thrilling second instalment in the DCI Suzanna McLeod crime-fighting series. If you crave a fast-paced narrative filled with intricate investigations, high-stakes confrontations with criminals, and captivating characters, dive into Harry Navinski’s latest crime novel. Join Suzanna McLeod as she unravels the mysteries across tropical Bengal, and experience the exhilaration of the chase.
Much of this book is set in places far from Great Britain’s shores, in countries where I have lived and worked, where memories, both good and bad, are powerful and fresh. As I wrote and edited this book, I shed many tears as memories returned, of innocence stolen, of suffering and pain but also heroic determination. This book is not merely a piece of imagination. It is based on the realities and situations of the people who live out their lives in tropical Bengal. Although the names of the people, what they say, and what they do are fictional, the story truly represents the struggles of the people on which it is based.
Buy The Duty today to join in the excitement of the chase in tropical Bengal (All profits will go to the non-government organisations combatting sex trafficking and abuse of women, mentioned in the book).
Reviews for The Duty from Amazon and Goodreads
5 stars – A Great Read. “…it was a very interesting, informative and yet suspense-filled read, an eye opener to another world really, which left me desperate at the end of the book for the next one in the series.” TallullahBelle
5 stars – “I thoroughly enjoyed Harry Navinski’s second novel. It was an excellent crime thriller that plays out both in Scotland and India. DCI Suzanna McLeod and her team continue the battle to bring criminals to justice, and I love the way Harry has shown us more of her character in this book. Well worth a read.” Graham Brewer