In need of another life

Today, the contract for my vampire thriller set in Malta, Death is Another Life, ended and the rights have been returned to me.

I have many favourite books, and this is definitely one of them. Its gestation period was over several years. Not that I was working on it for that length of time - rather, for quite a while I didn't feel competent to do the story justice. Eventually, everything fell into place and it evolved not only as a thriller but also as a screenplay.

Cover I designed for the ex-publisher

In the coming weeks I shall endeavour to find a new home for the book. Inevitably, it will need a new title (though the book itself will advise readers that it is a reprinted version of Death is Another Life). And I might eschew the penname Robert Morton and stick with Nik Morton.

So, take heart, just because your book is no longer currently available, it can still enjoy a new life - indeed, another life.

Blurb
Where there is light, there is shadow…

This cross-genre thriller is set in present-day Malta and has echoes from pre-history and also the eighteenth century Knights of Malta.

Malta may be an island of sun and sand, but there’s a dark side to it too. It all started when some fishermen pulled a corpse out of the sea... Or maybe it was five years ago, in the cave of Ghar Dalam?

Spellman, an American black magician, has designs on a handpicked bunch of Maltese politicians, bending their will to his master’s. A few sacrifices, that’s all it takes. And he’s helped by Zondadari, a rather nasty vampire.

Maltese-American investigative journalist Maria Caruana’s in denial. She can’t believe Count Zondadari is a vampire. She won’t admit it. Such creatures don’t exist, surely? She won’t admit she’s in love with him, either...

Detective Sergeant Attard doesn’t like caves or anything remotely supernatural. 

Now he teams up with Maria to unravel the mysterious disappearance of young pregnant women. They’re helped by the priest, Father Joseph.

And there are caves, supernatural deaths and a haunting exorcism. 

Just what every holiday island needs, really.

Reviews of Death is Another Life

Kay Lesley Reeves (Spain)

I'll never look at bats in quite the same way again. An original twist on vampire legend with a hint of tongue-in-the-cheek humour.

Mr. M. C. Iles "Longman" (UK)

I visited Malta many years ago and Robert's description is spot on. In fact his research is so exact that half-forgotten memories soon came flooding back and I found myself walking those ancient streets once again. A dark and classical tale with excellent twists that will keep readers enthralled.

Angela M.

Death is Another Life by, Robert Morton has a strong structure and is full of rich writing and action. The plot has page turning twists and the main characters are likeable, especially the female lead. I hadn't read a vampire book in a while and was reminded of how intensely gruesome they can be. While this one has its squeamish moments it's not atypical for the genre, and I can't help liking a well written book! The Malta setting was perfect, making this a great escape read.

E. B. Sullivan (California)

Set in picturesque Malta Death Is Another Life offers the reader a refreshing twist on the popular vampire genre. Mr. Robert Morton weaves a story with multiple surprises. From the beginning, his plausible and complex characters lure the reader deeper in his yarn. In particular, Maria and Michael are hypnotic, compelling, and seductive. The desire to learn more about these romantic and dashing figures makes this book a true page-turner.

Kathleen Anderson (Kathleen Janz-Anderson (Oregon)

The story carefully unfolds into a complex, and chilling tail not exactly for the lighthearted. Maria Caruana, an investigative journalist and police Sergeant Francis, investigate the disappearance of young pregnant women. They put their lives on the line to learn whether or not black magic is alive on the Maltese islands.

A startling find as Maria watches her father Dr Nicholas Caruana, a police pathologist, do an autopsy pulls her into the forces of good verses evil. Some people make good out of bad, but Bryson Spellman takes his bitterness to the dark side. Michael Zondadari, a vampire, and Bonello a politician, and his right hand man, Grech are just a few he sucks into his evil plan. Maria's search for answers takes her to Michael Zondadari. He has a hold over her from the moment she sets eyes on him, and even as she wonders if she loves him, she fears that he is a vampire.

The dark forces gather, and then the story breaks wide open and reveals the depth of evil that has befallen the beautiful tourist island of Malta. This is a rather deep story with some x-rated parts that I feel should be placed as a warning. This is not something I normally read, and will have to admit that I had to skip a couple of those x-rated paragraphs.

Heather Savage (Zimmerman, MN, US)

Dan Brown meets Dracula. Robert Morton's Death is Another Life is a fast paced, intelligent read that kept my pulse pounding until the last page. Vampires are certainly enjoying a revival, but Morton's take is entirely fresh, certainly not like the one so overdone today.

I will be removing the links in earlier blogs...