Bloodstone Series #4
Date Published: 11-10-2025
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Detective Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner were told to look into the matter. Their investigation reveals evidence of suspicious and unusual activity but no clues regarding the man’s disappearance. The few leads they develop take them from the world of wealthy families and into the secret society of sexual peculiarities.
The detectives discover the victim didn’t simply disappear. He was murdered. They have the evidence except for one problem, they’re missing is the victim’s body.
Interview with Chris Karlsen
Could you tell us about any research trips you took for this story? Which places did you visit, and what made them essential to your writing?
All but two of my books are set in England. I have travelled extensively through England, Scotland, and Wales. I am fascinated by the battle of Rorke’s Drift, which occurred in 1879. Rorke’s Drift was a small hospital station in Zululand at the time. The British (many sick with a variety of illnesses) totaled approximately 130 men. They fought off a Zulu attack of overwhelming odds. My protagonist in the Bloodstone series is a veteran of this attack who won the Victoria Cross for his actions. I toured the South Wales Regimental Museum in Wales and had the opportunity to sit with the docent and discuss the battle. He was able to give me more insight into that battle and the one the day before (Isandlwana) where the entire company was massacred.
I also use locations I found interesting as settings for my stories.
I have a two-book series set in modern Turkey. I spent a good deal of time in Turkey researching nautical archaeology at INA (the Institute of Nautical Archaeology) in Bodrum. The oldest ship ever recovered was found off the coast of Bodrum. I also toured Troy to add information about the Trojan War to that short series. The divers and crews that handled the ship recoveries were a great help describing how they protect the artifacts and the difficulties they encounter.
What's the strangest thing you've ever had to research online for your book?
Researching the Battle of Britain and the fight England put up against the Luftwaffe in WW2, I wouldn’t call it strange but intensely interesting. The Ack Ack Girl I set in England during the war. In order to get more pilots in the air to fight the German attacks, England formed teams of women some to work anti-aircraft teams and others to ferry planes from the factories to the airfields. I was able to see actual interviews from some of the women and RAF pilots. The “dogfights” between Spitfires and German planes are all archived and recorded. The British planes had cameras above the gunports so the air battles can be seen from the pilot’s point of view. News reels from the bombing of London and Coventry are on You Tube and remarkable to watch. Another interesting feature was listening to the BBC broadcasts and listening to Churchill as he talked to the nation.
What research (history, mythology, science) goes into your world-building?
I like to build around actual events. My Knights in Time series has a time travel element. I use the Batte of Poitiers as the link between all the knight protagonists. The books set in Turkey involve the recovery of ancient ships found off the coast of Turkey. The nautical archaeology used delves into some of the science employed to save the ruins and artifacts. The Bloodstone series is set in Victorian England and I try to include the social aspects of that society and utilize what science I can as my detective protagonists investigate various cases. I don’t use Mythology much, at all, a bit here and there.
Have any of the people you've known, past or present, left a lasting impression on your writing journey? If so, we'd love to hear about a memorable experience that stands out to you.
I can’t say any one person left a lasting impression. Events left bigger impressions. When I walked the walls of what remains of Troy, I looked out over the Aegean Sea and tried to imagine seeing the black sails of invaders bringing war. Walking around London and coming upon the spot where the first bomb fell during the Battle of Britain, I imagined the fear and anger the people of London felt having bombs rain down on them.
Do you write in the same genre all the time?
No, I write different genres. My Knights in Time is a romance series, Dangerous Waters is a thriller series, the Bloodstone books are historical suspense.
If so, have you ever consider writing in another one?
I already write different genres. The ones I haven’t tried are in a style I am not especially interested in writing-sci-fi for instance. I am not a big sci-fi fan and don’t really read those books. The same with fantasy. I have read some fantasy like Lord of the Rings etc, but it is not a topic I care to research or write.
Which character, supernatural or human, do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I like writing Rudyard Bloodstone the most. He is a detective and I feel a kinship with him. Since I was a detective for over twenty years, when he is working a case, I enjoy “working” it with him.
My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.
I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.
I’m currently working on the Bloodstone Series, which is historical suspense stories set in Victorian London. I’ve also written two World War 2 romances: The Ack Ack Girl and Moonlight Serenade.
My past series include my historical/time travel romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.
Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.
I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and three wild and crazy rescue dogs.
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