Please use this page to leave a comment on the Romney and Marsh Files, or read some from readers who have enjoyed them.
Oliver Tidy
Crime and Thriller Fiction
Please use this page to leave a comment on the Romney and Marsh Files, or read some from readers who have enjoyed them.
Oliver Tidy 
This is a fantastic debut novel. Like a modern day, slightly more enlightened, Gene Hunt, the central character, Romney, courses his way around the Kent coast in pursuit of his suspects, encountering a host of larger than life characters en-route. You root for him and his partner, Marsh (great pun) every step of the way. The writer manages to conjure up the tensions of small town England and crafts a plot-line that keeps you hooked until the very end. I can’t wait for the next one. (Rich66, Amazon.uk) 5*
OK, so I know the man. But he’s well-read and an English teacher, so it counts, right? Doesn’t it? Please say it does. Thanks, Richard.
rope enough was a terrific book,the characters were engaging and the story well written and fast paced. trust me this book will not disappoint and i can’t wait to start to read the next instalment in the series! (jdeeney, Amazon.com) 5*
Thank you for the comment. I appreciate your thoughts and time. I hope that you enjoy the second one in the series as much.
Well worth reading (Paul C Smith, Smashwords) 5*
Many thanks for the comment.
Hi I just found your book “rope enough” through iBooks and devoured it in one sitting! The genre isn’t one I would normally go for but your writing was so easy to read and the characters likeable. You said you wanted feedback so here is my only constructive criticism. The grammar in parts could use a little work. I’m not an English teacher though so you can tell me to get stuffed! Overall I think you’re an excellent writer and I look forward to reading more of your work. I have subscribed to your blog and encourage you to keep up the good work!
Hi Keri. Firstly, thank you so much for for taking the time and trouble to comment here. That is not supposed to read like some copy/paste platitude: I am genuinely thrilled at your comment. I’m guessing that you followed up the link that I inserted in the e-book and you’ve no idea how happy that makes me. You are the first and that is just such an awesome feeling. Secondly, I want to try to convey to you how affecting it is for me, as an aspiring author, to read your comment that you devoured my book in one sitting. I can’t seem to help thinking in clichés tonight, but it really does make the effort that I’ve gone through to self-publish seem worth-while when I read something like that. As for telling you to get stuffed (haha) perish the thought. I hope that you’ll take a look at Making a Killing – the second in the series. It should be on iBooks within the week through Smashwords and for free. Thanks once again and you can expect to see me over at your blog soon. All the best, Oliver
This is one of those books that once you start reading, can’t put down. The characters are interesting and real. The plot has some nice twists and turns, but none of the implausible coincidences on which a lot of murder mysteries rely. As soon as I finished this book I downloaded the second in the series. Looking forward to the third being available. (Kimpar, Smashwords.) 4*
Hi. Thank you very much for your comment. I really appreciate the feedback. I hope that you enjoy the second. I’m engaged on more proof-reading and editing of the third. It should be available within a week or so.
I just finished R&M Book 1 and I am about to start Book 2. I did take a moment to review the book on Smashwords, but wanted to comment here as well. Absolutely loved Rope Enough. British Police Procedurals are always “brains over guns” and you’ve done a great job here. A couple of minor editing hiccups, but the quality is still excellent for a self -published work. Looking forward to seeing more from you.
Hi Mark. Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to post thoughtful, helpful and encouraging comments both here and on the Smashwords site. As an aspiring author that is exactly what I want and what I need. I’m pleased that you have downloaded the second in the series and would really like to know what you think of that when you get around to reading it. You may have seen from my blog that I live in a a country where English is not the native language and, not having a close circle of native English speaking friends to read my stuff and offer feedback, I am totally reliant on readers from the web for that. I just mention this to underline how your feedback and any other that I can get is so important to me. Thanks again. Oliver.
I recently uploaded to my Kindle the first two books of Oliver Tidy’s, Romney and Marsh Files, Make a Killing and Rope Enough. I was ready for some Christmas crime reading. They didn’t disappoint. Both books made me feel as though I was sitting down to read an episode or two of a British TV crime drama – which I love. I really enjoyed Tidy’s main characters – especially Marsh – the female side of the detective pair. Romney made me want to smack him up the side of the head a couple of times – but what the heck – we don’t have to like everything a character does. Both books kept me reading right to the end. I figured out a plot twist or two just pages before the author revealed what was going on – a nice feeling for the reader of a crime story.
The Kindle formatting on both e-books was good – I would have liked a Table of Contents page with links to the start of each individual chapter for easier maneuverability through both books but was not overly burdened by the lack. Make a Killing had a small handful of editing issues – missing words, a character called by the wrong name – little things that slipped through the cracks. Nothing that would have stopped me from reading but I did hope to see less of those sorts of issues in Rope Enough. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I hope to see a smoother read when I upload the third book in the series – which I will. As I said – none of these issues made me stop reading. I wanted to know who dunnit!
Oliver – I’m prepared to put this review up to Amazon if you are OK with it. Just let me know.
Hi Francis
Firstly, many thanks to you for taking the time and trouble (and if you downloaded from Amazon, expense) of trying out my books. I really appreciate that.
Thanks also for the detailed and thoughtful comments in your feedback. That’s exactly what I’m looking for at the moment and what I need. If you could upload that to Amazon it would be great.
I must apologise for any mistakes in my writing. I’m sure you know how it is – when you’re doing all your proof-reading and editing yourself you end up just not seeing things. If you can point me in the direction of any changes that I need to make (in particular that incorrect name) I’d be grateful. I wonder, was it where a Mrs Goddard is called Mrs Logi by Romney? If so, then, obviously, I’ve already been alerted to that.
Now, where would you like me to download Disappearing In Plain Sight from and return the favour? If you provide me with a link I will get on it as soon as I’ve finished this last merry-go-round ride of editing and proof-reading on the third book.
Best wishes for 2013
Oliver
________________________________
That was the incorrect name. Please don’t apologize – the editing process is over the top gruelling and I’m sure when my book comes out people will be telling me the same thing. I actually felt that the few errors I saw were on things that had happened to me over and over – rewrites or corrections and you end up backspacing a bit too far or not far enough – a word stays that should go and a word that should stay disappears. It is very frustrating. But as I said – it didn’t stop me from enjoying the stories and it wouldn’t stop me from buying the next Romney and Marsh file.
Just published the review up to the Amazon site!
Thanks again, Francis. Much appreciated.
Well done Mr. Tidy. Rope Enough shows a high level of planning for the plot and the writing is exceptional, especially for a self published work. The main characters are believable and likable, while the antagonist are as bad as they can be without being pure evil and horrific. The personal insights into Romney make his character solid and let the reader link to him. I highly recommend this story for fans of British detectives. (R.E. Schobernd, Smashwords) 5*
Thank you very much for your encouraging comment. I really appreciate you taking the time and trouble to feedback.
Rope Enough has good characters and a great plot. The problems are wordiness and editing. It needs professional help to compete on a professional level against recognized authors. I’ll give it a 4, but would prefer a 3.5. (I. Readalot, Smashwords) 4*
Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to feedback your thoughts. I’m working on the editing.
Like ‘Rope Enough’, ‘Making a Killing’ has good characters and great plot. Mr. Tidy is an accomplished story teller. The same problems carried over to this second story in the series. It also suffers from wordiness and editing, not at all professional. At the opening there are 16 screens about the character Duncan Smart and then he is killed off and goes away. The lead in to Duncan was overdone for a disposable character. (I. Readalot, Smashwords) 3*
Thanks again for your thoughts. I’ve come to be disappointed with myself for some of the errors that the first two books carry. No excuses. As for your other points, all I can say is that the wordiness is part of my writing style and the opening chapter worked for me. I hope that, if you see this, you’ll read the next book in the series and let me know what you think. Thanks again.
This book follows on the series of Romney and Marsh detective stories that began with Rope Enough. This one is another great piece that rattles along throwing up more red herrings than a Billingsgate fishmonger. The characters are well developed and likeable and the plot well driven with lots of unexpected twists and turns. With the exception of a few minor editing omissions, the piece is well written and deserves wider readership. (Rich66, Amazon) 5*
Richard is someone that I know personally. Thanks Richard. Much appreciate your comment, time and trouble.
I have never been to Dover and it is a credit to Mr. Tidy that he can transport one so fully into the world of white cliffs, WWII gun batteries and urban decay. This well written book takes one through the pitfalls and joys of DI Romney’s being and comes up a winner to me. I would suggest it to anyone who would like something a bit more meaty than the latest CSI brand on the TV. (G. Kremer, Apple ibook store) 5*
Thanks for the positive comment, Greg. Much appreciated.
I was excited about the second Romney and Marsh book, and I wasn’t disappointed. This was an intricate tale and quite engaging. I don’t share the previous reviewer’s thoughts about wordiness. There were a couple of minor editing hiccups but having exchanged info with the author, I know he will correct and update the offering. The sub-plot featuring the displaced DS added to the complexity of the book. I have just downloaded Book 3 and I cannot wait! (Mark Sheppard, Smashwords.)
Many thanks, again, Mark, for taking the time and trouble to comment. To be honest, after your comment on the first book I was very much looking forward to seeing what you made of the second, as I will of the third when you get around to reading it.
The three Romney & Marsh books are in a long-standing tradition of English police series, and are much better done than most. the author has a wonderful touch, and an ability to make the various subsidiary characters come alive. I read all three over a long weekend, and have been searching for number four or anything else by this author since then. There’s a hint that number three may be the last – I certainly hope not, and look forward to a long series. Reading them in order is best, but all are very good. (Theodore Borrego, Smashwords) 4*
This made my day. Make that my week. Thank you for the time, trouble and sentiments of your comment. I hope that there will be more too, but at present I’m involved in other projects.
as a die hard british police procedural reader who’s read just about all of them ruth rendell, cynthia harrod-eagles, rf wingate, peter robinson, ian rankin, stuart macbride, elizabeth george, i had to chance to download the first 3 novels of mr. tidy …free….
i figured couldnt lose and i didnt. i would have paid and would in the futre for any of his 3 books. to me they are as good as anything i’ve read. (HRH Spider Cats, Amazon.com) 5*
Thank you for taking a chance on downloading the books, reading them and then taking the time and trouble to post such an encouraging comment. For me to read something like that makes it all seem worthwhile.
I finished Joint Enterprise last week. Oliver, you have wonderful characters – written so in character that they are likeable and irratating in turns and that’s great. I believe that Romney is the way he is and Marsh is who she is and the supporting characters are great, too. You have a wonderful setting with lots of scope for all kinds of subsequent books. I even like the quirky situations they are forced to investigate. After all, who wants to read about a garden variety crime.
I may have come across one or two typos in the whole thing and they weren’t even glaring. Congrats on that. The Kindle layout was great.
I felt the ending came up to suddenly. I was clicking on the turn the page button wondering why there were no more pages. I’m not sure that is the effect you want from the reader. Maybe I should have seen it coming. Maybe it was me. And I can’t really believe you mean to end Romney anyway.
The one other thing I’ll say (and I only say this because I went through a very similiar situation) is that a good line by line copy editor could help you with some of your sentence construction. When I look at the difference in my manuscript from before to after this type of work was done – well, I cringe and I couldn’t be happier. What I realized is that this type of editing can take a sentence that I thought was just fine and hone it down and polish it up so it shone.
To be honest, I feel like I’m getting invested in these characters. I want to see Marsh come more into her own strengths (and please, please, please don’t ever have her talk about the curse again – I just don’t think she would say that) and I want to see that softer side of Romney now and then – though his edginess is part of his attraction. And I like the way he is aware of his foibles – and I want to see him go and see that shrink for awhile and find out how that works out.
Hope you don’t mind that I’ve gone on and on here. If you want a more private venue to discuss these things I’d be happy to move to email – guenettefrancis@gmail.com
Francis
I am absolutely thrilled to have received your comments. Thank you. You have provided me with very valuable and much sought after feedback about the books and my writing and I am sincerely grateful for the time and trouble that you have taken for that. Not just this one but the other two also.
On reflection, perhaps the ending is a little sudden, but then again I seem to remember finding that appropriate at the time. It’s interesting to get another’s perspective on that. Partly, I wanted to leave myself plenty of room to start another story in the series, if I ever get around to it. I also wanted to leave the reader with more than a hint of uncertainty that maybe that was it for Romney. Violent death often takes one by surprise, I imagine, but hope never to find out.
Funny that you should highlight the ‘curse’ issue. I’ve generally felt comfortable with what I ask of Marsh, but that issue did make me think twice. Maybe I should have thought three times – was it just too male a thing to impose on her? Too patronising and predictable? I promise never to mention it again, if she hasn’t already quit the force. Wilkie shook her up.
I take on board your point regarding copy editing. Perhaps if I had the money and the time and the energy all over again knowing what I do now I might have gone for it. Now, I can’t help thinking that I’ve probably had the bulk of the downloads that I’m going to and further titivating would be like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. I’m probably going to try to peddle the three books around literary agents sometime. If one of them ever took me on and wanted to take it further, I’ll leave those things to them. I can dream.
If and when I get around to another, I’ll have Romney’s near-death experience, coupled with a few sessions with the head doctor, soften his world view (until someone tees him off).
I very much look forward to the publication of your novel and returning the favour – not out of any sense of daunting obligation, by the way, but because you have supported me in this and I want to support you back.
Once again, many, many thanks for your thoughts and best wishes.
Oliver
I love your books, I really hope an editor will pick you up someday. You get a lot of trash via smashwords, but your books are always very easy to read and I don’t like putting them down until finished. Good luck.
Ginny, thank you so much for your taking the time and trouble to comment here. I’m always delighted to receive a comment, particularly when it refers to all three books and are so encouraging.
Hi, a few years ago after knee surgery and time on my hands I started to read paperbacks starting with James Patterson, Simon kernick, mark billingham and Stuart macbride all of which I have enjoyed. Last year I got a kobo ereader and have continued to read the same authors but having read most, I’m looking to find similar authors of the same genre/style. Having got to grips with my kobo and not wanting to waste money on books I know nothing about I decided to search for free books and short stories to try and find new books by new authors, this is when I came across one of your Romney and marsh books, seeing that I was a series I searched and downloaded your 3 books.
I am 80% through the first book rope enough and I’m really into enjoying it, it reminds me of Stuart macbrides Logan McRae series.
As I’m enjoying it so much I’ve looked for you as an author and can only find the 3 books is that you have done? If so and if the rest of this book and the following two books are as interesting of what I’ve read I will Defo be looking out for your books in the future.
Congratulations, and good luck for the future. Christopher Scott.
Hi Christopher. Thanks for leaving a comment about the Romney and Marsh book. It’s much appreciated. Naturally, I’m pleased to read that you are enjoying it. If and when you get around to reading the other two I’d be interested to know what you thought of them. I’ve not read Stuart MacBride, but I know that he is well regarded. These are the only three books that I have on the internet at present. I’m working on others. I’ll have news here when they finally get put out there. Best wishes, Oliver
Julie Kellum on February 25, 2013 at 2:39 am said:
I just finished reading your first book and downloading the next two at the Barnes & Noble Nook site. I was very surprised to find that you are self published. I really enjoyed the first book and thought I probably need to pay around $9.00 for the next book.(Had that been the case, I’ d have been checking my local library.)
I’ve never written to an author, just assumed my opinion wasn’t important. Then I decided to ho to your blog site. I just watched a DCI Banks episode on PBS today and enjoyed your story almost as much. I have a love of English mysteries both on tv and in books and am really looking forward to sharing your name and book titles with other mystery fans I know. Unfortunately,some like my elderly mom don’t do ebooks. Good luck and please keep this seroes coming.
Dear Julie
Many thanks for taking a chance on a Romney and Marsh title and then reading it and letting me know what you thought.
It’s always encouraging, as an aspiring author, to learn that someone enjoys the fruits of one’s labours. Please, don’t ever think that as a reader your opinion is not important. Positive comments make my day, as yours did.
If and when you get around to reading the other two in the series I’d really like to know what you thought of them.
My mum won’t entertain an ebook either, so I have to print them off for her! What a chore.
All the best
Oliver
Jacqui Hilton on February 25, 2013 at 10:59 am said:
I am a mystery nut and read upwards of 400 books a year. I saw your books (prob on the-cheap.net site,) and downloaded all 3 of them. It’s been less than a week and i just finished the third book and i thoroughly enjoyed them! I read so fast and read so many books that i am really particular about which books i choose to spend money on. now that i have finished with this series, i can say that i would be happy to purchase any future works from you. Dont get discouraged about the reviews…..people are lazy! I am totally guilty of this myself, in fact, i prob wouldnt have written this if i hadnt clicked your link to see if you had more books that i could read! Keep up the good work, i cant wait to see what you put out next
Hi Jacqui
Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to comment. It is much appreciated.
Four hundred books a year is a huge number. I can’t find the time for a tenth of that. I wish I could. I don’t read enough.
I’m naturally really pleased to see that you enjoyed the Romney and Marsh books. Feedback is truly valued. Did I mention that? Maybe you are right; maybe people are just lazy about it. As someone’s who’s trying to ‘make it’ I can now understand how important to the whole process receiving feedback is and it doesn’t take long to type a couple of sentences, does it?
Thanks again.
Best wishes,
Oliver
I just found a couple of reviews on Barnes and Noble’s Nook book page.
Great read! I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The story moved along, the pieces fit together, and although I figured out the suspect, there was still enough twists and turns to keep me going until the end. Looking forward to books two and three and possibly more. 4*
This is a great detective story. The British team of Romney and Marsh make an engaging crime fighting duo based in Dover, England. There were a few editorial errors therefore the four stars. Character development was good. The crusty veteran cop, Romney and the youngish female Marsh. Anxious to read the author’s other works.4*
This was a pretty decent story, however it was written by someone from the UK so there was a bit of a difference for me in understanding the terms used. But otherwise it was a pretty good story. 3*
(Many thanks.)
I am not an avid reader,i had not really read a book in like 20 years.My wife loves to read and gave me her old nook.i downloaded your book (making a killing)and i could not put it down.i can’t wait to read the other ones.thank you for opening a whole new world to me that i had lost. thank you much dave green
Hi Dave. Thanks for getting in touch. I have to say that your comment really touched me. If reading one of my books has got you thinking about reading again then I take that as the highest compliment that I’ve received. I hope that you enjoy the others as much.
Best wishes
Oliver
Was a good read, on to the next. (Linda Trembath,Smashwords, 5*)
Thank you for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the book. I look forward to seeing how you find the others.
Just read you second book the series of Romney and Marsh and anxious to get into the third book. I like you style of writing. The books kept my interest through out. And I will be looking for more books from you. Keep it up..
Many thanks, Bette, for your positive and encouraging comment. I hope that you enjoy the third one as much.
Mr. Tidy
I have read all three of your books and would give them 5 of 5 stars. They are will written with a good plot with no errors. I could not put them down once I started reading them. Thank you for some very good reading and looking forward for your next one. Keep up the good work.
Kelly Smith
Hi Kelly
I can’t tell you how genuinely pleasing it is for me to check my email and read a comment such as yours. Seriously, thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to let me know what you thought.
I’m working on other writing projects at the moment, but hope to have Romney and Marsh back out on the streets sometime next year.
All the best
Oliver Tidy
mike on March 20, 2013 at 4:26 pm said: Edit
Mr. Oliver Tidy,
I have read all three of your Romney/Marsh books and enjoyed all three. I live in the U.S. and am retired and hope you follow up with more Romney/Marsh stories (at least if he’s still alive). You’re books were very well written and look forward to future stories.
Hi Mike, many thanks for taking the time and trouble to let me know what you thought of the books. It really is encouraging to have people like yourself get in touch. I have a strong feeling that Romney escaped serious injury and that he and Marsh will be back out on the Dover streets sometime next year. All the best.
Downloaded Rope Enough and enjoyed it so much I have bought your other two.In fact enjoyed the book so much I did not put it down until I had finished it. Well done.
Janet,
Thanks very much for letting me know that you enjoyed the first Romney and Marsh. It’s always so encouraging to discover that someone else likes the books. I’m not sure that there can be a greater compliment than a reader going on to purchase the other books in the series. Thanks for that too.
Best wishes.
(Copied from the comments section of my, ‘Making a Killing’ blog post)
Dorothy L Hall 13.04.2013
Since getting an ereader, I’ve gotten many free downloads from authors I would not have otherwise read. Your books included. However, I have discovered I enjoy these authors more. It seems the “best seller” authors have gotten stale for me and their books are just repeats of their previous books.
I particularly enjoyed your three Romney and Marsh and look forward to reading more. Good luck to you and please don’t stop writing.
Dorothy,
Many thanks for your positive and encouraging comment. I’m genuinely pleased to hear that you enjoyed the Romney and Marsh books. I write primarily because I enjoy the process and, much to my wife’s chagrin, I have no intention of stopping any time soon.
Kind regards.
Hello Oliver,
I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations on your excellent books.
I have just finished reading Rope enough and Making a killing, and am just about to start on Joint enterprise.
Reading these two books has given me more pleasure than any books I have read for a long time, and I am looking forward to reading Joint enterprise.
The last author that I enjoyed this much is Quintin Jardine, I have all his books and have read all of them at least twice. I will do the same with yours.
I sincerely hope that you produce many more books of the same outstanding quality, if you do I would like to be first in line to read them. Is it possible for you to notify me of any future new publications ?
Best regards
P.Foster
Hı Phil
Thank you so much for your really encouraging email. I genuinely appreciate you taking the time and trouble to let me know what you thought of the books. And, of course, I am chuffed that you enjoyed them. I shared your email with my aged mother over the telephone last nıght and she was thrilled, so thanks for that opportunity.
I have not read any of Quentin Jardine but I know of him and I understand that he is well regarded. I will add him to my reading list.
At present I am working on editing two books in another series. These are more in the thriller genre rather than the police procedural. I wrote them over the last couple of years and think that what I have learned about writing through the Romney and Marsh books can be brought to bear on these to make them worth self-publishing. Time and reader feedback will tell.
I hope to have these two on Amazon by the end of May. I will certainly let you know when they are out there, but they might not be your sort of thing if you are a police procedural man.
As for Romney and Marsh, I would be very interested to know what you think of Joint Enterprise if you can spare a minute for an email when you’ve read it.
All the best and thanks again.
Hello Oliver
I have just finished reading Joint Enterprise. I enjoyed every bit as much as the other two books. I sincerely hope you have not killed off inspector Romney, I would very much look forward to his further adventures.
I really like your writing style, you don’t go into too much extraneous detail that spoils some otherwise good books.
Keep it up, I look forward to reading your future works.
Best regards
Phil Foster
Rope Enough – Although there was only one review,( normally I only download books with several reviews) I downloaded this book and found that I could not put it down. A good book from beginning to end. As soon as I finished it I bought the other two books in the series. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. (Paul, Amazon.co.uk 5*)
Rope Enough – If I say that this is a solidly written police procedural novel, I mean that only in the best sense of the word. All of the characters, on both sides of the law, are well and convincingly delineated, as are the various social milieux and the tensions of life and society in post-2000 Dover and Kent. The plot moves along at a hearty pace, and the denouement, though expected, still makes you hold your breath in case something goes wrong at the last moment. Highly recommended, a real page turner. (avid reader, Amazon.co.uk, 5*)
Rope Enough – Reasonably well rounded male characters, not so much on the females. Well constructed plot, a little too easy to guess the ending, but that did not detract from from my overall enjoyment. Encouraged me to buy the next two in the series. (overspent dad, Amazon.co.uk, 5*)
Hello Mr. Tidy,
I read all 3 of your Romney and Marsh File books from Barnes & Noble downloads and I loved them! I recommended them to my Mom, who downloaded the first, and also loved it. Unfortunately, the 2nd and 3rd books are no longer available from B&N to download to the nook. I have no idea what happened to them 😦 I tried to send her Making a Killing via the “Lend Me” feature, and it doesn’t come through… I guess the books are well and truly gone from B&N.
Are they available elsewhere for downloading. My Mom would love to read the 2nd two books.
Thank you from a fan,
Andrea
Hello Andrea
Thanks for your email.
I’m genuinely pleased to see that you enjoyed the Romney and Marsh books enough to recommend them to your mum.
I’m a new author. When I published the Romney and Marsh books I had no idea how they would be received by readers. Initially, I listed them for free on Smashwords – they supply B&N – and Amazon. After a couple of months of that I decided to put a price on the second and third books and leave the first for free everywhere. Because of payment set-up issues with Smashwords, I had to withdraw them and so they, of course, had to withdraw them from all their outlets.
The second and third are for sale on Amazon.com – Making a Killing is $2.33 and Joint Enterprise is $3.06. I wanted to list them at $1.99 and $2.99 but Amazon adjusted the prices.
I’m sorry your mum didn’t get around to downloading them when they were free. If there was a way that I could send her free copies I would, but I don’t have the technical know-how.
The books are only selling a few copies in the US each month but are much more successful in my native UK.
By the end of May I will have two other books for sale through Amazon in a new series. I intend to get Romney and Marsh back out on the Dover streets in the next year.
Thanks again for your email. It’s always good to hear from readers who enjoy Romney and Marsh.
Best wishes to you and your mum.
Oliver
Thanks so much for your hard work putting these books out there, I have thoroughly enjoyed this first book and will be getting the others today and can’t wait to see what happens to the characters. It has helped that I live around this area and can picture the scenes in my minds eye as I read. Your sense of humour does shine through in the text I feel, and the blog is a great read as well. CR.
I want to thank you for getting in touch. I really appreciate you taking the time and trouble for that. I’m also, naturally, pleased to see that you enjoyed the story and the blog. I had/have a lot of fun writing them all.
Hi Oliver,
I have just finished reading your first book which I downloaded for free. I am a regular reader of Jack Higgins, Micheal Connelly and James Patterson. I have just purchased a kindle and decided to check out the free list and found your book. I was really impressed and totally enjoyed it which has resulted in me immediately purchasing Making a Killing and Joint Enterprise from Amazon. I was born in Kent so it was an added interest. One of the problems with a Kindle is that it is too easy to continue to read in bed to the early hours which your book certainly encourage. I wish luck with your writing and will keep a look out for further publications. I am looking forward to reading the other two that I have purchased.
Good luck for the future.
Regards
Graham
Hello Graham
Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to drop me a line about Rope Enough. Naturally, I’m thrilled to know that you enjoyed it enough to contact me. As a new author, I can honestly say that encouraging feedback is appreciated as much as purchases – I thank you also for buying the next two.
I would really like to hear how you find Making A Killing and Joint Enterprise when you get around to reading them.
I totally agree with the Kindle point that you raise. My wife complained like mad when I read in bed with the light on; now I have a Kindle with a built in light in the cover that doesn’t seem to bother her and I just read and read when I really should be sleeping.
All the best and have a good weekend.
I’m not sure how I found this book, but because I’ve read the Parish and Richards series I think Amazon recommended this one – oh and how pleased am I that it did. I now have another great detective series to read. This book gripped me from start to finish, I even took my kindle on the school run so I could catch another 5 minutes of reading. The actual crimes were quite gruesome and disturbing to read, but the whole plot rattled along at a good pace, and the characters were believable and made me want to read more. I hope Grimes keeps his shoes clean in the next book though! I did try this one (a) because it was number one in the series, and I have to read things in order, and (b) it was free! It’s a great way to get a reader to try a book, and it says a lot about the author that I’m now happily going to pay to download the rest of the series… hope there will be more than two more! Keep writing please!!! (Mrs Dunwoody, Amazon.co.uk 5*)
A brilliant debut novel. Really loved it. The main characters are believable, likeable and well developed. The plot kept me gripped to the end. Being set in Kent just added to my pleasure! (Jools, Amazon.co.uk 5*)
I read this in two evenings and enjoyed it. I hadn’t touched my kindle for months but this has given me a taste for it again. Love the Kent references, really hope it becomes a tv drama! (T Brenchley, Amazon.co.uk 5*)
Good, fast-paced crime novel with a feasible plot (unlike a lot of others in this genre). I found the characters a bit two-dimensional, but I nevertheless enjoyed the book very much and will read others in the series. (T Crane, Amazon.co.uk 4*)
I enjoyed this book and was delighted it was set in Kent I’m a great fan of Peter James Brighton based books.I hope Oliver is planning to write a long series of Romney and Marsh Files too.Well done. (sharronlavinia, Amazon.co.uk 5*)
Loving this author and his style of writing. especially like the working relationship between the two main characters. Twists and turns keep the reader interested and wanting more. This is second book read out of trio. Excited about starting third. if you are a phsycological thriller junkie you willl enjoy these books. (hazyfantazy, Amazon.co.uk 4*)
Just finished the first book and loved it! What a great find. I actually discovered it while aimlessly browsling the Kindle store and decided to look for novels set in Kent (which is were I live) Straight away the notion of a DI Romney and a Seargent Marsh tickled me, so I just had to try it. The story kept me gripped and I found my self looking forward to the daily commute so that I could get stuck in! I am a big fan of Peter James, Mark Billingham, Peter Robinson and now Oliver Tidy makes four! You asked for any observsations or corrections, and because I enjoyed it so much I am loathe to point out even the smallest of things but seeing as you did ask…..In the scene where Romney visits the Charity Shops, just to be pedantic, It should be Cancer Research UK (believe me the UK is a big deal) They became such in 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. and Cat’s Protection should be minus the ‘League’ The charity changed its name from The Cats Protection League to the shorter and more modern sounding Cats Protection in 1998 (told you it was pedantic!) Anyway I can’t wait to get hold of the next book in the series and from the reviews I’ve already read I won’t be disappointed. Thank you for Romney and Marsh, long may they continue. Best wishes Sarah Broughton
Hi Sarah
Many thanks for posting an encouraging comment. Naturally, I’m pleased to understand that you enjoyed the book. If and when you get around to the next, I hope that it also works for you.
I’m always more than a little amused when a reader tumbles the Romney and Marsh connection – it’s where I was born and bred and once it occurred to me to use Romney and Marsh as names, I couldn’t resist it.
As a recovering charity-shop-junkie, I could kick myself for getting those names wrong, especially the UK element of Cancer Research. I should have known better. I thank you for your observations and corrections. I might raise them at the weekly Charity-Shopaholics-Anonymous meeting and see what the other have to say. It won’t be good, I know. They’re a weird bunch.
I do care about Romney and Marsh and hope that they can continue to help me pass the time in my self-imposed exile.
Best wishes.
Update….Just downloaded the next installment. I’ll also pop a review on Amazon for you, I’ve posted on Twitter and Facebook to encourage friends to download book one, hope this becomes as big a success as Peter Robinson has had with DI Banks!
Hı Sarah,
Thank you so much for your support in raising awareness for Romney and Marsh and for your purchase. It is much appreciated. I hope that you enjoy the next in the series. Best wishes. Oliver
Hi Oliver
Just spent the last 10 days or so engrossed in the Romney & Marsh books.
Taking the ferry to France on Saturday from Dover where I will look up at the castle and hope that Romney isn’t dead and will return soon.
Going to check out your Acer Samson books right now to get another Oliver Tidy fix!
Good luck and thanx!
Theresa
Hi Theresa
Thanks so much for getting touch to let me know that you enjoyed the R&Ms. You have made my day.
I hope that I have a few more Romney and Marsh books in me. They are too much fun to write to kill him off yet. Mind you, if he doesn’t cheer up a bit I might have to seriously consider it.
Acer Sansom books should be on Amazon by the end of May, latest. They are a different read from the R&Ms in a different genre. I’m just giving you a heads-up on that. The last thing that I want is for someone to download them expecting R&M style writing and be disappointed.
Thanks again. Say hi to Dover for me. And have a good trip.
Best wishes
Oliver
Hi – I loved Rope Enough despite the typos which seem to have crept past the editing regime, and look forward to downloading the next two. Typos are an inevitable fact of life, like rain in an English summer, but the really unforgivable error is the use of “could of” in place of “could have” or “could’ve” which is the diminutive “could of” is trying to be. I wouldn’t normally make comments such as these on a public web page; I much prefer to make criticisms to an author privately, but you sadly haven’t made provision for that.
Hi Dawn (?)
Glad that you enjoyed the book. Thanks for letting me know.
The editing regime is me. The buck stops here (actually, come to think of it, it starts here too). As a self-publisher without either the money to pay for proof-reading services, or a circle of friends to burden with my outpourings, I am all I have. As you mention, they are an inevitable fact of life (typos, not friends that is). By the time I’ve gone over my books ten times, I’ve just stopped seeing my mistakes. I try hard to be perfect but as my third wife was often fond of saying….never mind. This isn’t the place for that.
All the best.
Hi again – I completely understand about the editing and not seeing mistakes, but could of??? My biggest grammatical bugbear by a long shot. Makes me see red. I have refrained from mentioning it on Amazon however.
Dawn
It will never happen again. On my oath. I write – I learn about writing (theoretically). Thank you for not mentioning it on Amazon. I think that you must be my Amazon commenter with the initials AA from Yorkshire. If so, then thank you. I liked your comment a lot. Please drop by Amazon and see my reply. Best wishes.
Having enjoyed Rope Enough I decided to go ahead and download both Making a Killing and Joint Enterprise. I have read Making a Killing in an afternoon but haven’t yet started Joint Enterprise – I did only download them last night though.
I am very disappointed however, – You did it again!!! Location 40 on my Kindle – Duncan Smart ruminating on his divorce settlement and what it would have meant if he had lost a part share of his home – “He’d of had to sell” Arrghh. – He would HAVE HAD to sell !!
In Location 1492 when Marsh phones Mrs West you used the wrong name – you had her saying “Hello, Mrs Emmerson?”
In the scene inside the Kebab shop you describe how Arda throws a can of soft drink at Grimes, who dodges it, and makes a run for the door. You then describe how Arda is knocked out by the door being opened inwards by the uniformed officers outside, but then also tell of Romney lying on the floor, stunned and bleeding with no detail of how he got into that condition. I would suspect that you initially did write something about it but somehow managed to edit it out? That caused me such confusion that I asked my husband to read the relevant passage to see if I was missing something. A little later when he is speaking to Wilkie, Romney .tells him that he was injured by “one of those doors which opens inwards when you least expect it” but in location 3145 you have Marsh referring to Arda as having assaulted the DI with the can.
In Location 3005 “With his peace said, Romney rose” – it should be piece.
I was disappointed that you introduced a new character towards the end of the book – someone we had never heard of before – to be the murderer. This person really should have been introduced earlier, even if only spoken of. An editor would have advised you against this.
I understand your reasons for not using an editor but I would strongly advise you to find someone to proof read your work. If you really do not want to impose on friends to proof read, then I would suggest that you perhaps choose a couple of your more helpful reviewers and send them a beta copy of your work to read before you publish.
On a more positive note I found your description of the aroma of an old person’s home to be very perceptive and well described. It was very evocative of many a home I have visited.
Hello again, Dawn
Firstly, many thanks for your purchases of the other two R&M books and for once again getting in touch to share some of your thoughts. I hope that I can clear up a couple of misunderstandings for you with this reply.
My hands are held well in the air representing my guilt over ‘would of’ and ‘would have’. It would seem to be one of those erroneous common usages of English that I have adopted without realising it. My mother would be very angry with me for it. Naturally, as I had already self-published the three books before you came to them there was little to be done about correcting that particular error before you came to the second book. Believe me, my throat is drying as I wonder whether I am also guilty of it in Joint Enterprise. I can’t actually bear to look. When I format new editions those mistakes will be rectified and I thank you for pointing them out to me.
On that note, I am currently editing/ proof-reading two other books that I have written and I’m going through them meticulously for examples of the same.
Now, as for the other points that you raise, I am going to defend myself over a couple in what I hope you will only interpret as a courteous and friendly way – I have seen some authors get bitchy with reviewers on Amazon and I can only feel that that is ultimately going to prove counter-productive for them. I have no wish to alienate any one who is buying and reading my books. I just want to hug you all.
Marsh deliberately calls Mrs Emerson by the wrong name in that phone call – adopting a different voice so that she is not recognised – as part of the story. I had hoped that the reader would understand that this was Marsh’s way of letting Mrs Emerson know that the flat way empty and unguarded so that she might be encouraged to return to it. The idea was that this was just some bored police phone-operator who had been given the job of phoning the next of kin but had been given the wrong number – the number that the police would have had. I appreciate that that wouldn’t work for everyone. One of those things, I suppose.
As for Romney’s injury, I had hoped that I had made it quite obvious that it was the full can of drink that Grimes neatly dodged that floored Romney. I did try to make reference to this in subsequent passages with subtle allusion. Again, it seems that I failed. Sorry. As for why Romney would say that his injury was caused by a door – I wanted to give the impression that Romney didn’t want to talk about it, especially to Wilkie and so he just said the common excuse that is often used for an injury of that nature. Marsh’s description in a later passage of how Romney came by that injury is, therefore, accurate. I do hope that that clears that up a little.
‘Peace’ for ‘piece’ is a mistake that I won’t even try to wriggle out of. Guilty for reasons that I have gone into before and won’t bore you with again.
The denouement – I fully accept that not everyone will be satisfied with the ending. That’s not to say that some readers won’t be. It just goes to show that you can’t please all the people all the time. It worked for me when I was writing it and I still like it. But I do appreciate and value your feedback on it.
On a more positive note, I am pleased that you enjoyed my description of the aroma of an old person’s home.
Thanks again for your comments and the time and trouble that you took to make them. As a self-publisher I need constructive feedback and I welcome it. When you get around to reading Joint Enterprise I will be just as interested and anxious (?) to receive your thoughts.
Sincere and best wishes,
Oliver
Hi – I have now read all the R&M books. It is interesting that whilst you have developed most of the characters, and really fleshed out some of them – particularly Grimes – Marsh still remains something of an enigma, and Romney seems to have regressed to childhood. Gosh that man needs what my friend refers to as a “leather enema” = a boot up the backside.
Either I have become immune to your use of “of” and didn’t notice (not very likely) or you got over it, because nothing jumped out at me. In fact the only typo/grammatical error I noted was at location 556 when you referred to role-call instead of roll-call. There was one other but I didn’t note it down and I can’t remember what it was.
I am perplexed, and rather put off, by two strands in this story. Why did we need any mention of Marsh’s menstrual cycle? It didn’t add anything to the storyline, the fact that she is a woman is already made plain and does not need underscoring in this way, not to mention that the term used was the archaic “curse”. No-one uses that term these days. Secondly – what was the point of Grimes’ gastro intestinal problems? Once again it was simply an unpleasant aside to the main narrative. Even if it had been important, we really didn’t need to hear about it quite so much as we did. If the point was to allow for the finding of the newspaper – it cleared up after that – it could have been seen on the pub table, as indeed it was, by any of the police officers, without the described bodily functions.
I don’t know if it would be to everyone’s taste to bring an extra strand to the story at the end, after the crimes had been cleared up, but I actually enjoyed it, if it isn’t perverse to say that one enjoyed the demise of a character(?) It isn’t a completely random extra strand as you had brought it up during the earlier part of the story. The first paragraph of the final chapter gives me a hint that the final sentence of the book is not final – or am I reading too much into that paragraph? I know that you have said that you are hoping to write another R&M in the future so obviously all is not over.
I would like to point out that further up this page you have pasted the text of an email (in capitals for added emphasis) that gave away the ending of this book which did spoil the surprise for me. If you like to engage with your readers, as you obviously do, it might be worth removing that.
When I post reviews on Amazon I prefer to be positive and encouraging, (if I post a bad review, the book involved must have been appalling) because a negative review must be so difficult for an author who has put so much effort into his/her work. Where there are glaring mistakes, IF the book is worth the effort, I will make the effort to contact the author privately to let them know, especially if the author, as you did, invites readers to do that. I am slightly uncomfortable doing it on a forum page like this one, but as that is the way in which you have chosen to receive feedback so be it.
I hope you can get round to finding a way of getting your books edited/proof read because they are good and have great potential. I would love to see you published in hard copy and achieving the success you deserve.
Dawn
Really don’t know what happened there. I am writing a reply to you but before I did that I took your advice and removed the comments re the ending of the book (that one in block caps and another). However, the replies that I made seem to have remained and jumped to the end of the comments page. I have since deleted this. 🙂
Hello again Dawn,
I must start by saying how grateful I am to you for not only your purchases and readings, but the considerable time and effort that you must have gone to to provide me with such useful, detailed and much needed feedback. It is all truly appreciated.
For what it’s worth I agree with just about everything that you say regarding the direction and development of the characters. You have provided me with a good objective over-view that, as an author who is sometimes too close to his creations, I needed.
I will never mention the ‘curse’ in anything that I write again. I am putting that inclusion down to me being a man trying to write from a woman’s perspective and failing miserably. I’m sure I’m not the first and I won’t be the last. In the fullness of time, I will be submitting updated versions of all these books with language issues that readers have been kind enough to point out. I am seriously considering altering the text to remove this sentence in light of what you and another reviewer have said.
Regarding Grimes’ digestive issues – I have a strong and at times not very well-developed sense of humour. When I wrote Rope Enough I was taking the genre pretty seriously. I remember accidentally finding that I included something in that that amused me. When I came to Making a Killing, something that I hadn’t really anticipated writing – I didn’t start out to write a series – I found myself relaxing a little and looking for opportunities for including some of my idiosyncratic brand of humour. In Joint Enterprise I was positively contriving situations and opportunities for me to indulge myself – indulge myself is just about right, actually. I fully accept that humour is a very subjective thing and that when one tries to be funny in print it’s a risky business, especially in what is essentially a crime novel. All that said, I can only reply to your concerns regarding the necessity of including a significant amount of detail regarding Grimes’ problems that every line I wrote made me laugh and the idea of the sub-plot still does. You mentioned that Romney had regressed to a little boy in places – I think that I can identify with him often.
I have taken your advice and removed that review with the spoiler. So thanks for highlighting something that could spoil the books for readers. My apologies if it did that for you.
I appreciate the thought that you’d like to see the books in print. Me too but, in truth, my understanding of these things is that I have more chance of winning the lottery – and I don’t even buy a ticket. For now, I’m getting a great deal of pleasure out of my self-publishing adventure.
Right, over to Amazon to comment on your very kind 5* review.
Best wishes
Oliver
PS A leather enema – I like that. I can see Romney saying that in R&M #4.
PPS Should you ever wish to get in touch regarding anything else that you might read of mine and would prefer it, my email address is olivertidy@yahoo.co.uk I would be very pleased to hear from you.
I recognised the little boy having some fun in the description of Grimes’ ailment. I think it is a man thing – my husband and 18 year old son would find the same things funny. Marsh would be rolling her eyes at that too!
Dallas?
Hi i just read rope enough thought it was a really good book couldnt put it down just going to download the second book.
Irene, thanks very much for commenting. I’m pleased that you enjoyed the book and hope that you like the next as much. Best wishes.