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Anne Selby is a 60 year old retired former British Army servicewoman who lives in
Hampshire, England with her eldest son and her two cats. The Serpent and the Peacock
is her first novel.
Born in South Shields, County Durham in the gloomy and still rationed post-war 1950's,
Anne's interest in books and reading came at a very early age and manifested itself in her
reading everything she could lay her hands on from the age of four, up to and including the
writing on the wrappers on everything. However, it wasn't until her return from serving in the
Gulf War in 1991 when she had just turned 40 years of age that a passion for writing was
finally unlocked. All she had to find now was the perfect subject matter.
In the late 1990's Anne was travelling by train from a friend's house in the Midlands back
home to Hampshire. She had to change trains at Manchester Piccadilly station and the
waiting time for the earliest connection to the south was three hours. What she really
needed, and didn't have, was a book to read while she waited. A book that she
subsequently found in W H Smith and which was about the myth of the two hundred angels
who fell from grace in antediluvian times and recounted various theories that they were not
so much heavenly messengers, but possibly more likely to be a very ancient elder race.
Hampshire, England with her eldest son and her two cats. The Serpent and the Peacock
is her first novel.
Born in South Shields, County Durham in the gloomy and still rationed post-war 1950's,
Anne's interest in books and reading came at a very early age and manifested itself in her
reading everything she could lay her hands on from the age of four, up to and including the
writing on the wrappers on everything. However, it wasn't until her return from serving in the
Gulf War in 1991 when she had just turned 40 years of age that a passion for writing was
finally unlocked. All she had to find now was the perfect subject matter.
In the late 1990's Anne was travelling by train from a friend's house in the Midlands back
home to Hampshire. She had to change trains at Manchester Piccadilly station and the
waiting time for the earliest connection to the south was three hours. What she really
needed, and didn't have, was a book to read while she waited. A book that she
subsequently found in W H Smith and which was about the myth of the two hundred angels
who fell from grace in antediluvian times and recounted various theories that they were not
so much heavenly messengers, but possibly more likely to be a very ancient elder race.
She was hooked after only a few pages and this unwittingly started off five years of reading and research into a subject that completely
fascinated and engrossed her and which left her with one huge question. What on earth was she going to do with all of her new-found
knowledge? A question that resulted in her recently published novel, The Serpent and the Peacock.
There followed many, many attempts to get publishing interest in the book but she was constantly told...
"We love the book, your writing is great...but it's not what we are looking for at the moment."
fascinated and engrossed her and which left her with one huge question. What on earth was she going to do with all of her new-found
knowledge? A question that resulted in her recently published novel, The Serpent and the Peacock.
There followed many, many attempts to get publishing interest in the book but she was constantly told...
"We love the book, your writing is great...but it's not what we are looking for at the moment."
The discovery in a London cemetery of the body of a young woman sparks off a nationwide murder enquiry and Detective
Sergeant Eve Hallam of the London Metropolitan Police, is assigned to the case.
A terrifying encounter with something that she cannot rationally explain, leads Eve to believe that they have more than a simple
murder investigation on their hands. She and Roger Hamilton, the senior investigating officer, find themselves desperately trying
to keep their lives, their sanity and the investigation on track whilst being constantly and tantalisingly side-tracked by the
mysterious group Grigori Enterprises who seem hellbent on obstructing the investigation.
Sergeant Eve Hallam of the London Metropolitan Police, is assigned to the case.
A terrifying encounter with something that she cannot rationally explain, leads Eve to believe that they have more than a simple
murder investigation on their hands. She and Roger Hamilton, the senior investigating officer, find themselves desperately trying
to keep their lives, their sanity and the investigation on track whilst being constantly and tantalisingly side-tracked by the
mysterious group Grigori Enterprises who seem hellbent on obstructing the investigation.
Back Cover Synopsis
"A fascinating and intriguing romp around a world full of mysteries and magic. I loved
the characters with their depth and humanity, even the characters who weren't quite
human held a depth and breadth, not to mention beauty, which captivated.
The plot seemed rather straightforward at first with a mysterious murder/ritualistic
sacrifice, but then with each twist and turn it became more complicated and obvious
that so much more was happening than what the investigating protagonists believed.
So many characters on the surface seemed to be of one ilk, but then were revealed
to hold far greater meaning and purpose the deeper one ventured into the tale.
The adventure, romance, danger, and passion all worked so well in the telling of this
tale. An amazing amount of research obviously went into the story with the police
and coroner's work and with the magic and mythological elements as well. The
location descriptions gave me the impression that the author had been to some of
these lands if not all of them. This book is easy to pick up and so very difficult to put
down again. I so can't wait to read more of Anne Selby's works".
E Finegan, North Carolina, USA.
"5 out of 5 stars What a fantastic e-book!!!!"
This review is from: The Serpent and The Peacock (Kindle Edition)
"What a fantastic read!! Couldn't put it down from start to finish. My first ever e-book
on my new Kindle. The story was incredible. Made me use my imagination non stop.
What a fantastic film it would make, would love to see the characters in "real life
especially Sariel and Seth. A brilliant read for those that like this kind of thing.
A++++++ gets my vote".
Mrs. A. C. Short (Birmingham, UK)
This review is from: The Serpent and the Peacock (Kindle Edition)
Fantastic Book!
I cannot do justice to this book in a review. It was different, and so utterly captivating
that I could not stop reading it. Would recommend this to everyone!
Thank you Anne...really hoping to read more of your work in the future
By Moldrol
This review is from: The Serpent and The Peacock (Kindle Edition)
Love this xx
Love this story, it takes so many twists and turns :) should definitely only be read by
those with a strong stomach, the vivid descriptions make you feel as if you were
there. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone with a love of fantasy and
mystery.
By Kimberley (Kim)
the characters with their depth and humanity, even the characters who weren't quite
human held a depth and breadth, not to mention beauty, which captivated.
The plot seemed rather straightforward at first with a mysterious murder/ritualistic
sacrifice, but then with each twist and turn it became more complicated and obvious
that so much more was happening than what the investigating protagonists believed.
So many characters on the surface seemed to be of one ilk, but then were revealed
to hold far greater meaning and purpose the deeper one ventured into the tale.
The adventure, romance, danger, and passion all worked so well in the telling of this
tale. An amazing amount of research obviously went into the story with the police
and coroner's work and with the magic and mythological elements as well. The
location descriptions gave me the impression that the author had been to some of
these lands if not all of them. This book is easy to pick up and so very difficult to put
down again. I so can't wait to read more of Anne Selby's works".
E Finegan, North Carolina, USA.
"5 out of 5 stars What a fantastic e-book!!!!"
This review is from: The Serpent and The Peacock (Kindle Edition)
"What a fantastic read!! Couldn't put it down from start to finish. My first ever e-book
on my new Kindle. The story was incredible. Made me use my imagination non stop.
What a fantastic film it would make, would love to see the characters in "real life
especially Sariel and Seth. A brilliant read for those that like this kind of thing.
A++++++ gets my vote".
Mrs. A. C. Short (Birmingham, UK)
This review is from: The Serpent and the Peacock (Kindle Edition)
Fantastic Book!
I cannot do justice to this book in a review. It was different, and so utterly captivating
that I could not stop reading it. Would recommend this to everyone!
Thank you Anne...really hoping to read more of your work in the future
By Moldrol
This review is from: The Serpent and The Peacock (Kindle Edition)
Love this xx
Love this story, it takes so many twists and turns :) should definitely only be read by
those with a strong stomach, the vivid descriptions make you feel as if you were
there. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone with a love of fantasy and
mystery.
By Kimberley (Kim)
Reader's Reviews
The Fallen Angels
Please click here to read a little
more about The Fallen Angels, a tiny
part of the myth that Anne Selby
based the backstory of her book on.
The Serpent and the Peacock in Paper Back
Creator: Chantel Knight
Recently released in paperback US version
click here
Recently released in paperback UK version
click here
click here
Recently released in paperback UK version
click here