On 10th September 2014 I read a self-published book called The Wronged Sons by a journalist called John Marrs. It had about 30 reviews on Goodreads (mostly friends and family) and at the time I wasn’t really reviewing books properly but was so blown away by this book I messaged him to tell him how much I loved it and that I had told everyone on my Facebook book club. That was the start of our friendship and the beginning of his incredible journey to become a multi-million copy best selling author with 13 books, 1 Netflix 6-part drama, hundreds of thousands of followers and fans worldwide. However despite his fame and fortune, he hasn’t changed at all (hmmm!)
I have been lucky enough to read each and every one of his books prior to publication, spot the typos, make some minor suggestions/amendments (which he completely ignores except for 1 book ending but I still didn’t get any credit for), I have appeared in all of his books in a cameo of some sort (a couple featuring my alter-ego Stacey Denton and Roger Fenton) and have been lovingly acknowledged from book 1 to book 13….. although you can easily spot when the fame and fortune has gone to his head.
When I started THE Book Club on Facebook, John was the first author to join and 10 years later he is still an integral and active member. If you want to join the group click here.
If you haven’t read any of his books – you are really missing out although Beanus may not agree!
Enjoy.
Book 1. The Wronged Sons first published 2014. Republished as When You Disappeared. As this was written before we knew each other I didn’t get a cameo role!
Book 2. The Vacation (originally self published as Welcome To Wherever You Are) 2015
This is the first book I read as a BETA reader and my first cameo role as an affable TV presenter. This is when he appreciated me and said I was his Facebook Fairy Godmother in the acknowledgements.
Book 3 The Good Samaritan 2017. Our friendship is now cemented in sarcasm, rude messages, insults and humour – and I have my next cameo as solicitor who is masculine-looking with greying cropped hair, no make-up and glasses on a chain around my neck. However his acknowledgements are still lovely and sweet and this is probably one of my favourite books of his so far.
Book 4. The One (previously published as A Thousand Small Explosions) 2017. This was John’s first speculative fiction book and is also a Netflix Drama. My cameo unfortunately didn’t make the TV series, but my entire family featured as part of a team of private investigators. I’m still the Queen in the acknowledgements and now I’m also a “godsend”.
Book 5. Her Last Move 2018. I’ve got to be honest here. I really didn’t like this book even though my cameo has the best opening line “who let this twat back in” as a DS in the police department, and I’m now Queen of Facebook’s THE Book Club according to his acknowledgements.
Book 6. The Passengers 2019. Another speculative fiction book – this one is about driverless cars and I’m Sofia’s acting rival in a “blink and you miss it” cameo… but the acknowledgements are still lovely.
Book 7. What Lies Between Us 2020. So it’s at this point that the publishers are beginning to wonder who the hell Tracy Fenton is and why am I appearing in all his books and say “NO MORE”.. and so we welcome my alter ego Stacie Denton. A plump girl dressed in dark Goth clothing and having strayed a little too far from the norm and hasn’t got many friends! Gee thanks John!
Book 8 The Minders 2020. Another speculative fiction book and holy sh*t.. I’m don’t have a cameo in this one and a tiny mention in the acknowledgements too.
Book 9 Keep It In The Family 2022. If you thought John’s books were dark and disturbing before, Keep It In The Family takes it to an entire new level. I am particularly proud to be a former Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital Patient in this one with a little shout out in the acknowledgements too.
Book 10 The Marriage Act 2023 – Another speculative fiction book and possibly my favourite in the series to date even though I don’t have a cameo role in this one. Sulking now!
Book 11 – The Family Experiment 2024. Another speculative fiction book and another cameo!
Book 12 The Stranger in Her House 2024. Yay.. I am back.. this time I’m a landlady of the Horse & Hatchet. I absolutely LOVED this book. The humour and twists are outstanding and apparently I am an illustrious leader/despot according to the acknowledgements!
Book 13 You Killed Me First 2025. My favourite acknowledgement to date: John and I are Hinge & Bracket, but my cameo has now become DS Roger Fenton!
