Core Books

22/09/2025

We at Core Books are delighted to announce that Kevin O'Regan's latest novel, Highball: death by the Loch, is now available from Amazon Worldwide. It is the fourth and (probably) final book in his Lizzie's War series and is set in May 1943 in a remote location on the West coast of Scotland.

Expect the usual intrigue, false trails and engrossing characters as well as Lizzie's observation, deduction and eventual solving of the murder. But do she and Robbie McBane seal their growing relationship?

It is available now as an e-book or paperback and is the perfect Christmas present for someone who loves a classic whodunnit.

04/03/2025

To mark the upcoming 80th anniversary of VE Day, we at Core Books are offering Meteor, one of Kevin O'Regan's brilliant Lizzie's War series for just 99p for the e-book. Our offer also marks the first anniversary of its publication.

"Meteor has it all - intrigue, false trails, fascinating characters and humour. I could not put it down."

Set in March 1943, Meteor is based on a real event that took place at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. An airman is killed on the base and Lizzie Barnes, a young female pilot with the ATA, assists Sergeant Robbie McBane with his investigation. Have German agents been able to access the base? Is the man from the ministry really who he says he is?

This offer is for a limited period so don't delay. Meteor is also available free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

"A thrilling read...I never guessed the ending." Meteor is the sequel to the hugely popular New Swan Stone and is the second book in the Lizzie's War series. Lizzie with an ATA navigator called Alice Frobisher is tasked with flying some very important people to Cranwell RAF base in Lincolnshire ...

02/03/2025

Last night (Saturday 1st March), the BBC showed that brilliant film Darkest Hour which covered the few weeks in May 1940 from Winston Churchill's appointment as Prime Minister to Dunkirk. Catch it on iplayer if you missed it. It is tragic, funny, moving.

Kevin O'Regan's book Eager for the Air covers the few days in May 1940 when Churchill became PM. It is a murder mystery that will keep you reading throughout and it provides a superb picture of England at the time. It was not an entirely pleasant picture with anti-semitism being fuelled by Oswald Mosley and his followers. This gives the backdrop to a brilliant story full of intrigue, false trails, fascinating characters.

It is of course the main character, Lizzie Barnes, who makes the connections that catch the killer. Available on Amazon as a paperback or e-book.

Please share this post and give everyone the chance to enjoy this superb book.

08/01/2025

This short video clip from a longer BBC documentary gives a fascinating insight into the women who flew aircraft for the Air Transport Auxiliary during WW2.

Kevin O'Regan captures the time brilliantly in his Lizzie's War series of murder mystery novels. Take a look on Amazon. You can read the first c10,000 words of each by clicking on the title then on the 'Read Sample' button beneath the picture of the front cover.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Kevin+O%27Regan&crid=32WJCWOTT9INX&sprefix=kevin+o%27regan%2Caps%2C73&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Eager for the Air is currently on KDP Select (and for a short time only 99p for the e-book) so if you are a member you can read the whole thing for nothing. But watch the video first.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00b0zts

This remarkable band of women were pioneers in aviation and equality.

29/12/2024

We want to make sure that everyone who loves a murder mystery has the chance to read Kevin O'Regan's latest book in the Lizzie's War series. Eager for the Air is a prequel set in 1940 when Lizzie joins the Air Transport Auxiliary with seven other new recruits.

For a limited period, the e-book is available on Amazon for just 99p and, if you are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for nothing!

Don't miss this chance. It can't last long. Just click here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eager-Air-Lizzies-Kevin-ORegan-ebook/dp/B0DJ93KDZG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DQV9TZ7PYKOD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gMs9VGpx0LD2j8bvaFi4og.tnuqfct0xfvIVu6JaICHxnZsQfbLJXdehB0EQGxMPqo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Eager+for+the+Air+Kevin+O%27Regan&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1735475739&sprefix=eager+for+the+air+kevin+o%27regan%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

or type Eager for the Air by Kevin O'Regan into the Amazon search box.

Eager for the Air: The Lizzie's War series eBook : O'Regan, Kevin: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

28/10/2024

I'm very pleased to announce that I will be interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford tomorrow (Tues 29th Oct) afternoon at about 2.30 pm about my latest book and also about singing and songwriting. You can listen live or on catch-up on BBC Sounds here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_oxford

Sales of my new book, Eager for the Air, are going very well. If you haven't got your copy yet, do please head to Amazon and put in the title and my name. It's available as an e-book or paperback.

Even better, if you are in the Brackley area and like to read actual books, please buy from Old Hall Bookshop, Brackley, Forge Coffee, Evenley, Croft Stores, Silverstone and, if you are in the Maidenhead area, from Maidenhead Heritage Centre.

21/10/2024

If you are an early riser, be ready to listen to your radio at 7.40 am tomorrow 22nd Oct. I am being interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire about my latest book which is set in their broadcast area.

You can listen on BBC Sounds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_berkshire

but you will have to sign in first. Of course you can just buy the book and then you'll know all about it! Available from Amazon now as an e-book or paperback and from Old Hall Bookshop, Brackley, Croft Store, Silverstone, Forge Coffee, Evenley and other selected shops.

19/10/2024

"A gripping read...I couldn't put it down. The characters really come alive."

We are delighted to announce the publication of another novel by Kevin O'Regan in his Lizzie's War series. The demand for the books has been huge as people love the wartime murder mysteries with false trails, plot twists and brilliant characters.

The new book, Eager for the Air, is a prequel taking us back to May 1940 when Lizzie joined the4 Air Transport Auxiliary. It was a momentous time: Churchill became Prime Minister, rumours abounded that refugees were in fact German agents and anti-semitism was poisoning minds fuelled by the British Union of Fascists.

Lizzie is just twenty and one of eight recruits undergoing pilot training at White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead. One of the recruits is murdered and suspicion falls on some of the others. Inspector Hawkins is struggling to establish the killer but Lizzie, with her sharp observation and brilliant deduction, unlocks the mystery.

"This novel captures the feel of wartime Britain expertly and ex;plores the uncomfortable areas of anti-semitism and misogyny. It's not just a murder mystery but a novel of great compassion and sensitivity."

Available from Amazon as an e-book or paperback and from selected shops.