A Family Affair Blog Tour

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Book Details

A Family Affair

Odele Gardia . . . married to wealthy businessman Howard, is the hard-nosed matriarch of the family and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She’s ruthless in the boardroom and not afraid to lean on adversaries.

Sebastian Gardia . . . Odele’s brother and business partner. His wife, Freya, reveals that she is pregnant with their first child.

Elliot . . . the prodigal son, is returning from America with his girlfriend, intending to propose to her.

Business is booming, her brother is going to become a father, and her son is coming home – it’s surely a time to celebrate. But Odele is hiding a huge secret and is constantly looking over her shoulder. If the secret came out, it would destroy the family.

Jimmy Alder . . . booted out of the police force, has been paid to spy on the family. The discovery he makes could have catastrophic consequences for them all.

A dysfunctional family, protectors of their power, wealth and each other, have no warning of the revelations about to erupt and the cost to their dynasty.

Extract

Jimmy Alder has been booted out of the Met so is currently looking for a job. His fellow detective friend meets up with him in a pub to tell him of a ‘job opportunity’ to see if he’s interested. It’s covert work and involves surveillance on the rich Odele Gardia, matriarch of the Gardia family.

“The reason I wanted to see you was, there’s someone that wants a job doing if you’re up for it.”

“What sort of job?”

“Don’t look like that, it’s all kosher.”

Jimmy took another slurp of his pint, a job would certainly help. “Tell me more.”

“There’s a bloke, and a pretty loaded one at that. Wants his wife watching . . . you know, to see where she goes, what she’s up to.”

“Who she’s fucking?”

“Yeah. And he’s willing to pay well for someone discreet.”

“Who is he? How do you know him?”

“I don’t know him as such. I’ve met him a few times at the Lodge dinners with the old man. We’re not in his league, he’s a multi-millionaire and so is his wife.”

“Will I have heard of them?”

“I wouldn’t have thought so, they’re legit. He’s Howard Boylen, she goes by her maiden name Gardia. Odele Gardia. She’s in buying and selling property and he’s into importing wines in a big way. The wife’s business is on Chiltern Street, Marylebone. It’s Gardia and Gardia, estate agents dealing with luxury properties.”

“So who’s she screwing, a business partner?”

“No. The partner’s her brother.”

“Someone at the office, then? Work’s usually the first place to start.”

“I dunno. He asked if I knew someone discreet that could do some checking up and maybe follow her for a few weeks. You up for it?”

“How much?”

“He never said. He’s loaded though so make sure you negotiate a good rate.”

“You don’t fancy it yourself?”

“No time, mate, he wants someone full-time watching her.”

“Okay, how do I contact him?”

“I’ll give him your number. I wanted to check with you first if you were up for it before I did.”

“Yeah, might as well. Especially as I’m,” he made quote marks in the air, “currently in between jobs.”

“Right, sorted then. Time for another one?”

Jimmy drained the last of his beer and handed his glass to him. “Why not?”

While Nick was at the bar, Jimmy flicked through his phone and googled Gardia and Gardia estate agents. It did appear to be upmarket judging by the frontage. He’d heard the name before but couldn’t remember where. His recall was less acute after a beer but it would come to him. He definitely knew it and not for selling property, he’d never been in the elite property league. Maybe visiting the property office might jog his memory? He looked down at his ripped jeans that could do with a wash. Perhaps another day.

After another swift pint, Nick drained his glass. “Better get back, mate. Catch up soon, yeah? And let me know how it goes with the surveillance.”

“Will do,” Jimmy stood up and gave his mate a hug. “Cheers for thinking of me.”

“Always.” Nick patted his arm in an affectionate way before they made their way to the door and parted company outside, him on foot, Nick returning to his car. No worries about drinking and driving, he did it all the time. They all did.

Jimmy took a short cut down to the High Street and made his way to the first charity shop he saw. The smell as he went inside reminded him of school and sweaty PE kits. He began to browse the rails alongside other customers rummaging round the racks of second-hand clothes. Once he’d made his selection, he approached the till clutching a thick black padded jacket.

“Would you like to try it on?” the elderly assistant with a blue rinse smiled, indicating with her hand a yellow striped curtain in the corner of the shop. “There’s a small fitting room with a mirror if you want to check the fit.”

He shook his head, “It’ll fit.”

“Okay, long as you’re sure. If you do find it’s a bit large, you’ll be able to get a thick jumper on underneath,” she pressed the keys on the till, “have you got a bag, we’ve got a few we’ve recycled if you’d like one?”

“Nah, I’ll take it as it is. He reached to a shelf at the side of the till, “I’ll take this cap as well.”

She frowned, “Would you like to get a better one? It’s a bit tatty and frayed. I’m not sure how it has actually got on the shelf to be honest.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“I tell you what, I won’t charge you for it. Maybe it’ll clean up with a damp cloth.”

“Cheers.”

She glanced at the till, “That’ll be five pounds exactly.” Her expression was apologetic. “The jacket is thick and has a named logo so that’s why we have to charge five pounds for it.”

He glanced down at the Adidas logo – hardly a high-end designer one. He handed over the money, keen to get out of the claustrophobic shop.

Once outside, he put the jacket on. Although the sweatshirt he was wearing was thick and long-sleeved, it was no protection against the bitterly cold November morning. He slipped his fingers inside the holes in both knees of his jeans and extended the ripped bits so it gaped.

Scruffy was the look he what he wanted to achieve.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Affair-Joy-Wood-ebook/dp/B0FVVXRMG4

https://amzn.to/44NUg3v

Author Bio

Joy Wood has worked as a nurse most of her adult life and turned to writing to ‘see if she could.’ Her earlier work was adult romance and intrigue, but more recently she has switched genres to crime with a romance element which has paid off. In May of 2025, Joy was the fortunate recipient of the RNA award in the crime fiction category for her book Whatever It Takes. Joy lives in the small but charming seaside town of Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire and her writing ideas come from watching the tide turn daily, of course with the obligatory ice-cream – someone has to support the local economy!