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Author: Keith Houghton

When I was thirteen, my English teacher - who was fed up with reading my space stories - told me I'd never make it as a science fiction writer. Undeterred, I went on to pen several sci-fi novels and three comedy stage plays, in and around raising a family. Thirty years later, and in a bid to make some real money from my writing, I switched genres and started to write mysteries. It was the best move I ever made. Now my self-published crime thrillers have sold more than 160,000 copies on Amazon alone and notched up over a third of a million downloads worldwide. Finally, I have given up paid employment and do my dream job full-time. I'm genuinely grateful for my break and, despite my head still being full of those space stories, I try my best to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground.

Read more about me and my writing at keithhoughton.com

Toledo Bend

Published by Keith Houghton on November 10, 2022

SMALL TOWN. BIG SECRET. Ten years ago, Lauren McKinney—a girl-next-door turned country music star—was brutally slain, her broken body dumped in Toledo Bend Lake. In the turbulent aftermath, her stepfather was found…

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Maggie Novak Series

Maggie Novak Series

Published by Keith Houghton on June 29, 2022

Amazon #1 Best Selling Mystery Thrillers – Kindle readers have rated my Maggie Novak Series as some of the best crime thrillers they have read – comparing them to best sellers by Robert Dugoni,…

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Gabe Quinn Series

Gabe Quinn Series

Published by Keith Houghton on June 18, 2022

Amazon #1 Best Selling Police Procedural Series – Kindle readers have rated my Gabe Quinn Crime Thrillers as some of the best crime thrillers they have read – comparing them to best sellers by…

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Her Only Regret

Her Only Regret

Published by Keith Houghton on April 1, 2021

The blurred line between love and hate . . . When the body of a young woman is found at a popular island party spot, in what appears to be an accidental…

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Sample Listens

Published by Keith Houghton on May 29, 2020

With more than 12,000 glowing five-star reviews and ONE MILLION copies sold, my books are edge-of-the-seat, twisty-turny emotional rollercoaster reads that will leave you breathless all the way to the killer ending…

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The Other Child

The Other Child

Published by Keith Houghton on April 29, 2020

A child’s life hangs in the balance . . . When a prominent judge is found stabbed to death on Valentine’s weekend in what appears to be a crime of passion, homicide…

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A Place Called Fear

A Place Called Fear

Published by Keith Houghton on November 10, 2019

A killer may be closer than you think . . . Florida homicide detective Maggie Novak should be celebrating: it’s the start of a new year, and her boyfriend has just proposed.…

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Don’t Even Breathe

Don’t Even Breathe

Published by Keith Houghton on March 23, 2019

The brightest sunlight casts the darkest shadows . . . Florida homicide detective Maggie Novak has seen hundreds of brutal murder cases, but when she is called out to investigate the charred…

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Free Audiobook!

Free Audiobook!

Published by Keith Houghton on August 1, 2018

If you’re looking to pick up your first ever audiobook, did you know you can get one of my thrilling listens from Audible for absolutely free? To get your free audiobook just…

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CRASH

Published by Keith Houghton on February 26, 2018

What if your memory holds the key to escaping a murder charge, but amnesia stands in your way? . . . When Jed Allen wakes up at a desk in New York…

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Chasing Fame

Published by Keith Houghton on October 1, 2017

A Gabe Quinn Prequel Thriller . . . If you were dying to be famous, would you kill for it? When a beautiful Hollywood starlet is brutally murdered, LA police detective Gabe…

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Published by Keith Houghton on September 3, 2017

Dear Quinner, I know it’s been quite some time since we last heard from Gabe – thank you for your patience! – so you’ll be glad to know he’s on his way…

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One Foot in Front of the Other

One Foot in Front of the Other

Published by Keith Houghton on May 11, 2017

What am I thinking in the above picture? Answers on a postcard to the usual PO box in downtown Timbuktu. 🙂 THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD . . . For me and…

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Before You Leap

Before You Leap

Published by Keith Houghton on October 1, 2016

When your life is a lie, how do you live with the truth? BEFORE YOU LEAP is my latest standalone psychological thriller, published with Thomas & Mercer (an Amazon Publishing imprint) and…

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Living a Life of Crime

Living a Life of Crime

Published by Keith Houghton on September 22, 2016

Following another thrilling appearance at the London Book Fair in April, it’s been a busy few months since I last blogged, and a lot has happened in the meantime. There’s been excitement,…

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In a Pursuit of Madness

In a Pursuit of Madness

Published by Keith Houghton on April 16, 2016

That’s it. Another one in the bag. And another London Book Fair under my wing. And, yes, I lost my voice. Can I sleep now? Yet again, it was a fantastic experience,…

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Become a Serial Word Killer (without incurring a long sentence)

Become a Serial Word Killer (without incurring a long sentence)

Published by Keith Houghton on April 9, 2016

Bloat is mostly gas, and is better out than in. Let’s talk waffle . . . And I don’t mean the yummy variety, even though I could talk about those delicious delights…

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Reaping the Wild Wind

Reaping the Wild Wind

Published by Keith Houghton on March 2, 2016

I’m thrilled to report that the start of the year saw a number of firsts for my books and a super start to 2016 for my writing as a whole! Champagne corks…

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No Coming Back

Published by Keith Houghton on August 30, 2015

Some secrets are better left buried . . . NO COMING BACK is my new standalone psychological thriller, published with Thomas & Mercer (an Amazon Publishing imprint) and available on all Amazon…

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Killing Time at the Crimefest

Killing Time at the Crimefest

Published by Keith Houghton on July 20, 2015

Last week, I braved the dreadful M62 roadworks and made the arduous two-hour trek over the Pennines to North Yorkshire to visit the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival being held at…

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Taking Liberty – Audiobook

Taking Liberty – Audiobook

Published by Keith Houghton on May 31, 2015

Finally, after almost a year on the table, the finished audiobook version of “Taking Liberty” – (Gabe Quinn Thriller #3) is now available to download from Amazon, Audible and iTunes, and it…

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Gabe Quinn Thrillers

Gabe Quinn Thrillers

Published by Keith Houghton on May 14, 2015

———– KILLING HOPE – Gabe Quinn Thriller #1 ———– “If you could save a million lives by taking one … would you?” One man stands in the way of countless deaths…

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All the Fun of the Fair

All the Fun of the Fair

Published by Keith Houghton on April 20, 2015

Despite a head cold and losing my voice once or twice I survived the London Book Fair! Held over three days at the very impressive Olympia in London, the Fair focused on…

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London Book Fair 2015

London Book Fair 2015

Published by Keith Houghton on March 9, 2015

Last year, Amazon’s UK-based Kindle Direct Publishing very kindly invited me to be part of their team at the London Author Fair. It was a fantastic and unforgettable experience. I really enjoyed…

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The Author Evolution

The Author Evolution

Published by Keith Houghton on February 6, 2015

Over the last three years that my self-published books have been available on Amazon, I’ve had a steady stream of emails or Facebook messages from unpublished writers asking for publishing advice. Some…

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The Day the Universe Changed

The Day the Universe Changed

Published by Keith Houghton on January 31, 2015

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ – the iconic beginning to Dickens’ tale of contrasts, and an exact description of the last twelve months of my…

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Crossing Lines – Audiobook

Crossing Lines – Audiobook

Published by Keith Houghton on December 24, 2014

It’s been five months in the making, but I’m thrilled to announce that “Crossing Lines” – (Gabe Quinn Thriller #2) is now available in audio format as a downloadable audiobook from Amazon,…

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The Four Kindleers

The Four Kindleers

Published by Keith Houghton on October 4, 2014

History was made this week when four of the rising stars of the Brit Indie thriller writing scene joined forces to hatch out plans for word domination over faux Pimms and Eaton…

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Killing Hope – Audiobook

Killing Hope – Audiobook

Published by Keith Houghton on July 15, 2014

It’s been four months in the making, but I’m thrilled to announce that “Killing Hope” – (Gabe Quinn Thriller #1) is now available in audio format as a downloadable audiobook from Amazon,…

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3 Milestones in 3 Months

3 Milestones in 3 Months

Published by Keith Houghton on March 27, 2014

So far, 2014 has thrown up a few really nice surprises from out of the blue, not least of which are three major milestones in my self-publishing career. Just in case you…

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