Written by Gina Cheyne
|
The blurb:
Wheels of DestructionWhere do you hide an escaped prisoner? On a wheelchair holiday perhaps. Like a spoke in a wheel, the villain is seen but not seen.
Aspiring writer Sandy Blee is stuck in a dead-end receptionist job until she wins a working holiday to Jordan, pushing a wheelchair for Wheelchair Warriors Holidays. Even though she quickly realises she was the only entrant in the Blerglergle writing competition she is extremely excited about leaving England for the first time.
However, after arriving in the pink city of Petra she discovers her fellow travellers are not all they seem, and most are not who they claim to be. Moreover, the whole group is under investigation by the SeeMs Detective Agency who have been sent out to search for an escaped convict.
When members of the group are kidnapped and one mysteriously dies, Sandy finds herself pulled into the SeeMs detectives’ investigation. Is she, who so wants to write bestselling crime stories, ready to take on a real-life mystery – one that might just turn deadly?
This book will be enjoyed by readers who like travel crime, plus devotees of Agatha Christie, Grease the movie and MM Kaye
How Petra Shaped Wheels of Destruction
My latest novel, Wheels of Destruction: Death in Petra, was born from a dream. Ever since I first saw a Victorian drawing of Petra, I longed to stand among those temples carved from rock, to imagine wild Nabatean horsemen in skins riding through the canyons — a kind of 4th century BC Indiana Jones adventure. When I finally visited Jordan last October, Petra did not disappoint.
Petra in Uncertain Times
Normally, over 3,000 tourists pass through Petra every day during high season. But when we arrived, only about 800 came in the entire week. The Israel–Gaza conflict just across the border had drastically reduced, and sometimes completely stopped, both visitors and flights. In fact, our own flight was cancelled only a week before departure, sending us scrambling for alternatives.This emptiness found its way into my novel. In Wheels of Destruction, the scarcity of tourists makes wheelchair travel more practical — though not without its own complications. (In my story, almost everyone is either in a wheelchair or pushing one.)
A Heroine Out of Her Depth
At the heart of the book is Sandra Blee, a Surrey receptionist who dreams of becoming a writer. When she wins a working prize — to accompany a wheelchair user on a tour of Jordan — it’s her first trip abroad. She prepares by devouring travel books and films like Jinns and Lawrence of Arabia, but nothing can prepare her for what she finds:Travel companions with secrets — such as the “Bulgarian” man who only speaks Arabic.
Unexpected dangers — when one of the party is found dead.
Investigators in disguise — detectives who, by chance (or not), are already in Petra.
The story explores what happens when ordinary people like Sandra, used to caring for her sick mother, are thrown into extraordinary situations.
Petra’s Astonishing Past
While researching and writing, I became fascinated by Petra’s real history. The Nabateans chose the site for its defensive position, but its beauty lies in the astonishing craftsmanship. The Temple and The Monastery, Petra’s most elaborate structures, were possible thanks to an advanced water system that piped fresh water into the city from outside. Even 400 years BC, they had sophisticated engineering which we still admire today.In my novel, I contrast this with modern life: when Sandra and her companions are kidnapped, they’re given plastic water bottles — a far cry from Nabatean ingenuity.
Colours, Candles, and Contrasts
What struck me most about Petra was the colour. Not only the rose-pink stone of The Temple, but the striations of minerals running through sandstone caves — blues, purples, oranges, all formed by centuries of water. It feels magical, and at night it becomes even more so. Jordanians light the site with thousands of candles, creating an atmosphere both intimate and unforgettable.In the novel, Sandra is swept away by this sense of wonder at the candlelit Temple, and believes she can change her life. Her nemesis Jade, however, dismisses it all as little more than a busload of tourists sitting in the semi-dark.
Stories Beyond the Stones
While writing, I also spoke to people living and working in Jordan. One Egyptian man I met had studied archaeology but, unable to find opportunities in his home country, moved to Jordan. He dreamed of working at Petra or Jerash, but ended up washing dishes. It’s a story familiar to immigrants everywhere: chasing a dream only to find barriers of class, culture, and competition. In Jordan, Egyptians are even barred from working as taxi drivers to protect jobs for locals.These real stories became woven into my fictional ones. The ancient city of Petra, with its grandeur and mystery, became the perfect backdrop for exploring identity, ambition, and deception.
Walking Against the Flow
Visiting Petra during a quiet season felt like walking against the flow of history itself. Empty canyons, candlelit temples, whispers of the Nabateans — all of it stayed with me and ultimately shaped Wheels of Destruction: Death in Petra.For me, Petra wasn’t just a destination. It was an inspiration, a reminder that places have power, and that even when you feel far from home or out of your depth, extraordinary stories can emerge.
| Author Bio – Gina Cheyne |
|---|
 Like many authors Gina has had a lot of different jobs and careers. She has been a physiotherapist, a flying instructor and pilot, a dog breeder, and a journalist. This is her sixth book in the SeeMs Detective series: the agency that looks behind what seems to be true. Gina had two lengths of time when she was in a wheelchair (after a car crash and a helicopter accident) and having experienced the difficulties of wheel chair travel first hand she wanted to write a book that showed the challenges for wheelchair users when travelling, not just steps and narrow doorways, for example, but unexpected things like the difficulties of traversing cobbles. When not writing or travelling Gina lives in Sussex with her husband and dogs. |
| Social Media Links – | |
| Web site | https://ginacheyne.com/ |
| https://www.instagram.com/ginacheynewriter/ | |
| Facebook Author Page | https://www.facebook.com/gina.cheyne.books |
| Reedsy.com | https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/ginacheyne |
| TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@flyfizzi |
No comments:
Post a Comment