Zach Abrams is a writer of thrillers and crime novels. He lives in Scotland but spends much of the year in the Languedoc region of France.
Having an unusually varied education and work history, Zach was equipped with an extensive range of life experiences to draw on when developing his characters and stories. Following a science degree, a management post-grad and a professional accountancy qualification, he spent many years working as a CFO, business director and consultant in a range of industries as varied as transport, ostrich farming, manufacturing and public service.
Although having considerable experience of writing reports, letters and presentations, it's only fairly recently he started creative writing of novels - "a much more honourable type of fiction," he claims.
Currently, he has six novels published plus his collaboration with Elly Grant for a book of short stories and a non-fiction business guide book. So far there are four tartan noir books in his Alex Warren Murder Mystery series, set in his home town of Glasgow, Scotland.
The first is 'Made a Killing'. This British Police Procedural features Detective Chief Inspector Alex Warren as the senior investigating officer, assisted by female detective Sergeant Sandra McKinnon and supported by a team of detectives, scene of crime technicians and other specialists. They carry out their investigation after the discovery of the corpse of a much hated criminal, found with an elephant tusk impaled in his chest. Besides the main murder investigation, the team research a range of other criminal activities including financial crime, fraud, blackmail and extortion. Away from the crime investigation, there’s family drama as well as a touch of romance and more than a sprinkling of humour. Readers familiar with the geography of Scotland, and Glasgow in particular, may well recognise locations as the detectives tread their weary path on their way to researching the crimes to solve the mystery.
The second in the series, 'A Measure of Trouble,' sees Alex's team seek the murderer of a CEO killed within the cask room of his own whisky distillery. There’s no shortage of suspects. Investigations lead them to interview the victim’s family, employees and colleagues as they consider the varied motives of greed, revenge, adultery and nationalism.
The third, 'Written to Death,' begins with the mysterious death of a successful author, the murder taking place on stage during a writers' group meeting. Alex and Sandra are swamped with work as they have to deal with a second enquiry, this one into organised crime, and it runs in parallel with the main murder investigation.
The fourth, ‘Offender of the Faith,’ follows the investigation after a young Asian girl was sexually assaulted and murdered in the home she shared with her Scottish boyfriend. With Sandra off work on maternity leave, imminently due to give birth, Alex and his team require to use kid gloves to handle the ultra sensitive investigation with both the victim and her boyfriend’s families brought under intense scrutiny Potential motives of racism, islamophobia, hate, jealousy and honor killing all have to be considered. But who is behind the killing... and what is the real reason?
These are fast moving, gripping, murder mystery novels set in and around the tough, crime-ridden streets of Glasgow.
Zach’s first novel was 'Ring Fenced', an unusually themed psychological thriller. It’s a crime story with a difference, following one man's obsession with power and control. The main character, Benjamin, uses five separate personae to independently control the different divisions of his life. The story shows how he juggles the five separate existences and follows what happens when the barriers break down. The anti-hero, Benjamin, was nominated and shortlisted in the category of best villain in the 2013 eFestival of Words.
Zach's quirky thriller, 'Source; A Fast-Paced Financial Crime Thriller' centres on financial crime. It sees three investigative journalists travelling across the UK, Spain and into France. They suspect economic terrorism as they research corruption and sabotage in the banking sector. Resulting from their investigations, they face personal threats and all the time they’re trying to cope with their own fraught private lives. Despite the weighty subject matter, it’s a light and amusing read with plenty of humour, family drama and romance.
A collaboration with Elly Grant produced 'Twists and Turns,' a book of short stories, which range from flash fiction to a novella. They all have mystery and an element of the unexpected, with content ranging from Gothic horror to mild comedy.
All of Zach's books can be purchased from Amazon as eBooks and paperbacks. Audiobook versions of both Ring Fenced and Made a Killing are now available and the other titles will follow.
Alike his central character in 'Ring Fenced,' (Benjamin Short), Zach Abrams completed his education in Scotland and went on to a career in accountancy, business and finance. Married with two children, he plays no instruments but has an eclectic taste in music, although not as obsessive as Benjamin. Unlike Benjamin, he does not maintain mistresses, write pornography and (sadly) does not have ownership of a mega internet distributor. He is not a sociopath (at least by his own reckoning) and all versions of his life are aware of and freely communicate with each other. More in keeping with 'Alex Warren', Zach was raised in Glasgow and has spent many years working in Central Scotland.
