Pierre’s Story
The sequel to I Was, I Am, I Will Be
John Coventry thought the hardest part was behind him.
Michelle was gone — dead, violently, the way people in her world tended to go. His years working undercover for British Intelligence were over. He boards a plane for Los Angeles, hoping to disappear into the California sun and finally, mercifully, start again.
But the Intelligence officers’ parting words follow him across the Atlantic.
“You can never leave us, John.”
Haunted by recurring nightmares and reeling from grief he never had the chance to process, Coventry finds himself consumed by a search he can no longer ignore — for Pierre, the son he has never met. The child Michelle kept secret. The child he didn’t know existed until it was too late.
What follows is a journey across continents that is by turns gripping, heartbreaking, and quietly devastating. From the sun-soaked terraces of Beverly Hills to the cold, dangerous streets of Berlin, Coventry tracks the life of a boy shaped by forces far beyond either of them — a childhood steeped in extremism, a young man drawn deep into violence, and a father running out of time to reach him before the world does.
“She caught the ashes on her breath, and danced with them high into the tree tops — a lullaby of love, a mother’s warm hello.”
Pierre’s Story can be read on its own, but for those who have already travelled with Coventry through I Was, I Am, I Will Be, this is the book that completes the journey. It is a spy story, a love story, and at its heart, a story about what we owe the people we bring into the world — and what it costs us when we find out too late.
The ending will stay with you.
What Readers Are Saying
“A disturbingly stunning read which has a deceptively easy style that conceals a darkness in the characters that rings true. A warning to us all.” — Samantha Fox, United States
“The authors’ innate ability to vividly portray the mindset of the people involved is quite extraordinary. I did not need to question the ending — it had to be that way. Now I am crying again. A well worthwhile read.” — Carol Hartshorne, United Kingdom
“This is a vivid and moving account of events — very different to the first book. This novel takes you on a heartbreaking journey.” — Christopher Smith, United Kingdom
“I can’t find the words to tell how much I’ve been touched by this story. I have been torn and filled with sunshine — chapters after chapters, lines after lines.” — Jullian, France
“Pierre’s Story immerses us in the lives of father and son as they come to terms with their choices, their history and their secrets. A captivating novel full of charm, humour and great depth, this gripping work evokes every emotion as both a thrilling spy story and a tragic tale of love and loss.” — Erin S., Canada
Sneak Peeks
Sneak Peek #1
The crisp morning air from a late August cold snap rustled the thin satin curtains, just enough for a glint of sun to poke through and illuminate the beauty of her glistening skin. Soft and tanned, it stretched perfectly over her toned frame and smelt like the lavender growing wildly in the surrounding French countryside. Sensing the slight breeze against her bare shoulder, Michelle snuggled even closer into the nape of my neck, her long dark hair tickling my chin, her warm breath teasing my senses.
“I love you John Coventry. I will love you forever.”
I had no idea how long Michelle had lived at the farmhouse or if she even considered it her permanent address. Besides some clothes shoved in a few drawers and a scattering of toiletries on the chest, there were no signs of any sort of permanence. No pictures, no memorabilia, not even a postcard from a long-lost cousin wishing her Merry Christmas. It was as if she only existed in the here and now.
She was a ghost, moving through life with no footprints — except the ones she left on my heart.
Sneak Peek #2
I folded up the thick worn newspaper and set it on the tempered glass table, my brain too scrambled to read. The sun pounded on the back of my head, intensifying my already staggering headache. But it was a glorious morning in California, and I was relishing sipping my coffee on the outdoor patio of the world-famous Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills. A definite change from the drab and dreary rain of England.
I tilted the china mug and let the last few drops find their way down my whiskey-burnt throat. My body craved something a little stronger than cocoa beans. I motioned for the waiter.
“Excuse me. Bloody Mary, heavy on the vodka?”
I eased back into the chair, my body stiff and sore from the long flight the day before. I had no real plan. I just knew I needed to find my son — and that finding him was going to be a lot more complicated than I’d allowed myself to imagine.
Sneak Peek #3
“I know you’re scared,” she said softly, flipping a concealed switch on the side of the shelving unit. “I’m scared too. But we’re going to be fine. Just hold on tight.”
With a slight push, the unit slid to the left, revealing a tunnel about four feet high and three feet wide. Hunched over and weighted down by her load, she ducked into the passageway. Hearing the basement door open above them, she gathered the small boy against her chest, pointed the flashlight forward, and took off walking as fast as she could.
The tunnel was damp and dirty but at least the air was void of smoke. Still dazed, Pierre whimpered against her chest, his tears streaking his soot-covered face.
“Almost there little guy,” said Rondell, slowing down.
She smoothed back Pierre’s dark hair and kissed the top of his head. Her arms ached from carrying the boy. She desperately wanted a drink of water, and judging by the violent hacking coming out of Pierre, so did he.
She steadied his neck and put the bottle to his lips. Almost nine months old and already used to drinking from a cup, he instinctively began to suck as she tilted the bottle ever so slightly.
“That’s a good boy. Take a nice long drink.”
She screwed the cap back on and looked up at the ladder.
“We’ve got to keep moving. It isn’t safe here.”