Future Projects
At the end of John Roberts's novels, you will often find adverts for projects coming soon. On this page, we look at the new novels and short stories that have been planned for 2026 and beyond.
An Aspiring Author's Fourth Articulation Of An Author's Journey To Publication
John Roberts shares the third book of his Substack blogs.
With so much information flooding the internet these days, it's often difficult for aspiring writers to know where to start and what advice they should take.
Falling victim to this madness, I began writing a blog on Substack where I shared my own experiences of becoming an author and gave my own take on issues that I encountered along the way.
None of the blogs featured here are meant to be 100% accurate. This is just my own interpretation of subjects that cropped up in my author journey from 2023 until 2026.
The Price Of Love - An Alison Pearce Adventure
Discover Alison Pearce's story in three standalone novels that follow Alison's story from Police Academy to Special Branch.
When Alison Pearce stumbles upon an illicit underground fighting circuit thriving in the heart of Birmingham, she finds herself unexpectedly entangled in a web of romance.
Amidst unravelling layers of exploitation and narcotics, Gary Higgins, known as the enigmatic "shadow," guides Alison into the perilous depths of a terrorist network spanning Europe.
But as trust becomes a scarce commodity, Alison grapples with the ultimate dilemma when a Special Branch operative meets a fatal fate.
Caught between loyalty to her heart and allegiance to her duty, Alison must confront the agonising choice between love and the clandestine world of espionage.
Langford
John Roberts brings a new kind of adventure to the Blake Langford series.
Langford is a collection of short stories featuring his main protagonist, Blake Langford, as he balances a deadly career in Special Branch alongside the responsibilities of family life.
Featured in this second collection are:
Suspicious Mind
Dead Men Don’t Cry
A Matter Of Convenience
I Said I Loved You
Guest List
Seven Signs
Persuade Me
In My Father’s Footsteps
Whatever Happened To A Good Old Fashioned Broken Heart?
Shantytown
The River
Quiz
Sunday Morning Church
Questions For The Dead - A Blake Langford Adventure
The 6th Blake Langford Adventure
Blake Langford, wrongly implicated in a cyber attack on the British Government, returns to Special Branch. When attending a friend's 40th birthday with his colleague, Alison Pearce, Blake becomes a suspect in a murder investigation at Farnborough House.
The inquiry into Colonel Francis Stanislav's life exposes connections to a mysterious Egyptian organisation, adding layers of complexity to their quest for truth.
As witnesses perish, Blake must swiftly exonerate himself and apprehend the killer before another wealthy businessman is murdered.
The race against time leads him to the heart of an Egyptian pyramid in The Valley Of The Kings but who can answer the questions for the dead?
Blake Langford In 2027
2027 is a big year for Blake Langford with the 6th novel of the series, Questions For The Dead, arriving in the summer, a further 12 short stories arriving throughout the year and planning for the 7th novel, Home For September, beginning in the autumn.
For all of the latest news and exclusive previews of the Blake Langford projects, take a look at Patreon.com/JohnRobertsAuthor and sign up for The Blake Langford tier which also includes Alison Pearce's new adventures too.
Bennie Barrier's Big City Adventures - Volume 3
Bennie Barrier's Big City Adventures - Volume 3 will arrive in 2027 filled with surprises from series 3 of the children's short stories including the feature-length Christmas special, The Tale Of Bennie's Capital Christmas.
Adventures Included:
- The Tale Of The Missing Path
- The Tale Of Antagonus Ant
- The Tale Of Justin Case's Lock
- The Tale Of Bruno's Beach Bus
- The Tale Of Tanya Train's Tunnel Terror
- The Tale Of Brandie Barrier's Big Reunion
- The Tale Of Sally Sign's Miscalculation
- The Tale Of The House With The Green Door
- The Tale Of Bennie's Capital Christmas
- The Tale Of Tilly Trolley's Tower Block Trip
- The Tale Of Courtney Cruise's Island Adventure
- The Tale Of Justin Time's Royal Grumble
- The Tale Of Traffic Light Trouble
The Laughing Lunatic
New Lyrics, New Music, A Whole New Experience From The Author Behind The Adventures
John Roberts, real name Robert John Bortkiewicz, has been a freelance writer since 2007 with mixed success. In 2015, he began writing song lyrics alongside friends in various tribute bands. In 2025, these lyrics are finally being used to create several new albums and singles which can be streamed for free on platforms such as Spotify, Itunes and Amazon Music.
Throughout 2026, there will be several new albums arriving from The Laughing Lunatic and exclusive previews will be available on my Patreon channel Patreon.com/JohnRobertsAuthor
Don't Miss The Monthly Blake Langford Short Stories In 2026
Alison Pearce, Samir Khalifa and Joe Knight join forces with Blake in the upcoming short story adventures.
Complimenting The Blake Langford Adventures novels, this all new short story series includes characters from the novels as well as new faces that will be appearing in future adventures.
Ebooks of these short stories will be released for only 99p on Amazon Kindle followed by paperbacks and compilations which will be available in due course.
2026 Releases:
1st January 2026: Suspicious Mind
1st February 2026: Dead Men Don't Cry
1st March 2026: A Matter Of Convenience
1st April 2026: I Said I Loved You
1st May 2026: Guest List
1st June 2026: Seven Signs
1st July 2026: Persuade Me
1st August 2026: In My Father's Footsteps
1st September 2026: Whatever Happened To A Good Old Fashioned Broken Heart
1st October 2026: The River
1st November 2026: Quiz
1st December 2026: Sunday Morning Church
Previous Releases:
1st April 2025: Shield
1st May 2025: The Last Train
1st June 2025: Coleslaw And Chips
1st July 2025: Firing Line
1st August 2025: Group Think
1st September 2025: Blue Icons
1st October 2025: Death In The First Degree
1st November 2025: A Taste Of Freedom
1st December 2025: Nothing To Declare
Keep checking this site for regular updates as the series continues and take a look at the exclusive previews in the Short Story Preview tab
Future Blake Langford Adventures
There are currently 11 Blake Langford Adventures planned to be released. Here are the synopsis for adventures 7-11
Home For September
James Turner, freed after five years, reunites with his sister Gabby outside Florida State Prison, only for her to be kidnapped moments after his release.
Alone and under suspicion, James, accompanied by CIA agent Simon Buxton, faces a web of intrigue.
Meanwhile in the UK, Blake Langford, investigating a prison riot on the Isle Of Wight, receives a mysterious diamond with the initials RF lasered inside it from an inmate with information on a past case.
As Blake returns to Miami to assist the CIA in their search for Gabby, haunting memories and local connections take an unexpected perilous turn leaving Blake to wonder who he can trust when the price of one woman’s freedom is death.
Pieces Of My Life
When Graham Evans is discovered dead aboard a millionaire’s yacht in Monte Carlo, Blake Langford senses there’s more to the story.
With a sudden inheritance from Paula Langford’s aunt, previously unknown relatives suddenly emerge seeking their share, prompting Blake and Paula’s journey to uncover the truth.
In Monte Carlo, they encounter Joseph Perks, a wealthy financier backing a new racing team for the classic Monaco Grand Prix.
As investigations continue, Blake discovers Graham’s involvement with counterfeit casino chips leading into a dangerous investigation unveiling a network of intrigue and money laundering that stretches far beyond the French Riviera, revealing a clandestine organisation operating on a global scale.
When money talks, how much are you willing to lose?
A Vow Of Silence
When Steven Langford is found dead on a fishing boat near Highcliffe Beach, Special Branch agent Blake Langford suspects foul play.
The discovery of a book filled with gruesome drawings depicting the torture of young men by a local priest raises more questions than answers.
Blake must navigate an uncooperative religious group and a powerful local businessman with ties to the UK government.
As Steven’s friends receive threatening letters and phone calls, Blake faces a race against time to uncover the truth and confront his brother’s killer before they strike again.
The Wrong One
Blake Langford and Jason Price, on a mission to stop a deadly arms deal in Brazil, accidentally unleash a catastrophic tsunami in Jamaica. Identifying Hans Gruppenheimer as the mastermind behind the disaster, the duo embark on a perilous journey through the Amazon and onward to New Zealand. There, Gruppenheimer plans a seismic disaster beneath the Pacific Ocean. Amidst strained international relations, Blake races against time to prevent a global catastrophe, navigating a world where trust is a rare and precious commodity..
Marked With An X
On Lepe Beach near The New Forest National Park, Blake Langford's tranquil day takes a turn when his son, Michael, and girlfriend, Freya, uncover a mysterious treasure map. Intrigued, Blake finds a connection to a world war two bomb discovery in Banbury. The trio embark on a journey to the market town, revealing a hidden history of tunnels beneath its foundations. As they delve deeper, they confront local elders desperate to preserve long-buried secrets, turning their quest into a dangerous pursuit of truth.