Buried Treasure – by @gilliallan – 5* review, paperback launch and cover reveal!

Today, I'm delighted to be part of the paperback launch and cover reveal of Gilli Allan's Buried Treasure! I had the pleasure of reading the Kindle version of the book at the end of last year and you can read my review below. But first, here's the reader description: Jane thinks he sees her as … Continue reading Buried Treasure – by @gilliallan – 5* review, paperback launch and cover reveal!

Blog splash: #GirlInTrouble by @RhodaBaxter

As a Rhoda Baxter fan, I'm delighted to be taking part in a blog splash today to celebrate the publication of her new book, Girl in Trouble. Rhoda's given me a prompt related to the theme of the book to drive this post, but first of all, here's the cover, blurb and buy link! Blurb … Continue reading Blog splash: #GirlInTrouble by @RhodaBaxter

The making of a novel – inspiration & method

I’m celebrating today as my second Cambridge mystery, One Dark Lie, is now available across all ebook platforms. It's set in the run-up to Christmas: cue lots of snowy pics!   Writing a novel can be a bit of a long, slow process, and encouragement along the way truly helps, so it seems like a … Continue reading The making of a novel – inspiration & method

Sophie Hannah and Jill Dawson at the Cambridge Literary Festival

Last weekend I had a thoroughly self-indulgent time attending a talk by Sophie Hannah and Jill Dawson. Hannah has recently written Closed Casket, her second Hercule Poirot mystery, commissioned by Agatha Christie Limited. Meanwhile Dawson’s latest book, The Crime Writer, is about novelist Patricia Highsmith, and according to The Guardian “achieves a wonderful blurring of … Continue reading Sophie Hannah and Jill Dawson at the Cambridge Literary Festival

Out today: Please Release Me by Rhoda Baxter

Today I’m posting in celebration of the launch of Rhoda Baxter’s new novel, Please Release Me. It's out today, and sitting on my Kindle ready to go! Here’s the blurb, so you can see why I was tempted: What if you could only watch as your bright future slipped away from you? Sally Cummings has … Continue reading Out today: Please Release Me by Rhoda Baxter

The mystery ingredient…

I had great fun on Sunday, taking part in a blog feature run by my fellow Choc Lit author, Rhoda Baxter. Her Inheritance Books series is inspired by the Inheritance Tracks slot from BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live. You get to share a book that was passed down to you from the previous generation, as … Continue reading The mystery ingredient…

Stephen King’s Joyland, and the benefit of hindsight

I recently finished Joyland, by Stephen King. It's only the second novel of his that I’ve read, the first being 11 22 63. I can’t think why I didn’t start sooner. Neither of these particular examples belong to the genre that King's most famous for, but each has elements that waive the normal scientific rules … Continue reading Stephen King’s Joyland, and the benefit of hindsight

Books, buckets and blogs…

Tagging has been the order of the day in the last couple of weeks.First of all I got tagged on FB to list ten books that have stayed with me over the years. (Thanks, Julie - although I agonised over the list, it was great fun!) I finally came up with:The Cuckoo Tree by Joan … Continue reading Books, buckets and blogs…

The Lakes, Catherine Ryan Howard, and WordPress.com websites…

Just back from a holiday in the Lake District. Its beauty alone makes it a great setting for fiction. Then the lack of mobile coverage in many places is an absolute bonus if you’re writing crime. Your heroine doesn’t need to run low on battery to stop her calling for backup... It's where Anna, the … Continue reading The Lakes, Catherine Ryan Howard, and WordPress.com websites…

New Year, New Writing Manual

I had a lovely time with a selection of mysteries over the Christmas break, from the classic (Sherlock Holmes  and Maigret), to the modern, in the form of Evonne Wareham’s gripping romantic suspense novel, Never Coming Home. Then, to top the whole thing off, I immersed myself in The Arvon Book of Crime and Thriller … Continue reading New Year, New Writing Manual