Anna Sayburn Lane

Thriller author

Anna Sayburn Lane

November newsletter: beauty in the small things

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I’m home from Japan, after a wonderful trip. But one evening early on our trip, I just wanted to sleep. My jet-lagged brain had struggled to cope with Tokyo’s chaotically-busy wholesale fish market in the morning and to navigate the underpasses, overpasses and complex transport system of this futuristic city. We were running late to meet our ‘nightlife guide’ and all I wanted was my bed.

We met Hiro Nippon in the centre of Ebisu, a vibrant area of central Tokyo. He had prepared a tour of the local izakaya bars and asked how we were. I answered (perhaps a little too honestly) ‘tired’. Then he asked a question. Did we know the movie Perfect Days?

We did. It was one of the films that made me want to visit Japan. It tells the everyday story of a humble public toilet cleaner, as he goes about Tokyo doing his work to the best of his ability, meeting strangers, co-workers and friends, his day full of little rituals and detail that highlight the beauty in life. It’s a profound film, acted with great sensitivity and charm.

Did I want to see one of the toilets where they filmed? You bet I did. I even used it (immaculately clean, like most Japanese loos).

After bonding over Perfect Days, we enjoyed juicy yakitori skewers with beer, then tried excellent sushi with a variety of sake. We had a great time finding out about Hiro’s life in Tokyo (and previously in California). Perhaps not for the first time, a good loo had saved a night out.

Sometimes it’s not the biggest things that stay with you. Our trip included taking a cable car over volcanic vents in the mountains, visiting some spectacularly beautiful gardens and temples in Kyoto, and relaxing in hot spring onsen baths in a traditional Japanese ryokan inn. I won’t forget those experiences. But that moment of connection over a film that celebrates the beauty in the everyday will stay with me too.

Have you had a moment like that on your travels? When something completely mundane creates a moment you’ll remember, or turns around your experience of a place? Hit reply and let me know – I’d love to hear from you.

Now, read on for news of Christmas markets, a Christmas gift guide (sorry – but it’s not too early to plan!) and a Christmas story in the works.

 

Christmas Fairs and Gifts

I’m going to be busy attending Christmas markets in the next two months, both in Deal and London. Why not come by and say hello if you’re in the area? I’ll be selling signed books and (I hope) some smart new box sets of the Marjorie Swallow series.

Here’s the plan:

There’s now an online alternative to Amazon for people wanting print books: The Great British Bookshop. All my books are listed on the site, which is run by the people who print my paperbacks. You order direct from them and I get a bigger slice of the price than from Amazon.

Christmas Gift Guide

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the book lovers in your life? (or a treat to yourself?)

I’ve joined forces with 21 other authors to create a free Historical Fiction Gift Guide filled with books set in the 1920s (and a few from the 1910s and 1930s). It’s designed to help you discover wonderful books and find thoughtful gifts for fellow bookworms this festive season.

Inside, you’ll find:

📚 A curated list of novels across multiple genres — from historical fiction to fantasy and mystery

🎄 Perfect ideas for Christmas presents (or a little treat for yourself!)

💫 Free novels to download

📚 Many complete series

✨ Download your free copy here

A Christmas story

Talking of Christmas, I’m hard at work on a story that you’ll receive next month. Christmas is a time for reunions, so I thought I’d throw a party for Marjorie and Mrs Jameson, where lots of their friends and former clients come together.

Let’s see: jazz musicians, nightclub dancers, artists, actors, newspaper reporters, explorers, diamond merchants… it should be quite an occasion! Let’s hope nobody tries to spoil it with a little light criminal activity…

Remember you can find my previous short stories in the Marjorie Swallow series on the Readers Club page of my website.

Christmas Gift Guide 2025

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🎁 Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the book lovers in your life? (or a treat to yourself?)

I’ve come together with 21 other authors and created a free Historical Fiction Gift Guide filled with books set in the 1920s (and a few from the 1910s and 1930s). It’s designed to help you discover wonderful reads and find thoughtful gifts for fellow bookworms this festive season.

Inside, you’ll find:

📚 A curated list of novels across multiple genres — from historical fiction to fantasy and mystery

🎄 Perfect ideas for Christmas gifting (or a little treat for yourself!)

💫 Free novels to download

📚 Many complete series

✨ Download your free copy here. 

If you love the 1920s — the music, the fashion, the history, the many social changes — this Guide was made for you.

Make this Christmas a little more bookish and a little more 1920s. ❤️

October newsletter: reasons to smile: meeting readers, travel plans and cozy recommendations

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What makes you smile? Today is World Smile Day, so I’m thinking about all the things that make me smile. There are plenty of them – reader reviews of Murder On The White Cliffs, my new electric bike (a marvel!), meeting readers while selling books at fairs, my upcoming trip to Japan. I’m also thinking about how I can put a smile on readers’ faces, with the Very Secret Project (VSP) that I’ve been getting up early to write. I can’t tell you about that. Not yet, anyway. See if you can guess!

Read on to find out about these, plus a walking tour of Canterbury, an audiobook discount, and some autumn recommendations and promotions.

Cars, book sales and travel plans

I love vintage cars, and I couldn’t resist going along when I heard that the first Bloomsbury Classic Car Show was happening in Bedford Square, Bloomsbury – which in my fictional world is headquarters for Mrs Jameson and her detective agency.

I had a lovely time looking at all the glamorous cars and wondering which one Marjorie and Frankie would have picked out. I rather fancied this bright red sporty Sunbeam Alpine. However, I got there on my lovely new e-bike, which makes zipping around town much easier, and I don’t have to worry about parking!

Writing is a solitary business, so I love a chance to meet readers. I regularly set up stall in my home town in Kent. I now have the pleasure of readers coming back asking for the next in the series. It’s so nice to chat and find out what they thought about the books. And a big smile for the gentleman who bought the entire set of Marjorie Swallow books for his wife’s birthday present this month. Not long till Christmas, if you’re thinking of delighting the mystery fan in your life!

For people who can’t get to Kent to buy their books from me directly, there’s now an alternative to Amazon: The Great British Bookshop. All my books are listed on the site, which is run by the people who print my paperbacks. You order direct from them and I get a bigger slice of the price than from Amazon. Everyone wins!

Finally, I’m beyond excited to be packing for a trip to Japan next week. I’ve wanted to visit for years. There aren’t many countries with such a tantalising mixture of ancient tradition and cutting-edge new technology, tranquil countryside and hypermodern cities. I’ll tell you all about it next time, and see if I can find a way to set a story there!

A walk around Canterbury

1560 map of Canterbury
A 1560 map of Canterbury

I’ll be leading a Murder And Mystery historical walk around Canterbury in November, as part of the Canterbury Festival. Do sign up if you fancy walking the city with me and learning about the darker side of Canterbury history.

I got to know Canterbury while writing my Helen Oddfellow thrillers, because it was the birthplace of Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe. I’ve written a bit about how the city shapes my writing, here on Substack.

Reviews

Murder On The White Cliffs, the most recent Marjorie Swallow book, has been garnering some lovely reviews. I’d like to share a few here – they certainly put a smile on my face. I hope the book made you smile too.

“This might be my favorite mystery in the whole series—absolutely gripping from start to finish! The pacing was spot-on, with just the right balance of suspense and emotion. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. The mystery kept me guessing the whole way through. I suspected everyone at some point (so many clever red herrings!), and the ending was both surprising and satisfying.

“The historical details were woven in beautifully, and the epilogue tied everything together in a really thoughtful way. I’m sad the series is over, but this was the perfect send-off. I already want to start back at the beginning and read it all again! Highly recommend to fans of smart, engaging historical mysteries.”

“Whodunit? The most obvious person or the least? That’s the dilemma every reader will have as they attempt to unravel the fabric of this mystery! Marjorie and Frankie team up to try and solve the murder while Mrs. Jameson for unknown reasons goes silent. Loved this latest book in the series and enjoyed learning more about each character. All the answers are here! Highly recommend the series for every lover of a good mystery ~ and the series would make a perfect gift!”

“The author’s impeccable descriptions of time and place, the setting of the story on the Kent coast are pure delight; the pacing is spot on, perfectly balancing suspense and emotion. The characters, old and new, are vividly described.”

“One of my favourite books in the Marjorie Swallow series. A really excellent finale to the current series of Marjorie Swallow books. Lots of intrigue and red herrings. It was a real pleasure to read.”

Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed Murder On The White Cliffs. Reviews make a big difference to independent authors, so please do drop a review on Amazon or Goodreads if you’ve enjoyed the book.

Recommendations

The next Verity Bright novel is out, and it sounds like a cracker. Lady Eleanor Swift is called to Buckingham Palace to solve a right royal mystery! Murder At The Royal Palace is out now.

Talking of royalty, I’m excited to see the third Downton Abbey movie, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. I admit that I started watching Downton as ‘research’ for the 1920s, but was quickly gripped by the upstairs/downstairs plot, the glorious fashions and the amazing setting of Highclere Castle in Hampshire. I haven’t managed to see the film at the cinema yet, but I’m sure it’ll put a smile on my face.

Promotions

US and Canadian readers! Blackmail In Bloomsbury has been selected for a Chirp deal, which means it’s available for just $3.99 from October 8 to November 5, a big saving on the usual price in the US.

 

The stories behind the story

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Have you ever wondered how I research the my historical mysteries? Wonder no more, because I publish a blog on Substack all about my research. It’s called The Stories Behind the Story, and you can find it here. You can either read online, or subscribe to receive fortnightly emails.

Here’s a good place to start: my first year anniversary, which coincided with the publication day for Murder On The White Cliffs.

The post has links to articles about the history behind all six of the Marjorie Swallow books, as well as the prequel novella Murder At The Ritz.

I’m now revisiting stories about the research behind my thriller series featuring Helen Oddfellow, starting with A Dead Man In Deptford.

 

 

September newsletter: Castles, coastlines and audiobooks

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I’m back at my desk after a holiday a few hundred miles north up the coast, in beautiful Northumberland. My father is from the county and I still have family there, so I enjoyed a week of cycling along the wild and wonderful coastline, visiting castles and dropping in on my cousins (not at the same time; sadly I have no castle-dwelling cousins.) I even took a dip in the North Sea, and can report that it’s even chillier than the sea back home in Kent.

It was just the tonic I needed to send me back to my desk for September, which always has a ‘back to school’ feel for me. Much as I love the summer, there’s something about crisp mornings, blackberries in the hedgerows and earlier dusks that makes me want to sharpen my pencils and start a new notebook.

So I’m starting work on my next writing project, which will remain secret until I’m ready to share it! In the meantime, read on for news about my travels, the latest audiobooks, and other news and recommendations.

Audiobook news

I’m pleased to say the latest Marjorie Swallow audiobook, Death At Chelsea, is now available on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. That means the first three in the Marjorie Swallow series are now audio-friendly, for those of you who prefer to read with your ears.

You can find links to all the audiobooks, listen to samples and download the free audiobook of Murder At The Ritz on the new audiobooks page of my website.

Did you know you can get the audiobook at a reduced price if you already own the Kindle version of a book? Not only that, but using the Whispersync feature, the book can magically tell what page you’re on, so you can swap between listening and reading without getting in a muddle. Go to the Kindle page for the book on Amazon and check the right hand column – it should show you a reduced price for the audiobook (note, I don’t set the prices for Audible books so I don’t know exactly what it will be).

If you don’t want to buy or subscribe through Audible, Spotify or the other providers, you can always ask your library to get my audiobooks for you. They can buy a library license and you can listen for free!

Castles and coastlines

The far north of England has a special place in my heart. My father grew up just outside Newcastle, and many of my childhood holidays were spent at the seaside town of Whitley Bay, where my grandparents lived.

Northumberland is the furthest northerly point of England before it becomes Scotland, and for centuries it was the site of battles and border skirmishes between the English and Scots. Then there were the Viking raiders from across the sea in Denmark, and the ancient families who rebelled against Elizabeth I, and an important role in the civil war… for much of its history, Northumberland was far from the peaceful place it is now.

The coastline is mostly flat, with sand dunes fringing white beaches where seals bask and colonies of seabirds breed on the islands offshore. There’s the holy island of Lindesfarne, where Saints Aidan and Cuthbert brought Christianity to Britain. I spent time on Holy Island after walking St Cuthbert’s Way ten years ago, and it has a very special, otherworldly atmosphere.

This summer we stayed at Alnmouth, where the Aln river estuary meanders into the sea. As you might expect from its history, this stretch of coastline is rich in castles. We cycled past Dunstanburgh , now little more than a ruin on the headland above the fishing village of Craster, Warkworth perched above the delightful River Coquet, and the impressive Bamburgh Castle, which dominates the northern stretch of coast overlooking the Farne Islands.

But you can’t visit Northumberland without visiting the magnificent Alnwick Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Northumberland since the thirteenth century. The twelfth duke and his family still live there – but it’s now most famous as a stand-in for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.

We toured the state rooms (some of which were used for filming Downton Abbey, more my sort of entertainment!), dodged children doing ‘broomstick practice’, stood on the battlements and imagined facing a Viking raiding party surging in from the coast. The castle also has a very informative area demonstrating medieval arts and crafts, and I was fascinated to find out about the process of making parchment, ink and colours for producing book illustrations, such as those made for the Lindesfarne Gospels.

We also enjoyed tea and cake and a browse around Barter Books in Alnwick, the tremendously popular and huge second hand bookshop in what used to be Alnwick Station.

I came home with the spark of an idea for the next book… but I won’t say any more for now! More about that when it’s ready.

Recommendations

While we’re talking about audiobooks, I thought I’d recommend some of the audio content that I’ve been listening to and enjoying recently.

The Books And Travel podcast by JF Penn, who writes the ARKANE novels. Jo Penn talks to writers about the places that shape their writing and what we learn from our travels. I was a guest on the podcast a couple of years ago, talking about Canterbury. More recently, I loved this episode on Lindesfarne.

For sheer silliness and fun, the complete PG Wodehouse Jeeves And Wooster radio dramas, read by a full cast including Michael Horden and Richard Briers.

Juliet Stevenson reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a thing of beauty and was recommended to me by lots of people. Pretty much anything she reads is lovely!

Caroline Crampton’s Shedunnit podcast takes a dive into classic crime fiction, including all my favourites. She recently talked about ‘rediscovering’ Miss Marple, my favourite of Agatha Christie’s detectives.

The audiobooks in Mick Herron’s Slow Horses series about hapless British spies. Narrator Sean Barrett really conveys the world-weariness of the characters.

Finally, I discovered my narrator Kim Bretton through Magda Alexander’s 1920s murder mysteries starring Kitty Worthington, so a big thumbs up for Magda and Kim!

I hope you enjoy them and please do let me know if you have favourite audiobooks or podcasts to recommend.

Media coverage of Murder On The White Cliffs

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A quick round-up of some of the media coverage for my latest book, Murder On The White Cliffs. 

The Isle of Thanet News wrote about the launch and the real-life inspiration for the novel.

Sarah Zama, 1920s historical fantasy author, interviewed me for her Jazz Feathers website.

Kate Jackson, crime fiction expert and author of How To Survive A Classic Murder Mystery, invited me to write a guest post for her website, Cross Examining Crime. I wrote 10 Reasons Why I Write 1920s-set Classic Murder Mysteries.

I’ve been thrilled by the response to the book. You can read some of the lovely reviews it received on Goodreads.