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
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.
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