Agatha Christie’s novels need no introduction. The only tough choice is which to recommend. Of the Miss Marple stories, “A Murder is Announced” is probably my favourite, beginning with the clever idea of a murder announcement in a newspaper and containing an interesting mix of characters and a plot full of twists and turns. Of … [Read more…]
Here are some wonderful historical detective TV shows based on novels. Adaptations of Agatha Christie’s Novels and Stories “Miss Marple” – The British 1980s series starred Joan Hickson in the title role and effectively mixed the elements of murder and cozy village life. 12 episodes were made over a course of 3 seasons. The programme … [Read more…]
My upcoming novel, “Campbell & MacPherson 1: Lady Tinbough’s Dilemma” is set in eighteenth century Edinburgh. When I began planning it I didn’t actually realise that there wasn’t a police force in the Georgian era and, with Scotland being run differently from England at the time, it was surprisingly difficult to find out who would … [Read more…]
I’m happy to announce that my new historical novel, “Campbell & MacPherson 1: Lady Tinbough’s Dilemma” is now available for pre-order here (Amazon US) and here (Amazon UK). This is the first novel in a light-hearted cozy mystery series set in Georgian-era Edinburgh. Book description: Ishbel Campbell is used to being alone. She attends university … [Read more…]
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens – would any list of winter novels be complete without this classic? I re-read this book nearly every year and love it more every time. The characters are so real you feel as if you can touch them and the story of Scrooge’s gradual transformation is masterfully written. “The … [Read more…]
“The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey – This haunting book is based on the Russian tale of the snow girl, set on a homestead in Alaska where a woman, unable to have children, creates a daughter from the snow who seems to come alive. “Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1)” by Marissa Meyer – a … [Read more…]
“If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly, “Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart” – “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens ‘The flake of snow grew larger and larger; and at last … [Read more…]
“The Woman in Black” by Susan Hill – a chilling ghost story about a lawyer going to a small village where the local people are terrified of a ghostly figure dressed in black. I recommend the most recent film version of this novel, starring Daniel Radcliffe, if you want something scary to watch this Halloween. … [Read more…]
“Brat Farrar” is a book I loved as a teenager so re-reading it is always like a home-coming. The title character is a young man convinced to impersonate Patrick Ashby, the heir to the Latchetts estate, and Brat is increasingly caught up in trying to discover what really happened to Patrick, with deadly consequences. This … [Read more…]
Josephine Tey has written some of my favourite novels, particularly Brat Farrar and Miss Pym Disposes, but I knew nothing of her as a person so I was happy to see that there was going to be a talk about her as part of Nairn’s Book & Arts Festival. The talk was by Jennifer Morag … [Read more…]