fiction

On the other side of the crime tape with T. Orr Munro

We are thrilled to have T. Orr Munro, author of the incredibly gripping new crime novel Breakneck Point, on the blog to share her experiences as a CSI ‘SOCO’ – that’s Scenes of Crime Officer to you and me! – and how this influenced her writing. As soon as… Read More

Breakneck Point: Meet CSI Ally Dymond

Author of Breakneck Point T. Orr Munro joins us to introduce her fierce, feisty and formidable new protagonist CSI Ally Dymond and what inspired the character! Ally – or Aloysia, as her mother insists on calling her – is a Crime Scene Investigator working in Devon. When she blows… Read More

Four Aunties and a Wedding: A slice of Sutanto

In today’s blog post, Jesse Sutanto reflects on writing her award-winning debut novel Dial A For Aunties and its upcoming hilarious sequel Four Aunties and a Wedding, and how in both books she shares with us a slice of her culture and her experience with the Asian diaspora. When… Read More

Read an extract from WITHOUT A TRACE

Chapter 1 The rain was relentless; cold and spiteful. Its stinging wetness slapped at Ruth Prendergast’s face as she dashed from her car towards the shelter of the porch. After putting down the groceries she was carrying, she pulled a key from her pocket, unlocked her front door, and hurried… Read More

When Nature Takes Over by Polly Crosby

To celebrate the release of her atmospheric historical mystery, The Unravelling, Polly Crosby explores how her fascination with nature inspired the idea for the book. I’ve always been fascinated by nature. I was the kind of child who made dens and rooted around in the earth in search of… Read More

Nadine Matheson: To All the Serial Killers I’ve Loved Before

It was almost serendipitous that in the week we published the hardback of Nadine Matheson’s debut novel The Jigsaw Man, we also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the film The Silence of the Lambs. Both the book and the film set a new standard for not only crime fiction… Read More

Start reading Farringdon’s Fate by Linda Finlay!

Chapter 1 East Devon – January 1854 Edwin Farringdon had much to consider as with faithful black Labrador Ellery by his side, he made his way down the sunken lane where frost still gathered in pockets. His meeting with Quarry Manager, Tom Wakeley, had not gone well. Not only… Read More

Step into Midnight in Everwood with this exclusive extract

Midnight in Everwood is out now! Read on for an enchanting extract from the book: Scene Two  If Marie no longer dared to mention her adventures, she was still besieged by memories of the Kingdom of Sweets; and when she reflected on them, she could… Read More

The Imperfect Art of Baking by Jessica Ryn

Jessica Ryn has joined us on the blog to share a delicious gingerbread recipe like the one Violet Strong – the protagonist in her uplifting new novel The Imperfect Art of Caring – bakes with her mum. Happy baking! ‘Baking, like caring, is an imperfect art’ One of… Read More

Phaedra Patrick on When Your Novel Becomes a Film

Imagine if your dreams could play out on a TV screen where you could watch, freeze frame or rewind them. That’s exactly what having a film adapted from your novel is like. As a child, I used to love settling down to watch a film on Sunday afternoons (I still… Read More

The Illustrated Child: First Chapter Extract

Today we publish Polly Crosby’s beguiling, magical debut The Illustrated Child in paperback! Order your copy now, and start reading with this exclusive first chapter extract below. Chapter One Braër was an ancient farmhouse. A month of living there had still not unearthed a fraction of its secrets. Read More

IBW2021: Michelle Rawlins on bookshop communities

To celebrate Independent Bookshop Week, Michelle Rawlins – author of The Steel Girls – shares her love for the very special Barnsley bookshop she visits with her family. Something rather special For as long as I can remember, I have loved bookshops. It stems from being a regular visitor… Read More