As the tree begins to droop and we look toward the turning of the year, my thoughts are firmly in Derbyshire. Tomorrow, as the clock strikes midnight, many of us will be engaging in traditions that have echoed through Northern English towns and villages for centuries. It is also the perfect time to announce that…
While the Christmas pudding and mince pies get all the festive glamour, the true heart of the English Christmas dinner lies in the savoury side dishes. These humble, traditional components are what make the feast complete—and they also provide the perfect cover for a mystery. In a cozy crime novel, the danger isn’t always in…
Christmas is about comfort, goodwill, and the perfect family gathering. But in a cozy mystery, those elements become the perfect disguise for a shocking crime. The most satisfying holiday mysteries follow a strict formula, using the traditions of the season to heighten the stakes and amplify the suspense. If you love your festive cheer served…
My latest mystery, Much Ado About Stuffing, is set in one of my favourite places: Cambridge. This is a city built on tranquility, history, and serious study. It’s a place where ancient, ivy-clad walls keep secrets and the loudest noise is often the gentle sound of a punt pushing off the riverbank. On the surface,…
The tradition of the advent calendar is one of waiting, ritual, and the daily reveal of a tiny treat. This concept is the perfect foundation for my serialisation of Much Ado About Stuffing, which will give you a new chapter of mystery every day until December 25th! But the simple cardboard calendars we know today have…