For many of us, the idea of a town dedicated entirely to books sounds like a dream. Streets lined with independent bookshops, cafés filled with literary conversations, and the scent of old paper drifting on the air. It might sound like fiction, but I assure you, Book Towns are very real, and they are utterly…
After the quiet introspection of St Agnes’ Eve (read about this in last week’s blog post), rural England used to erupt into something far wilder in mid-January. Forget silent cakes; we’re talking about shouting, singing, gunfire, and cider-soaked toast in the branches of apple trees (here in England, cider is always alcoholic, so this was…
As the days slowly lengthen and the deep midwinter grips England, there’s one night where superstition takes centre stage: St Agnes’ Eve, on January 20th. This wasn’t just another cold winter night; it was historically believed to be a powerful time for young women to glimpse their future love. The reason I’m especially interested in…
As the last echoes of Christmas fade and the New Year celebrations become a distant memory, spare a thought for those returning to the fields. The first Monday after Twelfth Night (or Epiphany) marks Plough Monday in England—a day steeped in ancient customs, signalling the return to agricultural labour after the long Christmas break. While…
As the decorations come down and the final embers of the Yule log fade, we reach the “Grand Finale” of the festive season: Twelfth Night and Epiphany. In England, this has historically been a time of boisterous celebration, role-reversal, and one last magnificent feast before the reality of winter sets in. For a mystery lover,…
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…