If there’s one thing that defines a quintessentially British cozy mystery, it’s the presence of a steaming pot of tea. But in a culinary mystery, the afternoon tea table is more than just a comforting pitstop between interviews; it’s a tactical minefield. As a writer, I’m endlessly fascinated by how the polite social rituals of…
As a culinary cozy mystery author, my kitchen is just as important as my writing desk. For me, the two are inextricably linked. I include recipes at the end of my books, but what people don’t often see is the rigorous (and delicious) recipe testing that goes on beforehand. It is a brilliant excuse to…
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 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,…
The Christmas pudding is more than just a dessert; it’s a centuries-old tradition wrapped in superstition, fire, and secrets. As we look forward to the serialisation of Much Ado About Stuffing, it’s worth remembering that this festive, dense cake is the ultimate backdrop for hidden clues and thrilling discoveries. The pudding embodies the cozy mystery…
I am thrilled to announce that my upcoming Christmas mystery, Much Ado About Stuffing, will be published daily, one chapter at a time, from December 1st to the 25th! This format—releasing a story in tantalising instalments—isn’t a new gimmick; it’s the original engine of suspense, drama, and community reading. The rich history of serialisation proves…
Valentine’s Day is meant for comfort, sweetness, and perhaps a perfectly baked treat. In my latest culinary cozy mystery, The Cakes of Wrath, amateur baker and sleuth Jessica Askew is hosting a special event in Little Quillington and her biggest worry is purely domestic: whether her Battenburg is going to turn out neat enough. But…
My new book, The Cakes of Wrath, isn’t your usual Valentine’s Day story. Instead of heart-shaped chocolates and roses, we’ve got a mystery rooted in a cozy book-town tearoom and a cast of peculiar villagers. The key figure in all the chaos is my brilliant local herbalist, Mrs Pankhurst, who makes drinks and ointments from…