It’s been a busy couple of months and it’s been wonderful to take part in live events again. It was a little daunting at first after so many months of restrictions and I felt a bit ‘rusty’ and out of practice but it was amazing how quickly I began to enjoy being out and about again.

In August I travelled up to Whitley Bay to attend the launch of MANY DEADLY RETURNS, a fantastic anthology celebrating twenty one years of Murder Squad. The launch was a lovely event held in The Bound, Whitley Bay’s brand new bookshop, and attended by all Murder Squad members. The anthology has already attracted some great reviews such as this one from Publishers’ Weekly https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780727890931

Earlier this month I travelled to Devon where, as well as a lot of walking and sightseeing, I carried out some research for Wesley Peterson’s next case. I did some book signings while I was there and a big thanks to Browser Books in Dartmouth and The Harbour Bookshop in Kingsbridge for making me so welcome. On the way back up north I also visited The Snug Bookshop in Bridgewater, Somerset where I met up with my fellow Murder Squaddie, Ann Cleeves.

One of the highlights of my stay in Devon this year was taking part in a ‘Desert Island Books’ evening at Totnes Library. I had to choose ten of my favourite books and extracts were read by a local drama group who certainly did them justice. It was a really enjoyable evening and it was so good to meet readers and library staff again. Thank you to everyone involved!

I’m really thrilled that THE STONE CHAMBER has been very well received and will be out in paperback next March.

At last I’ve sent the manuscript of Wesley’s twenty sixth case to my publisher and the good news is that I’ve been given a contract for two more. My visit to Devon (where the books are set) certainly gave me some new ideas!