Christmas seems to come round faster every year and what a strange year 2021 has been. It was wonderful to regain some normality over the summer and autumn but now it seems that we have to face restrictions again.

When we were allowed our freedom, I decided to make the most of it and do something I’ve wanted to do for many years. I went to see Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap in London – something every crime writer should do once in their lifetime. It was extremely enjoyable and so good to get back into a theatre after all this time. Of course I can’t tell you whodunit because the audience are sworn to secrecy but I confess that I did guess the culprit!

After that treat I’ve been working hard and I’ve now finished my next Wesley mystery, Serpent’s Point, (and my publisher is very pleased with it).

Serpent’s Point in South Devon is the focus of local legends. The large house on the headland is shrouded in an ancient tale of evil, and when a woman is found strangled on the coastal path nearby, DI Wesley Peterson is called in to investigate.                                

The woman had been house-sitting at Serpent’s Point and Wesley is surprised to discover that she was conducting an investigation of her own into unsolved missing persons cases. Could these enquires have led to her murder? In the meantime, while the case takes Wesley to Yorkshire and the Cotswolds, his friend, archaeologist Neil Watson makes a dramatic discovery of his own in a field near Serpent’s Point.

Then, when a skeleton is uncovered, the pressure rises to find a killer and Wesley and Neil discover that Serpent’s Point holds more deadly secrets than anyone could have imagined.

I can’t believe this will be Wesley’s twenty sixth investigation (it only seems like yesterday that my first novel, The Merchant’s House, was published). And the good news is that I’ve just signed a contract with my publisher, Little, Brown, for two further Wesley Peterson novels.

Another piece of good news is that The Stone Chamber will be stocked in all Sainsbury’s stores when it comes out in paperback in March 2022.

Finally, here’s a festive treat for all my readers – a special Christmas case for Wesley Peterson and Gerry Heffernan featuring a very dodgy Santa and his highly suspicious team of elves. I do hope you enjoy it!

Let me take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year. All best wishes for 2022 – let’s hope it’s a good one!