Summer’s finally over but I’ve been making the most of the beautiful weather we’ve had for the past few months by working hard in my garden office. I’ve now completed Wesley’s next investigation and I can now reveal the title – The Killing Place. I will reveal more about it nearer the time of publication next year.

When I’ve not been writing I’ve been getting out and about taking part in events. At the start of September I presented a fun Murder Mystery evening at Ellesmere Port Library (who will ever forget the clairvoyant!). I really enjoy visiting libraries to do talks and present murder mysteries (it’s wonderful to discover the wealth of acting talent amongst the library staff).

In the middle of September I travelled down to Torquay to take part in the International Agatha Christie Festival. I was particularly honoured to be invited because it was reading Agatha Christie’s books in my formative years that led me to become a crime writer. At the Festival I was in conversation with Robert Goddard, a writer whose work I’ve admired for many years, and I also presented two light-hearted Murder Mysteries at local libraries which were greatly enjoyed by everyone.

While I was in Devon it was a great pleasure to visit and sign books at some of the county’s lovely bookshops, including Browser Books in Dartmouth, Waterstones in Torquay and The Ivybridge Bookshop in Ivybridge. Many thanks to everyone for a warm welcome I received.

At the end of September I took another short break from writing to visit northern Italy, exploring the historic cities of Mantua, Padua and Vicenza. It was my idea of a perfect holiday (I adore anywhere with medieval buildings) and it’s certainly true that you’ll never go hungry in Italy. It was certainly an inspiring trip and, who knows, Wesley might be enjoying a similar break in the future.

Happy reading.