Release day for The Crossword Murders!

Thrilled to see The Crossword Murders finally out today! You can get your copy HERE And you can read in ebook, paperback, audio or on KU! A crossword that’s tricky to crack, a hot cup of coffee… and hidden clues? Can Jane Treen work this mystery out? England, 1942. Jane Treen is hot-footing it to Devon, having received an urgent message from her colleague and fellow sleuth, Arthur Cilento. He had been deeply worried for his mentor, crossword writer Professor Watkins. And the invitation he’s sent Jane is to the Professor’s funeral… he’s dead. Arthur suspects foul play, but before they have time to fill in the blanks, their clues lead them into a secret vault nearby. Jane, fluffy ginger cat by her side, begins to connect the dots. But then another man is murdered, and she realises that Professor Watkins’ death is one piece in a much larger and deadlier game. But who could be behind the untimely deaths? Could the professor’s beloved sister be responsible? Or a wealthy and influential benefactor and her assistant? And someone else close to the professor – also no stranger to compiling a crossword – seems to be increasingly cryptic too. It’s clear that the killer isn’t playing by the book. And when the clue the professor left in the last crossword he wrote doesn’t help them to solve the crime, Jane and Arthur are back to square one and must think outside the box to crack the code. But just as they start to figure out what’s happening, they find themselves trapped, their lives at stake… Can the duo solve the puzzle and escape before it’s too late?

Guest Blogger - Georgia Hill

Hi all, and huge thanks to Nell for having me as a guest again. Inspiration for books can often come from the slightest thing …I’m currently writing a brand-new series of three books set in Cornwall and was hunting forthe perfect place to set them. A memory kept niggling in the way memories do …Avery long time ago my parents took me on holiday to St Agnes in Cornwall. A relative was building some bungalows and let us have his temporary home (a work caravan in a muddyfield, complete with a Portaloo) for a week. It was a holiday of St Michael’s Mount, the Witchcraft Museum at Boscastle, sandy toes and cream teas. I was eight. The most vivid memory was being trusted to collect a loaf of bread from the St Agnes bakery and lobbing it from hand to hand all the way back to the caravan. Fresh from the oven, it smelled glorious and was too hot to hold. This memory kept coming back to me and I knew it might be the beginning of something. A recent research trip-come-birthday treat (in November!) saw me returning to St Agnes several decades after my first visit. I could remember the steep narrow beach road, the lifeboat station, the towering cliffs on either side. And the bakery was still there! The Cornish four seasons in one hour weather was present too. We got caught in a hail shower blowing off the sea so violent we were soaked in seconds. We had to seek refuge in the Driftwood Arms pub and drink hot cider with rum. Well, that’s my excuse. As I sat, shivering, in front of the wood burner, I knew I’d found my Wheal Kitty Cove. A fictional village, it’s firmly based on Trevaunance Cove and St Agnes.

Naturally, I’ve poured all these memories and experiences into the books and the first is now out

Here’s a little about it: A fresh start in Cornwall is the last thing Chloe wants, but it could be exactly what she needs… After losing her high-powered London job, and her fiancé, Chloe retreats to the Cornishseaside village she grew up in. Despite a difficult relationship with her mother, Chloe agrees to help with the struggling family bakery.Then she bumps into Nik, the gorgeous local surfer, and also her high school crush. But despite old feelings bubbling again, Chloe's recent heartbreak means she's sworn off men for good. Meanwhile, Chloe's best friend Ginger finds herself hosting a Hollywood heartthrob seekingan escape of her own. And as Wheal Kitty Cove prepares for the autumn festivities andfireworks, both women find themselves navigating family dramas and unexpected romances.But beneath the cosy village charm and seasonal celebrations, it's clear that not everyone is being honest about their feelings. Can Chloe take a second chance on love before the season is over? Tricks and Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery is a spicy and feel-good contemporaryromance filled with village charm and autumn magic, perfect for fans of the Dream Harbour series and Gilmore Girl

And here’s a little about me: Georgia Hill writes contemporary and dual time romances about love, the power and joy in being an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There's always a dog. It's usually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. She lives near the sea with her beloved dogs and husband (also beloved) and loves the books of Jane Austen, collecting elephants, and Strictly Come Dancing. She’s also a complete museum geek and finds inspiration for her books in the folklore and history of the many places in which she’s lived.She’s worked in the theatre, for a charity and as a teacher and educational consultant before finally acknowledging that making things up was what she really wanted to do. She’s been happily creating believable heroines, intriguing men, and page-turning stories ever since.You can find her here:Twitter/X @georgiawrites Facebook HERE author Website HERE Tricks & Treats at the Cosy Cornish Bakery can be bought HERE Love,Georgia x

Guest Blogger - Verity Bright!

A warm welcome back to my fellow Bookouture author, Verity Bright with a new release - Murder Stage Left You can get your copy HERE Lady Swift and her handsome husband Hugh Seldon are totally charmed by the picturesque town where Shakespeare once lived. Everyone is abuzz with chatter about the upcoming production of Macbeth… But wait, is that a body backstage? Dashing showman Richard Ratcliffe is set to return to the stage at the famous Shakespeare Memorial theatre. But when priceless items belonging to Shakespeare himself go missing from the theatre’s collection, Eleanor knows someone has gone off-book… Then the beautiful old theatre is set on fire. The gang are horror-struck, and while racing to help, Eleanor’s loyal butler Clifford discovers an act of foul play: Ratcliffe, the show’s leading man, is dead inside from a blow to the head. Was the fire a deliberate distraction to cover up the murder? Hugh believes Ratcliffe may have caught the thief in the act, but Eleanor isn’t so certain.

Murder in a Yorkshire Village is out!!

Murder in a Yorkshire Village is out and flying high with bestseller flags in the UK, USA, Australia and Canada. Thank you all so much for supporting my little book. It means so much after all the hard work that goes into this series. My agent, my editor, my copyeditor, proofreader, and all of Team Jane at Bookouture work incredibly hard to make my words shine. Thank you for loving Kitty and her world as much as I do.

Cover reveal for Murder at the Mistletoe Ball

Ta dah!!!! I just love this cover! You can preorder now and get it in Novemeber - a pre Christmas little treat HERE Festive frolics and a body in the library! Classic golden age style cozy mystery

Where in the world is Helena?

All over the place is the answer! For the next 4 Sundays between 2 and 4 I'm at Whitehill Country Park on the Stoke Gabriel Road where there is a lovely small craft fayre. I am selling and signing books in aid of Cancer South West my charity for this year. On Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th you'll find me at Torbay Literary Festival, The Palace Theatre in Paignton. Tickets are free to my panels where I'm discussing all things crimey with a bunch of my writing pals. There are also so fabulous events on in the theatre itself so do google fu the lit fest and book yourself a treat.Then September 29th I'm talking at a literary lunch in Plympton for Dame Hannah's another splendid local charity so again if you fancy a delicious lunch and then a fun talk do look them up and grab a ticket. Last - but not least - August 18th sees the publication of Murder in a Yorkshire Village, Kitty, Matt and Bertie's latest adventure. Hope to meet more of you at one of the evenets!

Guest Blogger - Jonathan Posner

A warm welcome to one of my writing friends, the multi-talented Jonathan Posner. If you love Tudor times and a good murder mystery series then I have just the thing for you! The Broken Sword You only discover what dangers you can overcome when you're tested to the limit... Tudor England When Mary Fox is ordered to marry a sadistic older man, she decides instead to strike out on her own. As a woman in a man's world, no-one expects her to survive, but Mary is determined to prove them wrong. Challenged to return the Broken Sword talisman and so break a centuries-old curse, she soon learns how to scheme, fight and outwit those who would drag her back to a life of servitude. And in doing so, she becomes more than a match for any man. "Diabolically good! What makes this novel irresistibly readable is the emotional energy generated by the main character Mary Fox, her ups and downs, drawing parallels to our present times." Gina Flyvholm "I would highly recommend this book for its entertainment, historical authenticity and value." Philip Appleton

I asked Jonathan to tell me more about Mary and how the series came about. I can pinpoint exactly how and when the idea for a Tudor adventuress called Mary Fox came to me. It was 2014 and I was writing my first Tudor book, the time-travel story The Witchfinder’s Well. I needed a reason why the main character was so into the Tudors, so I invented a series of adventure books set in the 1530s to inspire her. The name Mary Fox jumped into my head – a brave, honest, upright heroine – and very handy with a sword. I even created three of her titles – The Broken Sword, The Tudor Prince and The River of Fire – leaping onto the page as quick as I could type. A few years later, I was about to publish the third book in The Witchfinder’s Well trilogy, so I needed to start a new project. Mary Fox seemed to call out to me – demanding to have the books I had so easily created for her, written for real. I had the titles – now all I needed was the stories! The Broken Sword was published in 2020, then The Tudor Prince and The River of Fire in the years after. Her fourth adventure, The Assassin’s Revenge, is well under way, and due out in 2027. Mary is such an enduring heroine for me; I can see myself writing many more stories about her in the years to come. Watch this space! You can buy the bookHERE Jonathan's Bio Before becoming a full-time author in 2021, Jonathan worked for many years as a marketing and advertising executive. He now lives in the South West UK, and when he is not writing, he enjoys walking, theatre and presenting regular shows on a local community radio station. He is fascinated by Tudor history, and has written a series of novels that address the question ‘what might happen if you time-travelled back to the 1560s?’ He has also written three full-length musicals, a one-act play and a book of short stories. He has a regular blog on Substack called 5 Minute Break, giving him an outlet for a weekly rant on his frustrations with the modern world.

Contract News!!!!

My huge news this month is that I'm delighted to announce a new 10 book contract with Bookouture! More Miss Underhay! More Secret Detective Agency! and.... a new project to come in 2028!

Guest Blogger - Georgia Hill

A warm welcome to my lovely writing chum - Georgia Hill talking about her work and her fabulous new book Sunny New Beginnings at Sea Haven House - a perfect holiday sunshine read. You can get your copy HERE

About Georgia:Georgia Hill writes contemporary and dual time romances about love, the power and joy inbeing an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There's always a dog. It'susually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. She lives nearthe sea with her beloved dogs and husband (also beloved) and loves the books of Jane Austen,collecting elephants, and Strictly Come Dancing. She’s also a complete museum geek and findsinspiration for her books in the folklore and history of the many places in which she’s lived.She’s worked in the theatre, for a charity and as a teacher and educational consultant beforefinally acknowledging that making things up was what she really wanted to do. She’s beenhappily creating believable heroines, intriguing men, and page-turning stories ever since. Why Romance? As a teenager in the seventies, when I was just beginning to move from children’s books toadult, I used to steal off with mum’s Mills and Boon romances. Set in far flung places like HongKong and South Africa, full of exotic settings like quintas in Madeira and featuring sexy,domineering men, I loved them. My most beloved M&B ‘trope’ was always forced proximity.My absolute favourite book, and sadly I can’t remember either title or author, featured a coupleobliged to share an Alaskan cabin in a snowstorm. Of course they bicker. Of course they irritateone another. And, of course, they fall in love. I still get all misty eyed when I spot a vintagepaperback with that iconic rose.When the Romantic Novelists’ Association (which has long had a close relationship with M&Bromance books) holds its conference, it runs the Elizabeth Goudge competition. In 2024 Ientered a short piece called Room for Two at Rose Cottage. To my delight it came second.I reworked the chapter, added about eleventy-million words more, and it developed into thefourth book in my Lullbury Bay series. Sunny New Beginnings at Sea Haven House features Johnny, who most definitely isn’t an alpha male but is very sexy, and Callie, a burned-outteacher desperate for a change of career. Forced to share a holiday cottage, they don’t expect the instant attraction which occurs, or the complications which ensue. It was great fun to write.Then it occurred to me where the core of the idea stemmed from. The influence of my teenageMills and Boon reading really can’t be denied! Follow Georgia on Facebook HERE OR stop by her Website HERE

May catch up!

This year seems to be flying by so fast! time for a bit of a catch up. It's a busy year for me with books to write and also lots of appearances at literary festivals, signings and so on. To find out where I'm going to be and when you can check out the events tab on my website. Just click on the home page and scroll down HERE Book 25 in the Miss underhay series is with my publisher and so is The Crossword Murders, book 5 in the Secret Detective Agency series. That's now up for preorder! I'm about to start book 26 of Kitty and Matt's adventures and book 6 in the Secret Detective agency series. It's been wonderful meeting so many of you this year at the events I've done so far!! I'm pleased to see The Miss Underhay series translated into so many languages now and a huge welcome to my wonderful readers in Poland, France and Bulgaria where the latest translations have appeared. Next year Germany is being added to the list! There will be more book announcements coming in June so watch out for that! Now, since it's a holiday weekend here in the UK and the sun is shining for once I'm going back to my garden!

The Afternoon Tea Murders is Out!!

The Afternoon Tea Murders is out today!!!!! Available in kindle, audio and paperback. Also in KU 🍾HERE It's Publication day for The Afternoon Tea Murders! 🍰 🔍 A deliciously murderous golden age style treat. 🐈Tea and cake on the terrace, views of the Devon hills… and a dead body in the local village? This is one for Jane Treen…! London, 1942. Miss Jane Treen is at her desk in Whitehall sipping a strong coffee when she receives an urgent message about her colleague, codebreaker Arthur Cilento. He’s in danger in Devon, and Jane needs to get there sharpish. But before her bags are properly unpacked, the local teashop owner in Arthur’s village is found lying amidst the scones and teacakes… and she’s dead. When Jane arrives, it quickly becomes clear that the murder is a half-baked attempt to curdle Arthur’s current codebreaking mission – but how? There seem to be suspects at every turn. Is Arthur’s boss going to extremes to cover up his incompetence? Can the teashop customers be trusted? And what about the secretary, who seems to have secret links to the village teashop… Spurred on by scones and clotted cream, Jane and Arthur start to whip up a theory as to who the killer could be. But just as they begin to make progress, someone else is murdered – and it looks like Arthur could be next. It’s clear they need to solve this case quickly, before teatime is over and Arthur meets a sticky end… If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon’s utterly gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!

Guest blogger - Verity Bright

A warm welcome back to my fabulous writing colleague Verity Bright with a new title A Very Irish Mystery Available HERE

Lady Eleanor Swift is having a grand time cosying up with her husband in Dublin’s traditional pubs, eating their fill of Irish stew and soaking up the craic… Until another body ruins all their plans! Lady Eleanor Swift is visiting Dublin with her husband Hugh Seldon and butler Clifford to meet Samuel O’Sullivan, a man who may be able to tell her more about the mysterious disappearance of her parents two decades ago. Deciding they should explore the city a little more, they jump at the chance to visit the world-renowned Finnegan’s brewery. But their taste test of the famous black stout turns deadly when Eleanor spots a body in one of the barrels! The dead man is none other than the owner of the brewery, Fergal Finnegan himself. Sensing a scandal, the head of operations hires The Byron Detective Agency to investigate. It seems there was no pot of gold at the end of Fergal’s rainbow. Did his debt-ridden younger brother kill him for his inheritance? Did the fact Finnegan wouldn’t leave his wife make his mistress murderous? And was there more to fight about with rival brewer George Gaffney than just profits? When their chief suspect is found dead only days later and the top-secret formula for a new beer goes missing, the agency is almost thrown off the case. But Eleanor doesn’t give up on justice. Will the luck of the Irish be on her side before the killer catches up with her?

Cover Reveal!

Murder in a Yorkshire Village is up for preorder and has a beautimous cover!PREORDER

Murder at Sea is out!

All aboard! Out today! A glamorous ocean liner, a fleeing fugitive and a body in a lifeboat. A golden age style murder mystery - Murder at Sea Get your copy

HERE Available in audio, paperback, on Kindle and in KU

Charity for 2026

Regular readers know that I try to support small local charities every year that have causes which resonate with me. I do this by publicising them at my events and donating all my book sales from my events to the charity. Last year, I supported the wonderful Brixham Battery Heritage Museum and I am delighted to say they recieved £1000. My charity for this year is Cancer Lifeline South West. A tiny charity which does wonderful work providing support to survivors, their families and carers at the end of treatment. It helps people recover and overcome the trauma of what has happened to them so they can regroup and go on to fully recover. You can find more about them on their website HERE and can contact them if you would like to support them or if you feel their services could help you or someone you know.

Birthday Month!

February already and my birthday month. Murder at Sea will release on Feb 23rd and preorders for Murder in a Yorkshire Village will go live soon. I can't wait for you all to see the cover as it's so lovely. I'm working hard on the next Secret Detective Agency book as The Afternoon Tea Murders will release in April. I'm also outlining the next Matt and Kitty Christmas book ready to dive into that one too. It's slow going without my furry assistant and my caring responsibilities at home have increased too but hopefully if it will just stop raining things will improve. Where I live, here in the South West, we have had terrific storms and what feels like non stop rain for weeks. I can't wait to get in my garden. I think my daffodils have water wings at the moment.

Sad start to year

I'm broken hearted to say that on Tuesday I had to say goodbye to my beloved furry edipawrial assistant of the last almost 12 years. Teddy was the goddest of good boys and was greatly loved. Our home is missing its heartbeat.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for all your friendship and support in 2025! Wishing you all a wonderful, happy and healthy 2026!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my readers a happy, healthy Christmas. Thank you for all of your support to me and to my wonderful guest bloggers this year. I wish you all a healthy and peaceful New Year with great books to read, joyful times to come and good company to share them with.

Christmas guest blogger - Verity Bright

A warm welcome to my lovely writer colleague, Verity Bright! Here to talk about Murder on a Frosty Night! Wrapping presents and singing at midnight mass on a frosty night… Lady Swift is determined to enjoy Christmas at home this year, until another body turns up! Winter 1925. Eleanor and Hugh are decking the halls for their first married Christmas together when butler Clifford arrives with a mysterious telegram. A lucrative case awaits their new detective agency… but in the most remote county in England. The note insists they must be there by midnight to accept the job. After a snowy journey, they arrive at the tiny hamlet of Yorelow to find their client, Osmund Unwin, dead in the churchyard as midnight mass ends. They realise they are now in the absurd situation of having to solve the murder of their client – who they never met – to solve a case they know nothing about and officially never accepted! Sounds frosty fabulous brr... Get your copy HERE