A Nut-shell Novel

A summary of the typical three-volume Victorian novel, from 1889 Pick Me Up:

A NUT-SHELL NOVEL.

VOL. I.

Pretty girl,
Wicked earl,
Peasant lover;
Rain comes down,
Phoebe Brown
Runs to cover.

Peasant fellah
Brings umbrella;
Rain and thunder!
Cruel pa,
haughty ma.
Part asunder!


VOL II

Grief and sighing,
Love undying,
Earl proposes
Peasant wight
And noble fight-
Gory noses!

Peasant youth
Discovers truth,
Earl impostor
Peasant churl
Really earl,
Earl but coster

VOL. III.

Happy wedding,
Tear-drop shedding,
Heaps of victuals;
Rice and shoes,
Cheers and booze,
Beer and skittles

Wicked earl
Meets peasant girl
(School-board teacher);
Repenting past,
Becomes at last
Quaker preacher.

A Most Dangerous Woman

Publication week for my fifth novel ... The book is called "A Most Dangerous Woman", and introduces Sarah Tanner, a "lady detective" (of sorts) who will appear in an ongoing series, set in 1850s London. For more about the book, see here.

Victorienne!

VICTORIENNE!

Finally, word arrives of my novels making their appearance in France, in April, courtesy of Editions 10/18 "Grands Detectives" series ... A Metropolitan Murder becomes Le Cadavre du Métropolitain and The Welfare of the Dead becomes Les bienfaits de la mort! There's something about the French language that makes everything sound classy ... even the publicity flyer "Pour Lee Jackson, Big Ben sonne toujours a l'heure Victorienne" ... merveilleux!

The Last Pleasure Garden

THE LAST PLEASURE GARDEN

Readers of my books (there are a couple out there, I believe) should be aware that the paperback of The Last Pleasure Garden is now available. Another murder mystery, but this time set against the strange background of Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea. Pleasure-gardens were common in the London suburbs until the mid-Victorian period, when they gained a rather risqué reputation for their nocturnal activities - not least al fresco dancing - which were said to encourage prostitution and vice. (This is probably true, but not much more than the average theatre or music hall.) The decline of Cremorne involved religious protestors, antagonistic licensing authorities, nimby neighbours, and several libel actions. In my book, of course, there are a couple of murders as well ...

Audio Versions

Audio Versions

Just a quick note to say that the audio cassette version of The Last Pleasure Garden is now available. You can order the cassettes or listen to a snippet online. I'm told that digital audio/mp3 versions of my books (and others by the same publisher) will be released in due course but, until then, if you want to hear me on the bus, drop your Ipod and retrieve your 1980s Walkman from the cupboard. [well, I still have mine ...]

Heffers Bookshop

Heffers Bookshop, Cambridge - 22nd February

A quick note to say that I will be 'appearing' at Heffers Bookshop, Cambridge (UK) as part of their Crime through Time evening on February 22nd 2007. It's an annual event (there is a parallel general crime night 'Bodies in the Bookshop' in the summer) where 'historical crime' writers gather, chat and mingle with anyone who turns up. There's normally two dozen writers there, often overwhelming the public, signing books and talking shop. I fear, in fact, that the authors enjoy it more than anyone else ... but do come along!