books
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A Christie For Christmas 2024
Once upon a time, well, in the 20th century at least, there was the festive tradition of ‘A Christie For Christmas‘.Each year, starting in the 1950’s. Agatha Christie wrote a new book that would be published in time for the Christmas market, and so the tradition of ‘ A Christie For Christmas’ began. It’s a tradition that I still follow, always having a new edition of a Christie classic to add to my collection, even though I have already read all the stories many times over. If you are about to start your own collection, or if you want to gift ‘ A Christie for Christmas’ this year, a good…
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Stylish Television: Moonflower Murders
The eagerly awaited sequel to last year’s hit Magpie Murders is now showing on BBC1 on Saturday nights. Moonflower Murders again pits literary editor Susan Ryland into the world of fictional detective Atticus Pund in order to solve a murder and disappearance in real life. Susan, who had a very love/hate relationship with Pund’s creator, the author Adrian Conway, once again has to navigate the clues left in the book to try to find the missing hotelier Cecily, who, after reading the Pund book, Atticus Pünd Takes the Case, believes that there may have been a miscarriage of justice in a murder that took place in her family hotel, and…
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Christmas Gift Guide – Books And Stationary
Christmas is coming, and most of us are well underway when it comes to Christmas shopping. If, however, you are still looking for inspiration, then check out my latest guide, which is concerned with all things books and stationary. As ever, you know the drill, bookmark this post as I will be adding to it as we get nearer the big day. Crime Murder at the Matinee by Jamie West Renowned murder mystery playwright Bertie Carroll returns, this time in London’s West End, to solve the mystery of an impossible murder and the newspaper advert that preceded it. Following on from the success of Death on the Pier, playwright turned real-life detective, Bertie…
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The Agatha Christie Gallery At The Torquay Museum
I have wanted to visit the Torquay Museum for many years now, and this year, I finally got my chance. My interest in the Torquay Museum is, of course, linked to Agatha Christie. The Torquay Museum is the only museum in the UK with a permanent, dedicated, Agatha Christie gallery. Agatha was born in Torquay and her affection Devon in general, and the towns of the English Riviera in particular, never faded, her holiday home Greenway was in nearby Galmpton. This museum is one of the highlights on the Agatha Christie trail that takes in key sites in the town related to the author, although, it has to be said,…
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Carl Chinn – The Real Peaky Blinders
Last week I was lucky enough to attend a talk with a real Midlands Legend. Professor Carl Chinn is my favourite historian, I particularly love his knowledge of ‘The Real Peaky Blinders‘, the stories of the real people and families who inspired the now classic TV programme. Carl gave a free talk at Great Barr library as part of the Sandwell Literature festival, which is currently ongoing across Midlands libraries. Here are some of the highlights of his talk. The Myth of the Peaky Blinders The TV series Peaky Blinders shows a glamorously dressed gang, they are very well turned out, anti heroes. But reality was very different. I believe…
