books
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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…
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Agatha Christie’s Greenway – A Photo Story
Agatha Christie’s holiday home Greenway, is just the most beautiful, idyllic place. A mansion on the river Dart that still has the feel of a much loved family home, it’s setting and grounds served as inspiration for Dead Man’s Folly *(the body was found in the boathouse), and ‘Five Little Pigs‘*, where the Battery was a key setting. Greenway is now in the control of the National Trust, and visitors can enjoy all the house, the setting and its vast grounds, getting a feel of what made Agatha, a Devon girl born and bred, tick. You do not need to book to go to Greenway, but you must book a…
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A Waterstones Evening With Benjamin Stevenson – Pt 2
A little later than promised, but hey, life gets in the way. This is part 2 of the Waterstones Birmingham chat with award winning writer and comedian Ben Stevenson. (Part 1 is here.) His current book ‘ Everybody on this train is a suspect‘ is just out in paperback, and Ben was chatting about this, and all things cosy crime. What’s coming next? I have a Christmas themed book with the same detective out in October, and then a fourth novel currently in progress. But I do have a worry about how many murders an amateur detective can come across. The first book (Everyone in my family has killed someone)…
