Fans of the Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series may be interested to read Jacqueline Winspear's recent Facebook post on how she has approached her writing. In it, she talks about how she doesn't see herself as a crime or detective novelist. She discusses how her character-driven approach defies traditional genre rules, the challenges of blending literary styles, and why writing "from the heart" has guided her work from start to finish.

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If that interests you, you can read the full post HERE.

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New British Books in the Last Week Or Two...

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• ​Watch & Prey by JM Dalgliesh - When a church warden's mysterious death and a hit-and-run on the Sandringham Estate collide, DI Tom Janssen must untangle a web of secrets, danger, and unseen predators.
• ​The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan - Mirren’s search for a rare childhood book to fulfill her ailing great-aunt’s Christmas wish takes her from London to snowy Hay-on-Wye and Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, where she teams up with the mysterious Theo for a journey of hope, holiday cheer, and unexpected romance.
• ​The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong - American heiress Ruby Vaughn and her employer, Mr. Owen, travel to Manhurst Castle in the Scottish Borders, but when a séance turns deadly and a medium is murdered, Ruby enlists Cornish folk healer Ruan Kivell to unravel secrets spanning Scotland and Cornwall and clear their names before it’s too late.
• ​The Mudlark Murders by Lana Williams - When a young mudlark is found dead on the Thames, widow Amelia Greystone and Scotland Yard’s Inspector Henry Field team up for a secret investigation that uncovers chilling government ties, personal demons, and a dangerous killer in Victorian London.
• ​The Lost Past of Billy McQueen by Neil Alexander - When Billy returns to Northern Ireland after 30 years, a hidden note and mixtape from his missing first love, Conor, spark a journey to uncover the truth about their past—but solving the mystery may come at a high cost.

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• ​The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann - In Occupied Norway, 1944, Anni’s resistance efforts are jeopardized when a German official is billeted in her home, forcing a choice that changes everything. Eight years later in London, 1952, her daughter Ingrid embarks on a determined quest to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance.
• ​Murder in the New Forest by Carol Cole - In the first of a new detective series, DI Callum MacLean adjusts to rural Hampshire after Glasgow's tough streets, investigating the murder of a well-liked businesswoman whose death hides dark secrets.
• ​The Shadowed Land by Signe Pike - Set in AD 580, this reimagined saga follows Artúr, Languoreth, Lailoken, and Angharad as they navigate mysticism, political intrigue, and destiny in the historical world that inspired the King Arthur legend.
• ​The Foyles Bookshop Girls' Promise by Elaine Roberts - In 1918 London, Rosie finds solace at Foyles Bookshop and her volunteer work, but unanswered letters from her fiancé at war leave her torn between her promise to wait for him and her growing feelings for a kind teacher.
• ​A Snake in the Barley by Candace Robb - In 1377 York, Owen Archer searches for his missing friend Tom Merchet, uncovering past sins, an enigmatic widow, and a dangerous enemy with shocking motives.

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• ​Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb - Set against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth II’s early reign and her evolving Christmas broadcasts, a widowed chef and an ambitious BBC reporter reunite at Sandringham in 1952, forging a bond that deepens over five Christmases—until a buried secret threatens to upend everything.
• ​Murder's Snare by Paul Doherty - In 1382 London, Friar-sleuth Brother Athelstan and Coroner Cranston race to solve a string of gruesome murders tied to a deadly Norman mercenary group, uncovering a complex riddle that could determine the fate of England.
• ​Winter Magic in Port Berry by KT Dady - In the festive town of Port Berry, café owner Ginny Dean’s dreams are upended by newcomer Will Pendleton, whose plans threaten her future—until sparks fly, snow strands them together, and a little Christmas magic offers a chance at love.
• ​The Twelfth Floor by Michelle Kidd - Detective Jack Macintosh faces a gruesome case when dismembered body parts begin appearing across the city, and he must race to uncover the victims' identities and stop a brutal killer before they strike again.
• ​I Wanted to Murder for My Own Satisfaction by Douglas Lindsay - When DI Buchan receives chilling confessions from a brutal serial killer with no motive and countless potential victims, he must confront a relentless wave of violence that pushes his team to their limits.

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More to Read...

​16 of the Best British Locked Room Mysteries​

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​Chilling British Ghost Stories for Long, Dark Nights​

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​24 Brand New British TV Shows Coming to the US in December 2024​

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"People get hold of ideas about life, and that makes them think they've got to join in the game, even if they don't enjoy it. It doesn't suit everyone."

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Evelyn Waugh, Decline & Fall​

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