Author Peter James may be best known for his Roy Grace crime novels, but he's also turned his hand to ghost stories on a couple occasions in the last decade.

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Those novels were inspired by his own experience of living in a haunted house, a lovely Georgian manor on the edge of a hamlet in Sussex. He moved in back in 1989, and said that soon after, he was walking his dog when an elderly man approached him to ask how he was getting on with the grey lady - telling him that even wild horses couldn't get him back in the house.

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He talks about his experiences at length in this blog post on his site, and the two fictional works it inspired are:

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• ​The House on Cold Hill (2016)​
• ​The Secret of Cold Hill (2020)​

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​18 Fascinating British Historical Fiction Novels for Autumn 2024 - Whether you like Golden Age-inspired mysteries or heartwarming wartime tales, these new books should keep you busy and entertained for a while.

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New in the Last Week...

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• ​Poison in Piccadilly by Kelly Oliver - While planning her wedding, Fiona Figg must investigate the mysterious death of a suffragette, threatening her happily-ever-after.
• ​A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton - After her mother's death, Jade Foster starts a sanctuary for animals, but the arrival of two love interests and a hidden secret disrupt her plans.
• ​We Solve Murders by Richard Osman - Retired Steve Wheeler and his adrenaline-junkie daughter-in-law Amy team up to solve a murder mystery involving a bestselling author on a remote island.
• ​A Killer of Influence by JD Kirk - DCI Jack Logan races against time to stop a sadistic killer live-streaming influencers in a deadly competition for likes.
• ​Death on Dartmoor Edge by Stephanie Austin - Domestic helper Juno Browne finds herself caught up in a web of deceit and murder while juggling personal and business crises in rural Dartmoor.

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• ​The Solstice by Matt Brolly - DI Louise Blackwell investigates the disturbing discovery of a boy's remains linked to a pagan cult, racing to prevent another sacrifice as the Summer Solstice approaches.
• ​Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe - Paramedic Bess and firefighter Gio face personal and professional challenges, finding hope and possibly love as they navigate life’s unexpected twists.
• ​Precipice by Robert Harris - In 1914 London, a scandalous affair between Venetia Stanley and Prime Minister H. H. Asquith turns into a national security crisis that threatens to upend the British government.
• ​Escape to Pumpkin Cottage by Anna & Jacqui Burns - Pippa’s plans to renovate a B&B in Riverdean clash with local business owner Jenny, forcing them to confront their differences.
• ​Her Last Walk Home by Patricia Gibney - Detective Lottie Parker rushes to solve the murder of a young woman and the disappearance of another, uncovering a chilling connection between the two cases.

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More to Read...

​British TV Status Update Guide - In this post, we take a look at the current status on 350+ recent British TV shows to see whether they're been renewed or cancelled (and where available, we include when they're returning).

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​14 New British Crime Novels for Autumn 2024 - In this one, we take a look at some of the best new mystery and crime novels coming out in late summer/early autumn 2024.

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"Only when we have a respect for time will we have learned something of the art of living."

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Jacqueline Winspear, Maisie Dobbs​

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