Downstream – the history of Thames swimming – is 10 years old this year. Wonderful to see it featured in the 100th edition of Outdoor Swimmer, the world’s only outdoor swimming magazine, in a piece written by George Townsend.
Downstream – the history of Thames swimming – is 10 years old this year. Wonderful to see it featured in the 100th edition of Outdoor Swimmer, the world’s only outdoor swimming magazine, in a piece written by George Townsend.
I chatted about my routine as a writer, and switching between fiction and nonfiction, with Writer’s Routine. Listen here. Continue reading
Private Inquiries is currently an Amazon ebook bestseller, No.1 in biographies and memoirs of women. ‘A fascinating blend of history and memoir, this true crime book pulls back the curtain on the real women investigators who cracked cases long before they became fictional icons,’ Book Bub. Links to buy. Continue reading
I’ll be talking about the history of London’s female criminals at Salon for the City, London’s longest running cultural event, including the infamous Forty Thieves and their successors the Forty Elephants. Info and tickets here. Continue reading
I’m excited to be taking up the post of Writer in Residence at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, as part of the Royal Literary Fund’s social sector scheme which offers free, confidential writing skills help to NHS staff. Continue reading
Lovely to see Queens of the Underworld cited in this article on the historical background to the TV drama A Thousand Blows. But there is a lot of confusion going on. Mary Carr led the 19th century gang the Forty Thieves, not the 20th century gang the Forty Elephants. The Forty Thieves were not big… Continue reading
I chatted to Good Morning Scotland about the real story of Mary Carr and the Forty Thieves, the Victorian criminal gang who feature in the TV drama series A Thousand Blows. Listen here Continue reading
I chatted with New Books Network about my research for Queens of the Underworld and the stories I discovered from the 1600s to today. ‘A fabulous book, I cannot give it enough plaudits’ – many thanks to Katrina Anderson for a lovely long interview. Listen here. Continue reading
I’ll be talking about the history of female sleuths at the Portsmouth Book Festival, via Zoom, on March 5th. Tickets here Continue reading
The International Agatha Christie Festival 2024 has put together a lovely video of the festival highlights. Watch the video here. Continue reading
Did Agatha Christie draw on real life female criminals as inspiration for her work? In A Bit of a Christie podcast, Teresa Peschel – expert in the 200+ Agatha Christie film and TV adaptations – finds a brilliant example. She argues that Bess Sedgwick, the famous adventuress in Christie’s novel At Bertram’s Hotel (published in… Continue reading
I picked my favourite reads of 2024, all of which provided some great inspiration. More here Continue reading
I’ll be talking about the history of female private eyes at Medway River Lit, Rochester, Kent on Nov 16th. Tickets are ‘pay what you can.’ Booking here. Continue reading
I’ll be teaching a ‘masterclass’ on researching historical crime fiction at Medway River Lit on November 16th, 1pm-2pm, Strood Library, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4TJ. Tickets are ‘pay what you can.’ Booking here. Continue reading
I’ll be chatting about the hidden stories of female private detectives at Maidstone LitFest on October 12th, along with Helen Fry, author of Women in Intelligence, in conversation with Jane Shankar. More info and tickets here. Continue reading
Medway River Lit have released their first podcast, available on Youtube and Soundcloud. Continue reading
I’ll be talking about the history of female sleuths – from private inquiry agents to private eyes and professional investigators – at the Chelsea History Festival on September 27th at the National Army Museum. Info and tickets. Continue reading
I’ll be talking about the history of female sleuths at Warwick Words History Festival on October 2nd. Info and tickets here Continue reading
Queens of the Underworld is July’s Book Group choice at Age UK Camden. More info about the Book Group and how to join here. Continue reading
Private Inquiries will be coming out as an audio book in June, by Isis Audio, read by Annie Aldington. Pre order here. Continue reading
I chatted with Professor Toby Miller about female sleuths, forgotten swimming champions, and the challenges of fiction versus non-fiction. Listen here. Continue reading
I’ll be talking about female sleuths at Broadstairs Lit on June 9th at the Yarrow Hotel. All funds raised will go to Oasis, the Kent charity that supports people affected by domestic abuse. Info and tickets here. Continue reading
I chatted with Phillip Adams on Late Night Live, ABC, about the UK’s long history of female sleuths. Listen here. Continue reading
The story of Irishwoman Kate Meyrick – London nightclub queen of the 1920s – is told in a new documentary by Zoe Comyns. I contributed to the section on Kate’s time in Holloway Prison, and the terrifying surroundings of the Victorian era jail. Listen here. Continue reading
I chatted about female sleuths with Miranda Melcher on the New Books Network – who were the first women to work as private eyes, is there such a thing as feminine intuition, and how has the job changed over the past century? Listen here Continue reading
I’ll be talking about the history of real life Miss Marples at the International Agatha Christie Festival on September 14th, in Torquay. Info and tickets here. Continue reading
The Observer has covered Private Inquiries, featuring 2 important sleuths – Annette Kerner from the 1940s and Zena Scott-Archer from the 1980s. Read here. Continue reading
I’ll be talking about female sleuths (via Zoom) at Highgate Library, London, on March 19th. Info here. Continue reading
Private Inquiries has been included in Bookends’ selection of ‘History as told by Women’ on Bookshop.org. Full list here Continue reading
Queens of the Underworld is an Amazon bestseller – No.1 in Women in History and Biographies and Memoirs of Women, and No.2 in True Accounts of Organised Crime Continue reading