I’m delighted to welcome my dear author friend Helen Hollick back to Author Chats with a snippet from her newest cosy mystery – and my five-star review.
A Mischief of Murder
A Jan Christopher Murder Mystery – Episode 6
by Helen Hollick
The village Flower and Veg Show should be a fun annual event – but who added mischief and murder to the traditional schedule?
July 1973
Old friends and new enemies? Jan Christopher’s Aunt Madge is to be a judge at Chappletawton’s annual village flower and vegetable summer show – a chance for the family to have a holiday in the Devon countryside, especially as Jan’s fiancé, DS Laurie Walker, is still recovering from gunshot wounds and her uncle, DCI Toby Christopher, is enduring injury-related sick leave.
The event should be a fun occasion where friendly rivalry between gardeners, cooks and crafters lead to the hopeful winning of the coveted Best In Show trophy – but who added mischief and murder to the traditional schedule?
Praise for the Jan Christopher Mysteries:
“A delight—Miss Read meets The Darling Buds of May, with a dash of St. Mary Mead. Helen Hollick’s signature voice shines throughout, full of warmth and wit. The characters keep growing in such satisfying ways, making every visit feel like coming home.”
Elizabeth St.John
“The Darling Buds of May …but in Devon instead of Kent.”
Alison Morton
“I sank into this gentle cosy mystery story with the same enthusiasm and relish as I approach a hot bubble bath, and really enjoyed getting to know the central character, a shy young librarian, and the young police officer who becomes her romantic interest. The nostalgic setting of the 1970s was balm, so clearly evoked, and although there is a murder at the heart of the story, it was an enjoyable comfort read.” Debbie Young, author of the Sophie Sayers cosy mysteries
“A delightful read about a murder told from the viewpoint of a young library assistant. The author draws on her own experience to weave an intriguing tale.” Richard Ashen – South Chingford Community Library
“I really identified with Jan – the love of stories from an early age, and the careers advice – the same reaction I got – no one thought being a writer was something a working-class girl did! The character descriptions are wonderfully done.” Amazon Reader
“Brilliant! I’m so enjoying Helen’s well-researched murder mystery. I’m not giving anything away here, except to say there’s lots of nostalgia, and detail that readers of a certain age will lap up. A jolly good read. In my opinion, it would make a great television series.” Amazon Reader
Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/MischiefOfMurder
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
I’ve enjoyed all of Helen’s Jan Christopher mysteries, and her latest is no exception! Here’s my review:
Blooming Marvellous!
Helen Hollick once again delights us with a deliciously layered tale of mischief, murder, and marrows. Set in the long, hot summer of 1973, Hollick conjures the sleepy village of Chappletawton with such authenticity that I could almost smell the fresh-cut grass and jam tarts cooling on the trestle tables. The annual flower and vegetable show ought to be a cheerful respite for Jan Christopher and her recovering fiancé DS Laurie Walker—but, in classic Hollick fashion, what begins with a flurry of bunting and bake-offs soon spirals into something darker. Vengeful gardeners and an accidental death—if indeed it was—uproots long-held village secrets, and Jan finds herself unpicking more than just embroidery as rivalries and resentments bloom beneath the surface….(read more)
and please enjoy a snippet from A Mischief of Murder:
I was dismayed to discover that the visitor was none other than Detective Sergeant Frobisher. We’d had run-ins with him before, an arrogant, very rude man who always rubbed Laurie – and me – up the wrong way with his snide, ungentlemanly remarks. Mind, the last time we were here in Devon Aunt Madge had soundly put him in his place – twice. Being on the sharp end of her tongue is not for the faint hearted. And matters had come to a head (well, a bloody nose), when Laurie had firmly punched him for being offensive to me. It seemed pretty clear to me that DS Frobisher had the Green Eyed Problem: he was jealous of the better, more capable policeman… my Laurie. I rather hoped that the uneasy truce the pair of them had managed to agree on that last time was still holding.
I didn’t offer coffee, merely explained that Mrs Walker was busy in the kitchen and would not appreciate being disturbed, although she did pop her head round the door, asked if all was well and did we want coffee?
Frobisher answered before I could say anything. “No. I need a word with Mr Walker.” He didn’t add a please or thank you.
Alf came in from the garden via the patio doors. “What can I do for you Detective Sergeant?”
“Where were you yesterday evening, Mr Walker?”
“Why do you need to know?” came the immediate, slightly guarded response.
“Just answer the question.”
Laurie came up behind his dad, frowned at Frobisher. “Is this an official line of enquiry, or something general?” he snapped with more rudeness than politeness.
“Official. Not that it is any of your business.”
Ah, the hatchet hadn’t been buried then.
Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen Hollick’s historical fiction, nautical adventure series, cosy mysteries – and her short stories – skilfully invite readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between fact and fiction blend together.
Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was initially published in 1993 in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant. Her 2025 release is Ghost Encounters, a book about the ghosts of North Devon – even if you don’t believe in ghosts you might enjoy the snippets of interesting history and the many location photographs.
Helen and her family moved from London to Devon after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden, fending off the geese, chasing the peacocks away from her roses, helping with the horses and wishing the friendly, resident ghosts would occasionally help with the housework…
Website: https://helenhollick.net/
Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenHollick
Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social
Blog: supporting authors & their books: https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/
Monthly ‘newsletter’ blog Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse: https://thoughtsfromadevonshirefarmhouse.blogspot.com/
Recent Releases:
FATE Tales of History, Mystery and Magic
an anthology of short stories by various award-winning authors
https://mybook.to/FateAnthology
GHOST ENCOUNTERS: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon
https://mybook.to/GhostEncounters
