Miss Clara Vale Mysteries – Fiona Veitch Smith

Vintage Fashion as research – Historia Magazine

Fiona — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:06:19 +0000

Today I am featured in the rather splendid Historia Magazine, talking about researching and making vintage fashion connected to my 1920s and 30s murder mysteries. If you’re curious about how I got started, and some of the resources I use, do have a read. https://www.historiamag.com/fashion-research-historical-novels/

The Penford Manor Murders – available for pre-order!

Fiona — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:54:48 +0000

It’s open season at Penford Manor in Northumberland – and someone has murder in their sights…

Miss Clara Vale returns in ‘The Penford Manor Murders’ by Fiona Veitch Smith on 15th April!
Pre-order now in #eBook, #audiobook and #paperback https://tinyurl.com/4t5hnk2k

Newcastle Noir 10th anniversary!

Fiona — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:32:07 +0000

Tom Mead, Fiona Veitch Smith & Antony Johnston at Newcastle Noir 2025.

As an author I travel to a lot of festivals and events in far-flung places. So it’s always a treat to have a crime festival right on my doorstep! And not just any festival, but one of the best in the country. I was delighted this year to appear on the Cosy Crime & Golden Age panel at Newcastle Noir’s 10th anniversary at Newcastle City Library. With me were Golden Age mystery novelist Tom Mead (the Spector Locked-Room Mysteries) and contemporary cosy writer Antony Johnston (the Dogsitter Detective). We were interviewed by the fabulous Kitty Murphy, who writes the Dublin Drag Mysteries. Thanks to the incredible Jacky Collins (aka Dr Noir) for running the whole show, warmly and professionally. May there be many more!

Kitty Murphy, Fiona Veitch Smith, Tom Mead & Antony Johnston.

Partners in Crime. Jacky Collins (bottom left), Antony Johnston, Fiona Veitch Smith, Kitty Murphy and Tom Mead.

1932 vintage dress for Miss Clara Vale

Fiona — Mon, 06 May 2024 14:23:52 +0000

I’ve been making another vintage dress. This one is a 1932 inspired Chanel evening dress in teal Crepe Georgette. It was a challenging make, not least because the instructions on these vintage patterns are so sparse! That and they seemed to have very skinny arms back in those days (well that’s my excuse and I’m going to stick with it.) This is the dress that Miss Clara Vale will be wearing in book 4 in the series, Another Class of Murder. Meanwhile, I will give it a test run at Crime Fest in Bristol next week.

The Pyramid Murders – pre-order now!

Fiona — Thu, 02 May 2024 11:19:51 +0000

I’m delighted to announce the upcoming release of Miss Clara Vale’s next adventure, The Pyramid Murders. Due out on 13 June. Ebook, paperback and audio. Click here to pre-order the book now.

The Pantomime Murders in the Newcastle Chronicle – festive fun!

Fiona — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:53:29 +0000

The Pantomime Murders has featured in the Newcastle Chronicle as a book filled with festive fun! They focus on the various locations of the Theatre Royal and Fenwick’s. A lovely article.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/authors-new-festive-murder-mystery-28291646

Sex, power & feminism – and mince pies – at Newcastle Noir

Fiona — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:28:55 +0000

As Darkness Falls historical crime panel at Newcastle Noir 2023. With, from left to right, panel host Fiona Erskine (The Chemical Detective), Bridget Walsh (The Tumbling Girl), Kate Griffin (Fynshade) and Fiona Veitch Smith (The Picture House Murders). Blonde head at the front unknown!

It was an honour to be invited to the 2023 Newcastle Noir crime writing festival held at Newcastle Central Library and hosted by the tireless Jacky Collins (Dr Noir) and her team. I was on an historical crime panel called ‘As Darkness Falls’ which discussed sex, power and feminism in historical crime novels. Hosted by Fiona Erskine (The Chemical Detective), we were joined by the gothic historical crime novelists Bridget Walsh (The Tumbling Girl) and Kate Griffin (Fynshade).

And then after that we all had Greggs mince pies! (You have to when you’re in Newcastle, don’t you? Well, I have to, as my husband, Rodney Smith, works at Greggs!). Happy Christmas to you all!

The Picture House Murders – Number #1 Best Seller!

Fiona — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:01:51 +0000

I’m delighted to see that The Picture House Murders has reached the #1 Best Seller spot in historical mysteries on Amazon UK. How heartening that so many people are loving this book. Thank you to all my readers – old and new – who have made this happen. I’m tickled pink and Clara is quietly chuffed.

It’s party time!

Fiona — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:14:42 +0000

Fiona’s Whitley Bay dress + Clara on location video

Fiona — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:15:24 +0000

As many of you know, when I’m not writing I make 1920s vintage outfits! Visit the Clara Vale Mysteries website to see how I made my latest dress for a video about The Picture House Murders + view the video of me at the Spanish City in Whitley Bay.