A cracker of a crime thriller

A lovely review of The Peace Garden from the Bookaholic ‘A cracker of a crime thriller’

‘This is a book on two levels. At its most basic it is about a young girl who sets out to investigate why plants are going missing in an English suburb. This seemingly simple premise leads to an exciting thriller which takes the reader on a roller coaster ride. It plays out in both England and South Africa. This is during the apartheid era and the depiction of life for black South Africans during this time is superb. The characters are well rounded and come across as real. The reader can almost palpably feel the anger emanating from Thabo, a young Black teenager. Natalie, the main character is also real and the reader sees her grow and develop throughout the book.

The settings also play a large part in the book. They are beautifully drawn and the reader can imagine them perfectly. Veitch Smith contrasts them and then skillfully pulls them together.

Fiona Veitch Smith is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading more from her. This is a book I can highly recommend.’

Click on the image of the book below or in the right-hand menu to buy it.

17/09/2015 0

Global Literacy Day

Well it turns out I’ve missed it! It was on 8th September and I was so busy writing that I didn’t realise it had come and gone. However, literacy is not something that goes away, so I will bring your attention to a literacy campaign being run by Grammarly. For every post of this infographic they donate $10 to a literacy charity. Well worth the time and space, methinks.

11/09/2015 0

Crime Writers’ Association

I’m chuffed to have been accepted as a full member of the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) on the back of my Poppy Denby Investigates series. I’ve attended a number of their events over the years – particularly the Crime Fest in Harrogate – but never thought I’d actually be a member. Happy face.

08/09/2015 0

Going back in time

I had a flapulous time (to quote a friend) at my publicity shoot for the up-coming novel, The Jazz Files. With only three weeks to go until publication, I thought I’d get into costume and into character. I made the dress (see post below) and borrowed the car. A beautiful 1928 Ford Pheaton owned by the very generous Alan and Christine Simpson of Crawcrook. For more on the Poppy Denby Investigates series visit www.poppydenby.com

27/08/2015 0

A 1920s telephone

Look what arrived today! Unfortunately it’s a reproduction not an original 1920s telephone. They go for £300 – £500 so will need to sell lots of Poppy Denby books before I can afford one of those. But this will do splendidly for my photo shoot at Waterstones in a couple of weeks. Speaking of Waterstones, put Friday 25th September, 6.30 for 7pm in your diary. The Jazz Files will be launched at the Newcastle Waterstones on that date, complete with a jazz trio and bubbly! More details anon …

Telephone + typewriter — An original 1922 Remington typewriter, a reproduction 1920s telephone and a 1950 Chiltern Hugmee teddy called Edward. He is wearing spectacles to stop his right eye falling out.

17/08/2015 0

A new frock for Poppy Denby

I’m going to challenge my dressmaking skills to try and make this fabulous outfit from an original 1920s pattern. If it’s a success I will wear it to a photo shoot in August to publicise the launch of The Jazz Files, the first in the Poppy Denby Investigates series in September. If it’s not a success I’ll wear it anyway and insist on low light.

22/07/2015 0

Fiona Veitch Smith