Today, I am delighted to welcome Helen Hollick back on my blog, this time to spotlight her latest release, A Mischief of Murder, the sixth in her cosy mystery series featuring Jan Christopher. Tea, flowers, scones, Devon cream, village intrigue – and a touch of murder.
Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen’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 photograhs..
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…
What’s A Mischief of Murder about ?
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
“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
Buy A Mischief of Murder here: Amazon Universal: https://mybook.to/MischiefOfMurder
Available as: e-book, Kindle Unlimited and paperback
My thoughts
Ms Hollick has established her characters Jan and Laurie very well in the five preceding stories. In this sixth book, Laurie is recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty and is staying with his parents in Devon. Jan, her uncle Toby (Laurie’s boss – DCI Christopher) and her aunt Madge soon join them in the Devon village of Chappeltawton.
Chappeltawton is preparing for the annual fruit and veg show. If you know anything about English village life, the competition in such shows is fierce with no quarter given. Some competitors take it very, very seriously… Aunt Madge has agreed to be one of the judges. So, rather unfortunately, has Rose, an entitled and ‘precious’ television presenter. Fireworks guaranteed, along with a body…
Ms Hollick introduces a large cast of supporting characters, some familiar, others new, but draws them so deftly that we never become confused. Her other strength is the sheer period detail which she weaves in almost without us being aware of it but giving ua a vivid image nevertheless.
A Mischief of Murder ambles along as Jan and Laurie set about investigating the mystery while dealing with the lethal nature of the village produce show. The definite identity of the murderer is still up in the air, but as in much of village life, sometimes these things remain a mystery. The identity of the cucumber and onion saboteur is often more important!
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Connect with Helen
Website: https://helenhollick.net/
Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Blog: supporting authors & their books https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/
Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social
Monthly ‘newsletter’ blog Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse
https://thoughtsfromadevonshirefarmhouse.blogspot.com/
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Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. JULIA PRIMA, Roma Nova story set in the late 4th century, starts the Foundation stories. The sequel, EXSILIUM, is now out.
Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines and taste world the latest contemporary thriller Double Identity… Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email update. As a result, you’ll be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
Thanks Alison – loved your comment thoughts – made me laugh!
I was a parish councillor for ten years, edited the village magazine and chaired the PR/events committee, so yes, I’ve seen it all. 😉