Singalong-a-Janet

As you all know, I am a very well respected writer of Mystery Novels; but were you aware that I started life as a performer?  Hard to believe I know - I am so quiet in real life.  But in my early days I trained at Dame Mavis Axelrodd's Academy for Musically Gifted Girls.

Above is a short clip from one of my starring roles.  This is taken from Sandy Wilson's The Boy Friend and I play the part of French headmistress Madame Dubonnet.  Here I am sharing a romantic tale with Polly Brown, who fears her beau may have forsaken her.  Sad.

I hope you will all visit www.countryhousemurdermysteries.co.uk very soon.  This is my website for all things mysterious.  I now have a page that gives details of how you can come and meet me in person.  My Murder Mystery events are great fun and can be booked privately for your special occasion, or you can come along to a Murder Mystery Evening or Weekend event somewhere in the UK.

I am travelling the country in the next few weeks, Birmingham, Hull, Newcastle and Oxford to name but four.  I will endeavour to keep you all updated on my antics.  Fondest Love, Janet x

Classic Murder Mystery Entertainment

A thrilling evening of Murder Mystery intrigue

I have a feeing about this one...

Miss Mapletree and companion, Lady Agatha

Murder at Huntsham Court

A thrilling evening was had by all when I visited Huntsham Court in Devon on Friday.  A wedding celebration was interrupted by a series of ghastly murders - luckily I was on hand to investigate.

A cast of interesting characters were assembled, including a drunken Russian count, a retired Colonel, an award-winning Brazilian ballroom dancer and an Italian...with a secret.  Of course my natural flair for deduction allowed me to get to the bottom of things very quickly.

You will be able to read this and other short stories in my Anthology of Crime, to be published soon by Take a Break (available at all good newsagents).

Visit www.huntshamcourt.co.uk to see more of this charming Victorian house.

Christmas Murders

Can you believe it's nearly 'that time' already?  My diary is awash with social events and, of course, lots of murders to solve.  My publisher is pushing for me to write an autobiography but this will have to wait until the new year as I am just too busy at the moment.

Last weekend I was aboard HM Narrowboat The John Rennie, cruising down the canal from Bath.  Nothing is ever 'smooth sailing' as they say.  During an unexpected blackout, there was a terrible noise.  We all thought it was a car backfiring (or the return of the old problem...there were radishes on the buffet table) but it turns out to have been a gunshot!

Poor Major General Clockwinder was discovered face down in his Scotch Broth.

As we were virtually in international waters (somewhere near Bradford-on-Avon) by the time the body was found, I had no choice but to take charge of the investigation.  Let me tell you, carrying out a murder enquiry on the bounding main is no easy feat, particularly when there is a risk of gales in Rockall, but I rose to the occasion.

I won't reveal the identity of the killer at this stage as I may well include this incident in my next book, but suffice to say someone will be celebrating Christmas at Her Majesty's Pleasure - and I don't mean the public house of the same name near Eastbourne.

I hope to post again before Christmas, but until then, don't have nightmares...just remember to check and double check that you have locked the back door.  You never know who is lurking in the hope of nipping in while your back is turned.

LATEST NEWS

I return from my round-the-world expedition having completed two new books.  Fifty Shades of Lilac is a departure from my usual style and was inspired by a wealthy American heiress I met aboard the Queen Mary.  Her gaily coloured rinse and strapping young husband certainly got tongues wagging on the poop deck and I have crafted a story of passion and intrigue that is sure to be a best seller.  FIFTY SHADES OF LILAC - out in hardback in September.

Also, to keep my regular readers happy, I have completed a new murder mystery novel that will be out in time for Christmas.  The Case of the Creaking Door features my ever-popular sleuth Inspector Lansdowne investing the deaths of a young couple living in sin just outside of Eastbourne.

I shall be taking to the road once again this year, sharing tales of my many adventures and perhaps even solving a few real-life crimes, so please look out for Perfect Murder events at a venue near you!

A Year Later...

Dear friends, I must apologise for my absence. Since my last post, I have been extraordinarily busy. In December 2009, I was kidnapped and held hostage by a band of marauding pirates. I don't wish to go in to detail here, but suffice to say I was extremely popular with the men and, for the first time, I am glad that I am barren. It turns out that sometimes being able to remove one's dentures is a selling point.

I am pleased to announce that I have recently completed my twentieth book. My study on Vita Sackville-West is set to be another of my best sellers. 'We're Not All Fish Lovers' is out in hardback on the 1st December. I shall undertake a tour of Britain and make personal appearances at most branches of Ahler's, The Book Sellers. I look forward to meeting my public and I would like to assure those of you who queued for hours last time that I will make an appearance, no matter how many eggs are thrown.

In addition to this, I am thrilled to have been asked to adapt Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol for the Pokeingham Players. I attended a rehearsal at the Church Hall on Tuesday and I am pleased to report that my Crachit is very fresh and totally believeable.

An exciting adventure

As we rapidly approach the end of another exciting and murder-filled year, it is with great pleasure I announce that I shall be starring in a film. A busy shooting schedule begins on 12th December when myself and my good friend Lady Agatha work up a head of steam as we take to the railway network aboard the King Edward I from Bristol. We travel in style (with grateful thanks to the lovely people at www.torbayexpress.co.uk) to London Paddington before setting off into the capital for a day of filming...and perhaps a little Christmas shopping.

This short motion picture will tell of my exploits in the murky world of Murder and will of course be based on my many novels. Lady Agatha is particularly looking forward to our visit to Harrods as she is extremely fond of their shortbread and has a terribly sweet tooth. We all pray that her denture adhesive holds out this time. Our last visit was most embarrassing and were it not for the kind intervention of a passing Constable in pocession of a magnet, a length of twine and a knowledge of Mandarin, poor Agatha would probably still be gumming her way through the entire Cheese Counter in her attempts to find the errant gnashers.

I will be making a brief pause at Waterstones to sign copies of my latest novel, 'Blood on the Curtains'. It would be lovely to see you there. Until next time, Janet X