A new venture! ‘Where Shall the ‘Nighted Snowman go?' Yes, I'm writing my first murder mystery novel, May 2026.

The novel begins....

Earlier this week on various forums, I wrote about that four-letter word – which four letter word? Why it was none other than the most DREADED of four-letter words; FEAR.

Damn you fear, you stop me from doing so much. Well, enough! Hey, sometimes it’s just my brain looking out for me and it sometimes thinks it would be easier for Steven to stay in his back bedroom reading comics (like, he’s still ten) and pretending that all is well with the world.

So, what was that all about on Monday?

Well, after much thought and having lots of folks urging me on, I have finally decided to put pen to paper (metaphorically speaking, although I do write things out first, so maybe not…) I’m about to commence writing my first murder mystery novel.

I’ve been writing murder mystery evenings for YEARS, starring the ever-dependable Ambrose and Blodwyn. And after much prompting, I’ve decided that enough with the fear of failure.

Enough with the FEAR!

The first mystery (of many I hope) ‘Where Shall the ‘Nighted Snowman go?’ is set in post-war England, it’s 1953 in the sleepy village of Cheetham Lacey. Home to Ambrose Appleton (now with a slightly altered surname for copyright reasons, don’t you know!) Ambrose’s housekeeper is the wonderfully eccentric, Blodwyn Pink, (again, we’ve had to have a slight surname alteration due to copyright…) Yes, Doctor Ambrose and his plucky housekeeper, Blodwyn are about to be brought to life in print.

Who killed Mary Smith?  The suspects are:

Terrance Petherbridge – the bizarrely successful owner of the village wool shop. There have been queues of people desperate to enter Terrance’s wool emporium.  I wonder why…?  Terrance didn’t seem to like Mary Smith, and she certainly didn’t like him.   

Evangeline Fenn Walters – society heiress and owner of the village boutique.  Evangeline has recently been victim of several rather terrifying mishaps, her shop burnt down, her cat killed, glass in her face cream, the brakes on her car tampered with, does Evangeline have an enemy and was that enemy Mary Smith? 

Henry Fenn Walters – investment stockbroker and husband to the delectable Evangeline.  Henry is besotted with his good lady wife and would never let anything interfere in his love life.  Did Mary Smith get involved here, somehow…?

Sister Compassionata –Catholic nun, sent here to the village by Cardinal Capperdale to investigate the relationship between Mary Smith and Father Brogan.  What did she unearth?  And did it lead to murder? 

Sir Cyril Crackenthorpe – our resident village counsellor and the less said about that the better. Sir Cyril had been stepping out with Mary Smith, only it would appear she preferred the company of a Catholic priest, did jealousy drive Sir Cyril to murder…? 

Nurse Tallulah Hoop –Nurse Hoop used to work at Cheetham Grange Hospital, but something happened there, something she really doesn’t like to talk about…  Nurse Hoop found herself in the employ of the decidedly hypochondriac Mary Smith. 

Norbert Swanson – newly ensconced professor of antiquities at Cheetham Carberry University.  Some say he’s a breath of fresh air in academia, whereas as others say the man hasn’t got a ruddy clue.  Just why was Norbert always asking after Mary Smith? 

And finally

Lorenzo Smith – son to the deceased.  Garage mechanic Lorenzo, or Lozza, to his friends didn’t have a very close relationship with his mother.  After all, she had her secrets and so did Lorenzo. 

The question now, whodunnit!?

Well, I now need to get it written so you can all find out for yourselves.