I know, I’ve been quiet for a while, and sorry about that. But I’ve been taking time to breathe a bit after the exhibition and event, and I’ve been writing. The next two Simon Westow books (The Scream of Sins and Them Without Pain) are with the publisher – Scream comes out in March – and I’m busy with the WWII novel featuring Woman Police Sergeant Cathy Marsden, currently seconded to the Special Investigation Branch.
The joy is in the research; the couch is a pile of books about the war (I’ve put together something called Cathy’s War Timeline, which is taped to the bookshelf next to the writing table) and I’m learning more and more. The book takes place in early 1941, so I don’t want to go beyond that; I’ll only confuse myself.
Plenty of great little Leeds details in there, like the barrage balloon at St James’s hospital that someone came free from its mooring. People hung on, tied it to a lamp post – and it tore up the lamp post. It was finally brought down near the city centre. How can you not love a tale like that?
Cathy herself is a joy, easing myself into her mind and her life, so I know how that coat feels on her back, how the gas mask case keeps banging against her hip. The walk down the blackout street to home on Brander Road in Gipton. She’s fully alive.
That’s for the future. It doesn’t have a title yet, but it’ll be appearing in summer 2025, a very distant time.
For now, though, the holidays loom, and I hope yours are all good, healthy and peaceful. Meanwhile, there’s a review of the Tom Harper exhibition and event here. If you prefer, here’s an image.
On, and if you haven’t bought it yet, Rusted Souls is a good gift both to give and receive.
Chris Nickson 
Hi Chris, Looking forward to your new books. I reserved “Rusted Souls” from the library as soon as it was published, and have just heard that it is finally available for collection, the best Christmas present ever. The book will be passed on to two of my neighbours when I’ve read it, so hopefully that will make their new year.! All the best to you and yours, hope you have a wonderful Christmas and all the best in 2024. Jackie. ________________________________
Hi Jackie, thank you so much, that’s a lovely thing to hear. I do hope that after the wait, you like the book. Have a good Christmas and New Year yourself.
Merry Christmas to you too! Good luck on the new series.
I started reading Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series a couple months ago, when I saw it mentioned in a list of historical mysteries (yours included). The historical background is the best part, even though it’s not that far back in history. While reading about the need to have a separate phone exchange for government secrecy, due to operators listening in on calls, I was thinking that in 15 or 20 more years, most people won’t have any idea what that comment means (or the black bakelite house phones either.)
I’m looking forward to the Westow books being released, however hard I sometimes find it to read them. They have a much darker feel than most books I read for ‘pleasure’, but as I’m sure Simon would say, pretending that world doesn’t exist doesn’t make it go away.
Ron Eisner
You’re right, times move on and fewer and fewer people remember, then dig back. It’s inevitable, really, whether that’s good or bad…
I will warm you that the next Westow is very dark. I think it’s the best so far, but not easy, light reading, by any means…
In the meantime, have a good Christmas and New Year, and thank you.