Showing posts with label Murder Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Murder Mystery. Show all posts

Sunday, 18 May 2025

WENDINGTON JONES and the MISSING TREE

Written by  DANIEL DOCKERY                            

The book cover is generally in a mix of dark green with an art deco stylised patterned edge in gold. In the centre we see Wendington standing at the prow of the liner that features in the book. There is a pale red and orange sky behind the ship to highlight Wendington and a grey silhouetted figure in a hat of some description. A golden disc is to the left of Wendington as we see her. On it is the inscription "Who would risk death for the tree of life?" Four portholes are seen at the prow, two each side, and in each a silhouette, probably of a person in the book. At the top of the cover 'Wendington Jones' is in red period font, whilst the rest of the title is in gold capitals beneath. The authors name appears below the ship in green on a gold plaque underlined in red.
© Image copyright


An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week an Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.


This week's review is of a story that we really needed to have read sooner. But it slipped us by. Which is our loss. But thankfully book two is being launched, and we have had the opportunity to read both. So not wishing to delay sharing book one any longer, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, already making plans for a visit to Australia, let's get on with the show!




The book cover is generally in a mix of dark green with an art deco stylised patterned edge in gold. In the centre we see Wendington standing at the prow of the liner that features in the book. There is a pale red and orange sky behind the ship to highlight Wendington and a grey silhouetted figure in a hat of some description. A golden disc is to the left of Wendington as we see her. On it is the inscription "Who would risk death for the tree of life?" Four portholes are seen at the prow, two each side, and in each a silhouette, probably of a person in the book. At the top of the cover 'Wendington Jones' is in red period font, whilst the rest of the title is in gold capitals beneath. The authors name appears below the ship in green on a gold plaque underlined in red.
©Image copyright


AUTHOR:  Daniel Dockery

 

Illustrations by:  Marco Guadalupi

 

Published by:  UCLan Publishing

 

Publication date Paperback: 2023

 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978 1915 235 374


UK Cover price for Paperback:  £8.99


Amazon KINDLE price:  £4.99

 

Pages: 317

 

Age range:  10 - 14 and upwards


Any dogs or cats? No, but Percival the newt gets a bigger adventure than he could have bargained for!

 

 

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

 

Thank you to…

We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme Williams and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review this excellent story.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

It is late in 1920, and fifteen-year-old Wendington Jones, aka Wendi, daughter of the famed anthropologist Pennington Jones, has her world turned upside down. She is informed by the headmistress at her school that her mother, along with her valet, has died in a car crash.

Now orphaned, she becomes the responsibility of her grandmother, and her valet Rohan, a man Wendington isn’t at all sure of. At the stroke of midnight, not long after, Wendington receives a parcel from her dead mother. Within is half of a manuscript relating to a book her mother was writing. It describes her adventures in pursuit of the mythical Tree of Life.

Realising that the fabled tree could bring her mother and father back to life, she decides to complete her mother’s work and adventure. But first, she must find the other half of the manuscript. In recent mail received at her grandmother’s house, she discovers a letter from her mother’s editor. It reveals that the other half was posted to her mother’s valet’s house in a nearby village. There is also a ticket on a ship leaving for Australia the next day. But the letter holds a warning that others also seek the tree, and Pennington should not travel alone!

Whilst trying to retrieve the other half, she is attacked and has to flee the scene. Finding her gran’s car outside, she makes good her escape, dodging gunfire. In the rearview mirror, she spies Rohan, gun in hand, staring after her.

This is where everything starts to go wrong for Wendi. It is the turning point that leads to danger, discovery and adventure. And an ocean trip to Australia to discover, or rather, rediscover, the tree which is said to be there.

The story takes on a cat-and-mouse game on the ship and off. Wendi is desperately trying to figure out the secrets and location of the tree from only part of her mother’s work. She also needs to find out who has the other half of the manuscript that was not at the valet’s house. Heeding the editor’s warning, she has to figure out whom amongst her fellow passengers she can trust. None of this is easy when you are a child alone on a cruise liner and trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible to the crew and passengers.

And there is as strange and doubtful a group of passengers on board as even Agatha Christie could wish for. One person, or rather creature, she can rely on is Percival. He is a newt she discovered on the evening of the funeral. His opinions, however, will not save her from the destruction of the ship as well as attempts on her life and that of other passengers.

To find out what else goes on in this action-packed adventure, be it by car, ship, horse or plane, you’ll just have to read the book…..

So, what did we think?

Rich in description, attitude and adventure, this book offers and delivers so much to the reader. The 1920s are such a wonderful period in human history to set an adventure in. Arguably a golden age for travel and exploration. Even more so as women were starting to explore and exercise their own rights and talents, and in some respects, come to the fore.

Our own adventures are set in this period, and it creates a wonderful air of discovery, challenges and opportunity for characters and writers. It is empowering for younger readers to truly understand what we have. For them to appreciate where we are now, and to understand what we have gained, and also sadly, what we have lost.

All of which is why, when we were offered book two in this series, we jumped at the chance. We were also given the opportunity to read book one first, which is why, dear reader, you are having this review now. Book two review will follow just as soon as I can prise it away from Mrs H’s oil-stained fingers!

It was difficult not to love our protagonist’s attitude from the start. Pendington is bold, clever in the sense of well-read, very inquisitive, with a wit that is often pithy. However well-read she is, she is, like most fifteen-year-olds, not well-practised or experienced. She is also very human and a bit flawed, as the opening scene at her school indicates. Mrs H says that she was a bit like that as a child.

I loved that about Wendi. She is a very human fifteen-year-old who is dealing with the loss of her mother, having already lost her father. In fact, this book really is all about dealing with loss.

Having said that, it was hard to place this book down as there was always something happening or about to happen. It has oodles of adventure interspersed with tongue-in-cheek humour and thoughts as Wendington works things out. Having read up on the author’s process, Percival the newt is there as a silent foil, a sounding board so Wendi, who is alone in her grief, can express her thoughts out loud to us, the reader. He also makes a delightful sidekick who adds his own humour.

There is peril aplenty, everything from planes to trains, with cars and horses in between. I doubt the likes of Enola Holmes, Adèle Blanc-Sec, or a certain American professor would have fared better against the villains our Wendington Jones comes up against.

So, crunch time.

A rare and wondrous story that is a subtle and delightful blend of an adult movie adventure with heaps of Agatha Christie 1920s style. The very best adventure a young lady or man could ever wish for. At 317 pages, this is, we feel, at the more advanced end of Middle Grade reading, but well within the grasp of most. Certainly, it makes for a grand adult read.

But most important of all, under all the action, there is a much bigger driver. One that we think is incredibly well dealt with. This story is first and foremost about loss, grief, the avoidance thereof, and then coming to terms with and dealing with it. Some of the strongest moments, and also the most heart-tugging, come from these themes. That in itself is a journey of discovery and as strong, if not stronger, than what goes on around and about.

Mrs H and I often have conversations after we read books. Some of the conversations go down strange rabbit holes of ‘what if character X met Y, or did this or that, what would happen? One such was when she said to me What if she met Hercule on board? We figured he would be busy solving, say, a death on the cruise ship in the first-class area, whilst Wendington Jones would be in the lower decks doing her thing, too. They would doubtless brush shoulders at some point in a scene, probably amid some turmoil. There would be a pause, then, with an uncertain look from Wendi, and a polite knowing look and a nod of appreciation and understanding from Hercule, they would go about their work. Doubtless, though, they would each, through quite different means, reach a satisfactory conclusion.

This isn’t quite as fanciful as it may seem. Both characters are around at the same time, Hercule’s first case being in 1917. So they could have overlapped. Both are also similar in that they have each faced a huge personal loss that they struggle with. But enough of that flight of fancy, back to the review . . . .

Of course, a satisfactory conclusion does not mean all’s well that ends well, at least for some. Which is another reason to love this story. Come the end of the story and the character’s journey thus far, both the spiritual and actual, we both truly felt we had been on the adventure too. And had learned something very important about life and death, just like Wendi. This adventure deals with all aspects of both in a respectful way. At times blunt, but better for it.

So there you have it. An excellent read, a highly recommended adventure that will stay with us a long time, and become a reference by which to judge other stories.

Daniel Dockery's website, specific to Wendington Jones, contains a lot of information as to Daniel himself and the thought process for this book. Well worth a read. A link to that web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.wendingtonjones.com/

UCLan Publishing's web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/

Marco Guadalupi's Instagram page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.instagram.com/marcoguadalupi85/


For those that just want a selfie on a Sunday, here's one of me reaching out . . . . What for or to whom I'll let you all decide . . . 

Mrs H also wants you know that I had spent what she calls an IN-ORDINATE amount of time on my pedicure. The all look perfectly in order to me, what do you think?


Erin sits upright on her haunches atop of a sage green fleecy bed cover on a spare bed at the Manor House. Her left paw is reaching out horizontally, with fingers spread.




We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. 

Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

 

I hope you enjoyed this adventure review. 

Till laters!

ERin











Sunday, 4 May 2025

EXIT STAGE DEATH

Written by  AVA ELDRED


                                                       

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Weekend Book Review featuring this week a YA Murder Mystery. If you don't fancy a read, and just want a selfie of ME, head to the end!

Mrs Hudson and I like a good murder mystery adventure. It doesn’t matter if it’s MG, YA, or adult. Nor if it’s on TV, the radio, or in the theatre. But there is something about seeing live action on stage that adds to the flavour and involvement.

So a book about a murder in a musical theatre summer camp piqued our interest straight away. And it didn’t fail to impress. So, without further ado, let’s raise the curtain on an amazing tale . . .



AUTHOR: AVA ELDRED

Cover Illustration by: David Wardle

Published by: UCLan Publishing

Publication date Paperback: 5 June 2025

Paperback 13 digit ISBN: 978–191 674 7586

UK Cover price for Paperback: £8.99

Amazon KINDLE price: N/A

Pages: 366

Age range: Young Adult, (12–18, some gentle romance, kisses, and the discovery of a victim).


SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.


Thank you to…

We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme Williams and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review this story.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

It is the last time Livi Campbell will be attending the musical theatre summer school at Camp Chance. It is her last chance to shine, to show her parents she has what it takes for a career in the performing arts, on stage in the theatre. To go to Drama School and then onwards and upwards. On the coach that wends its way through the English countryside are the other Camp Chance attendees, a mix of newcomers and a sprinkling of previous year’s older students. Livi has seen most of her friends from previous camps go on to pastures new, having ‘aged out’ and unable to return. It will be her turn this year.

The culmination of the summer school is the end-of-year performance, the senior showcase. If she hits all the top notes, grabs the attention of the ‘counsellors’ who assess them, and does better than anyone else, she’ll grab the lead role. That will give her a shot at being noticed and go on to better, nay, greater things.

Her male lead hopeful is Sam. They have in previous years worked together. They sneak out late at night to practice in the theatre set in the camp’s woodland setting. The extra work means they have a head start, and can polish their talent.

As the campers settle in, new friends are made. The girls and boys are separated and have been allocated lodges to stay in and assigned roommates for the duration of the camp. Livi and Sam know they have it, have what it takes, and they wholly expect, and also are expected, to be picked as the stars of the showcase.

Suddenly, everything is put off balance by the news that two young ‘celebrities’ are joining them this year. There is Juliet Stone, a renowned video blogger. She has risen to fame during the pandemic for putting on one-person performances to bring theatre to the masses. Her reasons for being at the camp are to learn more about the trade for a part she has been offered. To be able to gel with a cast and the true theatre environment. To learn the basics that she doesn’t have.

The other young celebrity Is Aaron Wilson, the son of a true Hollywood acting royalty family. He’s there at the camp, out of the glare of the press, to try and work out if the career his parents think is for him, actually is.

Both are a threat to the two established hopefuls. There is a chance the newcomers notoriety and talent will win them the leads. Livi promises she will get it, and if not, it won’t be through lack of work. To make matters more interesting, Juliet, Livi and a girl called Daisy get bunked together. Likewise, Sam is bunked with Aaron.

Livi has some fame of her own, as she has appeared in many previous showcase videos on the internet. In fact, she is considered camp royalty. Three first-time performers, Chloe, Tasha & Kitty, know this and actively seek her out and ask for advice at the camp’s second-night unofficial secret party.

After a good night, the campers drift off. For Livi and Sam, it is the start of their own secret training sessions, with Sam on the piano and Livi singing.

The following day brings a discovery that turns everything on its head. Chloe is found dead by Livi and her friends. Killed down by one of the camp’s woodland lakes. Worse, at the scene, Livi picks up a mask that was part of Chloe’s costume. Within is a note that tells Livi and her small group of friends that they are now in the middle of their own mystery. The ending is as yet unwritten. They have until the end of camp to find the killer, or Chloe won’t be the only one dead. Tell anyone, and they could be next.

And the notes keep coming, little clues indicating they are being closely watched. All the time, they still have to do their classes and shine. At least that is what Livi plans to do, confident she can solve this.

Will she? Can she trust her small group of friends and the counsellors, or is one a killer? The pressure is very much on as they all battle with aspects of friendship, romance, loyalty, trust, career and . . . murder. Did I mention that time is running out?

So, what did we think?

WOW is really an understatement of how we felt having finished this theatrical production.

I need to say that our use of theatrical terms in this review is meant to replicate a flavour rather than create puns. Though occasionally, it may actually be a clue, also.

It is very cleverly written, cast, performed and directed. There are levels of complexity and immersion in which you and I are more than just a reader. We become an audience and arguably a crew member within the production. This, Mrs H and I agreed, comes from not only having a first-person view from one of the key protagonists, Livi, but also some dialogue being set out as in a script and a commentary from the killer who becomes a narrator in their own right.

It comes together and makes for a very compelling story from the first pages to the big reveal. And beyond that, into the final chapter, that had yet more to give.

I think many will have suspicions as to the murderer’s identity. Maybe even guess the same — I know Mrs H did. But when we discussed what we had witnessed on the stage that is this book, we realised something else. The finding out how and, more importantly, the why, and what drives Livi, and to a degree, the other cast, had been far more involving. Livi certainly has depths that don’t get fully revealed till much later in the book.

What was also interesting was the question that gets posed, directly and indirectly, as to what constitutes theatre. I shall leave you to decide that once you’ve read the book.

So, Crunch time.

Deeply satisfying, with a cast, story, explosive conclusion, and revelations right up to when the curtain falls that are worthy of a Tony or Olivier Award.

There are three lines on the top of page 363, that sum this story up perfectly. But it wouldn’t be our review if I just quoted a member of the cast, murderer or not, now would it? Suffice it to say, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this show.

A recommended YA and light adult read that we think will entertain and impress.


Ava Eldred’s X / Twitter account is under @ava_eldred and on Instagram as Threadsavaeldredwriter

UCLan Publishing’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/

David Wardle’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.davidwardle.co.uk


For those that just want a selfie on Sunday, here's one of me rehearsing my part in a road movie — OK, I was inspecting the tarmac, but hey, a girl can hope you know . . .  .  



We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. 

Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

 

Till Laters!

ERin



Sunday, 21 July 2024

THE DEATH OF DOWNTON TABBY

by MANDY MORTON;  

 Cover by Jason Anscomb                                                                                     

Small Book cover image. With a pink/cerise background, we see in yellow the backdrop of the book festival; a big marquis and a camper van with the concertina roof partly raised. Three cats in relief appear on the front in a deep burgundy. One has it's paw resting on an open yellow covered book. The series name appears in white text along the top, with the word FELINE in capital yellow letters. A blue revolver appears either side of those words, pointing inwards.  The words, The death of downton Tabby appear in white capitals in a 1920's ish font. A quoite from Laura Thompson appears to the right side. It says: 'Deliciously clever & a true delight'. The authors name appears in white along the bottom of the page.



An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my weekend Book Review featuring this week an Adventure in Middle Grade ADULT Fiction. Book 3 in the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series.

Given it is the summer season, allegedly, I was thinking of hosting a literary festival here in Upper Much-Mousing. You know the thing, book reviews and readings, signings by all the big names that would rush to our small village. 

Then there would be the food, actually you'd find around here the cats and humans would dine first then read and listen. A moratorium on anything vaguely alcoholic being served during the day would be applied.

Not because they are a rowdy lot, far from it, but because the local inn has a reputation for disturbing the peace with the shear volume of the patrons snoring. Talk about holding ones drink, that lot have to have straws and glasses stuck to the bar to save excess spillage when they drop off after the landlords extra potent weak ale; aptly called Old Snorer. 

I said I was thinking about holding a festival, but then Mrs H and I read this fine work and decided against it. 

To find out what changed our minds, just read on. Rest assured you'll NOT be disappointed with this tale. Adult murder mysteries by cats done just how it ought. So without further ado lets discover who did it in . . . 
 


Large Book cover image. With a pink/cerise background, we see in yellow the backdrop of the book festival; a big marquis and a camper van with the concertina roof partly raised. Three cats in relief appear on the front in a deep burgundy. One has it's paw resting on an open yellow covered book. The series name appears in white text along the top, with the word FELINE in capital yellow letters. A blue revolver appears either side of those words, pointing inwards.  The words, The death of downton Tabby appear in white capitals in a 1920's ish font. A quoite from Laura Thompson appears to the right side. It says: 'Deliciously clever & a true delight'. The authors name appears in white along the bottom of the page.

 


AUTHOR:  MANDY MORTON


Latest Edition Cover art by: Jason Anscomb

 

Published by: Farrago

 

Publication date latest edition Paperback: 9 May 2024

 

 

Paperback ISBN: 978 - 1788 424 660


UK Cover price for Paperback: £9.99


Kindle UK price: £2.99


Audible price: £13.00 or one credit

 

Pages: 267

 

Age range: Adult.


Any humans? No, just a delightfully eclectic character mix of Cats.


 

 

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

 

 

Thank you to... 

 

I am exceedingly grateful to Mrs H for stumping up the readies out of her pension so I can Read & Review this awesome fun and incredibly clever series.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, been given as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.


 

The plot

The town is proud to be holding its first literary festival, organised by the librarian Turner Page. It is held at Furcross House, the former care home which was closed and turned community centre after the murders featured in book one.   

With free passes to the weekend event as a reward, anyone who is anyone in the town is getting involved in the running. Tilly has been enlisted by Turner to arrange the guest speakers and musical attractions, whilst our lead protagonist, Hettie Bagshot, as head of The No.2 Feline Detective Agency, has been hired somewhat begrudgingly, as Festival Security supremo. 


Headlining the event is the writer of many a period romp, Sir Downton Tabby. Overly rich, a womaniser, and caring little for others – especially the Brontë Sisters, he has added to his wealth by recounting the tales of his aristocratic upbringing. It is a life where servants were five a penny, punished for eating crumbs their mistress may have dropped, and discarded into the workhouse and greater penury when too old to slave away. Despite the vulgarity and openness of his situation, and the controversy he courts, he draws the crowds hoping to lap up some of the 'charged atmospheres' he creates. So very much like humankind, right?

As far removed as one can get, the Brontë sisters have been hired by Tilly as a last-minute fill-in, on a hire-two-get-third sister thrown-in kind of basis. The sisters were brought up in Teethly, on the bleak moors of Porkshire; a place where gingerbeer-on-the-lung disease killed many an addicted cat due to a lack of a clean water supply. On discovering unfinished works by the old Brontës, the sisters are tasked by their father to find fame by finishing the works. Emmeline (a poet in her own right) is the author of the top-selling Withering Sights, which outstripped Charlene's Jane Hair. That left Ann's book, The Tomcat of Wildfell Hall, on the slush pile of their northern agent Penny Stone-Cragg. 

It is fair to say that when the sister's camper van arrives at the festival, fur flies and noses are bloodied, and chaos ensues. Things get worse as the sisters have it in for Downton Tabby, who has slated the sisters and their work, playing each off against the other.

Some sanity comes in the form of musician Muddy Fryer, who performs her one-cat Arthurian cycle of songs. Doing costume changes and wielding props along the way. Poly Hodge and Nicolette Upstart, famed and popular crime writers, bring to the festival both maturity, professionalism and calmness. 

Things start to seethe and boil inside when Sir Downton and the Brontë sisters trade insults during his interview session. If it wasn't murder for Hettie to keep a lid on tempers in the blazing heat of the day, it soon is when Sir Downton is found murdered later on. Decapitated, and no trace of his head, things are looking bad for Muddy, whose mighty Excalibur sword, used as a prop, vanishes!

Now, this is just the start. Hettie has to keep her invited guests safe, as well as not let on to the public that the star attraction has been most brutally slain. It would be the ruination of Turner who would lose everything. A sudden and severe storm and flooding set the scene for the meat of this tale, and we enter a spine-tingling series of events, punctuated with essential pie and cake stops and much-needed medicinal cups of tea from Delirium Treemint.

In fact, dear readers, in a very short space of time, it seems dear Delirium Treemint, she of the shaky spilling nature and much-broken crockery, is the only cat NOT on Hettie's suspect list.

Who did it, and that isn't a clue, and how Hettie goes about trying to save everyone else and the day, I will leave you to find out for yourselves. 

So, what did we think?

What a brilliant idea to bring together affectionate parodies of literary icons, both past and present, to create the cast of this jaw-dropping and deliciously crafted murder mystery. A mystery with a hefty heap of 'very well done' black humour. We have nods to felines of the human world, too, as well as references that the musically aware of the past decades will recognise immediately. I missed some and was pleased when the author pointed them out at the end of the book. 

As the third book in the soon-to-be thirteen-and-counting, series, it is with much pleasure that the tale does not feel tired. We have settled into a comfortable familiarity with our protagonists, but not to the point where they lose any of their essential differences or edge. The wit and satire, tongue-in-cheek humour the characters, and the occasional sarcasm from Hettie, bring a refreshing twist to both cat stories and murder mysteries. 

If you would like to add an extra dimension and get the mind's eye working on overdrive visualising all the cats, the Audible version is a wonderful expressive expansion of this series. Well worth buying, as Mrs H has, and we have listened multiple times already.

Sir Downton Tabby is a great example of bringing together a plethora of traits and historical attitudes into one love-to-hate victim. As to the other deaths you'll come across as the story goes along, which are no less gruesome, I shall let you decide whether they are deserved or not. I am sure there is many a moral to this story, karma, just desserts and all that, but reading for pleasure I tend to think of those at the end. It all makes for the truly strangest and most adventuresome and deadly Littertray Festival you will ever turn a page on.

 

So . . . .

Crunch time. 

Addictive and whimsical, it is surreal yet delightfully real and charming. Buy a copy or borrow it from your local library; I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Now, if you will excuse us, we feel the need for some festival pies and ale of our own!


Want to buy a copy?

Alas, Littertray Festival T-shirts and Festival Ale aren't available to us, but if you head down to your local independent bookshop they should be able to supply you with something better, this book. 

 

Mandy Morton's short author page at Farrago Books can be found HERE or type this: https://farragobooks.com/fb-author/mandy-morton/

Farrago Book's web page can be found HERE or type this: https://farragobooks.com/

Hettie Bagshot can be found on both Facebook and Twitter. 


We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. Click this link to see Janet Blue's selfie page.

Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

I shall leave you with a lazy selfie. I entitled this "The paws have it". 

Incidentally, it has been the Manor House's election this week. Old Ned, our gardener offered to stand – or rather sit, against me to make up the numbers. It was a close run thing when Mrs H spoiled her vote. Yup, she'd accidentally used her ballot paper to line the cake tin. That's the last time I use greaseproof paper to ensure a transparent voting system! 

However, after the cake had been baked and filled with judicious amount of jam and cream, and various slices and cups of tea consumed, her cross in my box was revealed, and I was duly elected. That's the sweetest way to end any election.



Till laters!

ERin