Blog Tour: : A Mischief of Murder (A Jan Christopher Murder Mystery) by Helen Hollick

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The village Flower and Veg Show should be a fun annual event – but who added mischief and murder to the traditional schedule?

A Mischief of Murder Excerpt:

“The tomatoes look nice and fat,” I offered tentatively. “Shouldn’t they be red, though, not green?” Dad pulled a face. Oops. I’d blundered. I moved to a different patch, pointed at something I knew should be green. “The peas look good.”

    Dad sniffed loudly and, picking a single pea pod from its stick-twining vine-like tendril, snapped it open to reveal a row of round, green peas within. He selected one, popped it into his mouth, pulling various faces as he munched, much as a wine-taster would sample a fine Burgundy. He selected another and handed it to me. I took it, ate it, making the same expressions. I had no idea what I was supposed to be tasting or what to say. 

    I opted for: “Hmm, crunchy. Nice and sweet.”

    The right thing, as Dad smiled. “You can’t be too careful with peas. Regular watering during cropping deters mildew, but I take care not to wet the leaves. I water at the base of my plants, not over them. Can’t risk sunburnt leaves.” 

    I immediately envisioned cartoon peas wearing sunglasses and stretched out on sun loungers beside a sparkling swimming pool, relaxing and catching a few rays. 

Dad didn’t notice my inattention, for he was rambling on about good pea care.

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

Helen Hollick

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About the Author

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. 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. Find out more at https://helenhollick.net/ and find Helen on Facebook, Twitter, and Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social