Cozy mystery author Emma Dakin chats with me today about her new novel, Shadows in Sussex: The British Book Tour Mysteries Book 5.
During her virtual book tour, Emma will be giving away a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Emma Dakin writes a series of mystery novels that guide the reader through the countryside of Britain. In Shadows in Sussex, Book 5 of The British Book Tour Mysteries, Claire Barclay shepherds her tourists to the sites of mystery novels. Following Claire, or preceding her, Emma travels to Britain to the villages, towns and cities Claire visits in the books and eats at the elegant restaurants—all in the name of research. Emma’s love of the British countryside and her addiction to cozy mysteries keeps her writing about characters who live and work in those villages. It’s there she places vicious motivations that disturb the idyllic setting. In the best tradition of cozy mysteries, her protagonist, Claire, stumbles into the middle of danger. Emma (other name Marion Crook) lives on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. When she is not writing, she paddles with her outrigger canoe crew on the ocean, walks her dog and constantly tries to keep up with her garden.
Welcome, Emma. Please tell us about your current release.
Claire Barclay plans to take her tourists to explore Sussex and Kent in southeast England, aiming for a satisfying tourist experience. She isn’t expecting murder, especially so close to her group. At first the death of the young man is thought to be another tragic case of toxic drug use, but lab results show murder. Claire is disturbed by the death but is determined to keep her tourists away from the tragedy. While showing her guests the sights of Rye in Sussex—the Ypres castle, the Romney Marsh, the Lamb House and the fine cuisine of the Mermaid Inn—Claire carves out time to help her fiancé, Inspector Mark Evans investigate. Everyone talks to Claire: the victim’s mother, his girlfriend and local acquaintances. She brings the information to the Major Crimes Investigations Team. Her main job, however, is guiding her tourists: three young women from Toronto, Canada who are interested in the events of the Second World War, two couples from Friday Harbor, Washington who are interested in the theatre and literature, ranchers from Montana who are interested in history, and an older lady from Vermont who is interested in everything. Claire manages to keep this disparate group together, for the most part, but the murder investigation intrudes and the tourists are curious. Her own curiosity propels her into an unexpected confrontation with the murderer. This is one situation where Claire wishes she wasn’t picked to be the recipient of a secret. There is too much danger in that position.
What inspired you to write this book?
I knew a man whose story was much like that of the victim in this book. I wanted to give him a voice.
Excerpt from Shadows in Sussex:
From Chapter One
I hurried through the hall to the lounge. The key for my room was where Laura said it would be, on the shelf under the counter. I gathered my luggage, trundled up the stairs and found my room —small, but it had a desk. I opened the window, a new one that looked Victorian but wasn’t, and let the spring breeze freshen the room. I’d need to be sure the other rooms were ready for my guests. I’d use the keys lying handy in the lounge to check them. But first, I needed a walk. Without the excuse of taking my dog for exercise, I had to remind myself that fresh air and exercise were essential, especially when my nerves were jangling around my shoulders, shaking my hands, making it obvious that I needed to breathe deeply and slow down.
I’d seen an extensive garden beyond the shed where I’d discovered Laura and her son. A gate to the area had been open when I arrived and was still open. I checked the keys in the lounge and found one labelled Garden Gate and took it with me. It would probably be wise to lock the gate behind me. The large garden connected to many houses. I presumed the people who lived in the surrounding properties had private access to this common ground with their own locked gates. Only residents could use this park. Well, I was temporarily a resident. I trotted out on the well-kept gravel paths, admiring the larkspur and the roses, splashed like a hasty painting of reds, pinks and whites. A white clematis spread over a brick wall on one boundary near the street. A blackbird perched on vine, a black ebony contrast to the stark white of the flowers. I spotted a robin hopping on the ground, cocking his head, listening for the movement of underground food.
Poor Laura. Poor Reece. No one expected a young man to die, but Laura or Reece had a naloxone kit handy. Reece had been an addict. Addicts were dying of poisoned drugs all over the country. It was a terrible affliction. I took two deep breathes and felt my shoulders relax in the late morning sun. The song of a blackbird in the quiet of this secluded park sifted into my bones as the sadness and grief I had witnessed drifted away. Laura had told me that Reece worked on this garden. He’d created beauty. It helped me, but it hadn’t been enough for him. I didn’t know what would help Laura.
I carefully locked the gate and returned to the house. There was a new car in the driveway, a small compact. I’d booked the whole house as of tomorrow. Conceivably, Laura had other guests for tonight. But it wasn’t a guest.
“Angela. Hiya.” a brisk voice announced from the top of the stairs. She was a little shorter than me and younger, probably mid-thirties. Her red hair was caught in an elastic on top of her head but much escaped to form a frizzy halo around her face. Bright green eyes surveyed me. In one hand she held a bottle of glass cleaner, in the other, a paper towel. The cleaner. Laura must employ a cleaner.
“Claire Barclay of The British Mystery Book Tours,” I introduced myself and added the inevitable Sussex greeting. “Hiya.”
She stepped back and ushered me in. “Laura told me you were coming. Do you think your lot will get drunk and throw glasses at the mirrors?”
“I hope not. Has that happened?”
“Once. An infamous crew from the Continent. Some kind of spiritual group who thought they were going to discover their inner selves. My theory is they did discover their inner selves and were severely disappointed.”
What exciting project are you working on next?
I am working on Storms in the Cotswolds: The British Book Tour Mysteries Book 6 which will be released in 2024. I know Claire has a forensic scientist from Sacramento in her group of tourists and a retired sergeant from Cornwall, but I’m still wrestling with the plot.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first believed I could write when I was about twelve and read L. M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon. I sold my first short stories when I was 29. Then I believed I was a writer.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I write from about 8:30 am to noon or 1 pm. In the afternoon, I either attend to the business of writing: answering emails, arranging events, researching, or I attend to the business of living: grocery shopping, gardening, trucking off to the post office or visiting friends. A friend complained that writing cut into her housework and gardening time. That’s true—and I’m fine with that.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have to correct typos ALL THE TIME! It’s maddening.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I was told by the university veterinarian school that I was ineligible because I was a woman. My choices were teaching or nursing. I chose a science degree in nursing and found I liked it. I was a public health nurse in a remote area for years. My daughter is the veterinarian.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I like readers and I enjoy their opinions. They’re intelligent, quirky and insightful. Please, feel free to contact me. emma@emmadakinauthor.com and Join Newsletter https://tinyurl.com/ja4u2jv8
Links:
Website | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK
Thank you so much for hosting today.
When Claire takes her guests to the sites of mystery novels the authors are named in the book. You will come to the end of the story with the names of many authors. Luckily, we always have more books to read.
Sounds like a good story. Thanks for sharing.
This looks like a great novel. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
Enjoyed reading the interview and exxcerpt
The book details sound really interesting.
great interview and excerpt
Thanks, everyone. Your positive comments are encouraging.
Just started reading Perils in Yorkshire. I visited England and the Yorkshires for the first with my family in June 2022. Hope to go back again one day.