Introducing Whatever Next, Screech? The latest three volume set of adventures for detective St John Screech.
This volume contains three more short murder mystery stories involving Detective Inspector St John Screech and his Sergeant Bruce Bravo.. The first ‘To Dig or Not To Dig’ deals with the murder of a celebrated and politically active elderly actress who is found dead on her allotment. The local council, desperate to find revenue for housing, is considering selling the site to a property developer. But the actress Antonia Sheldrick is vehemently opposed. Is her murder connected to the proposed development or is there another motive behind it? The second story ‘Murder in his Eyes’ concerns the strange goings on and mystery death of a man at a Surrey riding stables. Who is the killer behind this death? And what was the motive? In the third story ‘Going Going Gone’ Inspector Screech tracks down the killer of a Salisbury art auctioneer at the time of the Salisbury poisonings and investigates the murky world of fraud and art crime.
Although the stories deal with serious issues, they are lighthearted and entertaining, a far cry from the grittiness and violence of many contemporary crime novels.
What Screech fans have to say:
“Wow. I love the story (“Going, Going , Gone” from the latest collection “Whatever Next, Screech?). I think it is one of the best yet, really well thought out and entertaining as well as lots of great observations on places and information on the art world. I can so see your stories as a TV series.”
Emma Randle, La Chanca, Almeria, Spain
“Thanks again so much for the latest Screech book. I sooooo enjoyed it and it was lovely to be back in the world of Screech and his escapades. Enchanting and so enjoyable. Keep writing!”
Sara Turnbull, Chiswick, London
“I am soooo enjoying the books. I just get so drawn in. I love the characters and feel that I can hear their voices. Many, many thanks for such enjoyable reads – they would make a lovely series for TV.”
Christina Sinclair of Nerja, Spain
Launch of “Is That It, Screech?”
The launch of “Is That It, Screech?” took place on a sunny summer evening on the book barge Word On the Water which is permanently moored near Kings Place, Kings Cross. About 40 people attended: friends, family, passers-by, and a great time was had by all. Keith Hodgson (designer), Barry Jobling (co-plotter) uttered some words and Anna Hodgson (author) read an extract from one of the stories. Many thanks to Paddy Screech (really!), owner of the Book Barge, who hosted the event.
Screech Abroad
Author Anna Hodgson interviewed for the Costa Almeria News while researching for one of the stories “Nemesis” (from “Is That It, Screech?”
By Emma Randle
A British detective-story author is gathering evidence for the plot of her latest novel in Almeria this week, after being inspired by her involvement with a local opera company production earlier this year.
Anna Hodgson is the author of nine short crime novels featuring ‘Inspector Screech’ – a character she created five years ago inspired by pianist and local musical director Barry Jobling.
Each story has a link to the world of classical music, with characters and plots featuring murderous musicians, stolen instruments, stormy affairs and musical machinations.
CA News caught up with Hodgson in Bedar, where she was researching the setting for her current work, having recently returned from a trip to Granada and the Alpujarra mountains.
The inspiration for an Almerian-based adventure for her Detective Inspector hero arose in March, when she helped with local opera company Opera Duende’s production of Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’, directed by Jeanne Henny with Barry Jobling as musical director, in Almeria city.
She said: “I met so many interesting people – both Spanish and English – and heard so many intriguing tales of life here in Almeria that I wanted to use the experience in my writing.”
In a previous story – ‘A Spanish Affair: Game set and match Screech’ – her character Inspector Screech had an encounter with a sultry Spanish actress that Hodgson hinted he may like to pursue in Spain. Otherwise she was reluctant to be drawn on plot details, but warned tongue in cheek that local musicians may find they make an appearance.
Based for many years in Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, Hodgson taught English as a foreign language, and worked for Oxfam as an editor and resource centre developer, before becoming a freelance journalist on her return to London in the mid 1990s.
After experimenting with various forms of creative writing, she hit upon a formula for a quick-read detective story, shorter than a full length novel and designed for easy but sharp and entertaining reading, ideal for devouring at one sitting on public transport or at bedtime.
She said: “Above all the stories are fun and fast, based on the intrigues and mysteries of life that at times confound us”.
The Inspector Screech mysteries are available to order from Amazon, the first book in the series being ‘Murder on the Menu – this one’s for you Screech’.