novels

Novels and audiobooks that I’ve returned to

I thought I’d do a different sort of post today. I often like to hear what my friends and family are reading and they help me decide what to read next. I’ve decided to recommend one Victorian novel and one modern novel every now and then. My enthusiasm has already run away with me because, in choosing Anthony Horowitz’s Hawthorne detective series, I’m actually recommending five books instead of one!

Obviously, because I am a mystery author, I read a lot of mysteries, especially dual timeline mysteries which I love, but I also like psychological thrillers and literary fiction. I re-read some of the classic novels over and over. I’m a big fan of Jane Austen, the Brontes, Daphne du Maurier and many others.

Two versions of an Irish ghost story

One of the best things about living in Ireland is how eager people are, often complete strangers, to tell stories. I was lucky enough to be picked to work on a film set at Ardgillan Castle in North County Dublin earlier this summer and, in the quieter moments between shooting, we discussed the history of this beautiful demesne, now restored and run by Fingal County Council. The castellated house with walled garden and parkland has sweeping views of the ocean and is open to the public. As with most castles and grand old houses in Ireland, the stories inevitably involve a ghost.