A Creative Crime by Cecilia Peartree

A Creative Crime is the twelfth in the Pitkirtly series.  You'd think the quality would lapse after so long and that there's nothing left to shock the inhabitants of this small Scottish town, but anytime outsiders come to visit, something goes wrong for them and the story unfolds wonderfully.

The council wants a "Pitkirtly Creates" festival but everyone is ambivalent about it, no-one more so than Christopher, who has to organise some of it.  Amarylis is feeling her age a bit, but still manages to poke her nose into someone else's business.

As usual, I get enveloped into the small town (or is Pitkirtly a village?) and like hanging out with them.  The quality of the story does not flag, it's like being at home again.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZ0K5X9/?tag=jookuf-21

The Pitkirtly Triangle by Cecilia Peartree

We're back in Pitkirtly for the 11th time (12th if you include the Mysterious Pitkirtlycoach tour).  Something's not quite right this time.  Amarylis has caught a cold - but she never gets a cold.

This time the gang have to solve the problems between the tea shops and the new garage.  Why are people dying (apart from they are new to the village) and why does Amarylis keep getting attacked.  

I keep saying it, but I love theses stories.  The variations on a theme vary slightly, but they always seem fresh and are always a joy to read.

Mysterious Pitkirtly by Cecilia Peartree

This is a "bonus" novella in the Pitkirtly series.  Someone's organised a coach trip round Pitkirtly to all the murder spots.  No, the organiser doesn't get murdered.  Although I'm sure Amaryllis would like them to.  This story is about the mystery about who the organiser is.

We visit many of the scenes of the previous stories.  This is like a gentle reminisce of what's (and who's) gone before. There are quite a few locations that are on the coach's itinerary.  Considering Pitkirtly is a quiet backwater town, it's a dangerous place to visit.

I enjoyed this story, even though it was not quite a "proper" one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019P930TO/?tag=jookuf-21

Closer to Death in a Garden by Cecilia Peartree

Number 10 in the ongoing adventures of our faithful Pitkirtly gang has a bit of a mouthful for a title.  It does become obvious what it refers to early on, so it didn't bother me for much.

As usual there's a murder, as usual Amarylis is in the middle of it.  As usual Christopher doesn't want to be in the middle of it.  And there are alpacas about.

I always start reading these books expecting them to be five star reads and, for me, they never fail to live up to what I expect.

What's to say - the gang are all here, doing what they usually do.  They get in the way of the police, they kind of solve the mystery.  The joy of reading these stories for me is the familiarity of the characters and somehow, each mystery seems to be fresh and new.

Another top Pitkirtly read indeed.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015AADDSA/?tag=jookuf-21

Death in a Cold Spring by Cecilia Peartree

This is the ninth in the Pitkirtly series and is probably my favourite so far.

Amaryllis has put herself forward for being a councillor, but has this dulled her senses?  Christopher has loads to do at the Cultural Centre, but what's this art exhibition he doesn't really know about?  When Christopher and Amaryllis find something nasty at the Centre, they try to go their typical opposite ways, Christopher doesn't want to know, but Amaryllis needs to stick her nose in.

As with the previous 8 stories,  there's a crime in the community and the locals do their best to "help", although the police wouldn't call it that.  Keith is the only policeman around and he's struggling to keep up.

In each episode we get more info on a supporting character and this time it's Keith.  I enjoyed finding more about Keith in this story, now that Charlie is the pub landlord.  I particularly liked the dogs' stories.  They seemed to have a more starring role.

This story is best enjoyed having read the previous ones, but I think this stands on it's own.  You don't really need to know the cast's history, it just makes it seem that they are your friends.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Y6K1PB8/?tag=jookuf-21

The Christmas Puzzle by Cecilia Peartree

The Christmas Puzzle is the 8th book in the Pitkirtly series and I think they just get better and better.  This series is my favourite as I just love the characters and the cosiness of their mysteries.

This time Amaryllis is a Christmas elf and she's persuaded, I mean told, Jock he has to be Santa for the up and coming Christmas festivities in Pitkirtly.  Amaryllis seems to be growing up (a bit) in that she is thinking of running for a place on the council. Probably so she can keep a better eye on things.

As usual there is a dead body.  You'd think the local police station would have longer opening hours with all the murders that happen round here.  All the favourite characters appear with a few newcomers.  But which of the newcomers is the murderer?  Is there actually a murderer or was it just an accident?

I find these books a gentle read, with more characterisation than action and that suits me just fine.  As the series goes on, I get to know the characters deeper and deeper and I have hopes for what they do and don't do in the story.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OKZIE8G?tag=jookuf-21

Murder in the Midi by Cecilia Peartree

I adore Cecilia Peartree's Pitkirtly mysteries and the author herself had said this early story is "not a Pitkirtly", so it languished on my Kindle as I didn't want to be disappointed.

However I was happy to not be disappointed.  This is a reasonably story with a bit of a whodunnit.  It is a light read, nothing too heavy.  

Whilst this is not Pitkirtly - the sun shines in this story - It is not a bad read.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006GF28PS/?tag=jookuf-21

Off The KUF Volume 3

Off the KUF 3 is a collection of 6 novellas by some of my favourite authors

Adventure on the Scotch Express by Cecilia Peartree
This was a nice mystery set on the Scotch Express set amongst the suffrage movement and involving a little bit of cross dressing.
I enjoyed the gentleness of this story.  Even the ruffians weren't too rough.

Bernard and the Bibble by Carl Ashmore
This is a children's story about Bernard meeting a Bibble and going into his world.  It was a little young for me, but an enjoyable story, nonetheless.

The Rocks Below by Nigel Bird
I'd not read any Nigel Bird stories previously and was very impressed with this one.  It seems to start as a collection of short stories, then I noticed they were set in the same area and then I realised they were all part of the same story as the people met up.  It was very well written and very enjoyable.  I think this might have been my favourite of the collection.

Maureen and the Big One by Jonathan Hill
This is the third of the Maureen "adventures".  Maureen has a bit more heart in this one compared to her previous outings.  I enjoyed it knowing her past, but I believe the story is good as a stand-alone and you don't really need to have any past story to enjoy it.

Copy by David Wailing
I've read all the stories in the Auto series by David Wailing, and this is one of my favourites.  It is quite an intense thriller and as all the Auto stories, the story just ramps up and up and up.  

The Devine Legacy by Jennifer Hanning
This is quite a sweet tale of an older lady getting an unexpected inheritance and setting out to retrace the steps of her first romance.

So a mixture of stories, with nothing in common except I enjoyed them all.  

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ILC9XAW/?tag=jookuf-21

A Tasteful Crime by Cecilia Peartree

This is the seventh episode of the wonderful Pitkirtly series.  I can't believe it's up to number 7 and Cecilia's stories are still fresh.  By now most of the core characters are just so familiar, you know what they are thinking and feeling.

This episode's murder mystery happens when a TV cookery show comes to town.  And we find out Christopher has an ex-wife!!!!  I don't know if I'm like Amaryllis and a little bit jealous. 

Again, as with all the other stories, this is a most delightful and delicious read. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IGZL48S/?tag=jookuf-21

The Four Seasons Quest by Cecilia Peartree

This is the second book in the Oliver Quest series. Flora and Oliver are officially a couple, but love doesn't run smoothly for them.  Not when family members are being murdered and Flora is haunted by her past.

This series is set in post war London, and the countryside.  It is a gentle read - not withstanding the murders, muggings and beatings - and is set at a much gentler pace than people nowadays are used to.  Checking that someone's OK means a half day train journey, phoning someone means sending someone else to get them to a neighbour's phone.  I found this story just a bit slower than the previous one.

This is, however, a very enjoyable read, both in the story and the telling of it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FOVZU32/?tag=jookuf-21

Off The KUF Volume 1

This is the first of 3 volumes of short stories, drabbles and novellas from the KUForum's authors.
I am a big fan of many of the authors who hang out there, so I knew I'd like this book.  I was wrong, I loved it.

From the start with Lynda Wilcox's story 'Intelligence Test' to 'The Last Story' I was enthralled throughout.

I'll just mention some of my favourites.

The first one 'Intelligence Test' is a great opener.  Malcolm is up for a job which is on offer at the Foreigh Office.  The test seems way too hard in a simplistic way.  Who will get the job and what is the job anyway?

The very next story is by David Haynes and of course is one of his trademark creepy, macabre stories - a bit of a ghost story.

'Blackberry Crumble' by Cecilia Peartree is a longer "short" and I really enjoyed that one.  It is always great to read a new Auto story from David Wailing.

Rosen Trevithick has 2 parallel stories in this collection.  One is a Troll version and it is interesting to read them together.

'The Last Story' by H.K. Abell was intriguing and interesting and as it progressed it made me wonder about the sanity of the author.  The ending is well weird, but I think I liked it.  I thought it was an interesting way to finish off this collection

Of the 30 stories in this collection there was only one I didn't like, which is not bad going for such a large collection.

There are highs, there are lows, there are scares, there are laughs and there's the origin story of The Imp.  Oh and Trolls.

There are definitely some new authors here for me to go and investigate.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GDLGTCS/?tag=jookuf-21

The Queen of Scots Mystery by Cecilia Peartree

This is the latest instalment from the Pitkirtly gang.

By now, I feel I know this bunch, but as usual, I'm kept on the edge of my seat wondering what's going to happen.  The group of characters gets larger each time as characters introduced in previous books get a bit more than bit parts.

Again, the story revolves around Christopher and as usual, he's a bit clueless as to what's happening.  A murder has taken place and Ameryllis is miffed that she's not around to sort things out. 

I enjoy reading this series as I feel I'm part of the family and again I wasn't disappointed.  This is another cracker of a read.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DPYPD0K/?tag=jookuf-21

The Lion and Unicorn Quest by Cecilia Peartree

This is a nice gentle story set in 1950s London.  We join the characters Oliver Quest and Flora after first meeting them in the Hearts and Arrows anthology.  Oliver is an ex-policeman and Flora was a spy in France during the war.  They then got together to search for missing works of art.

This story, however, starts with them having a tiff / misunderstanding and both starting their own quests and jobs which invariably merge.

The setting being 1951 certainly adds to the tone of the book.  Characters are always having to go and find a phone box – even for emergency and urgent calls.  Or catch a bus to get where they need to be.

Even though there is crime, murder, gangs and beatings, it is all done in a gentle manner.

This is certainly a very readable and enjoyable book and even though you want to give Flora a clip round the ear and tell her to listen to Oliver, the characters soon feel like old friends.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BK6I4EM/?tag=kuffbl-21

Song of Vanora by Sheila Perry

Song of Vanora is a gentle time travel tale, firstly set in modern day Scotland, then going back to the 14th century.

As mentioned, the word that comes to mind is gentle.  Even the scary bits where they encounter danger, the danger is never too frightening.  I've not been to the 14th century myself, but the author describes it quite well in my opinion.  

The book is not too long and was a nice read. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BH0GHUY/?tag=jookuf-21

Five Short Stories by Cecilia Peartree

As it says on the tin, this is a book of five short stories.  Three of them are based in Pitkirtly, two of the stories I'd read before.  I love the inhabitants of Pitkirtly and am always eager to read more about them.

Apocalypse Ready:  This is the perfect story of how ready some of the inhabitants of Pitkirtly are for The End Of The World.  As I finished it, I felt I knew that was how it would be as the story suits the characters.

Recycled:  Amarylis (from Pitkirtly) shows just how mean she can be with her darker side.

A Romantic Quest:  I enjoyed this when I read it in a kuforum anthology and am pleased to find out the characters will get their own novel.  As I read it again, I knew I wanted to find out more about them.

Special:  Some of the Pitkirtly gang go on a Mystery Tour.  Of course things don't go to plan.  I wouldn't want them to.

Apocalypse Decoded:  Where Him upstairs tells him downstairs he has 4 days to plan the Apocalypse.  I really enjoyed this one.  Middle management will never seem the same.

In summary, this is quite a short book, but I liked every single story.  I don't often like all the stories in an anthology.  If you've read any Pitkirtly books, these are great extras.  If you haven't, then these are great tasters.  It's also proof that Cecilia Peartree is not a one story author.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AKYD35U/?tag=jookuf-21

Frozen in Crime by Cecilia Peartree

Ah, a new Pitkirtly book from Cecilia.  I'm in heaven.  Until I finish it, then I'm waiting for the next.

I really love this series of books.  I love the "are they going out?" of Amaryllis and Christopher and  I love the interaction between the characters.

This story is set amongst the heavy snow of Christmas-time.  The village is cut off and there's been a robbery.  Of course Amaryllis wants to stick her nose in it and Christopher wants a quiet life.  Chief Inspector Smith gets more of a part in this one.  I like him.

I think this is one of my favourite of the Pitkirtly novels.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009L9F24U/?tag=kuffbl-21

Summer Shorts by KUF

This anthology from kuforum authors is a collection of summer stories.

As with any group of authors / short stories, some will be favoured more than others.

Since most of these authors are in my top 10 favourite indie authors I rate this book very highly.

Even the story themes I didn't like so much were very well written.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008NPJNOS?tag=kuffbl-21

Death At The Happiness Club by Cecilia Peartree

Death At The Happiness Club is Cecilia’s fourth story set in Pitkirtly.   It is not my favourite story, but is extremely enjoyable nonetheless.  In this book Christopher doesn’t spend as much time with Amaryllis and since that’s my favourite partnership, I was a bit disappointed.  The “will they won’t they” is great and I don’t think I want them to get together properly as they will lose that dynamic.  It was nice to learn more about Maisie Sue and some other characters.

I always feel at the end of one of these stories that I have to say goodbye to friends, even though I’m not one of the gang and am looking in.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007S7WEIY/?tag=kuffbl-21

Interrogating Cecilia Peartree

My 9th interview is with Cecilia Peartree, one of my favourite new authors.  Cecilia writes about the world of Pitkirtly and the 4th book in that series is just out.  These are Scottish cosy mysteries and I just adore them

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?
 
I only write things I want to write, otherwise I just wouldn't be able to write them at all. The only compromise I make now that I have a publishing outlet is that I don't leave things lying around for years on my computer, but try and get them completed!
 

 What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

 I've always enjoyed reading mystery novels. My father was a great mystery reader too, and we used to share library books when I was a teenager and watch programmes like 'Perry Mason' together (sorry, this probably gives away my age!). I think it started out as being about the puzzle element, and now it is more about the characters.
 

 Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

I have notebooks - I'm a stationery junkie, always buying new notebooks wherever I go. Usually there's a notebook for each thing that's in progress and one of them will also have my current writing plan in it which usually covers about a year ahead. I make odd notes on spare pages in one of the notebooks. Sometimes the ideas come along at really annoying times - I remember last year being really cross because I had just finished NaNoWriMo and I woke up the next morning with an idea for a completely different novel. Character names, everything.
I used to lose notebooks but I've bought a new storage thing from IKEA to keep them in now!
 

 How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ? 

I've thought about this a lot, particularly with the Pitkirtly characters from my mystery series who are now so familiar to me, and I think all of them probably represent different aspects of me. I do have some of Amaryllis's ruthlessness and lack of feminine 'caring' qualities, but I can also be irritatingly vague like Christopher, grumpy like Jock McLean and obsessed with family history like Jemima.
In 'The Mountain and the Flood' I tried hard to make the characters come from a different generation from me because it's set in the future, so they are based more on my sons and their friends, although of course every character is part of me really, even the bad ones.
 

 Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

This isn't really relevant as I mostly lead a separate life from my spouse - the details are too complicated to go into! However I don't tend to become completely wrapped up in my writing as I fit it into odd half hours and have to be able to switch on and off - at work in the lunch-hour, for instance.
 

 What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

 Yes, I do read a lot of mysteries but some of them are more hard-boiled than mine. I am finding I don't have the same tolerance for violence or suspense as I get older, though - I sometimes read chick-lit now instead, though I find some of it really annoying.
I like lightweight travel books and history sometimes too.
 

 What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

 I'm the world's worst salesperson, in fact I tried to talk someone out of even downloading 'Crime in the Community' for free last week because I thought she might not like it. I really want to get a good match between books and readers. I love it when a reviewer 'gets' what I've written. So I suppose in a sense quality is more important than quantity. I like just to try and make my books visible and then let people judge for themselves whether they like them.
 

 How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

 Ha ha! - very topical! - grateful, I think! Annoyed with myself for missing them, but glad to have the chance to put it right.
 

 What do you like most about visiting KUF?
 
I like the friendliness - it's the best forum I've come across from that point of view.
 

 What is on your near horizon?
 
Now that 'Death at the Happiness Club' is published, I have returned to a historical novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2008 (!) with a view to trying to finish it at last. Unfortunately this means writing a few extra chapters (groan). This month I will also do some work on my short story for the KUF summer anthology.
 

 Where can we find you for more information?

 I have three Wordpress blogs - http://mccallumogilvy.wordpress.com [main blog, lots of rambling about my life, cats, theatre group etc], http://ceciliapeartree.wordpress.com [Cecilia Peartree - woman of mystery] and http://sheilaperryscotlandsfuture.wordpress.com [Sheila Perry predicts Scotland's Future - rants about Scottish independence etc, vaguely related to 'The Mountain and the Flood'].

A Reformed Character by Cecilia Peartree

This is the third book set in the Pitkirtly village.  When I reviewed the second, I said it was better than the first.  Now I am saying the third is better than the first.

I suppose these books can be classed as cosy mysteries.  All I can say is I love them to bits.  From the ex special agent Amaryllis, to the now head of the village heritage centre Christopher to Old Jock and Mrs Stephenson and Big Dave - the characters of this village are just a joy to read about.

This book was just unputdownable.  There is a new book out and I look forward to reading it.  The first book is free, so grab it and enjoy meeting this wonderful bunch of characters.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005NW1XJM