Mystery Book Tour Day 7 #MysteryNovember Diamonds & Dust by Carol Hedges

Welcome to Day 7 of this November mystery Book Tour.

Today our guest is Carol Hedges and her book Diamonds & Dust.

Where is Your Home Town?

I live in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, it’s a mid-sized town just north of London. I can get into London by train in 20 minutes, which is handy for shopping, visiting my daughter and new granddaughter, and researching locations for my books.

How Long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was at school, just bits and pieces, but I only started getting published in my 40s. I’ve had 13 books published, mainly teenage and YA. Last year, however, I decided to move on to writing adult historical fiction. Diamonds & Dust is my first adult novel.

What is your favourite sub-genre of mystery?

I love Historical mysteries, especially those set in or written in the nineteenth century. I’m a great fan of Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and all those great novelists of the period and the chance to pay homage to their talent was just too tempting to resist.

Where is Diamonds & Dust Set?

Diamonds & Dust is set in London in 1860 … it was an interesting period, just before all the major rail and road developments, but just far enough away from the 17th century.

Who are the two Women in your book?

The two main protagonists are Josephine King, a young girl who is rescued from a ghastly boarding school by her uncle, and Lilith Marks a prostitute turned business woman. They seem an unlikely ‘team’ but fate draws them together and makes them friends.

What is the mystery they are trying to solve?

They are trying to discover who murdered Josephine’s uncle Herbert King, who was also Lilith’s lover. There is also a mystery surrounding a beautiful diamond, left to Josephine by her uncle. Someone wants to get their hands on it…and they are not going to stop until they do…

What was your favourite part of the research for this book?

My favourite bit of research was visiting London to take pictures of all the places used as locations in the novel. It was amazing how many of the old Victorian locations still exist, almost unchanged. Sometimes you have to look ‘up’ to see the old buildings, but they are still there. I also enjoy researching online. There is a wealth of original material to be found. Wherever possible, I like to go to a direct source .. that’s where the authentic voices are.

Tell us about some of the Victorian characters in your book and their jobs.

Some of the other characters include: a small crossing sweeper called Oi, a rich spoilt society girl called Isabella Thorpe, and a trusty clerk called Trafalgar Moggs. Oh – the the two detectives, Detective Inspector Leo Stride and Detective Sergeant Jack Cully – who appear in each of the succeeding novels ..rather like Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. The books are crammed with minor characters… a bit like a Dickens novel.

What are you working on at the moment?

The second book in the series, Honour & Obey will be published on November 18th. It revolves around the ever topical hunt for a husband. In the 1860s it was even worse than now: no internet, a lot of social rules and regulations, a rigid class system and a surplus of women! The book explores the plight of 3 different women, all on the lookout for love and marriage. Who ends up with a man and who doesn’t? You will have to read the book to find out!

Where can readers find out more about you?

I love social media. I’m a real Twitter addict, so the first place to find me is by following me on Twitter: @carolJhedges I put up pictures, links to my books and blogs, links to my friends’ books and blogs and really,anything that takes my fancy. I love chatting, so drop by and say hello.

You can always visit my blog: http://carolhedges.blogspot.co.uk I blog every week, posting the latest on at 8 am (UK time) on a Saturday. Here you can read my ramblings about life, or check out a ‘Pink Sofa’ post, where a fellow writer is invited to share their books and writing experiences.

I have an Amazon page:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carol-Hedges/e/B0034PUES6/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1/277-0303524-9780940 where you can get details of my other books.

 

 

Diamonds & Dust purchasing links: Amazon US: buff.ly/18SdNOV   UK:buff.ly/18fkua3

 

also available on Nook, Smashwords …as ebook and book.