But now? The books are ending at cliff-hangers just to make you read the next book. Some of the mysteries could have been wrapped up without the need for another book. The sense of place is as keen as ever and the more I read, plus the more I visit the area in real life, I can easily picture the scene. It's nice to see Bamburgh and Bamburgh castle take centre stage after a previous series cameo as the castle in particular is such an iconic part of the county that it deserves its own nod. Characters are carefully and convincingly drawn and the pacing of the story is just right. Because of the two different threads the investigations are perhaps not as in depth or drawn out as they may have been in the past, but it works for this book and I think the balance is just about right. Concomitant with the hunt for Gemma’s killer (who is suspected to have left behind a string of victims over years), is the investigation into the suspicious death of a wealthy and popular old woman who owns a great deal of property and has left it to one of her loyal workers. Again, all good. Finally, Francis, what makes you smile? Every day when I wake up and being with my family – canine and human. Walking the dogs along the beach in foul weather with a driving wind in my face and tasting the salt in the air and the dogs leaping through skuds of sea foam. Life is good.

Her eleventh novel, The Infirmary, is a prequel story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris and Alun Armstrong. Maybe revealing he’s the bad guy after half the book would have kept me interested and not continually rolling my eyes at the things that kept happening. It was revealed way too soon.

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Meanwhile, after a recent revelation about her sister, DC Melanie Yates’ quest to avenge her death is becoming an obsession―much to the concern of those around her. With a new DCS to contend with and hundreds of cold case files to sift through, the chances of uncovering a dormant killer seem unlikely. But as Melanie delves deeper into the secrets of the past to uncover the truth, she soon realises it lies much closer to home…

When a cantankerous old woman dies at her home in the sleepy, picturesque village of Bamburgh, DCI Ryan doesn’t think much of it—except, that is, for the small matter of it having been his wife who happened to find her body. Then another body turns up amongst the sand dunes at the base of the mighty castle fortress, and he decides it can’t be a coincidence… In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of libraries.

Hobbies

Sounds like a great route! Do you have one favourite shop or business you think everyone should know about? Cubby’s the newsagents in Seahouses. I go there every morning to collect the papers. Come rain or shine the people there are always happy to chat and smiley. My wife Claire and I like to eat at The White Swan at Warenford. It is very down to earth with good food and friendly people. The bar is always full of locals and visitors rubbing shoulders.

We don’t see much of Anna in this book, but just how many bodies will this lady find? Or be in the middle of a mystery. Can we not have her in the book without being part of the case?! Apart from the editing, which her husband proudly did, she did not have to pay anything, and was pleasantly surprised when the novel took off. She has been publishing as an Indie ever since. The DCI Ryan Mysteries are set in Northumberland, which is a region of England that the author is particularly familiar with, given that she grew up there. These are fast-paced mystery and murder novels peppered with a bit of romance and humor. Often the spirit of a location comes alive with the biographical detail, we’ve collated our favourite books of a biographical nature about Northumberland. 1. To the Island of Tides: A Journey to Lindisfarne – Alistair Moffat

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In this interview, Francis tells us about his childhood at Bamburgh Castle, his North East heroes, and more… Francis, please can you tell us a bit about you and your connection with the North East? I’m Francis Watson-Armstrong. My ancestor is Sir William George Watson Armstrong, a visionary inventor, engineer and scientist who was known as the ‘Magician of the North’. He bought Bamburgh Castle in 1894 aged 84 and spent the remaining years of his live restoring the Castle into one of Britain’s finest coastal fortresses. Now it’s my job to look after his legacy and keep it in safe hands so it can be passed on to future generations and enjoyed by people the world over. Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland and Edinburgh. She enjoys reading all manner of books, painting, travelling and spending time with family and friends. Then another body turns up amongst the sand dunes at the base of the mighty castle fortress, and he decides it can’t be a coincidence…