Welcome to my tour stop! I've become quite a fan of this author and am super pleased to have
her stopping in today for an interview! Check that out and enter the tour giveaway below...
Deadly Curious
(Series #)
By Cindy Anstey
YA Historical Romantic Suspense
Paperback & ebook, ? Pages
June 23, 2020 by Swoon Reads
Summary
A twisty tale reminiscent of Jane Austen—with a dash of murder—Cindy Anstey’s Deadly Curious is perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Agatha Christie.
Some secrets are better left buried…
1834. Sophia Thompson wants nothing more than to be one of the famed Bow Street Runners, London’s most elite corps of detectives. Never mind that a woman has never before joined their ranks—and certainly never mind that her reclusive family has forbidden her from pursuing such an unladylike goal.
She gets the chance to prove her capabilities when an urgent letter arrives from her frantic cousin Daphne, begging Sophia to come look into the suspicious death of Daphne’s brother.
As Sophia begins to unravel the tangled threads of the case—with the help of a charming young policeman—she soon realizes that the murderer may be even closer to her family than she ever suspected.
Interview
Would you tell us more about the main characters from DEADLY CURIOUS?
Sophia Thompson is an inquisitive young lady of the British upper class who has decided to become the first female officer of the famous Bow Street detectives. Stymied by a family scandal, Sophia is resigned to remain unmarried and at the advanced age of eighteen is eager to step away from the cloying protection of her mother.
Jeremy Fraser, a newly appointed principle officer of Bow Street in London, has been sent to West Ravenwood to investigate a murder. As the fourth son of a titled family, Jeremy must find his own way in the world. Fighting doubts and mockery from his fellow officers, Jeremy approaches his first major case with dogged determination..
What inspired you to write a story about a woman who dreams of being a bow street runner?
I enjoy writing about young ladies of the nineteenth century who do not conform to societal pressure. They would be anomalies, and as such I can give them a few modern sensibilities—such as not always agreeing with one’s parents and imagining a future with a fulfilling career. I began this book looking for someone with a sense of adventure and a wish to make a difference. Writing about Sophia, who wishes to be the first female police detective, answered all my character needs and the story took off from there.
Which character do you most relate to and why?
It would be easy to say that Sophia was me at heart and therefore the most relatable but, in fact, I would choose Aunt Hazel. Dealing with the loss of a family member, trying to keep the family running smoothly despite all of the lumps and bumps along the way—all while maintaining dignity, a sense of self and a sense of humor. Yes, I admire her and would like to have the same qualities.
What part or aspect of this story do you love the most?
I have great fun writing the banter between Sophia and her cousins, and Sophia and Jeremy. As I’m not able to come up with witty spur of the moment comments in real life, it’s very satisfying to instill this quality in my characters. The relationship between the cousins was particularly amusing—part affectionate, part snarky. On the other hand, Jeremy and Sophia get to know one another with their jabs and asides and telling facial expressions.
What challenged you the most about writing this story?
It will not surprise anyone to learn that laying out the mystery was my biggest challenge. I like to write fair play mysteries—in which clues are hidden in the narrative. In theory, if the reader picks up all the clues, they should be able to solve the murder/crime. However, I don’t drop clues into the text with a label—I don’t scream ‘look here’. I place a clue in the middle of a busy scene or in a list of other possibilities, hiding it in plain sight.
Then, there is always the question—have I made it too obvious?
When you reach for a book to read, what genre do you grab and what are some of your favorites in that genre?
I’m rather eclectic in my reading: fantasy, mystery, romance, intrigue, sci-fi. Actually, the don’t-read list is shorter—I don’t read war/soldier books; I’m too empathetic and can be upset for days when a character is suffering. When I reach for a book to get lost in, I usually pick a mystery such as those written by Louise Penny or the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn.
However, my absolute favorite type of book is historical mysteries such as Amelia Peabody, by Elizabeth Peters, Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear and Sebastian St Cyr by CS Harris.
What’s one of your hobbies or something we might not know about you?
I have had many hobbies over the years: gardening, barbershop chorus, and cross-stitch. However, the twists and turns of life have whittled my pass-times down to reading and painting (acrylics). Being an adoring grandmother and dealing with an energetic chocolate Labrador fills in the rest of my day…and a game or two of Candy Crush on my iPad.
What are you working on next?
My next novel will be another YA historical mystery. This time I have changed my time period to that of the Victorian era. My characters have a vested interest in the new and thriving industry of archeology: ancient Egyptian relics. It’s a race to find the thieves who have stolen my main character’s identity and threaten to take lives next. Malice and mayhem, danger and intrigue abound!
About the Author
She has lived on three continents, had a monkey in her yard and a scorpion under her sink, dwelt among castles and canals, enjoyed the jazz of Beale St and attempted to speak French.
Cindy loves history, mystery and… a chocolate Labrador called Chester.
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Print copy of Deadly Curious
Will you be reading this one? What did you like about the interview?
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