Joffe’s book of the week is a brand-new murder mystery from the always popular Norman Russell — DEATH AT THE ALTAR is out now for just £0.99 /d $0.99*. (offer available for a limited time) Horrified by the arrival of their first female vicar, the residents of Oldminster are determined to revolt. But when she is discovered dead only weeks later, Detectives French and Edwards must discover if the residents are really capable of cold-blooded murder.

      
Detective Rob Miller Books 4-6 by Biba Pearce    £0.99p/$0.99c

Meet Detective Rob Miller in these  gripping, action-packed crime thrillers set in London. Just right for fans of Helen H. Durrant, James Oswald, Joy Ellis, Angela Marsons, L.J. Ross, Alex Smith and J.M. Dalgliesh.

Detectives Anderson & Costello Books 4-6    £0.99p / $0.99c

Detectives Anderson and Costello have their work cut out for them in the seedy grey backstreets of Glasgow.   ‘Bleak, black and brilliant.’ The Guardian

The Owen Family Sagas Books 1-2 Grace Thompson  £0.99p/$0.99c

Set in a beautiful corner of the south Wales coast, sisters Cecily and Ada run their family’s grocery shop.  As secrets are revealed and relationships are tested, will the Owen sisters survive what is coming their way?

I love Simon Brett’s novels, and here he is, in a GRIPPING COZY MURDER MYSTERY. Mrs Pargeter’s Point of Honour.   £0.99/$0.99c

It is early autumn and Mrs Pargeter has some unfinished business to resolve, regarding some priceless paintings.  Mrs P must use her usual tricks to recover the paintings before the police catch up with her. Oh, do read it. Warm and page turning. 

Rachel Abbott is the bestselling author of the DCI Tom Douglas thrillers, which have sold over 4 million copies in the English language and have been translated into more than 20 languages.  She is also the author of the Stephanie King series, published by Wildfire Books. The first in this series, And So It Begins, was a Sunday Times top thriller of 2019.  join Rachel’s reading group, Rachel Abbott’s Partners in Crime, and get a FREE short story.

Joffe Books has just had a tete a tete with Rachel Abbott which they have shared with Frost Magazine.

Your debut novel, the introduction to DCI Tom Douglas, is set in London. When did you decide to base subsequent books in the series in Manchester?   Only the Innocent was planned as a one-off thriller – never part of a series – but the readers seemed to love Tom, so he became a permanent fixture. He was always a Manchester man, but I felt the setting for Only the Innocent had to be London, so I decided he had to move there for family reasons. By the time the novel was published, my second novel – The Back Road – was half written and set in Cheshire, but I managed to sneak Tom in by giving him a sabbatical! That allowed me to take Tom back home to Manchester for the rest of the series. As it’s a city that I know well and I have family there who are more than willing to do any research to fill in the gaps, it seemed the best solution.

What do readers like most about your books?  That’s a difficult question for me to answer! I think/hope that they find the situations credible, and the characters are people they can relate to. I like to believe that my readers will wonder: ‘What would I do if this happened to me?’ and for that, the dilemmas need to feel realistic. I never worry too much about readers guessing who the bad guy is. I think my stories are far more about the why than the who.

Which writers would you say influence and inspire you the most?  Too many to mention, but I would have to say that some of Harlan Coben’s early books really struck me as being both credible and complex. I loved the idea of a man believing his wife to be dead, and then eight years later he receives an email with a message that could only be from her. It’s the whole sense of what is happening here? that intrigues me, and he is the master.

You share cooking recipes with your readers – where did the idea come from?When I was developing the idea of Tom Douglas, I wanted him to have a life outside the police – to be a real person. In Only the Innocent, he is cooking for himself, so I mentioned (briefly) a pasta dish which we eat regularly, and which takes only the time it takes to cook the pasta (and it’s delicious). So I decided Tom could make that after work one evening, when he’s hungry and doesn’t have a lot of time. The man has to eat! Readers asked how to make it, so I put it in a newsletter. By then I was already well into writing the second book, much of which is based around a dinner party, and for that, of course, there had to be a menu! I chose food I love to cook and eat, and added those recipes to my website. And Tom had the opportunity to cook up a curry or two in that book as well. That’s how the idea began, and now I have a Hungry Detective section on my website (under Bonus Content). And yes – I love to cook, principally because I love to eat!

Who would be your ideal choice to play Tom Douglas in a TV/film adaptation and why?  Jack Davenport. No question about it, for me at least. It’s been him for years now, although I know everyone has a different view. Jack Davenport is the right height, hair colour and he’s the right age. He’s a good-looking guy who I believe can play it straight, but who also has the ability to be both stroppy (as Tom is occasionally) and thoughtful. I think he would be perfect.

What has been your biggest career highlight so far?  There have been so many, but other than the first time I reached the top position in the Amazon chart – a huge moment – I guess a highlight must be when, back in 2015, I was listed in the Amazon top sellers on Kindle over the previous five years. It wasn’t the fact that I was the top of the independent bestseller list that thrilled me the most. It was the fact that, despite having only written four books by then, I was the fourteenth bestselling author across all authors – including all those traditionally published – and the list put me ahead of authors such as Jeffrey Archer and JoJo Moyes. I was thrilled by the thought that readers loved my books so much. Readers are the reason I write, and every great review is just another highlight.

How can our readers reach you?  The best way to keep in touch is via my mailing list. I keep readers informed about upcoming releases and special offers and also recommend other authors’ books (and the occasional recipe!). Readers can sign up here: www.rachel-abbott.com/contact-w

I can be found on:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/RachelAbbott1WriterInstagram: www.instagram.com/rachelabbottwriter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelAbbott   And I have a Facebook Group – Rachel Abbott’s Partners in Crime:  www.facebook.com/groups/PartnersInCrimeRA

Readers can find my latest novel – No More Lies – £3.49 | $4.81 in bookshops, or on Amazon here

A roll of drums, out with the flags… Frost Magazine is so very pleased to tell you all that that the entrepreneurial and author loving Joffe Books has won PBShop Trade Publisher of the Year at the annual Independent Publishers Guild Awards. Such good news, so well deserved and huge congratulations. Joffe Books thanks all their talented authors, freelancers, everyone. And Frost Magazine thanks Joffe. 

For more information: Joffe Books

UK, London: Thursday 23rd March 2023 – Conic is thrilled to announce the release of PAMFIR in UK and Irish cinemas from 5th May. The striking Ukrainian directorial debut of  Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk celebrated its World Premiere in the Festival du Cannes 2022 Quinzaine (Directors’ Fortnight) strand and went on to win Best Feature Film Audience Award at Torino Film Festival 2022, many prizes at the Ukrainian Film Critics’ Awards, including Best Director and Best Feature Film, and Best Cinematography at Raindance Film Festival 2022.

When reformed ex-smuggler Pamfir returns to home to his village on the Ukrainian border after working abroad for several years, he’s determined to earn an honest living and set a good example for his beloved teenage son Nazar. But in a town where corruption runs deep and crime and religion are inextricably linked, his plan is quickly thwarted when Nazar sets fire to the local church in a misguided effort to keep him at home. To pay for the damage, Pamfir must take on one last job for a crime syndicate operating a risky smuggling venture in a place where all the rules have changed.

Part drama, part thriller, part noir-inflected fairytale, Pamfir is violent, raw and bloody, but also a tender portrait of a family man trying to raise his son well despite his own shady past. Shot in long takes and set amid forests swirling with mist in the run up to the traditional ‘Malanka’ carnival — a wild pagan festival featuring straw costumes, wooden masks and centuries-old rites and traditions — this is a propulsive, genre-defying debut exploring the thin line between good and evil and fate vs free will in our complex modern world.

Atmospheric, scary fairytale-ish at times, completely edge of the seat cinema.  Watch, smile, hope, gasp, groan, and love it.

PAMFIR is released by Conic in UK/Irish cinemas from 5th May

Screenings will be listed onhttps://www.conic.film/films/pamfir

Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLy2z6fZaWk

Ukraine, France, Poland, Germany, Chile 2022
Dir: Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk

Ukrainian / 106 mins

With a chorus of 140, (with 70 on stage at any one time), the sheer quality of the voices, not to mention wig and costume makers, stagehands, technicians, and of course, a full orchestra, the cost and value of the production is there for all to see.

No wonder, that a trip to the opera, is for many, something of a rare treat.

Tickets for the last opera that I saw in London cost £90.00, and we were almost in the ‘Gods,’ but as I said, a rare treat, and it is the perfect opportunity to bring out the opera glasses.

However, on this occasion, over 3 and a half hours of sumptuous, Wagner’s Lohengrin, cost £19.00, because I was able to take advantage of the live screening, of something which could very well go down as a definitive production of this particular opera, such was the singing, acting and staging.

A couple in their early 70s, seated in front of me, held hands throughout the performance and I rather hoped that for them, it was date night.

This live streamed production not only transported us to another time and place, through the magic of opera, but also to the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and as we took our seats, we could witness the audience on another continent taking theirs, thus becoming a part of that audience.

However, there was one notable difference, we had the best seats in the house. We were able to see every tick, every slight action, a close up on the acting of which I had previously been unaware. Nor were there any distractions from the accomplished orchestra, we were on that very stage, amidst the action.

Being in a cinema, the seats were almost armchair like, with a handy drinks holder and solid arm rests. At 6ft 2ins, adequate leg room is a must, if I am expected to sit for over 3 hours, and again no complaints from me, or my legs.

These live streaming events are shown in local cinemas across the country so no long trips to London or New York, no parking fees, or long train journeys at the end of the evening.

In the intervals, when those in New York adjourned to the restaurant, or bar for refreshments, we were treated to a look behind the scenes. Some of this of course were the staged interviews with key members of the cast, but for me, the thrill was watching the scenery being dismantled and built at pace, and watching the chorus, all 70 of them, exiting the stage in a brisk but orderly fashion.

In one exuberant moment, a woman, a member of the chorus, in full costume, wig and make up, spotted the camera, and in an instant waved to 35,000 people, in more than 70 countries across the world.

Don’t worry if you have missed this, because there are plenty more in the Met’s season, and I recommend that you seek out your nearest cinema that offers live streaming, and book those tickets. Live opera doesn’t need to be a rare treat anymore.

All are live, and in High Definition

Verdi’s Falstaff – 1^St April 2023

Strauss’s Der Rosenkavallier 15^th April 2023

Terence Blanchard’s Champion 29^th April 2023

All week long, there were workmen here and workmen there – workmen everywhere…  up on the roof, in the cellar… heavens, the CCA  was all go.  It doesn’t quite scan but you get the picture.

Liam the lovely electrician from JLA popped in to discuss the electrical work scheduled for the toilets, convector heaters, window extractors and water heaters with work to commence during the week. Great excitement at the CCA hub.

      
Cultural Creatives were at the CCA as usual with the morning session all about weaving, then after lunch all change and there appeared eventually an abundance of bunny rabbits. Aren’t this group amazing and talented? What’s more,  they make it look so easy.

At the team meeting with ACT  progress  was was discussed and the decorating schedule decided.  Lo and behold, decorating actually began during the week, in the Brady Square room.

Arthur the decorator

When all the decorating is finished, the memorabilia, donated by Alyson Chapman of Bells, will be able to be hung, (also the team’s surprise to their beloved community to which Frost Magazine is privy, but which is not to be revealed or the consequences will be dire: arghhh). Marion explained that the colour scheme the team have opted for is magnolia with the feature wall a fabulous emerald green.  Arthur, the decorator is doing a marvellous job, and is kept topped up with coffee, milk and two sugars

Shake your Boogey was cancelled sadly, wnen the snow came back in force.
Tickets for the Redcoat show continue to fly out, only four left. People coming and going, workmen buzzing around, singing and dancing groups, and always so much laughter and let’s not  forget lots of tea and coffee.

Forever Young Bingo Ladies came, of course, complete with home baked cakes , created by Linda and St Patricks day on Friday corresponded with the  weekly coffee morning and the drawing of the winning tickets for the ten food hampers. The Luck of the Irish for the winners. A great many tickets were sold, and Marion is ‘Sure that our contact Kam from the Polish centre will be overwhelmed when we hand over the cheque on MONDAY next week for the Ukrainian appeal. We need to count up but what we do know is that it went extremely well.’

Coffee morning as usual was a big hit, Red Shoes Bob did the prize bingo, making everyone laugh at his antics and all raffles prizes claimed.

Ah, one more thing: Marion was talking to Margaret Graham, of Frost Magazine, about ideas for ‘what would come’ after the CCA centre was up and running. Together they wondered if it would be a good idea to gather up people’s Brady Square memories and create a Brady Square Memoir Collection to be kept at the Centre. A collection to be added to by others coming up…

As Margaret considers Brady Square is part of her heritage she wondered if it would be a good idea to come up from Thirsk to the centre, to work with those interested. She could suggest ways to access these memories: perhaps some told to us by parents, relatives, friends, others which have been experienced by us:  from birth, school, and on, and on… Together they could all beaver away (well, perhaps toddle along) putting them together. Each one personal, each one centred on Brady Square. ‘Going back through time  is often fun, often thought provoking,’ said Margaret. ‘Do talk to Marion and we can work something out.’

So, Mother’s Day is here again. Frost Magazine and the Columbia Community Centre take huge pleasure in  wishing all us lovely mams a happy day!

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

As their book of the week Joffe is offering a brand-new utterly addictive cozy murder mystery — MARRIAGE IS MURDER by bestselling author Jean G. Goodhind which is out now for just £0.99 | $0.99.  Meet Honey Driver. Hotel owner. Widowed mum. Amateur sleuth. An elderly woman has been found dead — sitting in the front pew of a church, dressed in a lavish wedding gown.
Amateur sleuth Honey Driver is about to tackle one of her strangest cases yet . . .

‘An absolute treat!’ Bestselling author Jill Mansell
‘Fast moving with a likeable heroine and an impeccably rendered Bath background . . .’ Kirkus Reviews
*This special launch price is available for a limited time only. Please check this price offer is live and available in your location before purchasing.

Every Deadly Sin  by D.M. Greenwood.   £0.99/$0.99

AN UTTERLY GRIPPING COZY CRIME MYSTERY.  I know, I know, but it IS my favourite sort of crime) Surrounded by green hills and lush valleys, St Sylvan’s is a haven of spiritual renewal. Until a shocking act of violence shatters this peaceful retreat. There’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing at St Sylvan’s and it’s up to amateur sleuth Theodora Braithwaite to catch the culprit.

The Master WILLIAM FALCONER Medieval Mysteries Books 1-9 by Ian Morson.£0.99 | $0.99

A BRILLIANT MEDIEVAL MYSTERY SERIES FEATURING 13TH CENTURY OXFORD SLEUTH MASTER WILLIAM FALCONER.  Premiering as a box set. Get NINE absolutely gripping medieval mysteries in one great-value box set. If you like Cadfael, give these a try.

Who was Sylvia? by Judy Gardiner   £0.99/$0.99

HEART-WRENCHING HISTORICAL SAGA.   Travel to war-time London in Judy Gardiner’s heart-wrenching historical saga that tells the story of a young woman, haunted by the mystery of her sister’s disappearance. A page turner.

THIS WEEK SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT –  LET’S MEET FEATURE BESTSELLING WRITING DUO M S MORRIS in Joffe’s Indie Author Spotlight

M S Morris is the pseudonym for the writing partnership of Margarita and Steve Morris. They both studied at Oxford University, where they first met in 1990. Together they write psychological thrillers and crime novels. They are married and live in Oxfordshire. Margarita studied Modern Languages at Jesus College, Oxford. She then worked in IT before joining her husband in their internet business. She writes historical fiction at margaritamorris.com.  Steve studied Physics at University College, Oxford. He worked in the nuclear industry before becoming a dot com entrepreneur. He writes sci-fi and thrillers at stevemorrisbooks.com

Aspire to Die by M.S. Morris OUT NOW — JUST £0.99 | $0.99

A GRIPPING OXFORD-BASED MURDER MYSTERY.   When a student is found dead in her room in Oxford’s most prestigious college, Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is called to investigate. No one can be above suspicion within the closed and claustrophobic confines of an Oxford college, where a ruthless killer waits to strike again.

Q  &A WITH M S MORRIS:   How do you find writing as a couple? What poses the most challenges?  We love writing as a couple. We both have books that we’ve written individually, as Margarita Morris and Steve Morris, so we know how hard it can be to write a book on your own. That’s why we appreciate the support that comes from a collaboration. The first step in our joint process is the planning stage. When you’re writing a book together, you really need to have a plan! We have daily meetings where we sit down and plan the whole book from start to finish, writing up a scene-by-scene outline as we go. This usually takes about four weeks. All the suspects, clues, red herrings, twists and reveals are mapped out, as well as the personal stories of the main characters. Then Margarita spends 6–8 weeks writing the first draft, after which Steve takes over and writes the second draft, fleshing things out. It helps that Margarita is good at beginnings and Steve is strong on endings! Once the book is finished, we both go through it at least once more, polishing the prose and making it as good as it can be. As indie authors, of course, there are lots of other jobs besides the writing. Steve designs the book covers and runs ads. Margarita manages the website, the mailing list, proofs the audiobooks and manages the publishing process. We’re both active on our author Facebook page. We rarely disagree on plot points or characters, and any differences of opinion are soon sorted out by talking the matter through, usually at the dinner table!

What do readers like most about your books?   Well, from what they tell us, they seem to really like the characters and the settings. Our Bridget Hart series is set in Oxford, and as alumni of Oxford University ourselves we’ve really tried to make the most of the university setting, featuring colleges, faculties and the Bodleian library. But as Bridget muses in Killing By Numbers, Oxford isn’t all ‘punting and poetry’. The traffic is a nightmare, there are hordes of tourists, and homelessness is a real issue. The North Yorkshire coastal setting for our Tom Raven series is very different, but Scarborough is very historic and scenic. When it comes to characters, we try to create flawed but relatable individuals. Both Bridget Hart and Tom Raven are utterly dedicated to their jobs, but this comes at a price for their personal lives and relationships. A strong theme that runs through our books is family. Dysfunctional or otherwise, it’s always hugely important.

Which writers would you say influence and inspire you the most?   We both read widely, and not just crime fiction. Different writers influence and inspire us in different ways. When it comes to crime fiction, we both enjoy Anthony Horowitz for the brilliance of his plotting and the quality of his writing. We love Belinda Bauer for her dark humour. Margarita enjoys Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves, whilst Steve likes Harlan Coben and J.D. Kirk. Margarita is a great fan of Charles Dickens for his characters and his intricate plotting. Amongst contemporary authors her favourites are Sarah Waters, Kate Atkinson and Robert Harris. Steve reads quite a lot of fantasy, particular favourites being George R.R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie, but also thrillers, sci-fi and horror. Everything you read influences you in some way, even if you’re not consciously aware of it.

Your second series featuring DCI Tom Raven, is set in Yorkshire. Do you have a particular connection to the region?  Yes, Margarita is from Harrogate in North Yorkshire and we’ve enjoyed many family holidays in Scarborough when the children were growing up. We chose Scarborough as the base for our North Yorkshire detective because the town has so much character and charm. Layers of history are constantly present, from the castle on the headland to the Victorian hotels and spa and even the twentieth-century amusement arcades.   The books also venture beyond Scarborough into the stunning North York Moors and the medieval city of York. We’re planning to head up the coast to Whitby for one of our future books.

Who would be your ideal choice to play Bridget Hart in a TV/Film adaptation and why?   Ooh, tricky question. Bridget is approaching forty, short and slightly overweight. She drives a red Mini convertible and is partial to pasta, pinot noir and chocolate cake. We can’t think of anyone off the top of our heads, but if anyone has any ideas, let us know. Or better still, tell Netflix!

What has been your biggest career highlight so far?  It must be stumbling into Blackwell’s bookshop in Oxford, where we bought all our books as students, and finding our own books filling up almost a full shelf. Fame, at last.

Readers can find M.S. Morris at their website http://www.msmorrisbooks.com/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/msmorrisbook

For more information: Joffebooks.com

On Monday, with snow forecast, the CCA team knew that external work could well slip slide to a halt but as the elements are almost the only thing outside the CCA team’s control  they accepted the fact graciously. Besides there was such good news crowding in from every direction:

Here we go: Aimee Green and her dancers were at the Northumbland Championships last weekend and heavens, they danced out of their skins, as the results showed… The group had winners, a runner up, three making some fantastic finals.

In Aimee’s words ‘Katy Tate, who walked away with first prize in her category was absolutely stunning, she danced like she had never danced before.’ Frost Magazine is equally thrilled for them all, such wonderful news during a cold week. Well, at any time.

Back at the powerhouse, the team was fuelled with coffee by Red Shoes Bob as they got their heads together  organising all sorts of activities, including Day Tours, with a consensus opting for Whitby (Fish and Chips). Margaret has been to Whitby, and had fish and chips – followed by an ice cream sitting on a bench overlooking the harbour like an old duck, before chasing a three year old around the beach.  Though you probably won’t have a 3 year old to chase which could be all to the good. 

It was then arranged that Tina would nip in on Friday to establish what people wanted to learn and create whilst attending the Flower Arranging group.  But that’s not all, of course; the list is long. Next on the list was that the the team is  actively seeking someone who can deliver Seated Exercise Classes.’

‘It seems an  associate, Julie, knows a man who knows a man so we might just be lucky,’ said Marion. 

Cultural Creatives were at work as usual, making lavender bags and heart shaped pin cushions. It’s such a happy group and Margaret hears they are like one big family. Joy has even ordered a buffet for the group courtesy of Di’s Diner.

Ah, the snow at last reached good old Brady Square, though gritters  kept the approaches to the CCA safe for visitors, and… Bravo, Bravo. Carl the roofer braved the weather. Not such good news of Richard, though, the CCA’s lovely surveyor, who has a broken foot – ouchy! ‘Are his Bear Grills exploits to blame?’ pondered Marion. Whatever, the team and Frost Magazine sympathise and wish him a speedy recovery. 

The Basic Sign Language course on Wednesday included Marion, Glenda, Deborah and Julie the trainer of course. It was  fascinating and Marion is cockahoop with her certificate, as well as the BSL App on her phone, through which she can continue her training. Congratulations to you all. 

An email was received from David Laidler letting the CCA  know that Lesley Tye from EPNE training would be hosting a drop-in session on Friday, corresponding with the coffee morning, to see if there is any interest in free training on Cost of Living budgeting along with many other subjects of interest.

Of course the CCA was keen to celebrate International Women’s Day, and to raise awareness for women’s equality. A glass or two once home was the name of the game. 

The tickets for the Redcoat Bitesize show went on sale during the week and sales are good. Added to that, news came that  the refurbishment might be finished by May  as the internal decorating is due to start very soon. The team have even been privy to the colour charts. Such good news.

But that’s the future, in the present 130 hats have been sent off to the Seafarers Mission, collected up by Andy Hayes for which the team were enormously grateful. AND Belle Cummings, who  never lets the CCA down delivered a very large bag of baby wool to pass onto Biddick Academy who are looking for wool to use to knit bonding squares and teeny hats for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit project.

Finally, the turnout for the Friday coffee morning did not disappoint. Great food, good company, a great prize bingo and dates arranged with Tina the florist for two sessions March and April.

So, yet another busy and productive week, to be followed by a fun packed weekend with dancers and the wonderful Redeemed Christian Church of Christ. ‘Happy days in good old Brady Square,’says Marion, and Frost Magazine has to agree, and our readers too, who look forward to an update every week.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

Take your mind back to 2008 (yes, it was fifteen years ago!). Now imagine you’re an entrepreneur leaving a tech conference in Paris (it just happens to be Paris, but it could be anywhere). You can’t hail a taxi. Then the idea hits you – so simple, it’s amazing that it has never been thought of before… tap a button on your phone and a cab arrives.

This is that story ten years later, from three points of view: Mia, one of the drivers in Manchester; Sean, recruited as one of the new programmers for the App; and Tyler, the man who had the original vision in Paris.

Joseph Charlton’s play has been updated since it premièred at London’s VAULT Festival a few years ago. It’s a fast-flowing stream through the minds and hearts of the central characters, showing that no matter where you are in the pyramid of a multi-billion pound company, life will throw you constant curve balls and everyone celebrates and suffers equally.

The cast of three play numerous characters throughout the piece and it feels comfortable to watch them – strong and focused performances from Kiran Sonia Sawar (primarily Mia), Sean Dealaney (Sean) and Shubham Saraf (Tyler).

Katie-Ann McDonough’s direction keeps the action at a constant pace as the characters encircle each other, almost constantly walking and talking in and around Hazel Low’s clever, functional set.

Brilliant Jerks, as a play, I think suffers slightly from the constant monologues. The story unfolds in the past tense. We are told about, but seldom shown, scenes of emotion. When such scenes do happen, they are spellbindingly amazing – and I craved more of them. So overall, it feels like the play is performing a little near the 8 level and I want to turn it up to 10…

Photography Nick Rutter

Writer Joseph Charlton

Producer RJG Productions

Director Katie-Ann McDonough

Designer Hazel Low

Sound Designer Annie May Fletcher

Lighting Designer Rachel Sampley

Running Time 90 minutes (no interval)

Dates until Saturday 25th March 2023

Monday to Saturday at 8pm, Tuesday & Saturday Matinees at 3.30pm

Venue Southwark Playhouse, 77-84 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Tickets £24 (£19 concessions)

via www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

or phone on 020 7407 0234

Age Guidance 14+

Social Media @RJGProductions

Joffe Books’ book of the week is bestselling author Janice Frost’s brand-new gripping and twisty crime mystery featuring feisty female detectives Warwick and Bell — MURDER AGAINST THE ODDS is out for the special launch price of just £0.99 | $0.99*.    Special Constable Jane Bell finds a wailing new-born baby in a local park the same night Detective Steph Warwick attends the murder of a coach driver. Jane doesn’t want to lock horns with Warwick again, but when the murder is linked to the baby, Jane has no choice but to alert the sharp-tongued detective inspector.
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER MURDER AGAINST THE ODDS BY JANICE FROST FOR JUST £0.99 | $0.99.

THE DEVONSHIRE SAGAS BY TANIA CROSSE 1 – 5  £0.99 | $0.99
 

What a good offer: FANTASTIC-VALUE BOX SET OF FIVE HISTORICAL SAGAS.
‘Well-drawn characters, real authenticity.’ Historical Novels Review
‘Feels like living history.’ Dorset Echo
‘Strong themes of romance and feminist equality.’ Booklist

MURDER AT GOLDEN COVE FOREST BY CATHY PICKENS   £0.99 | $0.99

A classic cozy murder mystery set in South Carolina.  A woman enters amateur sleuth Avery’s office claiming her husband is accusing her of poisoning him. From beyond the grave. Soon she isn’t the only one and Avery’s cozy hometown is about to reveal it’s darker side . . .

DEADLY WAVES BY PAULINE ROWSON £0.99 | $0.99

A new gripping crime mystery series from a bestselling author.  Meet Art Marvik.He’s earned the scars on his face as a commando in the Marines, but now he’s struggling to adjust to civilian life. It’s a page turner…

What’s the biggest distraction in your writing day? 
Oh, quite a mixture of things really. In the summer, definitely the garden. I’m a very keen gardener. It’s very relaxing and I get a lot of the best ideas for my books while I’m weeding or planting or whatever. I also try to go for a walk around our village every day unless it’s raining, but I’m thinking about my stories while I’m walking.

What author, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with?
Audrey Howard without a doubt. I read every one of her books and have them stored safely in the attic so that I can read them all again one day. She was an incredibly talented author and told the most wonderful stories. I believe it was studying her style and techniques that allowed me to hone my own writing skills and become a published author myself.

Who would you want to play the main character in a film/TV adaptation of one of your books — and why?
That’s a difficult one. The possibility is so remote that I’ve never really thought about it. But either Jenna Coleman or Lily James would play one of my spirited heroines superbly. They’re both such brilliant actresses and would put over the vulnerable side of my characters perfectly, too.

What is the most interesting/unique thing you’ve had to research for a book?
I’m passionate about the research for my historical novels. I have stacks of files of research notes I’ve made over the years, so it’s impossible to pick out one particular item. Little is known about the Cherrybrook Gunpowder Mills on Dartmoor, so I had to glean information from wherever I could for The Gunpowder Girl, and visiting the remote site on my beloved Dartmoor was amazing. But maybe the traditional quarryman’s funeral in The Quarry Girl was one of the most moving things I have ever discovered and I just had to include it in the book.

What are you currently reading and watching?
I’ve just finished reading Cold Blows the Wind by Catherine Meyrick. Set in Tasmania in 1870/80s, it tells of the harsh life the descendants of the convicts faced there and is based on the author’s own ancestry, which makes it all the more poignant. It’s a gritty, intensely moving read. Television wise, I watch a variety of genres from documentaries on railway buildings and walking old railway lines to Call the Midwife, Vera, The Catch and Maternal. However, what’s really caught my attention recently is Atlantic Crossing, which is about the Norwegian royal family during the Nazi occupation of Norway in World War Two. It’s based loosely on truth and I’m sure makes use of a lot of artistic licence, but it makes for compelling viewing and it’s an aspect of the conflict that wouldn’t normally spring to mind.

The team at Joffe Books are very sad to announce the death of their author, Gretta Mulrooney.  She will be missed by her many readers as well as by everyone lucky enough to work with her at Joffe Books. She was a brilliant writer who dazzled both in psychological insight and at the level of the sentence.

She was a wonderful person who brought laughter and warmth wherever she went. Gretta was a remarkable person; she shaped so many lives for the good and she will be much missed.  To use her own words, spoken by Tyrone Swift, “May you live as long as you want to, and want to as long as you live . . .”

Read her obituary here: https://joffebooks.com/…/remembering-gretta-mulrooney…

For more information: Joffe Books