Welsh Crime Mini-Fest by Jacqueline Harrett

November is an exciting time for readers of crime fiction in Bridgend. It’s Crime Month with Bridgend libraries and several authors from the Crime Cymru collective.

On 2nd November, a wild, wet and windy day, I was delighted to talk to a group of interested readers in Pencoed Library about my debut - The Nesting Place, published by Diamond Books UK).

 We had fun talking about Crime Cymru, why it was set up, writing crime set in Wales and the joys of reading. It was a lively session with lots of interaction and laughter along the way and an absolute delight to be able to support the libraries who do so much for communities. The reading group was warm and welcoming. We even had tea and homemade cake afterwards. 

The library staff set up a display in the entrance which made me smile. (I’m not sure where the handcuffs came from. I was afraid to ask!)

I’m sure the other authors visiting Bridgend libraries in November will find an equally
interested audience and enjoy true Welsh hospitality.

Next April is the main Crime Cymru festival in Aberystwyth for those readers who want to find out more about Welsh crime writing and listen to authors talking about their writing.  Aberystwyth is a beautiful town by the sea. It would be a crime to miss it.

https://crime.cymru

Jacqueline Harrett was born in Northern Ireland, Jacqui has settled in Cardiff with her husband, a cat with OCD and a bad-tempered tortoise called Speedy. Her grown up children live close by and attempt to keep her in check – with varying degrees of success. A former teacher with a passion for oral storytelling, she has also written books for teachers and published collections of short fiction in anthologies and online. Her first book is a classic police procedural, The Nesting Place, introducing South Wales detective, D.I. Mandy Wilde. Click on the book jacket to read a review.

Jacqueline’s most recent book is
The Whispering Trees
Published by Diamond Books. 4 November 2022.

The unidentified body of a young man is found in Nant Fawr woods, Cardiff, give  DI Mandy Wilde and her team a big problem. There’s only one clue – his expensive handmade shoes.

But where is he from? Why has no one come forward to identify him?

Then… a local boy disappears; a rash of burglaries breaks out
and the pressure is on.

Yet again, DI Wilde is fighting on all fronts. Not just the criminals and her boss - but even her fly-by-night twin sister. She needs every ounce of her famous off-beat thinking to create order from the chaos.

 https://harrett.co.uk