Veronica Heley and Free Books!

Is a wealthy schoolgirl being shielded from life by her family because she is unwell, or is there some deeper reason for their actions?

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of my new romantic suspense audiobook, A Special Kind of Double, is:

jarning67@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with novelist Veronica Heley, author of the cozy crime novel, False Conclusion (Severn House, 2020).

Veronica Heley celebrated the publication of her 84th book in the spring of 2020, having been in the business for over 40 years. She is currently writing two gentle crime series set in different areas of London and two or three short stories a year for the Methodist Recorder. 

She has also written children’s and resource books, a biography, and some historical fiction, along with many articles and reviews. 

Veronica is involved with her local church and community affairs, likes to break for coffee with friends, and does the garden when she has time.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

If I have half an hour to spare in the evenings, I watch a re-run of Judge Judy.

She's such a character! 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of False Conclusion.

Bea Abbot’s plans for the summer holidays are thrown into chaos when Bernice, her fourteen-year old ward, reports that a school friend is in trouble. Evelina Trescott’s uncle has died in a mysterious accident at their country house and her aunt, Mrs Trescott, is keen to hide Evelina away from the police. 

Evelina arrives on Bea’s door step catatonic, heavily drugged on prescribed medication and unable to remember finding her uncle’s body. Is she really a hapless victim being sheltered from harm by her family, or is she a wily criminal? 

The more Bea learns about the Trescott family, the more she realizes something is horribly wrong with Evelina, and soon finds herself drawn into a dark web of greed, abuse and murder.

What is it about Bea that will make your readers care about her?

Bea cares about other people.

How much prep work do you typically do before you start writing a novel?

I always research any medical problems that may occur in the story, and check that I know what I’m doing if I meddle with electricity, or fireworks, or legal problems.

Probably not a bad rule of thumb in real life either!

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson, a writer new to me. It raises a problem that intelligent girls have to face . . . if you get the education you crave, what does that do to your relationships in the family?

What are you working on now?

Another Bea Abbot book. This one is to be called False Face, to be delivered early next year.

You're so wonderfully prolific. Where else can readers find you online?

My website is www.veronicaheley.com. I send out a newsletter twice a month and include one of the short stories I write about some retired professionals. These were originally written for the Methodist Recorder.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, if you would like to read a sample from the book, go HERE and click on Look Inside.

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Some readers have asked if I can bring back characters from earlier books in the series. Is this a good idea?

Thanks, Veronica, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Veronica has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Veronica Heley and Free Books!

Ellie investigates when her retired minister husband receives not one but five bequests from people, some of whom he didn’t know at all . . . which leads her into danger.

Before we talk with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of DiAnn Mills' romantic suspense novel, Fatal Strike, is:

rochelle017@...

Congratulations! I'll email you for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's talk with novelist Veronica Heley, author of the gentle crime novel, Murder for Good (Severn House Publishers, August 2019 UK, October USA).

Veronica Heley celebrated the publication of her 83rd book in August, having been in the business for over 40 years. She is currently writing two gentle crime series set in different areas of London and some short stories for the Methodist Recorder. She has also written children’s and resource books, a biography, and some historical fiction, along with many articles and reviews.

Veronica is involved with her local church and community affairs, likes to break for coffee with friends, and does the garden when she has time.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

My favourite holiday place is the beautiful city of Bruges in Belgium, where I can spend time with friends, buy well-made clothes, and stock up on the best chocolate in the world.

That looks like such a charming city.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Murder for Good.

Ellie’s husband Thomas, a retired minister, is perturbed when he receives not one but five letters advising him that he has been left money by different people in their wills. He barely knew three of his benefactors and what could possibly connect him to the other strangers?

What is it about Ellie that will make your readers care about her?

Ellie is a widow who was always put down by her first husband and scheming, ambitious daughter. She has inherited money, which she has learned to administer through a trust, but she has never learned to drive a car. Now happily remarried, she likes people and is good with them, though not easily taken in by liars. A spot of gentle humour helps her through the day.

Author Robin Jones Gunn once said all inspirational authors eventually get a sense of an overall theme God has given them for their stories. What do you think your overall theme is?

That by keeping in touch with God you can tackle the difficult problems that life throws at you – and even manage a smile.

So true. I remember a friend of mine who handled a very intense conversation with a supervisor once, and afterward she mentioned feeling God's calming presence and guidance through the entire experience. She said she was so used to constantly listening for God's guidance that she didn't even have to work at it anymore--it had become a part of her every-day behavior. Keeping in touch with God makes more sense than so many other uses of our time and energy.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

A Man Called Ove, by a Swedish writer called Fredrik Backman. A curmudgeonly old man, at odds with everyone around him, tries unavailingly to commit suicide when his wife dies . . . and is rescued by the community and a stray cat who need him to help them. I laughed and I cried. It’s a wonderful book.

That's absolutely one of my favorite books. I recommend it all the time, too.

What are you working on now?

I have am working on another Bea Abbot story, called False Conclusion. Bea’s fourteen-year old ward Bernice is brought back from boarding school by the elegant, acid-tongued April Trescott, whose niece has been rooming with Bernice. The niece is a monosyllabic Fatso and Bernice can’t wait to get rid of her . . . only the girl is then dumped on Bea in the wake of a Trescott family tragedy.

It turns out Evelina Trescott is in deep trouble. She embroils Bea and Bernice in a spider’s web of lies in which it is not clear whether she is the spider or the fly. And Bea’s long-divorced ex-husband arrives to help – or perhaps to hinder? – Bea’s attempts to find out the horrifying truth.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website is at www.veronicaheley.co. I send out a monthly newsletter with lots of news and views on it. A shortened version of this is later posted as a blog on my website, blog.veronicaheley.com Both can be accessed through the home page of my website, and if you would like to hear a sample from one of my audio books, you can also access that through the website.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Most of my readers like the fact that Ellie Quicke is now happily remarried. Now my other heroine, Bea Abbot, has had various men showing an interest in her over the years but has always drawn back from commitment. Now her ex-husband wants her to think about it seriously. I think this marriage will work second time round but I’m aware that some of my readers may have reservations about this. What do you think?

Thanks, Veronica, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your novel. Readers, Veronica has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Remember that Winged Publications is having a sale on its Christmas-themed novellas, novels, and collections. See the details HERE.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Veronica Heley and Free Books!

Some bored wives play a game of Murder, leading to a husband dying in the way one of the women had suggested . . . and in consequence they’re all thrown out of house and home!

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free e-copy of the spec-fiction novel, The Awakened, by Richard Spillman, is:

psalm103and138@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with novelist Veronica Heley, author of Murder by Suggestion (Severn House, June 2018), a story of "crime in the community – with a light touch."

Veronica Heley celebrated the publication of this, her 81st book, in June 2018. She is currently writing two gentle crime series, the Ellie Quicke Mysteries and the Abbot Agency stories, and every now and then contributes a short story about some retired friends to the Methodist Recorder.

She tries but doesn’t always succeed in keeping up with the newest technology, even with help from her friends. She is active in her local church and community affairs, likes to break off work for coffee with friends, and gardens when she can.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I play Patience with real cards whenever I get stuck in my stories.

Despite having had a British mum, I had to look up that card game, Veronica! It looks like Patience is the same as our Solitaire. I've become somewhat addicted to the electronic version of the game on my phone. I play a few hands every night before I go to bed.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Murder by Suggestion.

Ellie Quicke is shocked when her daughter, Diana, turns up at her door with suitcases in tow. Bunny Brewster has died of an overdose and Diana’s husband, Evan, is convinced that she is responsible for his friend’s death. It seems that Diana and four other neglected, bored wives of Evan’s friends recently joked about ways to kill their husbands. Diana’s suggested method of murder involved muddling up pills – could this be how Bunny died, or was it just a tragic accident?

Chaos rules when the rest of the wives descend on Ellie, but a further distressing development confirms Ellie’s instinct that there’s more to this than meets the eye. With the safety of her nearest and dearest at risk, can Ellie work out who is responsible, and why?

I know we've featured Ellie here many times, but what would you say it is about Ellie that makes your readers care about her?

Ellie cares about people. She has no great opinion of herself, but has the knack of drawing others out.

Write one sentence for us that tells us something about Ellie as a child. 

She was taught as a child that a woman’s place was in the home and her job in life was to look after her family.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend? 

I love Anne Tyler’s books, and the latest, Clock Dance, is no exception. It is beautifully written. It is not about anyone globally important, it thumps no tubs, but it enters into the life of a woman who has been given a second chance at having a useful life . . . and may or may not be able to take it. We understand the heroine completely, and identify with her. It is delightful, and sad, and glad . . . and I look forward to Tyler’s next book.

I couldn't agree more with you about Tyler's writing in general, Veronica. I've loved every book of hers that I've read. They're never about anyone who is, as you say, globally important, but they're always so realistic and intriguing, which is the reason I think many of us identify with her heroines.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on another Ellie Quicke story, called Murder for Good. Also I have to think up another short story about my retired friends for Christmas.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website is www.veronicaheley.com

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



What question would you like to ask my readers?

The story I’m working on now is the twentieth featuring Ellie Quicke. Should she not be thinking of retirement?

Thank you, Veronica, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Veronica has offered to give away free e-copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Veronica's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Veronica Heley and Free Books!

Bea is drawn into the hunt for a collection of family jewels which has gone missing along with an international art expert . . . and it’s not only his housekeeper who’s looking for him.

Before we focus on today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of  Breaking News by Susan Page Davis, is:

momrain@...

Congratulations! I'll email you for your snail mail address and, assuming you live in the U.S., we'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit novelist Veronica Heley, author of the English cozy mystery, False Pride (Severn House, December 2017).

Veronica Heley celebrated the publication of this, her 80th book in December 2017, having been published traditionally for forty-one years. She is currently writing two gentle crime series set in different areas of London, and three short stories a year for the Methodist Recorder. She has also written children’s and resource books, a biography, and some historical fiction, along with many articles and reviews.

She’s involved with her local church and community affairs, likes to break for coffee with friends and does the garden when she has time.

Share with us one thing the reader might not know about you.

I play Patience with real cards to unwind.

I had to look up that game, Veronica! Here in the States we call that Solitaire. I haven't played it in ages, but I used to be addicted, also with real cards. I play Sudoku to unwind now, and it's actually more fun to play that game electronically. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of False Pride.

Bea Abbot is asked to help one of her clients to locate her employer, Lucas Rycroft, an international art expert who has disappeared along with the family jewels. She soon discovers that other members of the Rycroft family will go to any lengths to get their hands on the jewels, and on Lucas.

Caught up in the chaos is Bea’s ex-husband Piers, who finds a body in his hall . . . and that’s not the only corpse that comes to light over a tense weekend.

Booklist has given False Pride an excellent review, concluding: "there are enough bizarre twists and sparkly characters to make for an endearing, entertaining read."

Publishers Weekly says: "Those fond of darker English cozies will find much to savor."

Why should the reader care about Bea?

Bea cares about people and always tries to see the best in them, while acknowledging that bad things do happen even to the nicest people. She is willing to provide food and a bed for people who are genuinely in trouble, but threats stiffen her resolve to do the right thing.

What initially planned facet of a story of character developed or changed while you wrote?

Bea’s ex-husband Piers has been wandering in and out her life for some years, and at first I couldn’t understand the reason for his being so persistent but gradually I came to understand the reason why their early marriage broke down . . . and what he wants to do about it now.

That a fun tease.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

The last book I read which is worth talking about is, Princes at War by Deborah Cadbury. It is more of a biography than a novel but an easy read, being the story of the four sons of George V before and during the Second World War. It is well researched, factual and convincing about the extraordinary lives of the man who gave up his kingdom for the love of the American Wallis Simpson, of the brother who feared he wasn’t up to the job of succeeding him, and of their playboy younger siblings, who both proved their worth in a crisis. There was a lot here that I didn’t know. I could even have done with another chapter or two to tell what happened to the brothers after the war was over.

The show called The Crown has generated a lot of interest here with regard to Elizabeth's reign. I'm a big fan. Princes sounds like a good read about the era before Elizabeth.

What are you working on now?

I’m now working on another Bea Abbot story, which will be published at the end of the year. This is called False Account and will also be about money and family relationships, but although there is at least one death, I am writing a good deal about loyalties in a family and how an elderly woman can be bullied into handing over her money – or can she?

Before that, I have another Ellie Quicke book to come out at the end of June this year, called Murder by Suggestion. A group of women joke about how to kill their spouses, only to find the jokes have been taken seriously, and they themselves thrown out onto the street . . . or rather, how they end up in Ellie’s house with all their belongings.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website is www.veronicaheley.com. There is also a blog. And, if you would like to receive my monthly newsletter containing news and views, then you can have it sent to you, free, through the contact on the home page.

The book can also be purchased online via the following Amazon button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Every year I personally get a little older, but Ellie and Bea remain the age at which I first wrote about them. I am now writing the nineteenth Ellie Quicke mystery, and the thirteenth Bea Abbot, and they have not aged at all. Does this matter, do you think?

Thank you, Veronica, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Veronica has offered to give away a e-copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Veronica's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE