Friday 14 October 2016

Book Launch by Lynne Benton

Last week I went to a Book Launch in the Bath branch of Waterstones.  It was for Fleur Hitchcock, a member of a group of local children’s authors, whose latest book, “Murder in Midwinter”, has just been published by Nosy Crow. 

“Murder in Midwinter”, a very exciting thriller for older children, is the story of thirteen-year-old Maya, who innocently takes a photo from the top of a bus, only to discover the next day when a body is found nearby that her photo of the murderer has put her and her whole family in terrible danger.  Fleur read us part of the story, and there was a sharp intake of breath when she closed the book at a crucial point, leaving us on a real cliffhanger.

The beautiful cover was greatly admired, and the pile of books on the table gradually diminished through the evening.  Evidently a lot of people needed to know what happened next!  And because the theme of the book was “midwinter”, among the drinks offered were Snowballs (for anyone like me who isn’t quite sure what they are, they consist of a mixture of Advocaat and lemonade, the result of which someone described as “like fizzy custard”!) and for nibbles small cheesy biscuits in the shape of snowflakes.

The evening was organised by Nosy Crow with Waterstones (whose lovely staff manned the doors, dispensed the drinks and nibbles and took money for books.)  It all worked very smoothly and was a most enjoyable event.  It was also good to see so many other children’s writers turning up to support Fleur and to celebrate her success. 

Fleur Hitchcock with Gill Lewis
Sharon Tregenza, Cathy Hopkins, Rachel Ward and Marie-Louise Jensen.
Since then I have read the book – in one sitting! (I couldn’t put it down!)  It is certainly a thriller, with a spirited heroine, plenty of chills (in both senses of the word) and a nail-biting climax.

Just the thing to read indoors by the fire while a blizzard rages outside…

3 comments:

Sue Purkiss said...

Sounds like a lovely launch! Snowballs - that takes me back: my mother's favourite drink! Dad always got a bottle of advocaat in at Christmas time.

Ellie said...

The launch sounds lovely, as Sue said, and I've just bought the book. Really looking forward to reading it. :)

Lynne Benton said...

Thanks, both - and Eloise, I'm sure Fleur will be delighted that you've just bought the book! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.