Death at the Fireside Inn

February 12, 2024

Death at the Fireside Inn

Death at the Fireside Inn: 1920s Historical Mystery
(Veronica Vale Investigates)
by Kitty Kildare

About Death at the Fireside Inn

Death at the Fireside Inn: 1920s Historical Mystery (Veronica Vale Investigates)
Historical British Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – 1920s London, England
K.E. O’Connor Books (January 16, 2024)
Number of Pages: 225
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CL2HDFSM

A fading star, a puzzling death, and a mystery that must be solved!

Veronica Vale spent a turbulent few years serving her country during the Great War – doing more than her role in the exchange network suggested! Now back on British soil and adjusting to life as an obituary writer for her uncle’s newspaper, while caring for her ailing mother, Veronica has gotten used to a slower (and safer) pace of life.

Excitement comes from fun parties, walks with Benji, her beloved rescue dog, and volunteering at the Dogs’ Home.

When an old family friend, and former superstar of the theatre, Florence Sterling, is discovered dead in her dressing room at the Winter Garden Theatre in London, Veronica is curious to discover what happened to the sweet, funny, ruthlessly ambitious beauty.

Much to the dismay of her sometimes nemesis Inspector Templeton, Veronica is tasked with writing Florence’s obituary. And what she learns will blow the roof off the theatre! That’s if she survives to tell the tale.

***

If you love witty dialogue, historical glamour, intrigue, and a fast-paced cozy mystery set in 1920s England, then you’ll adore Kitty Kildare’s unputdownable whodunits.

About Kitty Kildare

Immerse yourself into Kitty Kildare‘s cleverly woven historical British mysteries. Follow the mystery in the Veronica Vale Investigates series and enjoy the dazzle and delights of 1920s England. Kitty is a not-so-secret pen name of established cozy mystery author K.E. O’Connor, who decided she wanted to time travel rather than cast spells! Enjoy the twists and turns.

Q&A With the Author:

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

I’ve always enjoyed the Golden Age murder mysteries, and had an idea for a female sleuth (Veronica Vale) as my main character, connected to the publican trade through her family. Pubs have always been hot beds for gossip and intrigue. In Cornwall in the UK, there used to be a thriving smuggling ring using pubs to store stolen loot! Imagine the shenanigans that happened in those places and all the gossip that swirled around.

I also wanted to write about a sleuth with a passion for animal welfare, much like myself. It was a tough time for animals after the Great War, with many areas being bombed out, and no established resources to take care of strays. During the series, you’ll be taken on regular visits to the dogs’ home which is based on a real place (Battersea Cats and Dogs Home) established in the 1800s in the UK. It’s now a thriving, beloved charity, but in its early years, struggled to receive funding and was run by dedicated volunteers. I wanted that to be a part of Veronica’s character, and include plenty of adorable dogs and a few cats in the books, who needed to find their forever homes and a happily ever after.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoy the research aspect of this series. I originally trained as an archaeologist, so I have a fascination with the past, and adore delving into times forgotten and experiencing how life was for other people.

There’s something special about the period just after the Great War in the United Kingdom. It’s a time of hope, excitement, and people living in the moment after experiencing a dreadful time. Businesses flourished, women had more freedom to choose in most areas of their lives, and technology moved forward at a great pace.

Each book in the Veronica Vale series centers around a British pub or tavern, with either the murder taking place in the pub or close by. Every pub mentioned is based on a real business in the UK, and I include a page outlining the inspiration behind each location in every book, so readers can explore for themselves.

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

Book one, Death at the Fireside Inn, is available now!

Book two in the Veronica Vale Investigates series (Death at the Drunken Duck) is almost ready and will be released on March 12 2024 (readers can preorder now or wait for release day to buy a copy or read if they have a Kindle Unlimited subscription.)

I also have a novella in the same series, called Death at the Swan Tavern. It was written as a Christmas special edition in an exclusive collection, but I plan to add more suspects and clues, and re-release towards the end of the year with a new festive cover.

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?

I plan to write at least another four Veronica Vale books in 2024, so you’ll see plenty more of Veronica, Benji the dog, and Ruby Smythe as they solve cases, much to the frustration of the local police, who are usually one step behind them.

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Veronica and her friends allow me to live perilous adventures without having to leave the comfort of my armchair!

Veronica also has a wonderfully messy family. And, let’s be honest, all families are messy. I’ve yet to meet a family that doesn’t have a few skeletons rattling around in the understairs cupboard waiting to burst out and reveal that Great Aunt Edith ran off with the milkman! Veronica has a deceased father with a shady past, a long list of pubs to keep an eye on, her new job as an obituary writer, and complications from a former romantic entanglement to juggle.

If that doesn’t keep you entertained, you also get glimpses into her time serving during the Great War. As the series develops, Veronica’s own secrets sneak out and create fascinating storylines and no small amount of problems for our feisty sleuth.

This series is ideal for readers who enjoy vexing whodunits, strong-minded, clever female sleuths, and adorable clue-searching dogs who sometimes save the day and sometimes steal the sausages!
Step into 1920s London and figure out who committed the crime, then enjoy afternoon tea with Veronica!
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