Staffordshire author launches murder-mystery novels inspired by three local villages and featuring a Walsall detective
A Staffordshire author – recognised for her nail-biting mysteries – has unveiled her new crime novels with a local twist.
Liz Vincent, 74, has been writing regularly since she the age of 12 after growing up as an only child with ever-busy parents.
As a child, she would create her own friends in the form of characters in worlds where she could spend her time by simply putting pen to paper. But she discovered how gifted she was at it after writing a play for her class mates to perform in Burton-on-Trent.
Speaking to the Express & Star, she said: “I got into writing quite young. I was an only child and we didn't live anywhere near many other children so I started creating my own places and characters. It's carried on from there really.”
Liz, who is now based in Alrewas - near Lichfield - spent her working life as a medical secretary, and even worked for a firm producing products for the NHS, until she retired at the end of 2001, aged 50.
But now retired – the mother of two has found the freedom to be devoted to her love of writing and has successfully published two murder mystery novels inspired by events and experiences through her life and work around three Staffordshire villages.
She said: “I live in quite a vibrant village, its very social. There are some very interesting characters here.
"Some of my characters are based on people I know - not that I've told them that! The stories are inspired by villages in Staffordshire but some of my characters are from the Black Country - there's characters from Walsall and Wolverhampton as well.”
Her first novel, Motiveless Murder, published by Troubador, is set in Hawksmere (Fradley), where Clive Morrison becomes the prime suspect after a body is found in his garden. As shocking events unfold, readers are kept guessing until the end.
Its sequel, Conflicting Cases, published by Hardcastle & Young, sees DI Vic Hardcastle investigating further murders across Staffordshire villages, facing organised crime, escapee prisoners, and personal tragedy.
Hardcastle, a mischievous Black Country lad in his forties, works alongside his DS from Bristol and a young Sikh DC from Walsall, as they navigate the complexities and secrets hidden behind village life.
Both books are available now to order from all bookshop websites, including Waterstones, WH Smith, Amazon, Gardners and Troubador publishing for £10.99 each.
