INDIE AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: BENEDICT BROWN
This week we're thrilled to feature bestselling indie author Benedict Brown!
Benedict Brown is a Welsh-Irish-Englishman, originally from South London, but now living in the north of Spain. He's been writing ever since he was at school and ended up doing an MA in Creative Writing at university in Wales. Benedict published his first mystery in 2019, and now has two bestselling series.
Benedict's Lord Edgington Investigates series features a genius detective and his not-quite-so-brainy grandson solving whodunnits in a selection of luxurious country piles.
There are currently eight books in the series, several of which have topped the mystery bestseller charts, and the first book, Murder at the Spring Ball, is currently available for the special price of just £0.99 | $0.99.
His contemporary series, The Izzy Palmer Mysteries, is just as twisty and puzzling, and packed full of quirky characters.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN BENEDICT BROWN'S READERS CLUB AND GET A FREE LORD EDGINGTON NOVELLA!
Q: What was your inspiration for your mystery series?
A: My Lord Edgington Investigates books have found a wide readership, but when I was first coming up with the idea, I just wanted to create a series that my dad would have loved. Dad was always a big reader and particularly adored Agatha Christie-style country house mysteries. The first book, Murder at the Spring Ball, starts on the seventy-fifth birthday of my detective, Lord Edgington. I felt this was a fitting tribute to my dad, who died of Alzheimer's aged seventy-four. Each book is dedicated to him, and I hope he would have devoured each and every one.
Q: What’s your favourite thing about the series?
A: Personally, my favourite thing about them is the chance they give me to travel back through time. I love researching the stories and I even include a chapter at the back explaining my influences and the fascinating things I learnt when writing each book. My mum was a history teacher for fifty years and she definitely gave me a love of the past which helped when I came to write this series.
Q: Tell us about your characters?
A: At the centre of my historical series is the relationship between the imperious Lord Edgington, a retired policeman, and his naïve grandson Christopher. In each book their relationship develops, and the initially bumbling assistant becomes a little more capable and confident as the pair investigate countless twisting mysteries. The books are written for adults, but I know that readers appreciate the unique perspective of the youthful narrator.
Q: Tell us about your setting?
A: Another thing I really enjoy when writing these books is finding out about different parts of Britain. My wife is my graphic designer and we seek out beautiful houses to include, which often influence the stories. My characters live in palatial Cranley Hall, in my home county of Surrey, but they often have to travel to investigate murders and have been to the Lake District, the Cotswolds, Wiltshire, London and Dartmoor. My recent book The Crimes of Clearwell Castle was particularly influenced by the setting and I had a lot of fun weaving local traditions and legends into the plot.
Q: What’s the biggest distraction in your writing day?
A: Without a doubt, the biggest distraction I face is my four-year-old daughter, Amelie. She will come into my office where I write, climb on the desk, attempt to persuade me to play with her and quite often succeed. As you can see from the photo of my desk, her toys tend to take over my working space, but being a full-time writer means working from home and being able to spend a lot of time with her, so I really can’t complain. She will soon have a rival for my attention, though, as we’re expecting a second baby in March. I’m trying to get as much writing done as possible before our lives are turned upside down once more.
MURDER AT THE SPRING BALL
OUT NOW — JUST £0.99 | $0.99
MUSIC, DANCING, AND MURDER AT THE SPRING BALL.
England, 1925. After years shut away from the world, former detective Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall plans a grand ball to celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday.
But when someone starts bumping off members of his scheming family, the elderly Lord enlists his naïve teenage grandson to help find the killer . . .