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Today's the day!
Yes, it’s finally here. The fifth Esme Quentin Mystery, The Scourge of the Skua, is published today! The story begins with the discovery...
Wendy Percival
Jun 30, 20233 min read
The Murder Stone
By an exciting coincidence, during my trip to The Gower in Wales last week, I came across a murder stone. It was in the churchyard...
Wendy Percival
Apr 8, 20223 min read
A Few Little Prompts
I was most impressed to read on a recent blog post of Family Tree magazine’s Paul Chiddicks, (writer of their family history miscellany...
Wendy Percival
Feb 4, 20223 min read
The Tragic Tale of Moses Percival
Last week, I was reminded of a family history story, part of which found its way into the plot of the Esme Quentin series prequel...
Wendy Percival
Jan 29, 20223 min read
Scandal of the woman in the fox fur
While working on the latest Esme Quentin novel this week, I wrote a scene where someone’s Last Will and Testament comes into the plot. It...
Wendy Percival
Jan 21, 20224 min read
A Halloween Story!
With Halloween this weekend, it seemed appropriate to revisit a blog post I published last October about the 4th Esme Quentin Mystery,...
Wendy Percival
Oct 29, 20211 min read
Secret island
When you read this post, I'll be on my way back home after finally taking our Covid-deferred holiday to Tresco, one of the islands of the...
Wendy Percival
Oct 1, 20212 min read
Location, location, location
While I'm busy writing the next Esme Quentin Mystery and not posting on the blog so often, it's an ideal opportunity to revisit posts...
Wendy Percival
Sep 24, 20211 min read
A legacy of letters
When was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter by hand? It must be quite a rare event these days – with emails and messaging...
Wendy Percival
May 28, 20212 min read
Mystery Letters - coincidence or connection?
Today English Heritage is unveiling one of its famous Blue Plaques in memory of WWII secret agent Noor Inayat Kahn, who was brutally...
Wendy Percival
Aug 28, 20202 min read
Any witches in your family history?
I once read a fascinating article in Family Tree magazine (15 years ago, as it turns out!) about someone's ancestor who’d been accused of...
Wendy Percival
Jul 3, 20202 min read
Mystery engagement
Having finished writing the 4th Esme Quentin novel (soon to be published - details coming soon!) I've had a chance to consider what's...
Wendy Percival
May 29, 20202 min read
The joy of a letter
Who doesn’t love to receive a personal letter? But these days, we’re more likely to communicate by email, text or message. Helen Baggott,...
Wendy Percival
May 22, 20202 min read
Truth, fiction and an unbelievable coincidence
Imagine you’ve settled down to read a novel when you suddenly spot the name of one of your ancestors in the text. And not just any...
Wendy Percival
May 2, 20203 min read
New Esme book coming soon...
If you're on my newsletter mailing list as well as a reader of this blog, you will already know (and my apologies for repeating myself!)...
Wendy Percival
Mar 6, 20202 min read
Visiting Esme Quentin Country
Sometimes it's good to get away from the keyboard for some inspiration and that's exactly what I did this week. Wandering around the...
Wendy Percival
Feb 7, 20202 min read
Another #familyhistory #7UP
I came across this lovely photograph of my gran, Edith Alice Diggory, at about 14 years of age, (possibly taken on the occasion of her...
Wendy Percival
Nov 22, 20192 min read
Meet the author!
I'm delighted to welcome Sandra Danby, author of the 'Identity Detective' series, to this week's Bite-size blog. Sandra's series...
Wendy Percival
Sep 6, 20196 min read
Enchanted Cornwall
I shall be off-grid for a couple of weeks from tomorrow as I take a holiday in Cornwall (yes, Cornwall again!). This time I'm staying in...
Wendy Percival
Aug 9, 20192 min read
Intrigue and inspiration
I've thoroughly enjoyed the recent BBC TV series, A House Through Time which tells the history of 5 Ravensworth Terrace in Newcastle...
Wendy Percival
May 3, 20192 min read