HELLO FROM LONDON

...where I'm writing this in the upstairs Humanities Reading Room of the British Library, during a brief visit while my daughter starts university just down the road.

The weather has clearly turned, so rather than images of wet London pavements, I thought it would be nicer to open with a photo of my tent on the shores of Windermere earlier in the year, when the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and one particularly nasty wasp was lurking in my car, plotting and preparing to sting me as I drove home.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm bitter, though. I still love the Lakes, and I'm still keen on camping. I just hate wasps.

More important than all of that, though, The Port, book 7 in the Cumbria Crime series, came out on Thursday, and Rachel and I are thrilled with your early responses. The book opens - and you won't be surprised to read this - with unsuspecting members of the public stumbling across a dead body.

There's a difference this time, though. Because the unsuspecting members of the public are at the Port of Workington, on Myron Carter's territory, working for Carter himself.

And the body? Well, the body's no stranger, either. But if you want to know who the unlucky victim is, you'll have to read the book. You can buy it at your local bookshop, or here on Amazon.

Having last had one nearly thirty years ago, I've now got a brand new Reader Pass at the British Library. It's a strange experience, working here. It's very quiet and very serious, and I've already managed to get into trouble for trying to take a photo in one of the Reading Rooms. 

Serves me right for not reading the rules thoroughly enough, right?

The photo above is from the public area, and it's entirely legitimate, and probably better than the illegal ones I managed to snap in the Maps Reading Room before I was hunted down by Security.

And all that seriousness is a good thing, really. It forces me to be more productive than usual, because every time I pick up my phone to play a game, I feel the weight of Britain's entire intellectual establishment staring disapprovingly at me. And that means more writing, which means more progress on Book 2 - yes, Book 2 - of the new series.

But enough cryptic hints about the new series. Next time you hear from me, I'll be telling you all about it.

Until then, take care, avoid slippery pavements, and if you happen to be short of reading material, may I suggest The Port?

Happy reading,

Joel