Fiona Erskine

Engineer. Writer. Swimmer.

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Author Chat with Caroline Maston – UK Crime Book Club

Posted on January 15, 2025 in Bhopal, Losing Control

On Friday 10th January I had a one hour chat with Caroline Maston from the UK Crime Book Club.

You can see and listen to the recording here

Among many other things, we talked about my 6th novel Losing Control.

The first crime book I read in 2025 was Long Water by Stef Penney (Norway, Arctic Circle – missing teen. atmospheric!) and I’m currently reading Paul Hawkins The Blue Hour (Artists legacy secret – what secrets remain buried on a tidal Scottish island?). Both have wonderful older women as protagonists.

Some of the other books we discussed were Jane Jesmond s thrilling Jen Shaw series (#1 On the Edge, #2 Cut Adrift, #3 Gone to Earth (and stand alone A Quiet Contagion)),  William Shaw The Birdwatcher (prequel to the brilliant DS Alexandra Cupidi series) . Trevor Wood has an excellent new book – The Silent Killer.

The New Zealand books we talked about were Vanda Symon #Overkill from #Orenda and @MichaelBennett #BettertheBlood . Post Mortem insights from @DrRichardShepherd via #UnnaturalCauses and the wonderful Effie Merryl who helped with the police angle in ‘Losing Control’ has published a tremendous book #Maman

The UK Crime Book Club group are a tremendously welcoming facebook group with almost 30,000 members who actively read and discuss crime fiction by UK based authors.

 

Postscript: Caroline was half way through the book when we talked. After she finished it, she left me the most wonderful review!

The start of a sensational new series from the author of the chemical detective. I loved everything about this book, the fact it’s based partly on a real world disaster that the world should know more about. The new characters are fascinating and draw you in and make you want to keep reading to see what happens to them and the plot itself is outstanding. Set in teeside an area I don’t know well but feel like was a strong part of the novel, this is a book you won’t be able to put down. Definitely in book of the year material for me 5*

 

 

 

 


Sunny southern sojourn with friends and family and a stonkingly good book. London looking stunning!


In Houston for the day job, I went back to visit my old house and primary school from when my dad had a sabbatical at Rice University. Fleming park is much smaller than I remember but the fire ants are still there! Highlight was a full Tex-Mex with Theresa and Bhopal expert Kenneth Bloch - plans afoot for a new book.


I swam 24km in 5 days. Hard work?

Try tuna canning, salt drying or sulphur mining...

https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/sulphur-and-salt


Goodbye #egadiislands and thank you @swimtrek for an amazing week - 24 kilometres with wonderful guides, fellow swimmers and multicoloured fishes!


This week #PhosphateRocks e-book is only £0.99 in UK

Who doesn't love a story about a demolition gone wrong? @raine_clouds_writes @lesleykellyauthor 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phosphate-Rocks-Death-Ten-Objects-ebook/dp/B0CTRRXKNY

PS: The audio book narrated by @rain.goblin is pretty special too


A quarter of my sales this month were overseas for the very first time!

Massive thanks to all those fine Canadians for topping the list. Say Hi if you see this.

https://fionaerskine.com/


On my way to Harrogate today

https://open.substack.com/pub/fionaerskine/p/harrogate

Say hello if you'll be there


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The Salt Oracle by Lorraine Wilson
⁦@raine_clouds⁩ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8128830782

We're looking forward to being part of Carolyn's tour for 'Ravenglass'! Carolyn will be with us @hull_libraries (Central and online), 11th February 📚

Fantastic to hear @Ofmooseandmen features on @BBCBooks - such a great publisher and @RonanHession1 is one of my favourite authors and a great interviewee. (Ghost Mountain fell in the bath - sorry!)

Saturday 10 January 2026. ⁦@TonyKent_Writes⁩ will be in ⁦@wstonesdurham⁩ FREE event. See you there! #RevengeOfOdessa

I have news!
Stellar thanks to @SFcrowsnest for a stirring introduction - to #TheLye and to #agentjarrold for his immense courage. Watch this space…

Novelist Carolyn Kirby discusses the apparently radical shift in men’s fashions during the late 18th century and the invention of the ‘masculine’ style that still dominates menswear. https://historiamag.com/invent-masculine-fashion/ via @HistoriaHWA

I have news. Exciting news...
https://fionaerskine.com/news-item/exciting-news/

Have you had a look at the brilliant Ravenglass by Carolyn Kirby yet?

Following a gender fluid character making their way in 1700s Whitehaven, this emotional and beautifully written globe trotting adventure is available with 25% off this Christmas!
https://share.google/AvrhJUHaVtFa9TVnK

Happiness is a train journey with a seat and a good book #lner #thesaltoracle

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