Short stories and other works

Short Stories

I rarely write short stories. They need a very particular technique, with a startling or witty twist in the tail. Commissioning editors always ask for your series character too – whereas I prefer to attempt something different for variety.

“Investigating the Silvius Boys” (1995)

• Commissioned for the Nottingham Bouchercon: No Alibi, ed Jakubowski, Ringpull Press and Scorpion Limited Edition Classical
• Whodunnits, ed Mike Ashley, Robinson Publishing
• reprinted in Murder through the Ages, ed Maxim Jakubowski, Headline
• translations by Kobunsh (Japan) and La Masque (France).

“Abstain from Beans” (1996)

• (commissioned for the CWA annual anthology): Perfectly Criminal, ed Martin Edwards, Severn House
• Malice Domestic 6, Pocket Books, USA
• translation by Kobunsha (Japan)

“The Party may yet be Living…” (1998)

• Past Poisons (a Memorial Anthology to Ellis Peters) ed Maxim Jakubowski, Headline

“Body Zone” (May 2001)

• The Mysterious Press Anthology
• Included in Great Stories of Crime and Detection, volume IV from the Folio Society.

“The Short Story (with Critical Apparatus)” (1973 and 2001)

• Published in ‘Oxford Originals: writing from Lady Margaret Hall’, an anthology of over 100 members of the college from its founding in 1879 to the present day. All proceeds to the LMH English Fellowship Campaign.  Available direct from the college.

“Something Spooky on Geophys”

• In Mysterious Pleasures, ed Martin Edwards, the CWA Jubilee Anthology, Little, Brown
• ‘The Best British Mysteries of the Year (2003)’, ed Maxim Jakubowski, Allison and Busby

“Going Anywhere Nice?”

• In ‘The Detection Collection’, ed Simon Brett (75th Anniversary of the Detection Club), Orion paperback, ISBN 0-75287-249-4
• Scorpion Press Limited Edition, ISBN 1-873567 74
• Deadlier (100 of the Best Crime Stories written by Women) chosen by Sophie Hannah, Head of Zeus

“Twice Tried, Twice Hung, Twice Buried”

• (BBC Radio 4)

“Zounds”

• In ‘Deadly Pleasures’ ed Martin Edwards for the Crimewriters’ Association, Severn House

“The Telemachus File”

• In A Midlands Odyssey, Nine Arches Press

“A Wall Story”

• In Crimefest, Leaving the Scene, ed Adrian Muller (celebrating 16 years of Crimefest). No Exit Press (fee to RNIB)