Today's the day for the final book in this series of THE HARRIET GORDON MYSTERIES.... Did you see what I did there? I said "THIS SERIES"!
I'm not sure I am quite ready to let Harriet, Curran and their friends go completely and certainly my readers aren't... so there will be something coming (maybe later next year). However as far as this series arc is concerned, TERROR IN TOPAZ brings it to the end and today is RELEASE DAY! Yay... pop the champagne.
I'm not sure I am quite ready to let Harriet, Curran and their friends go completely and certainly my readers aren't... so there will be something coming (maybe later next year). However as far as this series arc is concerned, TERROR IN TOPAZ brings it to the end and today is RELEASE DAY! Yay... pop the champagne.
What to expect with TERROR IN TOPAZ... Firstly a change of scene as Harriet and Julian take a trip north to Kuala Lumpur (KL) at the behest of the headmaster of the Prince Alfred School. Is Julian ready for a change of job?
The idea for this plot thread came again from my poking around the archives of the Singapore State Library and found the account of an actual murder that took place in KL in April 1911. The wife of the acting headmaster of the Victoria Institution shot dead her lover on the steps of the headmaster's bungalow. This scenario fitted so beautifully into Harriet's world, I had to use it. I will be writing about what is known as the 'Proudlock Murder' in another blog post.
Secondly, I am guilty of leaving the last book, EVIL IN EMERALD, on a bit of a cliff hanger as Curran goes off on a quest of his own (no spoilers) - probably to KL. So the two plot threads may come together...
That is where TERROR IN TOPAZ starts... do I manage to pull all the loose threads together for an ending that satisfies the readers? I hope so!
The idea for this plot thread came again from my poking around the archives of the Singapore State Library and found the account of an actual murder that took place in KL in April 1911. The wife of the acting headmaster of the Victoria Institution shot dead her lover on the steps of the headmaster's bungalow. This scenario fitted so beautifully into Harriet's world, I had to use it. I will be writing about what is known as the 'Proudlock Murder' in another blog post.
Secondly, I am guilty of leaving the last book, EVIL IN EMERALD, on a bit of a cliff hanger as Curran goes off on a quest of his own (no spoilers) - probably to KL. So the two plot threads may come together...
That is where TERROR IN TOPAZ starts... do I manage to pull all the loose threads together for an ending that satisfies the readers? I hope so!
Alison Stuart reads from TERROR IN TOPAZ...
If you would like to meet me in person (so as to speak), I have prepared a short release day video. I will talk about the book and read the first chapter :-) Just click the button below
The final episode in the riveting HARRIET GORDON MYSTERIES.
The chance to pursue a new opportunity takes Harriet and her brother Julian, to Kuala Lumpur, but death is waiting…
Singapore 1910: Harriet Gordon has been dismissed from the job she loved and finds herself cast adrift. When her brother receives an invitation to visit a prestigious school in Kuala Lumpur, she and Julian decide to leave Singapore behind for a few days, but their pleasant visit takes a dark turn when a visitor to the school is shot dead on the front steps of the headmaster’s bungalow.
After being suspended from the Straits Settlements Police, Inspector Robert Curran has disappeared on a personal quest to find a missing girl but his suspension is not all it appears and he receives secretive orders to investigate the mysterious Topaz Club, which seems to be at the centre of high-level corruption within the colonial government of Malaya.
The uninvestigated death of a woman with links to the Topaz Club, brings Harriet and Curran together in a determination to shut down the notorious establishment for good.
But a devious criminal stands in the way and it is going to take Harriet and Curran all their resources to bring justice for the victims of the Topaz Club and in doing so, find what it is they have been looking for in each other.
The chance to pursue a new opportunity takes Harriet and her brother Julian, to Kuala Lumpur, but death is waiting…
Singapore 1910: Harriet Gordon has been dismissed from the job she loved and finds herself cast adrift. When her brother receives an invitation to visit a prestigious school in Kuala Lumpur, she and Julian decide to leave Singapore behind for a few days, but their pleasant visit takes a dark turn when a visitor to the school is shot dead on the front steps of the headmaster’s bungalow.
After being suspended from the Straits Settlements Police, Inspector Robert Curran has disappeared on a personal quest to find a missing girl but his suspension is not all it appears and he receives secretive orders to investigate the mysterious Topaz Club, which seems to be at the centre of high-level corruption within the colonial government of Malaya.
The uninvestigated death of a woman with links to the Topaz Club, brings Harriet and Curran together in a determination to shut down the notorious establishment for good.
But a devious criminal stands in the way and it is going to take Harriet and Curran all their resources to bring justice for the victims of the Topaz Club and in doing so, find what it is they have been looking for in each other.
NOTE ON AVAILABILITY:
TERROR IN TOPAZ (Book 4) is available in print and digital editions.
There will be an audio version but it is a little way off yet.
Sadly the print edition will not be available in stores but is easily ordered from the usual online stores and if you ask your library (or your local bookshop) nicely they should be able to get it in for you.
TERROR IN TOPAZ (Book 4) is available in print and digital editions.
There will be an audio version but it is a little way off yet.
Sadly the print edition will not be available in stores but is easily ordered from the usual online stores and if you ask your library (or your local bookshop) nicely they should be able to get it in for you.
AND FINALLY: If you want more news and updates on the 'where to next' for Harriet Gordon please sign up to Alison Stuart's newsletter!
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