Cosy Crime with a Windrush flavour – with debut author Mel Pennant

We are delighted to bring you another debut author, Mel Pennant and the first of a gripping new crime series, starring unforgettable Jamaican sleuth Miss Hortense, which is out on 12th June.

Retired nurse, avid gardener, renowned cake maker and fearless sleuth Miss Hortense has lived in Bigglesweigh, a quiet Birmingham suburb, since she emigrated from Jamaica in 1960. She takes great pride in her home, starching her lace curtains bright white, and she can tell if she’s been short-changed on turmeric before she’s even taken her first bite of a beef patty. Thirty-five years of nursing have also left her afraid of nobody – be they a local drug dealer or a priest – and an expert in deciphering other people’s secrets with just a glance.

Miss Hortense uses her skills to investigate the investments of the Pardner network – a special community of Black investors, determined to help their people succeed. But when an unidentified man is found dead in one of the Pardner’s homes, a Bible quote noted down beside his body, Miss Hortense’s long-buried past comes rushing back to greet her, bringing memories of the worst moment of her life, one which her community has never let her forget. It is time for Miss Hortense to solve a mystery that will see her, and the community she loves, tested to their limits. A Murder for Miss Hortense is Mel’s first novel and she is currently writing another mystery starring Miss Hortense.

Mel Pennent is an award-winning playwright whose work has appeared in the National Archives, as well as on stage. Born in London, she was raised by an extraordinary village, which included her Jamaican grandparents who moved to England in the 1950s as part of the Windrush generation. Mel is drawn to stories that explore what’s hidden below the surface and celebrate the richness and strength of tight-knit communities. She lives in London with her family and their dog, Bleu. 

‘It’s Murder She Wrote as you’ve never seen it before’ Sir Lenny Henry
‘The formidable Miss Hortense will be your new favourite literary sleuth! Fresh, original and intriguing from start to finish!’ Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Examiner and The Appeal
‘What a read! This is more than a cosy crime mystery [. . .] it’s the story of a community, one I hope I get to visit again soon’ Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

Doors open 6:30 pm event starts 6:45pm