The New Forest in Hampshire

Mother and Baby

One of my favourite places in England is the New Forest so it is hardly surprising that I set one of my books there (Homicide in Hampshire).

Whether you walk, cycle or horse-ride through the forest it is a wonderful experience.  There are woods and moorlands to discover and plenty of animals.  Probably the most famous are the New Forest ponies, followed by the sheep and donkeys.  An important do not do is feed these animals.  Nor should you pet them.  And, of course, when driving through the forest, always be alert because these animals have a tendency to crop the grass on the verges and to amble across the road.

Beaulieu House

There are several small towns for those who need shops, bars and restaurants and for those who enjoy show gardens and historic houses, there are several to visit.  The gardens at Exbury are gorgeous at any time of the year and there is a novel way of getting around - steam train.  A model one of course.  In Beaulieu there is the historic House and the National Motor Museum and on the banks of the Beaulieu River is Bucklers' Hard.  This is an 18th century shipbuilding village where they built ships for Nelson's Navy and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Among other things to see and do are the New Forest Wildlife Park and several Nature Reserves, Paultons Park and Breamore House.

For more information about the National Forest log onto their web site:  www.thenewforest.co.uk

There is also a blog now available:  forestandwaterside.info

Homicide in Hampshire

Cleo Marjoribanks lives in a village (fictitious of course!) in the New Forest and one evening comes home from London to find that her housekeeper has apparently drowned in the swimming pool and the housekeeper's husband is missing.  A couple of days later his body turns up on a beach.  He had been shot.  Later in the book the village gossip is found dead - in Cleo's garden.  She was, fortunately, away at the time.

Near the end of the book is a very strange car chase - four cars which keep to the speed limits and obey the traffic lights when driving through towns. 

The Detective Chief Inspector in charge of the case is 'Steaming' Kettle who went to school with Cleo.  They haven't seen each other since then so it is quite a reunion.  And, yes, they do get very friendly!!!!!!

Homicide in Hampshire is available at $2.99/£2.00 on Amazon, Smashwords.com, Kobo, Apple I-Pad, Sony, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Diesel, Baker-Taylor.