Research is my very favourite part of a book – possibly because I love learning new things – and I had to do a bit of research on murder weapons for The Body at Rookery Barn.
I decided that I wanted the murder weapon to be poison. Something that would mimic the effect of a heart attack, but not digitalis (foxgloves) because that would be a bit too obvious.
I also wanted it to fit other criteria: the victim is a Classics professor at a Cambridge college (imaginary, but St Bene’t’s (with two apostrophes) is the oldest church in Cambridge, so I thought it was fair to use the name for a college).
What kind of poisons were known in the classical world? Most of what we know is from the writings of Galen and Pliny the Elder. Mineral poisons weren’t really used (so that’s no to arsenic); poisonous insects and snakes were known about but not really used as a murder weapon; so that leaves plants. The most commonly ones were deadly nightshade, aconite (monkshood), hemlock and yew extract.
The Greek philosopher Socrates was forced to drink poison when he was condemned to death: hemlock. This plan, hemlock grows in ditches and riverbanks in England in June and July – but my book is set in April. Hemlock wasn’t going to work.
Aconite was a possibility: it causes ventricular fibrillation and it flowers in May. That would be pushing it slightly, but it was a possibility.
Yew extract? Problem is, the lethal dose is 50g of needles.
Deadly nightshade grows in the UK from May to October. Again, it’s not quite the right season.
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But then I came across the most glorious urban myth, about Alexander the Great. And it’s an evergreen plant. One which could be ground into a meal and hidden. The kind of plant that’s likely to be grown by someone who has a big collection of azaleas and rhododendrons – and Colin, my hero, finds it in the garden of Lady Sybil Walters, one of Georgina’s best friends…
About the Author
Kate Hardy lives in Norwich with her husband, two grown-up children, two spaniels and too many books to count.
She’s won three Romantic Novelists’ Association awards for her romantic fiction – and is thoroughly enjoying her new life of crime! When she’s not writing or researching, she’ll be out at a gig or the theatre, at ballet class, doing cross-stitch, taking photographs of the sunrise while persuading the spaniels to stay still for one second, fossicking around on a beach or in archives, or exploring ancient buildings.
She loves learning new things, which is why you’ll always discover something different in a Kate Hardy book…
Outside, Rookery Barn glows in the mid-morning sunshine while fat bees flit lazily between the forget-me-nots. Inside, a body lies dead…
Widowed Georgina Drake has no regrets about moving to beautiful, sleepy Little Wenborough in rural Norfolk. Until she opens the door to her rental property and finds the dead body of her latest guest, irritable university professor Roland Garnett. And on top of that she’s suddenly hearing a woman’s voice through her hearing aids.
Completely shaken by the discovery, Georgina can hardly believe it when the police conclude that Professor Garnett was poisoned, with a dinner delivered by Georgina herself. Is she about to be accused of murder? Georgina needs to pull herself together, try to ignore the distracting voice, and clear her name!
Asking around, it seems Roland Garnett offended half the village during his three-week stay and made unwelcome advances to the rest. But who was provoked enough to poison him? Georgina’s best lead is the deadly oleander found in Roland’s system. Her gardener, Young Tom, had access to the plant, but before she can talk to him Tom becomes the killer’s next victim.
As the crimes mount up, so do the clues, but does Georgina have what it takes to follow them to their conclusion? Even when her amateur sleuthing puts her next in the killer’s sights…?
An addictive and completely gripping cosy crime novel. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Midsomer Murders.
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Research gives some fascinating rabbit holes to get lost down doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt definitely does! It's my favourite part of a book. I have to put a timer on my phone or I could lose all day to research...
DeleteThanks for coming by to read this post, EC!
DeleteAwesome bookcover. Great to know about this cozy!
ReplyDeleteThank you - the designer did such a good job!
DeleteThanks Ellie!
DeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThanks Margaret!
DeleteWithout thorough research, there's no credible story. "The Body at the Rookery Barn" is a great mystery story!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by to read this post, Duta. Yes, The Body at Rookery Barn is an interesting and intriguing mystery.
DeleteThank you, Duta x
DeleteThis sounds an intriguing book. I love to read fiction that also teaches.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by to read this post, JB!
DeleteThank you! x
DeleteI'm not sure if it was your or someone else who came to visit me at Marmelade Gypsy but thanks for coming by if it was you. This article on researching was interesting -- and the book sounds interesting too! My kind of subject!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by to read this post, Jeanie!
DeleteThank you so much x
DeleteMuy interesante. siempre es bueno investigar. suerte con el libro. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteGracias! xx
Deleteyes, research is important for many purposes....
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing ...
Glad it was helpful! x
Deletevery interesting article:)
ReplyDeleteThank you x
DeleteInteresting post
ReplyDeleteThank you x
ReplyDelete