Fiona Veitch Smith

The new unputdownable case from Clara Vale! Coming January 2026. The perfect Golden Age cosy mystery for fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie and Verity Bright won't want to miss this! September, 1930. Fearless detective Miss Clara Vale is bound for Berlin, but this trip is all about la mode - not murder. Clara is set to walk the runway at Berlin Fashion Week, as a favour to her designer friend Juju, with her assistant Bella in tow. Elections loom in Germany, and among Juju's friends, the Spieglers, all the talk is of the National Socialists. But trouble brews closer to home, when a shocking murder at their clothing factory points the finger at the Jewish couple's brilliant young son. With the victim an old friend of the fashion crew, emotions run high - and Clara quickly joins the investigation, setting out to untangle Nazi conspiracies and nasty colleagues. To complicate matters, Clara's old flame Larry Winter is in town, and it seems he may know more than he's letting on... When a second body turns up, pressure mounts. Amidst the dark glamour of 1930s Berlin, on the eve of the Third Reich, can Clara find the real killer and protect those around her? From silks to secrets, peplums to poison, this will be a Fashion Week like no other...

It's open season at Penford Manor! But someone has murder in their sights...At Penford Manor, the guests are arriving to celebrate the start of the grouse-hunting season: lords and ladies, barons and baronesses, a Member of Parliament - and chemistry graduate turned detective, Miss Clara Vale, an old friend of the family. But Clara is no ordinary guest: she's secretly investigating a blackmail plot against Lady Penford herself.Someone in the house is already up to no good, but when the body of a local trade unionist is found in the grounds, Clara's case gets even more complicated because a clue left by the body links it to the blackmail note.Who has discovered Lady Penford's secret? Can Clara and her trusted assistant Bella work together to find the murderer? And what do the cornflowers which keep popping up everywhere mean?Amidst the glittering dresses and sparkling conversation of society, Clara must find the truth - before the killer acts again!The perfect Golden Age cosy mystery for fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie and Verity Bright won't want to miss this!

* Previously published as The Crystal Crypt *Oxford, 1925. Intrepid reporter Poppy Denby is headed to the historic university city of Oxford, where a young female scientist, Dr June Leighton, has been found dead.Though June's death is ruled an accident by the authorities, one of her colleagues, Sophie Blackburn who is an old associate of Poppy's, is convinced June was murdered for threatening to expose a male colleague for plagiarism. However, Sophie's mental health is fragile and doubt is cast on her version of events. Poppy has always been reporter first, sleuth second, and whilst Poppy knows Sophie is still haunted by the death of her fiancé Bert, a former political correspondent for the Daily Globe, something tells Poppy there is a crime to be exposed and a scoop to be had.But as she begins to investigate, another female academic is attacked, and it doesn't take long for Poppy herself to become a target.Can she unmask the killer before another life is taken?

* Previously published as The Art Fiasco*'Historical detective fiction at its best... I had to give myself a couple of days without anything else planned because once I began reading it, I actually couldn't put it down until I'd finished' Reader review, 5 starsNewcastle, 1924. Reporter Poppy Denby is making her way up to Northumberland to celebrate her father's sixtieth birthday, but first, she can't resist stopping for a few days in Newcastle, for a quick hello to her favourite Aunt Dot.The infamous suffragette has temporarily moved up and is hosting world-renowned artist and long-time friend, Agnes Robson who is staging an exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery.It was supposed to be a relaxing and art-filled stop on the way, however, when a local journalist tries to link Agnes to the mysterious death of a young art teacher in Ashington Colliery, twenty-seven years earlier, Poppy is quickly roped in to help.Poppy is determined to clear Agne's names but the more she digs into this story the more she is convinced the young teacher was murdered by someone else, and that only means one thing: there is still a killer on the loose.Perfect for Fans of Verity Bright, Helena Dixon and TE Kinsey!Readers are absolutely LOVING Murder at the Art Gallery!'This was one of those books I didn't want to put down and stayed up late into the night to read' Reader review, 5 stars'It ticks all the boxes. Absorbing, interesting and compelling' Reader review, 5 stars'The mystery is multi-faceted with red herrings and interesting twists! If you are looking for a good historical mystery, this one is for you! It's a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended!' Reader review, 5 stars

* Previously published as The Cairo Brief*England, 1921. Intrepid reporter Poppy Denby is headed to the English countryside to cover an auction of ancient Egyptian treasures, hosted by renowned explorer Sir James Maddox on his beautiful estate - Winterton Hall.Maddox is auctioning priceless artefacts from his travels, including the death mask of Queen Nefertiti, which is alleged to carry a curse... Poppy is not one to believe in superstition but when an unfortunate 'accident' during the clay-pigeon shooting leaves one of the gun boys badly injured and she finds herself chased while walking the gardens, that's enough for Miss Denby to smell a headline!But when Sir James is found dead it's clear there is more at stake than just a byline. Is someone out to reclaim the ancient treasures, by any means necessary? And if so is anyone at Winterton Hall safe?

* Previously published as The Death Beat *New York, 1921. Poppy Denby, star reporter for the Daily Globe is ready to set sail for a new adventure across the pond and join her boss for a stint at The New York Times.She can hardly wait for the glitz and glamour of the Big Apple but instead of scouting out scandalous stories for the Entertainment pages, she gets stuck on the Death Beat. Writing obituaries isn't quite the American high life she'd imagined, but when a body is found in a luxury Lexington Avenue penthouse it's not long before our intrepid newshound sniffs out an unmissable scoop . . .When cause of death is marked as 'suspicious, and unexplained' Poppy's reporter senses are already tingling, and then she discovers that the dead man is none other than Prince Hans von Hassler of Liechtenstein.Can Poppy navigate New York's concrete jungle and find the truth before her life is in danger too?

Murder is no occupation for a lady... or is it?1929: Miss Clara Vale is a woman ahead of her time. Rather than attending Oxford to bag an eligible Duke (as her mother, Lady Vale, so desperately hoped), she threw herself into a degree in chemistry, with aspirations to become a scientist in her own right. But the world isn't ready for Clara. Unable to land a job in science because she's a woman, she is stuck behind the desk at a dingy London library. Until her estranged Uncle dies suddenly, leaving her his private detective agency, and laboratory, in his will.Clara couldn't become a detective, could she?The decision is made for her when one of her uncle's old clients comes to her for help with a case surrounding the local picture house and invites Clara to see the latest show, before they discuss the details.But during the film, a fire suddenly engulfs the picture house, with tragic consequences.It seems at first an accident, but Clara soon begins to question if it was in fact a carefully orchestrated murder. She's suddenly in the middle of a deadly mystery and will discover her scientific skills make her a sleuth to be reckoned with... Can she catch the killer before they strike again?The first in a brand-new, glittering Golden Age cozy mystery series. Fans of Verity Bright, Helena Dixon and TE Kinsey will be hooked from the very first page to the final breathtaking finale.

The 1920s most stylish sleuth returns in The Crystal Crypt for another thrilling murder mystery! “But accidents can still happen… Perhaps there was something out of her control, something she couldn’t have foreseen…”“Like someone plotting to kill her?” Reporter sleuth Poppy Denby is asked to investigate the mysterious death of an up-and-coming female scientist in an Oxford laboratory known as the Crystal Crypt. The official verdict is that Dr June Leighton died in a tragic accident, but Dr Leighton's lab assistant believes it was murder. However, when Poppy discovers that the colleague has spent time in a mental institution and has an unresolved murder in her own past, Poppy wonders if she is being misled. But then, another female academic is attacked, and Poppy herself becomes a target.

One ordinary meeting of the science club at Parkview Primary School becomes extraordinary when their teacher takes them back in time to 1843 to meet Christian inventor Charles Babbage. There they learn about his latest invention, the Difference Engine, but they have to be careful – if they’re not back in an hour they’ll be stuck in the nineteenth century forever! This brilliantly fun graphic novel for 7- to 9-year olds is a fantastic time travel adventure that will keep kids on the edge of their seats. Children will love the memorable characters and colourful artwork from illustrator Laura Borio that brings to life Fiona Veitch Smith’s entertaining story, and the graphic novel format is perfect for kids beginning to explore their own independent reading. As they follow the journey of the science club, children will learn about the history of the computer and its inventor, Charles Babbage, and about how science and faith go hand in hand. Produced in partnership with the Faraday Institute, it ties in with the National Science Curriculum for Key Stage 2, making it ideal for reading in the classroom as well as at home.

"Poppy Denby's back doing what she does best, and this time in Newcastle! Cleverly plotted as always, with an exceptional eye for detail and a fabulous amateur sleuth, Veitch Smith carries us back once more to the Golden Age for this delicious murder mystery." Jacky Collins (Dr Noir) It’s 1924 and Poppy Denby is heading up to Northumberland to celebrate her father’s sixtieth birthday. She stops off in Newcastle en route to visit her Aunt Dot, who has temporarily relocated from London to renovate a house she’s inherited. One of Aunt Dot’s guests is the world-renowned artist, Agnes Robson, who is staging an exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery. Reluctantly, Poppy is roped in to help when the artist’s press liaison man falls ill. She soon discovers that the local press has dug up some dirt on Agnes relating to the tragic death of a young art teacher in Ashington Colliery, twenty-seven years earlier. As she tries to suppress the story, Poppy begins to suspect that the teacher might have been murdered and that the killer may still be on the loose…

Intrepid reporter sleuth Poppy Denby is invited to attend the auction of the Death Mask of Nefertiti. The auction is to be held on the country estate of Sir James Maddox, a famous explorer and Egyptologist. Representatives of the world's leading museums will be bidding on the mask which was found, in Egypt, under murderous circumstances. Poppy and her colleagues from The Daily Globe, who are trying to stay one step ahead of their rivals from The London Courier, dismiss rumours of an ancient curse. But when one of the auction party is murdered, and someone starts stalking Poppy, the race is on to find the killer before 'the curse' can strike again.

Joseph waits for his brothers to return to Egypt with his younger brother, Benjamin. Will they finally recognise the brother they had left for dead? And will Joseph ever be reconciled with his long-lost family?

A delightful re-telling of the popular biblical story of Joseph. Having helped Pharoah make sense of his strange dreams, Joseph is now the second most important person in Egypt. Pharoah puts him charge of making sure everyone has enough food. When famine stirkes, Joseph's long-lost brothers come to ask Joseph for food - but they don't recognise the brother they thought was dead. Will Joseph choose to help them or take his revenge? Hilarious illustrations by Andy Catling featuring scene-stealing cows! Covers issues of concern to contemporary children such as sibling rivalry, helping others and making good choices.

Poppy looked up, her face pale, her hands shaking. What is it, Poppy? Oh my, Rollo, oh my. I think we've just struck gold. Poppy Denby is furious with Rollo, who has gambled away his position at the Daily Globe and is being banished to New York. That is, until she discovers he plans to take her with him to work at the New York Times! Poppy can't wait to report on the Manhattan arts scene, but her hopes are crushed when she is allocated The Death Beat - writing obituaries. But Poppy has a nose for a story, and when a body is found in a luxury penthouse apartment she starts to investigate. She unravels a sordid trail of illegal immigrants, forced labour, sex scandals, and an unexpected ghost from her past. Poppy is determined to help the victims, but can she find the evidence to bring the perpetrators to justice without putting her own life in danger...

'Lively, fresh and innovative retellings, these fabulous tales of the young Joseph are an absolute delight.' Alexa Tewkesbury, children's author Joseph used to live on a farm in the land of Canaan with his dad, stepmothers, eleven brothers and lots and lots of cows! His jealous brothers sold him as a slave and now he lives in Egypt. After Mrs Potiphar lied about him, Joseph has been thrown into prison, with only his imaginary cows to keep him company. Soon he's joined by a butler and a baker, who used to work for Pharoah. The butler and the baker have strange dreams. Can Joseph work out what they mean?

Joseph is still in prison in Egypt, with only his imaginary cows for company. Pharaoh’s butler, who promised to help him, has forgotten all about him. Meanwhile, Pharaoh is having some very strange dreams. Pharoah’s butler remembers that Joseph helped him to understand his dreams. Can Joseph do the same for Pharaoh and finally be free? ‘Fiona Veitch Smith and Andy Catling have done an excellent job . . . The text is fun and accessible and imaginative, yet still faithful to the biblical story. And, best of all, there are cows!’ Bob Hartman, storyteller and author

Poppy Denby, arts and entertainment editor at the Daily Globe, covers an exhibition of Russian art, hosted by White Russian refugees, including members of the surviving exiled Romanov royal family. There is an armed robbery, a guard is shot, and the largest Fabergé egg in the collection is stolen. While the egg itself is valuable, the secrets it contains within are priceless--secrets that could threaten major political powers.Suspects are aplenty, including the former keeper of the Fabergé egg, a Russian princess named Selena Romanova Yusopova. The interim Bolshevik Russian ambassador, Vasili Safin, inserts himself into the investigation, as he believes the egg--and the other treasures--should all be restored to the Russian people.Poppy, her editor, Rollo, press photographer Daniel, and the other staff of the Globe are delighted to be once again in the middle of a sensational story. But soon the investigation takes a dark turn when another body is found and an employee of the newspaper becomes a suspect. The race is on to find both the key and the egg--can they be found before the killer strikes again?Fiona Veitch Smith offers up another rollicking mystery set in 1920s London, when women's emancipation, the jazz age, the consequences of the First World War, and the aftermath of the Bolshevik revolution were rearranging the cultural landscape."The backdrop of the mystery is just as rich as the action itself. . . . The Kill Fee is enjoyable and upbeat, perfect for cozy-mystery fans who appreciate historical settings."--Foreword Reviews

In the first book of the Young Joseph series, we find Joseph living in Canaan with his dad, stepmothers, eleven brothers - and lots of scene-stealing cows! Joseph is his father's favourite, which makes his brothers very cross, especially when he tells them about the dream he has had in which the sun, moon and eleven stars bow down to him. To cheer him up, Joseph's dad gives him a beautiful coat of many colours - a 'rainbow robe' to remind him that God loves everyone - even his brothers.