Dead East: March 2026
News and features from the Anglian Crime Authors Collective.
Welcome to the latest Dead East newsletter: news and exclusive content from crime authors based in East Anglia, in the UK.
In this issue:
New Crime Fiction from East Anglia — Dead East News and Events — Death in Disguise by Gary Powell — Crime Fiction News and Events — Writer’s Desk: Michelle Kidd — For Writers — Tricks of Memory by Julia Stone — New Releases by Other Hands — More from Dead East — And finally…
New Crime Fiction from East Anglia
The Silent Boy by Michelle Kidd
The Silent Boy is the eighth book in the DI Jack MacIntosh crime series, and in this outing Jack is faced with a particularly sensitive and difficult case.
When little Joshua Maguire is found home alone, covered in blood, it soon transpires that the six year old might be the sole witness to his parents’ brutal murder.
But Joshua Maguire isn’t talking — at all. Rendered mute by the trauma, Jack and his team have the delicate task of trying to coax the boy to speak and tell them what he witnessed. But if he did, what would he say? And who did he see?
All the while, the killer is watching and wishing they had finished the job properly the first time…
Extract
Time: 11.25 p.m.
Date: Sunday 8 November 2015
Location: Richmond, South-West London
The first thing I notice are his eyes.
Huge, saucer-like eyes with their whites almost glowing in the half-light. I’ve seen eyes like this before — and I know they’re eyes full of fear.
Shit.
The knife in my hand feels heavy and awkward, its handle slick with recently spilled blood. I know without looking that my hands are covered — as are my clothes, my face, my hair. I can feel a drop of blood leave my left eyebrow, dripping down onto my cheek.
Shit.
The eyes continue to stare out into the dark, widening by the second — eyes looking right at me. A distinct chill shudders through my body.
What did he see?
I momentarily tighten my grip on the bloodied knife, my mouth quickly turning dry. If he starts to scream, I’ll have to silence him, too. Could I do it? I swallow past the unnecessary question — I already know that I can.
I stand completely still, my muscles tense. I daren’t even breathe. I can feel my heart thumping, each beat quicker than the last. The knife feels even heavier now, and I start to have panicked visions of it clattering to the polished floorboards at my feet. I don’t want to startle him, so my grip strengthens.
The easy option would be to surprise him now and be done with it — make it all go away.
But what if he hasn’t seen me?
It’s impossible to tell.
As the seconds tick by, no scream erupts from his mouth. Instead, the silence deepens. The bodies are in front of me. I know they’re both dead because I slit their throats and watched the blood pump out. I surprised myself at how easy it was, how easy it was to take a life. Two lives. But what should I do now that the deed is done?
Holding my breath, I watch him step forward, his movements stiff and robotic. I can see his bottom lip trembling as he nears, but he seems to look right through me, as if I’m merely a ghost. Maybe I am. The knife in my hand reminds me that I’m in charge and I could deal with the problem right here, right now. It wouldn’t take long.
Instead, I take a silent step backwards. His unblinking gaze is locked solidly onto the bodies of his parents — as if he’s unable to see anything, or anyone, else. He kneels down beside them, hesitating for only the briefest of seconds before lying down in between and placing an arm protectively over his mother. Then, and only then, do his eyes finally close.
I let out a painful breath, still mindful of making a noise that might break the boy’s trance. I edge towards the door.
I no longer want to be here.
I can’t be here.
I need to disappear.
[The Silent Boy was published on 5th March 2026 by Joffe Books, and can be bought online at Amazon and other booksellers.]
Murder on the Norfolk Broads (DCI Greg Geldard Book 1) by Heather Peck
Previously published as Secret Places, the first of Heather Peck’s DCI Greg Geldard series to be reissued by Joffe Books is available for pre-order now, and for sale on 16th March. The remaining eight will be issued at three-week intervals, culminating in the publication of the tenth, a new novel in the series, published on 21st September.
A human skeleton is unearthed in a forgotten World War 2 bunker on a remote Yorkshire farm. Detective Geldard welcomes the distraction. His wife is away on a solo trip to America, and he’s starting to tire of ready meals and wondering what she’s getting up to.
Then the forensics come back. This was no accident. It was murder.
The farmer insists she knows nothing about the body beneath her land. And Coombe Farm’s former occupants, Matthew and Rachel Wade, have vanished without trace.
Geldard follows the trail south to Norfolk, where Rachel was last seen. Here, among winding rivers, empty marshland, and tight-lipped communities, people know how to disappear – and how to keep secrets buried.
[Murder on the Norfolk Broads is published on 16th March 2026 by Joffe Books, and can be bought online at Amazon and other booksellers.]
Book two in the series, Death on the Norfolk Broads, is republished on 6th April.
Dead East News and Events
Pre-order: Theo Harris
Murder Most Brazen, the third Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery novel by Dead East author Theo Harris is now available to pre-order, before its 24th April publication:
Some secrets should stay buried. This one won't.
Harvey Ross has finally found his rhythm in Sheringham. His consulting work keeps him sharp, his relationship with Dr. Rose Morgan is flourishing, and he's reconnecting with his daughters after years of estrangement. Life is good. Quiet. Perfectly ordinary.
Then he opens a fifty-year-old cold case and everything changes.
Reissues and appearances: Heather Peck
As highlighted above, Joffe Books are in the process of republishing Heather Peck’s DCI Greg Geldard series, with the first book, Murder on the Norfolk Broads, out this month. Book 2 in the series, Glass Arrows, is republished on 6th April as Death on the Norfolk Broads, and Book 3, Fires of Hate, comes out on 27th April as Fire on the Norfolk Broads. Books 4 to 6 follow on 18th May, 8th June and 29th June respectively.
In other news, Heather had a warm welcome and a lovely audience at Wells-next-the-Sea Library in late February, and the best set of questions she’s had since she was guest at her local school on World Book Day. Her next library appearance is at Fakenham on 17th June.
Events with Julia Stone at Sudbury Arts Centre
Saturday 11th April – ‘The Path to Traditional Publication’, an informative workshop for readers & writers run by Julia Stone
1pm to 3pm at Sudbury Arts Centre CO10 2EASunday 10th May – ‘How to Plot a Novel’, a workshop for readers & writers run by Julia Stone
1pm to 3pm at Sudbury Arts Centre CO10 2EASunday 31st May – Anglian Authors Book Fair, books, talks and panel discussions
10am to 3pm at Sudbury Arts Centre CO10 2EA
Authors can apply for a stand now. Check the Fairs and markets tab on the Sudbury Arts website.
More information on all these events can be found at https://sudburyartscentre.com/whats-on/
Author interview: Nick Guthrie
Over on the website of Ipswich-based indie, Urban Pigs Press, Nick Guthrie is interviewed about a story he recently wrote for them and his writing plans for the year.
CWA East Anglian Chapter lunch
Members of the Crime Writers’ Association’s East Anglian Chapter got together in Norwich for a lunchtime catch-up last month. Pictured around the table, from front left: Sean Enright, Sarah Doig, Iain Andrews, Stephanie George, Maureen Austin, Heather Peck, Martin Sterling, Fiona Leitch, Nick Guthrie, Phil Johnson and Sue Saunders. With several new members, there were introductions and lots of chat, ranging from book promotion to behind-the-scenes stories from Coronation Street, by way of where not to put a 17th century plague mask…
Death in Disguise
The Amazing True Story of the Chelsea Murders 1870
by Gary Powell
Prior to 1870, violent crime in Chelsea was almost unheard of; this area of mainly market gardens, differed greatly to the dark, dank, filthy streets of Whitechapel to the east, which would, in eighteen years’ time, harbour a killer of infamous savagery. But in May 1870 the attention of Londoners, and the rest of the country, would be drawn to their newspapers as the media of the day reported, in gruesome detail, two horrific murders that shook the residents of this quiet London suburb to its core.
The Reverend Elias Huelin, born on the predominately French-speaking Channel Island of Jersey in 1785, was a curate in the Lincolnshire village of Navenby before moving, in the early 1850’s, to London, with his young housekeeper Ann Boss, to take up similar positions in the French Protestant Church in Soho Square and then the Brompton Cemetery in West London. By 1865 Huelin, now in his late seventies, had retired and turned to Capitalism, building an impressive property portfolio in Seymour Place (now Seymour Walk), and Paulton’s Square, just off Chelsea’s Kings Road. In May 1870 Huelin had just completed the purchase of No.24 Wellington Square and was preparing the property for rental.
On the morning of Monday 9th May 1870, Huelin was seen, by the Paulton’s Square Keeper (a modern day PCSO), leaving No.15 Paulton’s Square where Huelin now lived with Ann Boss; at 11.20am he was again seen climbing the stairs leading to the front door of his latest acquisition: No.24 Wellington Square. This would be the last sighting of Huelin alive.
Late that evening, next-door neighbour — Samual Stainsby, an actor who rented No.14 Paulton’s Square from Huelin — became suspicious when he saw Huelin’s small dog on the doorstep of his neighbour’s house. He reported the fact to the police at Chelsea Police Station who sent a couple of constables to the address. They gained entry to No.15, via an open back window, and searched the address. They found a wooden clothes box in the basement kitchen secured by a padlock.
The police reported back to Stainsby, explaining there was nothing suspicious in the property therefore not a police matter. Stainsby knew that Huelin and Boss travelled to Lincolnshire this time of year to visit the farm in Navenby, which he stilled owned, to check on its tenants and that the property was being maintained to the standard agreed in the rental agreement. This was something Huelin and Boss (who was a local Lincolnshire woman) regularly did every year but Stainsby was confused: his landlord hadn’t told him he was going and that the property was left insecure and the dog seemingly abandoned.
On Tuesday, 10th May, a Frenchman, professing to be the nephew of Elias Huelin, moved into No.15 Paulton’s Square. He had employed a local charwoman, Harriet Middleton, to clean and cook for him, telling her that his uncle had left London, with Ann Boss, to travel to Lincolnshire.
The Frenchman continued to live at No.15 Paulton’s Square, his uncle’s house, for the next couple of days with Harriet Middleton looking after him. He decided to travel to the West End for a day of drinking and entertainment on Wednesday 11th May, returning to Chelsea late that evening. He took a diversion to the address of local greengrocer — Henry Piper. Piper also moved furniture and goods for local people, using an old handcart. The Frenchman asked him if he would move some property from Paulton’s Square to an address in Fulham that night. Piper eventually agreed, even at that late an hour, and arrived at No.15 at 11pm. He was directed down to the basement kitchen and shown the padlocked clothes box noticed by the police constables two evenings before. He was told to move it, but when Piper placed his hand under the box, he felt something sticky. He looked at his hand and saw blood. He remonstrated with the Frenchman, who ran from the property into the square heading for the junction with Kings Road. Piper chased him, and there, standing on the corner, was a police officer! Piper spoke to the officer explaining the circumstances and showing him the blood on his hand. The Frenchman didn’t make to run but remained where he was, as if about to give some explanation. The inexperienced police constable walked the Frenchman and Piper back to the house to investigate. The Frenchman this time made a bid to escape but was caught by Piper and eventually detained by the constable and taken to Chelsea Police Station where he was searched.
Back at No.15 Paulton’s Square, local Police Sergeant, John Large, arrived at the scene and questioned Piper before escorting him to the basement kitchen. Sgt Large broke the padlock that fastened the clothes box, discovering the body of Ann Boss the housekeeper inside. She had been strangled with such force, the rope still about her neck, that blood had escaped from her nose and mouth before her death, seeping through the bottom of the box. Large sent word to the police station asking if the suspect had any keys on him and if so to return them to him. A set of keys found on the suspect were returned, one of the keys fitted the padlock. Attention now focused on Elias Huelin, who had not been seen since 11.20am on Monday morning.
Scotland Yard’s Detective Branch was assigned to the case, following huge media interest, with Detective Superintendent Fisher in charge. Elias Huelin’s body was eventually discovered, buried in the garden of No.24 Wellington Square. He had been struck on the back of the head with a sharp instrument. The surgeon, who carried out the post-mortem, believed the murder weapon to be a slater’s tool — commonplace in London at the time, although the murder weapon was never recovered.
Fisher’s attention returned to the suspect, still held at Chelsea Police Station. It was discovered the so-called nephew of Elias Huelin was in fact Walter Millar, a plasterer who worked for Huelin. Millar had adopted a disguise so good that those close to him didn’t recognise him. He stood trial for the murder of Elias Huelin (not Ann Boss, who as a woman was insignificant in Victorian society) at the Old Bailey. Millar was convicted and executed in Newgate prison in August 1870. Both victims share the same grave situated in the grounds of the Brompton Oratory. A motive for the murders was never established at the trial — it was thought to be for financial gain. The only person, who could provide the answer, took it to his death at the end of the public executioner’s rope.
Gary Powell is a retired London police detective, having served thirty-three years with the British Transport Police, and now resides in the North Norfolk seaside town of Sheringham. He has published seven books to date on true crime, crime thrillers and poetry. He has been a guide at St Paul’s Cathedral for the past sixteen years, a public speaker and a member of the Crime Writers Association. His most recent novel is The Cutting Room.
Crime Fiction News and Events
All Booked Up, Suffolk, early 2027
A new two-day book event “full of authors and vendors, as well as having book-themed crafts, quizzes, raffles and more” will be held in Suffolk in February or March 2027, date and location to be finalised.
Crime fiction festivals coming up:
28 March 2026 Anglesey Crime Writing Festival
19 April 2026 Warrington Crime Festival
1-3 May 2026 Crime and Thriller Weekend, Cromarty
Writer’s Desk: Michelle Kidd
This article should really be titled The Writer’s Sofa, The Writer’s Bed, or sometimes The Writer’s Garden Chair, as I don’t actually have a desk! I write on a combination of the sofa, the bed, out in the garden, or occasionally in libraries or coffee shops. I write long hand with a pen and paper, so I can be quite versatile! One common denominator with all locations (apart from in the library and coffee shop) is the presence of a cat…. Livi is my tabby cat, although I’m sure she thinks she’s a tiger, and she can often be seen on my bed ensuring I’m getting my word count in. Tom is my other half’s cat, and he too has started to take the supervising editor role quite seriously.
I plan a lot of my writing while out and about on my daily walk. I’m lucky to live in the Suffolk countryside and there’s nothing better to unblock a plot line problem, or character issue, than a good old power walk in the fresh air. I try to get out every day, weather permitting and I find I get a lot of my book ideas while out and about. When I return, I scribble them down in my trusty ‘ideas’ notebook for future use! So, I’m really looking forward to the better weather, as then there’s no excuse not to get those walking boots on and get the creative juices flowing.
So far, neither Livi not Tom have joined me on my creative walks – they’re both house cats and seem quite happy where they are! And we all know that famous phrase – never wake a sleeping baby or a sleeping cat!
For Writers
Pellerin Books is a new publisher looking to work with authors who already have some experience with publishing and self-publishing: “We partner with experienced authors — whether traditionally published or self-published — who are ambitious to reach more readers.” The company was founded by Head of Zeus co-founder Laura Palmer, Jessie Sullivan, identified as a ‘Future Industry Leader’ by The Bookseller, and Peyton Stableford, former editor at the Head of Zeus crime and thriller list. They’re looking for commercial fiction and are interested in crime and thrillers. More at: https://pellerinbooks.com/
Urban Pigs Press are compiling a second charity anthology, with all profits going to Suffolk-based charity FIND — Families in Need. They’re looking for short fiction between 500 to 2000 words inspired by the prompt Hunger. They’re open to a wide range of genres but find that crime, horror and gritty realism work best. The submission window is now open and will close on the 1st May 2026, aiming for a summer release. Full details from the Urban Pigs website.
There is now a CWA chapter for self-published authors. Self-published authors will see a banner in the members’ area of the website when they log in, inviting them to join the new chapter. Members can also join or leave chapters via their member dashboards on the website. Self-published members are also welcome to join the CWA Self-Published Members Facebook Group.
In brief:
The DHH literary agency is partnering with Capital Crime to take part in a pitching event looking for the next standout voice in crime fiction. Submissions are open throughout April.
Tickets are now on sale for Jericho Writers’ London Festival of Writing, taking place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2026. The weekend will be packed with workshops, one-to-ones and inspiring sessions as writers, literary agents and industry professionals gather from around the world.
The Crime Writers’ Association is looking for two enthusiastic individuals to join the CWA Board. For more information, please contact Heather Fitt at coordinator@thecwa.co.uk
The Crime Writers’ Association has left Twitter/X. “The safety and well-being of our members is always our priority, and following ongoing concerns around user safety, privacy, and recent AI-related issues, we’ve decided to step back from active use of this platform.” The organisation remains active on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and Threads.
Literary agents are increasingly unhappy with the increasing number of AI-generated manuscripts, synopses and cover letters they're receiving these days.
Spotify have launched audiobook charts in the UK and US.
8th Marsh was National Proofreading Day.
Bookseller on the need for publishers to be honest with authors about expectations around projected sales and publicity budgets.
Tricks of Memory by Julia Stone
My friend, Ali, recently showed me a few faded photos of her and her mother on a beach with another teenage girl.
‘Who’s that other girl with you?’ I asked.
Ali looked at me quizzically and said, ‘It’s you, of course!’
Aside from not recognising myself in the photo, I have absolutely no memory of ever going to a beach with Ali and her mother. In fact, no recall of going on any outing with her parents, ever. Any memory of the event has completely gone, to the extent that I would have sworn such a trip to the seaside never took place had there not been photographic evidence.
Was it forgotten because, as teenage girls, we had a lot ‘more important’ things going on in our lives? Was it a fairly dull day that didn’t warrant recalling in the midst of our exciting teenage lives? It’s a shame that I can’t recall the what, where and when of that summer’s day, but that’s how memory works.
Think you can trust your own memories? Think again!
Julia Stone’s latest psychological suspense novel, The Expert Witness, tackles the theme of memory. The story delves into the mind and experiences of an expert in memory, as she tries to atone for an event in her past. The Expert Witness is available at all good booksellers. For more snippets on memory and psychology sign up to Julia’s readers club at www.juliastonewriter.com.
New Releases by Other Hands
The Murder Pool by Stella Blómkvist — “Sometimes murder runs in the family. Or does it?”
The Dark Heart by Neil Lancaster — “DS Max Craigie uncovers a chilling connection between a series of brutal murders…”
The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent — “If my sister hadn’t been beautiful, none of it would have happened.”
Lost Girls by Charlotte Philby — “There are no witnesses and no ransom demand: thirteen-year-old Freya Sjöberg has vanished into thin air.”
The Harvey Girl by Dana Stabenow — “1890. The New Mexico Territory is a lawless frontier where criminals steal money and land alike with impunity.”
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Contact Dead East: acacwriters@gmail.com
And finally…
“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” —Margaret Atwood