Your Latest London Dispatch for March 2025
Growing up in Los Angeles, land of seemingly perpetual sunshine, I never understood why Mum loved The Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” so much. She tried to describe the feeling of emerging from the winter into the spring when everything comes to life again, but never having experienced a cold and grey winter I didn’t really have any context for the song.
Fast forward two decades and many winters spent in Iowa, New York, and Britain, and I am a convert. I love nothing more than that first proper spring day when the sun is shining, the daffodils are out, and all of the long, grey winter days seem like they are behind us. Everyone is in a good mood, and everything seems possible.
Living in Britain, I know that all of this joyful optimism will be tempered by "Second Winter” when we will again get a cold snap, possibly accompanied by rain and occasionally wet snow. However, the first signs of spring are reminders that strawberries and cream, cricket, and Pimms are on their way.
Book news
The Dressmakers of London
First things first, thank you to everyone who bought a copy of The Dressmakers of London, snapped photos of it spotted in the wild, and left a review! I have been overwhelmed by all of the love for Sylvia and Izzie’s story.
Just as a reminder, if you have this or any other books lined up for your book clubs, I’d love to come chat! Working around time zones and writing deadlines, I am happy to make virtual appearances. All you have to do is fill out this form.
A Dark and Deadly Journey (Evelyne Redfern #3)
This past month, I shared the exciting news that the next novel in the Evelyne Redfern series, A Dark and Deadly Journey, comes out in September! Not only that, I was able to reveal the cover for the new book!
I absolutely love the call back to Casablanca with this cover. It’s perfect because for this case I’ve sent Evelyne and her partner David Poole to Lisbon to investigate the disappearance of a valuable informant for British Intelligence in Portugal. Here’s a closer look at the full summary:
After being sidelined for a pesky gunshot wound sustained during her last case, typist-turned-field agent Evelyne Redfern is ready for her next assignment with Britain’s secretive Special Investigations Unit. When a British Intelligence informant in Portugal mysteriously disappears just after hinting that he has vital information about German plans that could tip the balance of World War Two, Evelyne and her dashingly irksome partner, David Poole, are sent to Lisbon to find him.
Once they land in Portugal, Evelyne and David aren't even able to leave the airport before she discovers one of their fellow aeroplane passengers murdered and uncovers a diary with a clear link between the victim and their missing informant. With their mission in jeopardy before it can truly begin, Evelyne and David fight to keep their cover intact as they descend deeper into the shadows that surround Lisbon’s glittering collection of wealthy expats and dangerous spies. This case will test Evelyne and David’s training, charm, and wit—and their growing attraction for one another.
A Dark and Deadly Journey will be out September 23rd and is available for preorder now!
ICYMI
I have been doing a lot of things on the internet recently, so I thought I would round some of them up so you can make sure you haven’t missed anything!
I dove into my research for The Dressmakers of London for a three-part series on clothing rationing during World War 2 Britain called Dressing on the Ration. Parts 1 and 2 are available now with part 3 coming next week!
I was a guest interview on the A Bookish Home podcast talking about The Dressmakers of London.
Heather Webb and I chatted about The Dressmakers of London as part of Warwick’s in La Jolla’s In Conversation series. It’s a really great conversation, so I highly recommend watching it!
While I have been focusing on The Dressmakers of London, BookBub kindly reached back into my back list, featuring The Light Over London in a piece called “21 World War II Novels Set During the Blitz” and The Last Garden in England for their article “In Full Bloom: 13 Books with Dreamy Gardens.”
I also published a look back at my knitting habits in February 2025. As some of you may know, knitting is a big part of how I relax and also refuel the creative side of my brain.
Bid on Signed Books!
Before I go, I wanted to quickly mention an upcoming auction I am participating in. From March 26th to April 1st, you’ll be able to bid on signed hardback copies of A Traitor in Whitehall and Betrayal at Blackthorn Park as part of the Crime Writers for Trans Rights 2025 auction. Supporting the rights of all LGBTQ+ people is a cause near and dear to my heart, and all of the proceeds from this auction will go to the Transgender Law Center. To bid on my lot, click on the button below.
If the auction hasn’t opened for bids yet, you can bookmark that bid by hitting the Watch heart, and do take a look at the other incredible lots donated by dozens of your favorite historical crime writers like Susan Elia MacNeal, Anna Lee Huber, Sherry Thomas, and Mariah Fredericks, as well as authors like Gillian Flynn, David Balducci, Deanna Raybourn, and Charlaine Harris.
Good luck!