Many Poppy fans have contacted me to ask if there will be another Poppy book out soon. The answer is sadly ‘no’. The publisher has decided not to continue with the series, so The Crystal Crypt will be the last Poppy book – for now. I do hope in the future to pick up the series again, but at the moment, that is not possible. I am very sad about this, knowing how much Poppy is loved, and knowing how much I have loved creating her. Thank you to all my readers and listeners for your support over the years. It is humbling to know that a character I simply imagined has brought so much joy to so many people. Thank you, once again, to Jessica Gladwell, Tony Collins, Joy Tibbs and Louise Titley who helped introduce Poppy to the world.

I have delayed sharing this sad news so that I can sweeten it with some good news. I have a new series coming out with Embla Books (an imprint of Bonnier Books UK), which has just been announced in The Bookseller today! The Miss Clara Vale Mysteries, about a lady science graduate who inherits a detective agency in Newcastle upon Tyne, will be released this September. There are three under contract, so far, the first is ‘The Picture House Murders’, set in the summer of 1929. So fans of Poppy Denby (and hopefully many more new fans) prepare yourselves for more mysterious Golden Age delights!

Clara, like Poppy, will soon be getting her own website. But for now, you can follow any developments on my author website www.fiona.veitchsmith.com

Below: 1920s film star Louise Brooks. If anyone were to play Clara in a moving picture it would be Miss Brooks!