The Art Fiasco starts nearly three years after the end of Poppy’s last adventure in The Cairo Brief. In the “real” world it’s been two years, and I apologize to all Poppy’s many fans left in limbo at the end of the last book, desperate to find out what happens next. Well, wait no more!
I always love writing Poppy Denby books, but this one has been particularly enjoyable. When you read the historical notes at the end (don’t do so now as there are some spoilers) you will discover that the idea for the story is rooted in my own family’s experience in the 1920s. In addition, it is set in my home town of Newcastle upon Tyne. There has been something really special about walking the streets of Grainger Town or browsing the Laing Art Gallery and seeing it all through Poppy’s eyes. Some of the book is also set on the same street as the church I attend, Heaton Baptist, and I have been able to plot as I drive or walk past the various locations. I have also visited Morpeth and Ashington – places I have known since I was a child – but seen them through different eyes.
As always, there are many people to thank. Firstly, Dave, Robyn, and James Giles at the Laing Art Gallery, who showed around the eccentric woman who wanted to set a murder in their place of work. James, particularly, was helpful in guiding me around the “backstage” area of the gallery and pointing out the staircase to the roof that became so important in the plotting of the book.
Thanks too to Rajan Nair, who let the eccentric woman in to look around his town house on Jesmond Vale Terrace. It really helped to envisage where my characters would be living for the duration of the story. Thanks too to Lorrie at Morpeth Methodist, who not only showed me around the church but also pointed out the exact house that Poppy’s parents would have lived in if they were really ministers there in 1924. I am also grateful to the archivists at Woodhorn Colliery Museum and the very helpful folk of the Heaton History Group.
As always, I am indebted to the professional and supportive team at Lion Hudson, including Julie Frederick, Louise Titley, Lyn Roberts, and the fabulously talented cover designer Laurence Whiteley. However, the team is far poorer for the loss of my indefatigable editor and partner in literary crime Jessica Gladwell, who has accompanied Poppy and me on so many adventures. We will both miss her hugely. Jess, may the next chapter of your life be just as flapulous as the last.
Finally, to my wonderful husband and daughter: thank you for believing in me. I could not be a crazy author lady without you.
So now, dear reader, without further ado it’s over to you.