About

Hello, and welcome! I’m C.K. Harewood and I love historical settings, complex mysteries and compelling characters. My stories are set in the 20th century, a time when the world was simpler and yet perversely complicated with the advent of science and radical shifts in society and politics.

 

Whilst I admire and enjoy the writings of Golden Age crime and mystery writers like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers, I do have rather a disdain for the aristocratic sleuth who needs to fill their idle hours and so 'play' at solving murders. To me, a murder is a horrific event, devastating families and friends, and shouldn't be treated as a game. That's why my main characters are, I hope, believable and relatable, and that there is a determination for the 'detective' to get justice for the victim rather than merely enjoying the solving of an intriguing puzzle.

 

When I’m not writing (which isn't often), I’m happily occupied with my two adorable cats, who take their roles as stress relievers quite seriously. I’m a huge fan of the classic British sci-fi show Blake's 7 and will often have it playing in the background while I'm writing. As for how I write, well…. strange as it may seem, and though I risk sounding like a Luddite here, I've actually discovered that my writing process works best when I use a typewriter for my first drafts, along with a notebook and several fountain pens. Yes, I'm old school, but I make no apologies for that; I love analogue!

 

I love a good game of Scrabble - a good game for me is when I come up with some pretty good words, not whether I win (although that's always a bonus) - and to relax with the odd jigsaw puzzle, and mostly read non-fiction, usually history, and these days, almost always about the 20th century.

 

Through my books, I hope to entertain my readers with complex and exciting mysteries, peopled with characters that feel as real as if they were truly alive. Whether you’re here to learn about my latest release, join my newsletter, or simply browse, I’m so glad you stopped by.

 

Happy reading—and if you’ve got a favourite mystery, funny or cute cat anecdote, or even a favourite Blake’s 7 quote, do let me know!