Book Synopsis:
A Scottish Broch.
An archaeologist scorned.
A ghost disturbed.
The Detective Duo, Fergus and Flora, are spending their summer on an archaeological dig, searching for the Lost Broch.
But someone—or something—seems set on sabotaging the project. An infestation of spiders—a swarm of mice—the campsite trashed—who knew archaeology could be so dangerous?
And is the Lost Broch really under a curse?
The Haunted Broch is available in ebook and paperback now, you can purchase your copy of both here.
Guest Post:
Inspiration Through Books that Inspired me as a Child
I have always been a reader. My mother, showing admiral patience, taught me to read when I was three. This was probably inspired by a family of voracious readers. An only child I was left to read pretty much when and what I wanted. This suited me down to the ground as I was a bookworm from the get-go.
I read most of the classics by the time I was ten. I was given a set of children’s classics for my Christmas one year. It turned out these were the real McCoy just with children’s covers. Not knowing any better I read them all. Dickens, Austin, Thackery, the lot. I also read books such as the Milly Molly Mandy series, The Folk of the Faraway Tree, the Cherry Ames and Sue Barton Nursing series and any Chalet School books I could get my hands on.
Through all this my favourites were always the mysteries. I’ve read every Famous Five, Secret Seven, Hard Boys and who could forget Nancy Drew. They always seemed to lead such exciting lives and no one seemed to care what they got up to. They ran wild, within certain parameters, and were the only people who could solve a mystery. What a fabulous way to spend your summer holidays.
I wanted to bring elements of this into a contemporary series. Obviously, my characters, Fergus and Flora, are modern teens and their temperaments and characters reflect this. However, I also wanted it to be a bit Famous Five meets Scooby Doo for an older and more modern, age range.
In the Haunted Broch Fergus and Flora are spending their summer on an archaeological dig at Scotland’s Lost Broch. The lost Broch is a real one which was first discovered by a Victorian spinster called Christian Maclagan. When she reported it to the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland, they gave her short shrift because she was a woman. She couldn’t be a fellow as she wasn’t a fellow. Therefore, the broch was never excavated. It has recently been found again. In the book, no sooner do our intrepid investigators get there than ghostly goings on and dastardly deeds occur. It would appear Christian is not happy with her broch being disturbed. Or is that the case? Fergus and Flora set out on a madcap trail to find out who, or what, is disturbing their dig.
I’m excited that I’ve been able to follow in the footsteps of some of my favourite authors from my childhood. Here’s to spending time doing things you love – like reading, reliving our childhood or solving a mystery.
Thanks so much Wendy for this great guest post. I always enjoy seeing what books inspired writers!
Author Bio
Award Winning Author Wendy H. Jones lives in Scotland, and her police procedural series featuring Detective Inspector Shona McKenzie, is set in the beautiful city of Dundee, Scotland. Wendy has led a varied and adventurous life. Her love for adventure led to her joining the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served as an Officer for a further 17 years. This took her all over the world including Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. Much of her spare time is now spent travelling around the UK, and lands much further afield. As well as nursing Wendy also worked for many years in Academia. This led to publication in academic textbooks and journals. Killer’s Countdown is her first novel and the first book in the Shona McKenzie Mystery series. Killer’s Crew won the Books Go Social Book of the Year 2107. There are now six books in this series with Killer’s Crypt being released in August 2017. The Dagger’s Curse, the first book in The Fergus and Flora Mysteries for Young Adults, was a finalist in the Woman Alive Magazine Readers Choice Award Book of the Year.
The first book in her new series, Cass Claymore Investigates, was released in August 2018 and her first children’s picture book, Bertie the Buffalo was released at the beginning of November 2018
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