May 1951
Celebration is in the air with the Festival of Britain and for the first time in years the mood is one of hope rather than hurt.
For Detective Constable Faye Smith, London is not as safe as it seems. The criminal underworld is gaining strength, enjoying a lively existence below the surface. Then two bodies are found in the war-time shelters, a man and a woman. Who are they? What’s their story? Why were they murdered and how did they end up in the shelters?
Meanwhile, Ellie Peveril is busy with a celebration of a different kind. Ellie does all she can to support her friend but has her own worries, with ex-fiancé Patrick Haverstock looming in the shadows. Faye, keen to unravel the mystery of the double murder, finds herself tangled up in crimes that stretch far beyond a simple killing.
Faye and Ellie must face their toughest case yet as their lives change, irrevocably, for the future.
‘A thoroughly absorbing and powerful series, masterfully bringing to life the reality of postwar London and the hardships and hopes of a fascinating era. At the series’ heart are two superbly-drawn and compelling women in Faye and Ellie, both tremendously engaging characters who will pull you into their lives and make you cheer their every victory and feel their every setback. Festival Days is a feast of a historical crime novel – my one wish is that there were going to be more books in this fantastic series.’ Chris Lloyd, author of the Occupation series.
‘Festival Days is a fast-paced, thrilling read, opening a window on a shocking issue that sadly remains relevant to this day. Highly recommended.‘ Heidi Amsinck, author of the Jensen series.
‘An excellent mid-century series‘ Dominic Nolan, ‘White City’
Hobeck Books, published April 28th, 2026 and available in all good book shops or at Hobeck Books, Amazon, Amazon US, Waterstones.
Paperback £10.99, ebook £3.99, audiobook ISIS Audio
Julie Anderson 