
I decided to set A Mirror Murder in the 1970s, using my experience as a library assistant during that decade for my lead character, Jan Christopher. Her uncle and legal guardian is DCI Toby Christopher, and she forms a romantic alliance with his Detective Constable, Laurie Walker. So I had my characters, the setting, the plot – the murder (and the murderer) but to my astonishment I discovered that I had to do as much research for writing about 1971 as I did for 1719! Did we have teabags back then? What fashions were popular? How did the police communicate in the ‘70s? (Remember the blue police telephone boxes now only used in episodes of Dr Who?)
Looking up all those small details was great fun, but hard work!
The book sounds intriguing, Helen, and since the pandemic struck I've found cosy mystery can be the perfect escape! - Clare
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