Other People's Houses
I’ve always been interested in houses, and particularly other people’s. I used to love watching the TV programme, Through The Keyhole, although I must admit I’m talking about the original series with Sir David Frost and Loyd Grossman. I can still hear Grossman drawl, ‘Who lives in a house like this?’
Like many people, I enjoy scrolling through Rightmove, even when I’m not looking to buy a house. Right now, I don’t need any excuse because my husband and I (oh dear, I sound like the Queen) are currently between houses and living in rented accommodation in Suffolk. I’m having a short break from my ‘property porn’ habit over the holiday period, but as soon as the first signs of spring start to appear, I’ll be back on the hunt for our next home.
Our last but one house was a beautiful Edwardian semi in Charlton, (that’s in the Borough of Greenwich, roughly between Woolwich and Blackheath, for those of you who don’t know ‘Sarf’ London). I loved that house and missed it terribly when we moved – especially on London Marathon day when all the neighbours gathered on the pavement to cheer on the runners - but it was absolutely the right decision. If we hadn’t moved to Frinton when we did, I might never have written The Rumour and Who Did You Tell?, both of which are set in its fictional twin, Flinstead. (Plus we’d still have a whacking great mortgage!)
But it was a south London setting I chose for my third book, The Dare, and I return to the same location for Book Number Four, which is out next June. I’m afraid I can’t reveal the title yet as it’s changed since the proof was printed (long story which I may tell you some time!), but I’m hoping to be able to announce it in the new year, along with the cover reveal.
What I will tell you is that this next book was inspired by the properties on the street where I used to live, some of which were massive, detached houses, or largish semis like ours, and others had been converted into flats or apartments. I often used to get the bus to North Greenwich and liked to stare out of the window at the houses further along the street. Some of them were beautiful and well-maintained; others were more run down, while a few were pretty scary, to be honest!
It should come as no surprise to you that it was the scariest looking ones that fed my imagination. And rather than asking the question ‘who lives in a house like this?’, I found myself wondering who might have died there, and how.
I can’t wait to share this next book with you all, and I can’t wait to show you the cover and tell you what it’s called.
Not long now…!