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May 2021
Debut novelist concocts a murder mystery in North Yorkshire
A retired woman from Harrogate has spent lockdown writing her first novel, Murder After the Matinee, which is now available in stores and online.
Lorna Snowden set the murder mystery in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Ashdale, which is loosely based on Ripon.
The book's protagonist is Lydia Buckley, a divorcee who moves to the village and becomes the prompt for the Ashdale Players' production of Aladdin. Shady business dealings, infidelity and a shocking killing ensue.
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Ms Snowden began the novel during the first lockdown and decided to retire so she could spend more of her time writing.
She said:
She was recommended to her publisher, Troubador, after an editor enjoyed the novel. She intends to spend the rest of her retirement writing a series to follow on from the first book.
Ms Snowden crafted the plot using her own love of pantomime and experience with the Pannal Players troupe.
Her previous experience of owning a bridal shop will influence her second instalment, Murder Before the Wedding, which she is midway through writing.
Murder After the Matinee is available online from Waterstones and WHSmith and is currently free on Kindle Unlimited.
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