Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533291
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 14 MARCH 2025 NEWS 'Death in Valletta' - a talk by historical crime fiction author Lynne Marie Taylor READERS and history lovers are invited to learn about the craft of writing and re- searching a new crime fiction series set in Victorian-era Malta. A forthcoming author talk will be held at Gozo Central Public Library, St. Fran- cis Square, (Pjazza San Franġisk), Victoria, Gozo on Wednesday 26 March 2025 from 10.30am to 11.30am. The talk will be given in English. Death in Valletta written by Lynne Marie Taylor is a murder mystery set in Malta of 1880. Admiral Collingwood has died after an unlikely fall from the roof of his villa. His widow insists it is not an accident, and Detective Inspector Sam McQueen is sent from the grey, damp streets of Edinburgh to investigate. The best-selling crime writer Vaseem Khan, Chair of the Crime Writers' Asso- ciation, gave the book - published in April 2024 by Bloodhound Books - a 5-star re- view, calling it "a well written and absorb- ing historical mystery". At this free library event, the author will talk about the historical research and in- fluences that have shaped her work, in- cluding her fascination with Victorian de- tectives. Themes of colonial rule, Malta's status as a military base, poverty and cor- ruption are explored as a backdrop to the murder mystery, as well as Maltese culture seen through the eyes of a Scot brought up in the Presbyterian Church. Taylor studied English at the University of York. She also has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and has worked in publishing and book supply, as well as spending 20 years working with li- braries to encourage children's reading. She was born in Mtarfa just before inde- pendence, when her father was stationed in Malta with the RAF. She has lived in NW London, Cologne, Bristol and Worcester. She now lives in Corsham, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and their springer span- iel, Sam. This author's book was also the featured title of the Book Club Gozo in January 2025. For more details about the event, please visit the Facebook page of Gozo Central Public Library page https://www.facebook. com/events/1146117303341177/ Book your place- seat reservations are encouraged by sending an email to events- gozo.library@gov.mt Lynne Marie Taylor, author of Death in Valletta (Bloodhound Books)