Tell us about yourself and what you write.

I write historical cozy murder mysteries, usually involving sharp-minded women who solve crimes while navigating the social constraints of 1920s Britain. The Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates series is my love letter to the Golden Age of detective fiction—with a dash more sass and a lot more subversion.

What drew you to historical fiction?

There’s something endlessly fascinating about the interwar period—the culture shifts, the fashion, the rules (and how women were just beginning to break them). I love placing women in these so-called “proper” settings and watching them take charge of their own stories.

Who is Mrs. Lillywhite?

Rosemary Lillywhite is many things—a society widow, a reluctant socialite, and a woman with a knack for tripping over dead bodies. She’s smart, scandalous, and no longer interested in following the rules laid out for her. I adore writing her because she’s constantly evolving, and she doesn’t let anyone (least of all men) tell her what she can or can’t do.

What makes your books different from other historical cozies?

They’re a little darker under the lace and lavender. While they keep the hallmarks of the genre—closed-circle mysteries, red herrings, and dashing sidekicks—they also dive into the social realities of the time: class, gender, trauma, and the way women had to make their own paths. Plus, there’s snark. Always snark.

What inspires your stories?

It’s usually a mix of real-life historical tidbits, “what-if” questions, and petty grievances I want to air in fictional form. I also draw a lot of inspiration from strong women in my life and the messy, complicated ways people behave when they think no one is watching.

What’s your writing routine like?

I keep odd hours, listen to moody instrumental playlists, and sometimes get so deep into the 1920s that I forget how modern things work. If I ever ask where the gramophone is, please just hand me my Bluetooth speaker and pretend nothing happened.

What are you working on now?

The next installment of Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates, of course. There’s murder, mayhem, and a secret society with an unsettling fondness for rituals—and that’s all I’ll say for now.

What’s the best part about writing historical mysteries?

I get to blend history and fiction, giving readers a sense of time and place while still twisting the plot exactly how I want it. It’s like building a miniature world with corsets, cocktails, and corpses.

Do you have a favorite historical figure or influence?

I’m obsessed with the Mitford sisters, adore Agatha Christie (naturally), and have a soft spot for Dorothy L. Sayers. But I also take inspiration from everyday women who were quietly rebellious and far more interesting than history books give them credit for.

Any advice for new writers?

Write the kind of book you’d want to escape into. And if someone tells you your heroine is “too much,” you’re probably on the right track.

If you were a suspect in your own mystery, what would be your alibi?

Curled up in bed, researching 1920s slang, surrounded by empty teacups and cats. Though that might sound suspiciously on-brand.