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2000s: A gothic tale of a mysterious diary
The Stranger Diaries
What you need to know before your trail
Clare Cassidy is no stranger to tales of murder. As a literature teacher specialising in the Gothic writer R.M. Holland, she teaches a short course on them every year. Then Clare’s life and work collide tragically when one of her colleagues is found dead, a line from an R.M. Holland story by her body. The investigating police detective is convinced the writer’s works somehow hold the key to the case.
Not knowing who to trust, and afraid that the killer is someone she knows, Clare confides her darkest suspicions and fears about the case to her journal. Then one day she notices some other writing in the diary. Writing that isn’t hers…
Travel Guide
Shoreham on sea
A small Sussex town might not be the obvious place for a gothic mystery about fiction but this is where a fictional modern secondary school where Gothic author, R.M. Holland once worked. Excitingly, his old study remains intact at the top of the building. Clare, a teacher is writing a book about him as well as teaching a creative writing class. Then a fellow English teacher is murdered. For a small town, a lot happens!
Just as well they have the take no nonsense DS Kaur at Sussex police!
“Holland House”
The author mentions in the book that some of the house was inspired by the college where she teaches creative writing although her version is completely fictional!As for the cement factory, there is an abandoned cement factory on the road to Steyning however although she has changed the landscape.
Cambridge
Henry H. Hamilton, a Cambridge academic, contacting Clare about some possible information he has on R.M. Holland, and there is a nice visit over to Cambridge to look more into this mysterious author and the book “The Stranger”.
Plenty of literary references, hallowed halls and chat about books, classics and literary mysteries.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Stranger Diaries
Destination : Shoreham on Sea, Cambridge Author/Guide: Elly Griffiths Departure Time: 2000s
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