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Stop Press Murder (Chronicle mystery 2)
What you need to know before your trail
Colin Crampton, reporter with the Evening Chronicle, is not your average reporter. He likes a bit of digging and exploring himself and often gets involved with strange situations and crazy crimes.
There are two strange events which take place – first, a series of photographs is stolen from a What the Butler Saw machine on Brighton’s Palace Pier. Then, even worse, a night-watchman is found murdered on the same pier.
Crampton is convinced the two events are linked. But his colleagues at The Evening Argus are not convinced.
Detective Superintendent Alec Tomkins may be leading the official investigation but Crampton is conducting his own in his own style.
Travel Guide
Roll up roll up as the Brighton Pier is alive with the sound of music, summer entertainment and a throng of tourists. The amusements chim can be heard right down the pier. The Kiss Me Quick hats are selling fast and the little machine of What the Butler saw is a very popular attraction for many.
Walk down the pier with the sea breeze in your hair and the seasalt on your lips, as this side of 1960s Brighton is awash with all the fun of the fair, and the pier ,the star of the show anyway is about to become a star for all the wrong reasons. A body is found in the coconut shy of all places.
Brighton in the 1960s is evoked with fun and wit and the great British seaside humour. You can picture those figures where you stick your head out of the top and pretend you’re really a fat woman in a stripy bathing suit about to slap her halfwit of a husband, or someone from a rude postcard. All the fun of the fair and more!
All of the locations apart from the newspapers are real – well that and the Buckle Job Agency – but you really believe that every one of these places existed. As the author himself was a journalist for many years, you can bet that he was inspired by some very real places and experiences!
Peter’s tour:
Why not walk the route Colin Crampton takes when he follows the mysterious Fanny Archer in an attempt to uncover her identity? Start in North Street, opposite the entrance to Meeting House Lane. Head east down North Street.
Colin didn’t, but there’s no reason you can’t make a short diversion left into Pavilion Buildings and visit the Royal Pavilion. Exit the Royal Pavilion and re-join North Street. Pass through Castle Square and turn left into Old Steine. Admire the exterior of the Royal Pavilion on your left as you head north.
Cross to the east side of the road at the point where Old Steine joins Pavilion Parade. Walk north up Pavilion Parade and into Grand Parade with Victoria Gardens on your left. When Grand Parade turns into Richmond Place (after about quarter of a mile), you’ll see The Level on your left. It’s the spot where Fanny made her getaway. You can take a rest. Have a cup of tea from The Level’s café, Tomato Dolce & Salato. You’ve earned it.
Streetview Maps
A) Brighton - Brighton Pier
G) Brighton - Ewart Street
Booktrailer Review
Susan @thebooktrailer
Well wasn’t this a romp of a read! Very funny and very British. Aah the days when you go for donkey rides and eat sandy ice creams on the beach.Now although this book’s set in the 1960s and I wasn’t born then, I do remember a lot of what is in the novel such as the kind of rides and attractions on the pier so it was almost a trip down memory lane for me!
Set in a newsroom too, this really brought Brighton to life as journalists have a unique view of their city and a way with words and this was a fun read. Characters are larger than life and I loved being in their world – the crimes were unique and the way they were investigated both quirky and witty at the same time. I love the idea of journalists getting their hands dirty like this – in the day before technology, this reminded me of a Brighton Based Columbo of a kind.
I will definitely be looking for the next one in the series!
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: Stop Press Murder (Crampton of the Chronicle 2)
Author/ Guide: Peter Bartram Destination: Brighton Departure Time: 1960s
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