 Karen Charlton
Hello, and thank you for visiting my website. I'm Karen Charlton. I write historical crime fiction and cosy chicklit for the mature woman. My historical novels are all set in Regency England.
Catching the Eagle is the true story of our notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery. My Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London. The Silver Sex Kittens Series, co-authored with my friend, Jean Gill, is set in Yorkshire and features five ordinary middle-aged women who have extraordinary adventures. |
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You can find out more about me, my books and my main characters by following the links on the side of this page. On the genealogy pages you can also learn more about the research which led us to the skeleton in our family closet.
There's a fascinating cache of interviews with fellow authors in the Guest Interview section, a podcast interview further down this page, and I periodically post some musings about all things literary on my blog page. If you would like to contact me, I’d love to hear from you and if you would like to follow me on Facebook please click here.
I hope you enjoy your visit.
There's a fascinating cache of interviews with fellow authors in the Guest Interview section, a podcast interview further down this page, and I periodically post some musings about all things literary on my blog page. If you would like to contact me, I’d love to hear from you and if you would like to follow me on Facebook please click here.
I hope you enjoy your visit.
----------------Breaking News--------------
1st October 2018
Brand New Series:
'Life After Men'
The Silver Sex Kittens Book #1
I'm delighted to announce that Life After Men, the first short story in The Silver Sex Kittens Series is now available to pre-order on Amazon. Co-written with my friend, Jean Gill, this is my first venture into contemporary fiction and is now available pre-order on Amazon.
The official Publication Day is 26th October.
The official Publication Day is 26th October.
Life After Men: A Short Story
Heart-warming comedy for the mature woman – because you’re never too old to have fun.
Shy and recently-widowed, Carys Newham is anxious and excited in equal measure when her friend, Moira, suggests they take up a challenging new hobby. Despite Carys’ already strained relationship with the local wildlife, the two friends tackle up and go fishing in the Yorkshire countryside.
After all, if ten year-old-boys can do it, how hard can it be?
As Carys and Moira pursue their dream to catch their own supper, secrets are unearthed, young men are scandalised and maggots are liberated. In their determined quest for pan-fried trout, the two women narrowly avoid both the bomb disposal unit and arrest.
Moving and deliciously funny, Life After Men is the first short story in The Silver Sex Kittens Series, which features five single friends in their fifties who have ordinary lives but extraordinary adventures.
Heart-warming comedy for the mature woman – because you’re never too old to have fun.
Shy and recently-widowed, Carys Newham is anxious and excited in equal measure when her friend, Moira, suggests they take up a challenging new hobby. Despite Carys’ already strained relationship with the local wildlife, the two friends tackle up and go fishing in the Yorkshire countryside.
After all, if ten year-old-boys can do it, how hard can it be?
As Carys and Moira pursue their dream to catch their own supper, secrets are unearthed, young men are scandalised and maggots are liberated. In their determined quest for pan-fried trout, the two women narrowly avoid both the bomb disposal unit and arrest.
Moving and deliciously funny, Life After Men is the first short story in The Silver Sex Kittens Series, which features five single friends in their fifties who have ordinary lives but extraordinary adventures.
29th June 2018
100,000 Sales for 'The Sans Pareil Mystery'
I'm delighted to announce that The Sans Pareil Mystery, the second book in The Detective Lavender Mystery Series has now exceed 100,000 sales. My publishers sent me a wonderful plaque to hang in my study alongside the one I received eighteen months ago when The Heiress of Linn Hagh also exceed this benchmark sales figure.
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12th May 2018
MuRDER IN PARK LANE
I'm delighted to announce that my publishers, Thomas & Mercer, have offered to publish this latest novel in The Detective Lavender Mystery Series. We have a provisional publication date of March 26th 2019.
Murder in Park Lane will be the fifth book in the series.
Murder in Park Lane will be the fifth book in the series.
2Oth March 2018
New Book CovErs
My debut novel Catching the Eagle, it's prequel, February 1809 and both my Detective Lavender short stories have had a makeover.
Two hundred years after his death, our family rogue, Jamie Charlton, has never looked so good.
Many thanks to my talented cover designer, Lisa Horton for these brilliant covers. Lisa designs the book covers for the full-length novels in the Detective Lavender Mystery Series (published by Thomas & Mercer) and I asked her to upgrade the covers of all my self-published fiction.
Two hundred years after his death, our family rogue, Jamie Charlton, has never looked so good.
Many thanks to my talented cover designer, Lisa Horton for these brilliant covers. Lisa designs the book covers for the full-length novels in the Detective Lavender Mystery Series (published by Thomas & Mercer) and I asked her to upgrade the covers of all my self-published fiction.
11th January 2018
Published: Plague Pits & River Bones
The fourth novel in The Detective Lavender Mystery Series was published on January 11th 2018.
Thanks to great promotion by my publishers, Thomas & Mercer in the UK, it quickly became an Amazon best-seller!
London 1812: Savage gangs intent on treachery and revolt besiege the capital, while a brooding menace stalks the corridors of the Palace of Westminster. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist.
Meanwhile, Lavender’s trusted deputy, Constable Ned Woods, finds a mysterious, severed foot washed up on Greenwich Beach. They soon realise that these ancient bones are more sinister than they first appeared.
With Bow Street Police Office undermanned and in disarray, it will take all of Lavender and Woods’ wit and skill, with help from Lavender’s spirited wife, Magdalena, to unmask the fiend behind the mayhem; restore peace and justice to the beleaguered city and solve the tragic mystery of the severed foot.
But will they do so in time to foil a plot that threatens to plunge the country into chaos?
Thanks to great promotion by my publishers, Thomas & Mercer in the UK, it quickly became an Amazon best-seller!
London 1812: Savage gangs intent on treachery and revolt besiege the capital, while a brooding menace stalks the corridors of the Palace of Westminster. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist.
Meanwhile, Lavender’s trusted deputy, Constable Ned Woods, finds a mysterious, severed foot washed up on Greenwich Beach. They soon realise that these ancient bones are more sinister than they first appeared.
With Bow Street Police Office undermanned and in disarray, it will take all of Lavender and Woods’ wit and skill, with help from Lavender’s spirited wife, Magdalena, to unmask the fiend behind the mayhem; restore peace and justice to the beleaguered city and solve the tragic mystery of the severed foot.
But will they do so in time to foil a plot that threatens to plunge the country into chaos?
January 14th 2017
The Real Stephen Lavender
In this BBC Radio interview, I talk about my recent contact with the living descendants of Stephen Lavender and what I learned about the real Bow Street officer.
