Amy Archer
Amy writes crime fiction but has a nose for true crime, and her seaside hometown just keeps giving on that front.
Even when she knows she shouldn’t, Amy can’t resist following said nose and her instincts for all things deadly.
Now in her fifties, divorced and childless, Amy has more grey hairs in her long chestnut locks than she would like, but there is still a sparkle in her green eyes.
Said green eyes are much admired by local photographer, Willem de Groot, but Amy has a dark secret which she’s too afraid to share with the man she rather likes, in case it changes the way he feels about her. Or worse, gets her locked up.
Amy enjoys nothing more than a solo kitchen disco, but is naturally quite self-conscious and would need a couple of drinks to dance in front of other people. She suffers with anxiety, not helped by the traumatic experiences of her recent past. But, when life gets too much, Amy knows there is one person who will always have her back …
Jenny Jones
Amy’s best friend, potty-mouthed Jenny, is as loud as her hair, which she dyes bright pink.
She swears like a trooper and speaks her mind. Jenny doesn’t just call a spade a spade, she calls it an effing spade. She’s mad about cats, and her own two felines are her life. Never married, Jenny doesn’t seem interested in having a romantic relationship with another human. But as a friend, she is loyal and fiercely protective, and she would do absolutely anything for Amy, even if that means getting dragged into Amy’s irresponsible, and frankly downright dangerous, sleuthing.
Jenny’s past is a bit of a mystery. We know she moved down to the coast from London, and that she has a dodgy friend called Spud who has been known to procure guns for her, but other than that Jenny remains a bit of an enigma …
Willem de Groot
Originally from South Africa, photographer Willem spent many years living in London before making the move south and setting up home in the seaside town.
He quickly became close to Amy, and the story of their on/off romantic relationship, which runs through the books, has been the source of much sorrow for Willem. He knows something in Amy’s past, some dark secret, is holding her back, and her refusal to open up to him leaves him frustrated and a bit angry. He worries about her constantly.
Willem develops an unlikely friendship with Jenny when they bond over their fears for Amy and, while neither of them would admit it openly, they have a grudging respect and fondness for each other.
When life gets too much for Willem, he takes off with his camera on his motorbike.
Cora and Mo
Cora and Mo are Jenny’s beloved cats. Their pictures speak for themselves.
The Seaside Town: Folkestone
Folkestone deserves to be a character in the crime series.
The books are set firmly in the town, and local readers will absolutely recognise many locations and landmarks. For those not so familiar with the town, check out the Locations page to learn more.
Folkestone has been many things: a small fishing community, a Victorian coastal resort, and a busy cross-Channel port to name but a few. It’s latest incarnation is as a buzzy and creative hub, with artists and writers galore. The old port area has been transformed into a thriving recreational venue, with restaurants, bars, a marketplace, outdoor cinema, and even a spa right on the beach. It’s the perfect place to inspire a crime writer.