Dotty Sayers is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Halloween Parade Peril, the latest novel in the Dotty Sayers Antique mysteries series.

Welcome, Dotty. Let’s get started, shall we?

Tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Hi, I’m Dorothy Sayers, although most people call me Dotty. I’m thrilled to be the main character in Halloween Parade Peril, which is part of the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. This series follows my adventures as I learn about antiques, but somehow, I always find myself tangled up in murder mysteries.

In Halloween Parade Peril I travel to Dublin for a prestigious auction, but as you can imagine, things quickly take a turn for the eerie. With haunting melodies and tragic twists, I find myself in the thick of another puzzling case, and it’s up to me and my friends to piece together the clues before it’s too late.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too?

Well, my writer, Victoria Tait, certainly sets the stage as she chooses the theme, the setting, and the suspects. After that, it’s really a collaborative effort. Once the story starts, I often find myself taking unexpected paths, sometimes surprising even her. It’s a bit like stepping into a foggy night where you know the direction, but you never quite know what will emerge from the mist.

How did you evolve as the main character?

When I first started out, I was quite shy and uncertain, especially after spending most of my life under the shadows of my father and late husband. But each case forced me to grow, both as a person and in my knowledge of antiques.

Every mystery I solve, and every auction I attend, I become more confident in my abilities and more comfortable in my own skin. I travel to Dublin on a commission for private clients who are converting a castle into a boutique hotel. This is my first auction with a large budget to spend and a list of items I need to appraise myself.

But then, as always, I have to be ready for the unexpected, like a tragic event at a Halloween parade.

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them?

Oh, absolutely! My closest companion is Sergeant Keya Varma, who’s not only a great friend but also an excellent detective. She’s sharp, supportive, and even though she can be a bit clumsy at times, her heart is always in the right place.

She joins me in Dublin, as do her boyfriend and crime scene technician, Sujin, and my friend, Zach, who is excited about visiting Dublin.

And of course, there’s my dear cat, Earl Grey, who has been with me through thick and thin since “Fake Death.”

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?

Dublin is a city steeped in history, culture, and folklore. Perfect for a mystery! The Bram Stoker Festival brings an enchanting, almost mystical atmosphere to the story. You can feel the weight of history as you walk through the streets, from the majestic Trinity College to the storied Dublin Castle. The mix of old-world charm and Halloween’s eerie vibes creates the perfect backdrop for the mysteries I uncover. It’s a place where the past and the present intertwine, much like the antiques I love.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book?

I’d just like to say that if you enjoy cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, bewitching puzzles, and enchanting Irish folklore, then you’ll love Halloween Parade Peril.

I’m so excited for readers to join me in Ireland, and if you’re new to my adventures, you might want to start at the beginning with Hour is Come, which you can read for free by visiting my website, VictoriaTait.com, to see how my journey began. Happy reading!

Thank you for answering my questions, Dotty, and good luck to you and your author, Victoria Tait, with Halloween Parade Peril, the latest book in the Dotty Sayers Antique mysteries series.

Readers can learn more about Dotty and her author, Victoria by visiting the author’s website and her Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram and Pinterest pages.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

  Amazon   Books2Read 

About Victoria Tait: Victoria was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her life’s experiences of following her military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.

Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative.  As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.