Victoria Tait, author of Tartan, Treasures and Trouble, the latest novel in the Dotty Sayers Antiques mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Victoria.

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Tartan, Treasures and Trouble is the 12th and final book in The Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series.

Dotty Sayers, my main character, has developed her antique skills alongside her sleuthing abilities throughout the series. She has also grown from a shy, timid woman, once under the thumb of her recently deceased husband, into an independent, hard-working, and honest woman.

Dotty has visited Edinburgh, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Ireland, and Leicestershire in the series. In this final book, she returns to the Cotswolds, where it all began, and at the Burns Supper, readers will meet a selection of characters from previous books.

The victim in this story isn’t entirely unknown to the readers either, and I hope they enjoy reuniting with these familiar characters.

This book also brings Dotty and her best friend, Sergeant Keya Varma, together. Keya had her own Waterwheel Café Mystery series, which has now concluded.

Not only does this book wrap up Dotty’s series, but it also introduces two new ones. First, The Cotswold Antique Mystery series, which will feature both Dotty and Keya, their partners, and other beloved characters. And don’t forget Dotty’s fluffy grey cat, Earl Grey!

Secondly, Georgina Carey Boyd, a character we haven’t seen much of recently, steps into the spotlight. She needs time to process events from this story and some personal issues, which leads her to take on antique assignments in the Portuguese Azores, Morocco, and Malta. Keep an eye out for the free prequel to this series!

Many readers may be sad to see the end of this series, but I hope they’ll also enjoy the new one. It’s a chance to introduce fresh characters while keeping the familiar faces they love.

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from? Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story? If so, what prompted you to write about it?

These two questions can be answered together. Having written Christmas-themed books for both Dotty and her friend Keya, I wanted to bring them together for this final book. The last few books in the series have been inspired by seasonal events, so I began looking for one that would fit the beginning of the year when this book will be launched.

This led me to Burns Night, towards the end of January, which provides the perfect excuse for a Scottish-themed celebration… and murder.

One of the trickiest parts was figuring out how to kill someone at the event without injuring other characters ill, or making them sick. I hope my solution works!

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourites? If so, why are you partial to them?

Most of the characters in this story will be familiar to readers of the series. It was fun bringing them back for this special event, so readers could catch up on how they’re doing. For me, as a writer, it also gives me closure, allowing me to retire some characters and make room for new ones in the upcoming series. That said, I can’t help returning to those I love to write about.

Look out for characters you might think have disappeared, Some of them just might pop up again!

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?

Akemans Antiques, the Waterwheel Café, and even Aunt Beanie’s farmhouse kitchen have become so familiar to me that I actually have to remember to include details for new readers or for those who can’t see the images in my head!

There is a new location in this book, the charming village of Bourton-on-the-Water. Although I’ve never visited it personally, I did plenty of research and have visited similar towns and villages before.

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?

A lot of the background is drawn from my own experiences. I’ve helped organise Burns suppers, and I’ve also attended a few. To refresh my memory of auctions, I took my son along to a viewing recently and then watched the actual auction online.

This gave me insight into how the auction business has evolved over the past few years, and as Dotty moves forward with Akemans, she’ll need to implement new procedures and practices.

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

I hope you enjoy this final book in the series. And don’t forget to look out for An Auction of Secrets, the first book in the new series featuring Dotty and Keya, as well as the free prequel and first book in Georgina Carey’s Treasured Journey Mystery series.

Happy reading!

Thank you for answering my questions, Victoria, and good luck with Tartan, Treasures and Trouble, the latest book in Dotty Sayers Antiques mysteries series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Books 2 Read  Amazon

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 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.