Skelmersdale’s Susan Brownrigg takes inspiration from the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, for her debut adult novel.
With her 50th birthday fast approaching, author Susan Brownrigg decided the time was right to return to university to study a Masters in Creative Writing.
“Going back to university pushed me to try new things with my writing, including flash fiction,” explains Susan. “I also had to write essays, something I hadn’t done since my journalism degree back in the early 1990s!”
For the final project, Susan – a part-time library assistant – had to write the opening chapters of a novel for adults.
“I love writing about northern people, places and events, and especially enjoy writing historical mysteries. I had recently watched a TV show about Agatha Christie’s infamous disappearance in December 1926. She was missing for eleven days, eventually being found at a hotel in Harrogate suffering from loss of memory. It was a story I’d heard before, but what I hadn’t realised was that after being relocated, Agatha was taken to recuperate at her sister’s mansion Abney Hall in Cheadle a few miles outside of Manchester. I couldn’t help wondering what happened in those wintry days afterwards and I knew I had a great hook for a book.”
“I had a very tight deadline to finish my novel and edit it – but I did it!”
After graduating with a distinction, Susan continued working on her novel – she then pitched it to an independent publisher Fox and Ink Books who are based at the University of Lancashire in Preston.
Susan, who lives in Tanhouse, continues: “Fox and Ink Books have already published five of my historical mysteries for children aged 8 to 12 including the Young Quills nominated Wrong Tracks, but they now publish novels for adults too. Luckily the publisher was really excited by my book.
“2026 is the 100th anniversary of Agatha’s disappearance, so we were both keen to see if we could publish the book in time for that. I had a very tight deadline to finish my novel and edit it – but I did it!
“I never expected that the book I began on my course would be published so quickly – but I am thrilled that The Secret of Abney Hall will be out on October 1st available from all good bookshops and online retailers.
Giveaway: About the Town has a signed copy of The Secret of Abney Hall to giveaway to one lucky reader. To be in with a chance of winning the book answer the following question:
Hercule Poirot is from which country?
Send your answers to hello@aboutthetown.co.uk by 31st October 2026.
One lucky winner will be selected at random from all correct entries submitted by the deadline.