About

Bath Preservation Trust welcomes authors Jess Bull and Katie Lumsden for an evening of festive crime fiction, with the pair joining Bath Preservation Trust’s Senior Curator, Dr Amy Frost, to discuss their books The Austen Christmas Murders and The Christmas Tree Murders.

The conversation will explore the authors’ approaches to historical crime fiction, their festive mysteries and the literary inspirations behind their work.

The talk will last approximately 45 minutes to one hour, followed by additional time for questions and discussion. A bar serving wine and soft drinks will be available during the event.

About the Authors

Jess Bull

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband, two daughters and a large collection of pets. She studied English Literature at the University of Bristol and Information Science at City University, London. She began her career as a librarian before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, has been published in 18 territories worldwide and was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger Award. She has since written three further Austen-inspired mysteries: Sense, Sensibility and Scandal, The Austen Christmas Murders and Pride, Prejudice and Peril.

Katie Lumsden

Katie Lumsden is a writer and freelance editor from London with a particular passion for nineteenth-century novels. She holds a degree in English Literature and History from the University of Durham and an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University.

Katie is also the creator of the YouTube channel Books and Things, which has more than 38,000 subscribers. Her debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award. Her second novel, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst, is a love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell. The Christmas Tree Murders is her third novel and her first foray into crime fiction.

About The Austen Christmas Murders

The festive season is approaching, and Jane Austen fears there will be little Christmas cheer in the Austen household without her siblings at home. However, when she discovers a skeleton in the cellar of Deane Rectory, her attention quickly turns from Christmas preparations to an intriguing mystery.

Jane's investigation leads her to the legend of a young bride believed to haunt the nearby woods. The bride reportedly fled her wedding breakfast and was never seen again. Could Jane have finally discovered what happened to her, or is there more to the mystery than first appears?

With murder to solve and festive mysteries to unravel, Jane Austen finds herself embarking on a very different kind of Christmas adventure.

About The Christmas Tree Murders

Set in December 1883, The Christmas Tree Murders follows inventor and millionaire Sir Russell Morgan, who invites friends and investors to Clifftop House to celebrate Christmas.

The festivities take a dark turn when a footman is found dead by electrocution on the first night of the party. Although the police dismiss Fred's death as an accident, his friend Millie, a kitchen maid, suspects that something more sinister has taken place.

Accessibility

The entrance and event space offer level access, and assistance dogs are welcome. Further accessibility information is available from Bath Preservation Trust, and visitors with access queries are encouraged to contact the team in advance.

Please note that photographs will be taken during the event and may be used on social media and for promotional purposes. Anyone who does not wish to appear in photographs can inform the door staff and photographer on arrival.