A WELCOME FROM JANET

“Thanks for visiting!  If you love books, history, travel or 20th century nostalgia I hope you’ll find something of interest here.  My historical novels cover many political events and social upheavals of the past century, and my childhood memoirs is an unashamedly nostalgic depiction of both Scotland and the North East of England in the 1960s – the heyday of the Beatles!

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it was like to travel the hippy trail in the 1970s, then read my blog.  It is full of diary extracts and photos of the overland route to India and Kathmandu that I took in 1976.

I also run bookgroupies, an online reading group on Facebook, where members swap reading suggestions and flag up book events.  So please feel free to join.

If you want to get in touch or leave comments, I’d be pleased to hear from you.  All the best, Janet.”

MYSTERY NOVELS

Janet is now concentrating on writing mystery novels with unusual settings.

Her forthcoming novel, Overlanders, is inspired by her own trip through Asia:

1976: friends, Marcus and Ruth, go missing in Afghanistan during an overland bus trip to Kathmandu.  A generation later, Ruth’s nephew, Jake, haunted by the disintegration of his family, determines to get at the truth of their disappearance.  Was it murder, as his father suspected, or a suicide pact as the police believed?  

Tracking down the trip’s bus driver, Cassidy, Jake begins to piece together a lost world - the mystical vibrant hippy trail to India – and colourful characters like Juliet, who believed herself the reincarnation of an Edwardian traveller.  As the mystery surrounding his aunt and the charismatic Marcus unfolds, Jake begins a journey of discovery of his own, that will lead him not only into the dark secrets of the past, but face to face with a tragedy much closer to home.

You can find further information on Overlanders and updates on the novel on Janet's Facebook Page Overlanders.

To read the first chapter of Overlanders click here **

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READING GROUPS’ FEEDBACK ON OVERLANDERS

‘I would strongly recommend this book as a good read.’

‘Wonderful.  Kept me guessing all the way through.  A pleasure to read.’

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this journey through time and distant lands without leaving the comfort of my armchair.  The contrast between the Victorians, the hippies and Jake’s party was fascinating.’

‘I really enjoyed reading this.  It held my attention with a great plot.  It was enthralling and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens. Good characters which I believed in.’  

‘I loved it!  I found the style very easy to read, I got caught up in the story very quickly, liked the characters and wanted to know where it was going.  I love split-time storylines and this was perfect.’

‘I think everyone who read it enjoyed it.  Nothing and no one is quite as it first appears.  I would recommend it to another reading group.’

‘I really enjoyed this book as much as I’ve enjoyed all your books.’

‘I most enjoyable book that seemed to get better the deeper in I went.  It is a book of emotions and inner struggles.  I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to others and read more of the author’s work.’

‘It was very interesting reading a pre-publication book.  I enjoyed the feeling of adventure and being young again.’

HISTORICAL NOVELS

"The book was wonderful - couldn't put it down and read it all in one go. Each of your books seems better than the last. I have a complaint - it cost me a fortune in hankies!"

"I meant to write ages ago to complain... Hardened commuters are not supposed to cry on the 19.15 from Kings Cross!"

"You managed to draw out of this reader every emotion possible."

"The house is in a mess, the kids had to eat at McDonalds and I'm not getting any sleep - and its all your fault! I just can't put your brilliant book down..."

"In my opinion there are few gifted storytellers, but you have achieved the difficult task..."

Just a few of the comments Janet has received from her readers!

Janet's novels have put her books on the best seller lists.

"They combine my interest in 20th Century history and politics with my desire to tell stories about human relationships, family feuds, loves, loyalties and betrayals." Click here to read more.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Beatles and Chiefs

Featured on BBC Home Truths, Beatles and Chiefs is Janet’s delightful memoir of a Beatle-mad, ex-pat Scot growing up in the north-east of England in the 1960s, and of the MacLeod family’s annual pilgrimage back to the Isle of Skye.

‘Your book gave me immense pleasure – a lovely account of a happy childhood – you really do write beautifully.’ C.S., Isle of Skye.

‘Informative and amusing – a really super book.’ W.R., Isle of Skye.

‘You brought back many memories of the past – I don’t think I have laughed out loud reading a book for a long time.’ N.N., Edinburgh

‘How much I enjoyed reading your book – I am glad I read it on my own as I am sure people would think me mad as I chuckled and laughed.’ R.F., Edinburgh

For more information and to read extracts from Beatles and Chiefs - click here