Erica tackles mystery genre in her new book

Erica Yeoman has released Death at the Castello, which is available to buy in her home town and online.

The story tells of young Anna Miller who finds herself included in a group of artists invited to a castello in Tuscany.

Their task is to paint a mural in the renovated Christian baptistry of owner Francesca to mark her 49th birthday.

The castello is built on Etruscan foundations and the Etruscans believed every seventh year saw a life-changing event.

So, should the art be Etruscan or Christian? And the group numbers eight – one too many in Etruscan lore. Increasingly, Anna is made to feel the interloper. And then a body is found.

Death at the Castello is Erica’s first mystery book, coming on the back of her previous three titles, which were historical novels.

The 77-year-old from Allerburn Lea is delighted with her new release and would like to write another mystery in the future.

She said: “I spent a week in a castello in Tuscany on a painting course and that helped inspire me to write the book. I have worked very hard with it and it is probably my best novel.

“The Tuscan background provides an evocative setting for a clever plot that keeps the reader guessing until the end.”

All four of Erica’s books are on sale in The Alnwick Garden shop or online via Amazon on paper back or Kindle. Her previous titles are Song of the Selkie, Devil’s Drove and Shades of Innocence.