Matilda Swift's Blog

I am thrilled to announce that my upcoming Christmas mystery, Much Ado About Stuffing, will be published daily, one chapter at a time, from December 1st to the 25th! This format—releasing a story in tantalising instalments—isn’t a new gimmick; it’s the original engine of suspense, drama, and community reading. The rich history of serialisation proves...

The post The Thrill of the Wait: Why Mysteries Were Born to Be Serialised appeared first on Matilda Swift.

Valentine’s Day is meant for comfort, sweetness, and perhaps a perfectly baked treat. In my latest culinary cozy mystery, The Cakes of Wrath, amateur baker and sleuth Jessica Askew is hosting a special event in Little Quillington and her biggest worry is purely domestic: whether her Battenburg is going to turn out neat enough. But...

The post A Slice of Suspicion: Iconic Cakes That Hide Cozy Mystery Mayhem appeared first on Matilda Swift.

My new book, The Cakes of Wrath, isn’t your usual Valentine’s Day story. Instead of heart-shaped chocolates and roses, we’ve got a mystery rooted in a cozy book-town tearoom and a cast of peculiar villagers. The key figure in all the chaos is my brilliant local herbalist, Mrs Pankhurst, who makes drinks and ointments from...

The post Herbs & Homicide: The Secret Meanings Hidden in the English Garden appeared first on Matilda Swift.

I adore the glorious strangeness of British celebrations. While our big, well-known holidays are peculiar enough—take Boxing Day, which for most of us is a national holiday dedicated to rubbing our overfull stomachs and finally tackling the unpopular chocolates left in the tin—it’s the niche, small-village traditions that are positively shocking and perfect for cozy...

The post The Quaint & The Quirky: The British Festivals That Cause (and Conceal) Cozy Mystery Mayhem appeared first on Matilda Swift.

If you’ve picked up a cozy mystery set in an English village, you’ve probably come across a mention of a cream tea. And if you’ve considered trying one yourself, you’ve likely seen the words clotted cream—a name that sounds about as inviting as a cow pat. But don’t let the name fool you. Clotted cream...

The post What is Clotted Cream? The British Tea Time Essential Explained appeared first on Matilda Swift.

There is no setting more comforting—or more deceptively deadly—than a classic English tearoom. For fans of cozy mysteries, the gentle chime of porcelain and the scent of strong tea provide the perfect backdrop for discussing cunning plots and calculating killers. If you are hosting a book club, or even diving into our new book club...

The post The Five Essential Teas to Serve at a Tearoom Mystery Book Club appeared first on Matilda Swift.

For a crime writer, the setting is never just a backdrop—it is a character in its own right. The walls, the windows, and the sheer proximity to a neighbour all determine the kind of murder that can happen and, crucially, how the killer gets away with it. Forget the Californian mansion; in a true British...

The post The Blueprint of a British Mystery: Terraces, Bedsits, and the Architecture of Murder appeared first on Matilda Swift.

In the world of cozy mysteries, the crime itself is rarely the hardest part to write. No, the real villain in the publishing process is often the title. It needs to be catchy, quirky, and signal what the genre is in just a few words. Crafting the perfect title for a book is, ironically, harder...

The post Death By Deduction: The Punny Art of Titling a Cozy Mystery appeared first on Matilda Swift.

These recipes are all simple home-baking fare, shown just as you’d enjoy them. They’re delicious and are sure to please your family and friends even if they’re not perfect. Have fun this holiday, and happy baking! Arrina’s Cheese Oatcakes Julie’s Quintuple-tipple Gingerbread Cake Add a slice of stem ginger on top to present or enjoy...

The post Wreathed in Mystery Recipes appeared first on Matilda Swift.

Friday is my writing day. I write every day (the writing muse loves a writing routine), but Friday is different… On Friday, I do nothing but write…Well, I also drink coffee and eat cake. But those are purely fuel for the writing. I’m lucky enough to have a full-time, successful indie author friend here in...

The post Fridays, Typhoons and Writing Retreats appeared first on Matilda Swift.