Kocked off the top spot by the Prince!
Hilariously on launch day, Prince Harry’s Spare was released and knocked The Mystery of Four out of the top spot at Eason Ireland, but as the fastest selling non-fiction book EVER (400k copies in the UK at launch, a million in the US), it meant we both got onto the TV news! Thank you Harry!
It’s definitely a once in a lifetime moment and Spare will pull people into bookshops who may not buy books, which is a fabulous thing! (If they’ve any spare cash there’s this great thriller…;) )
This week The Mystery of Four has been reviewed by the Sunday Times Crime Club – I love the line about Merlin stealing every scene he’s in – he’s just like that in real life too…
AND The Mystery of Four is recommended by Apple Books as one of their best books of January!
“As the bodies pile up and village residents grow suspicious of one another, past traumas resurface. Tess fears that her own life is in danger—until she finds protectors in unlikely places. An immersive, atmospheric blend of rural family saga, am-dram satire and murder-mystery with several killer twists. You’ll never look at stately homes in quite the same way again.”
Apple Books
The Mystery of Four has hit No 2 in the Irish Times bestseller list on a half week of sales, just behind Colleen Hoover who is a true force to be reckoned with (if anyone knows any Book Tokers do let me know!) It’s been a whirlwind week! Click here to see where you can pick up your copy 
You can listen back to me chatting with Pat Kenny on Newstalk here.
We had over 100 people at the launch at the Royal St George Yacht Club, there are lots of photos on my Facebook page where you can get a proper look at the amazing cake, but it was wonderful to be joined by avid readers, my Writers Ink online writing group (who travelled from all over to celebrate me – Prague, Galway, Cork and Wexford as well as Kildare and Wicklow) and so many author friends. We were missing my fabulous agent Simon Trewin and editor, Sarah Hodgson at Corvus Books (flu!) but raised a glass to them in thanks for their huge support. Massive thanks too, to Dubray Books for selling so many books on the night!
AND this week too, we’ve had two enquires for screen rights – if that’s your area contact simon@simontrewin.co.uk!
Photos below are just a selection taken by Ger Holland Photography (please credit if reproducing).
Sam Blake at the launch of The Mystery of Four photos by Ger Holland Photography
With TVs Andrea Hayes who did the honours, I couldn’t launch a book without her!
Amazing cake from Cakes Galore by Polly
With Maria McHale my partner in Writers Ink, our online writing groupLauch night for The Mystery of Four
Andrea Mara, Amanda Cassidy and Sam Blake
Karen Perry, Sam Blake and Anya Bergman
Fiona Gartland, Rosie Hannigan, Sam Blake, Catherine Ryan Howard and Andrea Mara 
Sam Blake and Catherine Ryan Howard
Signing LOTS of books!
Barbara Scully and Sam Blake
A full house at the Royal St George Yacht Club
Just some of the Writers Inkers! 
