And they’re off! The four members of the Quaint Bookshop’s reading group are up and running as a fully-fledged team of amateur sleuths.

With the publication today of Murder by the Book in ebook and on audio (paperback follows on January 30), the Cosy Crime Club is officially launched.

I spent most of last year writing the first three instalments of this new murder mystery series, so it’s fantastic to see the first one on the bookshelves and in the online stores. Advance reviews have been really exciting, and I’m looking forward to a rash of events over the coming weeks for this and its rapidly pursuant sequel A Game of Murder (ebook/audio March 6, paperback March 12).

The third in the series, From Murder With Love, will be out later in the year, so watch this space.

And I’d love to know what you think of Professor Stone, Bella Bourton, Lauren Sherwood and Harrison Fforde – drop me a line at michael@mrgdavies.com to say hello.