Showing results by author "Helen Simpson" in All Categories

"Hotel Evidence" is a brilliant new collection of short stories from the award-winning master of the form, Helen Simpson. With her signature wit, sharp observation, and profound empathy, Simpson explores the quiet complexities, sudden fractures, and unexpected truths embedded in everyday life and human relationships. Moving from the comical to the poignant, these finely crafted narratives offer a powerful, kaleidoscopic look at modern existence, shifting identities, and the invisible ties that bind us together.

Lord Comstock is a barbarous newspaper tycoon with enemies in high places. His murder in the study of his country house poses a dilemma for the Home Secretary. In the hours before his death, Lord Comstock’s visitors included the government Chief Whip, an Archbishop, and the Assistant Commissioner for Scotland Yard. Suspicion falls upon them all and threatens the impartiality of any police investigation. Abandoning protocol, the Home Secretary invites four famous detectives to solve the case: Mrs Adela Bradley, Sir John Saumarez, Lord Peter Wimsey, and Mr Roger Sheringham. 

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. In this decade the equality of the sexes is now law. In real life it’s patchy. Power refuses to ebb or cede. In literary terms though women are again second to none with writing that strides confidently forward addressing the issues, the characters and the stories in unique and individual ways.

A classical music podcast inviting you backstage for those conversations which only really take place behind dressing room doors. Two young singers discuss the world of classical music and what things are really like behind the scenes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.