The Crime Readers' Association

Linda Stratmann

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Linda has a virtually life-long interest in true crime, and a large collection of books on the subject. She is a qualified chemist’s dispenser, having trained in a very old branch of Boots, just before the shop and the course were modernised. After taking a BSc in Psychology she was an Inspector of Taxes for 27 years, before leaving to pursue her writing. She is a black belt in both aikido and Japanese sword.

She has a passionate though not uncritical love of the Victorian period, and probably spends more time in the 19th century than the 21st. She will dress up in the appropriate costume at every possible opportunity. Linda’s research skills are self-taught but over the years she has become a competent amateur genealogist, and archive user.

Linda writes three crime fiction series: The Frances Doughty Mysteries set in 1880s Bayswater, feature a clever and determined lady detective, who has to battle wily criminals and the prejudices about suitable roles for women. Through her adventures we explore aspects of Victorian life such as diet, education, medicine, women’s rights, fear of premature burial and the fashion for cycling.

In the second series, set in 1870s Brighton, Mina Scarletti is a deceptively diminutive lady with a twisted spine, whose boldness and confidence enable her to overcome her apparent disadvantages. Mina writes horror and ghost stories and exposes the activities of fraudulent spirit mediums.

The third series, commencing publication in 2021 chronicles the early cases of Sherlock Holmes, when he was in his early twenties and before he met Watson.

Linda has given many public talks on true crimes. She has been a guest panellist at Crimefest Bristol since 2011, has been a guest on radio shows and appeared in two television documentaries on the history of anaesthesia and two editions of the Fred Dinenage Murder Casebook.

Linda has served on the committee of the CWA for several years and was Chair from 2019-2021.

 

 

Books by Linda Stratmann

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Legend of the Great Auk Sherlock Holmes and the Legend of the Great Auk

    Amazon

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Persian Slipper Sherlock Holmes and the Persian Slipper

    Amazon

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol

    Amazon

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Explorers’ Club Sherlock Holmes and the Explorers’ Club

    Amazon

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Rosetta Stone Mystery Sherlock Holmes and the Rosetta Stone Mystery

    Amazon

  • His Father’s Ghost His Father’s Ghost

    Amazon

  • The Cyanide Ghost The Cyanide Ghost

    Amazon

  • Fraudsters and Charlatans Fraudsters and Charlatans

    Hive Amazon

  • Chloroform: the Quest for Oblivion Chloroform: the Quest for Oblivion

    Hive Amazon

  • Whiteley’s Folly Whiteley’s Folly

    Hive Amazon

  • Cruel Deeds and Dreadful Calamities: The Illustrated Police News Cruel Deeds and Dreadful Calamities: The Illustrated Police News

    Amazon

  • The Ghost of Hollow House The Ghost of Hollow House

    Amazon

  • More Essex Murders More Essex Murders

    Hive Amazon

  • Middlesex Murders Middlesex Murders

    Hive Amazon

  • Gloucestershire Murders Gloucestershire Murders

    Hive Amazon

  • Kent Murders Kent Murders

    Hive Amazon

  • Notorious Blasted Rascal Notorious Blasted Rascal

    Hive Amazon

  • Murder at the Bayswater Bicycle Club Murder at the Bayswater Bicycle Club

    Hive Amazon

  • Mr Scarletti’s Ghost Mr Scarletti’s Ghost

    Amazon

  • The Royal Ghost The Royal Ghost

    Hive Amazon

  • An Unquiet Ghost An Unquiet Ghost

    Amazon

  • Essex Murders Essex Murders

    Hive Amazon

  • A True and Faithful Brother A True and Faithful Brother

    Hive Amazon

  • The Secret Poisoner The Secret Poisoner

    Hive Amazon

  • An Appetite For Murder An Appetite For Murder

    Hive Amazon

  • The Children of Silence The Children of Silence

    Hive Amazon

  • Death in Bayswater Death in Bayswater

    Hive Amazon

  • The Poisonous Seed The Poisonous Seed

    Hive Amazon

  • The Daughters of Gentlemen The Daughters of Gentlemen

    Hive Amazon

  • A Case of Doubtful Death A Case of Doubtful Death

    Hive Amazon

  • The Marquess of Queensberry: Wilde’s Nemesis The Marquess of Queensberry: Wilde’s Nemesis

    Hive Amazon

  • Greater London Murders Greater London Murders

    Hive Amazon

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