A Pantomime of Peril: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait
About A Pantomime of Peril
About A Pantomime of Peril
A Pantomime of Peril: A British Cozy Murder Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting - Cotswold, England
Publisher : Kanga Press
Publication date : November 14, 2025
ISBN-13 : 978-1917168335
ASIN : B0DNLG8M1J
It’s pantomime season in the Cotswolds… but this year’s performance is a real killer! Winter has settled over the Cotswolds, and Dotty Sayers and her friends are in the spotlight as part of the local amateur dramatics pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk. With costumes to sew, lines to memorise, and rehearsals to juggle, the village is buzzing with excitement. But on opening night, the show comes to an abrupt halt when a cast member dies on stage. As whispers of foul play sweep through the audience, Dotty and her friend Keya are drawn into a mystery that’s anything but make-believe. With suspects lurking in the wings and a tangle of alibis to unravel, the pair must tread carefully to uncover the truth. Can they solve the case before the final curtain falls, or will the killer steal the show? Take your seat for a charming performance of A Pantomime of Peril today!
About Victoria Tait
Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, where she developed a lifelong love of tea and British traditions. Inspired by the works of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder, She Wrote, she writes cozy mysteries infused with her signature British charm.
Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. With intrigue, surprises, and gentle humour, Victoria’s page-turning stories are the perfect blend of mystery and charm, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
Interview:
1. When did you first realise you wanted
to be a writer?
Unlike many authors, I didn’t dream of writing a book as a child. In fact, I
only started six years ago, when I was nearly fifty.
I’m still not sure why I penned my first
plot, but I think it was my way of processing all that had been happening in my
life. That first story was set in Kenya, and the amateur sleuth was based on a
wonderful lady I knew there. We had recently left after nearly eight years in Africa,
and my books became a way of staying connected.
2. How long does it take you to write a
book?
I try to write a book in five to six weeks, with a week beforehand for planning
and research, and another at the end, after a short break, for editing. That schedule
means I can release a book every two months, which keeps my readers happy.
3. What is your work schedule like when
you're writing?
I write best in the
mornings, before any other distractions. At the moment, I wake at 5.45, although
it’s closer to 5 am in the summer when the mornings are lighter.
I
usually write for three to four hours when I’m settling into a story, but as I
become more absorbed, that time stretches until I’m writing all morning and
reading through or editing in the afternoon.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are set aside for admin and marketing.
4. What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?
I like to write in bed. It’s comfortable, I can sit up rather than lean over a
desk, and I have my coffee close at hand.
5. How do books get published?
I publish my books myself. I hire a cover designer and an editor, but I handle
the formatting and the rest of the publishing process, including marketing and
administration.
6. Where do you get your information or
ideas for your books?
Ideas come from everywhere, from conversations overheard in cafés or on buses,
to stories my electrician or hairdresser share. This past year I’ve started
travelling again, and I now have a series inspired entirely by those trips
abroad.
For my Cotswold Antique Mystery
series, inspiration comes from when I lived on the edge of the Cotswolds and from
spending time in auction houses, and sometimes even bidding myself!
7. When did you write your first book and
how old were you?
I was in my late forties when I began Fowl Murder in 2019, and I
published it in 2020.
8. What do you like to do when you're not
writing?
Marketing, admin, and catching up!
I’ve made health and fitness more of a
priority this year and often spend Saturday mornings completing a 5 km Parkrun.
I also enjoy walking and chatting with
friends, followed by coffee and cake, visiting country houses with my mum, and
watching my boys play rugby or cricket.
And then there’s travel. This year I’ve visited Morocco, Sri Lanka, Tunisia,
and Malta, and soon I’ll be spending a month in Thailand.
9. What does your family think of your
writing?
At first, they didn’t take it seriously and thought it was just an expensive
hobby. But when my writing income gave me the financial freedom to leave my
husband, they realised I was serious!
Now my boys are quietly supportive, and I help my son who designs games and
runs them through US-based online platforms.
10. What was one of the most surprising
things you learned in creating your books?
That I might plan what I intend to write, but my characters often decide to do
things differently.
I now have the confidence to sit in front
of a blank screen, start typing, and find the flow. That was terrifying at
first, and I used to freeze and couldn’t write a word.
11. How many books have you written? Which
is your favourite?
I’ve written over thirty books, and my favourite is usually the one I’ve just
finished, followed by the one I’m about to start.
12. Do you have any suggestions to help me
become a better writer?
It’s hard to advise without knowing your genre or experience, but one thing is
certain, unless you sit down and write, your books won’t be completed.
Some writers, like me, prefer to write
daily, while others ‘binge’ write for a few weeks and then take a break.
And whatever anyone tells you, it doesn’t
get easier the more books you write!
13. Do you hear from your readers much?
What kinds of things do they say?
I send a newsletter every two weeks and always receive replies. Readers comment
on the topics I’ve written about or on my books. Some share personal struggles,
and I’m so pleased my stories can bring a bit of joy and sunshine to their
lives.
14. Do you like to create books for
adults?
I only write cosy murder mysteries aimed at adults, although they can be read
by younger readers as there’s no on-page violence, swearing, or sex.
15. What do you think makes a good story?
That’s a broad question, and it depends a little on genre. While plot is
important, I believe it’s the characters who make a story. If readers don’t
connect with them, they’re unlikely to keep reading.
16. As a child, what did you want to do
when you grew up?
First, I wanted to be the first female jockey to win the Grand National, and then
a vet. Instead, I went into property development!
17. What would you like my readers to
know?
If they’d like to try my books, they can sign up for my newsletter and receive
a free story at www.VictoriaTait.com.
And if they read A Pantomime of Peril,
I hope they enjoy it!
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