Jane Bettany

year in books

Jane Bettany’s Followers (136)

member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
Sharon
3,627 books | 876 friends

Steve P...
21 books | 1,591 friends

Andrew ...
7,637 books | 357 friends

Sophie ...
1,296 books | 987 friends

Mohanal...
108 books | 3,045 friends

Rosemar...
143 books | 413 friends

Vanessa...
34 books | 801 friends

J.C. An...
546 books | 995 friends

More friends…

Jane Bettany

Goodreads Author


Born
Derby, The United Kingdom
Website

Twitter

Genre

Member Since
November 2011

URL


I am the author of the DI Isabel Blood crime novels, set in the fictional Derbyshire town of Bainbridge, and the cosy crime series featuring amateur sleuth Violet Brewster, which is also set in Derbyshire.

My debut novel In Cold Blood (the first in the DI Isabel Blood series) won the 2019 Gransnet and HQ writing competition, for women writers over the age of 40 who had written a novel with a protagonist in the same age range.

Before turning to novel writing, I had been writing short stories and non-fiction articles for over twenty years, many of which have appeared in women’s magazines, literary magazines, newspapers and online.

I live in Derby, UK and have an MA in Creative Writing.

To ask Jane Bettany questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

Jane Bettany Don't give up, even if your story or novel gets rejected. It's easy to become disillusioned when you send something to an editor and it comes back wit…moreDon't give up, even if your story or novel gets rejected. It's easy to become disillusioned when you send something to an editor and it comes back with a note saying: "Thanks, but no thanks." Try to view this merely as one of the necessary steps on your journey to becoming a writer (I know this isn't easy, but it's essential in order to move on). I've met too many aspiring writers who have shown huge potential, but who give up writing after receiving a couple of rejection letters.

So, my advice is 'never give up'. It is the writers who are persistent that go on to be successful.(less)
Jane Bettany I think it's fair to say that ideas are everywhere. They can come from snippets of overhead conversation, a news article you read in the paper, or fro…moreI think it's fair to say that ideas are everywhere. They can come from snippets of overhead conversation, a news article you read in the paper, or from seeing something that triggers a memory which, in turn, turns into an idea for a story.

The more you write, the more you open up a channel to a store of ideas. I now how more ideas than I have time to write up. The important thing to remember is to write your ideas in a notebook as soon as they come to you - otherwise you will forget them.(less)
Average rating: 3.95 · 5,148 ratings · 623 reviews · 18 distinct worksSimilar authors
Murder in Merrywell (Violet...

3.90 avg rating — 1,116 ratings — published 2023 — 6 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Murder at the Book Festival...

3.92 avg rating — 1,030 ratings — published 2024 — 3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
In Cold Blood (D.I. Isabel ...

3.94 avg rating — 958 ratings — published 2020 — 7 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Murder at Maple Grange  (A ...

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 492 ratings3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Without a Trace (D.I. Isabe...

3.84 avg rating — 490 ratings10 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Last Seen Alive (D. I. Isab...

4.02 avg rating — 400 ratings3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
A Christmas Murder in Merry...

4.16 avg rating — 337 ratings3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Murder on Bluebell Hill: Pe...

4.03 avg rating — 242 ratings3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Murder on Skringle Island: ...

3.93 avg rating — 41 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
How To Write Short Stories ...

4.08 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
More books by Jane Bettany…

My review of The Red House by Roz Watkins

I have read and enjoyed all of the DI Meg Dalton books by Roz Watkins, but this new standalone thriller, The Red House, is her best so far.

When five-year-old Celestine’s’ parents and baby brother are murdered, she tells everyone that they were killed by her brother Joseph. Joseph is later found unconscious with the gun, having crashed his car. Everyone assumes he was responsible –

Read more of this blog post »
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on June 20, 2023 08:09
Murder in Merrywell Murder at the Book Festival Murder at Maple Grange Murder on Bluebell Hill: Pe... A Christmas Murder in Merry...
(5 books)
by
3.96 avg rating — 3,216 ratings

In Cold Blood Without a Trace Last Seen Alive
(3 books)
by
3.93 avg rating — 1,848 ratings

A Promised Land
Jane is currently reading
by Barack Obama (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
Rate this book
Clear rating

 
A Year Of Ideas: ...
Rate this book
Clear rating

 
Family For Beginners
Jane is currently reading
by Sarah Morgan (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
Rate this book
Clear rating

 

Jane’s Recent Updates

A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre
A Christmas Murder in Merrywell by Jane Bettany
"A Christmas Murder in Merrywell by Jane Bettany is a festive mystery steeped in charm, secrets, and seasonal suspense.

In the heart of the Derbyshire countryside, the village of Merrywell is preparing for its first Christmas Market—a picture-perfect s" Read more of this review »
Jane rated a book it was amazing
How Soon Is Now? by Paul Carnahan
How Soon Is Now?
by Paul Carnahan (Goodreads Author)
Rate this book
Clear rating
Jane rated a book it was amazing
A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay
Rate this book
Clear rating
This is beautifully written, with a strong sense of place and history. Well-structured and thought-provoking, with themes of identity and ownership, it would make a perfect book club read.

Pauline’s stone house feels like a character in its own right
...more
Murder at Maple Grange by Jane Bettany
"I have read the other books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them, so I was really looking forward to reading the latest, Murder at Maple Grange. It did not disappoint.

Jane Bettany holds the reader with the twists and turns of the plot. Amateur" Read more of this review »
Jane rated a book really liked it
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Yellowface
by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author)
Rate this book
Clear rating
Jane and 1 other person liked Dawn Griffin's review of The Mother:
The Mother by T.M. Logan
"A very intense story, this book kept me reading until very late at night. It has very strong characters,close friendships and many intriguing tense moments and final twists. Would recommend. "
Jane is now following Jennifer O'Brien's reviews
More of Jane's books…
Quotes by Jane Bettany  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“The past is history, the future is a mystery—’ ‘And today is a gift, which is why they call it the present,”
Jane Bettany, Murder at the Book Festival

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
Aussie Readers: January 2021 - New Beginnings! 164 267 Jan 31, 2021 06:39PM  
Aussie Readers: Covid Take 2 - 1/10/20-31/3/21 - We have Wanderlust! 264 196 Mar 27, 2021 08:22PM  
Aussie Readers: Sarah's 2021 Challenge List 29 52 Dec 30, 2021 01:31AM  
Aussie Lovers of...: Annual 2021 A-Z Author Challenge 151 72 Dec 30, 2021 07:21PM  
Aussie Lovers of...: Annual Challenge A-Z Characters 2021 189 73 Dec 30, 2021 07:29PM  
62085 Novel Publicity's Author Karma — 333 members — last activity May 05, 2020 01:11AM
Novel Publicity’s karmic initiatives are based on the concept of “paying it forward.” If you help your fellow writer, then one day he will help you to ...more
No comments have been added yet.