The Picture House Murders, set in 1929, is the first in the brand new Miss Clara Vale Mysteries, published by Embla Books (Bonnier UK). Despite holding a degree in chemistry from Oxford Miss Clara Vale is unable to land a job in science and is stuck behind a desk at a London library. She fears this will be the end of her scientific goals … until, unexpectedly, her uncle dies leaving her his private detective agency in Newcastle upon Tyne … and a laboratory.

Clara is unsure whether she should keep the agency or sell it. As she is trying to decide, one of her uncle’s clients comes to her for help with a case surrounding a local picture house, a tragic fire and a series of murders. Set in the colourful world of early cinema, just as silent films are being replaced by talkies.