Lynn Brittney
Author of Murder in Belgravia
About the Author
Series
Works by Lynn Brittney
The Holy Land: 5,000 Years of History and Adventure, to Unlock and Discover (Treasure Chest) (1997) 18 copies
Ancient Rome: More Than 2,500 Years of History and Adventure to Unlock and Discover (Treasure Chests) (1998) 16 copies
Ancient Greece: Treasure Chests : 4,000 Years of History and Mythology to Unlock and Discover (Treasure Chests (Games)) (1998) 14 copies
The Corpses at Waterloo: Book 4 in the Mayfair 100 Series (Mayfair 100 Crime Series) (2022) 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Education
- journalist
playwright - Agent
- Iris Books (for books)
Playstage Senior (for plays) - Relationships
- Brittney, Tom (son)
- Short biography
- [from author's website]
I have been a writer for many years, but I did occasionally work as a drama teacher when I was younger. That was when I realised that there were very few plays suitable for children to perform in school, so I began writing plays for children aged between 6 and 11. I became involved in setting up a company called Playstage Junior, which publishes my plays and those of many other writers.
Then, when my son was a teenager, I became aware that teachers were struggling to interest their pupils in Shakespeare, so I embarked upon writing a series of young adult novels set in Elizabethan England, involving espionage, action and Shakespearian plots. The Nathan Fox books were nominated for various awards, so I created some fact books to accompany the novels, called The Elizabethan World of Nathan Fox. Both novels and fact books have become useful tools in English speaking schools around the world. These books are now published by Iris Books in London.
I also decided to add plays for teenagers to my repertoire. So Playstage YA was born and other writers began to add to its catalogue. Then I started writing plays for older amateur actors. These have been performed all over the English-speaking world and, I am pleased to say, loved by audiences wherever they are performed. Playstage Senior is the imprint that publishes my plays and those of other playwrights, who specialize in plays for older actors.
In 2017, I began to write a series of period murder mysteries – called the Mayfair 100 series. Set in London during WW1, the books involve a secret team of professional policemen and educated women in solving crimes. The team are based in Mayfair, an upper-class area of London and Mayfair 100 is the telephone number.
I was born in London and educated in London. While my children were young, we lived in Devon, near the sea, but then we all came back to London, when they became adults. For me, the lure of London is just too great. I love the history all around me, the theatres, galleries and museums. And, now, I live on a boat in a marina, with my husband and a dog, that is fed by the River Thames, the beating heart of London. My love for London grows all the time. It feeds my creativity like no other place in the world. - Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- London, Middlesex, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Axminster, Devon, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- UK
Members
Reviews
detective, women-sleuths, WW 1, amateur-sleuth, London, historical-research, historical-places-events, sly-humor, law-enforcement, lawyers, medical-doctor
This book ought to get more than just one five star rating per reviewer!
As a mystery novel, it exceeds expectations, is creative with delightful or disgusting characters and slides in some very funny one liners.
As a history of the feminine condition in 1915 it is brutally honest and well researched while demonstrating to the reader the show more extensive prejudices faced.
As a perspective on the inappropriate dosing of patients, especially war veterans, with opioids by physicians it condemns yet clearly reflects issues of this century as well.
There are other odious problems dragged into the light, and some historical facts like the bombings by Zeppelin.
The best part is the way that the author balances the disgusting with the hopeful. DCI Beech and his cohesive band of very competent and very willing crimebusters are fantastic, and I can hardly wait for the next installment!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you! show less
This book ought to get more than just one five star rating per reviewer!
As a mystery novel, it exceeds expectations, is creative with delightful or disgusting characters and slides in some very funny one liners.
As a history of the feminine condition in 1915 it is brutally honest and well researched while demonstrating to the reader the show more extensive prejudices faced.
As a perspective on the inappropriate dosing of patients, especially war veterans, with opioids by physicians it condemns yet clearly reflects issues of this century as well.
There are other odious problems dragged into the light, and some historical facts like the bombings by Zeppelin.
The best part is the way that the author balances the disgusting with the hopeful. DCI Beech and his cohesive band of very competent and very willing crimebusters are fantastic, and I can hardly wait for the next installment!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you! show less
This book took me by surprise. I had read a review on it, and as it is in my favourite genre which is historical mysteries, I decided to read it. This is the first book in the series - Mayfair 100 series, The time is early nineteen hundreds and during WWI in England, and more specifically London. This book has the most delightfully likeable sleuths, and even the villains are so realistic. It introduces readers to war torn London during the time of WWI. So many young men have been lost at the show more front, England is being staffed by very brave and very hardworking women. Chief Inspector Beech is finding that a population of mostly women brings its own series of crimes and issues, so he sets up a clandestine investigating team to help deal with some of the seedier crimes in London. His team consists of a lady doctor, a woman who studied law in university, even though she is forbidden to practice because she's a woman, an ex-boxer, ex-soldier who was injured and is a constable in the police force, and a semi-retired Detective Sergeant who has a memory like a steel trap, and who has seen most of what there is to see in the dark underbelly of London. The book is loaded with rich and descriptive period detail. The secondary characters are just as memorable as this formidable team. I laughed out loud when young Constable Rigsby introduces his formidable mother and aunt to the team. Let me tell you - nothing stops these two when they are on a mission. I couldn't put the book down. The pace is intense, and the plot is tight. There are no loose threads here, and I cannot wait to read more in this particular series. 5 glorioious stars! show less
Lynn Brittney has written an adroitly-paced crime and intrigue novel that falls into the Cozy British Murder Mystery genre. This is Book 2 in Mayfair 100 Murder Mystery series, set in England during WW1. The execution of the book is smooth, with a strong sense of place and character developed. The story was particularly satisfying because the opening chapters bring the reader up to speed on the cast of characters, and their previous association, without drowning the current narrative in show more backstory.
Brittney has not belaboured the British procedural trope: the trio of DCI Peter Beech, Victoria, for whom Peter carries a torch, and the wry Sergeant Tollman illustrate strong characterisation that easily engages your attention as the plot progresses. The supporting characters are delightfully idiosyncratic and none are mere two-dimensional personalities. The plot proceeds with something of a rollicking flavour as the Inspector and his unorthodox team unravel old history and complicated reasons behind the death of an aristocratic daughter, involvement of Scotland Yard rivalries, bent coppers and blackmail.
Two grievances interfered in this being a 5-star read: action that should have moved the story forward was belaboured by too much description leading to the final twist. There’s a point where one wants the author to cut to the chase rather than develop a the side story, such as journeying to a distant village in Kent to chase down a loose end. The other niggle, was the rather weak ending that went on too long with tea and gardening, song and dance. These are minor criticisms however, because overall the mystery was greatly intriguing.
This e-book was sent by NetGallery in return for an unbiased review. show less
Brittney has not belaboured the British procedural trope: the trio of DCI Peter Beech, Victoria, for whom Peter carries a torch, and the wry Sergeant Tollman illustrate strong characterisation that easily engages your attention as the plot progresses. The supporting characters are delightfully idiosyncratic and none are mere two-dimensional personalities. The plot proceeds with something of a rollicking flavour as the Inspector and his unorthodox team unravel old history and complicated reasons behind the death of an aristocratic daughter, involvement of Scotland Yard rivalries, bent coppers and blackmail.
Two grievances interfered in this being a 5-star read: action that should have moved the story forward was belaboured by too much description leading to the final twist. There’s a point where one wants the author to cut to the chase rather than develop a the side story, such as journeying to a distant village in Kent to chase down a loose end. The other niggle, was the rather weak ending that went on too long with tea and gardening, song and dance. These are minor criticisms however, because overall the mystery was greatly intriguing.
This e-book was sent by NetGallery in return for an unbiased review. show less
Opening sentence “…The popular myth, that most people choose to believe, is that there is one Santa Claus – an immortal being who brings presents to all the children of the world in one night…”
Legend has Santa flying around the whole world in a single night delivering presents to every good child. Santa has different names in different countries. In Brazil the children call him Papai Noel and in Japan he is known as Santa Kurohsu. However, as with many legends there is an element show more of truth, and a lot of untruth. The untruth in the case of Santa is that he is not a single immortal being at all. The truth is he is one of over seventy different Gift Bringers who each service their own country and has their own name, passed down from father to son. Each of the Santa families belongs to the organisation known as the Yule Dynasty.
Each year the Yule Dynasty holds a conference. This year’s conference is being held in Finland. The Kringles from the USA are flying to the conference with an important request to put before the meeting. They want the rules changed so that their daughter, Christine, can be Santa when it is time to pass the mantle on. Kriss Kringle knows that it will be no easy task; but there are already some female gift bringers, St Lucy, Babushka and Tant Arie to name a few, whom he hopes will back his request.
However, before his request can be ruled on, disaster strikes when the small English town of Plinksbury bans Christmas completely. While the Yule Dynasty Meeting goes into disaster mode to come up with a plan, Kriss arranges for his daughter to visit the town and solve the problem to prove that females can make good Santas too. What follows is a wonderful magical adventure for Christine and her friends Nick (son of the English Santa) and Little K (son of the Japanese Santa). Can they convert the drab, unhappy town from hopelessness to celebration? They only have a few days to do it before the Yule Convention members notice what they are up to and try to stop them.
CHRISTINE KRINGLE, the first in a proposed series, is for young adults – and for not so young adults. Christine Kringle is a wonderful character, not a simpering miss at all. A young teenager, she is well mannered and polite, but no goodie two shoes either. She devises a plan using a fruit pie and a Ferrari which will make the car enthusiast in you cry, and the child in you howl with laughter. I could not put this book down. I was entranced from the word go and so disappointed when I finally finished. Not, I hasten to add, because the ending was disappointing – no way. I was upset because it had finished. Author Lynn Brittney is already writing Book Two, and there is enough scope for these adventures to continue in many different countries of the world.
CHRISTINE KRINGLE is a great adventure story, with non-stop action, laugh out loud situations and is full of the spirit and magic of Christmas. show less
Legend has Santa flying around the whole world in a single night delivering presents to every good child. Santa has different names in different countries. In Brazil the children call him Papai Noel and in Japan he is known as Santa Kurohsu. However, as with many legends there is an element show more of truth, and a lot of untruth. The untruth in the case of Santa is that he is not a single immortal being at all. The truth is he is one of over seventy different Gift Bringers who each service their own country and has their own name, passed down from father to son. Each of the Santa families belongs to the organisation known as the Yule Dynasty.
Each year the Yule Dynasty holds a conference. This year’s conference is being held in Finland. The Kringles from the USA are flying to the conference with an important request to put before the meeting. They want the rules changed so that their daughter, Christine, can be Santa when it is time to pass the mantle on. Kriss Kringle knows that it will be no easy task; but there are already some female gift bringers, St Lucy, Babushka and Tant Arie to name a few, whom he hopes will back his request.
However, before his request can be ruled on, disaster strikes when the small English town of Plinksbury bans Christmas completely. While the Yule Dynasty Meeting goes into disaster mode to come up with a plan, Kriss arranges for his daughter to visit the town and solve the problem to prove that females can make good Santas too. What follows is a wonderful magical adventure for Christine and her friends Nick (son of the English Santa) and Little K (son of the Japanese Santa). Can they convert the drab, unhappy town from hopelessness to celebration? They only have a few days to do it before the Yule Convention members notice what they are up to and try to stop them.
CHRISTINE KRINGLE, the first in a proposed series, is for young adults – and for not so young adults. Christine Kringle is a wonderful character, not a simpering miss at all. A young teenager, she is well mannered and polite, but no goodie two shoes either. She devises a plan using a fruit pie and a Ferrari which will make the car enthusiast in you cry, and the child in you howl with laughter. I could not put this book down. I was entranced from the word go and so disappointed when I finally finished. Not, I hasten to add, because the ending was disappointing – no way. I was upset because it had finished. Author Lynn Brittney is already writing Book Two, and there is enough scope for these adventures to continue in many different countries of the world.
CHRISTINE KRINGLE is a great adventure story, with non-stop action, laugh out loud situations and is full of the spirit and magic of Christmas. show less
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 21
- Members
- 324
- Popularity
- #73,084
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 27
- ISBNs
- 35
- Languages
- 3

















