FAQs

 

Why the Blue Mountains?

Michael Duffy: My mother’s family moved up here during World War II, so I’ve had a long association with the area. I love crime stories set in small towns rather than cities, because you meet a wider range of people. I’m also fascinated by the influence of landscape and weather on people.

Who are your main characters? 

Local newspaper editor Bella Greaves is a kind and thoughtful woman with a wry sense of humour. She teams up with the dynamic but erratic cop and rock climber Paul Ruel, and they set about solving crimes from Lapstone to Mount Victoria. Their relationship becomes complicated when Paul falls in love with Bella’s artist daughter Siobhan. 

Is Paul Ruel based on Gary Jubelin?

Gary denies this, but they do share the ability to annoy their bosses and their taste in suits. One big difference, of course, is that Paul is still a detective - although maybe not for much longer.

Why did you write Tall Stories, a lively history of the Blue Mountains?

Bella has a column in her newspaper called Memory Lane. While researching that, I wrote a few dummy columns and became obsessed – the facts here are often as strange as any fiction. Before I knew it, I had most of a book written. And it’s all true!

Where can I buy your books?

They’re local produce, available from the cellar door. So please, visit our gorgeous local bookstores if you can. But if you’ve come home from the Mountains and want to go on with the series, you can buy them from the shop on this website, or from Amazon for Kindle (only).