Research - Helen Callaghan

The never-ending quest for the perfect notebook – chatting with the Stationery Freaks!

November 29, 2022November 29, 2022 Blog, Interviews, Podcasts Books, Fiction, Random, Research

Had enormous fun gabbing to Helen Lisowski and Rob Lambert over on their Stationary Freaks podcast – how do you find the perfect colour of notebook? What is the correct use of fountain pens? Do

Orkney Baking – Beremeal and Birsay Biscuits

June 29, 2020June 28, 2020 Blog, Recent Cookery, History, Research

So now Night Falls, Still Missing is being released on July 23rd, I wanted to start sharing why I wrote the book and set it on Orkney. I’d been fascinated with the islands and their

The Chronophage – the Eater of Time

February 15, 2015August 21, 2016 Blog, Recent, Video Cambridge, Dear Amy, History, Random, Research, Weird

One of the Cambridge landmarks that features in the latest book is the Corpus Clock. The clock is this large, imposing creation set into the corner of Corpus Christi College where Trumpington Street and Bene’t Street meet.

Adventures in Cocktails: Harry’s Bar in Venice

February 6, 2015August 19, 2016 Blog, Recent Cookery, Italy, Random, Research, Travel, Venice

Harry’s Bar is famous for its dry martini, and speaking as an afficianado of dry martinis, this seemed the perfect destination for me that first night in the city. I had booked a weekend on the

Visiting Felbrigg Hall

January 29, 2015August 21, 2016 Blog, Recent Dear Amy, Fiction, History, Research, Travel

One of the things that I did this year, while writing Dear Amy, was get out to visit some country houses. One of these was Felbrigg Hall. At the centre of the book is a

Medieval Cookery: Roo Broth

November 6, 2014August 21, 2016 Blog, Recent Cookery, History, Research

Roo broth – I know, right? What is it, some kind of medieval kangaroo soup? Well, no. Roo broth is more of a bruet – a kind of thickly sauced meat dish – a bit

Medieval Cookery: Frumenty

October 30, 2014August 21, 2016 Blog, Recent Cookery, History, Research

So, for a while I’ve been promising myself I’d have a go at making frumenty. For a start, it’s easy, and also, it’s ubiquitous. It was a very common thing to serve in medieval times.

Medieval Cookery: Pies de Parys

September 4, 2014September 5, 2016 Blog, Recent Cookery, History, Research

So, since it’s Sunday and I’ve been working very hard on the book, I fancied something indulgent, and settled on Pies de Parys, a meat pie from Pleyn Delit. This pie, from Harleian MS 4016 (dating from around

Adventures in Dystopia: the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment on Orford Ness

August 26, 2014September 6, 2016 Blog, Recent, Video History, Research, Weird

So, this weekend I did something a little different. I’ve been thinking ahead to my future projects. I wondered which crime project will follow Bethan Avery, the first draft of which is nearly complete. With this

Location Scouting – Blakeney

July 31, 2014September 6, 2016 Blog, Recent, Video Animals, Books, Dear Amy, Fiction, Random, Research, Travel

Another fantastic day – I drove out to Blakeney, looking for locations for Martin and his house. It was idyllic and strange and faintly off-kilter – in short, exactly what I was looking for. I

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