Who can solve this murder mystery?

As you know, Dead on the Dolmen, will be published in January. This is the first novel featuring Oscar Tremont, Investigator of the Strange and Inexplicable. Cameron Trost and Black Beacon Books are offering you, the intrepid armchair detective, the chance to win a print copy of the novel by solving the mystery! What's the catch? Simple. You read the first eighteen chapters as a PDF and then you send an email to camerontrost@hotmail.com with the name of the person you believe is the killer along with your postal address. If you're right, you'll be sent a free copy of the novel once it's published.

Even if you don't identify "the Ankou", you can still earn yourself a free copy if you spot a typo or inconsistency in the manuscript.

Ready for the challenge? Send the author an email requesting your PDF beta copy and see if you can solve the puzzle...

A Steamy Interview with Cameron Trost

Steampunk Sleuths will be released on the 30th of August (but the Kindle version is available for pre-order today at just $1.99 instead of $3.99). You can also add it today to your Goodreads bookshelf. To celebrate this anthology that perfectly aligns the gears that drive the genres of steampunk and mystery, we’re interviewing the contributing authors. Don your aviator goggles, but keep your magnifying glass close at hand, because these steamy puzzles won’t solve themselves!

Hi Cameron,

There’s nothing quite as captivating as a great detective story, but what specifically is it about mystery in a steampunk world that gets your gears turning?

A great fair-play mystery story is built from a handful of essential nuts and bolts... and a few cogs! My contribution to the anthology is that most prized of puzzles; the locked-room mystery. What really got the little grey gears of my mind turning for this particular story, The Untimely Death of Clockmaster Tollsmead, was the prospect of conjuring a clockwork means of committing a murder in a locked room. Not only did I want the solution to fit perfectly with the setting in a Victorian clockwork society, but also to reflect present-day concerns the reader will be familiar with.  

Tell us about your protagonist. Is this the first puzzle your main character has solved?

This is only the second story (both locked-room mysteries) featuring my clockwork technician protagonist, Eardley Holborn. The first adventure is referenced within this story, so readers who enjoy this tale can do a little detective work of their own and track down the anthology featuring the first. Eardley isn't a professional detective or even really an amateur sleuth. This is simply the second time he has found himself in the right place at the right time to solve a crime. He is Chief Clockwork Artist at the Urseau Institute of Mechanical Theatrics, so his job is to create magic shows and edge-of-the-seat tricks for stage performances. Readers familiar with the British TV show Jonathan Creek might (rightly) guess from whence I drew part of my inspiration. 

It’s time for Show and Tell! What’s the most steampunk antique, item of clothing, book, game, or household item you have?

My pocket watch is without a doubt the item that best represents the atmosphere of this puzzle and Eardley Holborn's style. Eardley's appearances are never untimely.

Where can we find you online?

Everywhere! My official website is camerontrost.com but you can find my social media links at LinkTree.

Thanks for playing along!

Thanks for having me!

A Mysterious Interview with Cameron Trost

The Third Black Beacon Book of Mystery will be released on the 18 th of April (but the Kindle version is available for pre-order today at just $0.99 instead of $3.99) and to celebrate this new volume of detective mysteries guaranteed to put your little grey cells to work, we’re interviewing the contributing authors. Do you dare peer into their devious minds, where criminal masterminds battle brilliant sleuths, private eyes, and police detectives? Settle down in your favourite armchair and get ready to pit your wits against the finest voices penning mystery puzzles today!

Hi Cameron,

It’s always tricky interviewing a mystery writer about a particular story because we don’t want to give anything away, but can you tell us (carefully) where the idea for your story came from?

I've contributed two stories to this volume of the Black Beacon Books of Mystery. The inspiration behind "The Adventure of Woodbury Barrow" is two-fold. This story is connected to a previous Oscar Tremont mystery, "The Problem at Rose Grove". Without giving anything away, I can say that the conclusion of the earlier story found our intrepid protagonist being proposed the opportunity to solve a mystery concerning strange noises coming from within a neolithic burial mound on a country estate in Oxfordshire. Having given myself this challenge at the end of "The Problem at Rose Grove", I effectively forced myself to come up with a great idea for yet another puzzle. Necessity being the mother of invention, and with awen, the Celtic manifestation of inspiration ever guiding me, I soon conjured up what I hope you'll agree is an original and entertaining mystery.  

Do you have a favourite fictional detective?

Sherlock Holmes is the most unoriginal answer to this question, and yet, he really is my favourite. That said, there are plenty of others, and I wonder how many of you, particularly in North America, are familiar with Jonathan Creek, the English magician living in a windmill. A fine TV series with clever mysteries to solve. 

If you were a detective, private investigator, or amateur sleuth, what would be your trademark quirk?

I mean, I'd be Oscar Tremont, wouldn't I? Look carefully at our names. Notice anything? In other words, there would be drinking of whisky, twitching of the moustache, and a cheeky sense of humour. 

Do you have a writing routine or particular requirements for a writing session?

Whisky with a dash of peace and quiet. That's it. 

What are you working on now?

I'm not spending enough time writing. That's always the case. Am I supposed to be working on the first Oscar Tremont novel? Don't answer that!

Where can we find you online?

Everywhere. The easiest way is to check out my website: camerontrost.com

Thanks for playing along!

Anthology Announcement: Samhain Screams!

SAMHAIN SCREAMS

Edited by Greg Chapman and Cameron Trost 

Halloween. 

So much more than costumes and candy, it’s the time when the veil between our world and the other side is at its thinnest. The hour when dark forces come into the light in search of innocent souls. A time of blood and evil.

Australian Shadows Award-winning and multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated author and artist Greg Chapman, and acclaimed author Cameron Trost, are seeking new original Halloween tales for this anthology, planned for release in October 2025.

We want memorable, character-driven stories set on, or near, the last night of October. Give us ghosts, serial killers, rituals and monsters, heroes and villains, but most of all give us the true dark side of Halloween - and make it terrifying.

Payment is $50 AUD for stories up to 5,000 words. Contributors will also receive a complimentary print and digital copy.

The anthology will feature original cover art and internal illustrations by co-editor Greg Chapman.

The submissions window opens March 1st and closes midnight May 31st. Send all submissions to samhainscreams@hotmail.com Story submissions should follow the Shunn format.

A Glimpse of the Ghostly: Cameron Trost

The Black Beacon Book of Ghosts will send shivers up your spine this Halloween. The anthology is out now in print and for Kindle. You can also add it to your Goodreads bookshelf. To get you in the mood and give you a little insight into the workings of their minds, our contributing authors are sharing their own haunting experiences with you. Read on, if you're not fainthearted!

Victoria's Most Haunted Mining Town - Cameron Trost

While my contribution to The Black Beacon Book of Ghosts is set in Brittany, one of my favourite ghost towns is in Australia. Several years ago, I discovered the old mining town of Walhalla and was so fascinated by it that I wrote a novelette set there; the Oscar Tremont mystery "The Ghosts of Walhalla". This town was where some made their fortunes but most died untimely deaths, and if it doesn't make you feel like you're in an episode of Scooby-Doo when you arrive there at night in your combi van, well, you lack imagination. The ghosts claimed to haunt Walhalla include those of Emily, a nurse, and Sally, a young bride who fell ill with smallpox. I'm not going to recount these tales here; you can look them up online or relive them as Oscar Tremont solves the case of the "ghosts of Walhalla" in Oscar Tremont, Investigator of the Strange and Inexplicable. But first, as Halloween 2024 approaches, grab a copy of The Black Beacon Book of Ghosts and let the spirits take control! 

Photo credit: https://historicalaustraliantowns.blogspot.com/

Pirate Anthology: Cameron Trost

The Black Beacon Book of Pirates is sure to shiver your timbers when it's published on Friday the 21st of June. The Kindle version is already available for pre-order at just $1.99 instead of $3.99 and you can add the anthology to your Goodreads "want to read" list today. In the meantime, to get you in the mood for a spot of swashbuckling, we’re interviewing the contributing authors.

Hi Cameron,

Why pirates?

In the history of criminal enterprise, pirates really are at the helm. There are so many great noir escapades featuring gangsters and Wild West adventures with outlaws riding into town, but nothing shivers your timbers like a swashbuckling pirate romp. The dangers of the high seas, the flamboyant language and dress, the prospect of hidden treasure, and the endless possibilities when it comes to trying to guess where the winds will take us. There's so much range when it comes to pirate tales... talking about range - look out! The canons are firing! 

Are there any pirate legends set where you live?

Brittany is rich in pirate tales. The corsaires of Saint-Malo, including René Duguay-Trouin and Robert Surcouf are famous around the world. Here where I live, on the Guérande peninsula, there are stories of piracy as well, including Alain Bouchart's taking of three ships of the coast of Belle-Ile in 1471. However, the greatest figure from Brittany, in my opinion, is that of Jeanne de Clisson, The Lioness of Brittany. She waged war against the French during the Hundred Years' War, capturing vessels and their riches. Her fighting force was known by her enemies as the Black Fleet.

If you were a pirate, what's the first thing you'd do?

Honestly, I'd try to make my way to the nearest port, shack up with a buxom maiden, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life as best I could with my feet planted on firm ground.

Have you ever found treasure?

I stumble across spare change every now and then. No Louis d'Or to date.

What do you do when you're not dreaming up tall tales?

I'm a heritage tour guide in the salt marshes of Guérande, Brittany. You know what they say, don't you? Salt always has been the true "white gold".

Where can readers contact you to tell you their timbers have been suitably shivered?

You can find me all over social media: https://linktr.ee/camerontrost but I'm most active on Facebook. I keep a Goodreads profile and have a website at https://camerontrost.com

Horror Anthology: Cameron Trost

The Black Beacon Book of Horror will be released on Friday the 13th of October; the Kindle version is available for pre-order at just $1.99 instead of $3.99 and you can add the anthology to your Goodreads list today. To get you in the mood for a particularly spooky Halloween this year, we’re interviewing the contributing authors. The first Black Beacon Book of Horror is bound to give you the creeps!

Hi Cameron,

Why do you write horror?

I don't write horror exclusively. In fact, most of my fiction is probably better described as suspense or mystery. What drives me is the idea that I'm keeping the reader guessing and that I've set up a shock or two along the way. Before reading the last word in the story, the reader will be lead down a winding path, and finding his way back home won't come easy. 

Is there a story behind your story in this anthology?

I mean, it's fiction... and it's important I make that clear. I live in Brittany and the contrast between summer and winter is quite dramatic here. Wealthy Parisians flock to their holiday homes along the coast in the summer and enjoy afternoons sunbathing followed by cocktail soirées. But their grand homes are soon abandoned. They lie dark and empty during the stormy winter months. I wanted to explore the idea of a Parisian coming to Brittany during the off-season, feeling lost, and receiving a hostile welcome. This is a classic folk horror scenario and this corner of the world is perfect for it. My horror stories tend to have an ambiguous ending and this one is no different. I find the uncertainty more disturbing, and it allows the reader to decide precisely want happened. 

Do you have an all-time favourite horror tale?

The easy answer is "No, there are just too many", but I'll play along. One story that probably isn't often cited as an outstanding horror story is The Snail Watcher by Patricia Highsmith. Have you read it? You really should.

What books did you grow up reading?

Where to start? Well, I devoured the Doctor Who novelisations as a kid because I loved the BBC series, and I soon became obsessed with Sherlock Holmes. Before long, I was hunting down all the gothic and ghostly classics, from Edgar Allan Poe to M.R. James.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. I like to be alone, preferably with a storm raging outside and a glass of decent whisky within easy reach. 

Where can we find you online? 

Website: camerontrost.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CameronTrostAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/camerontrost

Thanks for answering our questions.

An Interview with Cameron Trost

The Second Black Beacon Book of Mystery will be released on the 8th of July (but the Kindle version is available for pre-order at just $1.99 instead of $3.99, and you can add it to your Goodreads list today) and to celebrate this new volume of short mysteries bound to get armchair detectives the world over donning their deerstalkers, we’re interviewing the contributing authors. Are you ready to glimpse the inner workings of these criminally clever minds? Sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy the following interview—on second thoughts, don’t drink that!

Hi Cameron,

It’s always tricky interviewing a mystery writer about a particular story because we don’t want to give anything away, but can you tell us (carefully) where the idea for your story came from?

It really is a tricky question because The Impossible Theft is a locked-room mystery and the idea came from the solution. What I can say is that I was lying in bed thinking up original ideas for a story when a particular object caught my eye. By the way, there's a clue in that last sentence...and that's all I'm going to say.

There are several sub-genres of mystery fiction, but the stories in this anthology are traditional fair-play mysteries in which the reader can try to solve the puzzle before all is revealed. What makes this kind of mystery so timeless?

The armchair detectives out there know the answer. We don't just want to read a story, letting the narrative drag us along. We need a puzzle and the means to solve it. We need the satisfaction of working it out before the detective gives us the solution, or to kick ourselves if the mystery is so clever we miss the mark.

Give us one classic mystery writer you admire and one new talent (not from this anthology) readers ought to discover.

There are so many but I'd like to name a couple of authors I don't think other contributors are likely to pick. For the classic mystery writer, I suspect a lot of fans of the genre haven't read Harry Kemelman's work. The Man on the Ladder is a wonderful short puzzle. I'd recommend his collection, The Nine Mile Walk – 1947. As for new talent not from this anthology...hmm, well, not sure she qualifies as "new" talent, but a contemporary mystery writer who deserves more attention is Anna Scotti. Will she have mystery in The Third Black Beacon Book of Mystery? I'd like to think so!

Is this the first mystery your protagonist has solved?

Oscar Tremont, Investigator of the Strange and Inexplicable has already solved mysteries in Australia and in his new home; Brittany. You can find him right here on this website.

If you were a detective, private investigator, investigative journalist, or amateur sleuth, what would be your trademark quirk?

I'd probably be eerily similar to Oscar. Funny that, isn't it? A dram of fine single malt would help get the cogs turning in my head.

Have you ever solved a real-life mystery?

My sister and I founded the Eagle Eyes Detective Agency as kids. The result of too much Encyclopedia Brown. We rode around our neighbourhood in Brisbane, Australia, on our bikes looking for mysteries to solve. We spotted some broken glass on the road once but never figured out what had happened.

How important is setting to you in your writing? Have you lived or visited where your story is set?

Setting is critical. Now living in Brittany, like me, Oscar Tremont solves mysteries with a distinctly Breton flavour. In many cases, local culture, landscape, and legend is at the heart of the puzzle. Le Croisic, where this mystery is set, is just down the road from where I live and it's a must-visit for anyone travelling through my corner of Brittany. Follow me on Instagram for a peek at the countryside and towns here. https://www.instagram.com/camerontrost_author/

What do you aim to give your readers?

Original mysteries with a dash of quirkiness, atmosphere, and a puzzle for them to solve. Oh, and I want them to fall in love with Oscar Tremont, of course.

What are you working on now?

I'm finishing the first draft of the first Oscar Tremont novel. More news soon!

Where can we find you online? 

Almost everywhere, though I'm more active on Facebook and Twitter than other platforms. My full links are here: https://linktr.ee/camerontrost My website is https://camerontrost.com

Thanks for playing along. Enjoy the tea!

A Post-Apocalyptic Interview with Cameron Trost

Our next anthology, Tales from the Ruins, is going to be a cataclysmic one! It will be released on the 25th of February but the Kindle version is available for pre-order today at just 99c instead of $3.99. To celebrate the imminent publication of the first Black Beacon Books anthology exclusively dedicated to post-apocalyptic fiction, we’re interviewing the contributing authors. Behold the maniacal workings of their troubled minds!

Hi Cameron,

Let’s make the first question a lighthearted one...hmm...okay, got it! Is your story simply an entertaining piece of fiction or are you giving us a peek at the terrifying fate tomorrow will unleash upon us?

I'm afraid it's a double whammy. In fact, the scenario faced in The Deep End happens - perhaps to a slightly less dramatic extent - in the world around us every day. Nowadays, we talk about the apocalypse in terms of a world-ending event, but apocalypses have happened over and over again throughout history...Pompeii and Stalingrad anyone? In my story, lines of communication have been cut for years. There's no longer any formal government or infrastructure, but the characters don't know whether it's the same all around the world, or just in their neck of the woods. This seems a likely "post-apocalyptic fog" to me. Entertaining, yes - in a brutal, primitive way - and so terribly plausible at the same time.

What is it that makes post-apocalyptic fiction so appealing? Would the world be better off if more people read this genre?

It's appealing as a writer, and likewise as a reader, because it provides a clean slate. All the rules have gone out the window. It's like writing fantasy set in your own street. Can post-apocalyptic fiction change the world? Let's be realistic here. There's no doubt the world would be better off if those in power listened to artists and philosophers, but that's not how the game works. Read post-apocalyptic fiction, but don't start thinking you're an armchair revolutionary by doing so. By the same token, don't feel guilty about enjoying it, but be thankful...because things could be worse.

Do you have a favourite post-apocalyptic author?

I have a confession to make...I don't actually read all that much post-apocalyptic fiction, or at least, not books that fit neatly into the genre. I would argue though that several of my favourite novels are essentially post-apocalyptic in nature; "High-Rise" by J.G. Ballard is the perfect example of "civilised society" falling apart, and it's heavily influenced by "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding...just swap that island for the microcosm of a block of flats. "The Children of Men" by P.D. James, although far from her best work, is also an original and entertaining novel, and in many ways "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess hits the nail on the head. Reading the stories in Tales from the Ruins, the genre clearly has plenty of fresh talent and just as many troubling new takes on the end of days.

Some people like to listen to music while reading. Which song can you imagine providing the soundtrack to your story?

I listen to post-punk and industrial music every day and it plays a big role in my creative process. There are so many answers I could give here, including just about everything by NIN and KMFDM, but I'm going to go with a really cold and hopeless post-apocalyptic sound; Exercise One by Joy Division...there are Ballardian influences in there if you listen to the lyrics.

If you woke up in your story tomorrow, what would you do?

I'd do what my protagonist does...and that somehow both reassures and scares me.

There are no firearms or ammunition. You have to choose an everyday object from the home or garden as your weapon of choice—what’s in your hands?

My carpenter's hammer. No question about it. I prefer crushing to cutting.

Time to get more personal. Tell us three interesting facts about yourself.

I'm an immigrant, having moved from Australia to France...well, Brittany to be precise. Let's stick to the theme...ah, so I grew up in Australia but have never surfed...shock, horror! Three things? Okay...I speak French fluently, of course, but I also speak enough Breton to say hello, order a beer, and talk about the weather.

What do you aim to give your readers?

I want to make them feel and I aim to do it with an original and unpredictable story.

What are you working on now?

Too much...that's the simplest answer. There's a post-apocalyptic novel in the works, as well as my first Oscar Tremont novel.

Where can we find you online?

Almost everywhere, including TikTok...even though I don't know why yet!

Full links: https://linktr.ee/camerontrost 

Website: https://camerontrost.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camerontrostauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camerontrost_author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/camerontrost
Twitter: https://twitter.com/trost_cameron

Thanks for playing along. Good luck in the wastelands!

An Interview with Cameron Trost

Our next edge-of-your-seat anthology, A Hint of Hitchcock, will be released in time for Halloween, and is available for Kindle pre-order today for just $1.99 instead of $3.99. While the suspense is building, we're interviewing the contributing authors so you know a little more about what makes them tick...

Hi Cameron, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed. Let’s get started!

The first question is inevitable...which Hitchcock film is your personal favourite, and why? Which actor or actress do you think was the best he worked with?

If I had to pick one in terms of pure cinematic prowess, I'd have to agree with the experts and say Vertigo. Do yourself a favour and look up "the Hitchcock Zoom" or "Dolly Zoom". As for sheer suspense and the ability to tell a gripping story from a limited perspective, Rear Window probably gets the prize as my go-to Hitchcock film. Neither of these, however, provided the inspiration to my contribution to this anthology. As for his actors, I'm going to be unoriginal and say Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

What is it about Hitchcock's films that makes them so timeless, or is it just the opposite, that the appeal lies in that bygone era?

It has to be a bit of both. Suspense is timeless and Hitchcock's films remain relevant today because modern audiences can still relate to his characters and put themselves in their shoes. At the same time, while progress has been made and is being made in areas such as gender relations and social attitudes, a lot has been lost since the days of Hitchcock's films, particularly when it comes to aesthetics and style. I mean, have a look at this screenshot! 

Do you have a favourite director, other than Hitchie himself, of course?

One suspense film that really impressed me for its directing almost as much as Jake Gyllenhaal's outstanding acting is Night Call / Nightcrawler, which was directed by Dan Gilroy. Kubrik, Scorcese, and Shyamalan are definitely on the list too, even if there were some misses among their hits.

Without giving too much away, how did you come up with the idea for your story in A Hint of Hitchcock?

As the editor of the anthology, I decided to choose a film none of the contributors had chosen and then work a story around the title of that film. I'll let you work the rest out.

Time to get more personal. Tell us three interesting facts about yourself. 

I live in marshland in Brittany, and it's a great place for a mystery writer. I have part of a toe missing so mustn't escape along a beach after committing murder or I'd be easy to identify (marshland is perfect for me), and...I haven't hidden any bodies in the marshes...yet.

What do you aim to give your readers? 

I want to make them think, feel, and most of all - check that the doors and windows are locked!

What are you working on now? 

Black Beacon Books anthologies, and then I have two novels and several short stories to get back to!

Where can we find you online? 

camerontrost.com and all over social media

Murder and Machinery: An Interview with Cameron Trost

Cameron Trost's "Tenterhooks" is just one of the mad mechanical tales featured in Murder and Machinery. Out April the 3rd. Kindle pre-orders available now.

(Editor's note: Cameron Trost is the editor.)

Tell us three interesting facts about yourself.

1. Not many people know this, but my closest friends call me nine-and-a-half. Before you get the wrong idea, it's to do with my toes. When I was about two years old, I had an accident with the drawer I was standing in to get a closer look at the TV perched on top of the chest of drawers. Subconscious inspiration for this anthology? Perhaps.

2. I don't like mangoes but I'm a Queenslander...go figure. 

3. I live in Brittany and the history, landscape, and architecture of this beautiful country is increasingly influencing my writing. 

What drew you to this particular theme?

It's hard to say exactly what gave me the idea for this anthology. I wanted a title starting with "Murder and..." and the temptation to use alliteration probably took me a step closer. I'm also a fan of the British series, Midsomer Murders, in which farming equipment and various other tools and machines are used as the murder weapon...so, I guess it just fell into place.

What’s the most frightening machine for you personally?

Probably the automobile. Driving a car is something most of us take for granted, and yet it's an inherently dangerous activity and one that is too often taken lightly. In terms of fiction, Crash! by JG Ballard certainly explores the bizarre relationship that exists between humans and cars. In this anthology, Robert Bagnall's Driverless takes that concept one terrifying step further. 

Do you have a favourite story about machines, other than The Pit and the Pendulum?

Plenty. The Lord of the Dynamos and The Cone by HG Wells and The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb and The Lift by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are amongst my favourite classics about machines. Ambrose Bierce's Moxon's Monster is particularly chilling too.

What are you working on now?

I'm in the middle of the second draft of my post-apocalyptic novel about a pyromaniac. The red ink is flowing. At about 99,000 words, it's the longest story I've written. I'm really enjoying the process. This story is both intimate (first person) and epic at once.

Where can we find you online?

Everywhere! I'm even on TikTok...It's another planet over there! Links to all my social media pages can be found on my website: https://camerontrost.com

Thanks, Cameron! (Oh, I'm talking to myself now...)

An Interview with Cameron Trost

In the lead-up to the launch of The Black Beacon Book of Mystery in June, we’ve asked our contributors to answer a few questions so you can get to know them better. Let’s unravel the mystery behind the stories together.

First question, inevitable perhaps considering the
pandemic...how are you coping?

The official lockdown ended yesterday in France but I'm still at home with my two sons as school is reopening progressively with priority given to the children of parents in essential services. My wife had been working from home but she has started going back to work on a part-time basis. I'll be a stay-at-home-dad until life returns to normal. Living in the countryside makes it quite pleasant. We're very happy not to be cooped up in a small flat in the city. The virus hasn't spread too much in this part of France. I think most people have done well and respected the restrictions. It's too early to let our guard down though. This is a devastating virus and we need to do whatever we can to protect each other.

Is there a story behind your contribution to The Black Beacon Book of Mystery?

"The Ghosts of Walhalla" is Oscar Tremont's second adventure (details here) and a lot of it is inspired directly by my visit to the actual setting. Yes, it's a real ghost town in Victoria, Australia! I'll let you work out fact from fiction. Just like Oscar and Louise, my wife and I stayed at the camping ground for a few nights back in 2008 and that's where I began writing the mystery in a notebook. If you ever visit the state of Victoria, you really should try to swing by Walhalla. Ghost sightings not guaranteed but the tour is a lot of fun!

Have you made any literary pilgrimages?

Quite a few. I've visited 221B Baker Street. In Oxford, I drank at pubs frequented by famous writers and characters, like Tolkien and Inspector Morse. In cities like Oxford, Edinburgh, Dublin, and of course, London and Paris, it's pretty hard not to stumble across fascinating sites connected to books. I'd love to visit Agatha Christie's home, Greenway House, in Devon. If I ever go to the States, I'd love to explore everything connected to Edgar Allan Poe.

What are the key ingredients for a ripping mystery story? 

I'm all about the puzzle. You need a great detective and believable characters, of course, but for me the mystery is the key. We all hate it when the solution is too obvious, but it shouldn't be too convoluted either. Whatever the resolution, there must be clues, red herrings, and foreshadowing along the way, so the reader can flip back through the pages and say, "Yeah! It was all right there under my nose!"

Do you have a favourite fictional sleuth?

My unoriginal answer is Sherlock Holmes. After all, he's the detective. The mysteries are excellent for the most part and both he and Watson are wonderful characters. In terms of TV detectives, I really like the sensitive heart but rough-around-the-edges mannerisms of Vera (I've yet to read any of the books) and the quirky Jonathan Creek. One of my favourite authors is Ruth Rendell but her Inspector Wexford doesn't really do it for me.

What are you writing now?

I’m working on an apocalyptic suspense novel about a pyromaniac, but it's early days. I'm also polishing a couple of Oscar Tremont short mysteries. My next publication will probably be my mystery novel, Letterbox. I finished the umpteenth draft last year and think it's ready now...well, almost. 

Where can we follow or contact you online?

Blog: https://trostlibrary.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CameronTrostAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/camerontrost
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cameron-Trost/e/B006KHJBOI

Giveaway: The Tunnel Runner

Would you like to start 2018 with a FREE paperback copy of The Tunnel Runner by Cameron Trost?
For your chance to win, simply click on Enter Giveaway below.

If you don't like free books, you can buy a copy here: The Tunnel Runner, print or ebook

Please share this giveaway with your family and friends, and join Cameron on Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Tunnel Runner

by Cameron Trost

Giveaway ends January 06, 2018.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

The Tunnel Runner

Entering the tunnels is easy, but Ripley and Gabriela soon discover that reaching the surface again will be the greatest challenge they have ever faced... 

The Tunnel Runner is a tale of urban adventure and social discontent that plunges the reader deep beneath the city of Brisbane.

Come and explore the world on the other side of the street.

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Black Beacon Books Free Delivery Service

Black Beacon Books is offering free Brisbane-wide delivery on two of its most popular titles while stocks last!

Titles available
"Subtropical Suspense" and "Hoffman's Creeper and Other Disturbing Tales"

Cost
Just $10 per copy, or one of each for $15

How
Pay via Paypal to ctrost (at) hotmail.com
If ordering one title, indicate which one, and include your address and any delivery instructions. Alternatively, contact the editor, Cameron Trost, at ctrost (at) hotmail.com to arrange payment and delivery in person.

Please note that this service is only available in Brisbane, Australia.