Helen Jones
@helenjauthor.bsky.social
Welsh author of crime and psychological fiction.
Dabbles with flash fiction and poetry.
Rep'd by Judith Murray @greeneandheaton
Substack: https://arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/
Please no unsolicited DMs
Dabbles with flash fiction and poetry.
Rep'd by Judith Murray @greeneandheaton
Substack: https://arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/
Please no unsolicited DMs
Here's my October reads!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
November 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Here's my October reads!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!
Another recharge weekend well spent. My husband bought this for our anniversary last week, and we built it yesterday. Love a bit of '80s nostalgia, and Gizmo in particular!
October 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Another recharge weekend well spent. My husband bought this for our anniversary last week, and we built it yesterday. Love a bit of '80s nostalgia, and Gizmo in particular!
Here's my September reads!
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
September 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Here's my September reads!
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.
#amreading #septemberreads
Here's my August reads!
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
August 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Here's my August reads!
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.
I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.
#amreading #augustreads
Here's my July reads! My favourite was "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. It's a brilliant book and I loved every minute. Also really enjoyed Ruth Ware's short stories.
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads
July 31, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Here's my July reads! My favourite was "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. It's a brilliant book and I loved every minute. Also really enjoyed Ruth Ware's short stories.
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads
Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...
#amreading #julyreads
It's easy to think about which writers inspire me, but sometimes I forget about the TV series, movies and life events that lead me to write crime fiction and cold cases in particular...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-fi...
#amwriting #CrimeFiction #coldcases
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-fi...
#amwriting #CrimeFiction #coldcases
July 1, 2025 at 8:40 AM
It's easy to think about which writers inspire me, but sometimes I forget about the TV series, movies and life events that lead me to write crime fiction and cold cases in particular...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-fi...
#amwriting #CrimeFiction #coldcases
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-fi...
#amwriting #CrimeFiction #coldcases
Somehow we're half way through the year and I can't quite believe I'm posting one of these again.
I slowed down a bit in June due to a lot of uncertainty and a bereavement, but here's the five books I read...
(cont...)
I slowed down a bit in June due to a lot of uncertainty and a bereavement, but here's the five books I read...
(cont...)
June 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Somehow we're half way through the year and I can't quite believe I'm posting one of these again.
I slowed down a bit in June due to a lot of uncertainty and a bereavement, but here's the five books I read...
(cont...)
I slowed down a bit in June due to a lot of uncertainty and a bereavement, but here's the five books I read...
(cont...)
Bought myself a little gift as something very exciting (that I'm not allowed to talk about yet) happened this week... The new Lego Sherlock Holmes booknook! 😍
I am so excited to build this, hopefully starting later today and will build it a little at a time over the next week.
I am so excited to build this, hopefully starting later today and will build it a little at a time over the next week.
June 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Bought myself a little gift as something very exciting (that I'm not allowed to talk about yet) happened this week... The new Lego Sherlock Holmes booknook! 😍
I am so excited to build this, hopefully starting later today and will build it a little at a time over the next week.
I am so excited to build this, hopefully starting later today and will build it a little at a time over the next week.
Back up to normal speed for my May Reads!
It's hard to choose a favourite because they were all great but it's probably between 'City of Destruction' and 'The Beast of Littleton Woods'.
I'm still enjoying my audible trial too; 'Ice Town' as read by Maya Lindh is fantastic!
It's hard to choose a favourite because they were all great but it's probably between 'City of Destruction' and 'The Beast of Littleton Woods'.
I'm still enjoying my audible trial too; 'Ice Town' as read by Maya Lindh is fantastic!
June 1, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Back up to normal speed for my May Reads!
It's hard to choose a favourite because they were all great but it's probably between 'City of Destruction' and 'The Beast of Littleton Woods'.
I'm still enjoying my audible trial too; 'Ice Town' as read by Maya Lindh is fantastic!
It's hard to choose a favourite because they were all great but it's probably between 'City of Destruction' and 'The Beast of Littleton Woods'.
I'm still enjoying my audible trial too; 'Ice Town' as read by Maya Lindh is fantastic!
March was another slow reading month, as I've been struggling to just sit down and read. And it's not for a lack of fabulous books on my TBR, of which there are many... (1/3)
March 31, 2025 at 7:22 PM
March was another slow reading month, as I've been struggling to just sit down and read. And it's not for a lack of fabulous books on my TBR, of which there are many... (1/3)
February was a slow reading month, but I did get to read a few books ahead of publication - always a huge joy!
February 28, 2025 at 5:23 PM
February was a slow reading month, but I did get to read a few books ahead of publication - always a huge joy!
I didn't read as many books in January as I normally do, but these 8 were absolute belters!
January 31, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I didn't read as many books in January as I normally do, but these 8 were absolute belters!
This is my reading wishlist for 2025, including two books I was lucky enough to read in 2024.
However... it's not a very diverse list of authors and I should be reading much more widely than this! So, who am I missing?
Which books do you recommend I add onto my 2025 reading list?
However... it's not a very diverse list of authors and I should be reading much more widely than this! So, who am I missing?
Which books do you recommend I add onto my 2025 reading list?
January 1, 2025 at 11:59 AM
This is my reading wishlist for 2025, including two books I was lucky enough to read in 2024.
However... it's not a very diverse list of authors and I should be reading much more widely than this! So, who am I missing?
Which books do you recommend I add onto my 2025 reading list?
However... it's not a very diverse list of authors and I should be reading much more widely than this! So, who am I missing?
Which books do you recommend I add onto my 2025 reading list?
Another outstanding month of books.
My recommendation for 2025 is "59 Minutes" by @holly.bsky.social; a fast-paced, tight-knit thriller that really made me think. If you're a fan of thrillers, this is an absolute must read!
My recommendation for 2025 is "59 Minutes" by @holly.bsky.social; a fast-paced, tight-knit thriller that really made me think. If you're a fan of thrillers, this is an absolute must read!
January 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Another outstanding month of books.
My recommendation for 2025 is "59 Minutes" by @holly.bsky.social; a fast-paced, tight-knit thriller that really made me think. If you're a fan of thrillers, this is an absolute must read!
My recommendation for 2025 is "59 Minutes" by @holly.bsky.social; a fast-paced, tight-knit thriller that really made me think. If you're a fan of thrillers, this is an absolute must read!
Happy New Year! Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
I wish you all peace and prosperity in 2025, but in the meantime, I truly believe the best is yet to come...
Here's my 2024 review and what I hope to achieve in the coming year...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/the-best-i...
#Resolutions2025
I wish you all peace and prosperity in 2025, but in the meantime, I truly believe the best is yet to come...
Here's my 2024 review and what I hope to achieve in the coming year...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/the-best-i...
#Resolutions2025
January 1, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Happy New Year! Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
I wish you all peace and prosperity in 2025, but in the meantime, I truly believe the best is yet to come...
Here's my 2024 review and what I hope to achieve in the coming year...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/the-best-i...
#Resolutions2025
I wish you all peace and prosperity in 2025, but in the meantime, I truly believe the best is yet to come...
Here's my 2024 review and what I hope to achieve in the coming year...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/the-best-i...
#Resolutions2025
This is quite possibly the best reading month I've had all year. Not in number, but in sheer enjoyment of every single book. Highly recommend every single one of these, but I can't pick a favourite - it's too close!
December 2, 2024 at 12:14 PM
This is quite possibly the best reading month I've had all year. Not in number, but in sheer enjoyment of every single book. Highly recommend every single one of these, but I can't pick a favourite - it's too close!
My October reads were few and far between. I struggled to concentrate on reading, found I was more tired than normal and spent a lot of time just trying to get my own book out of the door.
While I enjoyed them all, Jodi Taylor's 'Smallhope and Pennyroyal' was my favourite.
While I enjoyed them all, Jodi Taylor's 'Smallhope and Pennyroyal' was my favourite.
November 1, 2024 at 8:16 AM
My October reads were few and far between. I struggled to concentrate on reading, found I was more tired than normal and spent a lot of time just trying to get my own book out of the door.
While I enjoyed them all, Jodi Taylor's 'Smallhope and Pennyroyal' was my favourite.
While I enjoyed them all, Jodi Taylor's 'Smallhope and Pennyroyal' was my favourite.
Writing your synopsis often feels harder than writing your book. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here's my top tips for getting your synopsis right...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-a-...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-a-...
September 15, 2024 at 8:10 AM
Writing your synopsis often feels harder than writing your book. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here's my top tips for getting your synopsis right...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-a-...
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/writing-a-...
I ended up reading 13 books in August: 6 new, 7 re-reads (inc. Strangers on a Train, but it's been a long time!)
I'm thoroughly hooked by the Slough House series and am having to pace myself 😆
Loved them all though!
I'm thoroughly hooked by the Slough House series and am having to pace myself 😆
Loved them all though!
September 2, 2024 at 7:28 AM
I ended up reading 13 books in August: 6 new, 7 re-reads (inc. Strangers on a Train, but it's been a long time!)
I'm thoroughly hooked by the Slough House series and am having to pace myself 😆
Loved them all though!
I'm thoroughly hooked by the Slough House series and am having to pace myself 😆
Loved them all though!
Perfecting your opening chapters is key to winning competitions, finding an agent and hooking your readers.
But how do you get those first 5-10k words right?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/refining-y...
#amwriting #openingchapters
But how do you get those first 5-10k words right?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/refining-y...
#amwriting #openingchapters
![Dark grey text headline says "Refining your Opening Chapters, or, how to use your first 10,000 words to hook a reader agent or editor.' At the bottom, 'a lens unclouded [dot] substack [dot] com'. Background is mint green, with coral pink flowers in the top right and bottom right corners.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3ut3yfjrtehvmv7wjo5r4qrf/bafkreicqfxfuf6riixwonyuadzvwwpaokcbg7fuett7yom5w2ued22lutm@jpeg)
August 15, 2024 at 8:16 AM
Perfecting your opening chapters is key to winning competitions, finding an agent and hooking your readers.
But how do you get those first 5-10k words right?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/refining-y...
#amwriting #openingchapters
But how do you get those first 5-10k words right?
alensunclouded.substack.com/p/refining-y...
#amwriting #openingchapters
