News

A Quick Snapshot into the Writing Life of Amateur Sleuth Mystery Author A. D. Hay
I update this page regularly, so you know what I’m working on right now.

10 April 2023

I’m pleased to let you know that The Locked Room, a prequel novella to the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mysteries, is now available in eBook on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes and Noble Nook, and Kobo.

 

Yay!

 

You can find the ebook in your favourite ebook retailer by clicking this link.

28 March 2023

This week I did a bit of experimentation with the pricing for Duplicity due to the current economic climate.

 

For a limited time only, Duplicity is on sale in all stores and directly through me for 99¢.

 

Click here to buy direct from me, or find Duplicity in your favourite online ebook retailer. 

 

22 February 2023

There’s no rest for the wicked!

 

While I wait for feedback from my beta reader and between rounds of edits with my line editor and proofreader, I’ve started writing the third book in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery Series. I’m really excited to write this story.

 

For those of you who are curious, in the third book, I’ll reveal who is behind the Lucy J knight pen name—a minor plot thread in Duplicity. And I bring back a character from Suspicion, much to James’s dismay.

 

Anyway, I need to get back to writing!

21 February 2023

Exciting news, I’ve finished writing my very first locked room mystery. What started out as a short story evolved into a novella-length work. The idea for The Locked Room came from a reference in Duplicity. In my book Duplicity, James Lalonde mentioned that he solved a murder at the bed and breakfast run by Professor Xavier Watson and his wife, Flora⏤The Locked Room, is the story about this murder.

 

Today, I’m sending The Locked Room off to a beta reader before sending it off to my line editor and proofreader.

 

I enjoyed writing this story, and I can’t wait to share this novella with you.

 

Spoiler alert: If you’ve signed up top my mailing list, you’ll get this novella for FREE.

28 November 2022

I’m pleased to let you know that the second James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery, Duplicity, is now available in eBook on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes and Noble Nook, and Kobo.

 

Yay!

 

You can find the ebook in your favourite ebook retailer by clicking this link

19 November 2022

Exciting News!

 

The ebook for Suspicion is currently FREE on all major ebook retailer platforms. So, be sure to get your copy so you can read it before Duplicity is released. So, click here to find the ebook in your favourite store.

 

And it’s currently sitting in the number two position in the top 100 free Crime Action Fiction chart on the Kindle Store.

 

Yay!

16 August 2022

While waiting to get Duplicity back from my editor, I have gotten back to writing the short story I mentioned in December.

 

To rejig your memory, the short story will be a locked-room mystery set in a beautiful English Manor House. And, it’s a tie-in story with Duplicity. You won’t have to read Duplicity to appreciate it and vice-versa, but the event in the short story is referenced in Duplicity. This story will be a part of the James Lalonde Universe, and I will make it available to my James Lalonde insider email list when it’s finished, or you can buy it as a stand-alone short story.

 

So, if you want a free story, make sure you sign up. In the meantime, you’ll get a free copy of The Lawn.

29 July 2022

I’m pleased to let you know that the third edition of the first James Lalonde Mystery, Suspicion is now available in eBook on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes and Noble Nook, and Kobo. 

 

Yay!

 

 You can find the ebook in your favourite ebook retailer by clicking this link.

25 July 2022

Good news! I have received Suspicion back from my editor, and as of last week, I have submitted it to a second editor for a final proofread. So, what does this mean? The first novella in the James Lalonde Murder Mystery series is almost ready to be published.

 

Yay!

 

I’m expecting to receive the proofread edition of Suspicion back from my edition either this evening or tomorrow afternoon. In anticipation of this, I have started uploading the novella to all online ebook retailers.

 

However, if you read either the first or second edition of Missing and would like to read the re-titled third edition, get it for free by becoming a James Lalonde Insider by using the signup form below.

 

25 June 2022

While working with my editor to perfect the prose in Suspicion, I’m also going through one last edit on Duplicity, searching for repeated words and overused phrases. I have a few writing hangups. After that, I will send Duplicity off to beta readers to check for any plot holes I’ve overlooked, and then I’ll submit Duplicity to my editor.

 

I’m hoping to be able to publish Duplicity sometime in September but have a preorder up in August. But all of this will depend upon the availability of my editors. So Fingers crossed everything goes well. As you can probably tell I’m excited to be publishing this next amateur sleuth mystery novel. I’ll keep you posted with more updates like this.

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ME

 

Hello!

 

I’m Amelia. I write under the pen name A. D. Hay, and I’m the author of The Lawn, Suspicion, Duplicity, and The Candidate. I’m the host of the Mystery Novel Nerd Podcast. Right now, I’m writing a locked-room mystery featuring James Lalonde. When I’m not writing or hosting my podcast, I love to travel around Europe with my husband, drink tea, and eat pizza.

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My Books

A Body is on the Lawn, and a Killer is on the Loose

 

When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.

 

But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.

 

Can James figure out who the thief and murderer are before he or Alistair is next?

 

Read it, Today!

 

 

 

A Murdered Judge. A Dark Secret Silenced.

 

Rookie reporter James Lalonde is bored. And, he isn’t a journalist. He’s an all-round dogs-body, to editor-in-chief, Rhys Kelly. But, his luck has finally changed. After eavesdropping in on the morning editorial meeting, James learns he has his first-ever story. There’s one catch. If the story gets too complicated, it will be taken away from him and given to another journalist with more experience. Sure it’s a boring interview with the soon-to-be sworn-in magistrate, Albert Harrington, but it finally gets him out of his six-month slump as an editorial research assistant.

 

The following day, James turns up to his interview with Albert to discover a trail of blood smeared through Albert’s house, an empty safe, the murder weapon on the floor, but no body. Detective Anwar Khan turns up at the crime scene, puts two and two together, and believes James murdered the controversial magistrate. Can James clear his name and write his first-ever story before his editor takes it away from him?

 

£2.49 £0.99

 

Get It Now!

 

 

Excalibur is Missing. A Killer is on the Loose. One Reporter is Determined to Uncover the Truth.

 

James has a nose for trouble. But that’s nothing new. This time, things are different–his life is on the line. James is the chief editor of a small newspaper. It’s hardly captivating work. He’s bored. But all of that is about to change.

 

Late one evening, he returns home to discover his long-time girlfriend and journalist, Valentine, has left. Early the next morning, James fails to reallocate her assigned story. To avoid blank space in the culture section and losing his job, he decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on–Excalibur is missing, and a dead body is at the crime scene.

 

If you love gripping cloak-and-dagger mysteries with twists and turns, then you’ll love this first instalment in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery series. Get it now.

 

£2.49 £0.00

 

Get It Now!

 

 

A Murdered Professor. A Priceless Manuscript Stolen.

 

Moments after James discovers a secret code on the pages of the manuscript, a hooded figure murders a professor and steals the manuscript from Oxford University.

 

While James is receiving medical attention, he discovers a secret about his past that he was never supposed to know. Instead of staying on bed rest, James decides to leave town and uncover the truth. But, the police put a hold on his passport, believing he organised the murder and theft. Before James leaves for New York, he must investigate the truth behind the lab break-in. As his investigation digs deeper, James discovers everyone has means, motive, opportunity and something to hide.

 

With an endless list of possible suspects, James must clear his name, find the manuscript, and identify the murderer before they strike again.

 

Duplicity is the second novel in A D Hay’s gripping amateur sleuth mystery series. If you like cloak and dagger mysteries filled with twists and turns, you’ll love this instalment from the series.

 

£3.99 £0.99

 

Get It Now!

 

One Locked Room. A Dead Body. Five Suspects

 

It’s the opening of Clovervale Hall, an exquisite bed-and-breakfast in Oxfordshire, owned and operated by Professor Xavier Watson and his wife, Flora. And James Lalonde can’t believe his luck—he gets an all-expenses paid trip.

 

And he gets to write a story about the opening of the bed-and-breakfast for the Northampton Tribune. It’s going to be the easiest weekend of his life. Unfortunately, the weather is scorching hot, and a cyclonic storm sets in, trapping him and the guests inside the manor house.

 

But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on—a killer is on the loose, roaming the halls of Clovervale Hall. While cyclonic weather conditions rage on outside, James hunts down the killer. Lurking behind every corner, he discovers secrets and lies. But his investigations haven’t gone unnoticed. The killer has a watchful eye on James.

 

Can James solve the murder before the bodies start to pile up?

 

£2.49

 

Get It Now!

 

What I’m Writing!

10%
First Draft

6,430 of 60,000 Words

I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24-hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of 2023. And the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.

 

Publishing Updates

 

 

100%
Revised Draft

112,960 of 99,000 Words

Book Four in the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in early 2023. And the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.

 

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