A Lucy Harford Narrowboat Mystery
Book 1 in the Lucy Harford Mysteries
Dear Mystery Friends, I’m thrilled to share Lucy’s first adventure with you! If you love the idea of solving mysteries while floating through England’s most beautiful countryside, and exploring charming villages this is the book for you…
Peace was all Lucy Harford wanted when she moored her narrowboat in Lower Wick village. What she found was murder.
Ex-police constable Lucy has traded her badge for paintbrushes, seeking a quiet life aboard The Curious Cat. But when the village’s annual Scarecrow Festival takes a deadly turn, her detective instincts refuse to stay buried. The local vicar’s body, grotesquely displayed as a festival scarecrow, sends shockwaves through the community.
Armed with her sharp eye for detail and assisted by Sir Meows-a-Lot-a-Lot, a stray ginger cat with perfect timing—Lucy must navigate village politics, hidden grudges, and dangerous lies. In Lower Wick, everyone knows everyone else’s business. But the deadliest secrets are the ones nobody talks about.
The first Lucy Harford Mystery—a traditional British village mysteries with a contemporary canal twist. Perfect for fans of Faith Martin’s Hillary Greene series and Betty Rowlands’ Melissa Craig mysteries, the Lucy Harford series offers the authentic village atmosphere readers love with the unique freedom of narrowboat life.
FAQ: Scarecrow Secrets
Q: What order should I read the Lucy Harford series? A: Start with Scarecrow Secrets (Book 1), then continue with Hidden Secrets (Book 2, coming Autumn 2025). Each book can be read as a standalone mystery, but you’ll enjoy the character development and ongoing relationships more if you read them in order.
Q: Are these books suitable for all ages? A: Yes! The Lucy Harford mysteries are cozy mysteries, which means they avoid graphic violence, explicit content, and strong language. They’re perfect for anyone who enjoys puzzle-solving mysteries with a gentle, village atmosphere.
Q: What makes narrowboat mysteries different from other cozy mysteries? A: Lucy’s narrowboat The Curious Cat allows her to travel England’s waterways, discovering different villages and communities. This unique setting combines the charm of traditional village mysteries with the freedom of waterway travel, offering fresh locations and characters in each book.
Q: Do I need to know anything about narrowboats to enjoy these books? A: Not at all! The books include just enough detail about narrowboat life to make it interesting without overwhelming newcomers. You’ll learn about canal culture naturally as you follow Lucy’s adventures.
Q: Is this similar to other British mystery series? A: If you enjoy Faith Martin’s Hillary Greene series, Betty Rowlands’ Melissa Craig mysteries, or Caroline Graham’s Midsomer Murders, you’ll love the Lucy Harford series. Like these beloved series, it features a strong female protagonist solving mysteries in picturesque English settings.
Q: Will there be more books in the series? A: Yes! This is planned as an ongoing series. Hidden Secrets (Book 2) is coming in Autumn 2025, with more adventures planned for Lucy and Sir Meows-a-Lot.
Q: What role does Sir Meows-a-Lot play in the mysteries? A: Sir Meows-a-Lot is Lucy’s observant ginger cat who has an uncanny ability to appear wherever clues are hidden. He’s not just a pet—he’s an integral part of the mystery-solving team, often leading Lucy to crucial discoveries.
Meet Lucy Harford
Former police constable Lucy Harford traded her badge for paintbrushes and now lives aboard her narrowboat The Curious Cat, travelling England’s waterways as a full-time artist. A career-ending injury forced Lucy from police work, but her keen observational skills and methodical mind haven’t dimmed. Her empathetic nature helps her connect with people and encourages them to share their secrets—a talent that proves invaluable when mysteries arise in the villages where she moors. Accompanied by her observant ginger cat Sir Meows-a-Lot, Lucy discovers that some habits are harder to leave behind than a police uniform, and her investigative instincts have a way of drawing her into danger despite her desire for a quiet life
Sir Meows-a-Lot
Meet Lucy’s unofficial detective partner: a bright ginger tabby with brilliant green eyes and an uncanny knack for appearing exactly where clues are hidden. This former stray chose Lucy as much as she chose him, recognising a kindred independent spirit. Sir Meows-a-Lot has adapted to narrowboat life with remarkable ease, treating The Curious Cat as his domain. He provides both clues and perfectly-timed comic relief during tense moments as well as offering silent support when Lucy needs it most.
The Curious Cat – Lucy’s Floating Home
Lucy’s 40-foot narrowboat The Curious Cat is more than just a home—it’s her sanctuary. Painted deep blue with traditional crimson and gold roses and castles, it combines classic canal boat charm with modern conveniences. At just 7 feet wide, the boat makes use of every inch. The cosy saloon features a warming stove and built-in seating, while the compact galley includes a proper oven. The forward cabin serves as both Lucy’s bedroom and painting studio, with art supplies cleverly stored under the bed. The Curious Cat allows Lucy the freedom to follow England’s canal network, mooring in different villages and discovering new mysteries along the way.
Book 1 in the Lucy Harford Mysteries series.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publication Year: 2025
Perfect for fans of:
- Faith Martin’s Hillary Greene series – Like Hillary, Lucy is a determined detective navigating village politics and hidden secrets, though Lucy’s narrowboat lifestyle offers unique freedom
- Betty Rowlands’ Melissa Craig mysteries – Both feature strong female protagonists solving mysteries in charming English settings with wit and observation
- Caroline Graham’s Midsomer Murders – Readers who enjoy village mysteries with dark secrets beneath picturesque surfaces will love Lucy’s adventures
- Ann Granger’s Campbell & Carter series – Both series blend traditional detection with authentic English village atmosphere
- Frances Brody’s Kate Shackleton mysteries – Strong female detectives using observation and empathy to solve complex cases
You’ll especially like this series if you like:
- Cozy settings with gentle humour
- Amateur sleuths with professional backgrounds
- Animal companions who play active roles in mysteries
- Unique settings that feel authentically English
- Character-driven mysteries with ongoing development
Ready for your first mystery? Step aboard The Curious Cat and discover what secrets lurk beneath Lower Wick’s charming village facade. Start your journey with Lucy Harford and Sir Meows-a-Lot today—where narrowboat life meets murder, and a former police constable discovers that some mysteries are too intriguing to ignore. Perfect for fans of traditional British village mysteries who enjoy amateur sleuths, feline companions, and the unique charm of England’s waterways.
Where to buy
Scarecrow Secrets is available on Amazon in both eBook and paperback formats. Whether you prefer reading on your device or holding a physical book, you can join Lucy and Sir Meows-a-Lot on their first mystery adventure.
Coming soon: Hidden Secrets – where Lucy’s own past becomes the most dangerous mystery of all.
Technical Stuff
html
json{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Book",
"name": "Scarecrow Secrets",
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "P. Thompson",
"description": "Country parson and cozy mystery author",
"url": "https://pthompsonmysteries.com/about/"
},
"genre": ["Cozy Mystery", "British Mystery", "Village Mystery", "Amateur Detective"],
"description": "Ex-police constable Lucy Harford and her ginger cat Sir Meows-a-Lot turn village sleuths when a vicar's murder disrupts the annual Scarecrow Festival in quaint Lower Wick.",
"datePublished": "2025",
"publisher": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Amazon KDP"
},
"isPartOf": {
"@type": "BookSeries",
"name": "Lucy Harford Mysteries",
"position": "1"
},
"mainCharacter": [
{
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Lucy Harford",
"description": "Former police constable turned narrowboat artist"
},
{
"@type": "Character",
"name": "Sir Meows-a-Lot",
"description": "Ginger tabby cat detective companion"
}
],
"setting": {
"@type": "Place",
"name": "Lower Wick",
"description": "English village"
},
"keywords": ["narrowboat mystery", "village mystery", "cozy mystery", "British mystery", "amateur detective", "cat detective"],
"similar": [
"Faith Martin Hillary Greene series",
"Betty Rowlands Melissa Craig mysteries",
"Caroline Graham Midsomer Murders",
"Ann Granger Campbell Carter series",
"M.C. Beaton Agatha Raisin series"
],
"url": "https://pthompsonmysteries.com/scarecrow-secrets/",
"sameAs": [
"https://amazon.com/dp/[your-ASIN]"
]
}
P. Thompson - Cozy Mystery Author 