American author, Frances Powell’s latest page-turning mystery, ‘Lady of the Wye’ is a gripping tale of murder and intrigue, set in the Wye Valley.

Frances first visited Ross 25 years ago when she escorted an older friend needing a companion for the long flight from the States, and a driver to take her to her hometown and family. She fell in love with the area and the people and, in 1999, after re-marrying and moving to England with her British husband, they visited the area regularly.

Frances moved back to the States some years ago but last year she and her husband, returned to Britain to visit relatives, and once more visited Ross-on-Wye. At the time, Frances was researching her sixth mystery and had decided to set it in the town of which she had grown so fond.

During her stay she visited Wilton Castle, where she told the Ross Gazette she was warmly received by Sue Parslow, who graciously showed Frances and her husband around her home and the castle ruins. Speaking with her and walking around the grounds was the final inspiration Frances needed for her latest book and ‘The Lady of the Wye’ was born.

After an illustrious career at London’s Metropolitan Police Department, Scottish-born Chief Inspector Cam Fergus accepts a transfer to the Herefordshire town of Ross-on-Wye to wind down his career.

He believes that the sleepy market town will be the perfect place to escape the crimes and gruesome murders that he has dealt with daily at the Met. Everything seems to be idyllic, until a lazy summer afternoon when the Lady of the Wye surfaced.

Although everything points to suicide, Cam’s instincts tell him that things just don’t add-up. When evidence indicating foul play is found at Wilton Castle, the case quickly develops into a murder investigation. As victims begin to pile up, Cam races against time to find the identity of the killer before more innocent lives are lost.

Lady of the Wye is available to buy online on www.amazon.com, as a hard copy or kindle version.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here.