Local author Lyndon Stacey visited The Book Shop in February to sign copies of her thrilling new book. "Murder in Mind"

Lyndon Stacey writes thrillers set in the rural communities of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset, featuring ordinary, everyday people who get caught up in crimes such as fraud, kidnap, blackmail and murder. Her settings have included such well-known localities as the New Forest Show, Bath, and Gold Hill in Shaftesbury.

Lyndon is published by Hutchinson and Arrow at Random House, and the stories mostly have a horse-related background, although - in contrast to Dick Francis, with whom she has been favourably compared - not all of them are about racing.

That having been said, for Lyndon's latest book, 'MURDER IN MIND', she has had the pleasure of working closely with top National Hunt jockey Robert "Choc" Thornton, on a plot based around a jockey who is unwillingly involved in a murder investigation. Good research is a vital part of any crime novel, and Lyndon takes care to make the detail as accurate as she possibly can.

Lyndon has lived around animals all her life and has a keen interest in animal psychology, based on her experiences with the many horses and dogs she has had the privilege of knowing over the years. She currently shares her home with three dogs and two cats, and is looking forward to the day when she has her own horse once more. Her hobbies are numerous and varied, and in addition to riding and dog training, have included karate, archery, dancing, classical music, genealogy and, recently, touring the countryside on her BMW motorbike. She is also a successful artist. Many of these interests have featured in her books.

Lyndon Stacey's books have dual appeal, being enjoyed by fans of straightforward crime but also by readers who relish the horsey content, and who often remark that it is refreshing to find an author who really 'knows her stuff!'

Lyndon Stacey's books have all been published in audio and large print editions, and are distributed around the world. Two titles have been taken up by Reader's Digest for their Select Editions condensed books, in this country and abroad, and her first book was chosen for WHSmith's Fresh Talent promotion. Lyndon is developing a following in many countries; she has had fan mail from readers overseas, including the USA. Her books have been published in the Czech Republic and Russia.

Find out more about Lyndon Stacey's other books: