Dr Lucy Andrew, a former senior lecturer in English literature and creative writing at the University of Chester, is returning to the city to launch her debut novel and share her publishing journey with aspiring writers. The free event will take place at Chester Picturehouse on Sunday, July 5, from 1pm to 2pm, with free tickets available online.
Debut Novel Blends Jane Austen with Cosy Crime
Her debut novel, 'A Very Vexing Murder', is the first book in the 'Harriet Smith Investigates' series. Published in the UK in March 2026 by Corvus (Atlantic Books) and in the US in May 2026 by William Morrow (HarperCollins), the story is a cosy crime retelling of Jane Austen’s 'Emma'. It transforms Emma’s timid sidekick, Harriet Smith, into a feisty con-woman-turned-detective who is hired to investigate a murder that has not yet been committed.
Dr Andrew, a crime writer and crime fiction scholar with a PhD in English literature from Cardiff University, ran the 'Just Write!' online creative writing group during her time at the University of Chester. She is also a judge for the Cheshire Prize for Literature and was involved in the university's Jane Austen 250th anniversary events. She previously gave a talk on Jane Austen and the rise of detective fiction at the Chester Festival of Ideas, launching her novel at the university in March 2026.
Interactive Event to Demystify Publishing
Dr Andrew said: "It’s wonderful to be returning to the Chester Festival of Ideas again this year. It’s a great opportunity to share my knowledge and experience of life as a professional writer. So many writers and creative people have helped me to find my way within the industry and it’s always a pleasure to pay it forward and pass on that knowledge to emerging authors."
She added: "I’ll be introducing my Harriet Smith Investigates series, the inspiration behind the idea, and my journey to publication. I want this to be an interactive event, to help demystify the publishing industry and to give practical advice to writers."
Attendees can submit questions in advance via email (lucy@lucyandrew.com), Instagram (@drlucyandrew), Facebook (Lucy Andrew), X (@LucyVAndrew), or Bluesky (@drlucyandrew). Fans can also sign up for her 'Secret Sleuths Club' to receive a monthly newsletter and an exclusive article titled 'Five ways Jane Austen paved the way for Golden-Age detective fiction'.
Chester Festival of Ideas
The Chester Festival of Ideas offers more than 100 free events from Thursday, July 2 to Sunday, July 5 across various city venues. The full programme is available online.
