The Hitman, the Councillor, and Eleanor Peterson

The Lower Strangling Chronicles Of all the places Jack Beach was sent to as part of his contract, none were as sleepy at Lower Strangling. But here he was, in an empty churchyard, cowering behind a grave as he observed another man in the distance. The man in question was Charlie White, a recent additionContinue reading “The Hitman, the Councillor, and Eleanor Peterson”

Mystery in the Library

The Lower Strangling Chronicles He returned to the cemetery to personally scrub some of the moss growing on the oldest gravestones that were historically important to the village. Upon finishing one particularly mossy stone, the Rev. Simon Abernathy glanced upward at the cottage on the corner of the road. A for-sale sign had been placedContinue reading “Mystery in the Library”

The Shack on Goon Brenn

The Oxford Set Renowned historian Ben Jones slouched above his desk, poring over yet another dusty old manuscript that had come into his possession. The sun shone brightly through his window, almost blinding him, and distant waves crashed against an unseen shore. He felt the quick vibrate of a notification on his phone and tookContinue reading “The Shack on Goon Brenn”

A Cosy Afternoon In

The Lower Strangling Chronicles “Anything exciting going on in here,” Dave Peterson said as he closed the door to the living room and hurried across the room. His wife, Sarah, was sprawled on the settee, typing away on her laptop. Their daughter, Eleanor, sat on the floor, her back propped up against the couch asContinue reading “A Cosy Afternoon In”

The Strange Guest

The Lower Strangling Chronicles ”Are you sure he came in here, Chief?” Sergeant Becky Fernshaw of Gloucestershire Constabulary asked Chief Constable Stuart Kennedy as they observed a lavender labyrinth. ”Yes, I’m sure of it,” Stuart said. They had spent the last forty-eight minutes in a high-speed car chase through the Cotswolds, perusing an erratic driverContinue reading “The Strange Guest”

Homemade Croissants at the Climate Catastrophe Charity Bake Sale

The Lower Strangling Chronicles “So, floods in England and fire in Los Angeles,” Dave said as he waited in a queue to get into the Hangman’s Noose. “Who are we betting will get the plague of locusts?” The people around him met his remarks with groans. His wife, Sarah, glared at him. ”Not particularly amusing,Continue reading “Homemade Croissants at the Climate Catastrophe Charity Bake Sale”

The Missing Ingredient

The Lower Strangling Chronicles It was a glorious July day, and crowds filled the centre of Lower Strangling for the annual summer Village Fete. This year was unique, as a special guest had agreed to open the fair. “It is my greatest pleasure to be with you all today,” Labour MP Adam Ainsworth said toContinue reading “The Missing Ingredient”

An Important Visit

The Lower Strangling Chronicles It may have been a meteorologically indecisive day, but the residents of Lower Strangling were in good spirits. Their constituency had elected charismatic Labour candidate Adam Ainsworth as their MP as part of a nationwide General Election victory for the party. Adam was the village’s preferred candidate, and so they wereContinue reading “An Important Visit”

The Ghost in the Village Hall

The Oxford Set It was a reasonably pleasant June evening, and some of the residents of the Waeringshire village of Kington gathered in the village hall for a unique question and answer session, with the candidates vying to be their next Member of Parliament. Harold Perceville, the Conservative candidate and current MP, was trying desperatelyContinue reading “The Ghost in the Village Hall”

Competition at the Pub Quiz

The Lower Strangling Chronicles It was an unusually dreary day for May, and the Hangman’s Noose welcomed the residents of Lower Strangling for their monthly charity quiz night, Who Wants to Eat a Millionaire… ‘s Shortcake. Rather than a million pounds, the winning team received a slice of the pub’s signature Millionaire’s Shortcake. But theyContinue reading “Competition at the Pub Quiz”