Book Title: Dead Letters by P.J. Murphy
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 349 pages
Genre: Mystery, Literary Fiction
Publisher: P.J. Murphy
Release date: May 2023
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. The book is not violent, and swearing is infrequent. There are a number of references to ghosts, but the atmosphere is more gothic than scary (with one exception). However, it is a book aimed squarely at adults, with references to depression and mental illness.
“If you want to find me, search within these pages.”
Bestselling author Richard Debden is missing. The only clue: a copy of his unpublished final novel delivered to his ex-girlfriend, Amy. When those closest to Richard reunite for his memorial, Amy turns to Chris, his former best friend, to help unravel the mystery. Could Richard still be alive and in need of their help?
Richard’s manuscript tells of two abandoned children in wartime Britain, instructed by a shadowy Postmaster to deliver letters to ghosts and release them from their torment. As Chris and Amy delve into the text, they identify parallels between fiction and reality; clues to a trail that leads across the country and – they hope – to Richard.
But they are not the only interested party. A mysterious society is following them, their motives unclear. Can Chris and Amy unlock the secrets of Dead Letters, or will more sinister forces get there first?
Dead Letters is the captivating second novel by P.J. Murphy, author of Troubleshot.
Interview with P.J.
- Dead Letters is not your typical mystery book. Where did you get the idea?
It wasn’t conceived as a mystery. Dead Letters originated from two ideas I had been playing with. The first was a gothic supernatural story that depicted ghosts as memories of people and events. The second was the concept of puzzling apart the truth behind a novel – knowing that everything that goes in must be inspired by something the writer has experienced in some way. The mystery element of ‘what happened to the missing writer?’ came later.
- The ‘story-within-a-story’ of Dead Letters is set during the second world war. What research did you do on the period?
My approach to writing historical fiction is to provide sufficient flavour for the writing to be believable. I’m not writing a non-fiction study, and readers aren’t there to be bombarded with reams of painstakingly researched detail. If one character pulls a gun on another, the most important point is that their life is in danger, not the exact calibre and make of the weapon. To answer the question, much of the period detail came from novels or films. I did internet research on key aspects and did a bit of a deep dive into the development of abattoirs. Read to chapter 13, and you’ll see why.
- Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover.
I had the idea of a hall-of-mirrors effect, referencing the story-within-a-story elements of Dead Letters. I shared this with a cover designer, who agreed it would be cool if we could get it to work, and thus began quite an iterative process of bringing the cover to life. The process taught me that there’s a big difference between having an idea in your head and this becoming a physical reality. We had to overcome many problems I hadn’t even anticipated, such as the positioning of the postmark so the image didn’t become a complete mess when copied over itself. Also, I had to know where to stop eternally polishing that stone. Overalll, I’m pleased with the result.
- What is the last great book you’ve read?
I recently finished The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré, as part of my preparation to write an espionage novel. Although I have watched several of his novels adapted for screen, this was the first I had read. I was impressed by the level of detail, which initially seemed to be getting in the way of the plot, but then I got completely immersed in it and realised it was an essential part of building that stark, gritty world.
- Dead Letters isn’t your first novel. What else do you have in the pipeline?
In early 2024, I will release an audiobook version of Dead Letters and an older novel called Yesterday’s Shadow. It’s a coming-of-age tale about homelessness and the dark side of faith – quite a different theme but written in a similar tone. Beyond that, I’m hoping to finish at least one other novel later this year: either a sequel to my first novel, Troubleshot, or a weird take on an espionage novel on the horizon, which I like to think of as a cross between Bond and Groundhog Day.
If you want to find out more, I have a Facebook page and an author page on Amazon and Goodreads, but the best place to follow me is my website www.pjmurphywriter.com. There, you can find links to all my published works, plus a blog, which I update regularly.
P.J. Murphy writes novels that introduce unusual and humorous twists to classic genres. If you pick up one of his books, you’re in for an interesting read that never loses its sense of fun. As a writer, P.J. tries to stick to the adage ‘write what you know’, although with the addition, ‘just make sure you exaggerate and distort it beyond all recognition’. He is planning to write a novel about taking a road trip with a parrot. He has never owned a parrot.
DEAD LETTERS by P.J. Murphy Spotlight Book Tour Giveaway
