One of the joys of doing research for A Cotswold Crimes Mystery Series
is that I find things that I didn’t know that I didn’t know. Even though
I lived in England as a teen, I think I’m familiar with how Great
Britain works. But whenever I go, I find something fascinating!
I had the fortune of living in the elegant city of Bath, which is why
Maddie, my main character in A Cotswold Crimes, studies there. The Bath
Abbey appears in every novel as it is a place of solace for Maddie. I
have visited dozens of times and take tours each time. You would think
I’d heard it all.
But no.
During my last visit, I learned about hunky punks and medieval graffiti.
Hunky punks are what those in Somerset call gargoyles or grotesques on
churches. It’s such a marvelous phrase I can’t believe I’d never heard
it before. The hunky punks adorning the Bath Abbey were restored in the
1900s, and most retain their original design. However, some stone masons
give their works a modern twist. For example, the Ely Cathedral in
Cambridgeshire boasts an alien gargoyle inspired by the Alien film
franchise, as well as the artwork of H.R. Geiger.
But the perfect moment came when Toby, the docent leading the Abbey
tour, asked if I knew about apotropaics. I did not. When the tour ended,
Toby took me down a dark hall to show me a small carving in the stone.
It was a compass design about the size of a sand dollar. Apparently,
English churches are adorned with this medieval graffiti, added to the
buildings to give them extra protection. Demons are attracted to lines,
and complex patterns (think Celtic knot) trap them as they attempt to
trace the line to the end. The apotropaic keeps the building safe from
these supernatural intruders.
A quick twenty-minute train ride from Bath is Bristol. Due to its
seafaring history, the unusual can be found around every corner. An
original Banksy of a man hiding just outside a window as a husband looks
for him graces what was a public health clinic across from the city
council offices.
In contrast to the multi-story size of many of the city’s murals, are
graffiti done on pieces of used gum that have been smashed onto the
street.
And no trip to Bristol would be complete without touching the door of
the Hatchet Inn, which is said to be made of human skin. A local
explained that the skin was supposed to ward away demons. In my mind, it
seems more like an invitation.
Considering that the inn, founded in 1606, was frequented by the
infamous pirate Blackbeard, the association to evil is deserved. Taller
than the average man, Blackbeard upped his intimidation level by
lighting cannon fuses under his coat, so he appeared to be marching out
of hell as he approached. I preferred to spend my free time down the
road at the Hole in the Wall Pub, where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote
Treasure Island.
All in all, Bristol is a great location for authors and artists seeking
inspiration.
If you’re hunting for ghosts, however, Scotland is the place for you.
Edinburgh offers several creepy delights, including Grey Friars
Kirkyard, where J.K. Rowling found names for her famous characters. The
graveyard is said to be one of the most haunted places in Britain. With
over 100,000 bodies buried in a plot of land that wasn’t designed to
hold nearly so many, you can feel the eerie chill as you walk by.
The friars, however, found that the decomposing bodies made great
fertilizer! Their herbs were said to be the best in the city. I still
have a hard time swallowing that fact (literally).
My most recent research centered on Glastonbury Abbey and the Chalice
Well, one of the locations that lay claim to King Arthur. The Well is
said to run red with blood spilled from the Holy Grail. The image is so
stunning I couldn’t resist having Maddie come upon an Arthurian knight
with an ill-placed broadsword floating in the water in book 4, Death
Takes a Knight: A Cotswold Crimes Mystery, available January 13, 2026.
ABOUT DEATH PLAYS WITH FIRE: A Cotswold Crimes Mystery, book 3
A charred heart pinned to her door with an ancient Celtic dagger isn’t
the worst thing Maddie McGuire has discovered on her doorstep, but it
isn’t great. In fact, the heart is an unwelcome distraction from
protecting the Chedworth Roman Villa from the ravages of winter and
throws Maddie into a world of danger. Student workers Jill, Dion, and
Gabriel have also joined the dig site, bringing with them secrets that
invite chaos into this idyllic but remote Cotswold forest. Unable to
rely on dashing Constable Bailey as he works toward a promotion, Maddie
is stuck with Constable Douglass, who, convinced of her guilt,
jeopardizes her safety rather than keeping her from it.
ABOUT SHARON LYNN: Raised in Arizona, award-winning author Sharon Lynn developed a profound
connection to the English countryside during her teenage years in
England, a bond that has only strengthened with her frequent returns.
This affection vividly colors the pages of A Cotswold Crimes Mystery
series. As a professor of theater, film, and writing, she coaches and
mentors aspiring artists. Her short stories can be found in anthologies
from Malice Domestic and Desert Sleuths. She is a member of the Mystery
Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers,
Crime Writers Association, and Blackbird Writers. Sign up for updates at
www.sharonlwrites.com and www.blackbirdwriters.com.
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