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It’s back to school for Rev Jess Ward in more ways than one. When an old flame arrives on the island looking to convince the now-famous sleuthing vicar to take part in a sensational new crime documentary series, Jess suddenly finds herself at the centre of her own true crime story.
Another mystery is the last thing Jess needs. She is knee-deep in offerings for the Harvest Festival and the bell ringers appear to be on strike! Add to the mix some clumsy attempts at courting from the school headmaster and more convincing romantic overtures from the handsome blast from the past. All Jess really wants to do is to hide away with a pumpkin spiced latte.
However, with a murderer at large and a film crew following her every move, the cosy night by the fire is going to have to wait. Just how much of her unique investigation style is it safe for her to reveal?
Vestry Vice is the sixth book in the Isle of Wesberrey Series. Find out how Jess tackles the latest mystery on this magical island.
Holy Homicide
Rev Jessamy Ward uncovers murder, mystery and tragic family secrets when she returns to live on the magical Isle of Wesberrey.
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Mausoleum Madness
Bodies pile up quicker than the new vicar, Rev Jessamy Ward can bury them in the second book from the Isle of Wesberry series.
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Pious Poison
In book three of the series, Rev Jessamy Ward joins the Wesberrey Walkers to become fitter and it almost kills her.
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Divine Death
In book four of the series, Rev Jessamy Ward invites the local archaeological society to dig up the old well...what could go wrong?
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Consecrated Crime
In book five of the series, between a regatta, a wedding and discovering her pagan past, will Rev Jessamy Ward find her way?
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Vestry Vice
In book six of the series, it's back to school for Rev Jess Ward in more ways than one.
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Coming Soon!
Book 8 coming soon!
Coming Soon
Book 8 coming soon!
Coming Soon!
Book 9 coming soon!
Coming Soon
Book 9 coming soon!
Anthologies
On a strange blue planet… Where cats rule their human minions…
The people of earth do their best to survive.
Worshipped for centuries, these furry killing machines use cunning, guile, and raging ambivalence to get their way.
These are their stories.
In Victorian London there is one rule: Don’t mess with the Cat Consortium. But will a kitten’s quest save the day? And who will believe the prophecy of Mr. Buttons?
Some of the top authors in the business have banded together for this anthology giving you sixty stories of feline adventure that will make you chortle, chuckle, gasp, and guffaw.
Read cat stories by some of your favorite authors and discover new writers you’ll adore.
Revenge, reckoning, and redemption: HELLCATS, the Anthology has it all.
Visit the Penelope Cress author section on the Hellcats authors page HERE.
Once upon a Hallowed Eve…
Halloween, the day where the veil between the normal and the paranormal is as thin as a whisker on a witch’s chin. Twenty-three original cosy mysteries cook up tales of fun, mayhem, and murder! With a sprinkle of seniors with sharp minds and smart mouths, a dash of witches with familiars and more sass than sense, and a pinch of whodunits in quaint little towns. Once Upon a Halloween has your next favourite author. Who will it be?
Nearly Departed by Patti Larsen
A String of Perils by Penelope Cress
The Clown, The Witch & The Cat by Steven Higgs
Witch’s First Zombie by Valia Lind
Costumes & Cadavers by Katherine H. Brown
Aos si by Tommy Ueland
Pumpkins and Premonitions by Martina Dalton
Bait and Click by Kari Ganske
Candy Korn Killer by Brittany E. Brinegar
A Witchy Spookfest by Rhonda Hopkins
Sweet Scary Deal by Judith A. Barrett
The Black Rose by Louise R. Innes
Murder and the Showgirl by Lynda Brunelle
Murder at the Pawstume Party: A Pupcakes and Pawtries Cozy Mystery by Daphne McLean
Halloween Cat Crimes by Julia Koty
Tea is for Tricks by Karen Sue Walker
Take Your Pixie by Willow Mason
A Shaman’s Samhain by Belinda White
Scandal at Samhain by Carly Reid
The Mystery of Alice by K.E. O’Connor
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow-Point by Linda M. Au
Hunting Witches by Annie Whittaker
Halloween Hoedowns Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers
Can you hear them howl?….
HELLHOUNDS, THE ANTHOLOGY with its pickpockets, ghost hunters, and robots hellbent on murder. They hail from Outer Space, Heaven, Hell, Earth, and the inside of a taxidermied dog.
There are guest appearances by the Hackney Hellhounds of London, Ralphie Boy of Iwo Jima, and Sherlock Hound of the Yorkshire Dales.
Rebels spin their shaggy dog tales, the Greek gods wreak havoc, and a little dog waits the other side of the veil, loyal to the end.
We have fantasy, horror, sci-fi, romance, and much more. But—as with HELLCATS, THE ANTHOLOGY—what all these stories have in common is heart. The good guy wins, the bad guy is punished, the best dog gets a bone. Heart.
Because HELLHOUNDS, THE ANTHOLOGY is such a brilliant mash-up of styles we’ve added blurbs before each story so you can choose what you’d like to read. Not every story is for everyone, but I warrant you’ll find more than one tale that tickles your funny bone, or scratches an itch you didn’t know you had, in here.
Revenge, reckoning, and redemption: HELLHOUNDS, THE ANTHOLOGY has it all.
Buy now in both Kindle and Paperback formats on Amazon!
About Me
My name is Penelope Cress and I love a good murder. Don’t you?
In fact, there is nothing I like better than snuggling up with a nice cup of tea and some digestive biscuits and watching some Agatha Christie or Midsomer Murders on the television. Or even better reading the latest cosy mystery on the train at the end of a hard day.
I started to write my own stories a couple of years ago and the result is the exciting Isle of Wesberrey series featuring the sleuthing talents of Reverend Jessamy Ward. It had been such a joy creating this magical island and its quirky inhabitants.
I live with my children and elderly Jack Russell terrier on an island off the Kent coast and Wesberrey has been inspired by the history and attractions of the many amazing towns and villages dotted along the Kent coast.
In my head I imagined the nostalgic world of G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown with the modern day humour of the Vicar of Dibley. What if there was a place where there were no cars but cats roamed free? A place steeped in history, tradition and ritual that embraced the best things about living in the modern world. A charming English idyll where there just happens to be the odd murder, every other week!
In my research about the local history of my parish church I discovered the legend of the fertility well and the triple goddess. What if Reverend Jess Ward was descended from the original keepers of the well? Is there a way for ancient and modern traditions to peacefully coexist?
I have had great fun creating a world where all of these elements could find a home and I have had even more fun populating this island with some wonderful characters. I love them as my family and I hope that you will grow to love them too.
I am truly honoured that you have come to my website and possibly have read, or are about to read some of my books.
If you would like to keep in touch and hear about all the latest goings on in Wesberrey, competitions, new releases or just some general gossip, please sign up for my free newsletter. To say thank you, I will send you a link to a special sort story Jubilee Jinks (a prequel to the main Wesberrey series) for FREE!
When I’m not writing, or reading murder mysteries, I spend way too much time on Facebook, so I have a special group called the Wesberrey Watchers where I will be sharing all sorts of goodies and members can talk about their favourite characters and so on. If you would like to take part, all you have to do is head over to Facebook and request to join.
I would be delighted to hear from you and welcome any ideas or suggestions for what could happen with the characters as the series unfolds. Ideas for interesting new murder plots are welcome too. I hope the police never have cause to open my search history, they would think I am some kind of serial killer. I promise my only victims are fictional!
Thanks again for popping by, keep in touch…
Penelope
P.S.
I am currently working on a second series which will take me around the world. Watch out for the adventures of Sandra Snoop coming soon…
I live with my children and elderly Jack Russell terrier on an island off the Kent coast and Wesberrey has been inspired by the history and attractions of the many amazing towns and villages dotted along the Kent coast.
In my head I imagined the nostalgic world of G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown with the modern day humour of the Vicar of Dibley. What if there was a place where there were no cars but cats roamed free? A place steeped in history, tradition and ritual that embraced the best things about living in the modern world. A charming English idyll where there just happens to be the odd murder, every other week!
In my research about the local history of my parish church I discovered the legend of the fertility well and the triple goddess. What if Reverend Jess Ward was descended from the original keepers of the well? Is there a way for ancient and modern traditions to peacefully coexist?
I have had great fun creating a world where all of these elements could find a home and I have had even more fun populating this island with some wonderful characters. I love them as my family and I hope that you will grow to love them too.
I am truly honoured that you have come to my website and possibly have read, or are about to read some of my books.
If you would like to keep in touch and hear about all the latest goings on in Wesberrey, competitions, new releases or just some general gossip, please sign up for my free newsletter. To say thank you, I will send you a link to a special sort story Jubilee Jinks (a prequel to the main Wesberrey series) for FREE!
When I’m not writing, or reading murder mysteries, I spend way too much time on Facebook, so I have a special group called the Wesberrey Watchers where I will be sharing all sorts of goodies and members can talk about their favourite characters and so on. If you would like to take part, all you have to do is head over to Facebook and request to join.
I would be delighted to hear from you and welcome any ideas or suggestions for what could happen with the characters as the series unfolds. Ideas for interesting new murder plots are welcome too. I hope the police never have cause to open my search history, they would think I am some kind of serial killer. I promise my only victims are fictional!
Thanks again for popping by, keep in touch…
Penelope
P.S.
I am currently working on a second series which will take me around the world. Watch out for the adventures of Sandra Snoop coming soon…
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About Me
I’m a writer of mysteries and a mother of four. Addicted to tea, digestive biscuits and all things retro.