PJ SKINNER | Mystery, Crime and Adventure Author

Mystery, Adventure and Intrigue from PJ Skinner

New release

Meet Stella (she didn’t want the spaceship either)

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Hi there from Ireland,

I’m settling in to my new life in the small Irish town of Cahir, pronounced Care. No jokes about Cahir Homes please. 🤣 I have lived alone for twenty-six years so I thought I would find it hard living with my parents again. Absolutely not! We are having a blast.

I am a little frustrated with the slowness of everything here. I still don’t have a bank card so I can’t buy stuff for my upstairs office. That sort of thing. However, the glacial pace is still progress. We’ll get there.

Book News

A second book. Same month. I know.

Murder on the Galaxy Belle — the first in my Albatross Adventure space opera series — is out now, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. I had intended on writing a cosy mystery series based on a starship, but I am not in control of my characters and the plot has thickened. Now we are travelling the galaxy searching for a lost sister and some serious secrets with a slow-burn romance simmering in the background. It’s so exciting!

Here’s the premise: Stella Maris inherits a battered cargo ship she doesn’t want, crewed by people she didn’t hire, who are absolutely not leaving until they get paid. One delivery run to the luxury spa-liner Galaxy Belle should fix everything. Pay the crew. Walk away.

Then a passenger turns up dead in her cabin — and Stella’s charming, infuriating pilot becomes the prime suspect.

Yes, it’s set in space. But here’s what early readers are saying:

“Although set in space, this didn’t feel too ‘alien’ and I quickly settled into this new world.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I just couldn’t put down as I was hooked on the story — superbly written, brilliantly plotted and extremely well thought out.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was completely flummoxed right to the end — every time I thought I was putting the clues together, something else would happen to throw me off.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I just know that it’s going to be another one that has me hooked from start to finish and taking each of these characters into my heart over time.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love a found-family ensemble, snappy banter, and a puzzle that keeps you guessing — this one’s for you. Think cruise ship mystery, but with better stars.

GET MURDER ON THE GALAXY BELLE

And if you haven’t met DS Bill Grant yet — Dead Line, the first Portsmouth Bill mystery, is also out now.

GET DEAD LINE

More from Ireland soon.

PJ

🎬 The Final Curtain Falls: Seacastle Mysteries Concludes (Tissues Required!)

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Hello, dear reader!

I’m writing to you today with a heart that’s both full and a little bittersweet…

📚 Final Script is Out NOW!

The last book in the Seacastle Mysteries series is officially available on Amazon! After years of sleuthing alongside our beloved characters through the charming (and occasionally murderous) streets of Seacastle, we’ve reached the final chapter.

Fair warning: You might want to keep a box of tissues nearby. I may have cried while writing it. Twice. Okay, three times.

Grab Your Copy on Amazon

A Love Letter to YOU 💌

I need to pause here and say something from the heart: Thank you.

Thank you for following this series. Thank you for your emails, your reviews, your messages about which suspect you thought was guilty. Thank you for making space in your reading life for my stories.

Every single one of you has made this journey not just possible, but absolutely magical. I am so deeply grateful to each and every one of you.

You’re not just readers—you’re the reason these books exist. And I hope you know how much that means to me.

What’s Next?

While I’m saying goodbye to Seacastle, I’m not saying goodbye to the crime and mystery genre! I’m already plotting my next series (Actually two new series, I couldn’t chose). I will be sending out a newsletter with news of them shortly. There are a couple of taster chapters at the back of Final Script…

I’ll be sharing more details soon, but for now, I’m taking a moment to celebrate this milestone with you—and maybe enjoy a cup of tea without worrying about my word count. 😊

Until next time, happy sleuthing!

PJ

P.S. — Have you read Final Script yet? I’d love to hear what you think! Hit reply and let me know your thoughts (no spoilers in public, though—let’s keep the mystery alive for everyone else!).

Poison Politics and the Seacastle Mystery Series Finale

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Happy New Year, Mystery Lovers!

I hope this email finds you cozy with a good book and a warm drink! As we step into 2026, I’m wishing all of you a Very Happy New Year—one that brings joy, adventure, and plenty of page-turning mysteries. Here’s hoping it’s better than 2025 for all of us!

Poison Politics is now available in eBook and on Kindle Unlimited!

Poison Politics is out now in ebook and paperback, and you can also read it on Kindle Unlimited!

If you enjoy it (and I really hope you do), I would absolutely love some reviews to help spread the word. Reviews are like gold for authors—they help new readers discover the books and make a huge difference. Thank you so much in advance.

Grab your copy here!

📚 The Final Chapter: Writing Final Script

I have some bittersweet news to share: I’ve started writing Final Script, which will be the last book in the Seacastle Mystery series.

I know, I know—it’s hard to say goodbye! But every story deserves a proper ending, and I promise to give our beloved characters the send-off they deserve.

I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who has followed along and read all the books. The popularity of this series has meant more to me than words can express. Your support, reviews, and messages have kept me writing through late nights and early mornings. I am extremely grateful for this incredible community we’ve built together.

But don’t worry—this isn’t goodbye to mysteries! I’ll be starting a brand-new series shortly, also in the mystery genre. This time, we’re heading to a completely new setting with fresh characters and puzzles to solve. I hope you’ll find it as exciting as I do!

🎧 Seacastle Goes Audio!

Audiobook fans, this one’s for you! Deadly Return, the first book in the Seacastle series, will be available in audiobook format at the beginning of March, with the next five books in the series following closely behind.

Whether you’re a longtime fan wanting to revisit the series or a new reader who prefers listening, I’d love to know what you think. Please let me know if you enjoy them!

What’s Next?

As I work on wrapping up the Seacastle series and planning the new one, I’d love to hear from you. What do you hope to see in a new mystery series? Any settings or types of mysteries you’re particularly drawn to? Hit reply and let me know—I always love hearing your thoughts!

Until next time, keep those pages turning!

With best wishes and luck for 2026

PJ

P.S. If you haven’t already, make sure you’re following me on Instagram, facebook and Twitter for behind-the-scenes updates and sneak peeks! My handle is @pjskinnerauthor

Seacastle Mysteries August Monthly Brew 🔍☕️

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Hello Mystery Lovers!

I hope this newsletter finds you enjoying the final days of summer with a good book in hand. There’s so much brewing in the world of Seacastle Mysteries, so let’s dive right in!

📚 Big News: MALIGN FORTUNE Arrives August 31st!

Mark your calendars! Seacastle’s next cosy mystery hits shelves on August 31st. I’m so excited to share this story with you all. Your pre-orders and early enthusiasm have meant the world to me!

📖 What I’m Reading

I’m currently losing sleep over the latest Detective Maeve Kerrigan novel by Louise Casey. I’m not a fan of romance, but her relationship with Josh Derwent has me hooked. It reminds me of Moonlighting all those years ago on the telly.

🧁 Ghita’s Best Bakes Competition! 🧁

As promised I’ve launched something special for all my Seacastle Mystery fans – a baking competition called Ghita’s Best Bakes!

If you’ve read the series, you know Ghita’s pastries are legendary in Seacastle. Now it’s your turn to recreate some mystery-worthy treats! I’ve created a Pinterest board (Ghita’s Best Bakes) for you to use, and (brace yourselves) I’ve made several TikTok videos documenting my first-ever attempt at baking a cake… Let’s just say detective work comes more naturally to me than baking! You can also put your photos up on Instagram. Don’t forget the #Ghitasbestbakes and #seacastlemysteries hashtags so I can find them.

I have also created some brilliant merch on Red Bubble. Even I was tempted by the Hades Apron. Check me out here

Join in the fun – no professional skills required (as my videos on TikTok clearly demonstrate)!

🎬 What I’m Watching

I’m re-watching the Star Trek movies – something I never tire of. There’s something comforting about revisiting these familiar stories and characters. Are there any comfort films you watch again and again? Reply and let me know – I’m always looking to add to my “cosy viewing” list!

📊 Backlist Update & A Small Request

Exciting news! “Deadly Return” is approaching a milestone with 1,990 ratings at an impressive 4.5-star average! If you’ve already read it but haven’t yet left a rating or review, I would be grateful if you could push it over 2,000. Your support makes such a difference!

Until Next Time…

Happy sleuthing!

PJ

P.S. I’m thinking of writing a detective series next. Would you be interested in reading it? Have you any story ideas you’d like me to include?

Lethal Secret is here!

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Get your copy of Lethal Secret and enjoy a cosy mystery with spy thriller vibes set in Budapest. Tanya and Harry are on the trail of a missing friend and have bitten off far more than they can chew. Be the first to read this gripping cosy mystery.

Lethal Secret is out on 31st May…

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Hi there I’ve recently returned from a fantastic research trip to Budapest to check the background for Lethal Secret. I stayed with dear friends of mine and we had great fun visiting the scenes of the main action in the book. Get My Copy of Lethal Secret
We visited Memento Park, which contains the communist monuments taken down when after the revolution. I found the brutalist statues quite extraordinary.
I also visited the Budapest Commonwealth War Cemetery which contains the graves of 210 RAF crew who were lost over Hungary during WWII. I found it extremely moving. The men were all under 36 years old and came from Britain, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. Crews from the same aircraft are buried side by side which is almost unbearably poignant. It brought me to tears.
I hope you will enjoy this book. I wanted to take Harry and Tanya out of their comfort zone for a change and introduce Gladys as a three dimensional person. Let me know if you have any comments on the book

Best wishes
PJ
Get your copy of Lethal Secret Now!