#TheCrookedMedium
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fantasybooknerd.bsky.social
Womble joins the #TheCrookedMedium tour today over on Run Along The Shelves.
September 8, 2025 at 10:35 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
I gave confident interviews for work and lots of other things, debated Richard Littlejohn live on TV once. My own stuff I stumble and trip over words.

Anyway, short #crappyvid on The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror in a Bluesky Minute (c 58 s)

#books #reading #TheCrookedMedium #spooky
August 9, 2026 at 10:46 AM
runalongwomble.bsky.social
Today on #TheCrookedMedium tour and let’s meet Victorian conwomen seeking justice in an entertaining tale The Crooked Medium’s Guide To Murder by @stephencoxauthor.bsky.social is out now! www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2025/9/...
The Crooked Medium's Guide To Murder by Stephen Cox — Runalong The Shelves
I would like to thank the author and Random Things Tours for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review Published – Out Now Price – £10.99 paperback £0.99p ebook L...
www.runalongtheshelves.net
September 8, 2025 at 6:16 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
I got a good response on my deep dive into getting this design. What else would interest people about the book?

"A highly readable #Victorian #mystery melodrama with a big heart, Sarah Waters meets Richard Osman." (SIL)

#spooky #murder #historicalfiction
#TheCrookedMedium #booksky
Stephen Cox the author, big genial guy with grey hair, beard, and checked shirt. Background trees. He is showing a fan of copies of his book, The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder, his thumb obscuring his name. Coer is "A striking book cover mockup with the title and author name dominating. A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters. Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian" the photo shows well but not fine detail
August 15, 2025 at 9:34 AM
runalongwomble.bsky.social
Today on #TheCrookedMedium tour and let’s meet Victorian conwomen seeking justice in an entertaining tale The Crooked Medium’s Guide To Murder Stephen Cox is out now! www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2025/9/...
The Crooked Medium's Guide To Murder by Stephen Cox — Runalong The Shelves
I would like to thank the author and Random Things Tours for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review Published – Out Now Price – £10.99 paperback £0.99p ebook L...
www.runalongtheshelves.net
September 8, 2025 at 7:15 AM
thecwa.bsky.social
'The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder' has a sequel. 'The Crooked Medium's Guide to Terror' is out 14th Sept. Warm, witty, spooky, and immersive. “A devilish dance through Victorian fakery…great fun to read.” buff.ly/Hmp6r53

#TheCrookedMedium #Victorian #spooky #womensleuths #sapphic
September 1, 2026 at 4:57 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Edgelit - fun one day con 20th Sept - this year with a Dracula event the evening before - and they still have places. Still time to book. I'm going!

#sffh #derby #genre #convention #books #TheCrookedMedium

www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/edgel...
Edge-Lit 11 | Derby QUAD
View our latest event: Edge-Lit 11. See what the available times are for this event.
www.derbyquad.co.uk
August 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Fun guest post on @karenking.bsky.social 's blog - thanks!

I am the perfect model of "wanting to be a writer" meaning not really getting down to it... making up for lost time.

karenkingauthor.com/2025/08/29/m...
#booksky #TheCrookedMedium #SFF #murder #mystery #writing #books
My Writing Journey by Stephen Cox
My guest today is historical mystery thriller author, Stephen Cox. Stephen is going to talk to us about his writing journey, and his latest book. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get ch…
karenkingauthor.com
August 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Packed newsletter - 50 days of the Crooked Medium, con apperances, A City on Mars review, and some giveaways.

#TheCrookedMedium #reading #writing #books #SFF #murder #Victorian #indieauthor

stephencox.substack.com/p/50-days-of...
Stephen Cox, grey hair and beard, looking perplexed with finger to cheek, side-eying the camera. City street viewable through cafe window.
October 21, 2025 at 1:10 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Oh, thoughtful review of #TheCrookedMedium landed

"it’s both a compliment to the story and a challenge to review this Victorian mystery without giving away the double-twist that changes everything in a delightfully unexpected direction". #books #murder

www.alexanderlane.co.uk/the-crooked-...
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder (Read-o-Rama #18) | Alexander Lane
There's death by gaslight in Read-o-Rama #18 as I review The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder by Stephen Cox.
www.alexanderlane.co.uk
August 31, 2026 at 7:34 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Victorian research rabbithole of the day - hat etiquette as in, "off in the hall or off in the room you are received in"

The answer. Lady Constance Howard, "Etiquette" (1885) is online and in period.

My Mrs Ashton is a hatoholic.

#research #amwriting #books #Victorian #nonsense #TheCrookedMedium
April 11, 2026 at 10:07 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Sounds minor but isn't. I am writing a new short story, set before the events of The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder.

Have written nothing fiction and edited little since deciding to self-publish.

#indieauthor #TheCrookedMedium #Victorian #FirstWorldProblem #historical #books #booksky
September 2, 2025 at 10:06 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Publication day tomorrow! A post on six classics of varying genres which shaped The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder. Holmes was my gateway drug but in some ways Mrs Ashton is an anti-Holmes being social, loquacious, in a complicated relationship...

#booksky #TheCrookedMedium #spooky #paranormal
A young woman seen shoulders up wears a grey deerstalker hat and struggles not to smirk. She is reading The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder. An old fashioned door behind her has glass panels with stained glass insets vaguely floral. 20s-30s. Book description A striking book cover mockup with the title and author name dominating. A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters. Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian.
August 31, 2025 at 6:16 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Great signoff for a review.

"Can't wait to see what trouble these characters get in next time" Could be a series tagline

#books #TheCrookedMedium #Victorian #spooky #sapphic

ramblingmads.uk/2026/09/01/b...
Blog Tour: The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder – Stephen Cox
London 1881. Can two crooked women stop a murder? Extravagant medium Mrs Ashton and her lover, blunt working-class Mrs Bradshaw, run a spiritualist  scam. Mrs Ashton secretly reads minds. Believing…
ramblingmads.uk
September 3, 2026 at 1:40 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Two weeks before #TheCrookedMedium... I write about how C19th tech leaves plenty of room for the gifted amateur.
Yuckiest fact.

Smell/taste stomach contents etc / feed to rats - tests for poisons + sedatives. Eww.

#Victorian #Mystery #Historical #spooky
#sapphic #books #booksky #WomenSleuths
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder by Stephen Cox A striking book cover mockup with the title and author name dominating. A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters. Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian. In this style PREORDER NOW Surrounded by in matching typeface Victorian spooky / Vicious Baronet / Spiritualist Scammers/ Hidden Crimes / older grumpy sapphics / snarky dock-lass/ twisty mystery / Lady in Danger
August 19, 2025 at 1:23 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Updated my popular blog on how I did my cover, to include the second book.

TLDR - the issue was whether to stick rigidly to the first layout or emphasise the Terror. (Six word titles only different in the sixth word!!)

#covers #NoAI #TheCrookedMedium #design @inkspiraldesign.bsky.social
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Terror A striking book cover with the title and author name dominating. The lettering and detail are pale against a dark and sinister red-brown. The Title is in large Victorian lettering emphasising the word Terror by size of font and red added to letters – not dripping blood! - and framed by gold. Three roundels show icons related to the book; left, a half folded cutthroat razor streaked with red, top right, pearl jewellery with three pearls and a pearl effect locket; bottom right a burning railwayman’s lamp. The effect is striking and Victorian. Placed next to the Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (dark blue) there is a strong series resemblance. The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder by Stephen Cox A striking book cover with the title and author name dominating. A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters. Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian.
September 10, 2026 at 4:18 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
#TheCrookedMedium

Older detectives need a young runner to go up drainpipes. Slum-lass Maisie, 14ish; a quarter Indian, a drunken docker father, and two younger siblings to feed. She writes her own future, a lady detective like the great Kate Warne in America. Big main character energy. #booksky
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder by Stephen Cox The book is held in front of a bush with spikes of small violet flowers. A striking book cover with the title and author name dominating. A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters. Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian.
August 27, 2025 at 10:08 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Day 7 #TheCrookedMedium Preorder 99p on Kindle and Kobo.
To come: CSI Victorian Style - what it does for the story
Ten reasons to read it
Six recent books and six classics which shaped this novel

#Victorian #Murder #spooky
#sapphic #WomenSleuths #Paranormal
#books #historicalfiction #indieauthor
Stephen Cox genial grey-haired and bearded guy in garden, trees behind. Smiling he holds up two copies of The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder. That cover A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters. Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian.
August 17, 2025 at 2:55 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
The elements read better widdershins

grumpy older sapphics
brutal railway murder
prophecy of vengeance
TRUST NO-ONE
Victorian spooky
rival medium
disgraced nobles
Gilbert & Sullivan
snarky dock-lass,

#books #TheCrookedMedium #Victorian #terror #indieauthor #booksky
stephencox.co.uk/buy-terror/
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Terror A striking book cover with the title and author name dominating. described below The book cover is surrounded by elements clockwise from top: Victorian spooky, rival medium, disgraced nobles, Gilbert & Sullivan, snarky dock-lass, TRUST NO-ONE, prophecy of vengeance. brutal railway murder. grumpy older sapphics The lettering and detail are pale against a dark and sinister background. The Title is in large Victorian lettering emphasising the word Terror by size of font and red added to letters – not dripping blood! - and framed by gold. Three roundels show icons related to the book; left, a half folded cutthroat razor streaked with red, top right, pearl jewellery with three pearls and a pearl effect locket; bottom right a burning railwayman’s lamp. The effect is striking and Victorian.
September 7, 2026 at 10:56 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder out 1st Sept. Read the eBook now, free, if you sub to my free newsletter* in comments or DMs open.

Also this article has readings etc

#booksky #TheCrookedMedium #Victorian #MurderMystery #SFF #crime #sapphic #spooky

* yes - looking to move provider.
July 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
60 words of joy. "Good characters, pacy plot, all the twists and turns you could ask for..." and another wish for the sequel." #TheCrookedMedium

#booksky #murder #reading #mystery #parrot #womensleuths
Text next to the The Crooked Medium's Guide to murder cover. A romp of a Victorian murder mystery. Good characters, pacy plot, all the twists and turns you could ask for, a foul mouthed parrot, a satisfyingly menacing villain, a mismatched but loyally loving pair of sapphic sleuths and a superbly written street urchin. Loved it, hoping for more adventures from this intrepid crime solving trio. Cover description: The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder by Stephen Cox A striking book cover mockup with the title and author name dominating. A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters.
September 10, 2025 at 8:21 AM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
Those crazy people on the Red Rabbit Podcast asked me to ad-lib for ten minutes. You'll need sound up to full.

#death #Victorian Mourning, spiritualism, bankrupted by funerals, social etiquette, death photographs true or false, the Opium Wars, poisoning and inquests. #books #TheCrookedMedium
In Mourning by Anders Zorn. A young dark haired woman, in mourning black, and with a translucent veil - many mourning veils were much thicker than this, particularly for widows and hard to see through. sourced from artvee website
October 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
stephencoxauthor.bsky.social
#TheCrookedMedium
The Crooked Medium's Guide to Murder

Update on cover reveal (now coming this week) some early reviews (positive) and free eBook offer...

Cover reveal is also preorder links reveal!

Pioneering self publisher below,

stephencox.co.uk/update-cover...
A C.17th century satire called Costume for Printers where basically a man in a curly wig and breeches is walking around wearing a desk various bizarre printers instruments,
August 5, 2025 at 1:59 PM