The time has come at last! No longer will my grandmother have to single-handedly keep our friends and relations in America supplied with copies of Murder Most Unladylike by ferrying them over in her luggage: from today, my first book will be available in stores the length and breadth of the USA and Canada.

Its title in North America is Murder is Bad Manners, and its publishers are Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, who have done the most gorgeous job with it.

It’s a very satisfying hardback with illustrations and cover by Elizabeth Baddeley (I am so in love with that cover that I have it framed on my wall).

I am so proud of the way it looks – and, of course, of its contents as well. I had a very fun time working on the Americanizations for it (in this edition Daisy and Hazel sport athletic underwear and have a penchant for cinnamon buns, which delights me) – but I promise you that all of the really important things have remained the same. And I’m particularly pleased that the USA is about to be introduced to the concept of bunbreak.

So, America, I hope you like my girl detectives! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the book. Happy launch day!