Today I’m delighted to revisit my Five on Friday interview with Beverley Harvey which was first posted in July 2019. It’s been brought up to date to include Beverley’s latest titles. Beverley’s first two books were nuanced domestic dramas while her latest are gripping psychological thrillers. I ‘met’ Beverley on Twitter and we bonded over a shared connection with Yorkshire and a love of Jack Russell terriers. Having spotted another another of her ‘loves’ (that I am also shamelessly addicted to) I’m sure we’d get on famously in real life!
From a tender age, a diet of Enid Blyton ignited Beverley Harvey’s love of books and she’s been reading ever since – albeit her tastes are more varied these days.
Throughout Beverley’s many years spent working in advertising and PR, she’d always wanted to write fiction. In 2015 a creative writing course inspired her debut novel, Seeking Eden, which was published in 2017. The sequel, Eden Interrupted, soon followed.
Her third and fourth novels, The Perfect Liar and Close My Eyes respectively, are published by Bookouture and fulfil a long term goal to write suspense.
Born in Yorkshire, and raised in Kent, Beverley recently returned to the area with her partner and their adorable terrier. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking the dog, baking cakes or listening to rock music.
Over to Beverley:
Which five pieces of music/songs would you include in the soundtrack to your life and why?
From a tender age I listened to music, because my parents played records night and day. So, my first song is Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman: I can still hear my lovely Dad singing it, even though he passed away 22 years ago. Usually by the fourth line I’m in bits, but in a good way.
I adore the Rolling Stones, so I could say ‘anything by the best Rock & Roll Band in the World’ but I’m choosing ‘Love Is Strong’ because it’s so darn sexy and I play it when I’m getting ready to go out.
Duran Duran’s Ordinary World came at a difficult time in my life. It has a unique acoustic guitar melody and haunting lyrics; I’ve played it to death.
Jamiroquai’s Alright is another livener for me – can’t help dancing when I hear this and finally…
Prince: When Doves Cry. I was devastated when he died, and this song reminds me of my misspent youth and the times I was lucky enough to see Prince play live.
What five things (apart from family and friends) would you find it hard to live without.
The company of dogs: I idolise them – my terrier is like my son.
Photographs of family and friends: I still do it the old-fashioned way – prints in albums (about eight of them, to be precise).
Books for escapism. I only wish I could read faster. I’ve just started Call Me Star Girl by Louise Beech – an earlier book of hers, Maria in the Moon blew me away.
Walking: for the last twenty years I’ve walked miles (dog owners tend to). It’s the cornerstone of my day and I’d have to be really poorly not to be out in the elements putting one foot in front of the other.
Things that smell wonderful. I’m a shameless beauty junky so I’m including dozens of products here under one handy catch-all phrase – is that cheating? Ha!
Give five pieces of advice to your younger self?
Nobody cares about your wonky teeth, the spot on your chin or your split ends; they’re all too busy worrying about their own flaws, just enjoy being young and healthy.
You don’t have to stay with men who treat you like rubbish; being single is fine.
Stop arguing with your parents and be kinder; one day you’d give anything for just another day with them.
Don’t let mistakes define you – make them, laugh, and move on.
God gave you two ears and one mouth; use them in the same ratio.
Tell us five things that most people don’t know about you
Lots of people know I’m an animal lover but not that I’m afraid of reptiles and horses.
In my mid-twenties, I nearly got married – had the dress and everything, but I panicked and called it off, phew. It was absolutely the right thing to do.
I always pictured myself writing novels, wearing a swirly skirt and with a retriever under the desk. No sign of the skirt as I’m always in jeans and the dog is a terrier, but it happened regardless. I only wish I’d started writing sooner – I was well into my fifties when I wrote Seeking Eden.
As a youngster I sang very well. Now I can’t carry a tune in a bucket; a case of use it or lose it!
I’ve got four abandoned novels on my laptop – I’m not sure which one I’ll finish…maybe all of them!
Tell us five things you’d still like to do or achieve.
Seeing the Rolling Stones play live (again).
Completing a third ‘Eden’ novel.
Finishing the psychological thriller I’m working on – which is proving very challenging!
Reprising a trip I made twenty years ago from Rome to Amalfi and back again.
To get married, but the less said about that the better!
Beverley’s Booklist
(NB This post features Affiliate links from which I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases)
Close My Eyes
How did I forget the worst thing that’s ever happened to me? And how do I try and put it right?
The first time I remembered, I thought I was dying. I couldn’t breathe – something was crushing my chest – all I could see was darkness. A terrible fear, pulling me under. And all because of a glimpse of a face I hadn’t seen in years.
Since then I’ve realised: this is a memory of an attack. Something vicious happened to me years ago – a night that changed my life, without me even knowing. My family and friends don’t believe me – they say I’m imagining things, but I know I’m right. What I don’t know is who was responsible. And I won’t stop until I find out.
Wherever the truth leads me. Whatever betrayals are uncovered. Whatever the risk.
The Perfect Liar
‘Are you sure he’s someone you can trust? We know nothing at all about him. Who is he, really?’
Susanne and her two best friends need this holiday. Between bereavements, bad break-ups and an ex-husband getting remarried, the three of them have had a hard year. A month in Italy will be the perfect chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Then they meet Harry.
Handsome, charming and great company, Harry soon sweeps Susanne off her feet for a holiday fling. He is just what Susanne needs – except that everything he’s told them is a lie.
Who is the man they’ve let into their house – who Susanne has let into her bed? They have no idea what Harry is capable of – what he’s done to get this far, and what he’s prepared to do to ensure he gets his way.
By the time they find out, it will be too late to stop their dream holiday becoming a nightmare.
Seeking Eden (Eden Book 1)
Suburban life is far from idyllic for the middle-aged residents of wealthy housing estate outside London in this dramatic tale.
“50 is the new 30,” so says Ben Wilde’s record producer on the eve of his comeback. If only Ben could win back ex-girlfriend, Kate, he’d be a happy man.
But married Kate has moved on, and moved out—to Eden Hill, a quiet housing estate in the suburbs. Lonely and homesick for London, can Kate resist ego-maniac Ben’s advances and save her own flagging marriage?
Streets away, Kate’s new friend Lisa, a Chihuahua toting ex-WAG, is primed for a fresh start—until her footballer ex-husband is found dead and she is vilified in the press.
But Kate, Lisa, and Ben aren’t the only ones having a midlife crisis. Local shop owner Martin dreams of escaping his dutiful marriage, and develops an unhealthy obsession with Lisa and her friends in Eden Hill.
Alongside a colourful cast of friends and family, Kate, Lisa, Ben, and Martin are living proof that older does not always mean wiser because in Eden Hill, there’s temptation around every corner.
Eden Interrupted (Eden Book 2)
In this warm, witty novel, the village of Eden Hill is full of family conflicts, marital misunderstandings, and small-town secrets . . .
Musician Ben Wilde and his bride, Lisa, return from honeymoon, only to have their lives disrupted by Lisa’s demanding mum, who’s moving in while recuperating from a shoe-related injury—and Ben being summoned for a newly scheduled European tour. When Lisa befriends her neighbour, Rosemary, who’s also home alone while her husband travels for work, the women wonder if their men are faithful. But will their grim suspicions be confirmed, or has absence made the heart grow paranoid?
Meanwhile, in the village, the coffee shop is under new management with the arrival of divorced mum Chloe and her troubled teen son, Jake. But serving flat whites leaves Chloe feeling empty until she meets Caleb, a widowed father of two. If only Jake and Caleb could get on . . .
Then there’s Jan and Martin Bevan, who are new to Eden Hill—but a frosty reception leaves them wondering if they’ve made a huge mistake. As the little community struggles to sort out its problems, it becomes clear that Eden isn’t always paradise . . .
Jill's Book Cafe 