Meon Valley writer signs three-book publishing deal

Faith Eckersall, who was born in Portsmouth and lives near Wickham, will produce three novels in a comedy cosy crime series set on a weekly newspaper.

The first story in the series, The Body on the Roundabout, will be published on November 18 by Bonnier Books UK, with the second appearing in May 2026.

Set in the not-so-sleepy Dorset town of Piddlington Minster, the series follows Harry Hedges, a disgraced London journalist seeking redemption as editor of the struggling Piddlington Gazette. With help from his quirky newsroom, ambitious trainee Gen-Z Hattie, seasoned sub-editor Ray, and Ignatius, an adorable Labrador, Harry hopes for a fresh start. But when a body is found on the town's overgrown roundabout, he has to help solve the crime and track down a missing person and stolen artwork.

Faith, a multi-award winning freelance journalist who spent 30 years working in newspapers across Hampshire and Dorset said: ''When you write a novel, actual publication sometimes feels like a pipe dream: but this dream has come true and I couldn’t be more excited!

"I’m thrilled to be working with Bonnier's team on bringing my fictional newsroom to print. I had so much fun creating Harry and his colleagues and I can’t wait to share their stories with readers.'