Books by Cenarth Fox
Crime, thrillers & tall tales from a 50-year storyteller
Homicide detectives, wartime spies, a railwayman's century, a schoolboy Sherlock Holmes, and practical guides for writers and directors — novels and non-fiction, all in one place.
Books by Cenarth Fox
Novels, Mysteries & Writing Guides
Crime, thriller, romance, history, literary and children's fiction — plus practical books for writers and directors.
Fiction Series
The Homicide Series · 8 Books
The Detective Joanna Best Mysteries
A young, risk-taking homicide detective who's hated by crims and colleagues alike. With IT genius Michael and chocoholic pathologist Dr Gabrielle Strange, Jo investigates murder on the Puffing Billy steam train, an out-of-town assassin, a case that takes her to Paris, and a homicide where the murder weapon is the Covid virus.
"I really can't recommend these books enough."Amazon, 5 stars
The Little Lady Vanishes
Book 3 · Detective Joanna BestOne of Jo's most fascinating cases in the series that keeps readers up all night.
WW2 Thrillers · 4 Books
The Plum Series
Louise "Plum" Wellesley is a brilliant Cambridge-educated actress recruited as a Secret Service spy. From a Parisian nightclub dressing room shared with Edith Piaf, to fighting Nazis in the Resistance, to rescuing a kidnapped Royal and going undercover as a nun tortured by the Gestapo — Plum's secret war is one long, breathless dare.
"This trilogy will go down as one of the most enjoyable. All 3 books were riveting."Amazon, 5 stars
The Railway Series · 4 Books
The Miracle Railway
Four generations of the Miracle family and 100+ years of English railway history. Twelve-year-old George Miracle starts as a station lad in 1910 and rises to run the Railway Executive Committee through the Blitz, saving a million children and helping D-Day get sorted — before retirement finds him a new life on the rails all over again.
"It's like someone from the times telling you their experiences; a pleasure to read."Twitter
The Miracle Terminus
Book 4 · From Beeching to HeritageThe final chapter of George Miracle's railway life, as British Rail copes the Beeching cuts.
Blood Red Roses
The Probus Club Murders · Homicide #1Two senior sisters and a retired policeman form PUDA — the Probus Unofficial Detective Agency — after an arm turns up buried in the club president's prize roses.
Blood Red Assassins
The Probus Club Murders · Homicide #2Cold cases, stalking, Russian assassins and a surprise romance — PUDA's amateur detectives are back. Book 3, Blood Red Riddles, is coming soon.
Schoolboy Sherlock Holmes · 5 Books
The Schoolboy Sherlock Holmes
Five glossy colour magazines, thirteen mysteries. Almost-11-year-old Nicholas Twit turns his bedroom into 221B Baker Street after watching The Hound of the Baskervilles, and forms a real detective agency with the elderly neighbours next door. Cliff-hanging tales built to send young readers straight to the original Conan Doyle stories.
"I am up to your third mystery and can't wait until your next book."Jack, age 10, Yarrunga Public School
Schoolboy Sherlock Holmes — Book 5
Mr Hawthorn's Hedge · The Bee & Bee Cottage & moreFour more cases for the young detective, still trying to survive his rival-turned-partner, Felicity.
Standalone Novels
One Story, Start to Finish
A Sweeping Saga
Historical fictionJonathon Sweeping becomes Oliver Twist before Dickens was born — a London chimney-sweep transported to Van Diemen's Land, who survives indenture and genocide to build a new life and a new nation.
"A combination of fine scholarship and effective prose."Emeritus Professor Michael Roe, University of Tasmania
Sherlock Holmes — Playing the Game
Literary pasticheHolmes is about to retire when Mrs Hudson drops a bombshell: she's written a memoir correcting every error he and Watson ever made — and sent it to Arthur Conan Doyle himself. Two universes collide.
"A complex, ingenious and deliciously funny story ... I love it!"Roger Johnson, The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
Cassocked Savage
The life of Patrick BrontëHistory has called him "a cassocked savage." The truth about the father of the Brontë sisters — poet, priest, reformer, dog-lover — is far kinder, and far more interesting.
"I loved the book and I loved Patrick. All the characters are so believable."Veronica Hannebery
Almost Agatha Christie
A comic novelAgatha Crispie, Dorothy S. Layers, Miss Mary Mead, Hercule Grey-Cells and that infernal, eternal mousetrap — a loving spoof novel based on the hit play Agatha Crispie.
Noodles for Shakespeare
Pygmalion Down UnderA retired English teacher offers to teach his young Vietnamese neighbour Elizabethan English — and finds The Bard makes an unlikely, wonderful matchmaker. Based on the play Shakespeare in Saigon.
Unexpected Love Tales
Two romance novels in one bookLove From Afar: a penniless Victorian painter falls for a countess's daughter. All Their Christmases: a 71-year-old shopping-mall Santa falls for his Mrs Santa — until greedy relatives try to wreck it.
Noah Stowa
The stowaway on the arkGoatherd Ken upsets Noah with awkward questions while trimming logs for the ark — then wakes up unconscious on board, surrounded by his Bovidae family. A modern homeschooling family untangles the story today.
Tricky Conscience
Comic thrillerA Melbourne scientist invents a pill that kick-starts a conscience. When a criminal, a politician and a Big Pharma CEO all want the formula, Bernie is in serious strife.
"A bloody good read. Very engaging with laugh-out-loud humour."Trevor Blum
Non-Fiction & Writing Craft
For Writers, Directors & Teachers
50+ years of playwriting and publishing experience, packed into practical, step-by-step guides.
Write a Novel in Eight Weeks
Non-fiction · Based on the U3A courseA complete package to plan, write, publish, launch and market your novel or non-fiction book — no experience required, just dedication.
How to Stage Successful Shows
50K words of tips, templates & timetablesSelecting a show, running rehearsals, lighting, front-of-house, and a chapter of almost 100 practical tips for directors and concert impresarios.
"Found there were some pretty damn good ideas ... things I had never really thought of."Ian Fraser, Nanago SHS
How to Write and Sell Your Plays
44K words · From 50+ years of playwritingGetting started, choosing a genre, building plots and dialogue, avoiding clangers, editing, formatting your script — and getting it actually performed.
Teach a Toddler to Read
A simple, inexpensive how-to guideFor parents and grandparents who want their 2–4 year-old reading aloud before kindergarten. No teaching skills needed — just the step-by-step method.
Play It Again, Ham
Nearly 100 music gamesEasy, Not-So-Easy and Difficult music games for rehearsal warm-ups, classrooms and school camps. Pairs perfectly with Drama Skits 'n Tips.
Drama Skits 'n Tips
Warm-ups, drama games & 3 free scriptsBody and voice warm-ups, memory and expression games, plus a free radio play, puppet play and mini play to get your rehearsal room moving.
Perform Poetry
16 poems for comedy & dramaPoems built to be spoken and acted at once — singing frogs, tongue twisters, limericks and accents — perfect short concert items for camps and classrooms.
How to Make Money Writing Online
For freelance & online writersWhere to find freelance writing work, what to charge, and how to avoid the pitfalls of online writing — from a writer with 100+ five-star client reviews.
eBooks available from Amazon · paperbacks via Ingram Spark through your local bookshop · autographed copies direct from the author at writer@foxplays.com
From the Reviews
What Readers Are Saying
"I couldn't put it down and read it in two days! Absolutely loved it."Robyn Zienow
"The reader is right in the middle of the action. I can't recommend this book strongly enough."Scott Skipper, 5 stars
"I have never cried so much at the end, so lovely to read."Pat Alcock
"A most interesting read, congratulations."Jonne Finnemore
Ready for Your Next Read?
Grab a book or ask a question
Whether it's two free novels to start, an autographed paperback, or your next holiday read, get in touch and Cenarth Fox will help you find the right one.