Julie Wassmer – Author
Julie Wassmer was born in the East End of London, studied at Kingston University and had a variety of different jobs before she finally settled down to become a professional television drama writer.
She worked on several TV series, including ITV’s London’s Burning, C5’s Family Affairs and the popular BBC soap, EastEnders, which she wrote for almost 20 years.
In 2010, her memoir More Than Just Coincidence was published by Harper Collins/True. The book entered the Sunday Times Best Selling Non Fiction Top Twenty and went on to become Mumsnet Book of the Year.
In 2015, Julie’s debut crime novel, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery, was published by award-winning publisher, Little, Brown/Hachette. Eight other books have since followed, with the tenth due for publication in May 2024. In 2021, the books were adapted for TV as the series, Whitstable Pearl, by production company, Buccaneer Media, for the streaming channel, Acorn TV. A second season followed in 2022. and both are now streaming on Acorn TV, available on Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, fireTV, Netgem and Amazon Prime. The DVDs for seasons 1 and 2 are available separately – and as a Box Set. In April 2024, season 1 of Whitstable Pearl aired on the Freeview channel, Drama – and Sky TV – and is now streaming for free on UKTV Play. Season 3 of the series began streaming on Acorn TV on Monday 21st October.
Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as Pearl, Howard Charles as McGuire and Frances Barber as Dolly, has proved popular across the world and some of Julie’s books in this series have now been published in Germany, Italy and Japan.
Julie moved to Whitstable over twenty years ago where she shares a home with her husband, Kas, and two cats, Lily and Maisie. She also spends a great deal of time campaigning on environmental issues.
ACORN TV’S ORIGINAL COASTAL MYSTERY-CRIME DRAMA, WHITSTABLE PEARL,
RETURNS MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 2024 WITH ALL-NEW EPISODES
Whitstable Pearl – From Page to Screen. A 30-minute documentary feature about the making of the TV series, Whitstable Pearl, in Whitstable.
The Whitstable Pearl Mystery Books
A classic crime series, set in Whitstable, featuring private detective Pearl Nolan
The Whitstable Pearl Mystery
An intriguing debut mystery novel combining seafood, murder and a multitasking heroine in a gorgeous seaside location!.
Murder on Sea
The second novel in the Pearl Nolan trilogy, with a Christmas twist..
May Day Murder
The third novel in the Pearl Nolan trilogy, centered around the May Day festivities in Whitstable.
Murder on the Pilgrims Way
The fourth novel in the Pearl Nolan series.
Disappearance at Oare
The fifth novel in the Pearl Nolan, Whitstable Pearl Mysteries, series
Murder Fest
The sixth novel in the Pearl Nolan, Whitstable Pearl Mysteries, series
Murder on the Downs
The seventh novel in the Pearl Nolan, Whitstable Pearl Mysteries, series
Strictly Murder
The eighth novel in the Pearl Nolan, Whitstable Pearl Mysteries, series
Murder at Mount Ephraim
The ninth novel in the Pearl Nolan, Whitstable Pearl Mysteries, series
Murder at the Allotment
The tenth novel in the Pearl Nolan, Whitstable Pearl Mysteries, series
Out MAY 14th 2024
Whitstable Pearl TV Series 1 DVD
Whitstable Pearl TV Series 2 DVD
Biography
More than just Coincidence
At the age of 36, struggling writer, Julie Wassmer was about to have her first ever meeting with a literary agent. Little did Julie know how momentous this meeting was set to be.
Twenty years earlier, when Julie was just sixteen, she had become pregnant. Worried how her parents would react, Julie had kept her pregnancy a secret right up until the day she gave birth. Ten days later, she’d been forced to make the hardest decision of her life: to give her baby up for adoption.
As the years passed, Julie often wondered what had happened to her daughter. Now, through the most extra-ordinary of co-incidences, Julie was about to find out. A temporary secretary called Sara had just started working in the agents’ office. Sara had recently discovered that she had been adopted, and had just got hold of her birth certificate. According to the certificate, her mother’s name was Julie Wassmer.
Book Reviews
While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl . . . True to the tradition of classic crime, Julie Wassmer weaves a strong story into a setting that has more to offer than murder and mayhem
If you enjoy cosy crime fiction and you still haven’t picked this series, then you are missing out
This is just straightforwardly excellent cosy crime … Julie Wassmer really knows how to tell a story
If you enjoy cosy mystery stories and good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea
If you like the TV series ‘Midsomer Murders’, then May Day Murder should be right up your alley
A tried-and-tested crime recipe with Whitstable flavours that makes for a Michelin-starred read
More book reviews are available under titles.
Latest entries from the Blog
The Importance of Canterbury in my Whitstable Pearl Mystery Novels
Read the full article HERE
Mount Ephraim – the inspiration for Julie Wassmer’s new crime mystery
Read the full article here
Lizzie Sirett talks to Julie Wassmer
Promoting Crime Fiction
The Writing transition from Screen to Novel
After a twenty year career writing popular television dramas like Eastenders, I’m often asked how I have found the transition to writing crime novels – and my answer is always that it’s a very enjoyable one. Essentially, I am a storyteller and, like my heroine, Pearl...
How I find inspiration for the murders in my Whitstable Pearl Mystery series
“Be careful!” warned the Captain. “Make sure you step outside that anchor chain before you throw it overboard or you’re likely to go with it!” I stared down at the heavy anchor chain piled into a neat circle before me on the deck of the yacht on which I was enjoying a...
Julie Wassmer Talks to Crime Time
http://www.crimetime.co.uk/?p=3674