Alice Bell

Alice Bell grew up in South West England, in the sort of middle-of-nowhere where teenagers spend their weekends drinking Smirnoff Ice in a field that also has at least one horse in it.

She has previously worked in shops selling boat shoes and polo shirts to people who don’t own boats or play polo, but since 2016 she has worked full time as a video games journalist. In 2018 she became the deputy editor of Rock Paper Shotgun, a popular and respected PC gaming website, where you can find the many excellent reviews and serious articles about hot vampires that she has written. In 2019 she was named one of the 100 most influential women in the UK games industry.

After spending several years in London, Alice now lives in Brighton, where she reads a lot of books, makes crochet animals, and plays video games where you can set things on fire and make elves kiss. She has probably read more detective fiction and watched more episodes of Midsomer Murders than you.

Bell’s debut mystery, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS was published by Corvus (UK) and Knopf (North America), in October 2023. The sequel, DISPLEASURE ISLAND, was published in 2024.

Agent Contact: Stevie Finegan

titles


Grave Expectations Series

  1. GRAVE EXPECTATIONS (2023)
  2. DISPLEASURE ISLAND (2024)
  3. THE GRAPPLES OF WRATH (2025)

Awards & Commendations

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GRAVE EXPECTATIONS
- Book Riot's Best New Cosy Mysteries (2023)
- Kobo Best Books of the Month (2023)
- BBC Radio 2 Book Club Selection (2023)

covers

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  • GRAVE EXPECTATIONS
  • DISPLEASURE ISLAND

translations

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GRAVE EXPECTATIONS
- Knopf (US, 2023)
- Corvus (UK, 2023)

DISPLEASURE ISLAND
- Knopf (US, 2024)
- Corvus (UK, 2024)

reviews

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    • DISPLEASURE ISLAND
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      ‘In Bell’s winning second supernatural whodunit featuring Claire Hendricks (after Grave Expectations), the British medium and her ghost companion investigate shady happenings off the coast of Ireland… With the stakes suitably raised, and Sophie distracted by her pursuit of a handsome and potentially sinister pirate ghost, Bell puts a clever spin on a time-tested conceit. It’s a fast and funny romp.’ — Publishers Weekly

      ‘End summer with a treat: this cozy paranormal mystery has all the Saturday-afternoon comforts of a Scooby-Doo rerun, but Bell’s writing shakes you awake with its bracing humor.’ — Conner Reed, Publishers Weekly (mystery and memoir reviews editor)

      ‘What a cracking romp of a read! A bunch of self entitled millennials, a troop of pirate ghosts, a treasure hoard, a whole slew of secrets and at its heart an engaging and satisfying murder mystery – Agatha Christie meets Ghosts came to mind! I loved the way Alice Bell effortlessly dealt with the problems that beset mystery writers today. i.e. blanket technology- the results was a sort of ‘locked island’ mystery. As before I love the main protagonist chaotic Claire, and her sardonic sidekick (who just happens to have been dead for some fifteen years) It was great to see them both back in action again.’ — J. M. Hall

      ‘Contrary to its title, Alice Bell’s second novel is a complete pleasure to read, full of witty writing, loveable characters and page-turning twists.’ — Culturefly (“Spring Reads: 14 of the best new books to read this month”)

    • GRAVE EXPECTATIONS
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      ‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

      ‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

      ‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

      ‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

      ‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

      ‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

      ‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

      ‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

      ‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

      ‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

      ‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian