As the owner of a bookshop specialising in “whodunnits”, Isla Coole is no stranger to the world of crime fiction.
Now, she is at the heart of a murder mystery story herself after she won a competition to have a character named after her in the latest book by bestselling author Janice Hallett, The Silent Appeal.
The 46-year-old opened her York shop, Criminally Good Books, on Colliergate in 2024.
“People have been excitedly waiting for this book, so I’m super chuffed to be in it,” says Isla.
The opportunity came about when Isla attended the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, where Hallett was a guest.
“There was a competition to get your name, or a loved one’s name, featured in a future book of Janice’s – where you had to guess how many boiled sweets are in this massive jar,” says Isla.
“I know a lot about sweets and I guessed the closest and got a lovely message about a month later saying congratulations you’ve won, and we’ll be in touch with you to let you know what book you’ll be in.”
