J.M. Hall

J.M. Hall is the pen name of Jonathan Hall, a Yorkshire-born writer who has spent most of his life in the county. Before turning to fiction full time, he enjoyed a long career as a deputy headteacher in a northern primary school—an experience that continues to inspire his writing.

Alongside his work in education, Jonathan wrote extensively for stage and radio. He is the creator of the award-winning BBC Radio series Trust, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Now retired from teaching, he writes full time—though he’s proud to say he’s never lost the knack of organising a painting table or running a school assembly.

One missing passenger. One dead body. Is it murder on the Cornish train? It is a dark and stormy night when Jeff boards the Cornish sleeper train at Paddington station. As they make their way down the dark British coast, waves crash over the carriages and the wheels rattle in the gale.

Arriving in Cornwall the next morning, Jeff discovers one passenger has vanished into thin air. The next day, another is found dead on a windswept beach. Jeff can't accept these are coincidences. Could he hold the clue to catch the killer who boarded the Cornish train?