Those eagerly awaiting the latest local novel by Janet Tanner, under her pen name, Jennie Felton, need wait no longer for the new paperback, The Sister’s Secret, which has recently been released; the hardback hitting the shelves last autumn.

This is the fifth and final book in the Families of Fairley Terrace series, bringing vividly to life dramatised stories set within our mining town. Readers will pick up on old family names, sayings and perhaps even a location or two, as the local author draws on the area she knows and loves.

In this particular story, we follow young Rowan; fierce and intelligent, growing up in a strict household with a father she adores and a mother with a sharp tongue and brusque nature. This is in contrast to her older sister, Laurel, broken-hearted and a little lost in the world, about to experience a testing time and carrying a secret of her own. We are also rejoined by previous characters in the saga, Maggie Donovan, from All the Dark Secrets and glamorous but ailing singer, Molly, from The Miner’s Daughter, showing how all of the lives intertwine.

Janet explains: “I brought back earlier characters, like Maggie, so that readers would find out what had happened to them after they left centre stage.”

As fans of Janet’s novels will be aware and probably expect – the whole story comes to a dramatic head, with one character’s life threatened and one hanging in the balance. Can you wait to see how it will unfold?

The author adds: “I have loved writing these books, as besides some very interesting research, (Romany traditions in this particular novel), I revisit a lot of childhood memories.

“Things were slow to change between the early 1900s and the 1940s/50s; the market was still a hub of activity, all deliveries were made by horse and cart, neighbours popped into one anothers’ houses, children played out in the streets until dark – so I am able to place myself in the story quite easily.

“I do become very involved, living out scenes very vividly, almost like watching a film. I think about what will happen next all the time, and especially before I go to sleep! I always know where the story is headed, but not always how I will get there; and deciding the fate of my characters can be difficult. Not every story can have a happy ever after.

“I realise some of my themes are quite dark, but therein lie strong storylines and high emotion. The more books I write, the more difficult it is to come up with new ideas. As for reaching the end – yes, it is with relief, before I begin going over it all again and looking to see where improvements can be made. I do rather enjoy editing – it’s very satisfying to know the book is the best I can possibly make it.”

As with the other novels in this series, there are some very strong female characters that feature. Although this particular novel is dedicated to her dear grandson, Barney, Janet says it is an important factor in her writing. She adds: “Strong women? Definitely! They are the core of the family, and my heroines!”

Local readers should be able to get hold of The Sister’s Secret at Tesco, all Sainsbury’s stores, Morrisons and Asda, as well as WH Smith and Amazon. You can also follow at: www.facebook.com/JennieFeltonAuthor and @Jennie_Felton

Readers can find The Sister’s Secret and the previous novels in the series; All the Dark Secrets, The Miner’s Daughter, The Girl Below Stairs and The Widow’s Promise in all good retailers, and they are also available as audio and e-books.

If you have made your way through the Families of Fairley Terrace series and would like more, Janet’s Hillsbridge Quartet, beginning with The Black Mountains, has been reissued by publisher, Canelo, as an e-book or print on demand. You can also pick up an audio book by Soundings, read by Gordon Griffin, who has been reading the most recent novels, too.

Janet says: “Lots of local people were forever asking me where they could get copies; mostly those who had loaned theirs to a friend, and never got it back!”