Genevieve Marenghi’s novel, No Oil Painting, is an art heist book with, as its centrepiece, Ham House, where Genevieve worked for many years as a National Trust guide… constructing the plot in odd moments.

Tonight she’s on stage with Good Life editor Tim Harrison in a Meet the Author event. Doors open 7pm.

Locally based, she worked on the Financial Times for 11 years. Her mystery thriller is available at the Regency Bookshop, and copies will be available on the night – signed by the author.

With a BA in English and Philosophy, Genevieve was listed for the inaugural Women’s Prize Trust and Curtis Brown Discoveries award.

Her writing uses dark humour to probe the difference between our perception of people and their true selves; the gulf between what is said and what is meant.

She considers people watching an essential skill for any writer; overheard snippets of conversation or exchanges at bus stops are gold nuggets.

She’s been known to follow people to catch the end of a juicy conversation or argument. Women aged over 50 are essentially invisible anyhow, and she views this as a kind of superpower.

Unlike her novel’s protagonist Maureen, she hasn’t used this to commit art theft. Yet.

More about the author at Genevievemarenghi.com