THE haunting atmosphere of the old wartime camp at Spring Hill near Broadway has inspired a dark tale of murder and mystery.

Bloodline by Fiona Mountain is a second outing for Cotswold ancestor detective Natasha Blake, who featured in the Kingham author's last book, Pale as the Dead.

The plot unfolds when the fictional genealogist is asked to research a family tree by an enigmatic old man, who is then shot dead at his isolated farmhouse.

Despite Natasha's reluctance to delve deeper, further research leads her to the dark heart of Nazi Germany and a blue-blooded crime hidden for generations in a Cotswold bluebell wood.

After the germ of the idea was first planted in her mind by the deserted camp at Spring Hill, Fiona set to researching Cotswold life during wartime years.

"I went along to Chipping Campden Royal British Legion and chatted to people about their memories of the prisoners of war, the land girls and other details.

"It was great to be able to get first-hand history from people who had so many fantastic recollections."

As well as the first Natasha Blake mystery, Pale as the Dead, Fiona also delved into history to write her first novel, Isabella, an untold love story that lay behind the Mutiny on the Bounty.

She said that living in the Cotswolds really helped her write historical stories.

"It is an ideal place for me to live and work and set my novels.

"The Cotswolds are beautiful, steeped in history and very atmospheric."

Fiona, who lives with her composer husband Tim and four children, said she was already working on her next book, which will be another Natasha Blake story set in the area.

Before moving to Kingham six years ago Fiona worked as a press officer for the BBC in London. Since moving to the Cotswolds she has juggled her successful writing career with running her own public relations company and looking after her growing family.

Shortly before completing Bloodline in August Fiona gave birth to a baby girl, her fourth child.

"Exactly the same thing happened when I was finishing my last book, I gave birth to my third son about a month before," she said.

"I find that I do feel more creative when I am pregnant - but I wish I could grow a book at the same rate I can grow a baby. My books take longer than nine months."

Bloodline was launched last Thursday, October 14, at the Bookshop in Chipping Norton. It is published by Orion and priced £10.99.

4 Author Fiona Mountain with her new book which is set in the Cotswolds where she lives with her husband and four children.