Alasdair Beckett-King's 'homage to Poirot' signed by Walker

Walker Books has scooped Montgomery Éclair: Murder at the Museum, the first in a "hilarious" murder mystery series by comedian and debut author Alasdair Beckett-King.

World rights were acquired by commissioning editor Gráinne Clear, from Jacob Howe-Douglas at HD Management. Publishing in February 2023, Montgomery Éclair: Murder at the Museum will be the first book in the series, illustrated by Claire Powell, represented by Clare Wallace at The Darley Anderson Illustration Agency.

"Claire Montgomery is the world’s best detective – but you’ve probably never heard of her," the synopsis reads. "You probably have heard of the great Montgomery Éclair, however: the well-dressed and terribly famous gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. Together with Éclair’s assistant, Grampa Banks, the crime-busting duo have a nose for knowing when something is afoot, amiss or untoward – and when a mystery is about to unfold.

"When a highly suspicious death occurs at the Hornville Museum, Éclair and Banks have a new case to solve. Together they’ll interview some dodgy witnesses, scour the scene for clues and – above all – hope no one notices that Claire and Montgomery are never in the same room at the same time."

“From his wry, witty podcast on British folklore to his laugh-out-loud YouTube sketches, it’s clear Alasdair knows how to spin a story and create brilliant characters," Clear said. "But it was his way of poking fun at the stereotypes of different genres –with a loving eye – that assured me he’d be the perfect person to write a fresh and funny take on a murder mystery. What he has created is a hilarious homage to the great Poirot, with a clever twist that children are going to love.”

Beckett-King is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer and podcaster. Since studying at the London Film School, he has performed solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Glastonbury, performed on BBC television and radio, co-written an award-winning video game and created viral sketches for social media, including an interactive whodunit.

“Children love a good murder," Beckett-King said. "Murder is by far the most fun type of crime to solve. Lost dogs and stolen pearls are all well and good, but I’ve always felt that murder is the big one. I’m excited for young readers to meet 10-year-old Claire Montgomery, and her detective alter-ego Montgomery Éclair. I hope they’ll enjoy the hunt for clues, and the interrogation of oddball suspects. And I hope they don’t work out ‘whodunit’ until the very last moment.”

Powell is a best-selling children’s book illustrator working in Derbyshire. She has worked with publishers and authors including Jeanne Willis, Peter Bently, Kes Gray and Simon Farnaby.

 “When I read Alasdair’s text and realised that Montgomery Éclair combines two of my two favourite things in life – sabre-toothed bats and a sticky false moustache – I was hooked," she said. "The main characters were already formed in my mind before I reached the end of the first chapter and it’s a joy to use my little grey cells to bring them to life. Working with Walker has been on my bucket list for a while and we’re already having a lot of fun.”