Report of Over WI meeting – May 2024

Our speaker for the May W.I. meeting was Susan Grossey, an author of historical crime novels. For twenty-five years, Susan ran an anti-money laundering consultancy, advising banks, law firms, casinos and the like on how to spot and deal with criminal proceeds. She became obsessed by financial crime – how it works, and the astonishing lengths to which people will go in order to preserve and increase their wealth and influence.

It was perhaps not surprising that when Susan decided to venture into novel writing, financial crime featured prominently.  Susan began researching the history of Henry Fauntleroy, a banker with the family firm of Marsh, Stracey, Fauntleroy and Graham of Berners Street, London who, in 1824 was the last man to hang for forgery in Britain. This led her to discover Sam Plank, a Magistrate’s Constable who became the focus of her first novel and six subsequent books. She went on to tell us about how she has used the Amazon self-publishing scheme to produce and sell her books, taking control of all aspects of the project from proof reading to selecting the book cover designs. A fascinating speaker.

Our speaker next month will be Gary Griffiths talking about the difference between a £5 and £25 bottle of wine (other than the £20). Some comparative tasting would be good – we live in hope.

Rachel King.

Over W.I.