Discover Devon as you've never seen it before

Exeter-born author John Eaton takes readers on a hilarious and thrilling journey through 1994 Devon in his new comedy crime novel, Murder at Cranborne Abbey.

What if you could revisit Devon before sat navs, smartphones and social media? Before every answer was just a click away. When solving a mystery meant following paper maps, asking awkward questions in country pubs and taking the long road across Dartmoor.

That's exactly the journey readers are invited to take in Murder at Cranborne Abbey, the debut Chipp and Pinn mystery by Exeter-born author John Eaton, which publishes on 7 September.

Set in 1994, against the backdrop of Britain's post-Black Wednesday economic gloom, the novel follows two struggling second-hand furniture dealers who reluctantly become private detectives. What begins as the search for a missing watch soon descends into murder, espionage, eccentric aristocrats, corrupt officials and a conspiracy that stretches across Devon.

But beyond the mystery itself lies another story.

Readers are invited to rediscover many of Devon's best-loved places—seen through fresh eyes and with more than a little comic licence.

The streets of Exeter. Countess Wear. Plymouth. Lynmouth. Dawlish Warren. The dramatic landscapes of Dartmoor. Okehampton and the edge of the moor. Even the county's distinctive red sandstone all play their part in the adventure.

Some locations are instantly recognisable.

Others have been given a mischievous fictional twist.

The familiar Plume of Feathers on Dartmoor becomes the Plume of Treasures. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of a famous Dartmoor-set novel is affectionately reimagined as Sir Arthur Canine Doyle, writer of The Hounds of the Basket Cases. And the mysterious Cranborne Abbey itself, although entirely fictional, is imagined near Okehampton, inspired by the atmosphere of the ancient ruins and landscapes that have fascinated visitors for generations.

"I've always believed Devon has some of the most remarkable scenery and characters in Britain," says John Eaton.

"I didn't want the county to be just the backdrop. I wanted it to become one of the main characters in the story. Readers may recognise many of the places, but I hope they'll see them in a completely different light—and perhaps smile the next time they visit."

To help readers follow Chipp and Pinn's often chaotic investigations, every hardback edition includes a full-colour illustrated map of Devon, charting many of the journeys featured in the novel as the unlikely detectives criss-cross the county in pursuit of the truth.

"The book is set in 1994 because it was a wonderfully different world," John explains.

"No mobile phones. No Google. No sat nav. If you wanted to solve a mystery, you had to knock on doors, unfold a paper map and hope you were asking the right person. It created opportunities for comedy that simply don't exist today."

Alongside the novel, John will launch a campaign inviting readers to Discover Devon as You've Never Seen It Before, celebrating the real places that inspired the story and the fascinating history behind them. Throughout September, readers will be able to explore the locations featured in the novel, compare fact with fiction and uncover the inspirations behind Cranborne Abbey's mysteries.

Born in Exeter, John Eaton has entertained audiences through books, poetry and music for many years. Murder at Cranborne Abbey marks his first full-length comedy crime novel and introduces Chipp and Pinn—an unlikely detective duo whose adventures are only just beginning.

The launch will also be accompanied by the release of Love This City, John's affectionate musical tribute to Exeter, celebrating both his roots and the city that inspired.

Murder at Cranborne Abbey is published in hardback on 7 September (RRP £20.99) and will be available from Devon bookshops and online.