Julia Chapman

Julia Chapman is the pen name of Julia Stagg, a British author whose Dales Detective mystery series has become one of the most popular and charming cosy crime series in the UK. Set in the fictional Yorkshire Dales town of Bruncliffe, the books combine satisfying mysteries with warmth, humour, and a vivid sense of community. Born in England, Chapman has had a restless, adventurous life — she has lived in Japan, Australia, the USA, and France, working as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language, a bookseller, a pawnbroker, a waitress, and even a supermarket checkout worker. She lived in the French Pyrenees with her husband, running an auberge, which provided the setting for her first series of novels, the Fogas Chronicles, published under her real name Julia Stagg. The Dales Detective series, published under the Julia Chapman pen name, began with Date with Death (2017). The series follows Samson O'Brien, a disgraced detective who returns to his hometown of Bruncliffe, and Delilah Metcalfe, who runs the Dales Dating Agency from the office next door. Together, the unlikely pair investigate local crimes — and gradually, reluctantly, fall for each other. The series, which includes Date with Malice, Date with Mystery, Date with Poison, Date with Betrayal, Date with Deceit, Date with Evil, and Date with Destiny, is characterised by its strong sense of community, its warmly drawn supporting cast (including Tolpuddle the dog), and its engaging blend of romance and mystery. Chapman writes with affection for the Yorkshire Dales and its people, creating a world that feels authentic, welcoming, and full of life — even when murder intrudes. The audiobook editions of the Dales Detective series are delightful, with narrators capturing the Yorkshire voices and community warmth of Chapman's world. Her books and audiobooks are perfect for anyone who loves cosy crime fiction with a strong sense of place, characters you want to spend time with, and mysteries that keep you guessing.