A NEW crime thriller novel is being launched at a Winchester bookshop.

P&G Wells Booksellers on College Street will host the unveiling of Rebecca Smith's Conversations with an Octopus on July 25.

The "cosy crime" book includes an all-knowing octopus, "seaside farce and a little casual murder".

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Rebecca Smith (Image: Rebecca Smith)

The book is already receiving glowing reviews. One critic described it as "utterly addictive from the first page".

Another called the book "as deliciously satisfying as a 99 cone".

The plot revolves around Diana Parks, a beautician with a temper and begins when the body of lecherous landlord, Raj Sumal, washes up on the beach.

Detectives Jim Paddon and Grace Brown try to solve the mystery.

Meanwhile, at Ottersea Oceanworld, Jane the Octopus hears people’s secrets and understands everything during a sweltering summer of strange deaths, new friendships, and a whole lot of ice cream.

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Rebecca Smith was born in London and grew up in rural Surrey.

She studied History at the University of Southampton and is now a principal teaching fellow in English and Creative Writing there.

Rebecca is the author of four previous novels for adults, a novel for children, two works of nonfiction and a text for a picture book.

She is one of Jane Austen’s five times great nieces, and Conversations With An Octopus takes inspiration from Sanditon. She has Indian, English and Scottish heritage and often draws on this in her work.

In Conversation with Rebecca Smith, with Tamar Hodes, is at the bookshop on July 25 at 6.30pm. Tickets are available from TicketSource, https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/winchester/p-g-wells-bookshop/in-conversation-with-rebecca-smith/e-zlmjov.