A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Georgia
Severn House (January 2, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages

 

Synopsis

 

The Bon-Appetempting Pizza Bake-Off has the small town of Branson, Georgia buzzing. Not least its organizer, Southern Style’s food critic and blogger Tiffany Austin. But right before the finals one of the celebrity judges falls ill, and to Tiffany’s horror the magazine replaces him with none other than handsome TV star and restaurateur Bartholomew Driscoll.

Tiffany once gave his restaurant a poor review, and she’s convinced he’s only accepted the job to get revenge. She fully expects Driscoll will find a way to ruin the contest . . . but she definitely doesn’t expect to trip over his dead body backstage!

Soon, it’s clear Tiffany wasn’t the only person who had less than positive feelings towards the sharp-tongued Driscoll. She’s surrounded by suspects – but which of the motley crew of contestants, family members and scorned friends and colleagues had the guts to commit murder?

With the help of her BFF Hilary and annoyingly handsome detective Bartell, and with cat Lily and puppy Cooper as emotional support, Tiffany investigates, only to discover that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold . . .

 

 

Amazon * B&N

 

 

Guest Post & Recipe

 

Hello Folks!  I’m T.C.LoTempio, author of the Nick and Nora mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and most recently, the Tiffany Austin Food blogger mysteries!

In A CRUST TO DIE FOR, Tiffany’s latest adventure (out January 2!)  Tiffany emcees a pizza baking contest. And who doesn’t love pizza, right? Below are two of Tiffany’s favorite pizza recipes! We hope they will be yours too!

 

Cheesy Easy bake Pizza

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar (can substitute honey

½ cup warm water

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup sliced onion

2 bell peppers, cut thin

16 oz mozzarella cheese, grated

2 cups tomato sauce

Toppings of your choice

 

Directions:

Prepare crust: In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar or honey in warm water, then add the olive oil and the salt.

In a separate bowl, mix flours together. Add them to liquid mixture, stirring first and then kneading to incorporate. Let dough rise 30-40 minutes. While dough is rising, saute sliced onions in a pan over medium heat with a little olive oil to caramelize their sugars. Cook until transparent but not browned. Reduce heat, add a little water to prevent browning, and let cook another 10 to 15 minutes until glossy and sweet. Add sliced peppers and cook 5-10 more minutes.

Once dough has risen, preheat oven to 425°. Divide dough in half. On clean, floured surface, roll out two round, 12 in. pizza crusts, using fingers to roll the perimeter into an outer crust edge as thick as you like. Using a spatula, slide crusts onto well-floured pans or baking stones. If using fresh tomatoes, layer cheese evenly over crust, then scatter your favorite toppings on top, finishing with the herbs. If using tomato sauce, spread over crust, top with cheese and then other toppings.

Bake pizzas in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the crust is brown and crisp.

Note:  You can substitute pre-made pizza dough if you prefer.

 

 

Ricotta Pizza

Ingredients:

Pizza dough (you can either make your own as per first recipe, or get the pre-made at your grocery store)

Ricotta cheese

Mozzarella cheese

Parmesan cheese

(Quantity depends on how cheesy you want pizza)

Fresh basil

Salt

Pepper

Minced garlic

 

Directions:

Layer the ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese on the pizza dough.  Sprinkle Parmesan over top.  Add salt, pepper, and minced garlic.  Bake in preheated oven until crust is brown and crisp.  Garnish with fresh basil and serve.

 

 

About the Author

 

T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora mystery series. Her cat, Rocco, provides the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat. She also writes the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery Series, as well as the Cat Rescue series. Her latest series is the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series from Severn House.

 

ROCCO’s blog * Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Vanilla Chai and A Vanishing Victim: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Sleuth (A Waterwheel Cafe Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Cotswold, England
Kanga Press (January 5, 2024)

 

Synopsis

 

A missing child. A half-baked ransom demand. Can a community cop sift through clues and rescue the tot before teatime?

Sergeant Keya Varma’s culinary dreams come true as she joyfully opens her own café. And attending her sister’s wedding is the cherry on the cake. But her excitement sinks like a souffle when a customer’s little boy disappears.

Shaken as well as stirred into action, the part-time police officer joins the search, but she’s shattered when even a ransom payment doesn’t bring the rug rat back home.

For Keya, justice is served with a side of scones, but can she save the child before the clotted cream turns sour?

Indulge in the Waterwheel Café cozy mystery series, where Keya Varma mixes crime with coffee and crêpes. If you crave appetising characters, a dash of humour, and a dollop of English charm, you’ll devour Victoria Tait’s delicious tale.

Bake your way into intrigue with Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim today!

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Guest Post

 

What I’ve learned from working on the investigation in Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim

 

by Sergeant Keya Varma

 

Hiya, I’m Sergeant Keya Varma, part-time police officer and full-time café owner – although with major cases like the one in this book, I have to rely on my family and friends to run the café while I work the investigation with my colleagues from Cirencester Police Station.

This story involves the abduction of a young boy. Spoiler alert, he is returned safely and is not harmed. I’ve worked many murder cases, but I think this one, probably because it involved a child, was particularly distressing.

Child abduction is a difficult subject, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.

Even before the case, I’d been considering the issue as my colleague, Inspector Sue Honeywell, and I had been instructed to convey the government’s new message “Clever Never Goes’ to primary school children in the Cotswolds.

This is a change in tactic from the old warning of ‘stranger danger’, and that children shouldn’t talk to, take things or go with anyone they didn’t know. But that cautionary advice it is still relevant. In the UK, there are over 200 attempts per year that we know of, where strangers attempt to abduct children, and worryingly around 50 of them are successful.

But this slogan is now considered outdated, as the majority of strangers do not want to harm children, whereas most abductions are undertaken by people the children know. We have been teaching children about situations they need to be aware of, and most of them are wary about accepting anything from strangers.

But many children, especially girls, love to pet people’s dogs or horses, and if an estranged parent turns up and offered to take them to McDonald’s, or for an ice cream, would they say no?

And considering parents, don’t they have the right to see and spend time with their children? During this case, Inspector Honeywell was also dealing with a difficult situation where a convicted murderer from a previous case wanted to see her children. But her former husband had moved back to his parent’s house in France with their daughters.

A mother, even one in prison, retains parental rights regarding her children unless they are legally adopted. And a parent who takes a child abroad without the other parent’s consent is breaking the law, as set out under the Child Abduction Act 1984.

Interestingly for me, when I look back on the case in Vanilla Chai and a Vanishing Victim, one parent leaving the other and taking a child elsewhere in the UK, even the northernmost point of Scotland, would not be breaking the law, even though it could make access to the child for the other parent extremely difficult.

However, while not illegal, the courts may require the child to stay with the parent who doesn’t move, especially if it is considered their education will suffer.

The conclusion I have is that once marriages or relationships tour sour, it is difficult for all involved, but that doesn’t mean the families should stay together. I do sometimes wish the adults would communicate better, but there are so many pressures in modern day life.

Perhaps if people stopped chasing the accumulation of more ‘stuff’ or comparing themselves with others, then they’d be more content in their lives and their relationships.

But in the end, what tears me apart is that it is always the children who suffer on some level. But sorting out this societal problem is above my pay grade. I’ll continue to perform my duties as best I can, protecting all people, as well as trying to bring some joy into their lives through my Waterwheel Café.

I hope you enjoy Vanilla Chai and A Vanishing Victim, while considering the messages conveyed in the story.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England.  After following her military husband around the world, she drew on her life’s experiences, and a love of Agatha Christie, Father Brown, and Murder She Wrote, to write British based cozy mysteries.

Her determined female sleuths are joined by colourful and quirky teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and realistic.  As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world where you’ll experience surprises, humour, and, sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings.

Do you like tea, mysteries, and books? Then why not join Victoria’s TeaCozy Club for regular news and updates, and download the free prequel to the Dotty Sayers Antique Mysteries series as a gift by visiting her website

Who doesn’t like tea, cake, and a slice of murder?

 

 

Website * Goodreads * Pinterest

 

Instagram * BookBub

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rivers and Creaks: A Redwoods Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
BGM Press (November 30, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 227 pages

 

Synopsis

 

A grumpy innkeeper. A dead guest. Can he solve the locked-room mystery before his business crumbles into chaos?

In the heart of Redwoods Country, where even the towering trees whisper secrets, there’s an innkeeper who’s anything but welcoming. Meet Andy Shirley—a man who’s made grumpiness an art form, detesting both guests and life’s little inconveniences. Now a dead guest and a killer on the loose threaten not only Andy’s solitude but his livelihood.

His cherished wife’s memory keeps him tethered to the small-town bed and breakfast they dreamt of running together. When a guest is found dead in a locked room, can this retired copy editor use his meticulous attention to detail to uncover the truth and save his business?

Fearing this shocking event will deter future guests and buyers, Andy’s frustration intensifies as the sheriff shifts his focus to a higher profile case. Yet, amidst this turmoil, Andy’s even more shocked when the most unexpected event happens as he hunts for clues . . . he strikes up an unlikely friendship.

Rivers and Creaks launches the humorous Redwoods Country cozy mystery series. If you like cranky but lovable characters, classic closed-door conundrums, and light-hearted fun, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s laugh-out-loud tale. Imagine “Grumpy Old Men” merged with “Schitt’s Creek.”

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Interview with Marc Jedal

 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

 

Meeting new characters, even if only in my own head, is quite enjoyable. It’s fun to figure out their quirks and an interesting backstory that animates the character to the point where they feel like a real human. Another exciting part is that after publishing nine other novels, I finally came up with a good Hollywood synopsis to describe one of my books. Rivers and Creaks is like Grumpy Old Men meets Schitt’s Creek.

A less enjoyable situation that coincided with the writing of this novel was that I wrote much of it during my own house remodel. Perhaps it isn’t a coincidence that Rivers and Creaks finds the protagonist encountering plumbing and electrical issues with his bed and breakfast while trying to solve a murder.

You might ask me to explain the reasoning behind repainting the downstairs walls of my house. Of course, it’s because the shower handle in our upstairs bathroom needed to be replaced. And, no, we didn’t have any leaks. In high tech product development, there is a term for this situation: scope creep. At least both the remodel and the novel turned out well.

 

Did you learn anything surprising about yourself when you began writing novels?

 

It turns out I’m really bad at naming characters beyond the protagonists. It’s just one of those weird things. While I’m writing I use KILLER, DEAD GUY, SUSPECT 1. I’ve got a friend who I call my “name whisperer.” Scott is his real name, but “name whisperer” sounds cool. Once I send him some character descriptions, he magically comes up with really good name options. The last manuscript I finished didn’t have actual names in it until right before I sent it to the copy editor. The funny part of that is when I began proofing the final version, I had no idea who the people were so it was almost like I was reading someone else’s book.

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

 

I’ve begun writing book 6 in the Silicon Valley Mystery series. It will be called Pride and Principal. Marty Golden, the bumbling software engineer, and part-time amateur sleuth, is just too fun a character to write for me to leave him alone for long. It’s been quite gratifying to see how popular that series has become, with the first book, Uncle and Ants, garnering over 2,200 Amazon ratings to date.

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?

 

Beyond book 6 in the Silicon Valley series, there will definitely be more novels in the Redwoods Country Mystery series. I have an idea for book 2 and know how the body is discovered, but haven’t figured out whodunnit or why. I’m not sure yet if I’ll continue writing more novels in my Ozarks Lake Mystery series or the Silicon Valley Mystery series or start yet another series, so it will depend on both reader feedback (please send emails!) and what ideas come to mind. I have written a sci-fi/thriller under a different pen name and would like to write a heist sci-fi novel set in space, just because it sounds cool. Beyond those, I’m sure I’ll come up with some new and entertaining characters and plot ideas that spark my imagination.

How long have you been writing?

 

In one sense, my entire professional life in marketing has been devoted to honing my fiction writing skills. On the job, we just call it advertising and emails. After wanting to write a book for many years, I finally came up with a good idea for a plot, which my research had concluded was critical to a novel’s success. So I buckled down and actually started writing. Lots of work, walks with my wife and dog, and drafts led to my first novel, Uncle and Ants, getting published. Once that happened, I could start telling people I was an author, which leads to much more interesting conversations than answering “marketing.”

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

 

My novel, Rivers and Creaks, is on sale for only $0.99 during this tour. You can find all my cozy mysteries on Amazon.  All of my books are free for Kindle Unlimited members. The first three books in the Silicon Valley Mystery series are out on audiobook from Tantor Audio and are available everywhere audiobooks are sold.

 

I love hearing from readers, as that motivates me to keep going on the next blank page.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. It’s a skill that’s served him well as both an author and marketer. The publication of Marc’s first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations with people than answering, “marketing.”

Like his character, Andy, from the Redwoods Country Mystery series, Marc continues to grow older and would prefer not to run a bed-and-breakfast inn when he retires. Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, he grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

 

Website * Facebook* LinkedIn * Goodreads * BookBub

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shade Grown (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting – West Virginia
WoodHaven Press (December 11, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages

 

Synopsis

 

BOOK EIGHT in the Award-winning BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.

During Lewisburg’s popular summer home and garden tour, Macy and her brother Bo discover new aspects of their hometown’s history. One of the last homes they visit features a lush commemorative shade garden marking where a Civil War soldier’s bones were buried. As Macy pauses to admire a bed of blue hostas, she glimpses a shadowy shape lying beneath the dinner-plate leaves. It turns out to be the body of famed movie star Cody Franklin, who’d purchased the garden house as a quiet country retreat.

Back at the cafe, Macy speaks with Cody’s distraught sister, who lets slip that she’s afraid her brother’s killer will target her next. Macy’s heart goes out to the bereaved sibling, and she agrees to speak with Cody’s local acquaintances in hopes she’ll uncover some helpful backstory.

But someone powerful is lurking behind the scenes, and Macy has to zoom in on the killer before everything fades to black.

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.

The Barks & Beans Cafe series in order:
Book 1: No Filter
Book 2: Iced Over
Book 3: Fair Trade
Book 4: Spilled Milk
Book 5: Trouble Brewing
Book 6: Cold Drip
Book 7: Roast Date
Book 8: Shade Grown
Standalone Novella: House Blend

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 

Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murder on the Geneva Express: A Mac and Millie Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Geneva Illinois
Independently Published (October 26, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 164 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Dead body found on Geneva Express!

In a perfect storm of misfortune, Mac O’Malley finds himself embroiled in a whodunnit that has everyone convinced HE has done it. Mac and Millie race against time, flee from authorities both municipal and magical, and attempt to clear Mac and his good reputation from absolute incarceration.

 

 

Amazon * Apple * Kobo * B&N

 

 

Guest Post

 

Motivation to Create!

 

What can I say? I am a child grasping with the throes of growing up, maturing, whatever you want to call it. My ideas come from my childhood zeal for all things adventurous and fantastic. I have come up with my book ideas at random times but all in the spirit of my fervor for movies, comics, and books. There really is no one place I draw inspiration from. No place I go to. No well of original ideas I can dip my bucket brain into. I have had to create the place really. Sure, there are places where the wheels start turning but the great ideas I formed in no particular place.

I do draw inspiration from the structures of stories that I love to watch or read. What kind of a story should I tell? There is only a certain number of stories all of which share similar plot elements. I learned that in high school.  Pick a kind of story and then make it your own. Create a world then tell a structured story. Is it an adventure story? Is it a suspense/thriller? Is it all the above? One thing I promise myself to do is try to make my story different enough to be considered original. Blazing my own trail is paramount for me to continue my writing endeavors.

With my “original” ideas, I write my stories. I suppose I write stories thanking those who have written or created an awesome world that I enjoyed in my man and childhood whether in film, book, or theme park form. Lastly, I get my ideas and motivation from a need to stop living in other people’s imaginations and creations. A great deal of my life is spent reading other people’s words, watching other people’s movies, and playing in other people’s worlds. One day, I decided I had had enough. I needed to create my own worlds people could live in and enjoy. So, I did, and I love it here. I just hope that someday, more people can enjoy the world I have created with me.

 

 

About the Author

 

I have spent my life in the study of story from riveting novels to the slam-bang action-packed world of comics to the examination of film history, I have spent a lifetime learning and examining the elements that make a story incredible. This steadfast dedication has led me to write stories of my own.

I am married and have a son, I have a great love of family. I hope that you enjoy my bestselling books that mash genres from thrillers to science fiction to fantasy!

 

 

Facebook * Goodreads * Instagram

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Great Escapes Team is happy to share with you the

 

cover of Anna St. John’s new Josie Posey Mystery.

 
It will be released on February 6, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clocked Out – A Josie Posey Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Level Best Books (February 6, 2024)
Setting: A small town in Sunflower County, Kansas, named English Village

 

Synopsis

 

Josie Posey and her posse of Mahjong Mavens are at it again in this cozy mystery where the retired big city crime reporter turned small town crime solver uncovers another murder in picturesque English Village.

When the clockmaker’s daughter returns home for a visit, reporter Josie Posey is assigned the task of interviewing the talented watch designer. That very afternoon the young woman falls from a ladder while inventorying antique clocks.

At first, Josie is certain the fall was an accident. Everyone loved Ella McGregor Benjamin. But Ella’s deathbed statement is a mysterious riddle that can’t be ignored. With her Old English Sheepdog Moe by her side, and an ever-growing list of suspects, Josie scrambles to identify the killer before anyone else gets hurt.

The local police chief wants Josie to help solve the puzzle, but stay out of his murder case. The editor of The Village Gazette wants an in-depth story for the next edition. And somebody wants Josie to stop asking questions. Deadlines loom.

In this fast-paced rollercoaster ride of a mystery, the clock is ticking as Josie vows to find the killer before time runs out.

 

 

Pre-order on Amazon

 

 

About the Author

 

Anna St. John writes cozy mysteries featuring a mature yet feisty former crime reporter, Josie Posey, as the amateur sleuth.

Her debut novel, DOOMED BY BLOOMS, was released by Level Best Books in February 2023. CLOCKED OUT is the second book in her Josie Posey Mystery Series. It is scheduled to release Feb. 6, 2024.

A former journalist, award-winning advertising copywriter, and ad agency owner, Anna is married to her high school sweetheart. She writes from her home office in Kansas, with her Old English Sheepdog by her side.

Anna is represented by Cindy Bullard of Birch Literary Agency. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Kansas Authors Club.

 

 

Website * Facebook

 

Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

 

The Great Escapes Team is thrilled to share with you the cover for Samantha Larsen’s new book Once Upon a Murder, the 2nd Lady Librarian Mystery which will be released on February 20!

 

 

 

 

 

Once Upon a Murder (A Lady Librarian Mystery) by Samantha Larsen

Publication Date: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Miss Tiffany Woodall must sleuth the slaying of a footman to clear her beloved’s name in the second Lady Librarian mystery, in the vein of Deanna Raybourn and perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

1784 England. Officially hired as the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort, Miss Tiffany Woodall is through with masquerades and murders for good. That is, until she stumbles upon the frozen dead body of former footman Mr. Bernard Coram. The speed with which her peaceful new life is upended is one for the record books: the justice of the peace immediately declares her the primary suspect in the murder.

As Tiffany hunts for the truth to clear her name, she learns that Bernard got into a fight over a woman at the local pub the night of his death–but he was also overheard blackmailing Samir. The justice of the peace arrests Samir, and Tiffany realizes that her life may have more in common with a tragic play than a light-hearted romance.

With her love locked up in jail and her own reputation on the line, Tiffany must attempt to solve the murder before the book closes on her or Samir’s life.

 

 

Amazon – B&N – Books A Million

 

Powells Books – Bookshop.org – Target – Walmart

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Samantha Larsen met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Reading (UK). She also writes historical romances under Samantha Hastings.

 

Website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whisky Hernandez
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Martinique
Independently Published (November 25, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 269 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Martinique. Memories. Murder.

A mystery is abound and the government has called in by special invitation the world’s greatest detective by study and trade, Whisky Hernandez, to help and assist the local police and solve the case fast, making use of her language proficiency in French and Creole. Full-time hygienist and part-time sleuth, this licensed private investigator, daughter of a talented New York and New Jersey former police detective, utilizes the help of her humorous photographer partner to get to the bottom of the mystery that is revealing itself on this island of flowers.

These honest and generous partners of crime-solving are experienced members in obtaining the proof they need to arrive at and protect the truth. Keeping her anxieties and panic attacks in check with the help of her service animal, Whisky is determined to dive into a variety of guilty-looking suspects, analyzing, scrutinizing, and, outsmarting all the ways the villain, the killer, is trying to get away with the clever crime.

Secret undercover work, hidden riddles, challenging puzzles, unique perilous and dangerous situations are all up against Whisky. But along with some banter and comic relief situations with her sidekick partner, our worthy and reliable hero will lead the way and do what it takes to get the job done. With twists, turns, swerves, and contorts, this resolute private investigator plunges into the depths of Martinique, coming up for air in an unforgettable ending.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Library sitting, don’t want to offend

 

 

When one does research at their local library there are certain expectations. Now while it’s true these expectations are dependent in large part on where the facility is located, how large it is, and whether or not it’s open, they are baseline expectations nonetheless and should be upheld to a standard that is good, no, great. And if the bookish landscape by which you have immersed yourself in, is Dickensian in every way, this should not impede on these aforementioned expectations.

For one thing, (and it should be noted that this is not a treatise or even a small dissertation on your local library accommodations), there needs to be pencils without erasers that need to be placed next to a small stack of small rectangular paper. And of course the pencils should be small. The reason for this is most likely that librarians command a level of resoluteness in their informativeness and there is no need to erase the catalog number they provide you with. As all people are equal, you as the patron of this fine, no, great, establishment need to play by their rules. The other reason for providing these pencils that have looked like they used a pencil sharpener incorrectly is that you must get used to gripping a writing utensil that may fall out of your hands at any moment. Because libraries serve as institutions for educating both the youth, the elderly, and the ever-disappearing middle-aged class (so sociologists have been reporting for years), what would happen if one’s writing utensil down the line slipped from their fingers and they signed their name John Hancock when their name very well was nothing of the kind. As seen, these two reasons for the first expectation tie into one another.

Now the second thing, the second great expectation, one which Pip would most assuredly expect if Miss Havisham managed a modern-day public library, would be that printers always have ink in them. This requirement even supersedes the prior one mentioned in the previous paragraph for to have no ink on a printed page defeats the purpose of using such a contraption in the first place. I say contraption as this might have been the language used by any Victorian Englander should they encounter a laser, inkjet, impact, LED, daisy wheel, or label printer. (If that is not the era-appropriate word, I will look it up at the library.) Many have the luxury of an at home-printer, but there are many, quality, no, great, citizens of the United States that have to scurry off to their library to print out an assortment of items, some of which might mean the difference even between marriage or no marriage. If it seems like that last little remark was personal, it was. Not to me, but to my fiancé who because there was no printer…Well, I’m not married, so you can piece that together. Nevertheless, these printers, equipped with ink that has not just chiefly been sourced from the melanin in squid ink, need to do what they say they’re going to.

Which brings me to my third, last, and final point of these library expectations. And that would be librarians liberally using the word “shhh”. I have been to a fair, no, great, amount of libraries around this country, territories included, and the knowledge that at a moment’s notice one dutiful librarian will utter that word that we have all come to know so well has brought order back to the potential chaotic sound nature. For if one person begins to talk and they are not stopped, someone else shall soon do the same. Like dominoes falling or a chain event rattling, the library could very well soon be a concert. But this would be nothing more than a concert of jibber-jabber, blather, and chatter. Perhaps it would inspire a poet’s stanza or two, but this would be all. So it should be quite apparent to all that set foot in a library that if they begin to raise the volume of their voice above the threshold that should not be crossed and they are not met by a “shhh”, the library has not done what it was supposed to and should be spoken about immediately. In a whisper of course.

So as has been said, there are three great expectations that a library needs to uphold in order to be a true establishment of book lending status. Let it be known throughout the entire plethora of daily, weekly, monthly, and statistically less than annually visitors of the educational building pillar of any community that if these three mandates are not met, their claim to libraryship must be challenged. Maybe someday in the future I’ll discuss the proper amount of time one needs to stay at a table when another person sits down, but etiquette is a whole other topic. Thank you and be a continuous, no, great, reader.

 

 

About the Author

 

J.S. Mason is an author of four short story collections and one cozy mystery and has the distinct honor of graduating pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and law school, receiving a diploma from each of the aforementioned education establishments.

Aside from their outstanding excellence within the field of academia, J.S. Mason has quite the records in the athletics department, hitting one triple, bowling one turkey, and scoring three hole-in-ones in a single miniature golf game.

Extending to the performing arts, J.S. Mason has played a sheriff with a past, a pushy prosecuting attorney, and literally a spear carrier, only to hang up their boots/tie/spear because there was too much drama.

Other noteworthy accomplishments of J.S. Mason are that they have a first, middle, and last name.

Impressively, with a background in law enforcement and trial litigation, J.S. Mason always manages to have their shoes tied when they aren’t wearing Velcro.

J.S. Mason is most proud that they are referred to in the third person on their bio, as this is always how they refer to themselves.

J.S. Mason is happy with this.

J.S. Mason is satisfied with this.

J.S. Mason is excited to provide more high quality books to their audience and hopes they consume them with the utmost pleasure.

For clarity, in response to what some of their reviewers have said, they are correct – J.S. Mason is in fact an honorary A.I. module from M.I.T.

J.S. Mason hopes for you to have a good day and get through it because it can be hard sometimes.

J.S. Mason looks forward to giving you the experience you deserve.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Murderous Means: A Southern California Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in the Series
Setting – California
Level Best Books (December 5, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 315 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Corrie Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in town, but when it comes to catching a killer, let’s just say, she’s got enough skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed suspects to their knees.

When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep, the family is convinced her death was anything but peaceful. They hire Corrie to prove it, but the only evidence they have to go on is a psychic’s half-baked vision that it was murder. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on proving the psychic is a fraud. After all, everyone knows psychics are crack-pots, don’t they?

But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something deadly. The deeper Corrie digs, the more bizarre clues are revealed, and a possible witness is found dead. As tempers rise, it’s up to Corrie to catch a killer… who’s about to strike again.

 

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

Guest Post

 

A Night in the Life: Corrie Locke

 

By Lida Sideris

 

About last night, I’d like to know if you think I made the right decision.

I was driving around Westlake, a smallish city in Southern California, to attend a party given by a prospective client, Marti Means. Marti wanted me to prove that her 72-year-old sister, JoJo, didn’t exactly die a peaceful death last week. Did Marti have any evidence to go on? Nope. Only a half-baked psychic vision. I planned on talking to the psychic tonight.

“Destination coming up on the right,” Veera said.

Veera was my associate in our almost up and running private investigation agency. She was invited to the party, too.

“Still can’t figure out why Marti’s throwing a party tonight.” Veera cracked her knuckles.

“I hope they serve hors d’oeuvres.” Mom snapped on the backseat light and pulled out a compact. “I’m starving.”

Mom wasn’t invited, but she’d insisted on joining us to watch our backs. I caught her gaze in the rear-view mirror. “You’re supposed to disappear in the background tonight, remember?” Why did I think that bringing her along spelled trouble? After all, as part of our PI staff…correction, the only member of our support staff…she added legitimacy to our fledgling operation. At fifty-five, she was close to Marti’s age group, making us twenty-somethings more relatable and trustworthy.

“Fading in the background doesn’t come easily to me, honey,” Mom said.

“You know that’s true.” Veera beamed back at Mom. “She’s got getting people-to-talk skills.”

“Aw, thank you, sweetie.” She patted Veera on the shoulder. “I can spot a phony a mile away. I’ll let you know if the psychic is the real deal.”

“There’s no such thing as psychics.” How many times did I have to remind her? “They make vague predictions about subjects people like to talk about like money, romance, and work. Give a psychic enough detail and they’ll pull something together that sounds legit, but isn’t.”

Veera pointed. “There’s Marti’s crib.”

I screeched to a halt by a stone pillar and eyed a ranch style home. “Why’s the house so dark?” Where was the party?

“The quiet reflects the somber occasion.” Mom stuck her head between us. “They’re calling it a party, but it’s really about remembering a loved one.”

“As long as they serve alcohol, we’re fine,” Veera said. “We’ve got a whole lotta questions that need answering.”

We stepped into the lavender-scented night. There was an unsettling quiet that even the roar of traffic from a nearby freeway couldn’t quell. Why did I have the feeling that something fishy was going on inside the house?

“I’m having second thoughts.” I stepped toward the car.

“What do you mean?” Veera backtracked with me.

“If we start out by taking hocus pocus cases, what’s that going to do for our reputation?”

“You’ve got a point, but look at this place.” Veera’s hands swept upward. “If we get this job, our client can afford our services, which means we’ll get paid. Besides, there could be more to JoJo’s death. You said it yourself.”

“That was before I realized no other P.I. would bother with an investigation involving the spirit world. We need a real case.” I sniffed. No food smells. Not a good sign. “Marti’s up to something.”

Mom took my arm. “Isn’t that what you love about investigating? Uncovering the truth? One way or another you’re going to discover what’s going on.”

“We’ll connect the dots until it turns into a shape we recognize.” Veera moved in closer. “There could be criminals in this house.”

“All right.” I hustled to the trunk of my car and popped it open. “What kind of P.I.s would we be if we didn’t at least take a look around?” I rummaged around cardboard boxes, sneakers, sweaters–

“That’s my girl.” Mom squeezed my arm. “I’m sensing a low-key event, with just a few people, all somehow related to the murder victim.”

“We don’t know if there was a murder.” No matter how many times I explained something to Mom, she always came up with her own set of facts. I pulled out a small cloth bag. “Focus and follow me.”

“What’s in the bag?” Veera asked.

“A little something for the psychic.”

I’d planned to dangle some bait in front of the phony fortune teller to see how she reacted. Do you think we should take a case involving a psychic?

 

 

About the Author

 

Lida Sideris is the author of the Southern California Mysteries. After graduating law school, Lida managed to snag a newbie lawyer’s dream job: working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio…kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke… except without the homicides. Lida is a recipient of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award and a 2x Killer Nashville, Silver Falchion Award finalist. Lida lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs, and a flock of uppity chickens.

 

Website * Blog * Facebook * X (Twitter)

 

Instagram * BookBub * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Malice, Matrimony, and Murder: A Limited-Edition Collection of 25 Wedding Cozy Mystery and Crime Fiction Stories
Cozy Mystery
Marla Bradeen (November 13, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 478 pages

 

Synopsis

 

The bride wore an orange jumpsuit…

Everyone loves a good wedding–and a good mystery. Combine the two and what do you get? Malice, Matrimony, and Murder!

Over two dozen authors have teamed up to offer you this wedding-themed collection of brand-new cozy mystery and cozy crime fiction stories that will keep you wondering whodunit and what’s next from the first page to the last. Between bad bridesmaids, conniving caterers, greedy guests, ill-mannered in-laws, savvy sleuths, and vengeful villains, this anthology has it all! All of the stories are clean and fun, with a general feel-good tone. If you read to be entertained, surprised, and uplifted, then this collection is for you!

Plus, the anthology as a whole contains an overarching wedding whodunit woven throughout. As you’re reading, collect the clues, identify whodunit, and access a special ebook filled with bonuses and extras. Inside you’ll find recipes, character interviews, bonus stories, and more!

If you’re drawn to shorter mysteries that are light on gore and language, and high on humor, entertainment, and happy endings, then you don’t want to miss out on Malice, Matrimony, and Murder. But this collection is only available for a limited-time, so grab it now before it’s gone forever!

 

 

Our stories:

– “The Groom’s Club” by Joslyn Chase.
– “A Wedding Planner’s Nightmare: A Persimmon Worthing Mystery” by Charlotte Morganti.
– “Cinderella at Midnight” by P.M. Raymond.
– “Ring Robbery: A Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Short” by Paige Sleuth.
– “What’s a Little Murder Between Friends” by Teresa Inge.
– “Icing on the Cake” by Sally Milliken.
– “Love and Death in Madison, Georgia” by Rebecca Olmstead.
– “Second Chances Are…Murder: A Vermont Radio Mystery” by Nikki Knight.
– “Wedding Vows & Vipers” by Shari Held.
– “The Bride Wore Death” by Barbara Howard.
– “Chill: A Naomi Sinclair Short Story” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier.
– “A Bit of a Do” by KD Sherrinford.
– “Goes Around” by Stephen D. Rogers.
– “Jilted” by Elaine Togneri.
– “Sabotage and a Murder Mystery” by Lynn Hesse.
– “Til Death Do Us Part” by Margaret S. Hamilton.
– “A Wedding Most Bitter: A Lara’s Detective Agency Series” by Stella Oni.
– “Better Late Than Murdered” by Robert Petyo.
– “Charm City Wedding” by Pamela Kyel.
– “The Other Wedding Crasher” by Karen McCullough.
– “Marriage, Neighbors and Best Friends: A Wally and Ollie Series” by Wil A. Emerson.
– “The Wedding Dress in the Middle of the Road” by Jack Bates.
– “Death, the Unwanted Wedding Guest” by J. Aquino.
– “We Haven’t Had Cake” by Sharyn Kolberg.
– “To Have and To Scold” by Becky Clark.

 

 

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Apple Books * Kobo

 

Smashwords * Books2Read Universal Link

 

 

Review

 

These have been such fun stories to read. Some have some surprise twists at the end, but all mysteries are resolved in these short stories. I have even discovered a few authors that I want to look for their books to add to my never-ending TBR.

When I first started reading this book, my e-reader jumped to near the end of the book, and I came across a weird statement that didn’t fit with the story. Once I realized what happened, I started back at the beginning and realized there is a mystery for the reader to solve, and most of the authors have clues in their stories. Some flow naturally with the story, and others stand out. I started highlighting these clues so that when I finish all of the stories, I can piece together the clues and try to solve the mystery. I will have my work cut out for me!

This anthology is excellent when you just have a little time to read. You can read a story (or two) while waiting in line, at the doctor’s office, or any time when you have just a few minutes.

I also enjoyed all of the stories centering around a wedding or a similar situation.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Author Websites

 

Joslyn Chase * Charlotte Morganti * P.M. Raymond * Paige Sleuth

 

Teresa Inge * Sally Milliken * Rebecca Olmstead * Nikki Knight

 

Shari Held * Barbara Howard * Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier * KD Sherrinford

 

Stephen D. Rogers * Elaine Togneri * Lynn Hesse * Margaret S. Hamilton

 

Stella Oni * Pamela Kyel * Karen McCullough

 

Wil A. Emerson * Becky Clark

 

Publisher Website * Publisher Facebook * Publisher Twitter

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway