Posted in 3 paws, Cozy, mystery, Review, Short Story on July 11, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

A literary plant swap. An arrogant library board president. A creepy library attic. Join Molly Green and her friends as they investigate another mysterious incident in the charming small town of Hawthorn Heights, Ohio. Molly and her BFF, Claudia, are managing a Plant Swap at the local library branch when the library board president unexpectedly collapses in the attic. First responders assume it’s a heart attack, but Molly suspects something more sinister and the Succulent Sleuth is on the case again. Will Molly uncover the truth or will the culprit leave the library undetected – free of all fines?

This short story was originally published as part of A Bookworm of a Suspect cozy mystery short story anthology with Aconite Cafe.

 

 

Amazon * Other Retailers

 

 

Review

 

This is a short story that brings back together Molly and the gang to solve another crime. This time, it happens at the library after their plant swap, which is a part of the library book sale. I chuckled at Molly’s husband trying to start a book club that read actual books and not eBooks or audio. However, he did find a kindred spirit, James, and I am curious if he will be a part of future books.

Because this story is short, I felt like there wasn’t enough time to truly develop the story and provide multiple suspects. The would-be killer wouldn’t have been on many people’s radar. The reasoning made sense once it was revealed.

I did appreciate the efforts to create a full story in fewer pages. I can imagine how hard it is to wrap up everything in fewer pages.

This is a fun mystery series, and I look forward to future installments. We give this book 3 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Iris March has a reputation for killing house plants and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 

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Posted in Cozy, excerpt, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on July 5, 2023

 

 

 

 

The Water Tower: A Lakeview Mystery
Cozy Mystery/Women Sleuths
1st in Series
Setting – A fictional Ohio town in the suburbs of Cleveland called Lakeview
Level Best Books (June 20, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 250 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Josie Ashbury was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career—until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. Taking a job teaching at her old high school, Josie is beginning to put the pieces of her life back together when one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police close the case quickly, without any real answers. Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl’s death.

At the same time, Josie is battling demons of her own. As she faces debilitating insomnia that leaves her with gaps in her memory, she dives into the tangled secrets surrounding the investigation. When she finally unravels the web, she discovers that the truth lies much closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Apple * BAM * Kobo * IndieBound

 

 

Excerpt

 

She stood on the water tower, looking at the skyline she had only observed from the ground. You really could see the whole town from up here. Funny how your whole life can fit into one 360-degree glance. Peering down at the ground, she was no longer able to see individual blades of grass, all of them blurring into a sea of perfect emerald green. To her right was the roof of Lakeview High School, looking small from this vantage point. She felt as though if she leaned over far enough, she could almost touch it. But that was ridiculous; the school had to be several hundred feet away. Her vision came in and out of focus as she swayed, thinking about her life, her past, her future… Reaching out her slender arm, she twirled her wrist. She could hardly wait for graduation when, everyone said, “real life” would begin. “I can’t wait to get out of here,” her friends exclaimed, dreaming of big cities and even bigger lives in far-off places: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, anywhere but here. But she knew they would return, just like their parents, raising 2.5 kids with a Labradoodle and a balding husband in one of the best-little-suburbs in the country. Was it really so bad? She watched all these super-educated women who had given up their careers to stay home and clean up after the kids and drive to soccer practice, instead of changing the world as they’d so hopefully planned when plotting their escape years earlier. Was that her fate? Was that what awaited her now? Dozens of similar thoughts swirled and crashed like waves in front of her, mixing in a fantastic spray of colors, lights, and sounds.

 

 

Guest Post

 

5 Tips to Keep Your Cool Throughout the Publishing Process

 

 

You’ve finished your book. Hooray! The hard work is done! Haha, just kidding (kind of). When you’re writing a book, the actual writing is only a portion of the process. Now it’s time to get it published. If you’re self-publishing, the process is more in your control; but if you’ve decided that traditional publishing is the route you want to take, you may have a longer road ahead of you than you think.

Let’s quickly go through the traditional publishing process. Assuming a publishing house hasn’t magically swept in and bought your book (which I’ve heard does happen from time to time, just not to me); the first step in the publishing process is finding an agent. Once you’ve found an agent, the agent will read your work, likely edit it or, at the very least, give you notes. When you’ve finished revising, your agent will shop your book around to publishers. Most agents have relationships with specific editors at different publishing houses, so your person will probably have someone (or several people) in mind. The editors will want time to read your work, then they will let your agent know if they want to take on the project, i.e., publish your book. The publisher then sends contracts (which you should always, always, always have an attorney look over), and once you’ve signed, the real fun begins.

Your publisher will get you on a production schedule, which can mean your book will be published quickly or, well, not so quickly. My publisher bought my book in 2021, and my publication date ended up being in June of 2023. During the time while you’re waiting for the book to be published, you’ll do rounds of edits with your editor – how many rounds depends on the manuscript. You may also have to give guidance about cover art, write acknowledgements, summaries, and dedications. Depending on the publisher, you may also be involved in the marketing process, which can involve podcast interviews, blog interviews, newspaper interviews, guest posts ( 😀 ), book signings, and so on.

 

So the question is: how do you keep your sanity through this whole process?

 

  1. Be patient. Publishing a book requires the most patience I’ve ever had to put towards anything in my life. I am not a patient person by nature, so I’ve had to try to train myself not to freak out. Do whatever you need to do to keep your cool – meditate, do yoga, scream into a pillow, whatever works for you.
  2. Stay on top of your end. There are some things that are in your control during the time you’re waiting for your book to get on the shelves. Being punctual – or better yet, early – with your materials will make things that much easier on your publisher, agent, PR person, and whoever else is helping you. Control what you can!
  3. Develop a social calendar. We all hope that our book will be an amazing success out of nowhere, but posting regularly about your release on social media bumps up the chances. Don’t inundate your followers and friends with reminders to buy your book, but do post reminders from time to time so people don’t forget.
  4. Communicate with your people. My agent, editor, publisher, and public relations person have been so, so, so amazing throughout the last couple of years. If you have questions, ask them. They want to help! And it’s better than sitting around wondering what the heck is going on.
  5. Enjoy yourself! For many of us, publishing a book is a dream come true. Allow yourself time to enjoy that this is actually happening, especially if your road has been complicated. Plan a launch party, break out the champagne, schedule a dinner to celebrate, or just go up on your roof and yell “I’m published! I’m published! I’m published!” a la Monica Geller from Friends on your pub day. You’ve absolutely earned it.

 

 

About the Author

 

Amy Young is an author, comedian, and actor based in Cleveland. After spending a decade in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry and writing her debut novel, The Water Tower, she returned to Ohio to be closer to family. Amy is working on her second book, a thriller, and in her free time she enjoys going to the theatre, bingeing reality TV, and spending time with her husband and many, many cats. She has a B.A. in English from Kenyon College.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

Instagram * TikTok * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on June 29, 2023

 

 

 

 

A Crafty Collage of Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
12th in Series
Setting – New Jersey and Tennessee
Independently Published (June 16, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Wherever crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack goes, murder and mayhem follow. Her honeymoon is no exception. She and new husband, photojournalist (and possible spy) Zachary Barnes, are enjoying a walk in the Tennessee woods when they stumble upon a body on the side of a creek. The dead man is the husband of one of the three sisters who own the winery and guest cottages where Anastasia and Zack are vacationing.

When the local sheriff sets his sights on the widow as the prime suspect, her sisters close ranks around her. The three siblings are true-crime junkies, and thanks to a podcaster who has produced an unauthorized series about her, Anastasia’s reputation for solving murders has preceded her to the bucolic hamlet. The sisters plead for her help in finding the real killer. As Anastasia learns more about the women and their business, a host of suspects emerge, including several relatives, a relentless land developer, and even the sisters themselves.

Meanwhile, Anastasia becomes obsessed with discovering the podcaster’s identity. Along with knowing about Anastasia’s life as a reluctant amateur sleuth, the podcaster has divulged details of Anastasia’s personal life. Someone has betrayed Anastasia’s trust, and she’s out to discover the identity of the culprit.

Craft project included.

 

 

Amazon * Kobo * Barnes & Noble * Apple Books

 

 

Guest Post

 

Ever Hear of a Reluctant Amateur Sleuth?

 

By Lois Winston

 

When I was first asked to create a crafting themed cozy mystery series, I first embarked on some research. My writing roots were firmly planted in various romance genres—contemporary, romantic suspense, and chick lit. I wrote standalone novels that always ended with a happily-ever-after. I knew of Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, and Nancy Drew, but I hadn’t read a cozy mystery in…well, I couldn’t even remember the last cozy mystery I had read.

Since current romance trends were quite different from those of the last century, I figured the same must hold true for the cozy mystery genre. Thus, I headed to the library and hauled home an armload of current cozy mysteries.

After immersing myself in books by dozens of contemporary cozy authors, I came away with one conclusion—I didn’t want to do what others were already doing quite successfully. I saw no point in competing against all these other authors for a slice of the cozy pie. If I was going to gain any success at all, I had to think outside the box, making my series just different enough that although it maintained the cozy label, it stood out from a crowded field.

As I mulled over ideas, my first decision was not to make my sleuth a hobbyist or owner of a craft or needlework shop. She wouldn’t be a member of a knitting or quilting circle or involved in only one craft. I had a background as a crafts designer and had also worked as a craft book editor. I decided to make Anastasia Pollack, as I named her, the crafts editor at a women’s magazine. That way, I could feature a different craft in each book. As far as I could tell, no cozy author had ever done that before.

I also decided I wouldn’t inflict Cabot Cove Syndrome on the town where my sleuth lived. Yes, there are murders that occur in her hometown. However, as the writers of Murder She Wrote came to realize, you can only suspend disbelief up to a point before no one is left standing other than the sleuth. Even Jessica Fletcher began traveling outside her small community to stumble upon dead bodies here, there, and everywhere.

Since Anastasia’s career doesn’t limit her to a shop or office cubicle, she not only finds dead bodies at her place of employment and in her hometown, but she also trips over them in various other settings around the New York metropolitan area. In her latest adventure, she even finds a dead body in Tennessee.

But I continued to think outside the box as I developed Anastasia. Many cozy mystery sleuths are busybodies compelled to stick their noses in police business because they believe they know more than local law enforcement. Anastasia is different. She’s very much a reluctant amateur sleuth, getting involved only because she believes she has no other choice. However, she’ll be the first to tell you, she’d rather be doing anything else—including undergoing root canal!

Meddling is meddling, though, as far as most law enforcement is concerned. However, Anastasia’s interactions with at least some law enforcement personnel have earned her their respect. This becomes very evident in the way she’s sucked into the murder investigation in A Crafty Collage of Crime, the twelfth book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series.

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Lois Winston began her award-winning writing career with Talk Gertie to Me, a humorous fish-out-of-water novel about a small-town girl going off to the big city and the mother who had other ideas. That was followed by the romantic suspense Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception.

Then Lois’s writing segued unexpectedly into the world of humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, thanks to a conversation her agent had with an editor looking for craft-themed mysteries. In her day job Lois was an award-winning craft and needlework designer, and although she’d never written a mystery—or had even thought about writing a mystery—her agent decided she was the perfect person to pen a series for this editor. Thus, was born the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, which Kirkus Reviews dubbed “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” The series now includes twelve novels and three novellas. Lois also writes the Empty Nest Mysteries, currently at two novels, and one book so far in her Mom Squad Capers series.

To date Lois has published twenty-one novels, five novellas, several short stories, one children’s chapter book, and one nonfiction book on writing, inspired by her twelve years working as an associate at a literary agency. To learn more about Lois and her books, visit her at www.loiswinston.com where you can sign up for her newsletter and follow her at various social media sites.

 

 

Website * Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog * Twitter

 

Pinterest * Goodreads * Newsletter * BookBub

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on June 28, 2023

 

 

 

 

Murder To My Ears (An Octavia Fields Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Independently Published (June 30, 2023)
Print Length 260 pages

Synopsis

 

Octavia Fields should know better than to judge things by their appearance. After all, most people don’t expect a nomadic hippie to be a classical violist—let alone one who runs a seasonal music shop at Aerie Pines, the summer home of the Aerie Peaks Symphony.

But when her business season starts off on the wrong note, it’s obviously the persnickety concertmaster’s fault. If he hadn’t turned up dead—leaving Octavia to find his body— she wouldn’t have to deal with the handsome detective who isn’t sure what to think of her impressive arrest record.

With symphony members cornering Octavia to pass on “evidence” by way of sotto-voce rumors, it shouldn’t surprise her to learn the helpful musicians aren’t the only ones who believe Octavia’s helping with the investigation. When a threatening letter arrives, it’s clear the killer thinks she’s playing harmony to the detective, too.

When the detective doesn’t appear to be making progress on the case, Octavia decides it’s up to her to solve the mystery—before the killer hears their cue to silence her!

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Guest Post

 

What’s In a Name?

 

 

Naming characters is one of the most fun—but hardest—parts of being an author. You have to choose a name that fits the personality of the character, then maybe think through everyone you know to figure out if anyone will think they lent you their name (which may or may not be a good thing, depending).

Writing cozy mysteries throws an extra layer of thought into the mix. Because cozies are special! It’s the kind of book that lets you bring in puns or hint at more. You’re almost expected to have a name that ties into the character’s hobby, or a holiday if the series is set around one, or any number of related things.

When I was choosing names for the characters in Murder To My Ears, I knew I wanted to tie the music theme into the main character’s name. She’s a classical violist who happens to be a hippie, which made things a little tricky. I chose a music-related first name, and a more living-outdoors kind of last name: Octavia Fields. As a bonus, when Octavia signs her name, she writes 8via. (If you read music, you’ll be aware that 8va marks sections to be played an octave above what’s written.)

I wanted to carry the music theme over to Octavia’s best friend as well. When the concertmaster turns up murdered, this best friend becomes the new concertmaster, with responsibilities to help lead the rest of the symphony. It took a little work, but I came up with the perfect name for her: Piper.

Then we have the detectives. We spend a fair amount of time with two of the three detectives in this book, so we’ll talk about those two.

The first is the lead detective, who I wanted to come across as more of an “everyone” character. I knew I wanted his name to be short and to the point, because that plays into his personality. I also wanted him to be easy to relate to, so I chose a more common name: Jack Price.

For the other detective, I wanted to play a bit with the detective theme. Her name ties together two characters from Sherlock Holmes: Irene Watson.

Choosing the right name for a character can be tricky, but when you get it right, it feels like striking gold. So, next time you’re reading, it might be fun to think about why the author chose the names they did for their characters! It can add new depth to the story.

 

 

About the Author

 

Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Cozy, mystery, Review on June 27, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

In Olivia Matthews’s Against the Currant , the first Spice Isle Bakery Mystery, investigating a murder was never supposed to be on the menu…

Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, New Lyndsay Murray is opening Spice Isle Bakery with her family, and it’s everything she’s ever wanted. The West Indian bakery is her way to give back to the community she loves, stay connected to her Grenadian roots, and work side-by-side with her family. The only thing getting a rise out of Lyndsay is Claudio Fabrizi, a disgruntled fellow bakery owner who does not want any competition.

On opening day, he comes into the bakery threatening to shut them down. Fed up, Lyndsay takes him to task in front of what seems to be the whole neighborhood. So when Claudio turns up dead a day later―murdered―Lyndsay is unfortunately the prime suspect. To get the scent of suspicion off her and her bakery, Lyndsay has to prove she’s innocent―under the watchful eyes of her overprotective brother, anxious parents, and meddlesome extended family―what could go wrong?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

This new series celebrates the culture, food, and people of the Caribbean. One aspect that I enjoyed was how close the family was in this book. They supported one another through all of the ups and downs, especially when Lyndsay is a person of interest in the death of a competitor. It is all circumstantial, but the police detectives don’t seem to know how to search for other possible suspects. Luckily, Lyndsay is able to sniff out the killer, but almost too late!

The story moves at a slower pace. I did feel like it took a long time to get to the point of Lyndsay investigating to try and clear her name. But perhaps that is indicative of the lifestyle of those from the Caribbean, not in a hurry.

I thought Lyndsay was a unique character with her interests and her desire to open a bakery since she was young. The author does a wonderful job of describing everything, and I felt like I was there and could imagine what the different dishes tasted like.

I did not like the reporter, Jose. While I get he has a job to do, it is like he has a vendetta against Lyndsay and only seems to report things that could hurt her vs. help.

I think this will be a fun but laid-back series. I look forward to seeing what happens next for the family and their bakery.

We give the book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

OLIVIA MATTHEWS, pen name for romance author Patricia Sargeant, is a national bestselling and award-winning author. The Spice Isle Bakery mysteries are inspired by the author’s family history and the history of her birth place. As Olivia Matthews she is also the author of the Sister Lou mysteries and Peach Coast Library mysteries, and writes romance as Patricia Sargeant and Regina Hart.

 

Website * Twitter

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on June 24, 2023

 

 

 

 

Paint Me a Crime (A Rose Shore Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada
Touchpoint Press (June 13, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 252 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Art curator Jessamine Rhodes has left behind her gig at a prominent gallery in the city to open her own community art center in the small town of Rose Shore. She’s all set to host an extravagant opening watercolors class and has even booked a famous artist to teach it. Gabriella Everhart brings along her priceless painting Tranquil to showcase as the centerpiece of the event.

The opening class is just wrapping up when suddenly Tranquil disappears before Jessamine’s eyes. Next, the lights of the art center flicker out and leave the crowd in complete darkness as a scream pierces the air. To her horror, Jessamine’s flashlight reveals that prestigious art collector Victor Carlisle has been murdered, and now her dreams are as shattered as the champagne glass found near the scene.

Determined to save her now teetering reputation, Jessamine sets out to search for answers and the missing painting on her own. She has invested everything into her art center and is too anxious to step back and do nothing. Along the way, she teams up with a handsome paramedic who seems to have his own reasons for wanting justice for Victor’s tragedy.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Amazon CA

 

 

Character Guest Post

 

Mrs. Connors, Jessamine’s nosy neighbor, shares about the day Jessamine moved to Rose Shore.

 

Oh, hello. You obviously must be new to Rose Shore if you don’t know who I am. My name is Clara Connors, and I just have to tell you all about my new next-door neighbor. She is moving in right this minute! I’ve heard from the ladies in my book club that her name is Jessamine Rhodes, and she moved here from Vancouver. They say she was a fancy art curator at some fancy gallery or something like that. I have no idea what led her to Rose Shore, but you bet I’m going to find out. My best friend Beatrice thinks it must have been a broken heart, but I think Jessamine must have wanted to get out of the big city. I could never live anywhere so stuffy! Anyway, I’m usually right about these types of things. Intuition, you know. Beatrice is well-meaning, bless her heart, but she doesn’t have the same intuition as I do.

Jessamine looks to be about my son’s age, maybe in her early thirties, and there’s no ring on her finger, so I wonder if… or maybe Jackson Yeung who lives on the other side of Jessamine. Maybe I could encourage a little rendezvous between them—what is it that the kids say these days? Wink-wink? Yes, that’s it. A little rendezvous, wink-wink. I’m going to bustle over there right now and tell him to help Jessamine carry in her heavy boxes and furniture from the moving truck. Poor girl can’t do it by herself in this summer heat.

Oh, dear, was that a dog bark? Did that girl bring a dog with her? Yes, there it is, running around the front yard like it owns the place. I’m terribly afraid of those creatures. They bark and bite and knock people over. I might need to play match-maker, er I mean, friendly neighborly welcome wagon later when that animal is inside Jessamine’s cottage. I’ll go pick some flowers from my back garden as a welcome gift, and then I’ll update you later with what I’ve learned about her. Bye-bye, now.

 

 

About the Author

 

After having called many places around the world home, Holly Yew has settled in the Okanagan, BC with her husband, son, and two rescue dogs. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s playing the piano, watching Star Wars, or enjoying a Dole Whip in Disneyland.

Holly is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers. She loves connecting with other writers and bookworms on social media.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, Monday, mystery on June 19, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Murder at the Pontchartrain
Cozy Mystery (Humorous)
6th in Series
Setting – New Orleans, Louisiana
Anamcara Press LLC (June 15, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 280 pages

 

Synopsis

 

“My name is Sydney Lockhart. I solve murders, most of which I’m the primary suspect.

My boyfriend/partner, Ralph Dixon, and I came to the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans to get married. Instead, Dixon’s in jail for a double murder. I’m in a swamp, spying on the KKK. Helping me untangle this mess is my bubble-headed cousin Ruth who’s undercover as a chef at the Pontchartrain. My twelve-year-old charge, Lydia LaBeau, dressed as a voodoo queen, is looking for clues at Pat O’Brien’s in the French Quarter. Rip Thigbee, a ghost detective, is my only hope.

I’m not making any of this up. This is my life and this is what I deal with, like it or not.

So, mix yourself a Hurricane and join me in the Big Easy for another historic hotel murder case.”

 

 

Anamcara Press – Amazon

 

 

Guest Post

 

Sydney Lockhart’s World

 

By Kathleen Kaska

 

 

My big, sassy mouth landed me a job as a reporter. Being suspected of murder turned me into a private detective. One job is not that much different than the other. You snoop, you dig, you put yourself in danger. What makes my situation so unusual is that the year is 1952 and I’m a woman. My name is Sydney Lockhart.

The reason I was given the job at the newspaper went like this:

“I’m here to interview for the job, Mr. Turney.”

“You’re a woman,” he said.

“And you’re smarter than you look.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “With a name like Sydney, I thought you were a man. It is a man’s name, you know?”

“When spelled with a ‘i,’ not a ‘y. I would think an editor should know that.”

Turney picked up my application and studied it. He looked back at me. “But this is not a job a woman can handle.”

“I can think, I can write, and unlike some people I can put my biases aside and focus on the facts.”

“I see you have written for the Daily Texan. Writing for the University of Texas newspaper doesn’t compare to hard-core news reporting.”

“Martha Gellhorn was a reporter from Colliers covering the Spanish Civil War and later  became a war correspondent in WWII.”

“True, but she was also married to Ernest Hemingway.”

“I wouldn’t hold that against her.”

My pulse rose in anticipation. Then he tossed my application back on the desk. “Come in on Monday morning. I’ll see what I can do.” He ushered me out the door.

The following week, I was back at the Austin American, working in the Travel and Entertainment department, writing about who wore what to the Ladies Social Society annual banquet, and the best places to stay while traveling. It wasn’t the type of writing I was interested in. Then one day I came into the office and was told to report to Ernest Turney about an assignment regarding a musician.

“Why is he interested in entertainment news?” I asked the society editor.

“Something about the guy hating reporters and refusing interviews. He said he thought you could handle it. He wants the story bad. Just go see him.”

So I did. Now, I’m standing in front of my mirror for one final look at my disguise before heading out to the Crooked J, a seedy bar on the seedy side of town. Ernest assigned me to get an interview with the elusive Hound Dog Jackson who was performing right here in Austin. I was eager to show my stuff and hopefully move into an honest to goodness reporting job. I’d jumped at the chance to get the story even if the Crooked J was on the east side of town, even if few whites frequented the establishment, even if any woman going there alone was asking for trouble.

Trouble seemed to follow me, so what did it matter? Besides, knowing Ernest, I’m sure he didn’t care how I got the interview. I’d picked up a full suit of men’s clothes at Goodwill, complete with shiny wing tips. Confident my man clothes would disguise my gender, I glued on a mustache and stuffed my long red hair under a fedora. I got the story, but not without mishap. My male disguise worked so well, a woman tried to pick me up. The woman was the bouncer’s girlfriend. A brawl ensued, the club owner was impressed with my means of defending myself, and so was Hound Dog. Before the night was over I had my interview and five stitches in my forehead.

I stayed at the Austin American for less than a year. During that time, I’d been assigned to report on the historic Arlington Hotel and Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs, Arkansas. When I checked in to the hotel, I found a man in my room, his throat slit. I became a suspect to his murder. To save my own skin, I found the killer and got the attention of a Hot Spring Police Detective named Ralph Dixon.

My next assignment was the New Year’s Eve ball at the Luther Hotel in Palacios, Texas. Before I unpacked this time, I made sure the bathroom was free of dead bodies, donned my best outfit and went to the ball. On a crowded dance floor right before midnight, a murdered man fell into my arms. This time I wasn’t so lucky. The cards were stacked against me and I was arrested. A good lawyer bonded me out and I was on the trail of another killer. I was doing fairly well with the investigation when Dixon showed up. He claimed he was just passing through. Sure he was. Hot Springs is 600 miles away from the Texas coast. Once this case was solved, there was another murder at another hotel. Dixon was there. We decided we made a great team, joined forces and opened our detective agency in downtown Austin.

I occasionally do some freelance reporting for Ernest at the newspaper, but after Dixon and I solved a high profile murder of a Texas gubernatorial candidate, our phone has been ringing off the wall.

Things have developed quickly and we are now in New Orleans at the Pontchartrain Hotel. We just came for the courthouse where we filled out an application for a marriage license, which requires a twenty-four-hour waiting period. We need the extra time to convince the local police that we didn’t kill the dead woman in our room.

 

 

About the Author

 

Kathleen Kaska is the author of the awarding-winning mystery series: the Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series. Her first two Lockhart mysteries, Murder at the Arlington and Murder at the Luther, were selected as bonus books for the Pulpwood Queen Book Group, the country’s largest book group. She also writes mystery trivia. The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book was published by Rowman & Littlefield. Her Holmes short story, “The Adventure at Old Basingstoke,” appears in Sherlock Holmes of Baking Street, a Belanger Books anthology. She is the founder of The Dogs in the Nighttime, the Sherlock Holmes Society of Anacortes, Washington, a scion of The Baker Street Irregulars. Watch for Murder at the Pontchartrain: the 6th Sydney Lockhart Mystery in June 2023.

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on June 18, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Collecting Can Be Murder (Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – France
Traveling Life Press (May 31, 2023)
Approximately 250 Pages

 

Synopsis

 

Coming out of retirement can be deadly…

After tragedy struck three years earlier, art sleuth Carmen De Luca vowed to never work in the field again. But fifty is too young to fill her days with water aerobics and bingo, so when her former partner calls and begs for her help, Carmen gladly agrees.

Yet after their first assignment – the recovery of a rare medieval prayer book from an eccentric collector living in rural France – goes horribly wrong, Carmen ends up in the crosshairs of both the local police and a murderer!

With her target dead and the stolen book missing, she and her partner will have to pull out all of the stops to sleuth out the true killer’s identity – before their stay in France becomes permanent.

Introducing Carmen De Luca, an art sleuth with a nose for mystery and the job of locating valuable artwork stolen from museums around the world. If you love strong and resourceful heroines, puzzling mysteries, and a dash of art history, pick up Collecting Can Be Murder now!

 

Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries:

Book One: Collecting Can Be Murder
Book Two: A Statue To Die For

More adventures coming soon!

These mysteries contain no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

 

A Day in the Life of Carmen De Luca, Art Sleuth

 

 

Hello! I’m Carmen De Luca, an art sleuth for the Rosewood Agency. Or, I was until my husband was murdered and my world fell apart. My employer specialized in the kinds of art loss cases that no other organization was able to solve.

My job at the Rosewood Agency could best be described as surveillance and reconnaissance. Our leads were often virtual in nature, and not always one-hundred percent that it was indeed the stolen work of art we were searching for. That’s where operatives such as myself came in. Before my retirement, I had specialized in verifying the more urgent cases—paintings and sculptures that, for one reason or another, Rosewood’s researchers suspected were probably going to disappear quite soon. I was quite adept and getting into a suspect’s home, finding and verifying the object in question, and vanishing again, without raising any alarms.

Once I’d located the possibly stolen object and could verify whether it was the one we sought or not, I passed the information back to my employer, who sicced the company lawyers on the thief-in-question. However, our priority is not to catch the thief, but recover the artwork – by (almost) any means necessary.

I was considered one of the agency’s best, that is until my husband Carlos was killed on the job. He was a fellow recovery specialist assigned to verify statues in the hands of a rich Italian collector, a man who later turned out to be a high-ranking member of the mafia. Or at least, my employer and I assumed that was what had happened. My husband’s body had never been found, meaning I had to bury a box of rocks, instead.

His death threw my life into a tailspin, one that took me three years to get out of. But fifty-two is too young to retire. I have a lot of life and spunk left in me yet, and want to use it doing what I love most – recovering stolen artwork.

Admittedly, being an art sleuth on retainer was not a particularly well-paid job, when one considered the value of the works I was helping to recover, but it did come with lots of cushy benefits that more than made up for the salary. I was particularly fond of traveling first class, and I know my former partner, Lady Sophie, loved the luxurious hotels they usually put us up in.

I was searching for a way back, when Lady Sophie called and begged for my help with a series of recovery assignments in Europe. So here I am, in rural France, hoping to verify and possibly recover a stolen manuscript from a rich American expat.

My skills may be a bit rusty, but I’m enjoying being back in the middle of the action again. Which is good, considering I’ve landed in the middle of a murder investigation!

If only my target hadn’t of been killed, this would have been the easiest recover job of my career. Yet instead of celebrating with a shopping spree in Paris, I have to figure out who really killed the collector before the cops find a reason to pin the crimes on me. My being the last person to be seen with him isn’t helping matters!

I hope you’ll join me on my current investigation. Who knows? You might be able to figure out who killed my target before I do! I sure hope so, there’s a pair of Prada heels calling my name…

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, grew up in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she lived in Darwin, Australia, before finally settling in the Netherlands.

Jennifer’s love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning Zelda Richardson Mystery series, her Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and her Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels.

When not writing, she can be found perusing a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on June 16, 2023

 

 

 

 

Muddled Matrimonial Murder (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – California
Cinnamon & Sugar Press (June 13, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 310 pages

 

Synopsis

 

With only two weeks left to finalize the nuptial ceremony and reception for her best friend, Brad, and a Thanksgiving feast to plan, Emory Martinez has enough to keep her busy. But when Emory and Brad stumble across the body of his former stalker, with a wedding gift marble muddler lying next to the body, it soon becomes apparent someone is intent on framing the groom before vows can be exchanged.

How did the victim locate Brad and how did she end up murdered at the scene of the impending nuptials? Was someone so desperate to stop the wedding that they’d resort to murder? Or was she killed for revenge? As the countdown to the wedding speeds by, it’ll take Emory and her family and friends to pull together to pick through the muddled clues to clear the groom’s name.

Includes recipes.

 

 

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Review

 

Why do I love this series? It has to be the scrumptious cupcakes. Now, if I could only figure out how to enjoy one while reading the book!

This has been a fun series to watch develop. The characters are solid and well-developed. The interpersonal actions are engaging, and the mysteries are just hard enough to leave one guessing throughout the book.

I really like Emory. She is a no-nonsense gal that finds herself in the middle of murder scenes. She doesn’t do this on purpose, but then what protagonist in a cozy does? However, she just seems to attract crazy killers no matter what she does.

In this book, we find her helping plan a wedding for her best friend Brad and his intended Gabe. What she doesn’t expect is to stumble across the body of Brad’s stalker in the house where he plans to marry. This sets in motion a series of events that puts her and others in danger. There are some suspicious events that occur, so you might be able to uncover who the murderer is, but the why might leave you guessing until closer to the end. While I was surprised at the whole reveal, the who was someone on my radar just for this character’s actions.

I really enjoy family interactions, whether it is blood family or adopted family. I always enjoy seeing happy relationships. That isn’t to say that there isn’t a bit of strife from one person, but you’ll have to read the book to find out who I’m talking about. I also enjoy watching Emory and Brian’s relationship continue to develop. Are there wedding bells for them in the future? Only time will tell.

While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting at the beginning to watch the personal storylines develop.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not chasing her puppy or spending time with her granddaughters, she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats.  She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, the Cupcake Catering Mystery series, and the Aromatherapy Mystery series. She also has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

 

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Posted in Cozy, excerpt, Giveaway, Historical, Music, mystery on June 12, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Death of a Soprano: A Joseph Haydn Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Eighteenth-century Royal Hungary, Habsburg Empire
Foiled Plots Press (May 27, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 319 pages

 

Synopsis

 

When murder invades Haydn’s opera stage, scandal isn’t far behind . . .

Charged with ensuring that an imperial wedding transpires without mishap, composer Joseph Haydn has his hands full. Barely seventeen, Archduke Ferdinand Karl, the imperial bridegroom, is reluctant to marry. And the bride, Maria Beatrice, has her reservations as well.

But when an extortion note surfaces—an unpleasant reminder of the bridegroom’s shameful past—the wedding seems truly doomed. Worse still, all the evidence points to Haydn’s prima donna, Lucia Pacelli, being the blackmailer.

Before Haydn can confront her, however, Lucia is fatally poisoned. And Haydn is left to wonder whether his imperial charge had a hand in her death.

Troubled by the dark secrets he might uncover, Haydn is nevertheless compelled to investigate. Will the young Archduke be found innocent? Or must Haydn lead His Imperial Highness to the gallows?

 

 

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Excerpt

 

With his prima donna, a possible blackmailer, dead, Haydn’s suspicions immediately veer toward Archduke Ferdinand. But there are other people who wanted to rid the world of Lucia as well.

Luigi was in the midst of playing an extended cadenza when Haydn returned to the orchestra pit. The Konzertmeister must have seen him out of the corner of his eyes, for he immediately turned to face Haydn, his eyebrows raised expectantly.

Anxious to share the awful news, Haydn approached him just as Luigi gracefully transitioned from the cadenza to the sinfonia that would open the next act.

Bending down, he quickly conveyed the news.

“Dead!” Luigi hissed, gripping his bow tightly. “How can that be? A young woman, untroubled by any serious maladies?”

Haydn shrugged, expressing his own doubts on the subject.

“Worse still, Narcissa insisted on being given her part, adamant that Lucia had brought her predicament upon herself.”

Luigi’s lips pursed, but he fortunately stopped himself mid-whistle. “You don’t think she had . . .?” His voice trailed off as his hazel eyes searched Haydn’s features.

“I know not what to think,” Haydn responded grimly.

Although suspecting Narcissa of having a hand in Lucia’s unfortunate demise was far preferable to entertaining suspicions of the only other culprit that came to mind.

He returned to his place, his gaze traveling toward the audience where the Archduke sat next to his bride.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

A former journalist, Nupur Tustin relies upon a Ph.D. in Communication and an M.A. in English to orchestrate fictional mayhem.  The Haydn mysteries are a result of her life-long passion for classical music and its history. Childhood piano lessons and a 1903 Weber Upright share equal blame for her original compositions, available on ntustin.musicaneo.com.

 

 

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