Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on December 16, 2023

 

 

 

 

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

 

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Posted in Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery, Short Story on December 14, 2023

 

 

 

 

The Pompadour Necklace: Sophie’s Adventures
Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – London, England
Foiled Plots Press (March 14, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 60 pages

Synopsis

 

The necklace had once belonged to Madame Pompadour—mistress of the French King Louis XV.

Now it’s gone. Stolen by a clever conman. And it will take every ounce of determination and ingenuity a young woman possesses to recover it.

But can a mere girl from Calais outwit a practiced fraudster?

 

 

Amazon * B&NKobo * Apple

 

 

 

 

Theft in Sleepy Hollow (Sophie’s Adventures)
Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – New York
Foiled Plots Press (November 25, 2023)
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 101 pages

 

Synopsis

 

In Sleepy Hollow, a Monet is in danger of being spirited away. . .

But undercover art sleuth Sophie Fisher—also known as Jeanne Sophie Poisson—
is on the trail of the brazen art thief.

From a Hudson River Cruise to Cold Spring to a spooky lantern-light tour of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sophie will do what it takes to capture the thief . . .

And prevent him from spiriting away a valuable work of art.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Guest Post

 

Undercover on the Hudson: Sophie’s Adventure

 

 

Lucky Sophie! She gets to take a river cruise every time she goes on an undercover mission. This time she’s on a Hudson River cruise to Cold Spring. The cruise takes you past the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse and Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home. Enjoy a short excerpt from the story. Fans of the Celine Skye Psychic Mysteries will recognize FBI agent Julia Hood:

***

“It’s a Monet that Fairchild’s set his sights on this time,” Uncle Arthur, a middle-aged bear of a man in a tweed waistcoat and gray wool trousers, said to Sophie in a low voice.

“There’s a Monet in Sleepy Hollow?” Sophie’s voice rang out louder than she’d intended.

“You’d be surprised,” Uncle Arthur replied dryly, his brown eyes stern as he gazed down at her. She shouldn’t have raised her voice, his gaze wordlessly admonished her.

Leaning against the railing of the Seastreak catamaran that was ferrying them to Cold Spring, Arthur swiveled his head around, taking in the passengers on the deck. Sophie scanned the crowd on the open-air deck as well. There was no sign of Fairchild.

Was he even on the cruise?

Or had Julia Hood, their FBI contact, been mistaken? She’d met them at the airport the day before, whisking them through Immigration and Customs, and then driving them to their hotel.

“There’s been a slight change of plan as far as your travel to Sleepy Hollow is concerned,” the short, sturdily built FBI agent had told them, as she navigated the busy streets of New York City.

“There has, has there?” Uncle Arthur—also known as Detective Superintendent Ben Norris—had raised one eyebrow quizzically.

“You’re taking the Seastreak Fall Cruise to Cold Spring tomorrow. It sets sail shortly after 9 a.m. Arrives two hours later in Cold Spring. We’ll have a car there to drive you down to Sleepy Hollow.”

“I’m sure Sophie and I will appreciate the sights, Julia, but—”

“You won’t be sightseeing Arthur,” Julia had brusquely interrupted him. “You’ll be keeping an eye on Fairchild. He’s slated to be on that cruise.”

“Any idea why?” Uncle Arthur had asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Nope. We’re hoping you two can find out.”

But they hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Fairchild since they’d boarded the cruise.

Lips compressed, Uncle Arthur swiveled his head back around to gaze out at the Hudson River. It had been named after the English explorer, Henry Hudson, who’d sailed up the river for a considerable length, trying to find a way across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.

“He soon realized it was impossible,” their tour guide, Phyllis, had said with a bright smile. “The river grew narrower the farther up he sailed, the water becoming shallower as well.”

“I just hope we’re not wasting our time here,” Uncle Arthur muttered beside her. “If Julia’s wrong, Fairchild’s already in Sleepy Hollow, busy hatching his nefarious plans while we . . . .” He shook his head, more frustrated than Sophie had ever seen him.

“Tell me more about this Monet you think he’s planning to steal,” she said, hoping to divert his troubled mind.

Nymphéas en fleur, Water Lilies in Bloom,” Uncle Arthur said. “It was part of the Rockefeller collection.”

“And it made its way to Sleepy Hollow?”

Who in the ghost-obsessed village would’ve wanted—much less appreciated—a French Impressionist painting? It sounded about as tall a tale as the legend of the headless horseman that Washington Irving had made famous. . .

The catamaran glided past a charming yellow mansion with an irregular red-shingled roofline and green shutters.

“Take a look at Sunnyside, folks. Notice the piazza facing the river. Can you imagine Washington Irving sitting there of an evening, drinking in the sights and concocting his stories?”

Uncle Arthur snorted. “Wish we could jump off here. That’s Tarrytown, you know, not far south of our destination.” He glanced at his watch. “We could’ve been there by now, taking care of business . . .”

Sophie was casting about in her mind for something reassuring to say when she noticed a burly coat-wrapped figure emerging onto the deck. Large shades shielded most of the man’s face and a few long blond curls poked out from the thick cap on his head. But there was something unmistakably familiar about the person, nevertheless.

“Arthur”—she nudged him hard in the ribs, ignoring his muffled howl of outraged pain—“is that him? Could it be—?” Round-eyed, she stared at her companion.

“Well, I’ll be!” Uncle Arthur’s mouth gaped. “I have to hand it to our FBI friends. Their information was spot on! That is Nigel Fairchild.”

 

 

About the Author

 

A former journalist, Nupur Tustin is the author of the Joseph Haydn Mysteries set in Austria, the Celine Skye Psychic Mysteries, based on the infamous Gardner Museum theft, and the author of Sophie’s Adventures, about a French James Bond who goes on undercover missions to recover stolen art and artifacts.

 

 

3 Free Stories * Website * Blog

 

Facebook * Goodreads * Bookbub

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on December 12, 2023

 

 

 

 

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

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on December 11, 2023

 

 

 

 

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 & NobleApple BooksKobo

 

SmashwordsBooks2Read 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

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery, paranormal on December 10, 2023

 

 

 

 

Killing Grinds (Orchard Hollow Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Oliver-Heber Books (November 28, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 274 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Piper Addison is in it deep. Turns out, finding out how your ghost familiar met her doom is not as easy as it sounds…

Tourist season is over and Orchard Hollow is as peaceful as ever. Piper Addison, the town witch and cafe owner, finally gets to kick back her sneakers and relax. The weather is glorious, her dusty love life has been resurrected, and she’s all caught up on binge watching shows. Nothing can be better!

Well, except for one slight problem.

Piper promised her ghost familiar she’d help find out what landed her in the land of the non-living.

It wouldn’t be so bad if the ghost didn’t have a case of amnesia and a serious need of an attitude adjustment. One thing is for certain, Piper’s familiar didn’t kick the bucket by choice.

Between figuring out the mystery of Stella’s demise, battling a raccoon for cookies, and tracing her mom’s steps hoping to reunite with a father she never met; Piper has her hands full. And this time, even her strange magic might not be enough to get her out of this bind.

Killing Grinds is a paranormal cozy mystery complete with an unlucky witch, a ghost familiar, and a feisty raccoon with a talent for getting into sticky situations.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Guest Post

 

A Guide to Writing an Addictive Series

 

Choosing to write a series is an exhilarating challenge that allows authors to fully immerse themselves into the intricacies of their worlds and characters. However, it comes with its own set of unique challenges. The longer the series, the more chances there are to mess it up. So how do we keep ourselves on track and continue to engage our readers book after book? Every author has their own way of dealing with series writing. After having written multiple series, some as long as 8 plus books, I have a few tips under my sleeve.

 

1. Plan with Precision:

Before you start typing away, take the time to plan your series meticulously. Develop an outline that spans the entire series, including major plot points, character arcs, and the overarching narrative. Having a roadmap will not only keep you on track but also ensure consistency and coherence across the entire series.

 

2. Strong Foundation – The First Book Matters:

The first book in your series acts as the foundation upon which everything else rests. It introduces the world, establishes the tone, and hooks readers. Ensure that the first installment is captivating, with well-developed characters and a compelling plot. Make readers invested from the start, and they’ll eagerly follow you through the entire series.

 

3. Character Development Across the Series:

Your characters should evolve over the course of the series. Map out their arcs and ensure they face challenges that allow for growth. Readers should witness the transformation of your characters, making them more relatable and engaging. Consistency in character development is key to maintaining reader interest.

 

4. Introduce New Elements:

While maintaining consistency, don’t be afraid to introduce new elements to keep things fresh. This could include new characters, locations, or plot twists. These additions will prevent your series from becoming predictable and will keep readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.

 

5. Manage Pacing Effectively:

Balancing the pacing of a series is crucial. Each book should have its own rhythm while contributing to the overall flow of the series. Be mindful of the tension and release within each installment, creating a satisfying reading experience that leaves readers eager for more.

 

6. Foreshadowing:

Weave in subtle hints and foreshadowing early on, hinting at future events. Throw backs to earlier books in the series create a sense of continuity and reward dedicated readers.

 

7. Stay Organized:

With the complexity of a series, maintaining organization is paramount. Keep detailed notes on characters, settings, and plot points. This will help you avoid inconsistencies and make it easier to pick up where you left off when writing subsequent books. A good series bible will save you a lot of trouble in the future!

 

Happy writing!

 

 

About the Author

 

A.N. Sage is a bestselling, award-winning author of young adult fantasy and mystery. She has spent most of her life waiting to meet a witch, vampire, or at least get haunted by a ghost. In between failed seances and many questionable outfit choices, she has developed a keen eye for the extra-ordinary.

A.N. spends her free time reading and binge-watching television shows in her pajamas. Currently, she resides in Toronto, Canada, with her husband, who is not a creature of the night, and their daughter, who just might be.

A.N. Sage is a Scorpio and a massive advocate of leggings for pants.

 

Website * Instagram * Facebook * YouTube * TikTok

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery on December 7, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Alexa Owl has one burning question: Who killed Bobby Starr?

Out of the blue that ornery angel, Detective Bobby Starr, shows up at The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to Alexa Owl’s surprise, Bobby doesn’t need her help. Rather, he’s brought along someone else who wants to qualify for Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. Saint Pete has delegated this new inductee to solve a murder to get into the group, and it’s a doozie: Who killed Detective Bobby Starr? How can Alexa turn this assignment down?

Back in the 60s, Bobby’s fifth wife, Katherine was a diva in a community operetta company. During a performance of The Merry Widow, Bobby was forced to stand-in for a member of the chorus who fell ill. Only, Bobby’s first performance would be his last! The suspects are hitting all the notes as this mystery comes to crescendo!

 

 

Amazon * Audible * BookBub

 

 

Review

 

This is the last of this series (unless we are surprised later!), and I am sad to see it go. I have enjoyed Alexa Owl’s trips to the past to help angels solve crimes.

In the first few books, Alexa helped Bobby Starr solve murders that hadn’t been solved during his life. This time around, he brings another probationary angel to Alexa, and they are to solve Bobby’s murder. The kicker? It is her boyfriend Cliff’s grandfather, who recently passed away. But these two make a good team, just like Alexa and Bobby did in the first books. There is a variety of potential suspects, and when the whole truth is revealed, there are more people involved than you might have guessed.

I liked the relationship between Winnie and Louie. It was a sweet story and a reminder that everyone needs companionship.

I enjoyed this final book in this series as it wraps up a few things for Alexa personally. We don’t see Bobby as much in this book; he is working on his own case for the Guardian Angel Squad. But he pops in now and then to help out Alexa and Slater. I tried to figure out who Bobby’s killer was, but it was a surprise in the end. There are a few chuckle-worthy moments in this book.

While I hope that we might see another in this series, if this was to be the last book, it ended well. I can’t complain at all.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

For twenty-six years, C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011, she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014, she added the pen name C.S. McDonald to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries has nine books, with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

 

 

Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

Autographed copy of A FELONIOUS FINALE (an Owl’s Nest Mystery) (one winner) (USA only) (ends Dec 15)

 

FELONIOUS FINALE (an Owl’s Nest Mystery) Book Tour Giveaway


 

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Posted in Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on December 5, 2023

 

 

 

 

Secrets Don’t Sink: A Chattertowne Mystery
Traditional Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Chattertowne, Washington- a small riverfront community in the Pacific Northwest
Level Best Books (July 4, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 308 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Loose lips may sink ships, but bodies and secrets will always float to the surface.

Audrey O’Connell has returned from Portland to her hometown of Chattertowne, Washington, a place where gossip is currency but knowing when to stay tight-lipped is priceless. Procuring a part-time job at the local newspaper to keep an eye on her impetuous sister following Vivienne’s latest romantic scandal, Audrey is assigned a feature series for the upcoming festival which has her digging through the town archives in search of anything interesting. When her former boyfriend Marcus is found floating dead in the marina not long after reaching out to her in hopes of utilizing her research skills, her investigation reveals his conspiracy theories about Chattertowne and corruption within its leadership might not have been so crazy after all.

As she plumbs the depths of the town’s 150-year history, she discovers that beneath the façade of this idyllic hamlet lie secrets long-submerged–including within her own family–and finds herself in the crosshairs of those who guard them.

Now with three dead bodies, an intense case of aquaphobia, and a narrow window before her deadline, Audrey looks to City Manager Holden, octogenarian historian Mildred, and her enigmatic almost-boyfriend Darren to help her discover the truth that will forever change her and Chattertowne.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Guest Post

 

Creating a Cozy Bubble

 

Why I love using themes in my books

 

Hi, I’m Kate (K.B.) Jackson and I write mystery adventure books for kids and mysteries for grownups. My middle grade series is Sasquatch Hunters, about a trio of kids looking to explore the woods near their Pacific Northwest home for evidence of Bigfoot. Book one, The Sasquatch of Hawthorne Elementary released earlier this year. My first adult mystery Secrets Don’t Sink is the first in the Chattertowne Mystery Series. Next year, my new mystery series Cruising Sisters debuts with book one Until Depths Do Us Part.

One of the things I love most about writing these series is that I get to create these cozy bubbles in which everything fits a certain theme. I’ve come to realize I’ve been doing this since I was very young.

When I was six years old, I received a doll house for Christmas. The décor was Edwardian, maybe a little later. The father wore a sweater vest and a tie, the mother wore pearls, and the children were all very well behaved. I spent quite a bit of time (and my allowance) crafting a home for this family where it was Christmas every day. I even made some of my own accessories and decorations.

As I got older, I played less with the doll house and more with my Barbies. In my Barbie land, she was always on vacation in L.A. I mean, she had to be, right? She had the Malibu beach house. She also had an RV and a convertible purple Corvette that she used to travel around. She went swimming in a big bowl I’d taken from the kitchen, she’d sunbathe, get her hair done (Always a mistake), and play tennis.

Of course, in the background, the appropriate music was always playing. Christmas classics for the doll house, Beach Boys for Barbie and pals.

Once I had kids, this morphed into how I decorated their rooms. When my eldest daughter was five, she was really into forest animals, so guess who got an entire room decorated like a forest? We have four children, so there was a lot of decorating and redecorating.

My husband used to say if I had my way, our home would be like Disneyland, where each section represented a different theme. He wasn’t wrong.

In order to keep our home from looking like a carnival funhouse, I shifted my efforts to holidays and birthdays, specifically tablescapes. Each birthday or holiday had an accompanying theme, often with coordinating music and food to go with it.

How does this relate to my writing? I love to write to theme.

My Sasquatch Hunters Series is almost exclusively Pacific Northwest, so there will always be allusions to this area, it’s weather and the vibe that creates, and the scenery. In book two, The Sasquatch of Harriman Lake, the kids explore the woods surrounding fictional Harriman Lake and nearby real-life Bavarian village themed Leavenworth. In book three, they go to Scotland at Christmastime, so I flew to Scotland last spring to research and fully immersed myself in all things Scotland and Scottish Christmas traditions for two months. I also created a playlist for that series that you can find here: Spotify Playlist

For the new Cruising Sisters series, because it’s about two sisters in their fifties traveling the world while living on a cruise ship—think Love Boat meets Murder She Wrote with a touch of Golden Girls—I get to fully explore these global destinations and their culture, food, and traditions. While the first book Until Depths Do Us Part is set in the icy waters off the coast of Alaska, book two takes place on a journey to Yokohama, Japan, and book three is a cruise from New Orleans to Haiti. I’m currently writing book three and have really enjoyed remembering my trip to New Orleans about fifteen years ago, where I literally ate my way across that city full of history and music and warmth. That’s infused in every aspect of the book.

For Chattertowne, much of the theme surrounds the water. Audrey, my protagonist, having aquaphobia while residing in a riverfront community presents a constant challenge, especially when her former boyfriend’s body is found floating in the marina. I’ve played a lot with the idea that secrets—keeping them, sharing them, submerging them—are part of any small town, and people will go to extreme lengths to protect their own, even if they’re happy to share others’.

Secrets Don’t Sink is an homage to small towns…the people, the traditions, the gossip, the beauty, and the ways that being a part of that community can sometimes feel like you’re part of a big messy family. Where bad things sometimes happen, but you can be assured that you’re surrounded by people who’ve known you, who are in your corner and will always look out for you.

Going forward, book two carries on with that theme, this time set in autumn in Chattertowne, where Audrey attends the high school football game and the homecoming parade, and all your favorite characters return, along with some interesting new ones.

I have a sneaking suspicion book three in the Chattertowne Mysteries series will be set at Christmas because I can never get enough Christmas!

I hope you enjoy these cozy bubbles I’ve created in each of my series because I’ve really enjoyed creating them.

 

 

About the Author

 

Kate B Jackson (KB Jackson) is an author of mystery novels for grownups and mystery/adventure novels for kids. She lives in the Pacific NW with her husband and has four mostly grown children. A part-time genealogist, she loves to craft stories with elements of history and family dynamics.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 

X (Twitter) * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, excerpt, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery, Recipe on December 2, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
10th in Series 
Setting – Charming fictional town of Arborville, in northern New Jersey
Kensington Cozies (November 28, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Knit and Nibble member Pamela Paterson, and her best friend, Bettina, stumble on a body in a once grand Victorian house when they join a group welcoming new residents to Arborville—and must figure out if old secrets killed the new neighbor . . .

When Pamela, Bettina, and their friends show up at the Voorhees House to greet its new owner, they’re met with a most unwelcome sight: a dead body on the kitchen floor. Tassie Hunt just inherited the old Victorian, which had been occupied by a reclusive widow for many years and had a reputation for being haunted. But Tassie would have been unlikely to be spooked since her career involved debunking such paranormal phenomena.

Her demise sets off a new flurry of gossip and ghostly speculation in the New Jersey town, of course—and it’s tempting to think spirits were indeed involved considering there’s zero evidence so far of foul play. A nosy neighbor reports strange lights and sounds, and a man obsessed with the Victorian era starts photographing the place from the street. But it won’t take long before Pamela and Bettina are moving in on a killer . . .

 

 

 

Amazon *  Barnes & Noble * Bookshop.org * Kobo

 

 

Excerpt

 

Pamela led the way down the steps, down the narrow concrete path, and along the sidewalk, until they reached another concrete path. From this path, steps led up to another porch, smaller and with a plainer railing, onto which the back door opened.

Saying “I’ll try again,” Marlene hefted the gift basket and headed up the steps. As she pressed the doorbell, the rest of the group joined her on the porch one by one.

Marlene turned away after a few minutes and much enthusiastic pressing of the doorbell. “No answer,” she murmured. “And I was sure ANGWY was clear about the date and time.”

She shrugged, edged past the others, and started down the steps. Bettina, however, stepped closer to the door and tipped her head to peer at the doorframe. “I’m not sure it’s closed all the way,” she said and gave the

door a tentative push.

The door swung open easily. After a shrug and a glance at the other women, Bettina raised a stylishly shod foot and stepped over the threshold.

“Tassie?” Her voice rang out with a cheerful lilt. “Hello? It’s the ANGWY committee.”

She disappeared inside, but a moment later she was back in the doorway. Her cheer had vanished, leaving her face a wan canvas that made her careful makeup appear garish.

Ignoring her heart’s sudden lurch, Pamela took a few quick steps and joined her friend in the doorway. Bettina backed up against the door, anchoring it in a fully open position, and Pamela slipped past her into the kitchen.

A woman lay sprawled on the ancient linoleum, a slender blonde woman wearing a light cotton robe printed with small flowers in shades of blue and lilac . . .

 

 

Guest Post & Recipe

 

Lemon Icebox Cake

 

In Knitmare on Beech Street, Karen Dowling serves Lemon Icebox Cake when she hosts the Knit and Nibble knitting club. It’s a summery dessert that suits the book’s June setting. Nell Bascomb, the group’s oldest member, recalls that her mother grew up in a household where, before the invention of modern refrigerators, perishables were kept cold in a literal icebox, with blocks of ice delivered by an iceman. The icebox backed up against an outside wall with a little door in it, and a card in the window notified the iceman when ice was needed and how much.

She also notes that in an era before air conditioning, people would be reluctant to heat up their huge stoves, and thus their kitchens, in the summer—but, then as now, people still liked their desserts. Thus was born the icebox cake, though the early icebox cakes would be merely chilled and not frozen.

I hope you like this one!

 

 

Ingredients:

 

6 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 cups heavy cream

3 lemons

1 11-oz box vanilla wafer cookies

1 cup lemon curd

1 heaping tbsp. granulated sugar

 

Notes: You are only using the peel of the lemons. You can save the peeled lemons in a plastic bag for another project or juice them and freeze the juice.

Lemon curd comes in a jar and looks like jelly, but I found mine in the Baking aisle at my supermarket.

 

Directions:

 

You will need an 8” x 12” (or thereabouts) baking dish (though you won’t be baking your creation).

You will be creating three layers with the cookies. I’m not sure whether boxes of vanilla wafers always contain exactly the same number of cookies, but the box I bought contained 80. I used 28 for my bottom layer and 26 for each of the other two layers.

Zest 2 of the lemons and set the zest aside.

 

 

In a large bowl, cream the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.

 

 

Add the heavy cream and beat until soft peaks form.

 

 

Fold in the lemon zest.

In order to prevent the cookies from sliding around as you begin to assemble the icebox cake, spread a bit of the cream cheese mixture on the bottom of your baking dish. Top it with a layer of the cookies.

 

 

Top the cookies with about a third of the cream cheese mixture, using a table knife or rubber spatula to spread it evenly.

 

 

 

Smooth 1/2 cup of the lemon curd over the cream cheese layer.

 

 

Layer more cookies, cream cheese mixture, and another 1/2 cup of lemon curd. Finish with a last layer of cookies and the last third of the cream cheese mixture.

 

 

Cover the icebox cake with plastic wrap or foil and freeze it for at least 3 hours. Transfer it to the refrigerator an hour before you plan to serve it, or let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes—though it’s also good straight from the freezer.

Make candied lemon peel for garnish:

Using a vegetable peeler, remove long strips of lemon from the third lemon.

 

 

Heat 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan, add the granulated sugar and stir until it dissolves, then add the strips of lemon peel. Boil for about 1 minute, cool, and refrigerate the peel and sugar syrup in a small container.

When it’s time to serve your lemon icebox cake, leave it in the baking dish to cut servings and lift them out with a spatula. Slice the lemon strips into narrow slivers and use them to garnish the servings.

 

 

Leftovers should be refrigerated or frozen if you want to keep them longer than a few days.

Enjoy with friends and family!

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Peggy Ehrhart is a former English professor with a doctorate in Medieval Literature. Her Maxx Maxwell mysteries, Sweet Man Is Gone(2008) and Got No Friend Anyhow (2011), were published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage and feature a blues-singer sleuth.

Peggy is currently writing the Knit & Nibble mysteries for Kensington Books. Her amateur sleuth, Pamela Paterson, is the founder and mainstay of the Arborville, New Jersey, knitting club, nicknamed Knit and Nibble. Knitmare on Beech Street is book #10 in the series. Peggy herself is an avid crafter, dating from her childhood as a member of the 4-H Club in rural Southern California.

Peggy is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She regularly attends mystery-writing conferences and participates in conference panels. She also gives talks on mystery fiction at libraries and other venues in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

 

Website * Yarn Mania Blog * Goodreads Blog

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Giveaway, mystery, Review on December 1, 2023

 

MAGNOLIA BLUFF

 

CRIME CHRONICLES

 

Seasons 1 & 2

 

by

 

The Underground Authors

 

 

Scroll down for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

Each stand-alone book in this multi-author crime novel series is set in the fictitious, beautiful little Texas Hill Country town of Magnolia Bluff. Each author writes in their preferred sub-genre to allow readers to experience humor, dark dilemmas, suspense, romance, thrills, and spills — told through good storytelling that will keep readers awake past their bedtime, trying to find out whodunit.

Season three of The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles begins in January 2024. Stay tuned.

 

Purchase the Books

 

 

 

 

JJ and Jo find the ideal spot to escape their busy work lives—Magnolia Bluff offers Flower Bed & Breakfast, a quaint country destination within the beautiful Texas Hill Country.

They pull up to the picturesque building only to discover a crowd of citizens anxiously awaiting a special podcast created by a group of local women to start. Flower B&B is the sponsor of today’s show in this multi-day series. The couple works through the human log jam. As they check in, they learn that a cyber-attack may prevent the show from airing.

JJ, a technology guru, is convinced by Jo to help the group meet their broadcast promise. While he’s working on the issue, Jo spots a girl in the crowd with fear in her eyes who flashes the international help sign. The teenager vanishes into the throng. Fearful young people signaling for help strikes too close to home for Jo.

Their romantic vacation becomes a journey from one crisis to the next as these vacationers help the evangelizing ladies even as risks multiply. Threats expand to include all the podcasters, the show location owners, and suspected missing teens.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

 

 

Meet JJ and Jo, a Brazilian super couple that has found their way to Magnolia Bluff. It is a good thing, too, because they have stumbled onto a mystery that leads to uncovering a human trafficker.

This series is unique. There are multiple authors writing this series, and they all use the town and characters. Each book adds an additional character and brings in new aspects of this tiny hamlet. The main location of this book is the Flower B&B, where JJ and Jo had planned to relax and unwind from their stressful lives, but hackers trying to bring down a local podcast called for JJ’s expertise as a cybersecurity specialist. Jo may be a supermodel, but she has experience as someone who was caught up in a trafficking situation, and not in a good way. However, that allows her to connect with the young women they rescue and create a bond with them.

I enjoyed the humor, tension from the neighbor (aka the trafficker), and watching JJ and Jo fall deeper in love with each other. The interactions with the townspeople are what I love to see in a small town. Caring, nosy, and welcoming to those who want to be a part of the community.

While there isn’t a murder to solve, there is danger that abounds thanks to these criminals in town. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold and good winning over evil.

We give the book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JJ and Jo learn privacy doesn’t exist for them. They return to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity.  In Magnolia Bluff, no one suspects their fame.

They discount the status as urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. After all, a supermodel needs time and space to recharge between jobs. A geek wants time to adore his wife.

  • Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers?
  • Will their desires get clouded by a hidden secret?

Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo take action to uncover the truth. Chief Tommy Jager likes them, but he feels they’re a lightning rod for trouble and disruption.

Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with the fresh flowers on the gravestone.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

I picked up this book to read not long after I finished The Flower Enigma. This is a continuation of JJ and Jo’s life and foray into Magnolia Bluff, Texas. This is a year or so later, and JJ and Jo are celebrating their one year anniversary. They decided to revisit Magnolia Bluff and Flower B&B. A lot has happened in this town, and the young women they rescued in the previous book are now living happier lives.

JJ and Jo have decided they want to purchase a vacation home in this little town. I can’t blame them; I want to live in this town too. However, purchasing the property can be a little bit tricky. Plus, there are signs of tampering. Why? What secrets does this property hold?

I feel bad that JJ and Jo never get to have a relaxing vacation when they visit Magnolia Bluff. They are thrust into helping to solve crimes. They do have some great sleuthing skills and are able to uncover information to assist the police in solving a few mysteries. Jo turns out to have a wicked backhand when handling a skillet. There are several scenes that made me laugh tied to that skillet.

While I had my suspicions about a character or two, I wasn’t sure why. There was just something off. Once all was revealed, it made a lot of sense.

I enjoyed all of the descriptions of the town and surrounding area. The descriptions were on point, and I could envision the scene in my mind. If it doesn’t make you want to travel to the Hill Country, I don’t know what will.

This story is full of rich characters, humor, and suspense. A nice addition to the Magnolia Bluff Chronicles series.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Breakfield is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He also enjoys wine tastings, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Rox Burkey is a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments for customers worldwide with a focus on optimized customer experiences. She writes white papers and documents with a marked preference for fiction.

Together they create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, young and experienced adults, and bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today.

 

 

Series Social Media

 

 WebsiteFacebook◆ TwitterYouTube

 

 

Rox Burkey Social Media

 

WebsiteTwitterFacebookGoodreadsBookBub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS:

 

1st: $25 Amazon gift card

 

2nd & 3rd: eBook bundles of first 18 books in the series

 

(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/8/23)

 

 

 

 

 

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

11/27/23 Boys’ Mom Reads 10 Million Ways to Die Review
11/27/23 Reading by Moonlight Death Wears a Crimson Hat Review
11/27/23 Hall Ways Series Spotlight
11/28/23 The Plain-Spoken Pen Death in the Absence of Rain Review
11/28/23 StoreyBook Reviews Eulogy in Black and White Review
11/28/23 LSBBT Blog Series Spotlight
11/29/23 Forgotten Winds The Great Peanut Butter Conspiracy Review
11/29/23 Carpe Diem Chronicles Only the Good Die Young Spotlight
11/29/23 It’s Not All Gravy When Bad Things Happen to Good Mice Review
11/30/23 Rox Burkey Blog You Won’t Know How. . .or When Review
12/01/23 StoreyBook Reviews The Flower Enigma Review
12/01/23 Writing and Music The Killer Enigma Review
12/02/23 Reading by Moonlight Men Lying Dead in a Field Spotlight
12/02/23 The Clueless Gent The Shine from a Girl in the Lake Review
12/03/23 Jennie Reads The Dewey Decimal Dilemma Review
12/03/23 Forgotten Winds The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma Review
12/04/23 Chapter Break Blog Justice Spotlight
12/04/23 The Plain-Spoken Pen Bye Baby Bye Review
12/05/23 Shelf Life Blog Texas Summers are Murder Sneak Peek
12/05/23 The Book’s Delight Born and Bred Texan Review
12/06/23 It’s Not All Gravy Who Killed Lilly Paine? Review
12/07/23 Hall Ways Second Chances Review
12/08/23 The Page Unbound A Chance of a Ghost Sneak Peek

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Spiked Punch (Maddie Sparks Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Upstate New York
Camel Press (November 14, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 248 pages

 

Synopsis

 

On the other side of seventy, Maddie Sparks decides to spice up her life by changing her writing interests from cozy mysteries to romance. She also determines her appearance should reflect this transformation in her writing career. A sassy new haircut and more fashionable clothes complete the newer Maddie Sparks. Before she can begin this new chapter in her life, a stabbing death in the quiet country village she has made her home shocks the town’s residents.

When her son is accused of the murder, Maddie and the acting county sheriff come together to find the real killer. Their relationship soon blooms into more than one of shared determination to solve the murder. As they enjoy a hike in a nearby park, someone shoots the sheriff, barely missing Maddie. Another killer could be loose in the area, and the person may be closer to Maddie than she realizes. Maddie discovers parts of herself she didn’t know existed: real life romance with the sheriff, a talent for sleuthing and room in her life for a fuzzy, orange cat named “Spike.” This recent lease on life may be more exciting and more dangerous than Maddie expects.

 

 

 

Amazon * B&NKobo

 

 

Guest Post

 

Why I love cozy mysteries

 

Lesley A. Diehl

 

Cozy mysteries are almost part of my DNA. I began reading the genre in grade school when I discovered Nancy Drew and the Dana girls as well as Cherry Ames. These tales were not labeled as cozies, but that is what we’d call them today. They subscribe to the same guidelines of our contemporary cozy mystery. I graduated from these books, mainly written for a younger audience to Agatha Christie who employed the same approach to the mystery story. But what about them captures my attention?

There are three aspects of the cozy mystery that appeal to me: the characters, the setting, and the puzzle.

Characters, characters, characters

Some argue that cozy mysteries are character driven, but that’s not the entire story. It’s the kind of characters that inhabit the cozy mystery that is significant. Readers often find themselves in the cozy protagonist. She is usually a female, someone whom we feel we know immediately, a friend, a relative, maybe ourselves. We admire her because she has courage. She takes the kind of action we might wish we could take. She’s curious and possesses the ability to ask snoopy questions without overly offending people who might have something to hide. The reader trusts her and understands that so do the people she interacts with. While she might trespass on territory that is dangerous, she is smart enough to finagle her way out of tight situations. She’s a brilliant detective without the license or the uniform.

She has friends and family who love and support her, sometimes not without reservations. The author usually provides an entire cast of characters we want to know better. The villain is usually someone who is also part of the community in which the protagonist lives. Along with the protagonist, readers find reasons to trust as well as doubt all the suspects in the story.

The characters in a cozy mystery are reasonable, i.e., people like those you already know, no superheroes, serial murderers, corporate executives and usually no high-ranking politicians. They are just folks you live among, the mayor, a librarian, a teacher, business owner, retiree next door, e.g., folks from a community setting or people who have reason to come into that setting.

A small place

It doesn’t have to be a village, but cozy mysteries are usually set in a small geographical area that is defined by the people living within it having knowledge and interaction with each other. It could be, for example, a neighborhood in a larger city. The setting allows the protagonist access to sources of information and individuals known to her. People talk with those they know and reveal by way of body language and seemingly unimportant information, evidence pertinent to solving a murder.

If writing a cozy mystery series, the writer must find a way to bring characters into the setting in order to provide likely suspects.  For example, the town might be a seasonal tourist attraction, or a community close to a city where those working in the city live. Venues close to the community like museums, festivals, and summer playhouses provide settings for community members to mingle with those outside their area, an opportunity for murder or for a murderer less intimately attached to the community. Another way writers handle an overabundance of murders in a small village is to move one of the books in the series to a new location, e.g., a vacation spot, for a few weeks or longer.

I like to take places where I’ve lived and make them the basis for a setting. All of these locales have been small towns. I prefer to change aspects of the community such as street layouts, names of businesses and town names so I can freely play with where events occur in the village.

Who did it?

I love writing and reading cozy mysteries because the puzzle, whodunit, is cognitively fascinating. Along with the protagonist being someone like the reader, the protagonist shows her intellectual faculties by lacing clues together to finally reveal the killer. It’s challenging, it’s fun, and it keeps the reader’s mind sharp. The reader becomes a kind of silent partner with the protagonist, sometimes seeing a clue before she does, sometimes missing the significance of it altogether and usually being happily surprised when the protagonist makes whole all those pieces of information spread tantalizingly throughout the book.

Solving the crime is much more satisfying than doing a crossword or other word puzzle because the clues and the solution have both emotional and cognitive context. Satisfied you saw that clue and what it meant in determining the identity of the killer? Or did you miss that one? What a clever gal our protagonist is to see the lie for what it was. In the cozy mystery the reader cheers for the protagonist when she uncovers the killer. And she always uncovers the killer. The world of the cozy mystery is a just world where satisfaction is emotional, intellectual and legal. It’s the kind of world we need to live in if only in the escape of the novel.

In essence the cozy mystery leaves the reader with a sense of things being set right. These mysteries are a pleasure to read as well as a pleasure to write. Add a bit of humor as I do in Spiked Punch and there’s the added delight of a good laugh along the way. So sit back with a cuppa and enjoy the read!

 

 

About the Author

 

Cows, Lesley learned growing up on a farm, have a twisted sense of humor. They chased her when she went to the field to herd them in for milking, and one ate the lovely red mitten her grandmother knitted for her. Determining that agriculture wasn’t a good career choice, instead, she uses her country roots and her training as a psychologist to concoct stories designed to make people laugh in the face of murder. “A good chuckle,” says Lesley,” keeps us emotionally well-oiled long into our old age.” She is the author of the Eve Appel mysteries from Camel Press, as well as several cozy mystery series and numerous short stories.

 

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