Brush Up On Murder: An Aurora Anderson Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – California
Vista Beach Press (October 10, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Love is in the air in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, home of computer programmer and decorative-painting enthusiast, Aurora (Rory) Anderson.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, residents are training for the annual Love Run and expressing their undying affection for each other by attaching love locks to the pier railings. But a string of bank robberies is ruining the romantic vibe.

While Rory helps friends prepare for a Valentine’s Day wedding, a body is found and the groom is implicated in the murder. Convinced of his innocence, Rory puts her heart into the investigation. Can she identify the killer before someone else encounters their own brush with death?

 

 

 

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About the Author

 

Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.

 

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The Socialite’s Guide to Death and Dating (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – 1958 New York City
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver, the second Pinnacle Hotel mystery finds another murder that strikes too close to home, and hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy knows she’s the only one who can save the hotel before it’s lights out.

New York, 1958. Even though Evelyn Murphy has made progress conquering her agoraphobia by leaving the Pinnacle, she still feels most comfortable in her father’s hotel. With Malcolm Cooper, her new boyfriend and fellow employee at the hotel, Evelyn feels prepared for whatever happens next. In this case, it’s throwing a big fundraiser with the who’s who of New York City.

The night is a success, and Evelyn finally takes up Malcolm’s offer to finally visit his apartment in Yonkers. As the party ends, they sneak away to the garage to get Evelyn’s car. But Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, and she discovers the dead body of a guest, Judge Baker, in a car—with a needle in his arm.

Detective Hodgson and his new partner, Detective McJimsey, arrive on the scene, but before they can begin to question Evelyn, they are startled by another mysterious discovery: there’s a woman in the trunk of the car, and she screams as soon as she sees Evelyn’s face. Tangled up in the police investigation, Evelyn’s got another problem, too—her father insists she break off her relationship with Mac. The next day, her father is found attacked just like the judge, only this time the detectives find a dead woman nearby.

With Mac accused of the attacks and in police custody, Evelyn will have to find the killer on her own before she’s checked out of the hotel—this time, for good.

 

 

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About the Author

 

S. K. Golden is the author of the Pinnacle Hotel cozy mystery series. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. Sarah graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now.

 

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Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (A Salem B&B Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Massachusetts
Kensington Cozies (August 22, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Saturday night at the movies has some added flair now that Darren and Elise Shultz are reopening one of Salem’s classic theaters. Charlene is delighted to help the couple with their venture, and Darren has lined up a cult classic double-header featuring Lon Chaney in The Wolfman. But things get hairier than expected when Elise starts to choke on her popcorn mid-movie—and once the lights go up,
she’s dead . . .

When tests reveal Elise’s popcorn was poisoned, Detective Sam Holden eyes her husband as the guilty party. Charlene doesn’t believe Darren would hurt his wife—even if his company’s specialty seasoned salts were sprinkled on the fatal snack. But who else had a motive to do something so unsavory? With a little help from Jack, the handsome ghost who haunts her B&B, Charlene delves into the ill-fated couple’s past. And the more she learns, the more Charlene wonders if this time, she’s bitten off more than she can chew . . .

 

 

 

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Guest Post

 

A day in the life of Charlene Morris

 

Hello! I’m Charlene Morris, and I’ve been in Salem for almost two years now. My bed and breakfast is in the black, which is a blessing. When I moved from Chicago after my dear, sweet Jared passed after being hit by a drunk driver, I never thought I’d care about love again.

Now, I have my best friend, Jack, a ghost who haunts the mansion I bought sight unseen…that’s how out of my mind with grief I was, and I just needed to get away. My mother can be…a bit over the top. She’s got Catholic guilt down to a science. My dad is an angel. He did his best to shield me with trips to the art museum and ice cream afterward. Since I’ve moved, Mom and I have come to an understanding. She was afraid that she’d make a mistake and, in being so rigid, pushed me away.

Jared and I wanted kids, but it didn’t happen. I wanted to do it differently than how I’d been raised, you know?  Jared and I were each other’s everything, and, in the end, that hurt me even more because I had no real friends or life outside of my career at the marketing company we worked at together.

When I moved to Salem, I was determined to do things differently. I am part of the community here. I have a cat I never thought I’d want, a ghost I never believed in, a protégé who is like a daughter, and a boyfriend. Detective Sam Holden is sexy and kind and smart and patient. Thank God he is patient. He doesn’t believe in ghosts. He doesn’t see Jack, who is part of my life at the B and B.

It’s not easy, but I have a very rich life.

This is my advice for anyone in the depths of sorrow—don’t be afraid to make a change. The days will pass, and you will find yourself, slowly but surely, on the other side.

I hope you’ll join me in this adventure with Darren and Elise Shultz as they open their new movie theater in Salem.

 

 

About the Author

 

From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone. Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.

 

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The Fog Ladies: Date with Death (A San Francisco Cozy Murder)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – California
Wild Rose Press (October 2, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 338 pages

 

Synopsis

 

The Fog Ladies are at it again, spunky senior sleuths and an overstressed young medical resident solving murders from their elegant apartment building in San Francisco. They join a senior dating group, and romantic intrigue soon turns to murder. Graham Parselle, lady killer extraordinaire, plunges off a cliff on a Senior Singles outing. Did one of his dates pitch him over? Or is Olivia Honeycut’s new beau to blame?

 

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Enid Carmichael ducked her head and squeezed her eyes shut and waited for Beverly’s car to smash them to smithereens. Enid was squished in the back of this tin can Mr. Glenn called a car with a huge furry hound taking up more than his fair share of the seat and fouling the air with his stinky breath. She had survived eighty-one long, tedious years. This was not how she wanted to die.

The tin can hurled and thrust her sideways into Boris. He let out a yelp and so did she, but she was alive and she had plenty more tedious years to live, so she could shout all she wanted.

“You did it, Alma! Now get us away from her.”

“I’m trying, but she’s right there! Right behind us.”

Mrs. Carmichael twisted her head around, but her neck didn’t move like it used to. She opened the window and stuck her head out for a better view. Beverly’s car picked up speed and was suddenly so close Mrs. Carmichael could see the maniacal look on her face.

Couldn’t Mr. Glenn’s car go any faster? Wait a minute. “Alma, what are you doing? Don’t stop for the stop sign! This is life and death!”

“I have to stop for the stop sign. What if I hit someone?”

“Hit someone? It’s us who’re being hit. Put your rear in gear.”

Alma pressed the gas pedal, and they shot through the intersection. Shockingly, Beverly’s car slowed for the stop sign, too, but in an instant she was on them.

Alma was whining again. “I’m not allowed to drive without a supervising adult in the car. Oh, dear. Oh, dear.”

“Supervising adult? Good God. Alma Gordon, put the pedal to the metal or I’ll do it for you.”

Alma tugged the wheel one way then the other, pitching them up one street and down the next.

“Good driving, Alma. I think you lost her.”

Clang, clang

“Oh, no, Alma! What street are you crossing? Hyde?”

“Cable car! Hold on, Enid!”

A cable car rocketed down Hyde, passengers hanging out the side taking photos of the San Francisco Bay at the bottom of the steep street, oblivious to the sure death that awaited them when they T-boned Alma and Enid. Or would the cable car slice right through Mr. Glenn’s flimsy car, leaving the ladies sawed in two like a big-stage magic trick gone awry?

The cable car bell clanked incessantly. Alma dodged in front of the outsize doom mobile. Her car teetered on two wheels, Enid was sure. The tires spun and they ended up facing the water far below, the cable car on their bumper.

“Go, Alma, go!”

Enid saw the gripman’s expression, somewhere between terrified and infuriated. His brakes screeched. His passengers screeched.

He yelled, but Enid’s view of him was cut by a car slipping in between them. “It’s Beverly!”

Enid’s stomach heaved as Alma sped downhill. Boris’s body flew up and he landed with his front paws in her lap. He shoved his big head out the window, completely obscuring her sightline. Her face was in his fur and all she could see was his enormous, platter-like tongue, lolling in the wind.

“Eek,” Alma shrieked. “We’re going too fast. These brakes aren’t enough. Brace, Enid, brace!”

Enid was as braced as she could be, squashed behind this dog. The car lurched around a corner, tires squealing.

“Woof, woof, woof,” Boris protested.

Enid opened her mouth to protest, too, but was met with a mouthful of fur. Yuck.

“She’s still there! Enid, I can’t shake her. Hang on!”

Enid’s body hurtled against the door. Mr. Glenn’s car better hold. If the door latch gave way and she plummeted out onto the streets of San Francisco, she’d never forgive him. And just her luck, Beverly’s car would crush her flat into the pavement, and she’d be nothing but a thin smear on the asphalt adorned with a red crop of hair.

She was not going like that. She threw the dog off her. She leaned forward, shot her long arm around Alma’s puny body, and seized the steering wheel. If Alma couldn’t save them, Enid would.

 

 

About the Author

 

Susan McCormick is an award-winning writer and doctor who lives in Seattle. She graduated from Smith College and George Washington University School of Medicine, with additional medical training in Washington, DC and San Francisco, where she lived in an elegant apartment building much like the one in the Fog Ladies books. Susan served as a doctor in the US Army for nine years before moving to the Pacific Northwest and civilian practice. In addition to the Fog Ladies series, she also wrote Granny Can’t Remember Me, a lighthearted picture book about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and The Antidote, a middle grade to adult medical fantasy. She lives with her husband and two sons and loves giant dogs, the bigger and slobberier the better.

 

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Hanging by a Thread (A Sewing Studio Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Fictional Town of Hideaway Grove
Kensington Cozies (September 26, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

 

Synopsis

 

The latest novel in a new crafting cozy series in the genre-leading Kensington Cozy Mystery program focusing on the members of a Sewing Studio.

Some of the independent shops in this sleepy town are barely hanging on financially—and that includes Sarah’s Sweets, Abbey’s aunt’s bakery. The shop’s advantage—aside from the deliciousness of its products—is the fact that it’s the only bakery in the area. But it looks like that’s about to change. The second wife of a wealthy businessman wants her own bakery—and money is no object.

When murder unravels the plans for the competing shop, Aunt Sarah is an immediate suspect—and Hideaway Grove’s merchants are on pins and needles about a big upcoming women’s conference, fearing the organization will cancel their booking because of the crime. Abbey’s doing her best to stay optimistic and stitch some custom tote bags for the attendees, but she’s also concerned with patching up Aunt Sarah’s good reputation. And when it comes to sorting through the possible motives of the victim’s family members and associates, she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve . . .

 

 

 

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Guest Post

 

Building a town in my head — with a sweet ending!

 

I’ve been very blessed to have published a lot of books.  I just finished writing number 50.  Whew!  About half of them were historical romances, written under my pen name Judith Stacy, so I was free to make up a small western town for the setting, or occasionally do a little research into Los Angeles for my characters living there in the 1890s.

When I began writing mysteries, they were all contemporary and most were set in Los Angeles.  With a brief google search or a few hours in the car (I live in the Los Angeles area) all of my research questions were answered.  Easy!

My newest cozy mystery series is the Sewing Studio Series, and I knew a big city wouldn’t do.  The characters and the story required something very different.  I was left with no option but to build my own imaginary town.  Because it was a series and I would be using it for many books to come, I had to come up with a very specific plan for the town.  Thus, Hideaway Grove came into being.

Hideaway Grove developed into a small, quaint town where visitors and tourists are drawn to specialty shops, art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.  I felt like the town needed a theme.   A good friend had mentioned she’d taken a course about birdwatching, which I found interesting.  I decided Hideaway Grove should have its roots in that world, with the founder of the town naming the streets after birds—Hummingbird Lane, Hawk Avenue, and Blue Bird Drive.  The town’s founder especially liked owls, so images of them are woven through the town in the lampposts, playground equipment on the village green, and in the names of the businesses, such as Owl Nest Bookstore, Birdie’s Gifts and Gadgets, and the Night Owl Bar.

To keep everything organized in my head, I drew a map of Hideaway Grove.  It includes the streets, the businesses, and the homes of the characters.  I’m no artist, but the visual layout keeps me on track especially when I’m starting a new story.

The town is populated by nervous merchants anxious to keep their business afloat, gossips, busybodies, and a few hot guys—after writing all those romances, I had to put some good-looking men in the story!

In the launch book of the series, Seams Like Murder, Abbey Chandler’s life in Los Angeles falls apart so she retreats to Hideaway Grove where she spent idyllic summers with her aunt Sarah.  Abbey finds herself involved with a murder investigation and ends up heading a charity project making pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa—even though she can’t sew!

Sarah’s Sweets, the bakery Abbey’s aunt owns, plays an important part in the town and in the second book in the series Hanging By A Thread.  To accommodate her pillowcase dress parties, Abbey turns the bakery storage room into a sewing studio.  It becomes a natural gathering place for town merchants drawn together to discuss the latest problem—quite often a murder.

Aunt Sarah’s bakery is known for its delicious, beautifully handcrafted baked goods.  In Hanging By A Thread, Sarah is preparing for a 1950s event and prepares vintage recipes for her customers—while Abbey solves a murder!

I hope you’ll enjoy your visit to Hideaway Grove in Hanging By A Thread, and try this vintage recipe that’s been in my family for generations—coming soon to Sarah’s Sweets!

 

 

HOLIDAY PUMPKIN ROLL

 

 

Pumpkin Roll ingredients

 

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup solid packed pumpkin

¾ cup flour

½ tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

½ English walnuts, chopped (optional)

 

 

Filling

 

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

8 oz cream cheese

2 tbsp margarine

¾ tsp vanilla

 

Grease a 10”x15”x1” baking pan and line with waxed paper.  Beat eggs and sugar.  Stir in pumpkin.  Combine flour, cinnamon, and baking powder.  Add to pumpkin mixture and blend well.

Pour onto baking pan and spread evenly.  Sprinkle with nuts (optional).  Bake at 350F for 10 to 15 minutes.  Cake should spring back when touched lightly.

Remove from oven and loosen edges with knife.  Turn cake out onto a paper towel sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar.  Remove waxed paper.  Roll cake and towel together.  Cool completely.

Unroll cake and spread with filling.  Roll cake up again and chill.  Keep refrigerated.  May be frozen.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today Bestselling author Dorothy Howell is the author of 49 novels. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and sold worldwide. She writes the Sewing Studio mystery series, the Haley Randolph mystery series, and the Hollis Brannigan and Dana Mackenzie mystery series. Dorothy also writes historical romance novels under the pen name Judith Stacy.  Dorothy lives in Los Angeles.

 

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Joy to the Wool (Clear Creek Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Independently Published (October 5, 2023)
Number of Pages: 254

 

Synopsis

 

All dressed up for the holidays, Clear Creek looks like it’s right out of a storybook. But the decorations aren’t just for fun. The tiny Rocky Mountain town is hosting a Christmas Festival sure to be used as a pattern for years.

While Jemma is busy with the Cozy Tree — a place visitors can buy hand-knitted hats and scarves to donate to people in need — Granny is busy taking bets on which day of the event Jemma will find a body. But to everyone’s surprise, this time Granny’s the one who makes the discovery!

Choosing to put her relationship with Brandon first, Jemma agrees to steer clear of the investigation. But Granny’s determination to solve the crime lands Jemma the impossible job of keeping the spunky old lady out of trouble, and breaking and entering is just the beginning of their adventure.

When the Cozy Tree is vandalized, it becomes obvious the pair is making someone nervous. Can Jemma and Granny knit up the investigation before Santa climbs in his sleigh?

 

 

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Review

 

This is a fun series! I like this small town setting in the mountainous area of Colorado. The characters are interesting, and Granny will keep you on her toes with her betting on every little thing and trying to solve this case before the sheriff.

In this installment, we get to meet Jemma’s mother, Daphne, or Daffy as she calls her. However, her mother has ulterior motives for her visit to this town; she is trying to set Jemma up with someone she thinks would be suitable for Jemma. What Daffy doesn’t realize is that her ideology and feelings are not the same as her daughter’s. She is not the loving mother who wants to spend time with her; she is more concerned with images and getting back to her life. I think by the end of the book, Daffy does start to realize that maybe Jemma is where she needs to be, and it is ok that she has a different mindset.

Regarding the mystery, I liked that Jemma really does try and stay out of it and not try and solve the case. She does get pulled in because she is really good at asking questions to the right people, but she is not aggressively trying to suss out the killer. That would be Granny, who is one hot mess. The clues are there to figure out the killer, but they are hidden. You will have to put on your thinking cap for this one.

I really liked the idea of the Cozy Tree at the festival and having people buy hats to donate to local charities. I thought it was ingenious that someone suggested raising money by having people pay for the privilege of knitting one of the hats. That was smart!

There is a surprise ending that I was not expecting. It made me very happy and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

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Synopsis

 

Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle’s cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked. The following day two police officers come to their apartment to arrest Desi. Her assailants are dead, murdered with an axe, and her fingerprints are on it. She confesses—but is she really guilty? Eric is determined to stand by her, but the physical and emotional effects of the attack severely challenge their relationship.

 

 

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Review

 

This was quite an intriguing mystery novella. Not everything is as straightforward as you might expect as you are reading this book. Did Desi kill these men? Logically, the answer is no, but she has confessed, and sometimes people can do some amazing things when under pressure and have heightened adrenaline running through their systems.

This is a story that could be expanded so that we get to know and understand Eric and Desi more deeply. But that does not take away from trying to piece together the pieces and what actually happened at that cabin. I’d love to know the “why” behind why they were attacked up there; that is the only question that didn’t seem to be answered. Maybe these men were just scumbags.

We also lived through Desi’s trauma and her coming to terms with what happened to her. It was also a reflection of how strong their relationship was or wasn’t. There were secrets that came out about Desi’s past that put a new light on the events that followed.

I really enjoyed this book, and it is perfect when you have a shorter amount of time and don’t want to have to put the book down!

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Growing up in San Diego, California, I developed a passion for the printed word with my very first Dick and Jane reader and knew I wanted to be a “book maker” when I grew up. I wrote my first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” when I was six and never stopped. My love of books also led me to an MLS degree from UCLA and a career as a reference and collection development librarian at the San Diego Public Library. Retirement allowed me to put writing front and center. I’ve had twenty-three stories published in literary journals, and The Axe is my seventh book from the Wild Press.

 

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Murder at the Elms (A Gilded Newport Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
11th in Series
Setting – Rhode Island
Kensington (August 22, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

 

 

Synopsis

 

As the nineteenth century comes to a close, the illustrious Vanderbilt family dominates Newport, Rhode Island, high society. But when murder arrives, reporter Emma Cross learns that sometimes the actions of the cream of society can curdle one’s blood in the latest installment of this bestselling cozy historical mystery series . . .

1901: Back from their honeymoon in Italy, Emma and Derrick are adapting to married life as they return to their duties at their jointly owned newspaper, the Newport Messenger. The Elms, coal baron Edward Berwind’s newly completed Bellevue Avenue estate, is newsworthy for two reasons: A modern mansion for the new century, it is one of the first homes in America to be wired for electricity with no backup power system, generated by coal from Berwind’s own mines. And their servants—with a single exception—have all gone on strike to protest their working conditions. Summarily dismissing and replacing his staff with cool and callous efficiency, Berwind throws a grand party to showcase the marvels of his new “cottage.”

Emma and Derrick are invited to the fete, which culminates not only in a fabulous musicale but an unforeseen tragedy—a chambermaid is found dead in the coal tunnel. In short order, it is also discovered that a guest’s diamond necklace is missing and a laborer has disappeared.

Detective Jesse Whyte entreats Emma and Derrick to help with the investigation and determine whether the murdered maid and stolen necklace are connected. As the dark deeds cast a shadow over the blazing mansion, it’s up to Emma to shine a light on the culprit . . .

 

 

 

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Read an Excerpt Here

 

 

Guest Post

 

Murder at The Elms is my eleventh Gilded Newport Mystery and my nineteenth historical mystery (I write another series, A Lady & Lady’s Maid Mysteries). So you might wonder, how does an author keep each book fresh? How does she come up with new ideas and avoid being repetitive?

Let’s address that last bit first. In cozy mysteries or historical cozies, in this case, a certain amount of repetitiveness is a good thing. For a series in general, the author creates a world surrounding the sleuth, peopled with friends, family, and yes, even adversaries. In many cozies, the setting is itself a character, and this is especially true for the Gilded Newport Mysteries. Readers want these stories to take place in Newport—and nowhere else. It’s a place they wish to spend time and where they’re comfortable. If my sleuth, Emma Cross, does go “off island” as the locals say, it’s only for short periods of time. The same can be said about major secondary characters who recur from book to book. They become like a family the reader enjoys spending time with.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t introduce different places in Newport and different characters depending on the plot. In this series, each initial murder takes place in one of the grand mansions, or “cottages,” in the exclusive Bellevue Avenue neighborhood or along the Ocean Drive. This gives me an opportunity to explore the architecture of the Gilded Age, along with the families who owned these properties, each of whom were quite distinctive.

The mansions of Newport include Italian palazzos and Italianate villas, French chateaux, English Gothic manor houses, neo-colonial structures, and, in the case of the book I’ve just finished up, Murder at Vinland, the house includes design elements modeled after Norse mythology. There is quite a range, and each style lends the house an atmosphere, whether bright and airy or shadowy and mysterious, which I incorporate into the stories.

Some of the wealthy people I’ve written about include:

Mamie Fish, who owned the neo-colonial mansion called Crossways. She was functionally illiterate, a gregarious practical jokester, a society leader, and staunchly American in her tastes. James Van Alen, on the other hand, was an anglophile in the extreme and had his house, Wakehurst, modeled exactly like the Elizabethan manor house, Wakehurst Place, in England. And The Elms, owned by Edward and Herminie Berwind, was modeled after an eighteenth-century French chateau near Paris. But what made The Elms so distinctive was the Berwinds’ insistence that it be “modern.” That meant it was run on electricity without another power source, such as gas, as a backup. It was considered one of the most modern houses in America at the time.

Before plotting a book, I research each the family made their fortune, what their roots were, how their peers viewed them, and how they viewed the world around them. I take circumstances from the lives of these people and incorporate them into the plot of each story.

For instance, Edward Berwind was a self-made man. This differed from, say, the Astor family, whose wealth had been in the family for generations, beginning in the fur trade before they diversified into New York’s lucrative real estate market. The Vanderbilts, considered “new money” in the 1890s, still boasted three generations of wealth, beginning with the first Cornelius who made his money first in local shipping, then in railroads. But Edward Berwind was the son of middle-class German immigrants, had a distinguished career in the navy, but didn’t make his fortune until he went into the coal industry with his brother.

That set him apart from other society gentlemen in more than just wealth. He was rougher around the edges, more stubborn, and less inclined to compromise. He boasted about never negotiating with his coal workers. If they didn’t like the working conditions or pay, they could work elsewhere. It wasn’t surprising then that when the entire house staff of The Elms walked out on strike because they were never allowed time off, Edward Berwind fired all of them and hired new workers. From there, I built my plot around a fictional servant, a housemaid, who refused to strike and ended up dead a week later.

Along with the differences in architecture and family characteristics, there are also the murder weapons. I learned early on that these needn’t be what we typically think of. Not every murder is committed with a gun or dagger or poison, although those are certainly effective. Finding new and creative ways of doing someone in helps keep the story fresh. If you look around a room, you can probably find at least an item or two that might be used in a pinch: a heavy lamp or vase, a scarf, a fire poker, even a long staircase, or an open window.

Even with recurring or repetitive story elements, there will always be new information to draw upon and new details to include, keeping each story original and presenting new challenges in crime solving while remaining true to the qualities that drew readers to the series in the first place.

 

 

About the Author

 

Alyssa Maxwell is the author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mysteries. She has worked in publishing as a reference book editor, ghostwriter, and fiction editor, but knew from an early age that she wanted to be a fiction author. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain and Ireland fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband have made their home in South Florida. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the South Florida Fiction Writers.

 

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Reading, Writing, and Murder (Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Wyatt, Arizona (fictitious setting)
Independently Published (September 19, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages

At the writers’ conference, murder tops the program.

Aspiring mystery author Emma Banefield and travel writer Nicole Earp are excited to attend a writers’ conference during their latest sisters’ getaway. Nic’s birthday should be all about relaxation, writing, and a chocolate martini to toast another trip around the sun, but the climate at the gathering rumbles like a sudden desert thunderstorm.

When sparks fly between the keynote speaker and her timid assistant over a handsome mystery author, the subtitle on this anticipated tranquil weekend spells drama. If a heated love triangle, bruised egos, and betrayal aren’t enough to upset the atmosphere, the conference banquet erupts into a drunken brawl and sends the place spinning. After a body is discovered, Nic and Em do what they do best—snoop—and become embroiled in a mystery that jumps off the pages of a true-crime bestseller.

With more than enough suspects and little time, the amateur sleuths have their hands full finding the killer. But can the competitive Chocolate Martini Sisters solve the crime before the prickly chief detective does, or will a murderer outwit them all?

 

 

 

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Character Guest Post

 

My name is Nicole Earp, but everyone calls me Nic. Twice a year, my sister, Emma and I spend a relaxing weekend at the storied Dulce Inn in Wyatt, Arizona celebrating our birthdays. We always treat ourselves to at least one chocolate martini in the Azul Saloon inside the inn. We’ve gotten to know most of the staff, and they nicknamed us The Chocolate Martini Sisters. Em’s birthday is in the fall, and I’m a spring lady. Reading, Writing, and Murder is the story of one such weekend when we celebrate my birthday. It’s more than a birthday this year—mayhem dwells while murder lurks giving us plenty of opportunities to use our knowledge of all things mystery to solve the crime.

I share the pages of the mysteries as the main character with my sister Em. Brenda, one of the authors of our series, came up with the idea while having a chocolate martini with her sister. They buy each other the delicious drink twice a year on their birthdays in a historical inn and saloon in a western town called Prescott, Arizona. When they jokingly called themselves The Chocolate Martini Sisters, it gave Brenda an idea for a cozy mystery series. She contacted her friend Joyce Proell, and they collaborated bringing Em and me to life.

I tend to jump to conclusions, but my intuitiveness hasn’t been wrong too many times. Em is the analytical sister so we complement each other. I have a scar on my forehead that tingles when I’m nervous, which can happen when I sense something amiss with our sleuthing. I enjoy reading mysteries in bed and often lose track of time. Em says I have a hat obsession. I’ll admit, I do own quite a few. I enjoy wearing arty clothes, soft and feminine. If I don’t have on a hat, my dark blonde hair—and yes there are streaks of silver—is probably twisted into a messy knot.

I’ve been married twice. My first husband, Ethan is the father of my daughter, Chloe. The marriage ended badly, thanks to him. He had trouble with his zipper. I get hot under the collar whenever we run into each other. Gah, yeah, I might still have some feelings for him. Luckily, I rarely see him. My second husband, Rodney Earp is a lawyer and a colorful, flamboyant lawyer. He claims to be a distant relative to the infamous Earp brothers. Our marriage lasted a year. We make better friends than mates. In Reading, Writing, and Murder, I call on Rodney to help the murder suspect.

That’s a little about me. I hope you’ll journey to Wyatt, step into the Dulce Inn, and get lost in an entertaining murder mystery with The Chocolate Martini Sisters.

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Joyce Proell is the award-winning author of Amaryllis, Eliza and the Cady Delafield mysteries: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth. Along with her husband and little dog, Nellie, she lives in Minnesota in her very own little house on the prairie. She loves to hear from readers.

 

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Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won’t discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.

 

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Secrets and Scallywags: Magical Mystery Book Club
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – A Small Oceanfront Community
Independently published (August 10, 2023)
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages

 

Synopsis

 

When this club selects a book, magic happens. They become the main characters in the story when the mystery comes to life.

This month’s book selection takes them to a charming island community that’s abuzz over a mysterious boat that washed ashore. Rumor has it that it’s the same pirate boat that sunk a year ago in the bay. The one that supposedly sank with treasure aboard.

When the club meets the ghosts of the men from the boat, they learn the astonishing secrets of the treasure. These ghosts can’t move on until it is found.

Can the motley group find the treasure and free the ghosts? They better, since it’s the only way they can exit the book and get back home.

 

 

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Review

 

This is such a fun series, and if you haven’t picked up any of the books, you need to do that, and soon! Make sure to start with the first book to understand how this all came to be for Glo and Paige.

The concept for this cozy series is unique and brings in paranormal aspects. I love how they get thrown into a book and have to solve the crime. The characters are all unique and blend well together. I have to laugh at how much these characters also love to eat. I swear they are eating all of the time!

This plot is a little different than some of the others as it brings in pirates, and the crime isn’t really a murder that they are trying to solve. I enjoyed the twists and turns and how this story came to its conclusion. I thought that one of the characters might stay behind in the book, and I was surprised when this one did not. You might come to the same conclusions, so I hope I haven’t spoiled anything for the reader.

One of these days, Frank and Zell are going to spill the beans on how long this book club has been meeting and how long they have been participants. I am very curious what their background is with this book club. I also like how the right new member always appears. It is definitely a merry band of book lovers and crime solvers.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents, published in over twenty languages.

She simultaneously writes well-loved cozy mysteries: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest, the gorgeous inspiration for the setting in many of her books.

 

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