Murder A La Mode (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Gemma Halliday Publishing (August 8, 2023)
Digital – Number of Pages 230

 

Synopsis

 

From author Lena Gregory comes a delicious new series that will warm your heart and leave you guessing until the very end…

When twenty-five-year-old Danika Delaney, black sheep of the Delaney clan, returns home to Long Island to take over Jimmie’s, her eccentric uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island, she’s not exactly thrilled. But things start to look up when her uncle tells her she can do whatever she’d like with the shop, and it seems she might realize her dream of a small trendy café. That is, until she discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend’s estranged wife in a melted puddle of rocky road in the malt shop basement. With her two sidekicks, her sister and a good childhood friend, in tow, Dani searches for–or stumbles upon—one clue after another. But as she narrows down the suspect list, she realizes if she’s not careful she may end up in a puddle of her own…

 

 

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Review

 

This first book in a new series makes a big splash…or perhaps a dip into the cozy realm. Lena Gregory has written many series, and all have been quite enjoyable.

This new series features an ice cream shop (yum!) in New York. While this book doesn’t focus a lot on the ice cream portion of the business, I think that might come in future books.

Danika returns home after being told she is taking over her uncle’s shop. Could she have turned it down? Maybe, but she didn’t have much else going on in her life, so why not go back to your roots and try something new? What she doesn’t expect is to find her first boyfriend’s wife dead in the shop. While she never really intended to become a sleuth, she is thrown into it and actually does a remarkable job uncovering the clues and the killer. Well, almost. She nearly becomes a victim, but a special character saves the day. Read the book to find out who!

I really enjoyed Gwen, Danika’s friend. These two are quite a pair. I do have to question their judgment sometimes, but that is what good friends do, crazy things for one another.

I don’t know if I suspected this character was the killer. I don’t think I had any specific character in mind, but there were several I wish it would have been just because they are not nice characters. But you need that tension to make a story successful.

There could be a potential love triangle in future books. There is Danika’s first boyfriend, Luca, and the police detective, Jake Barlow. There were misunderstandings in the past between her and Luca, but does that mean she wants to restart a new relationship with him? Especially now that his wife is dead? Only time will tell if they will rekindle their relationship or just be friends.

I really enjoyed this start to a new series, and I can’t wait to see what she has planned for the makeover of the ice cream shop. I am hoping for more ice cream flavors and dishes to whet my appetite.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of Central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

 

 

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THE KILLER ENIGMA

 

Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles

 

Book 16

 

by BREAKFIELD AND BURKEY

 

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

 

Cozy Mystery / Suspense / Cozy Mystery Series

 

Publisher: ICABOD Press

 

Coming August 19, 2023

 

 

 

 

Enough is Enough – JJ rumbled when the paparazzi invaded dinner.

JJ and Jo realize 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 of 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 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 fresh flowers on the gravestone.

Their friends are targets   –   Their dreams are broken   –   They must fight

 

 

Preorder on Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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(US only; ends midnight, CST, 8/24/23)

 

 

 

 

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The Body in the Back Garden (A Crescent Cove Mystery)
Queer Cozy (“Quozy”) Mystery
1st in Series 
Setting – The fictional town of Crescent Cove on Vancouver Island, Canada
Crooked Lane Books (August 22, 2023)

 

Synopsis

 

In this queer cozy series debut perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams, Luke Tremblay is about to discover that Crescent Cove has more than its fair share of secrets…and some might be deadlier than others.

Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island, is the last place out-of-work investigative journalist Luke Tremblay ever wanted to see again. He used to spend summers here, until his family learned that he was gay and rejected him. Now, following his aunt’s sudden death, he’s inherited her entire estate, including her seaside cottage and the antiques shop she ran for forty years in Crescent Cove. Luke plans to sell everything and head back to Toronto as soon as he can…but Crescent Cove isn’t done with him just yet.

When a stranger starts making wild claims about Luke’s aunt, Luke sends him packing. The next morning, though, Luke discovers that the stranger has returned, and now he’s lying dead in the back garden. To make matters worse, the officer leading the investigation is a handsome Mountie with a chip on his shoulder who seems convinced that Luke is the culprit. If he wants to prove his innocence and leave this town once and for all, Luke will have to use all his skills as a journalist to investigate the colorful locals while coming to terms with his own painful past.

There are secrets buried in Crescent Cove, and the more Luke digs, the more he fears they might change the town forever.

 

 

 

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Guest Post

 

A Brief Tour of Vancouver Island

 

 

In my debut cozy, The Body in the Back Garden, readers find themselves in the fictional town of Crescent Cove, a charming seaside hamlet on the east coast of Vancouver Island. It’s a small place, populated by a diverse bunch of residents who are as inclusive and welcoming as Canada itself—though of course, as in every cozy mystery, an assortment of shocking and scandalous secrets lurk just beneath the surface of their perfect little burg. I wrote the book shortly after moving to the Island myself, inspired by what I think is the perfect setting for a good mystery: quaint towns juxtaposed with dark forests and lonely beaches. What better place for murder?

The book follows the amateur sleuthing of Luke Tremblay, who returns to Crescent Cove after the untimely death of his aunt. He’s inherited her cottage, which looks out across the beautiful expanse of the Georgia Strait, as well as her antiques shop on Main Street. Planning to sell them off and return to his life in Toronto, Luke soon encounters a belligerent stranger who then winds up dead in the back garden. Cue various shenanigans, including the unexpected return of a childhood friend and more than one attempt on Luke’s life.

You’ll have to buy the book to find out whodunit, but I’m happy to offer a free introduction to the Island, which is truly one of the most gorgeous places in the world. Of course, I’m required to say that because I live here, but once you’ve spent a little time in Crescent Cove, I think you’ll agree.

A lot of people confuse Vancouver Island, which sits off Canada’s west coast, with the city of Vancouver, one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. Both were named after Captain George Vancouver (1757-1798), an officer in the British Royal Navy who mapped North America’s coastline from Alaska to California, but they’re very different places. Vancouver is a bustling city with a population of more than 2.6 million people, while the population of the entire Island is less than 900,000. Running 285 miles in length, it’s actually the top of a submerged mountain range and ranks as the 43^rd-largest island in the world. Though discovered by Europeans in the 1770s, it’s been home to indigenous peoples for thousands of years, including the Kwakwaka’wakw, the Nuu-chah-nulth, and the Coast Salish peoples.

In The Body in the Back Garden, we learn that Luke used to spend his childhood summers in Crescent Cove, making him one of the hundreds of thousands of people who regularly flock to Vancouver Island in the warmer months. It’s easy to see why—much of the Island is covered in ancient, primeval rainforests that are home to some of the oldest spruce and cedar trees in the world, some of them more than 1,000 years old and towering over 300 feet tall. Pristine beaches dotted all the way around the coastline play host to seals, otters, and bald eagles, while orcas and humpback whales are spotted frequently in nearby waters. It’s also worth mentioning that Vancouver Island has the mildest climate in a country famous for its frigid weather, with temperatures just barely dipping below freezing in the winter and summers filled with warm sunshine and cool breezes. If it sounds like paradise, well, it is. There’s a reason why half of Canada retires here.

 

 

The antiques shop that Luke inherits from his aunt sits in the center of Crescent Cove, and in describing the store and the other buildings on Main Street, I drew inspiration from the old-world charm you’ll find all over the Island. Victoria, the largest city here, is filled with historical buildings that have been lovingly preserved. The city has Canada’s oldest Chinatown, which in turn has Canada’s narrowest street, Fan Tan Alley—in the summer, you can find long lines of tourists eager to squeeze themselves through its two-foot width. Victoria is also home to Rogers’ Chocolate, Canada’s oldest chocolatier, and Murchie’s Fine Tea and Coffee, Canada’s oldest tea company. The Fairmont Empress hotel, which sits on the Inner Harbor, is one of Canada’s iconic grand railway hotels that were built across the country in the late-19^th and early-20^th centuries. They’re remnants of a time when rail travel was glamorous and exciting, and today, the Empress leans hard into this history, offering visitors a pricey but authentic high tea service in elegant surroundings that harken back to a glittering past.

 

 

If this isn’t enough to tempt you, then perhaps you’ll want to see the world’s largest hockey stick in Duncan (truly the most Canadian of tourist attractions). Or you can hike to Canada’s tallest waterfall, Della Falls, while trying to avoid the densest concentrations of black bears and cougars in North America. Or, if you’d like something a little less dangerous, plan your visit for March and participate in the Greater Victoria Flower Count, where we count the number of blossoming plants and then share that number with the rest of Canada, which is usually digging out from under several feet of snow. (If you’re curious, the official count in 2022 was 27,875,292,158—yes, that’s almost 28 billion flowers.)

 

 

As Luke discovers in The Body in the Back Garden, there’s something for everyone here on the Island. Grab a copy and join him in Crescent Cove! You won’t regret it.

 

 

Excerpt

 

The drive back to the cottage took no more than five minutes, and when I got there, I found a Jeep Wrangler with RCMP markings waiting for me. My heart sank. I really didn’t want a third encounter with the police today.

With some reluctance, I trudged around the side of the cottage and found Jack Munro waiting for me, brawny arms folded across his tactical vest as he gazed out at the sea. My heart sank even further, but also fluttered a little as well. I had no idea how to behave around him now that I knew he was my old friend.

As I approached, shoes crunching on the stone path, he turned to face me. I paused. Jack looked mad. His square jaw was clenched and his eyebrows were drawn downwards in a fierce glower.

Uh oh.

“We need to talk,” he informed me, and I nodded jerkily after a moment’s hesitation.

“Sure. Okay. Do you want to come inside?”

With a shake of his head, Jack then advanced towards me until he was close enough that I had to look up into his face. “I want to know why you lied to me.”

I had to work moisture back into my mouth before I could reply. “What do you mean?”

“I spoke with Aleesha Perkins.” At my blank stare, he added, “Her mom runs the greengrocers in town. She delivered some groceries here yesterday.”

Oh yeah. I nodded again, mutely.

“Aleesha claims that she witnessed you assault Joel Mackenzie and then threaten him.” Jack’s resonant baritone was tight with anger. “Is that true?”

“I wouldn’t say assault, exactly,” I hedged. “I did push him, that’s true.”

“She says you pushed him off the front porch and that he landed on his back on the ground.”

“Uh. Yes.” Jack’s eyes narrowed and I added hurriedly, “But he provoked me. He called my aunt a thief and said she got what was coming to her. I…I got upset and pushed him harder than I intended.”

“And then threatened him.”

“No!” I protested. “No, I just told him that if he came back here he’d regret it.” I paused. “Okay. That sounds bad, I admit. But I didn’t mean anything by it. It wasn’t a threat.”

Jack said nothing. His features, familiar and yet not, were completely blank.

On a rising tide of panic, I reached out involuntarily and grasped his forearm. “Jack, please. Please believe me. I did not kill Joel Mackenzie. I didn’t see him again until I found his body this morning. I know how this looks, but…”

Jack stepped back from me, breaking my hold on his arm. “You assaulted and threatened a man who later turned up dead on your property, Luke.” His voice was cool now, dispassionate. “And you have no alibi for last night. How this looks is extremely bad for you.”

My feeling of panic increased as I stared up at him. “But you know me. You know I would never—”

He cut me off with brutal finality. “I used to know you. I’m not sure I do anymore.”

I had no response to that. There was nothing left to say. My panic slowly subsided, leaving hurt and fear in its wake.

A deep silence fell between us. Waves crashed in the distance and gulls screeched overhead. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?” he finally asked. “Because if there is anything, you need to tell me now.”

I shook my head once. “There isn’t anything,” I said, barely able to speak through the tightness in my throat.

He nodded without taking his eyes off me. “I strongly advise you to stay put here at the cottage while we continue our investigation.”

I said nothing, and after a long pause Jack brushed past me as he headed back to his Jeep. I watched him go with something close to despair.

I was now the only suspect in a murder, and the person in charge of investigating that murder clearly disliked me. I wanted to trust that Jack would figure out who the killer was rather than pin this on me, but given our recent interactions, that seemed far from certain. If I didn’t want to end up in prison, there was only one option left.

I needed to solve this myself.

 

 

About the Author

 

Mark is originally from Calgary, Alberta, and grew up on the cold, windswept Prairies of western Canada. Fleeing southward, he earned a Ph.D. in the history of science, medicine, and technology from the Johns Hopkins University and then worked as a professor at Michigan State University for fifteen years. Finally, he persuaded his amazing husband to move to Vancouver Island, where they now live.

When he’s not writing stories about murderous Canadians, he plays the viola in the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, walks his dogs along the seashore, and thinks up interesting ways to kill people.

 

 

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Weeding Out Lies: A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Texas
Level Best Books (July 11, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Flower farmer Emma Justice’s life is firmly rooted in Lutz, Texas where she has recently begun her new business. One morning while delivering flowers, she stumbles upon a prominent citizen. Dead. When a friend is accused of murder, Emma launches her own investigation. She’s used to separating weeds from flowers. Emma will dig for clues, weed out red herrings and cultivate a plan to find the killer.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

Since I live in Texas, I am always up for reading a book that is set here. I loved the small town of Lutz, the various residents of the town, the mystery of who killed Willow, and a puppy named Cowboy.

This is a new series, so we are meeting a new cast of characters. Emma is a flower farmer. I find that fascinating since I do not have a green thumb. However, she is able to grow beautiful flowers for the town, and you can never have too many beautiful blooms. There are a few new faces in the town, including Jake and his sister Celia. They are friends of Brett, who runs the coffee shop. Jake is former military, and it seems like he might be dealing with a case of PTSD. It may be mild, but I like that the author addresses it in the book.

I will admit that I wasn’t wild about Emma in the beginning. It felt forced, and she was jumping into trying to solve the murder before being asked to by her friend that was a suspect. Emma eventually grew on me, but she did make a few choices that were perhaps not so smart. But at the same time, when under pressure near the end when being confronted by the killer, she was ingenious in how she got out of the situation.

I did suss out the killer before the reveal, not by any hint, but just a gut feeling about a certain character. I think by the time I narrowed down all of the possibilities, this was the only one that seemed logical.

This series has a lot of potential, and I look forward to reading the next book to see what Emma is up to next. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina, where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. She always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Be careful what you say around her because it might end up in a book.

 

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Synopsis

 

After tragedy strikes, Callie Sinclair is left with a gift she never wanted—the ability to communicate with ghosts. But when a desperate widow begs for her help, she reluctantly agrees to investigate the strange occurrences at Hillwood Farm. She quickly realizes she’s dealing with a dangerous presence beyond anything she’s ever experienced, and something else becomes equally clear—the only other living person in the house, Mrs. Turner’s handsome grandson, thinks she’s a scam artist. While she’d prefer to just ignore him, her heart beats a little faster every time he’s nearby.

Luke Turner doesn’t believe in spirits. He’s moved back to restore the family farm, but living on the property serves a dual purpose—he can watch out for his grandmother. He’s not happy about the sudden appearance of a self-described psychic, or his inexplicable attraction to her. His initial suspicions crumble as evidence points to an actual haunting, but he’s still determined not to fall for Callie—the past has taught him it’s best to avoid relationships.

As Callie is drawn deeper into the mystery, she becomes the target of a vengeful spirit, and Luke can no longer fight his feelings for her. Unable to resist their desire, passion ignites…even as the paranormal activity escalates to a final deadly confrontation.

 

 

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Review

 

This story is spooky, suspenseful, and with a twist of romance to keep a reader engrossed in the book.

I loved this book! The mystery kept me engaged while trying to figure out who the ghost was and why were they haunting the farm. I did figure it out before the reveal at the end, but it was by chance. I think I picked up on a few clues that might have been obscure but stood out in my mind. I won’t tell you what they are because you need to read the book yourself and figure it out. I will say that there were a few twists that I wasn’t expecting when everything was revealed.

I really enjoyed Callie’s character. She has had a tough life, but she keeps rolling with the punches. I wonder if an accident that took her boyfriend’s life is what opened her mind to be able to communicate with ghosts. Anything is possible. Luke is the skeptical grandson, but there is an attraction between these two that will not be denied.  The romance between these two is clean, and most of it is “behind closed doors,” which was fine with me because detailed scenes weren’t needed.

The haunting scenes are descriptive and made me a little nervous. I know I don’t have ghosts around my house, but it made me wonder what might happen if I did.

This was the first book I have read by this author, but it won’t be the last. We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Kathryn Knight writes books filled with steamy romance, dangerous secrets, and haunting mysteries. Her novels are award-winning #1 Amazon and B&N Bestsellers and RomCon Reader-Rated picks. When she’s not reading or writing, Kathryn spends her time exploring abandoned places and searching for ghosts. She lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband, their two sons, and a number of rescued pets.

 

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Synopsis

 

Someone in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood has an appetite for murder in Olivia Matthews’ Hard Dough Homicide.

Spice Isle Bakery owner Lyndsay Murray is always looking for new ways to grow her family’s business. But she already regrets agreeing to host the retirement dinner for local high school principal Emily Smith. The tyrant used to be her mother’s boss and they did not get along. Six guests arrive for the celebration, but only five survive. Emily starts convulsing—right after eating the curry chicken—and dies soon after. It’s not long before the police are knocking on Spice Isle’s door, bringing the Murray family back into the heart of another murder investigation—driving away customers in the process. Lyndsay can’t help but wonder if this is the end of the bakery, even though it’s just begun. She must put aside her reservations about investigating another crime, because the Murrays refuse to go down without a fight.

 

 

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Review

 

We are back at the hip new Caribbean bakery in Brooklyn. It has been a rocky start for this little bakery, but they are making strides and filling a need for many in this neighborhood. However, this time around, Lyndsay’s mom is the suspected killer when her former principal ends up dead. Of course, Lyndsay can’t have that and sets out to investigate and clear her mother’s name.

There are many things to like about this series – the food, the location, and the strong family ties. This is evident in both books when the whole family comes out to help clear their family of any wrongdoing. I mean aunts, uncles, cousins, and more. This is a close-knit family, which is a blessing and a curse.

There are just enough clues provided, if you catch them, to suss out the killer. I think I was a little surprised since many red herrings are thrown into the mix for good measure.

There is a potential romance between Lyndsay and her high school crush, but only if he stops investigating her family. I’m sure she doesn’t stop to think they must investigate everyone to clear the family and those not involved. Hopefully, she will move past this and allow love to blossom.

This series is still working on its place, which means some of the characters may be annoying, or there is a lot of repetition. I think that is somewhat needed at the beginning of a series to the reader can get a feel for the scene, characters, and more.

The food descriptions make my mouth water, and I might have gained a few pounds just reading this book!

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

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

 

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Synopsis

 

Get ready for a wild ride with Miracle From Ukraine!

Irina Balabanova is a beautiful Ukrainian girl, twenty-seven years of age and heartbroken, abandoned by an American post-graduate teacher who had worked in her country as an intern. Fending off the unwanted advances of locals and co-workers, she reluctantly agrees to a chance meeting with John Masters, a middle-aged American businessman, stranded in pre-war eastern Ukraine following an ill-advised romantic venture.

Despite their wide differences of culture, language, and generation, the two are brought together in a whirlwind of love and adventure.

But their dreams of a life together are threatened by the acts of a fanatically jealous Ukrainian State Security officer, who will stop at nothing to stop Irina from leaving their native country to marry an American. When all hope seems totally lost to the point of both facing criminal persecution, John’s perseverance and some ever present divine intervention keep the unlikely and miraculous romance alive.

Based on actual events, Miracle From Ukraine is a story of international intrigue, faith, and romance.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Praise

 

“Miracle From Ukraine is a gripping tale of love and adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat! The story follows the lives of Irina Balabanova, a beautiful Ukrainian girl, and John Masters, a middle-aged American software salesman, as they navigate the challenges of falling in love across borders. From bureaucratic legalities to the jealousy of a former KGB officer, the obstacles they face seem insurmountable. But with perseverance and a little bit of divine intervention, their love story unfolds in the most incredible way. This book not only explores the cottage industry of international online matchmaking but also delves into the risks and rewards of searching for love overseas. Based on actual events, Miracle From Ukraine is a touching tribute to the power of love, the strength of the human spirit, and the joys of life’s unexpected surprises.

If you’re looking for a thrilling, romantic read, this is the book for you!”

 

 

Excerpt

 

John took a shuttle flight that ran daily from the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport to Lambert International. Upon exiting the small aircraft, he entered the terminal and made his way toward his gate in preparation for his departure to Chicago. A former boss in Atlanta once told him he should never make important decisions when you’re emotional, advice he always valued but couldn’t apply this day. Once settled and waiting to board, he dialed up his parents’ phone, and his mother answered on three rings.

“Mom, I’m in St. Louis, getting ready to fly out to Kiev.”

“My, this is sudden. So, when is her interview?”

“I don’t know,…yet,” John replied and gave his mother the long litany of events, or lack thereof, that had occurred over the past three weeks.

“You know this doesn’t sound too good… And there’s no sense in us trying to talk you out of going back over there,” his mother stated, knowing her oldest son all too well.

John paused before answering. “Johnny knows to come to your place after school, Mom. I’ll call when I get there. Love you all.”

“Love you too, John. We’ll be praying for you.”

***

After yet another long and sleepless night, Irina entered the kitchen in dire need of some coffee. She picked up her phone to check for missed calls and messages, noticing the battery being nearly dead. This is strange, I know I plugged this in to charge it overnight. It had to have been unplugged… Dimitri!

There was now little mystery as to where Kuznetsov had received such detailed information over time about her calls and she assumed Dimitri had also snooped around the apartment for any other incriminating information he could find. The damage had now been done and the only remaining question was how she would get rid of him.

Setting the issue with her tenant’s betrayal aside, Irina decided to send John an email message, one that she hoped wouldn’t break his heart as much as it was breaking hers.

 

Dear John, I am sorry you have not heard from me. Because of issues within my family and a police investigation on me, I cannot emigrate to America in the foreseeable future. I hope you will forgive me. You will always have a place in my heart.

Love, your Irina

PS: Feel free to transfer the money still in my account and cancel it. I will try and pay you back the rest someday.

 

She sat and proofread the message, preparing to hit SEND when she heard a knock on the door. Who could this be at this time of morning? Momma and Papa or Alika would have called before coming over here… And they never knocked before entering anyway.

Irina opened the front door and standing before her in the hallway was a young woman, perhaps her own age and one distant in memory, wearing an official-looking female uniform and the SSU badge displayed prominently on the collar. Irina saw a red flag of concern flash before her, which immediately instilled an extreme sense of dread. “Yes?”

The young woman struggled to recognize the lovely Irina Viktorivna Balabanova, as the woman facing her looked terrible, one who appeared to have not slept, washed, or applied an ounce of make-up in days. She thus held up a copy of her photograph for credence, while also handing over a prepared handwritten memo and signaling with an index finger to her lips to be silent. Irina read the scribbled note, looking up at her with a confused blank expression, and then the SSU agent leaned forward to whisper in Irina’s ear.

“I am Calina Zhukova, from the State Security of Ukraine, Kharkov Oblast office. Your apartment may have listening devices. I suggest we talk outside, perhaps around in back of the building.”

 

 

About the Author

 

James Herbert Harrison, a native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, has lived and worked throughout the continental United States as a businessman and industrial equipment and software sales representative. He currently resides in Olathe, Kansas with his wife Maryna and their thirteen-year-old son. James has an older son who remains in Cape Girardeau as well as two older step kids. The family are active and proud members of Lenexa Baptist Church in Lenexa, Kansas.

James’ pedigree as a writer began ten years earlier with the publishing of his first novel, Quest For Power, a political thriller soon to be re-released as The Programmer. Miracle From Ukraine, a totally different departure in genre, was inspired by the real-life saga of James and Maryna having experienced many of the actual events in the story. James is currently working on Escape From Ukraine, a dramatic and contemporary sequel.

 

 

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The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian (A Buttercup Bend Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – New York
Next Chapter (July 5, 2023)
Number of Pages 275

 

Synopsis

 

After solving two murders in the “peaceful” town of Buttercup Bend, Cathy Carter needs a rest. She also needs time to consider the marriage proposals she received over the holidays. But when the town’s librarian asks her to go undercover to solve the suspected murder of a co-worker who retired to a llama farm, Cathy leaves her kittens with her grandmother and her friends without an explanation.

The only person at Oaks Landing Farm who knows the true reason Cathy and Mildred have come there is Danielle, the murder victim’s daughter, who is having trouble convincing relatives and the police that her mother Doris was killed and didn’t suffer the heart attack that was termed her cause of death.

When it’s proved that Danielle’s suspicions are correct, the guests who attended the dinner at which Doris died are invited back for a reenactment of that night. These included the gardener, veterinarian, and farmhand who all had motives to murder Doris, as well as Doris’ sister and her ex-husband. When the dinner is staged, the only clue Cathy receives is given by Danielle’s grandmother who has dementia. Will this unreliable tip help Cathy deduce who murdered the llama raising librarian?

 

 

 

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Guest Post

 

How My Trip to a Farm Made My Book’s Llama Pregnant

 

By Debbie De Louise

 

 

I’d already finished writing The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian, my third Buttercup Bend cozy mystery, and was on the final edits when I took a trip out East with a friend to the Long Island Yarn and Farm in Yaphank.

I visited the farm so that I could see llamas in person and research more about them for my book. I’d spoken previously to Andrea Parent-Tibbets, the owner of a similar farm upstate, the Clover Brooke Farm, after which I modeled my fictional Oaks Landing Farm. I’d also included the three barn cats that reside there.

While speaking with Andrea, she mentioned that I might consider visiting the Long Island Yarn and Farm that was closer to me. I contacted Tabbeitha Haubold, the owner, and arranged a visit. I had hoped to get there while I was writing the book, but various issues prevented that.

It wasn’t until after I’d submitted the completed manuscript to my publisher and received the edits to review that I made it to the farm. I loved viewing the llamas and taking photos of and with them. When speaking to our tour guide I found it interesting that they kept their pregnant llamas in a separate area. Since the main llama in my book was female, my friend suggested that I consider making her pregnant. Because I had a scene where Lulu was acting under the weather and a human character in the book was also pregnant, I thought this was a great idea and one that would be easy to add to the storyline.

I learned another interesting fact after asking how a female llama’s pregnancy is confirmed. I was told that it’s through a “spit test,” where the female llama is put back in the pen with the male llama with whom they were trying to breed her, and if she spits at him, she’s expecting. I also added this information to my novel and, after meeting Stewie, a male llama, I featured him as the father of Lulu’s baby.

If you don’t mind a teaser, check out this excerpt to see how I made Lulu a mommy llama-to-be. In this scene, two veterinarians check her out because she’s been sleeping more than usual.

 

Both vets were standing by Lulu who still seemed to be sleeping. She was curled up on her stomach, legs apart on both sides of her.

Stacy knelt down and began examining Lulu. When she touched her, Lulu rolled over and opened her eyes. “Hey, girl. You okay?” After using the stethoscope that hung around her neck to listen to the llama’s heart, Stacy got up, wiped the dirt from her pant legs, and said, “I don’t think there’s anything seriously wrong with her. Why don’t you check her now, Dr. Graham?”

“Michael, please. May I call you Stacy? We’re colleagues.”

Stacy smiled. “That would be fine, Michael.”

Michael got down on his knees and performed his own exam of Lulu. When she stood up after he was done, he patted her on the head. “You’re fine, Lulu.” He addressed Mavis. “I concur with Stacy’s findings. There’s nothing wrong with your llama. If I may hazard a guess, she might be a bit under the weather, lonely, or depressed. Animals get that way, too.”

Mavis shrugged. “She gets plenty of attention. My niece Sheri is wild about her.”

“I don’t doubt that, but you mentioned that your sister was also very close to Lulu.”

“Yes, but she’s been gone a month already.”

“It doesn’t matter. Grief can hit someone at any time after a loss. You just haven’t noticed her apathy.”

Stacy said, “While I agree with Michael, I think there’s another factor at play here.” She turned to Mavis. “Have you been trying to breed her?”

Mavis said, “Last week, I put her in a separate pen with Stewie for a few hours. I didn’t tell anyone because we’ve had problems breeding her in the past. We never tried with Stewie, so I thought we’d give it another go. It’s been so crazy here lately that it skipped my mind. Do you think she’s expecting?”

Stacy nodded. “I’d say there’s a good chance that’s part of the reason she’s acting this way.”

“How do you test her to find out?”

Michael answered her question. “It’s a behavior test. They put her back in with Stewie and, if she spits at him and wants nothing to do with him, there’ll be a baby llama, cria, in about a year.”

Cathy laughed. “I never heard of that. With female cats, you simply notice changes like weight gain, increased appetite, and many seem more affectionate.”

Mavis smiled. “I’ll set up a spit test soon, but I don’t want to say anything until we know for sure. If it’s true, Sheri will be thrilled.”

So that’s how I worked in the research from my farm visit and made a llama pregnant in The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian.

 

 

About the Author

 

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a retired reference librarian. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Cat Writers’ Association. She writes two cozy mystery series, the Cobble Cove Mysteries and Buttercup Bend Mysteries. She’s also written a paranormal romance, three standalone mysteries, a time-travel novel, and a collection of cat poems. Her stories and poetry appear in over a dozen anthologies. Debbie also writes articles for cat magazines. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

 

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FOR THE MINDS

 

AND WILLS OF MEN

 

by

 

Jeff Lanier

 

 

 

Mystery / Art History

Publisher: Boyle & Dalton

Date of Publication: October 16, 2022

Number of Pages: 310 pages

 

 

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A gripping, historical art mystery set in 1950s New York, For the Minds and Wills of Men is a story of art, love, and Cold War fear, suspicion, and betrayal.

MANHATTAN, 1953. Fear of communist subversion and espionage are tearing America apart. Abstract expressionism is on the verge of exploding, making New York the cultural epicenter of the world. While recovering a stolen Jackson Pollock for a wealthy client, art insurer Will Oxley falls for the client’s daughter, Liz Bower, who leads him deep into the rebellious and seductive world of the abstract expressionist painters, their Village bar haunts and East Hampton binges. But when Will learns the painting-and Liz-may be hiding communist secrets better left hidden, he finds himself torn between exposing the girl he loves or risking his life by trusting her instead. Realizing nothing is as it seems, Will is caught between communist espionage, secret government programs, and the grip of cold war fear, suspicion, and betrayal where trust is all he has left…

With post-World War II New York, 1950s avant-garde art world, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings as background, the novel tells the story of abstract expressionism and mid-century American politics- through the thrilling search for a stolen Jackson Pollock.

 

 

 

 

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Praise

 

2023 INDIEREADER AWARD WINNER: 1^ST PLACE FICTION

“Lanier brilliantly evokes the energy and excitement of the New York art world in this Cold War thriller with an artistic twist. Along the way, he gives us fascinating insights into Abstract Expressionism and the power of art to communicate values and ideas.” –Ross King, Acclaimed art historian and New York Times bestselling author of The Judgment of Paris, Brunelleschi’s Dome, and Michelangelo and The Pope’s Ceiling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Fact and Fiction”

 

Excerpt from

 

FOR THE MINDS AND WILLS OF MEN

 

by Jeff Lanier

 

 

ON OCCASION, a reader may wonder what of this story is true. Although loosely inspired by the 1967 New York Times article and Frances Stoner Saunders’ book The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters, this story is entirely fictitious. Several historical figures interact with fictional characters in the novel including Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Nelson Rockefeller, Porter McCray, John “Jock” Whitney, and Congressman George Dondero; and, while my research formed the basis of their character and actions, their involvement in the story is a complete fabrication. This woven canvass of fact and fiction continues throughout the novel.

However, while the storyline and dialogue between well- known actual people were imagined, like all historical novelists, I tried to depict the world in which the story takes place with as much likeness and accuracy as I could, layering in strands of “historical truth” while still taking certain liberties to create a lively fiction.

First and foremost, I attempted to render the biographies and personalities of the artists, their art, and the art history to the best of my ability, particularly Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Franz Kline. The Stable Gallery existed and was established in 1953 by Eleanor Ward, deriving its name from its first home, a former livery stable on Seventh Avenue at West 58th Street. The gallery focused primarily on modern and avant-garde art, particularly the abstract expressionists. Eleanor Ward held annual exhibitions of painting and sculpture; the 1st annual was held in 1953. Participating artists included Philip Guston, Hans Hoffman, Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, Elaine de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, Robert Motherwell, Roy Newell, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jack Tworkov, among sixty-four others. Jackson Pollock did not show in the 1st Annual. The Club and Cedar bar both existed in close proximity to each other on Eighth and University and were important seedbeds of the Abstract Expressionist movement. Jackson Pollock did kick the payphone. While de Kooning’s exhibition of his Woman series launched in 1953, the series first showed at the Sidney Janis gallery in March rather than the late summer as presented in the novel. And, he did not complete the paintings in his rented Hampton house. The MoMA exhibit “Twelve Modern American Painters and Sculptors” occurred, circulated to six countries in Europe (April 1953 to March 1954), and was primarily funded by a 1952 five-year grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. There was no preview for the MoMA exhibit at the Stable Gallery. And, obviously, Elizabeth Bower and the Bower Foundation are complete fabrications with no involvement in the MoMA exhibit.

The painter Andrei Roschin and his HUAC trial are entirely fictitious yet modeled after a similar muralist painter and his mural The History of California, located in the Rincon Center Post Office in downtown San Francisco, California, which was the subject of a 1953 congressional hearing by the House Committee on Public Works chaired by Congressman George Dondero. Congressman George Dondero was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan who did mount an attack on modern art. In 1949 and again in 1952, he delivered a now-famous speech in which he denounces the Artists Equity Association and American Artists’ Congress as Communist fronts, museums as Soviet pawns broadcasting the Russian propaganda, and the art of the ‘isms’ as the weapon of the Russian Revolution Cubism, Futurism, Dadaism, Expressionism, Abstractionism, and Surrealism. The Scientific And Cultural Conference For World Peace event did occur, was held at the Waldorf-Astoria for three days in March 1949, and was the subject of great political concern and protest.

And lastly, although the organization ALERT did not exist, it was modeled after similar organizations, such as the private interest group AWARE, which created blacklists for employers and ‘special reports’ like Red Channels listing names of purported communists. The libel lawsuit John Henry Faulk v. Aware, Inc., et al, which began in 1957 and concluded in 1962, resulted in a verdict that put an end to institutional blacklisting by private groups and individuals who claimed to be experts on Communism; and put an end to the organization itself.

To render this world, several books and articles were indispensable, as well as the obvious effort spent in libraries and on internet research. For the 1950s and McCarthyism, I am indebted to Ellen Schrecker’s Many Are the Crimes, McCarthyism in America; and to the Fifties by David Halberstam. For the world of art, I leaned on several authors and their books including Irving Sandler’s The Triumph of American Painting; to Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith’s Jackson Pollock: An American Saga; to Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan’s de Kooning: An American Master; and to An Emotional Memoir of Franz Kline by Fielding Dawson. The following essays were also helpful: Eva Cockroft’s essay “Abstract Expressionism, Weapon of the Cold War” in Frances Frascina ed., Pollock and After. The Critical Debate, “The Suppression of Art in the McCarthy Decade” by William Hauptman; “American Painting During the Cold War” by Max Kozloff; “Art and Politics in Cold War America” by Jane De Hart Mathews; “The Philosophy and Politics of Abstract Expressionism 1940 – 1960” by Nancy Jachec with Cambridge University, and the “Review of the Scientific And Cultural Conference For World Peace” arranged by the National Council of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Lanier is an award-winning author. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and art history at The University of Texas, Austin, with a focus on the History of American Culture through Art and Literature. He has a master’s from Rice University, is a member of the American Society of Aesthetics, and currently lives in Houston with his wife and three children.

 

 

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For the Minds and Wills of Men

 

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07/25/23	The Book’s Delight	Review
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Dame Alice Hits Hollywood (Dame Alice Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Old Hollywood and Beverly Hills, circa 1937.
‎Wrenfield Books (May 23, 2023)
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 139 pages

 

Synopsis

 

April 1937: When Penelope Greenleigh, assistant at Ten Spot Press, learns she’ll be heading to Hollywood to supervise script changes on the set of Lady Irwin’s Diamonds, she should be thrilled. Who wouldn’t want to mingle with movie stars in sunny California?

But there’s a catch: Penelope, 29 and from Cape May, New Jersey, has been asked to impersonate Dame Alice Cartwright, the world’s bestselling mystery author, who’s 47 and lives in Copley-on-the-Wold, England.

On the night Penelope arrives in L.A., Lady Irwin‘s lead actress disappears and a Harry Winston necklace goes missing. Soon, gossip columnist Hattie Holiday threatens to expose Penelope’s deception, mobsters are coming after the film’s boozy director, and worst of all, Dame Alice’s script has gone from murder mystery to Fred and Ginger-style musical!

The action unfolds at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Trocadero, and hotspot Chasen’s as Penelope works to solve the crimes alongside a handsome detective and a hapless studio flunky. Can she find the diamonds, the actress, and survive a wild week in Hollywood?

 

 

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Guest Post

 

 

Movie people. I rarely venture from my village of Copley-on-the-Wold, England, to steer clear of such attention-hungry types. But here I am at a party in Beverly Hills, California, and it seems murder and missing diamonds are on the menu.

Let me catch you up: It’s 1937, and as the world’s bestselling authoress of mysteries, filmmakers are constantly asking to turn my books into dubious gems of the silver screen. Even worse, they try to add song and dance numbers in between the murders! I finally agreed to Lady Irwin’s Diamonds getting the Hollywood treatment, and my New York publisher demanded that I travel to Los Angeles to oversee script changes.

I’d initially refused to go, but then reconsidered: I stood to lose $25,000 if Lady Irwin shut down production, so I packed my tweeds, sailed, and flew west. When I arrived at the Beverly Hills Hotel, however, I found a young woman in a wig and wool skirt impersonating me. Bloody cheek, if you ask me!

To my surprise, though, it turns out that there’s a drink out here named the daiquiri that’s made this visit rather delightful. There’s also sunshine, a balmy breeze, roses, and hibiscus everywhere you turn.

The fake Dame Alice, a girl named Penelope, has quickly apologized, explaining that she works for my American publisher and he insisted she come here in my stead.

Unfortunately,  Penelope has been in Los Angeles for less than 48 hours, and already the film’s star has disappeared. A Harry Winston necklace has been stolen. A local mobster, Louie Malone, wants to kill the director, an idiotic young man named Skipper Farley.

As usual, people expect me to solve the crimes, and I suppose I’ll have to. All of this is happening under the menacing glare of a horrid gossip columnist, Hattie Holiday, who I know from my younger days in London, and everyone I meet keeps suggesting I visit the hair salon, buy new dresses, and swipe on some lipstick.

On the plus side, I do enjoy a nice hotel. And the Brown Derby is rather fun, if silly. And then there’s the Paramount party later tonight—if I can stop a murder, get the film back on track, and find those diamonds. Who knows? Maybe this British dame will set her next book right here in glamorous Hollywood. Watch out, Philip Marlowe!

 

 

About the Author

 

A longtime magazine journalist, Allie Mahoney has written for Town & Country, Time Out New York, and Cosmo. A lifelong Agatha Christie fan, her shelves are also filled with the books of P.G. Wodehouse, Dave Barry, Sophie Kinsella, and Carl Hiaasen. Additional guilty pleasures: Classic Hollywood movies, fashion, dogs, Bravo tv, BritBox, Phillies baseball, and the beach.

 

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