A Legacy of Murder: A Kate Hamilton Mystery
Traditional Mystery
2nd in Series
Crooked Lane Books (October 8, 2019)
Hardcover ~336 Pages

Synopsis

American antique dealer Kate Hamilton’s Christmastime jaunt to a charming English village leads to an investigation of a missing ruby…and a chain of murders.

It’s Christmastime and antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is off to visit her daughter, Christine, in the quaint English village of Long Barston. Christine and her boyfriend, Tristan, work at stately-but-crumbling Finchley Hall. Touring the Elizabethan house and grounds, Kate is intrigued by the docent’s tales of the Finchley Hoard, and the strange deaths surrounding the renowned treasure trove. But next to a small lake, Kate spies the body of a young woman, killed by a garden spade.

Nearly blind Lady Barbara, who lives at Finchley with her loyal butler, Mugg, persuades Kate to take over the murdered woman’s work. Kate finds that a Burmese ruby has vanished from the legendary Blood-Red Ring, replaced by a lesser garnet. Were the theft and the woman’s death connected?

Kate learns that Lady Barbara’s son fled to Venezuela years before, suspected of murdering another young woman. The murder weapon belonged to an old gardener, who becomes the leading suspect. But is Lady Barbara’s son back to kill again? When another body is found, the clues point toward Christine. It’s up to Kate to clear her daughter’s name in Connie Berry’s second Kate Hamilton mystery, a treasure for fans of traditional British mysteries.

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Guest Post

CAN I DO IT AGAIN?

by Connie Berry

My agent once said that the hardest book you’ll ever write is your second. That’s probably true for many authors, but with all due respect—she’s an amazing, knowledgeable professional—no book could ever have been harder than my first. A Dream of Death took ten years and several massive revisions before it was ready for prime time. The learning curve was so steep, I often doubted I’d ever make it to the top. And this from a person with an M.A. in English Literature who’d been told from second grade on that writing was her gift. I’d read a thousand and one fine mysteries before sitting down at my computer and asking myself, “How hard could it be?” I found out.

I began writing my second book, A Legacy of Murder (a sequel) before I had an agent or a publisher. Writing was a pleasure. First of all, I didn’t have to make all those beginner mistakes again. Yay! Besides, I was writing about characters I had already learned to know and care about—plus some entertaining new characters as well. I loved my plot. And with no deadlines to pressure me, I had all the time in the world to polish, polish, polish (my favorite thing in all the world).

Then I sold two books to Crooked Lane. All of a sudden I was responsible to someone besides myself. I had deadlines. Then the other shoe fell. When A Dream of Death began getting terrific reviews, I couldn’t help asking myself, “Can I do it again?” Can I, in the next six months, produce another story people will like? After all, it took ten years for the first.

Helen Simonson didn’t help. She’s the author of the run-away best-seller Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, a sweet story of love conquering all. Then her eager fans (me included) had to wait six long years for her second novel, The Summer Before the War. Another excellent book, although she lost a star on that one. Her website gives no hint, but I hope she’s working on a third.

The bottom line was, I didn’t have six years. I had less than six months, so I got to work. And with only a month’s delay (graciously granted), I pushed send and my manuscript flew through cyberspace toward its destiny. I felt like I had when as a young mother, I watched my first son board the yellow school bus and wave goodbye as it chugged around the corner and out of sight.

Since then (as I write this, I’m working on book three in the series), I  have come to understand that just about every author asks the question, “Can I do it again?” They ask it every time they begin a new book. Here’s where fear creeps in: What if the plot never comes together? What if I need more time to finish? What if readers don’t connect with my characters? What if the pace is too slow—or too fast? What if…what if?

I love what the eighteenth-century English lexicographer, Dr. Samuel Johnson, once said: “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be met.” That encourages me to push forward.

I’m glad to say that reviews for A Legacy of Murder have been wonderful so far. People are reading and enjoying the story. They are connecting with the characters and the wonderful Suffolk countryside setting. Now, with book three, I wonder: can I do it again?

Have you struggled with the fear of failure? What might you accomplish if instead of asking, “Can I do it again?” you asked, “What am I risking if I never try?”

About the Author

Like her protagonist, Connie Berry was raised in the antiques trade. After teaching theology for twenty-five years, she took up writing mysteries featuring high-end antiques and the legacy of the past. Connie loves history, cute animals, travel with a hint of adventure, and all things British. She lives in Ohio with her husband and adorable dog, Millie.

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