I'm currently reading The Alchemist of Brushstrokes and Brimstone by Gigi Pandian. This is the eighth book in the Accidental Alchemist Mystery series and was released last month.
Zoe Faust’s most treasured possession is a portrait of her with her brother painted by Perenelle Flamel. Both Zoe and Perenelle are put on guard when inquiries about the painting begin. Why the interest after so many years? Zoe is devastated when her painting is stolen, but another theft and a subsequent murder make things even more concerning. Is someone targeting Zoe? Or Perenelle? Is it about alchemy or corporate espionage? Zoe and her friends will join forces to not only retrieve the painting, but allow a gifted artist from the past take her true place in history, while keeping their ultimate secret safe.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate - An Interview
Today I'm happy to welcome Elaine Faber back to Cozy Up With Kathy today. It's Election Day in the United States thus a perfect time to talk about Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate, the fifth book in the Mrs. Odboddy Mystery series.
Kathy: Today is election day in the United States of America, a fitting day to talk about your latest release. The Mrs. Odboddy series takes place during WWII. What are the major similarities and differences regarding voting then and now?
EF: On November 7, 1944, a Presidential election was held during the final stages of WWII, the setting of my latest mystery novel, Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate. 48,025,684 voters turned out to return Mr. Roosevelt to his unprecedented fourth term, making him the longest-serving President in U.S. history. By contrast, in 2020, 158,481,688 voters went to the polls. (This year, 2024, there are 186 million registered voters.)
Kathy: Was there specific inspiration for this story?
EF: In the previous mystery novel, Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings, Agnes ran afoul of the prejudiced city council as she searched for a permanent home for Shere Khan, the displaced carnival tiger she adopted. It seemed natural that when a seat opened up on the Newbury City Council, she should run for office. Of course, campaigning for any office has many snags, and it’s not surprising when Agnes begins to experience her unworthy opponent’s skullduggery! And boy, do things heat up as the campaign draws nearer to Election Day.
Kathy: After Mrs. Odboddy makes the decision to run for office, all manner of troubles befall
her. She's certain her political opponent is behind it all. The
question is posed, "is winning an election worth it when
her family is at risk?"
EF: Agnes faces soul searching questions about continuing the campaign when political shenanigans put her family at risk. Should she become a quitter when things get tough or keep fighting for a righteous cause?
To complicate matters, the State has received an anonymous letter declaring Agnes and Katherine are unfit foster parents, and continued care of their foster child is threatened.
In the midst of domestic and political challenges facing the family, Katherine’s ex-boyfriend, who left her at the altar the year before, returns in an attempt to restore their relationship. Katherine feels unable to send him packing when he manages to ‘save the day’ on multiple occasions.
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Sunday, November 3, 2024
Alone with a Tasman Tiger - An Interview & Giveaway
I'm pleased to welcome Jane Ellyson to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jane writes the Chic Charlie Mystery series. Alone with a Tasman Tiger is the second book in the series.
Kathy: In Alone with a Tasman Tiger six contestants battle it out to win $250,000 in the Tasmanian wilderness. Would you ever try such a competition?
JE: I’m not sure. Probably not under the rules of the competition outlined in Alone. I’m not a good at fishing or hunting and wouldn’t sleep hearing all the bumps in the night. I’m also spooked by snakes. But in my dreams, I’d like to try – after I’d completed a bush craft course
Kathy: The second Australian Cozy Mystery takes place is Brisbane, Sydney, Tasmania, and London. If you had a choice to live in one of these places which would you pick?
JE: I have lived in Brisbane, Sydney and London and enjoyed the experience in each city. Living in a small country town in Tassie would give me the being in the country experience, without the exposure to the cold and the local wildlife.
Kathy: What makes Tasmania the perfect location for a mystery?
JE: Because there are parts that are wild and inaccessible. It feels remote, hanging below mainland Australia.
Kathy: Australian Cozies tend to be less "cozy" than US cozies. Can you speak to this?
JE: Great question.
Cozy mysteries, in the U.S. and Australia, have a lot in common due to the genre’s typical defining features, but there are some differences shaped by each country’s unique culture and setting.
Let’s start by looking at the characteristics that are the same.
1. Amateur Sleuths:
Both U.S. and Australian cozy mysteries tend to feature amateur detectives—ordinary people, often women, who have an unusual knack for solving crimes.
2. Small-Town or Close-Knit Communities:
Cozy mysteries often take place in small, picturesque towns where everyone knows everyone. This holds true for both U.S. and Australian settings, with tight-knit communities playing a role in the charm and atmosphere of the stories. In Alone we had Galina and Charlotte working together to find Seb in stop the spies. Most of their sleuthing happens in and around Hobart, which is the capital of Tasmania.
3. Non-Graphic Violence:
In both countries, cozy mysteries generally avoid graphic depictions of violence or gore. Makes them a safe read. The focus is on the puzzle-solving aspect of the mystery rather than on action or intense crime drama. I personally abhor violence – and my female characters always use wit, boldness, tenacity and creativity rather than ‘muscles’ and guns to solve the mystery, find the missing person or get the villain.
4. Light, Often Humorous Tone:
The tone of cozy mysteries in both the U.S. and Australia tends to be light-hearted, often with a sense of humor, even if the subject matter is serious. The genre is meant to entertain without causing too much distress or tension.
5. Quirky Characters:
Both regions, US and Australia, feature quirky, eccentric characters who add charm and uniqueness to the stories. We have Galina, who’s a survivalist and a drummer. Each of the characters in the survival competition have a unique cultural heritage, profession, motivation for entering the survival competition and back story.
So the differences: I’ve picked four. Let’s start with setting and landscape.
1. Setting and Landscape:
o U.S. Cozies: U.S. cozy mysteries are often set in quaint, New England-style towns or idyllic countryside locations. Coastal villages, suburban enclaves, or towns with historical charm are popular. The settings tend to be stereotypically “Americana,” with bakeries, bookshops, and local diners as key locations.
o Australian Cozies: Australian cozy mysteries may take place in small rural towns or coastal communities, but the landscape feels distinctively Australian. There might be mentions of the outback, unique Australian wildlife, and flora, or characters might live near the bush or beach. Australian slang and cultural references often pepper the dialogue, adding a local flavor. I actually toned down some of the Australiaisms in the language as my non-Australian friends said they didn’t understand what the expression meant. For example ‘You Beauty’
2. Cultural References:
o U.S. Cozies: These often include references to American holidays like Thanksgiving or Fourth of July, or aspects of daily life such as baseball, apple pie, or local community fairs.
o Australian Cozies: In Australian cozies, you might find references to Australian-specific traditions, like Anzac Day, BBQ culture, or a focus on more laid-back Australian attitudes. The lifestyle portrayed in Australian cozies tends to feel a bit more outdoorsy or tied to nature in a different way than in U.S. versions.
3. Language and Slang:
The language in U.S. and Australian cozy mysteries differs, not just in accent but in slang and idiomatic expressions. Australian cozy mysteries often feature Australian English, with words and phrases like “mate,” “arvo” (afternoon), “brekkie” (breakfast), or “g'day.” U.S. cozies would use American English expressions and dialects, reflective of different regions.
4. Sense of Humor:
While humor is a common feature in cozies from both countries, Australian cozy mysteries may have a more sardonic or dry sense of humor, reflecting Australian cultural attitudes. Reference and jokes are made about Sebastian hanging out with a Tasmanian Tiger which is a creature of great interest to many Australians as it is assumed to be extinct. (This of course links to the title of my novel, Alone with a Tasman Tiger. U.S. cozies might lean more toward wholesome or quirky humor, though this depends on the author.
Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?
JE: I love reading mysteries. I love the gentle dropping of clues by the author and take great delight in spotting the villain before the ‘big reveal’. Having said that, I love it when there is an unexpected twist at the end. I’ll then read the book again to admire the author’s cleverness.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
JE: Under my own name I write business books and travel memoirs, sometimes with my husband. My first novel was romantic suspense. It was a real emotional rollercoaster ride. Love, loss and finding a way back home. It became the first book in the Northern Rivers Series. My writing evolved to action/adventure in some of the places I’ve lived and travelled to, like France, Italy, London, Thailand, Burma and Australia with romance as a sub-plot.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
JE: The tag line for the Northern Rivers series is Choices, Chaos and Coming home. My protagonist is Charlotte Wyatt who inadvertently gets herself into tricky situations because of the choices she makes. Several of the stories in the series such as Roman Roulette, Missing in Myanmar, and Nonsense in the North are about her search for someone, who has gone missing, and then she needs to apply creativity to rescue them. The first book in my latest series called ‘Chic Charlie’ is the story of the runup and big day itself for her wedding to Scott. Chic Charlie is the name of her fashion design studio. She is creating her own wedding dress, and also all the outfits for an arranged Indian wedding, when the bride goes missing.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
JE: I fall a little bit in love with all of my characters.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
JE: For Alone with a Tasman Tiger, it was various Survivor and ‘Alone’ TV series. I also read a few books like Stranded by Sarah Goodwin.
I’ve also been intrigued by the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. It’s a very demanding offshore sailing race in which yachts can sink and sailors die. I had to read a lot of sailing books to write this section of the book
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
JE: I was writing long before I was publishing. I would write stories for my nieces and nephews, using postcards and scrap books. Out of love.
I had my first novel rejected by Mills and Boon – as it was not light enough for their typical reader. It was shoved in a drawer.
When I learnt how to independently publish, I pulled it out of the drawer – published and kept going. I’ve currently written 12 books across four genres.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
JE: Julia Quinn – Author of Bridgerton. (I’ve heard her speak. She’s very funny)
Trevor Noah – Author of Born a Crime. My favourite memoir so far
Michale Robotham – Author of great mysteries
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
JE: Recently finished,
‘Bruny’ by Heather Rose which was a fantastic geo-political/family mystery/thriller about the destruction of a bridge in Tasmania. The characters and their back stories are delightfully described. And there’s a slow-build romance.
‘We are the Stars’ by Gina Chick. It’s a memoir written by the first woman to win ‘Alone’ in Australia. It was watching her, which was part of the inspiration for my writing an alternate version of the competition. She’s had such an interesting and at times difficult life.
Currently listening to The Covenant of Water, which was recommended to me by a member of my book club. It’s a multi-generational story about a family in India. Beautifully written. Love the observations about the small things.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
JE: Reading. Travelling, and travelling on a bicycle when possible. My husband and I are joining a few friends in the new year to ride from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in Thailand.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
JE: Avocado. (My British husband calls this my Australian obsession).
Cheese. (A habit I picked up living in France for ten years)
Cashew and macadamia nuts mix. (My favourite snack)
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
JE: I’m in the thinking and dreaming phase. I’ve been encourage to write Galina’s next adventure, which will probably happen in France and Estonia. I’ve not been to Estonia, so I’m thinking about a research trip.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
JE: It’s another world. I control it all I can make things happen. I can play our scenarios that scare me, but for which the heroine is successful. I love doing this. It’s empowering
As an Indie author, I can write what I want, get a cover designed that I love, set my pricing. Control the whole process.
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Alone with a Tasman Tiger (Chic Charlie) by Jane Ellyson
About Alone with a Tasman Tiger
Alone with a Tasman Tiger (Chic Charlie)
Australian Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Settings – Brisbane, Sydney, Tasmania and London
Publisher: Stanley Press (September 23, 2024)
Paperback: 398 pages
Australian Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Settings – Brisbane, Sydney, Tasmania and London
Publisher: Stanley Press (September 23, 2024)
Paperback: 398 pages
A high stakes race. A missing friend and a search for the impossible.
In the Tasmanian wilderness six contestants battle it out to win $250,000. Only five finish.
In Bass Strait the Blue Gazelle yacht tackles fierce winds, huge waves and a phantom vessel, in its race to win the Tattersall Cup.
In London a fashion designer learns about a Belarussian scientist, possibly involved with a deadly technology.
In Hobart a search party is launched for a missing sailor.
At the centre of investigations are two feisty sleuths, Galina Ivanov and Charlotte Harmon, who are looking for clues which could save their partners and stop the spread of a devastating weapon.
Can they find them before all hope is lost?
About Jane Ellyson
Jane Ellyson has written six novels across the action, adventure and romance genres. Having lived in Europe and Asia, in addition to her native Australia, her stories frequently visit beautiful locations. She currently lives at Possum Creek, just out of Bangalow in northern New South Wales, Australia – well she would if she was real – rather than being the pen name of someone who would prefer to remain anonymous.
Previous novels include:- Over Byron Bay
- Substitute Child
- Roman Roulette
- Missing in Myanmar
- Nonsense in the North
- An Extraordinary Wedding
Link to promotional video below. https://youtu.be/ihonaYdKZDY?si=ml8a_AQ0tQ0witHQ
And interview with my husband https://youtu.be/yX0g_Ta_ALY?si=0FkZBulw-r6neiaY
Author Links:
Twitter/X https://twitter.com/janeellyson1
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JaneEllysonAuthor
Threads https://www.threads.net/@janeellyson
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-ellyson-11627a127/
Purchase Links Amazon US Amazon AU Apple Tolino/Thalia Vivlio Kobo Barnes and Noble
Friday, November 1, 2024
A Halloween Homicide - A Spotlight
It may be the day after Halloween, but it's still spooky season! Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on A Halloween Homicide by Tonya Kappes. This book is the third in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series.
Blurb:
It’s spooky season in Holiday Junction and Halloweenie Festival is a hauntingly great time.Holiday Junction really knows how to throw holiday festivals, and it goes all out for Halloween.
The weeklong celebration includes a ghost walk of haunting tales, a hay ride, carnival games, pumpkin carvings and costume party.
Violet Rhinehammer has the perfect assignment—represent the Junction Journal by attending all the fun festive activities and reporting on them.
When Violet reluctantly goes on the ghost walk, she realizes the body that fell out of the fake casket is a real one and not a prop. She knows trouble is brewing. She puts on a sleuthing costume after someone she loves becomes Chief Strickland’s number one suspect in order to catch the real monster.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Currently Reading...
I just started reading Bronco Buster by A. J. Devlin. This book is the fourth in the "Hammerhead" Jed Mystery series and was released earlier this month.
A routine wrestling match at the Colossal Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair becomes anything but for Jed "Hammerhead" Ounstead when the body of a lumberjack games competitor is found floating in a shallow pool with an axe buried in his head. Realizing the victim is a man he considered a friend means that Jed has a new case. With his reckless cousin Declan by his side the pair will use any means, mostly unconventional, to get to the truth before the Mounties even arrive.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway
I'm pleased to welcome Ellen Butler to Cozy Up With Kathy. Ellen writes the Ariadne Winter Mystery series. INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN is the first book in the series and was released earlier this month.
Kathy: In INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN we meet Ariadne Winter. Though she dreams of being an investigative reporter, it's 1958 and she's tasked with writing fluff pieces for a woman's magazine. If you were looking for work what career would you want...and what would society expect?
EB: To be honest, I would have liked to work for Ariadne’s magazine. However, like Ariadne, it’s likely I would have found it difficult to move up to a more senior level position.
Kathy: What made you choose 1958 as the time period for your series?
EB: The soon-to-be princess was inspired by Grace Kelly who married Prince Ranier in 1956. Originally, I planned to have my novel take place in 1956. As I was writing, I realized I needed it to happen after the Sputnik launch in 1957, which is how I settled on 1958.
Kathy: Ariadne is sent to interview a starlet about to have the "Wedding of the Century". I admit to getting up in the middle of the night to watch Lady Diana marry Prince Charles, but that's been the extent of my interest. What about you? Do you find celebrity weddings compelling?
EB: I find royal weddings chockfull of eye candy—the dress, the tiara, the bouquet, etc. The excitement and joy from the crowds adds to the captivating quality of the ceremony. However, I also pity the wedding couple. I know I wouldn’t want that type of circus for my wedding—so many things are dictated to the bride because of tradition. Brides marrying into royalty can’t marry in their own church or hometown. Even their attendants are dictated. Every little girl wants to marry a prince. Then you grow up and realize the pressures of what that means and it isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
EB: I grew up reading Agatha Christie. I loved Ten Little Indians, Murder on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express, and the Miss Marple series.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
EB: Yes, romance, crime fiction, and historical espionage.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
EB: I began writing in romantic suspense with the Love, California Style series. While writing the romances, I realized I enjoyed the suspense side more, and moved onto writing the Karina Cardinal mysteries, a contemporary crime fiction series. Sprinkled in between the Karina Cardinal mysteries, I wrote a spy fiction duology that takes place during WWII and the Cold War—The Brass Compass, and Operation Blackbird, both of which are multi-award-winning historical fiction. Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn, is the start of the new Ariadne Winter series.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
EB: In Ink and Intrigue, I’d have to say my favorite character is Aunt Ruby. She’s lived an interesting life, she’s confident, and ageing gracefully. I also made her a business owner which I love, especially considering the time period.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
EB: Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Mertz), JK Rowling, and Ian Fleming
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
EB: THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW by I.S. Berry
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
EB: When I’m not writing I enjoy reading, spending time with family, working on home improvement projects, and attending car shows. Butler has a passion for classic cars, especially the bright colors of the 1950s vehicles replete with fins and bulbous lights.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
EB: Milk, eggs, bread, and wine.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
EB: Working on the next Ariadne Winter mystery, tentatively titled MURDER AT BALLYFORD CASTLE. It takes place in Ireland near the Cliffs of Moher.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
EB: When readers reach out to tell me they loved my book so much it kept them up late into the night reading.
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Review
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INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN by Ellen Butler
The First Ariadne Winter Mystery
The First Ariadne Winter Mystery
Ariadne Winter dreams of being an investigative reporter as she works for Ladies’ Lifestyle Magazine. It may not be a crime beat, but thanks to Aunt Ruby's connections she has the opportunity of a lifetime. Traveling to Rhode Island, Ariadne will get to interview a Hollywood star who's about to marry a real prince in what's being called the "Wedding of the Century"! Staying at the Ivy Tree Inn she soon discovers anger simmering amongst the other guests and staff. Problems seem to be plaguing the inn and someone has leaked a secret about the future princess. Then murder strikes. A dead body may be bad news for some, but for Ariadne it could open up a whole new career, if it doesn't kill her first.
INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN is told from multiple points of view. Indeed, almost everyone has a chapter devoted to their perspective. While this method does give more insight into the characters, as you see their views on the situation, it takes away a sense of continuity. The majority of the story is told from Ariadne's point of view, but by reading all the other characters thoughts about her, I lost a sense of closeness and had a difficult time relating to and even liking her. Instead of the protagonist she was more like just another character with issues. The person I really liked was Aunt Ruby. She was a definite scene stealer and I'm much more interested in her!
I enjoyed going back in time to 1958 noticing all the differences you
don't see today, typewriters, rotary phones with long cords, and,
notably, almost everyone smoking. Sadly, some things are just as
prevalent today, such as the difficulty women journalists face due to
their gender.
INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN captures the historical flavor of the United States in the late 1950s and creates a compelling mystery whose characters are full of resentment and secrets.
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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Mystery by Ellen Butler
About Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn
Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Power to the Pen (October 2, 2024)
Print length: 323 pages
Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Power to the Pen (October 2, 2024)
Print length: 323 pages
Stumbling across a dead body could be the making … or breaking of an aspiring reporter.
During 1958, when the workforce is predominantly male, societal norms dictate women should be compliant, fashionable housewives. To Ariadne Winter, the sole tradition she aims to embrace is that of being fashionable. Amidst the ambiance of Ivy Tree Inn, where she's been dispatched as a writer for Ladies’ Lifestyle Magazine, her focus wavers as she grapples with an interview assignment concerning a Hollywood starlet on the cusp of royal matrimony—an event hailed as the "Wedding of the Century." While Ariadne dutifully attends to her task, her heart yearns for the pursuit of her collegiate ambition: to be an investigative reporter for a renowned newspaper.
However, fate intervenes when she discovers a dead body and recognizes the opportunity it presents to write her way into the role she desires. Yet, as Ariadne delves deeper into the lives of the inn's inhabitants, she uncovers a labyrinth of intertwined relationships and long-buried secrets among guests and staff alike, yielding a plethora of suspects. With a murderer on the loose, her magazine deadline looming, and the inn cordoned off by authorities, Ariadne faces a race against time to untangle the web of deceit and solve the murder before she loses more than just her job.
About Ellen Butler
Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Multiple books in the series have hit #1 on Amazon bestseller lists in the US and abroad. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism." Butler is also the author of the award-winning historical suspense novel, The Brass Compass. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, 2018 Indie Reader Discovery Award, 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner. Butler started writing in the romance genre and won the The Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award 2015 with her novel Planning for Love. Her 12th book Operation Blackbird, a Cold War Spy novel, was published in October 2022 and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction.
Serving Up Suspense with Style Ellenbutler.net Instagram Facebook
Purchase Link - Amazon -
Monday, October 28, 2024
Caught on Camera - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway
I'm pleased to welcome Kara Lacey to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Lacey writes the Camera Club Mystery series. CAUGHT ON CAMERA is the first book in the series and was released last month.
Kathy: In CAUGHT ON CAMERA we meet Bobbie Brooks, a photographer in Vermont. Do you like to take photos? Do you consider yourself a photographer, or just a point and clicker?
KL: I consider myself a photography enthusiast. I have tons of enthusiasm and limited talent. When I first started spending time in Vermont, I was taken in by its natural beauty—the mountains and forest, the quaint villages, and the charming farms. I bought myself a camera and started learning. I take photos daily, mostly with my iPhone, but I still explore the area with my DSLR.
Kathy: Bobbie is a member of the local camera club. Do you belong to any clubs in your town?
KL: The idea for the camera club came from a suggestion that I start one. I’d been out taking photos and walked into my village’s country store with my camera hanging from my neck. A man approached me, curious about the photos I’d been taking. He suggested I start a club. The idea intrigued me, but with a full-time career in Boston, I only visited Vermont on weekends, and didn’t feel I had the time. I don’t belong to any local camera clubs, but have been involved with photographers I’ve met online. We’ll do photography challenges together, post our photos in a private group, and critique each other's work.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
KL: My mom. She’s always been an avid reader of both cozy and traditional mysteries. When I finally got curious enough to ask her for book recommendations, she pointed me toward Katherine Hall Page, Diane Mott Davidson, and Ann Cleves. Once I got started, I was hooked.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
KL: None that I’m published in. Last year during NaNoWriMo, I wrote a messy rough draft of a romance. I had a lot of fun with it, but I’m undecided whether I’ll pursue publishing in that genre.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
KL: My Camera Club series combines my love for photography with my love for Vermont. Sometimes I think of the stories in this series as cozy mysteries with a hint of women’s fiction thrown in. Each story includes a mystery with lots of twists and turns, but in the background is the story of my protagonist, Bobbie Brooks, and her personal growth.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
KL: My protagonist, Bobbie, is my favorite. The books in this series are her story.
Of my side characters, I probably like Rose the best. She’s spunky and fun-loving—always up for whatever adventure Bobbie throws her way. But she’s also smart in a way that isn’t outwardly obvious, and she keeps Bobbie in line.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
KL: I’d say my small Vermont village is my biggest inspiration. Not only is it beautiful and quaint, but the interactions between people living in a small town where the landscape can make life difficult is fascinating. There’s a strong community spirit in rural Vermont.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
KL: That’s a good question. I sometimes think that I never really made a conscious decision to publish. When I first started writing Caught on Camera, I was mostly writing for myself. As I wrote, I learned, and one thing led to another. I joined writing organizations, found critique partners, attended mystery conferences, and met an agent who took me on. None of this happened overnight, but the steps I took led to publishing. It’s been quite a journey.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
KL: Wow, there are so many authors I’d love to talk to. I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with Amor Towles. His prose is beautiful. I’d love to know how he does it. Chris Bojalian is a Vermont author. I’ve heard him speak, and he’s both kind and fascinating, and I’d love to learn how he does all the research necessary for his books. I’ve always admired Louise Penny’s talent for bringing her setting to life. What mystery fan doesn’t want to visit Three Pines? I’ll round out my party with Ann Cleeves. Not only does she write the most atmospheric settings, but her characters are fascinating.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
KL: I’m currently reading a romcom by Leah Dobrinska—EXES DON'T. She’s fabulous (and also writes the Larkspur Library cozy mystery series). EXES DON'T is the third in her Fall in Love Series, and just published this week.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
KL: Reading is probably my primary hobby. With so many good books out there, I can’t keep up. I don’t take photos like I used to, but I still consider photography to be one of my favorite hobbies. Art journaling is also a fantastic creative outlet. I’m terrible at it, but there’s nothing quite like getting messy with paints and collage.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
KL: Yogurt, pasta, herbal tea, and dark chocolate. (Not terribly exciting—haha)
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
KL: Yes. I’m currently revising the second book in my Camera Club Mystery series. This one takes place in Vermont’s beautiful autumn season. The murder will happen at a masquerade party during the village’s annual Harvest Festival. I’m also getting ready to draft the third book in the series, which will involve the Christmas holiday season, a wedding, and a murder. I’m having a lot of fun with both of them.
KL: Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
I love the flexibility. I have deadlines, but as long as I keep myself on track, I decide what I write, when I write it, and where. I work best first thing in the morning, and I love that I can pour myself a cup of coffee and just get started wearing my yoga pants and a sweatshirt. All the things I’ve learned and people I’ve met have been a huge, unexpected bonus as well.
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Review
CAUGHT ON CAMERA by Kara Lacey
The First Camera Club Mystery
Widow Bobbie Brooks has left the big city of Boston for small town rural Vermont. While her sister and a good friend are neighbors Bobbie still feels like an outsider. Hoping to fit in to the community she starts a photography club. But their first outing turns disastrous when Bobbie discovers the body of one of its members. Thinking it had to be a tragic accident Bobbie nonetheless feels something is off. What she didn't expect was murder, and that she is not only the main suspect, but the town pariah as well.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA is a story about starting over and finding yourself. It serves as a reminder that you can't control everyone in your life and sometimes you need to step back. Starting new is always a challenge, especially when you're older. Making new friends, being part of a group, these things somehow become more difficult as Bobbie discovers. Although she is starting fresh in a new state, she's lucky in that she already has supports in place, her sister and best friend. I really like her sister, Alicia, a smart woman of many talents. I know I'd like to try some of her cheese and jams! One minor character who really annoyed me was Emma. She really needs to stop being so needy and grow up. Jeesh. She acted more like a whiny spoiled brat that a young adult starting a career. Darcy, of course, is a dream.
The mystery was interesting, as was the photography theme. I enjoyed seeing the possible motives as well as the interesting behaviors of the suspects. After I finished the book I realized all the subtle clues that were carefully placed throughout the story. Tiny, seemingly insignificant things, that weren't really part of the plot but were there, like little beacons, their true meaning only coming through once the mystery was solved.
Complicated relationships and attention to detail make CAUGHT ON CAMERA a compelling start to a new series.
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Caught on Camera: A Camera Club Mystery by Kara Lacey
About Caught on Camera
Caught on Camera: A Camera Club Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Vermont
Publisher: Level Best Books (September 24, 2024)
Print length: 307 pages
Blue skies and wildflowers signal the start of summer in southern Vermont, and the Stonebridge Keep it Snappy Camera Club lenses are zoomed in on…murder.
It's been more than a year since the sudden death of her husband, and photographer Bobbie Brooks wants nothing more than to escape her grief. Fleeing her life in the city, she seeks a fresh start in the serenity of the Green Mountains. But Bobbie’s new beginning comes to a halt when she finds a member of her camera club dead beneath the village’s idyllic covered bridge. Tragic accident or something sinister? With a keen photographer’s eye, Bobbie suspects murder.
As if transitioning to small-town life wasn’t challenging enough, Bobbie’s missing scarf is found at the murder scene, making her the primary focus. Scorned by local gossips, she enlists the help of her camera club and shifts her lens from photographer to amateur sleuth. Using photos found on the victim’s camera, they waste no time setting out to catch the killer—and discover no shortage of suspects. Secrets, lies, and blackmail…Danger abounds as they close in on the killer. Her camera holds the answers… But can she develop the clues in time to stop the killer?
About Kara Lacey
Kara Lacey is the author of the Camera Club Mysteries. Along with her husband, she lives in a tiny village nestled in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont—the inspiration for her novels. Kara is a photography enthusiast who also enjoys hiking, skiing, and getting cozy with a good book. When she’s not at her laptop creating havoc for her characters, you can find her rambling through the forest with her husband and spirited Labrador retriever, camera in hand.
Kara is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime-New England, and Mystery Writers of America. She is also a co-Member at Large for Vermont SinC NE writers.
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Website https://karalaceyauthor.com
Purchase Link - Amazon
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