The Case of the Bullfighting Builder - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Cathy Carter Jefferson to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Cathy on the pages of the Buttercup Bend Mystery series by Debbie de Louise. The Case of the Bullfighting Builder is the sixth book in the series and was released earlier this year.

Hi, there. My name is Cathy Carter Jefferson. I’m thirty years old and live in the small town of Buttercup Bend in the Catskill mountains of New York. I’m a detective, but I didn’t start out that way. Ten years ago, I lost my parents in a tragic car crash in which I still carry a scar on my cheek. They were driving me home from college for the winter break. I woke up in the hospital with my grandmother and brother by my side. I have carried guilt about the accident all this time until I discovered recently that someone tampered with the breaks on my parents’ car.

But before I get to that, let me tell you more about myself. After my parents died, my brother and I moved in with my grandmother, Florence Wilson. Doug fell in love with the girl next door, Becky, and married her shortly afterwards. He and I opened a pet rescue center and animal cemetery. Having survived the crash that killed my parents, I found caring for animals a comfort.

A few years after I moved to Buttercup Bend, a woman named Maggie Broom who was known as a crazy cat lady because she kept numerous felines in her house and also cared for strays, was found murdered by the newspaper publisher for whom I take photos. I wouldn’t have gotten involved in this case because the sheriff was handling it. However, I soon learned that Ms. Broom had left my brother and I a sizeable share of her estate to use for our pet business. Because of this and prompting from my good friend, Nancy Myers, I decided to investigate Ms. Broom’s murder.

While that was my first case, I’ve had five others following it. I investigated the murder of my professor who had a parrot and was a member of a parrot club. I also went undercover to a llama farm with the local librarian to discover the cause of her friend’s mysterious death. After choosing one of my boyfriends as the man I wanted to marry, I traveled back to my old home on Long Island where I stayed with my great aunt while discovering that a wedding planner was killed on a whale watching cruise. Next, I even investigated the death of a receptionist at my honeymoon resort where my husband adopted her lizard.

My latest case involved the murder of the builder who was building a home for me and my husband in Buttercup Bend. It was during this case that I discovered the truth about my parents’ accident. I also was surprised to find that I was joining my sister-in-law and best friend in maternity. Knowing that I couldn’t enjoy my pregnancy without closure about my parents, I decided to investigate their murder along with that of my builder. Of course, I had help. Nancy insisted I was too close to my parents’ case so offered to take it on with our boss, Howard.

To investigate my builder’s murder, Nancy, her husband, the assistant deputy, and me and my husband attended a memorial for him at the ranch that his fiancée hosted. At the ranch, we also met Boris, a prize bull. My builder, Jose, had been a bullfighter in Spain before moving to Buttercup Bend and opening his construction business. He’d met his fiancée back in Spain when she was on vacation with her girlfriend.

While there were a few suspects in Jose’s murder, the sheriff was convinced his brother and fellow builder, Ferdinand, was guilty because the bullet that killed Jose was a match for a gun Ferdinand claimed was stolen from him. I believed Ferdinand and vowed to find the real killer.

During the memorial, another person is killed, and further evidence is found that points to Ferdinand’s guilt. When a young ranch hand reveals that he knows the killer but has been threatened by them, Nancy and I go back to the ranch to gather evidence to bring to the sheriff so that Ferdinand will be released from custody. We have no luck, and the ranch hand goes missing. Without a witness or any other proof, we’re stuck, but I can’t give up. Risking it all, I end up with a showdown with my builder’s killer after another showdown with the person who murdered my parents.

I’m relieved that both cases were solved and that I was able to enjoy my pregnancy and share the news with my husband and friends. But before I end this adventure, another murder occurs that may follow me into the next book.

If you haven’t read any of my books, please check them out. Although they can all be read as standalones, the characters evolve as the series continues. The first in the series, The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady is perma free in eBook form. The following books, The Case of the Parrot Loving Professor, The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian, The Case of the Whale Watching Wedding Planner, and The Case of the Reptile Rescuing Receptionist are available in eBook and print formats. There are also two volume collections of the first 3 books and the current 3 books. Buttercup Bend Mysteries Books 3-4 and Buttercup Bend Mysteries Books 4-6.

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 The Case of the Bullfighting Builder (Buttercup Bend Mysteries) by Debbie De Louise

About The Case of the Bullfighting Builder

The Case of the Bullfighting Builder (Buttercup Bend Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Setting - Buttercup Bend, New York (fictional town in the Catskills)
Publisher: ‎ Independently published
Publication Date: ‎ May 14, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 268 pages

When Cathy Jefferson’s builder is found dead at the construction site of her new home, she’s pulled into a murder investigation that will test her detective skills like never before.

While sorting through her grandmother’s attic, Cathy uncovers a secret about her parents, who died in a car crash years earlier. Now juggling two cases and determined to learn the truth about her parents’ death and catch her builder’s killer, Cathy teams up with her fellow detectives Nancy and Howard.

Their investigation leads them to a ranch where a prize bull is kept, and to Cathy’s estranged uncle and her college roommate. As secrets unravel and danger closes in from every direction, Cathy discovers that the biggest surprise of all may still be waiting for her.

Will Cathy catch her builder’s killer so that her new home can be finished, and will she receive closure about the death of her parents? Find out in THE CASE OF THE BULLFIGHTING BUILDER, the sixth book in the Buttercup Bend Mysteries series by Debbie De Louise.

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a retired reference librarian. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Cat Writers’ Association, and the South Carolina Writers Association. She’s written over twenty books including three cozy mystery series: the Cobble Cove Mysteries, Buttercup Bend Mysteries, and her new series, Soup the Supernatural Kitten Mysteries. She’s also written a paranormal romance, standalone mysteries, a time-travel novel, and a collection of cat poems. Her stories and poetry appear in more than a dozen anthologies. Originally from Long Island, she moved to South Carolina where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and three cats. Learn more about Debbie and her books by visiting her website at https://debbiedelouise.com.

Author Links: 

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/  

X: https://x.com/Deblibrarian  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise  

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ  

Purchase Links - Amazon Universal Link

Murder at First Sight - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome J. P. Bird to Cozy Up With Kathy today. J. P. writes the Suddenly Psychic Mystery series. MURDER AT FIRST SIGHT is the first book in the series and was released earlier this month.

Kathy: In MURDER AT FIRST SIGHT aspiring artist Amelia Wethers is coerced into posing as a seer at a town fair. Have you ever had a booth at a fair?

JPB: I haven’t had a booth at a fair, but I was a liquor rep for fifteen years and had a lot of sampling booths at different locales. My favorites were the golf tournaments. You get to be out in the sun, chatting to happy people as they came to the hole I sponsored.


Kathy: Amelia discovers she truly has a psychic gift. Do you believe in psychics? Have you ever had a reading?

JPB: I have! I’ve been to several psychics for readings. Some are better than others… I like to believe in psychics; I hope there is more out there than what we can tangibly prove it real.


Kathy: In order to catch a killer Amelia engages in hot yoga. I’ve done some regular yoga, but have zero desire to even attempt hot yoga? Do you practice yoga?

JPB: I practiced yoga years ago and loved it (I need to get back into it). I tried hot yoga once, and it was not for me. The heat made me exhausted! I drew from that experience to write that scene as during the one and only class I took, I spent most of the time trying to come up with a reason to leave early.


Kathy: She even adopts her brother’s feral ferrets. I love ferrets, but have never had them as a pet. I currently have 4 cats. Do you have any pets?

JPB: I have Max, a 14-year-old ginger cat, and Poppy, a 12-year-old Mi-Ki dog. Max is twice the size of Poppy, but Poppy holds her own against him. They love to torment each other.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JPB: I like the escapism of cozies. They’re going to be light and happy reads. My favorites are the ones with snarky characters whose confidence always gets them into trouble. But in the end, everything works out, and you, as the reader, were taken to this wonderful world that (hopefully) will continue on for many books. You get a chance to get to know the characters and location really well. I’m always waiting for my favorite cozy authors to release the next in their series; it’s like visiting old friends.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JPB: Not yet, but I would like to try writing a psychological thriller. Lol, some days you need light and happy; others you need thunderstorms and intense drama.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JPB: The Suddenly Psychic Novels are a light, comedic read. They follow Amelia Wethers, who’s a bit of a chaotic mess, after she discovers she’s psychic and tries to stop her darker visions from coming true. She lives in a small town filled with quirky characters.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

JPB: Definitely Amelia’s brother Laurence. I adore him. As soon as he shows up, I know I’m going to be laughing. I kind of think of him as one of those inflatable waving tube men… He arrives and ridiculous ensues. Trying to come up with some of his phrases had me in fits of giggles (brain juice??).


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

JPB: I wrote the first book, MURDER AT FIRST SIGHT, during the COVID lockdown. It was a difficult time for everyone, and I liked the idea of being able to see into the future. To see a glimpse that life would return to normal. And from there, The Suddenly Psychic Novels just spiraled. I would write a scene and realize that could be a later story plot.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JPB: I’ve always wanted to be an author, but I never imagined it would actually happen. After finishing Murder at First Sight, I put it aside for a while. When I reread the book, I laughed quite a few times and thought it might have some appeal to cozy mystery readers. I decided to be brave and send it to a publisher.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

JPB: I would want a varied dinner party. Tina Fey would be a blast. I follow Lauretta Hignett on Facebook, and she seems so much fun. Paul Kalanithi and Khaled Hosseini, I think, would balance the brevity. I like dinner parties when the conversation topics flow from every letter of the alphabet.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JPB: A friend of mine recently recommended EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson. I am loving it! I can’t wait to read more of the series.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

JPB: I’ve recently started making kombucha. It is such a gross thing to have sitting on the counter, though. I have two jars: one is a SCOBY hotel (I use the SCOBYs for fertilizer in my garden, so once a few have grown, I blend them up and feed them to whichever plants need it) and the other is for consumption. Trying new flavors and seeing what works is so satisfying. Plus, having a fridge full of ready to drink kombucha is fantastic.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

JPB: Chocolate - this is a necessary everyday staple.
Sparkling water - I am addicted to that stuff.
Eggs - I’m a lazy cook; they’re quick and easy to make.
Berries - I love all berries, so whatever is on sale that week are the ones I choose.


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

JPB: I would love to continue the series. Spending time with Amelia and her family/friends brings me so much joy.

I’ve started working on a new series that is set at a winery, so I’m taking a lot of my experience from visiting wineries for work and adding that to my writing. And there are so many places in a winery and vineyard for ridiculous mayhem and mystery to occur!


Kathy: What’s your favorite thing about being an author?

JPB: What I love about being an author is all the new experiences.

Before this, I would never have imagined myself doing an interview! I’m still in shock that something I wrote is out there in the world and people want to know about the book and me.

I was recently on a couple of panels for the Canada Fiction Fest, which was such an incredible opportunity. I’ll be going to Calgary, Canada in October to attend Bouchercon. A week of being surrounded by talented authors sounds like heaven. Even the social media aspect (which I was dreading) has been fun. I’ve connected with people around the world. I’m looking forward to seeing where this path will take me.

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Review

MURDER AT FIRST SIGHT by J. P. Bird
The First Suddenly Psychic Novel 

Amelia Wethers owes her best friend, Carolyn Campbell. After all she's given her a job, an apartment that barely costs anything, as well being the cause of some youthful indiscretions. The least she can do is play the psychic at the school fundraiser, even if she was tricked into it. Getting into the role Amelia was actually having fun, until the crystal ball showed her the murder of local philanthropist Phillip Foster and she told his wife. Now the wealthy woman is screaming and threatening to sue while Amelia is coming to grips that she may actually be a real psychic. Determined to save Phillip's life Amelia will do anything, including hot yoga and assisting in her brother's romantic plans, while simultaneously avoiding the hot new detective in town. Will she be able to track down a killer or will this first vision be her last?

MURDER AT FIRST SIGHT is an absolute delight. Amelia Wethers gets herself into zany situations and her friends and family are also delightfully wacky, in a decidedly charming way. With a brother who lives in their parents' basement and a father who is an extreme gardener and knows when to keep a secret from his wife Amelia might be considered the "normal" one...except for those madcap situations she finds herself in. But however wacky, these characters truly love each other and are there for each other, no matter what.

I enjoyed the mystery, from Amelia discovering her family secret to doing her darndest to protect an innocent man. I love how Nick, the hot new detective, gets involved, and doesn't shy away. Well plotted and well written the first Suddenly Psychic novel is a hit.

MURDER AT FIRST SIGHT is a fast paced laugh out loud mystery filled with eccentric characters and hilarious situations. I loved every minute of it! 

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 Murder at First Sight (Suddenly Psychic) by JP Bird

About Murder at First Sight

Murder at First Sight (A Suddenly Psychic Novel)
Cozy Psychic Mystery 1st in Series
Setting- Small fictional town of Hillside, USA
Publisher: ‎ Tule Publishing
Publication Date: ‎ July 1, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 230 pages

When a good deed might lead to murder… Coerced into posing as a seer at her small town’s spring fair, barista and aspiring artist Amelia Wethers dives into the dramatic role, comforting herself that it’s only a few hours and then she can indulge in sweet and savory snacks. When the wealthy and snarky Summer Foster swans into her tent inquiring about the expected success of her swanky summer party, Amelia’s not prepared for the crystal ball to fill with smoke and reveal the shockingly violent murder of Summer’s husband. Amelia grapples with skepticism, anger, and scorn as she tries to warn wealthy scion Phillip Foster that he’s a target for murder in a few weeks. Discovering she’s descended from a long line of psychics complicates Amelia’s investigation, especially when the town’s newest and distressingly handsome homicide detective dogs her every step and suspects her of murder. It’s a race to the finish, and Amelia will do anything—including pre-dawn hot yoga, adopting her brother’s feral ferrets, missing dessert, setting herself up as bait and making a fool of herself—to stalk a killer.

About JP Bird

 

JP writes cozy mysteries with quirky characters that make her laugh when they disagree with the laid-out plans for their story and take her on a different path. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada, and hates the cold weather but loves the winter months because they’re a great excuse to hibernate with a cup of tea or a glass of red wine. When she’s not writing or reading, she spends her summers in the garden and her winters plotting how to win her neighbourhood Christmas display competition. They don’t know it’s a competition, but she plays to win nonetheless.  

Author Links: 

www.jpbird-author.com JPBird-author (@jpbird_author) • Instagram photos and videos Facebook  

Purchase Links Murder at First Sight (Suddenly Psychic Book 1) - Kindle edition by Bird, JP . Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Murder at First Sight by JP Bird | eBook | Barnes & Noble® Murder at First Sight eBook by JP Bird - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States Murder at First Sight by JP Bird - Books on Google Play Murder at First Sight (Suddenly Psychic Book 1) by JP Bird | Goodreads

A Delicious Deception - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

A DELICIOUS DECEPTION by Lucy Burdette
The Sixteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery 

When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers appears at the doorway of Hayley and Nathan's new home asking for a favor Hayley is surprised and her husband is furious. Darcy wants the very pregnant Hayley to bring a young woman to the county's safe exchange place to pick up her daughter. The neutral location is also home to the county jail,with an animal farm open to the public and video surveillance so while Nathan is upset, Hayley is happy to help. After all, with all of those precautions already in place, plus Darcy nearby, what could go wrong? Quite a lot as Reba, the young woman, disappears, the husband is murdered, and the little girl goes missing. Will Nathan have an aneurysm before murdering Darcey? Will Hayley solve the murder before giving birth? Grab some fresh Key West eats and find out! 

Just about everything that could go wrong does in this, the sixteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery. Aside from the custodial transfer that backfired, construction on Hayley's new home has stalled and she and "the old ladies" are missing their lives on Houseboat Row. Not to mention two things near the end of the book that I won't say for spoilers sake. I like how the very pregnant Hayley was not taking any nonsense from anyone and was determined to bring matters to a close while keeping herself well fed.

Descriptions of Key West and the various food offerings had me feeling the ocean breeze and wishing I could enjoy a meal with Hayley and the gang. The mystery was well plotted with lots of nasty suspects and suspicious behavior. Unrelated to the mystery the author made two major choices that I found interesting and wonder the reason for them.

Concepts of home and family together with the uniqueness that is Key West make A DELICIOUS DECEPTION a mystery you won't want to miss.

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 The Mango Murders & A Delicious Deception Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette

About A Delicious Deception

A Delicious Deception: A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Cozy Mystery 16th in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date: ‎ July 14, 2026
Language: ‎ English
Print length: ‎ 320 pages

Mother-to-be Hayley Snow bites off more than she can chew in the sixteenth installment of Lucy Burdette’s USA Today bestselling Key West Food Critic mysteries.

When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers asks Hayley for a small favor, she can’t say no. Nine months pregnant and temporarily benched from her food critic duties, Hayley’s itching for a distraction and eager to help. All she has to do is tag along while a young woman picks up her daughter from her father at Monroe County’s safe custody exchange location. Easy, right?

Wrong.

In the chaos of the Sheriff’s Office open house, the mother disappears. Then the father bolts, leaving Hayley with a terrified girl and the realization that something has gone terribly wrong. Hayley and Deputy Rogers head north up the Keys to search for answers.

When a body turns up, Hayley realizes this isn’t just a missing-persons case—it’s a race against time. With the little girl’s safety at risk, Hayley must trust her instincts—and her heart—to uncover the truth.

About Lucy Burdette

Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette writes the USA Today best-selling Key West food critic mysteries, a cozy, culinary mystery series starring food critic Hayley Snow, including #16, A DELICIOUS DECEPTION. A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS, won the Florida Book Award's gold medal for popular fiction. Both the 12th book in the series, A DISH TO DIE FOR, and the 10th, THE KEY LIME CRIME, won the bronze medal for popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards. Lucy's first women's fiction title, THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS, came out in July 2023.

As Roberta Isleib, she wrote the golf lover's mystery series (SIX STROKES UNDER) and the advice column mysteries (DEADLY ADVICE.) Lucy loves using her psychology background in her stories. She also loves to cook and to eat and to talk and write and read about food. She blogs with the wonderful crime fiction writers at Jungle Red Writers, and shares recipes and stories with twelve other cozy mystery writers at Mystery Lovers Kitchen.

Lucy's books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She's a past president of both Sisters in Crime and the Friends of the Key West library.

Author Links: 

Website https://lucyburdette.com  

Facebook https://facebook.com/LucyBurdette  

Instagram instagram.com/LucyBurdette 

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucy-burdette   

Purchase Links - A Deadly Deception - Amazon - B&N - PenguinRandomHouse

The Mango Murders - A Review & Giveaway

Today I thought I'd repost my review of THE MANGO MURDERS by Lucy Burdette in honor of the paperback release this week, along with a new giveaway. Tomorrow you can read my review of the Sixteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery, A DEADLY DECEPTION.

THE MANGO MURDERS by Lucy Burdette
The Fifteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery 

In order to boost Key Zest's popularity and sales the e-zine has rented a Hemingway lookalike yacht to take Key West movers and shakers on an evening cruise. With Hayley Snow's mom providing the catering it's sure to be a delectable good time. But before anyone can even sample the shrimp fritters an explosion tosses everyone overboard! Was it an accident or sabotage? Does someone want Key Zest to fail? Or Perhaps Janet's catering company is the target? Or could someone have it out for Hayley herself? Between the multiple 85th birthday celebrations for Miss Gloria Hayley will try to figure out just what happened and why, despite her detective husband's desire for her to leave it to the police.

The mystery in the fifteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery is an intriguing maze of possibilities and clues. Without being certain of the intended victim, how can Hayley and her friends figure out the culprit? Is the reason food related, political, or even more personal?  Rest assured, Hayley investigates all possibilities.  

I relish the love shown to Miss Gloria in celebration of her 85th birthday. I've had issues with her sons since the first book in the series, but this shows how their wives are decidedly worse! What horrible people, shown even more ugly by the goodness of the Miss Gloria's chosen family.

THE MANGO MURDERS is a delicious mystery fueled by inquisitiveness, tolerance, and love. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next one.

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 The Mango Murders & A Delicious Deception Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette

About The Mango Murders

Now Available in Paperback

The Mango Murders: A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Cozy Mystery 15th in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: ‎ August 12, 2025
Print Length: ‎ 288 pages
Paperback Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: ‎ July 7, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 288 pages

The turquoise waters of Key West are stained with pink in this explosive 15th installment of the Key West Food Critic mysteries from USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette.

Food critic Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest, is throwing the event of the season, a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow, Hayley’s mother. As Hayley boards the luxurious cruise, she anticipates a smooth sailing soirée filled with shimmering cocktails, mouthwatering mango-infused delicacies, and new supporters for the e-zine. But as the boat sets sail, the festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel, plunging the party guests into chaos.

In the days that follow, Hayley learns that a local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident–someone on board had a deadly agenda. With the tropical city of Key West as her backdrop, Hayley navigates a web of secrets and lies. Her investigation takes her from the shadowy corners of island politics to fierce competition between high-end event caterers and personal vendettas.

With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Hayley must rely on her keen intuition to unmask a cunning culprit before they strike again.

About Lucy Burdette

Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette writes the USA Today best-selling Key West food critic mysteries, a cozy, culinary mystery series starring food critic Hayley Snow, including #16, A DELICIOUS DECEPTION. A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS, won the Florida Book Award's gold medal for popular fiction. Both the 12th book in the series, A DISH TO DIE FOR, and the 10th, THE KEY LIME CRIME, won the bronze medal for popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards. Lucy's first women's fiction title, THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS, came out in July 2023.

As Roberta Isleib, she wrote the golf lover's mystery series (SIX STROKES UNDER) and the advice column mysteries (DEADLY ADVICE.) Lucy loves using her psychology background in her stories. She also loves to cook and to eat and to talk and write and read about food. She blogs with the wonderful crime fiction writers at Jungle Red Writers, and shares recipes and stories with twelve other cozy mystery writers at Mystery Lovers Kitchen.

Lucy's books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She's a past president of both Sisters in Crime and the Friends of the Key West library.

Author Links: 

Website https://lucyburdette.com  

Facebook https://facebook.com/LucyBurdette 

 Instagram instagram.com/LucyBurdette  

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucy-burdette  

Purchase Links - The Mango Murders - Amazon - B&N - PenguinRandomHouse

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading A Delicious Deception by Lucy Burdette. This book is the sixteenth in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series and will be released next week.

When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers appears at the doorway of Hayley and Nathan's new home asking for a favor Hayley is surprised and her husband is furious. Darcy wants the very pregnant Hayley to bring a young woman to the county's safe exchange place to pick up her daughter. The neutral location is also home to the county jail,with an animal farm open to the public and video surveillance so while Nathan is upset, Hayley is happy to help. After all, with all of those precautions already in place, plus Darcy nearby, what could go wrong? Quite a lot as Reba, the young woman disappears, the husband is murdered, and the little girl goes missing. Will Nathan have an aneurysm before murdering Darcey? Will Hayley solve the murder before giving birth? Grab some fresh Key West eats and find out!

A Deadly Paczek - A Review

 

Review

 

A DEADLY PACZEK By Marta Kowal
The First Paczek Lane Mystery 

After catching her fiancé doing things that should not be done in the restaurant's walk in cooler with the sous chef Lena Mazur buys a one way ticket to Poland to settle her late grandmother's estate. Though her mother wants her to sell the bakery and return home Lena has other plans. As she works to reopen her babcia's bakery she learns there's more to Miłosław than meets the eye. 

A DEADLY PACZEK is filled with delightful characters, scrumptious food, and a well plotted mystery. I truly enjoyed each page. Lena is smart and, like most bakers, methodical in her approach, both to making pączki and to solving the murder. I like how she lays out each clue and her own thoughts so readers can easily follow along. I also appreciated the fact that one of the motives for the murder was based on the upheaval that happened after fall of communism. The secondary characters are great too. I'm especially fond of Hania, Bożenka, Pan Zyga, and Father Tomasz. Oh, and Inspektor and Pyza, after all what's a cozy without cats?

I love how the first Paczek Lane Mystery blends a starting over story, with just a hint of romance on the horizon with a murder mystery. I love how Lena is slowly learning the secrets of Miłosław, a town that's slightly darker than your usual cozy village. I also love how she's reopening the bakery, channeling her babcia's recipes while still making it her own. 

One of my favorite aspects about A DEADLY PACZEK, and what drew me to the book to begin with, is that it is set in Poland. I am a Polish-American who is quite proud of her heritage and has had the pleasure of visiting family in Poland. Reading the about the town, envisioning the baked treats, even reading the Polish names felt like a homecoming for me. There's a great description about pączki, including interesting facts and a recipe at the end of the book and while I was familiar with the other Polish desserts and names, perhaps a glossary would be helpful for readers unfamiliar with Polish. That being said, you certainly don't have to be Polish to enjoy this wonderful debut.

A delectable new mystery A DEADLY PACZEK combines complicated characters, delicious food, and murder all with a Polish twist. Grab some pączki and maybe a Tyskie or a cup of tea and settle in for a great read!

Holmes Away from Home - A Book Blast

 

Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery) by Samantha Larsen

About Holmes Away From Home

Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - London, 1911
Publisher: ‎ Severn House
Publication Date: ‎ October 6, 2026
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 240 pages

Introducing Althea Adler, accomplished thief and daring heroine with a mysterious link to Sherlock Holmes.

A heart-racing game of wits, murder and romance is about to commence . . .

London, 1911. Althea Adler receives a mysterious postcard with just four words, ‘Holmes away from home.’ Surely her mother, notorious thief and opera star Irene Adler, is instructing her to break into Sherlock Holmes’s safe? But when she does, Althea makes a shocking discovery . . .

Still reeling from events at 221b Baker Street, Althea accepts an invitation to a party at Twickenham Towers, the ancestral home of Lord Slough, where a murder throws her into further turmoil―as does handsome fellow guest William, the Marquess of Sheffield, who has been tasked with staking out Slough by the British Government.

Althea and William form an unlikely alliance as they set about catching a killer. But can they trust each other when they both have something to hide?

An addictive new cozy mystery trilogy featuring a super smart, lively heroine, a dashing lord and a fiendishly good whodunnit, perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes's classic mysteries, Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, and Netflix's The Residence.

About Samantha Larsen

Samantha writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen and historical romances under Samantha Hastings. She met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, University of North Texas, and University of Reading (UK). She's the author of: The Last Word, The Invention of Sophie Carter, A Royal Christmas Quandary, The Girl with the Golden Eyes, Jane Austen Trivia, The Duchess Contract, Secret of the Sonnets, The Marquess and the Runaway Lady, and A Novel Disguise. Learn more at: www.SamanthaHastings.com

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