One of Our Darcies is Dead - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Grace Caldwell to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Grace writes the Hawthorne Cove Mystery series. ONE OF OUR DARCIES IS DEAD is the first book in the series and was released earlier this month.

Kathy: ONE OF OUR DARCIES IS DEAD features a Jane Austen Festival. What do you think makes Jane Austen so popular? And why choose her for your series opening festival?

GC: I think she has a broad appeal because she’s working with timeless themes and deeply relatable characters. Her writing is witty and layered, and she’s a master of both comedy and romance. I chose her for the opening festival for several reasons. I think, as far as classic literature goes, she’s fairly approachable, and she’s in the zeitgeist enough that, even if you’re not an Austen expert, you’re likely to get most of the references. The Regency Era is also just a fun one to play with, and I knew I would enjoy researching costumes and events and decorations that I could inject into the festival.


Kathy: To be honest, I've never been a huge fan of Mr. Darcy. Why do you think he's the epitome of a romantic hero?

GC: It’s funny you should say that because I literally just wrote a whole blog post talking about why I think Darcy is actually not Austen’s best romantic hero. I do love him, but his arrogance at the beginning is challenging for me. That said, the enemies-to-lovers trope is classic for a reason, and there are few couples who execute that better than Darcy and Elizabeth. He also grows— genuinely grows— throughout the course of the novel. He listens to Elizabeth. He accepts criticism. He loves her for who she is and never asks her to be smaller. He not only tolerates the fact that she challenges him, he actually likes it and grows as a result. For me at least, though, the thing that made me love Mr. Darcy was Colin Firth.


Kathy: Chloe Sinclair is a literature professor. Are you a fan of classic literature? Do you have a favorite author or time period?

GC: I am! Like Chloe, I’m actually also a literature professor. Modern adaptations of classic works are one of my main areas of specialization, which no doubt informs how much I enjoy infusing classic literary references and scenes into a modern world while writing these books. Academically, I’ve probably focused most on Shakespeare, but if I’m reading a classic for fun, you’re more likely to see me with something from the modernist period.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

GC: They let me build a world I want to live in. I love the rich settings and the quirky characters that tend to inhabit these sorts of novels. I love the slow burn romance and the witty dialogue. Honestly, they’re just super fun to write, and I often find myself wishing I could get back to my computer at the end of the workday because I want to spend just a little more time in this place with these people.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

GC: Yeah, I’ve bounced around a lot of different genres over the years. I started in creative nonfiction before moving into romantic suspense and romantic comedies. I’ve worked as a screenwriter for film and television. I’m also published as a humorist. But there’s nowhere I feel more at home than cozies.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

GC: Each book in the Hawthorne Cove Mystery series wraps a fresh whodunit around the charm of a beloved literary classic and is perfect for readers who love their murder with a side of scones.


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

GC: I have a soft spot for the protagonist, Chloe. When we meet her, she’s really been through it, and this series represents a new start for her. I find myself really rooting for her, and I hope readers will too. I’m also a sucker for Jack, her love interest, who is charming and British and a fabulous baker.


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

GC: I grew up watching Gilmore Girls, and it had a huge impact on my sense of pacing and humor. I like to say this series is basically Stars Hollow with more corpses. Obviously, I’m pulling inspiration from classic literature as well, and my own profession and preferences influenced the creation of Chloe and her world quite a bit.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

GC: A little over a year ago, my best friend passed away. She left behind one of the single greatest novels I have ever read. It was unpublished at the time, so the world never really got to experience it, which breaks my heart because it was such beautiful work. I didn’t want to die with a dozen manuscripts still sitting in a digital drawer, so I decided to take the leap and start putting my work out there.


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

GC: Ooh, that’s a good (and hard!) question! Probably Dorothy Parker, Nora Ephron, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Tina Fey, partially because I admire all of their writing, but also because I feel like that would just make for the world’s best, most entertaining dinner party.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

GC: FIRST AMONG SEQUELS by Jasper Fforde. It’s the fifth book in the Thursday Next series.


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

GC: I love baking (several of my recipes are actually included in each book) and gardening. I have two cats who keep me very entertained and a four-year-old daughter who is the most hilarious person I know. I’m also fairly sure she’s part tornado. She keeps me very happy and very on my toes. I also volunteer at an animal rescue.


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

GC: Rao’s farfalle pasta, dark chocolate cherry cashew KIND bars, mozzarella string cheese, some sort of berries.


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

GC: I do! I’m currently working on the second book in the Hawthorne Cove Mystery Series, entitled A TALE OF TWO KILLERS, which features a murder at a Dickens-inspired Christmas festival and releases November 1st. It’s available for pre-order now. I plan to write at least seven books in this series, releasing one every two months.


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

GC: Writing, for me, is the ultimate form of play. There are few things on earth that bring me more joy than getting to imagine a world and then live in it for a while.

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Review

ONE OF OUR DARCIES IS DEAD by Grace Caldwell
The First Hawthorne Cove Mystery

Left at the alter and passed over for promotion, literature professor Chloe Sinclair is feeling low. When her best friend, Daphne, suggests she travel across the country to visit her, Chloe balks, even if she would also be supporting her friend's new job hosting Hawthorne Cove's inaugural Jane Austen Festival. Austen isn't the only person dealing with persuasion and soon Chloe and her cat, Mr. Darcy, arrive. Hawthorne Cove is as delightful as Daphne said and Chloe is enjoying the town, the company, and the first event, a ball, complete with actors portraying several of Jane Austen's leading men. But before dinner is served Daphne asks Chloe to find Mr. Darcy, the actor portraying him for the ball, not her cat scrounging for leftover pastries at Daphne's. She finds him...dead. With first Chloe under suspicion, then Daphne, the two friends decide they must figure out who actually killed the man.

What an absolutely delightful start to a new series! You don't need to be a Jane Austen fan to appreciate the first Hawthorne Cove Mystery, though if you are, you'll love it even more. Chloe is a great protagonist, she's intelligent, although downtrodden, yet willing to keep trying. Hawthorne Cove is such a delightful town with amazing food from more than one source. It doesn't hurt that one source happens to be a smart, kind, and talented chef who also happens to be drop dead gorgeous with a British accent. Daphne is an amazing friend and an incredible event planner. I was dying to participate in all of the activities from parasol decorating to fencing and everything in between. And did I mention the food? Scrumptious descriptions had me salivating and happily recipes are included!

The mystery in ONE OF OUR DARCIES IS DEAD is also fun. With lots of suspects and good motives, but very few clues, Chloe and Daphne had their work cut out for them. I enjoyed seeing them figure out how to investigate as well as the manner in which they did so. And how they caught the killer... a major adrenalin rush. The book is fast paced and you'll be quickly turning pages to keep up!

A charming town with a backdrop of Jane Austen and her works provide a captivating setting for ONE OF OUR DARCIES IS DEAD wherein likable characters deal with murder and lots of delectable food with plenty of wit and literary references. 

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 One of Our Darcies is Dead: A Hawthorne Cove Mystery by Grace Caldwell

About One of Our Darcies is Dead

One of Our Darcies is Dead: A Hawthorne Cove Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Location: Hawthorne Cove, a seaside town in New England
Publisher: ‎ Paper Lantern Press
Publication Date: ‎ September 1, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 193 pages

The residents of Hawthorne Cove are determined to prove their seaside town deserves a place on every literary lover's travel list. With a brand-new Jane Austen Festival, charming boutiques, and enough Regency flair to satisfy even the most devoted Austen fan, they're ready for their grand debut. But when opening night ends with a dead Mr. Darcy, literature professor Chloe Sinclair, in town to escape a life that hasn't gone to plan, learns that the most captivating stories aren't always the ones written in books.

About Grace Caldwell

 

Grace Caldwell writes cozy mysteries for people who'd bring a book to a murder. An award-winning screenwriter and a professor of creative writing and literature, she's published across more genres than she can reasonably list at a dinner party, but cozy mysteries are where she feels most at home. She lives in Central Florida with two fluffy feline assistants, Elsa and Anna, who supervise every page and approve of none of her deadlines.  

Author Links: 

Website https://www.gracecaldwell.com/  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590292063669  

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gracecaldwellbooks/  

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@gracecaldwellbooks  

Purchase Links: https://www.gracecaldwell.com/shop AMAZON

Holmes Away from Home = A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Samantha Larsen to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Samantha writes the Althea Adler Mystery series. HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME is the first book in the series and will be released October 6, 2026.

Miss Althea Alder’s Character Report 
By Samantha Larsen

1911, London. Lord Sheffield (William) first meets Miss Althea Adler in a department store when she steals a pearl pin from Miss Rosie Watson’s hair. He lifts the pin from Althea’s gloved hand and returns it to Rosie and wangles an invitation from her friends to a house party at Twickenham Towers. His true purpose is to look for the leader of the anarchist group, the Red Dawn. William follows Althea home and sees that she is staying at 221b Baker Street with Sherlock Holmes. Why was a beautiful thief staying with a world-famous detective? William adds her to his little black book of suspects:

Miss Althea Adler: Daughter of Irene Adler. Father unknown. Pickpocket. College student. Generous.

Approximate age: 19–20

Height: 5’2”

Weight: 105 pounds

Physical description: blue eyes, brown hair, face of an angel, nice figure.

While staying at Twickenham Towers, Althea breaks into William’s room and finds his little black book. She updates the information about her.

Miss Althea Adler: Daughter of Irene Adler. Father unknown. Pick-pocket. Student. Generous. Exquisite Soprano.

Approximate age: 19-20-22

Height: 5’2”

Weight: 105 pounds 110. It’s terribly rude to guess this sort of thing.

Physical description: blue eyes, brown hair, face of an angel, gorgeous figure. You are too kind.

William discovers his little black book open on the side table with a white knight chess piece. He realizes that Althea has seen his book and is aware that he is investigating her. But what William really wants to know is whether or not Althea intends to kiss him or kill him. Find out in, HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME (October 6, 2026).

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Away-Althea-Adler-Mystery/dp/1448322405

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holmes-away-from-home-samantha-larsen/1150070590

GoodReads Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250253909-holmes-away-from-home

Connect with the Author!

www.SamanthaHastings.com

https://www.instagram.com/samanthahastingsauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaHastingsAuthor

https://x.com/HastingSamantha

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-hastings

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Review

 

 HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME by Samantha Larsen

The First Althea Adler Mystery

 

Althea Adler is a thief wanted in several countries who would like nothing better than to quit the family business and lead a respectable life in London. Unfortunately, she can never say no to her mother, the infamous Irene Adler. Never one to receive heartfelt letters from her mother, Althea receives the usual postcard with a clue and location of her next task. Instead of a location the most recent postcard features a picture of a cozy study with the phrase "Holmes away from home". Althea manages to infiltrate the great detective's home, but only has more questions when the only thing in his safe is a picture of her mother from years past. The hunt for answers leads Althea to a house party at Twickenham Towers. But before Althea makes any progress with her own mission the horrible Lord of the Manor is murdered. Althea teams up with the too handsome Marquess of Sheffield who is there for his own government mission. With despicable characters above stairs and very few servants downstairs will the pair solve the murder in time to complete their original tasks?

 

The game's afoot in this Sherlock Holmes adjacent mystery. Although neither he nor Irene Adler make an appearance both are intrinsic characters who are key to the story. Let me also say that I absolutely love Althea Adler, even more than Holmes or her mother! Highly intelligent, cheeky, and kind underneath that polished exterior she's a delightful protagonist. I also really like William and chuckle as Althea gives him a run for his money!

 

Aside from a well written fun historical story HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME is an intricately plotted mystery that also delves into addiction, sexual assault, and 1911 political themes, most notably Irish home rule. These serious themes are treated with respect and definitely add gravitas to a story that's also quite humorous.

 

Deft plotting, compelling themes, and delightful characters make HOLMES AWAY FROM HOME a thoroughly captivating mystery and an outstanding start to a new series. I absolutely loved it!

 

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 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

Author Links Website Instagram Facebook X BookBub

Preorder Links Amazon - B&N

The Hanged Man - An Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Jane Brookwood to Cozy Up With Kathy. Jane writes the Raven-Verse Mystery series. THE HANGED MAN is the first book in the series and was released earlier this year.

Kathy: In THE HANGED MAN we meet Fiona Miller who runs a metaphysical gift shop where she reads tarot, sells crystals, and mixes tea. This is my kind of shop! There are so many things that make metaphysical shops amazing. What's your favorite thing about them?

JB: Another kindred spirit! I absolutely love standing in front of a great crystal display—the energy is a wonderful little pick-me-up, especially since I gave up caffeine a couple of years ago. Some of my favorite stores carry fresh, wild-harvested teas, which I love to purchase and mix for my own home health brews. Beyond the crystals and teas, I can spend hours just browsing through the tools, sound bowls, books, and of course, the tarot decks.


Kathy:I am a crystal reader and also collect and read oracle and Tarot decks. Do you use crystals or use other forms of divination?

JB: Yes, I was introduced to pendulum dowsing fifteen years ago through Lynn Grabhorn’s book, EXCUSE ME, YOUR LIFE IS WAITING. Aside from dowsing, I am a very active dreamer. Which is how my tarot practice truly began—it grew out of a deep desire to untangle the symbols and meanings hidden inside my dreams.


Kathy:Rosie is Fiona's cat and familiar. I love all animals, but especially cats and currently have four. Do you have any cats? Is Rosie based on a real cat or is she completely fictional?

JB:  Rosie is absolutely based on a real cat! She originally "worked" alongside her brother at the construction company I was with. When her brother passed away, she came home with me, and she was the most perfect real-life introduction to the feline world I could have ever imagined. Prior to Rosie, I genuinely thought I was strictly a dog person. It turns out, I’m a cat at heart.

Rosie was an exceptional example of a feline—regal, delicate, completely self-aware, and incredibly sweet when she wanted to be. She lived with us for a few years before choosing to move on to another home in our neighborhood. While her departure left a big hole in our lives, I deeply respected her decision; she was simply living her best life, which is exactly what her character does in THE RAVEN'S FAMILIAR. A year after she moved on, we adopted another female ginger cat named Poppy, who is much more content to stay close to home. She is my best friend and roommate.


Kathy:What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JB:  I’m pretty sure the first true cozy I ever read was The Cat Who... series by Lilian Jackson Braun. Around that same time, my roommate introduced me to the first book in Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series. While the Spenser books are hardboiled crime novels rather than cozies, I absolutely loved his obsession with cooking. He was actually the original inspiration for my very first explorations in the kitchen!

There was such a comforting, cozy feeling to those culinary scenes. That exact texture was then beautifully mirrored by Lilian Jackson Braun’s books. Her work was my very first introduction to cats, showing how life is a blessing despite the occasional darkness that comes our way—or perhaps, because of it.
 

Kathy:Do you write in any other genres?

JB: Not really, though I am always exploring my options! I have a very specific, intimate writing style that wouldn't lend itself well to certain genres. For instance, I love reading massive, long-anthology sci-fi and epic fantasy, but I couldn't imagine writing them. Historical fiction is likely beyond me as well. To be completely honest, I do best when I'm keeping track of a small handful of close-knit characters—which makes the cozy mystery genre the absolute perfect home for me.


Kathy:Tell us about your series. 

JB: I write a metaphysical cozy mystery series structurally based on the deep themes and archetypes of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. The story features Fiona Miller, an intuitive gift shop owner who must lean on her cards, her sharp instincts, and the guidance of her witty rescue cat familiar, Rosie, to unravel the sudden murder of her best friend’s son


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

JB: That is a great question, and it's honestly hard to say! Of course, Rosie is the absolute easiest and most fun to write. She is the epitome of self-possession; she never second-guesses herself, and her pure reliance on instinct allows me to write her scenes forward without having to overthink her motivation.

But I would have to say Fiona is my ultimate favorite, precisely because she is my most challenging character to craft. I never truly know what she’s thinking or how she’ll react until the words hit the page, so I write her with a very interesting mix of confident insecurity.


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

JB: It was truly a combination of factors. Years of studying tarot collided with a period of great loss and upheaval in my life. It was born out of the presence—and eventual absence—of one remarkable ginger cat, right on the heels of my best friend sitting down to write and publish her own memoir.


Kathy:What made you decide to publish your work?

JB:  I didn’t start writing thinking I was just doing this for myself, although I did write that very first draft in a kind of desperation to just prove I could finish it. However, once I’d refined the characters, sharpened the story, and received feedback from a couple of brilliant editors, I realized that Fiona and Rosie needed—and absolutely deserved—to have their voices out in the world.


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

JB:  That is such a tough question! There are so many incredible authors on my list, making it hard to narrow it down to just four. But since I write a cat mystery, I would definitely want to speak to the maven herself, Lilian Jackson Braun. Sara Donati was my very first introduction to using tarot in fiction, and I deeply admire her rich writing style. I’d want Stephen King there so I could pick his brain and ask him questions about the grit and discipline of the craft. And lastly, I would invite Andy Weir for my late husband, who fell completely in love with his books near the end


Kathy:What are you currently reading?

JB:  I’m finally halfway through THE CASUAL VACANCY by J.K. Rowling. I couldn’t get into it for the longest time, but I think I finally know why. She writes from a massive array of different points of view—which is a structural format I actually experimented with in revision four of THE HANGED MAN before eventually abandoning it. Reading it now is perfect timing, and I’m learning an immense amount from her execution. I think I’ll return to this multi-POV format in one of my upcoming 0.5 series companion off-branches!

Beyond that, my To-Be-Read (TBR) pile is massive—it’s actually a little embarrassing! On audiobook, I’ve just started my author coach Evan Parrott’s WIND'S EMBRACE, which is the start of a sweeping sci-fi series, and I’m really digging his world-building. Also on my immediate list is Carl Jung’s SYNCHRONICITY, Matthew Syed’s BLACK BOX THINKING (just recommended to me by my cousin), Alexis Hall’s 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED (it’s eerie reading someone with a very similar comedic style—I keep wondering if I wrote it in my sleep!), THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY by Sarah Penner, and Maggie O’Farrell’s THIS MUST BE THE PLACE. To name just a few!


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

JB:  I love to bake bread and biscotti! The bread is generally an everyday white slicing loaf, though I like to experiment with a wide array of recipes. The biscotti is my mom’s absolute favorite, so I’ve worked really hard over the years to perfect that crunchy, classic texture. 

Aside from baking, I strength train (primarily to offset impending menopause), I love to draw—which is a creative skill I actually feature inside my books—and I go for long walks. Oh, and then there’s the day job! While I certainly get paid for it, it honestly feels like a supportive hobby that keeps my life stable and allows me to do what I love most, which is write.


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

Yeast: Essential for my everyday bread-baking therapy. 

Candied ginger: My acupuncturist tells me I’m "too damp" and need more internal heat, so I try to eat it every morning—whenever I actually remember! 

Beans: Protein and fiber have suddenly become absolutely vital to my basic functioning as a human being. 

Frozen blueberries: Perfect for smoothies, baking, or just to use as ice in my water. It cools the drink down, and then becomes a sweet reward at the end for actually finishing my water. I work incredibly well with an awards-based system!


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

JB: Yes! I am currently writing the final chapter on the first draft of THE RAVEN'S FAMILIAR: PART TWO, which is just about to be sent off to my editor. We haven't locked down the exact release date yet, but it's coming fast. If you love Rosie, you’re going to love her detective work in this one. It is again written in her point of view and it explores how Fiona and Rosie’s relationship evolves prior to THE HANGED MAN. It’s their very first mystery together (where no one dies). 

I've also just broken the back of Book Two in the main series, titled THE FOOL. I still have a long road to completion there, but I am aiming for a December 1st, 2026 release. It is a Christmas-themed novel where Fiona gets roped into acting as the understudy for Katharina in Pineridge Hollow’s holiday presentation of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Rosie’s scored a bit part in the theatrical show as well, so she’ll be even more front-and-center than she is in THE HANGED MAN!

For my Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) readers, I’ve also tucked a massive Easter egg at the end of THE HANGED MAN. Elsie Greene discovers something shocking in the final pages, and if you’ve been lucky enough to receive one of my physical Golden Tickets at a live event, you'll be able to enter my website vault to see what she unearthed. Her private investigation will eventually be published as a special 0.5 companion off-branch novella. It has a distinct I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe involving Fiona’s best friend, Maggie, which will eventually tie directly back into the main storyline. 

Finally, my next big wish is to release Book Three, THE LOVERS, in time for next Valentine’s Day. Fiona’s love life really starts picking up steam in Book Two, so exploring that passionate avenue in the third installment is going to be so much fun!


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

JB: To be honest, I never thought I’d be able to write like this, nor did I think the lifestyle would suit me. But I absolutely love the freedom of just going somewhere, laptop in tow, and sitting down to write.

Sometimes it’s hard work, but compared to what I’ve done in my past corporate work life, the stress that comes with writing is entirely manageable. At the end of the day, I’m really just making stuff up! 

It deeply excites me to write for that reader out in the ether who will truly "get" me. If something I write lifts someone up, makes them feel cozy, or inspires them to pause and brew a hot cup of tea, I am incredibly happy. 

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Review

THE HANGED MAN by Jane Brookwood
The First Raven-Verse Mystery 

When Fiona Miller keeps drawing the hanged man from her Tarot deck she certainly doesn't expect to see it come to pass literally. But Henry Reynolds Jr. was found hanging at the building site his brother, Sam, was working on. Henry Jr. was a charismatic dealmaker, could he really have committed suicide? Chief Albright suspects murder and quickly takes Sam into custody. Fiona has known the brothers since they were little boys and things aren't adding up. With the help of her friends and the grudging acceptance of the chief of police Fiona starts looking into things. Will she be able to solve the murder before something else dire happens?  

I enjoyed my first entry into Raven-Verse. Fiona is a fine protagonist, wise, loyal, and spunky. My favorite character is Rosie, though. People need to pay more attention to her. She was doing everything possible to show them a clue and nobody was paying attention but me! I also really liked Chief Albright and the way he worked with Fiona. Perhaps my favorite part of the story was The Raven itself. To me metaphysical stores are like a balm to the soul. I could picture this comforting space and see myself spending much time there. Indeed, Fiona's shop is a character unto itself.

While this is the first book in the series, reading it it seemed like I was missing a lot. How the characters related, why it's automatically assumed they'll be investigating together and so on. There is a prequel, but it's recommended to read this book first.

The mystery was complex and I really appreciated the tie in to the Tarot. For those readers unfamiliar with the Tarot, never fear, major points are explained and you can completely enjoy the story without this knowledge. That being said, if you have a passing familiarity or are quite knowledgeable about the cards you'll love it even more. The villain here is truly villainous and what they have planned after the murder is truly diabolical.

An atmospheric novel infused with Tarot wisdom and a bewitching cat THE HANGED MAN is a captivating mystery and a wonderful start to a new series. 

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About the author:

Jane Brookwood writes cozy mysteries steeped in tarot symbolism, intuition, and the quiet magic that lingers in small towns. Though she lives just outside the fictional Pineridge Hollow, she knows its back roads and hidden corners by heart. Its shop windows, whispered rumors, and moonlit secrets inspire much of her work — and often feel as real to her as any place on a map. Jane has always been drawn to the moment when an ordinary day tilts into something strange, meaningful, or unexpected. She writes to capture that shift — the sense that something powerful is moving just beneath the surface, waiting for the right person to notice. When she’s not writing, she’s reading tarot, wandering through forests, visiting cafés that remind her of The Velvet Fig, or sharing quiet evenings with her cat, Rosie, who insists on chiming in whenever a mystery gets tense. Jane lives in British Columbia, where Pineridge Hollow grows a little more vivid with every sunrise. Learn more at: https://ravenversebooks.com/

Follow Jane Brookwood on social media:

Facebook: @ravenversebooks

Instagram: @theravenverse.world 

TikTok: @ravenversebooks

 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Hanged Man by Jane Brookwood. This book is the first in the Raven-Verse Mystery series and was released earlier this year.

When Fiona Miller keeps drawing the hanged man from her Tarot deck she certainly doesn't expect to see it come to pass literally. But Henry Reynolds Jr. was found hanging at the building site his brother, Sam, was working on. Henry Jr. was a charismatic dealmaker, could he really have committed suicide? Chief Albright suspects murder and quickly takes Sam into custody. Fiona has known the brothers since they were little boys and things aren't adding up. With the help of her friends and the grudging acceptance of the chief of police Fiona starts looking into things. Will she be able to solve the murder before something else dire happens? 

A Field Guide to Death & Deceit - A Book Blast

A Field Guide to Death and Deceit: A Harry & Emma Mystery - A Novel by Michelle L. Cullen

About A Field Guide to Death and Deceit

A Field Guide to Death and Deceit: A Harry & Emma Mystery - A Novel
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series 
Setting - Ohio 
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books 
Publication Date: ‎ September 15, 2026 
Print Length: ‎ 336 pages Hardcover

Widower and anthropologist Harry Lancaster and his Gen Z colleague Emma are back for more murder and mayhem when they stumble upon a dead farmer.

This delightful sequel to A Field Guide to Murder is perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson.

When an odd request leads Harry Lancaster to agree to meet his former sweetheart Willow at a farm on the outskirts of town, Emma’s suspicions run high, and she insists on joining him. Instead of Willow greeting them when they arrive, they discover the farm's owner dead, with a corn rake embedded in his back.

After being interrogated by the police, Harry and Emma return to his home to find a bereft Willow, who admits she lost her life savings in a real estate scam involving the farm. Worried Willow will become the main murder suspect, Harry decides to help her, despite Emma’s concerns.

To bring the swindlers—and murderer—to justice, Harry recruits his potentially shady, financial-whiz brother and a neighborhood teenage hacker. Then Willow’s realtor is declared missing, and Harry’s brother is caught up in the fray.

As Harry, Emma, and team unearth clues, they increasingly dodge the police, stalkers, and danger in their race to save Willow and Harry’s brother before anyone else turns up dead.

Great Escapes Praise for A Field Guide to Death and Deceit: A Harry & Emma Mystery - A Novel by Michelle L. Cullen

A Field Guide to Death and Deceit is a delightful example of a senior sleuth mystery. Harry and Emma are a detective duo that serve up witty banter along with the clues... ~Storybook Lady

Dollycas’ Thoughts A Field Guide to Death and Deceit is a smart addition to this series. An engaging story that unfolds at a comfortable, brisk pace with an incredible cast of core characters taking readers on a marvelously complicated journey in a quest for the truth. Another Perfect Escape from Michelle L. Cullen. I am excited for this series to continue. ~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

Bottom Line: A Field Guide to Death and Deceit by Michelle L. Cullen balances clever plotting, warm humor, and compelling relationships. Combined with the twists and turns that had me constantly revising my theories on the who and the how and the why, you’ve got an engaging and satisfying mystery novel that’s perfect for armchair sleuths! ~Reading is my Superpower

About Michelle L. Cullen

Michelle L. Cullen has lived and traveled all over the world, from working as a bilingual secretary in Paris to backpacking around Europe, Central America, and Southern Africa to helping rebuild communities after war throughout Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific — where she saw the best and worst of human behavior. Her lifelong fascination with people and why they do what they do, was further fueled by her academic training. She obtained her PhD from the London School of Economics' Sociology Department and her master’s degree in anthropology from Melbourne University in Australia.

A fan of adventure, she has a black belt in Taekwondo, has summited 900 feet rock climbing, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, and hiked up an active volcano. She currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where she’s either doing yoga, playing outside, or plotting murder. She’s a proud member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and The Authors Guide, and has been gleefully reading and watching murder mysteries since the age of ten.

Author Links

• Website: https://mlcullen.com/
• Newsletters: https://michelle-l-cullen.kit.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleLCullenAuthor/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellelcullen/
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55985912.Michelle_L_Cullen

Purchase Links: Amazon - PenguinRandomHouse - Barnes & Noble - Books A Million - Bookshop.org - Hudson Booksellers - Target - Walmart -

The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Review

THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE by Gigi Pandian
The Tenth Accidental Alchemist Mystery 

After hundreds of years of wandering alchemist Zoe Faust is ready to settle down in Portland, Oregon. Engaged to former detective Max Liu, not only is she ready to be married, she's also ready to buy a house. It's not an easy task with the current housing market, plus the need for a separate space her her best friend, Dorian, who happens to be a living gargoyle. Zoe is amazed when she finds her dream house. It's absolutely perfect with an amazing garden and orchard as well as a separate living space with an outstanding gourmet kitchen for Dorian. Not only that, the owner is eager to sell, the property is in their budget, and no one else seems to be interested. Unfortunately, when Max arrives he tells her the reason why. Known as the Murder House it's said that the owner killed his girlfriend there. While Max refuses to live there, Zoe is determined to prove the owner innocent and get her dream house. When a psychic claiming to have information about the cold case is murdered near the property Zoe and Dorian know they must solve both crimes in order to get their happy ending.

I absolutely adore the Accidental Alchemist series and this tenth addition may be my most favorite! Halloween season infuses the mystery with both a cozy and spooky vibe, from Dorian cooking up treats for trick or treaters, autumnal decorations, and a seance in a murder house! It's fun to see how Dorian uses his special abilities to investigate. I appreciate Zoe's connection to Octavia and wish they had more time together. Max is more the skeptic with his doubts about Octavia, yet also more superstitious with his refusal to live in the murder house. Together, with a little help from some friends, they work together brilliantly.

One of my favorite aspects to the whole series is the food. Not only do we get to see Dorian whip up gourmet meals and simple snacks, but in THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE we also get clues in a cookbook. And there are recipes to try yourself at the end of the book.

Finding the perfect home is scary enough, but add a psychic, a medium, and a murder house, with or without bodies in the walls, and you have an amazing Halloween themed mystery with seasonal tips and treats included! While a murder mystery, when it comes down to it THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE is a book about love and what people, and gargoyles, are willing to do for it. 

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THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE

by Gigi Pandian

September 7 - October 2, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

AN ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST MYSTERY

 

An eternally young alchemist. A gargoyle who fancies himself Poirot. A Murder House for sale the week before Halloween.

Zoe Faust has run from her past for centuries. She didn't plan on settling down. She didn't plan on falling for a mortal man. She certainly didn't plan on the gargoyle.

Now Zoe, her fiancé, and her French chef gargoyle best friend Dorian have found an enchanting home with a hidden cottage for Dorian. It’s perfect for their little family. Except for one thing. Forty years ago, the night before Halloween, a woman was murdered in their dream house. Or was she?

When an enigmatic stranger arrives and insists that a mythological Irish witch holds the secret to the unsolved crime, Halloween turns deadly once more. Refusing to let Zoe lose the home she's waited centuries for, Dorian the gargoyle sets out to crack the case.

Can an alchemist, a gargoyle, and a teashop-owning detective solve two Halloween murders before an innocent man takes the fall and their perfect home slips away?

The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve is the whimsical tenth book in USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian's Anthony Award-winning Accidental Alchemist mystery series. If you love cozy fantasy, Agatha Christie-style whodunits, and found family, you'll adore this charming Halloween mystery, complete with Irish fortune-telling recipes.

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Cozy Fantasy Mystery, Culinary Cozy
Published by: Gargoyle Girl Productions
Publication Date: September 8, 2026
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-1938213373
Series: The Accidental Alchemist Mystery Series, Book 10 | Each is a Stand Alone
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1

I dashed through the wrought iron gate that stood open, the misty rain leaving nearly invisible droplets on my silver raincoat as I made my way to the house. Ivy tendrils wound their way around the curved black iron of the gate and fence, hiding the wires of electric candles that illuminated the yard with a warm glow.

By the time I took my first step on the stone path, I already knew. The house was perfect.

A perfect family home. I blinked back tears. What an astonishing idea, after so many decades living on the road. On my own. On the run. Never staying in one place for long. Never imagining I could have something more. The last two years in a fixer-upper were two of the best years in my life, still on my own but tentatively testing the idea of putting down roots. All the joys and trials of these last two years had led to this moment. Finding a home for me and Max. For the start of a new life together.

A twenty-foot Malus domestica tree towered above me, bringing me to a halt when I should have been rushing inside to see if I’d made it in time. The apple tree’s green and yellow leaves shielded smooth branches brimming with red-gold apples ripe enough to pick. I ran my fingertips across the smooth bark and crouched to touch the spot where the trunk met soil. Gnarled roots peeking out of the earth told me the tree’s advanced age, but it was thriving. The person who tended to this tree truly cared for it. As I would.

A bright yellow door, only three inches high, rested at the base of the tree. It was a fairy door, inviting anyone who took the time to notice it to imagine a portal to the fairy realm. I wondered if the whimsical doorway was there year-round or only because it was the week before Halloween. Behind the tree, crimson delphinium flowers were blooming. Red was a rare color for the flower, and it was late in the year for the spire-like stems to bloom. They, too, had been well tended.

As curious as I was about the person who attended to this landscape, I didn’t have time to speculate. I stood and hurried on.

Old-fashioned lanterns lit the stone steps leading to the covered porch. Two massive copper owls flanked the front door, one guarding a carved pumpkin, the other an autumn vegetable I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen: a mangelwurzel. I’ve celebrated many types of Halloween traditions over the years, so I recognized the root vegetable that had been popular for Halloween carvings over a century ago in Britain and Ireland. These decorations weren’t plastic toys from a modern manufacturer, but talismans that harkened back to celebrations of the autumn harvest—and the idea that October 31 was a night when the veil between worlds of the living and the dead was thin.

I smiled at the mangelwurzel’s grotesque grinning face, wondering how a modern-day homeowner in Portland, Oregon had stumbled across the tradition of carving creepy faces into the lumpy root related to a beet.

But I didn’t have time to linger outside and wonder.

I was lucky that nobody had put in an offer on the house while I was away last week, since the housing market was so tight these days. Today, I’d hoped to arrive right when the open house began, but it was such a busy afternoon at Max’s new shop that he couldn’t get away. We decided I should go on ahead. Still, it was already twenty minutes past the hour when the showing began.

And yet, the squeaky door of my old 1942 pickup truck was the loudest sound I’d heard since arriving. Instead of a rush of other eager homebuyers, the inviting yard was deserted. No kids were exploring the whimsical décor. No voices could be heard coming from inside the house, but perhaps the walls were thick?

The old home was beautiful and the listing price far lower than expected. Why was I the only potential buyer here?

The front door stood open, and as I stepped inside a tall woman in a cream-colored pantsuit greeted me.

“Zoe?”

I nodded and took her outstretched hand.

“Simone Friday,” she said, ushering me into the cozy foyer of the house. “Congratulations again on your engagement. This is a wonderful home to begin a new life together.”

I touched my malachite engagement ring. The green stone was the most perfect embodiment of Max’s and my love for each other. Malachite, the stone of transformation.

“What a stunning ring.” The real estate agent pulled her gaze from my ring finger and craned her thin neck to look around me. “Is Max still in the car?”

She had no idea how unique the ring truly was. Not that I could ever tell her.

“Max is running a little late,” I explained, hoping that wouldn’t make us look irresponsible if the owner was making a decision between multiple interested buyers. This housing market was brutal, and homes around here were being snatched up as soon as they hit the market. The agent Max had found us hadn’t suggested this house. I’d found it while browsing.

I’d reached out to the seller’s agent ahead of time to make sure the low list price wasn’t a mistake. She told me the owner needed to sell on an expedited timeline, prioritizing a buyer who could close quickly. He’d had a bad fall and was currently recovering in the hospital, hoping to move into a retirement community as soon as possible since he could no longer handle living alone in this big, multi-story house.

Looking out the front window, I smiled as I spotted even more autumn decorations I hadn’t noticed on my way in. Sheltered on the covered porch, an owl made from a pinecone and acorns sat next to a trio of gourds with silly painted faces. With this type of creativity, wherever the owner ended up, I had a feeling he’d be just fine.

“You’re an outdoorsy person,” Simone said. “I can tell. You’re in for a treat. I’ve been doing this for decades and believe me, this place is quite a find.”

I continued through the house, enjoying the solid wood paneling and cozy nooks that included a built-in window seat in the main bedroom. The back garden included a small kitchen garden, bountiful flowers, and even more fruit trees. Three types of apples, plus two each of cherry, plum, pear, and fig trees, making a full dozen. The Spartan apple tree’s ripe apples hung unpicked, but I was more worried by its thin branches, which were drooping from more than the weight of the fruit. When I was a young woman helping with farmland that included a nearby orchard with apple and pear trees, I would have immediately known what was wrong. Was I losing my edge? What did the tree need?

“Zoe?” The agent’s voice shook me out of the memory.

I’m Zoe Faust, born in 1676, in Salem Village in what’s now Massachusetts, a hundred years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. My natural aptitude with plants led to my being accused of being a witch, and later being taken under the wing of famed alchemist Nicolas Flamel. Under his tutelage, I learned the principles of alchemy, which led to my accidentally discovering the Elixir of Life. When I said I’d celebrated many types of Halloween traditions, I wasn’t kidding.

“Ready to look at the guest house?” Simone asked.

She led me through the backyard to a small cottage almost entirely hidden by trees.

“Designed for someone who loves to cook, as you can tell!” she said as we stepped inside. “Take your time out here. I’ll be in the front section of the main house to greet others.”

She wasn’t kidding about the layout. Two-thirds of the little home’s open floorplan was taken up by a massive kitchen. The style was a bit dated, but for the one who would be using the space, it was functionality that mattered. Max and I needed a home of our own, but we couldn’t abandon our friend Dorian. It would be impossible for him to live on his own. And as a chef, he would love this space.

I stepped back outside into the miniature orchard. Everything about this place was perfect. Too perfect, the nervous part of my brain chimed in. The part of my brain that had kept me safe for centuries. That had kept me moving, avoiding being detected as an alchemist. But this house… I knew this was where I was meant to be. Where we were meant to be.

I rooted through my bag for my phone. It took Max four rings to answer.

“Zoe, is everything—”

“It’s perfect. So perfect. How soon can you get here?”

“I had no idea how wild weekend crowds could be. I don’t know if I can—”

“You’re at the register?” I imagined him ringing up the customers lined up at his cozy shop, The Alchemy of Tea, with a smile on his handsome face as he told people about how best to brew his custom tea blends or use the various styles of teapots he stocked.

“I stepped outside to take your call.”

“Mary can handle the register on her own. She did it beautifully while you were away. Truly. You need to see this place today. What if someone else puts in an offer that’s accepted? As soon as you see it in person, you’ll understand why it’s so special.”

“Do you know,” he chuckled, “it’s impossible to say no to you, Zoe Faust.”

Max arrived ten minutes later and found me in the backyard’s mini orchard, where I was trying to figure out what was afflicting the ailing apple tree.

I threw my arms around him. “I thought you were going to call me when you arrived. Did you see the house?”

Max didn’t answer immediately. More than that, his shoulders were stiff. And he wasn’t hugging me back. As I pulled away, expecting terrible news, only then did I see the look of worry on his face.

My own smile drained away. “Someone else got the house?”

“I doubt it.” He looked past me towards the house.

“What’s going on?” I followed his gaze. What was I missing?

“This is Rufus Hitchcock’s house.”

“You know the owner? It’s not on the listing—”

He groaned. “It wouldn’t be. But I know the house. You really don’t know the name?”

“Why would I?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t look more closely at the listing, or I would have spotted it. I’ve just been so busy—”

“Max. If you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, my head is going to explode like an overheated cucurbit. What could possibly be wrong with our dream house that we can’t fix?” Whatever it was, I hoped it wouldn’t need too much money. This is embarrassing for an alchemist to admit, but I’m wretched at making gold.

“It’s not fixable.” Max looked forlornly at the perfect house. “I wish it was… but—”

“Max.”

He turned back to me and shook his head. “Rufus Hitchcock is a murderer, Zoe. He killed his girlfriend in this house forty years ago, and strange things have been happening here ever since. That’s why nobody else wants this house.”

***

Excerpt from The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve by Gigi Pandian. Copyright 2026 by Gigi Pandian. Reproduced with permission from Gigi Pandian. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling mystery author, locked-room mystery enthusiast, and fan of exploring ruined castles in the rain. She’s been awarded Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Derringer awards, and been a finalist for the Edgar. She writes the Accidental Alchemist mysteries (humorous cozy fantasy mysteries), the Secret Staircase mysteries (locked-room mysteries called “wildly entertaining” by the New York Times), and the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries (lighthearted adventures steeped in history). Gigi lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and a gargoyle who watches over the backyard garden. For bookish fun plus a free story and free mini cookbook, sign up for her email newsletter at www.gigipandian.com.

Catch Up With Gigi Pandian:

www.GigiPandian.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @gigipandian
BookBub - @GigiPandian
Instagram - @gigipandian
Facebook - @GigiPandian

 

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Flimflam Fairy - A Review

 Review

 

FLIMFLAM FAIRY by Elizabeth Pantley
Book 1 in The Magical Cozy Mystery Bookstore Series

After years of working best friends Lucy Young and Willa Treadwell are ready to enjoy their retirement. First on their agenda is a trip. Unsure of their destination they decide to throw darts. Throwing them simultaneously the friends are surprised when the two darts hit the same location - Thistlebloom, Arizona. Upon their arrival the pair are are delighted by the charming town and even more so by The Enchanted Pages Bookstore and Coffee Shop. Completely captivated the manager tells them the shop is looking for new owners. What he doesn't mention are the magical excursions involved. Will Lucy and Willa move to Arizona to begin a new chapter in their lives? And what will they do when they discover what the job really entails? For this is no ordinary bookstore. It is a repository of books for book clubs worldwide and it will be their job to recommend the books, or not. However, they don't read the books, they actually journey inside and become a part of the story. Lucy and Willa's first trip inside a cozy mystery takes them to Whisperglow Village. Inhabited by fairies the pair finds the place delightful. But even in a  lovely world of fairies there's a murder...and a con artist. Will Lucy and Willa solve the murder and catch the scammer? More importantly, will they recommend the book? 

I love how reading whisks me away from mundane reality and into a new world. In the The Magical Cozy Mystery Bookstore series this literally happens to Lucy and Willa. It's every book lover's dream. Especially with some extra perks that I won't spoil. I like the fact that the protagonists are older women.  Ready for retirement, though certainly not a peaceful one, the two get the opportunity of a lifetime and take full advantage. I like how they complement each other, the effervescent Lucy and the more practical Willa. I adore Banjo, their guide who happens to be a cat, a very special cat.

The book can almost be divided into two parts, the opening and discovery of their new role and inside the book where the mystery resides. I equally enjoyed both parts. Their first mystery has a lovely unique setting that included delectable food and fairies yet was diabolical with its twists, turns, and red herrings.

While FLIMFLAM FAIRY is the first in the series, it is actually a spin off of the author's Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club series. You certainly not need read any of those to fully appreciate this book, but fans will find the tie ins fascinating and will also encounter an old friend. I was thrilled to see Bob! 

FLIMFLAM FAIRY, with its joyful outlook on life, is a fun start to a new mystery series.