All Aboard for Murder - A Review & Giveaway

Review

ALL ABOARD FOR MURDER by Ellen Byron
The Third Golden Motel Mystery 

 

The towns of Foundgold and Goldsgone are celebrating the birthday of Angus Sprockles, the man who made the area a historic site. Festivities begin with the opening of a time capsule with the big event being the Sprockles Railroad Halloween-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society featuring former child star Dougie Keefer. After a wonderful event the last of the organizers are ready to take the train ride back only to find Moses Sprockles dead on the track. With murky jurisdiction, multiple law enforcement agencies soon descend upon the scene. Dee Stern, former screenwriter and new motelier is more than happy to leave this murder to the professionals. That is until her dad asks her to investigate the death of his friend. Did the murder have something to do with the silver spike from the time capsule? Or perhaps something related to Moses' work as a notary? With the Golden Motel once again associated with murder Dee and her partner, Jeff, will don their sleuthing hats and try to solve another murder. 

 

It's fun being back in Foundgold, California, especially during Halloween time. I love how Dee, her father, and Jeff really get into the spirit of things, helping families make memories, and bringing back old time fun. Like Dee, I can't stand the concept of influencers. And we have a few annoying ones here. In fact, there are plenty of shifty characters, along with favorite regulars. I'm especially fond of Ma'am and Mr. Ma'am and loved how Serena showed a decided edge. No trophy wife, she has smarts, a strong backbone, and is not someone with whom to trifle! I also love Bud, the bear.

 

In addition to murder, the third Golden Motel Mystery gives readers some relationship drama. Despite unpleasant changes there are hints of something special on the horizon, and plenty of laughs as well. The mystery was interesting with several suspects, the aforementioned shifty characters, red herrings. and very real threats, all which kept me interested and engaged.

 

Railroad aficionados, fans of the Old West, and anyone who enjoys a well written novel with unique characters will enjoy ALL ABOARD FOR MURDER, a fun Halloween themed mystery. 

 

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 All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery) by Ellen Byron

About All Aboard for Murder

All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - California
Publisher: ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication Date: ‎ July 28, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 288 pages

Dee Stern is starting to feel at home running her Golden Motel in the quaint California village she moved to, leaving behind her LA life as a sitcom writer. But a killer sees the town’s Halloween celebration as a golden opportunity to write a script for murder . . .

It’s October in Gold Rush country and all manner of tricks and treats are happening in the lead-up to Halloween. October also happens to be the birthday of Angus Sprockles, the man responsible for the town being designated a historic landmark, and the residents are celebrating his memory as well. His only living descendant, Moses Sprockles, runs the narrow-gauge railroad—once used to ferry lumber from the mountains to the sawmill, now a tourist attraction. The Sprockles Railroad is hosting a Halloween-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society.

But when a body is found on the tracks, it’s not a Halloween prank. It’s Moses himself, seemingly felled by a fallen tree branch. Dee’s dad Sam is convinced his friend is the victim of foul play and urges his daughter to apply her sleuthing skills. Dee’s train of thought leads her to suspects ranging from a former child star and one-hit wonder, the owner of a nail salon with her claws in everything, and even the mayor. When a self-proclaimed ghost hunter throws his hat in the ring and claims to know who did it, the investigation really goes off the rails. No matter how crazy things get, Dee is determined to blow the whistle on a runaway killer with a one-track mind.

About Ellen Byron

Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Author Links: 

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/  

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico

Goodreads: Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico  

Purchase Links – Amazon – Kensington – Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – Target – Walmart

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading The Mysterious Case of the Missing House by Michele Pariza Wacek. This book is the fourth in the Redemption Detective Agency Mystery series and was released earlier this month.

The Redemption Detective Agency is not your normal detective agency. While Emily Hildebrandt has been using her office management skills in an attempt to bring a modicum of organization and sanity to the office, she hasn't been entirely successful. Her Aunt Tilde runs it more like a hobby than a business, rarely even accepting payment. And neither Tilde, nor her friends Mildred and Nora, is a licensed private investigator. That's why Emily is filling our a job application for the school district, although she hasn't been successful in completing that either. When the phone rings with a new case it seems fairly straight forward. Tilde and Mildred's old friend Amelia Clark has been on a cruise and is worried that her niece, Brandy, hasn't been watering her rose bushes. So Emily and the others drive to Meli's house only to find it isn't there. Instead there's a country club and spa! Only in Redemption could a house disappear. With a missing house and a missing niece will the Redemption Detective Agency be able to discover what happened?

Murder at the Waterfront - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Jacque Rosmanto Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jacque writes the Academic Mom Mystery series. Murder at the Waterfront is the third book in the series and was released earlier this year.

Kathy: In Murder at the Waterfront, Cara Knight gets involved in the investigation when one of her students is arrested for murdering Washington, D.C.’s chief medical examiner. Would you insert yourself in a murder investigation?

JR: I would love to, if I honestly had a role to play and my appeals to the authorities in charge went unnoticed.

Kathy: Cara stumbles into a tangle of city politics and more. Have you ever gotten involved in local politics?

JR: There are social workers who work on the macro side of things, which might mean political social work or community organizing, but I’ve always been a clinical social worker, working with individuals, families, and groups.

Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

JR: I liked that there was a plot going somewhere rather than just pretty writing for the sake of it, and I liked working out the puzzle alongside the sleuths.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JR: She’s mastered the art of work-life balance until murder tips the scales. Cara Knight is a mother of two preschoolers in the D.C. suburbs and an assistant professor going for tenure. She has enough to juggle before adding crime-solving to the mix. If you like clever sleuths, dry humor, and twisty whodunits, you’ll love the Academic Mom Mysteries.

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

JR: Cara’s annoying mother-in-law, Barbara, because she inserts herself into the mysteries even though she hates to move.

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

JR: Murder in Georgetown was inspired by the Chandra Levy case in D.C. in the early 2000s. I wasn’t even living in the area at the time, but once I moved here, I was intrigued and inspired by being so close to the nation’s capital.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JR: I do! The Academic Mom Mysteries are traditional mysteries, but I’ve recently branched out. Under the pen name Jacey Lewis, I’ve started a true cozy mystery series involving scone baking and rescue pets. The first book, Scone Cold Whiskers, came out July 16, 2026, as part of a multi-author project called Whiskers and Whisks Whodunits. And under the pen name Camden Gray, I’m writing Forbidden Tides, a paranormal romance series set on the misty California coast, where the sea keeps its secrets and forbidden love is the most dangerous tide of all. The first in the series is a novella, When the Undertow Pulls.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JR: I’ve always wanted to publish. Even at seven years old, when I announced my writing dream to my mother, it was because I wanted to create in other people the feeling I got from reading. That hasn’t changed.

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

JR: Definitely Agatha Christie—she’s been a role model for obvious reasons, but I’ve also re-read her autobiography over and over and love the Victorian world she writes about. The other three are trickier. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing many of my favorite authors speak at events, and I do a lot of events with other authors, so it feels like choosing among friends.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JR: I’m currently reading Sequel by Jean Koralitz. You’re welcome to join me on Goodreads (goodreads.com/user/show/120990726-jacqueline-corcoran) to see what I’m reading. I usually take on a fifty-book-a-year challenge.

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

JR: My serious hobby, which takes up a lot of time, is writing fiction. Beyond that, tennis and working out. 
 

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

JR: Butter, popcorn, M&M’s, and cheese.

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

JR: Two more books have been contracted for the Academic Mom Mysteries, bringing the total to five. The next one picks up in the fall, right after the summer setting of Murder at the Waterfront. I’ve been through a few title changes with this one. First was Murder at Embassy Row, until I realized how much security embassies have, and I couldn’t find a way to give Cara ongoing access. Then I moved the setting to a museum I’m calling the National Museum of Contemporary Art and titled it Murder at the Smithsonian, only to discover that Margaret Truman already used that title in her D.C. mystery series. So I’m currently looking for the right name as I complete the book.

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

JR: Being able to make more of life than the everyday—weaving my experiences with make-believe and hopefully reaching readers who co-create with me the experience I’ve tried to evoke.

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 Murder at the Waterfront (The Academic Mom Mysteries) by Jacque Rosman

About Murder at the Waterfront

Murder at the Waterfront (The Academic Mom Mysteries)
Traditional Mystery/Amateur Sleuth 3rd in Series
Setting – Washington D.C.
Publisher: ‎ Speaking Volumes, LLC
Publication Date: ‎ May 19, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 230 pages

She’s mastered the art of work-life balance—until murder tips the scales.

Assistant professor Cara Knight juggles raising two preschoolers, teaching social work, and chasing tenure, with a dean intent on derailing her hopes. When one of her students is arrested for murdering Washington D.C.’s chief medical examiner, and Cara inserts herself into the investigation, she risks far more than her career. Convinced of her student’s innocence, Cara stumbles into a tangle of city politics, grieving families, and secrets someone would kill to keep buried.

Can she diagnose the cause of death before she too ends up in the morgue?

Murder at the Waterfront is Book Three in the Academic Mom Mysteries. If you like clever sleuths, dry humor, and twisty whodunits, then you’ll love Jacque Rosman’s well-plotted puzzle.

About Jacque Rosman

 

Jacque Rosman writes the Academic Mom Mystery series, featuring Cara Knight, a social work professor whose research instincts keep pulling her into investigations that are decidedly off-syllabus. With wry humor, Jacque mines the absurdity of academia and motherhood for a series that's equal parts twisty and true-to-life, set in the nation’s capital. When she's not plotting murders, Jacque can be found juggling her own version of the academic mom life. Join the newsletter for updates on Cara's next case and the meals that she can get all her family to eat.  

Author Links: 

Website http://www.JacquelineCorcoran.com  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineCorcoranAuthor/  

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/?ref=nav_home 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-corcoran-362b5124/  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Bookshop.org - Kobo -

A Field Guide to Death & Deceit - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Michelle L. Cullen to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Michelle writes the Harry & Emma Mystery series. A Field Guide to Death & Deceit is the second book in the series and will be released later this year.

Kathy: Harry Lancaster works with his Gen Z colleague Emma. What makes writing two different generations working together fun and/or difficult? 

MLC: I love writing two characters who are at two different stages of life, neither of which I belong to. Harry is a Boomer and Emma is a Gen Z (or very young Millennial). In many ways, Emma’s struggles with finding her own way mirror challenges I faced in my twenties; it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. And I hope that once I retire, I follow in Harry’s shoes and stay active and engaged. For the first book, I had beta readers from each age group review my manuscript to help make sure Harry and Emma’s voices rang true to their ages.


Kathy: In A Field Guide to Death and Deceit Harry meets up with an old sweetheart. Have you ever encountered an old love again? 

MLC: I have. And while I’m not one to second guess the choices I’ve made, one guy has left me wondering what if…


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

MLC: Murder, She Wrote was the first cozy mystery that pulled me in. I have great memories of watching this as a kid with my dad. Each episode took place in a setting I’d love to visit, didn’t get too dark or gory, had interesting characters, sometimes involved humor, and always involved justice. They are the perfect escape.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MLC: I’ve written an action / adventure novel based on my aid work experiences in Rwanda. It’s a saved file for now…perhaps one day it will make its way into the world.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

MLC: Only Murders in the Building goes to the Ohio suburbs in the Harry & Emma Mystery series. Full of wit and warmth, these whodunits feature a cross-generational crime-solving duo with a knack for finding mayhem and murder.


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

MLC: I think my favorite character right now is Elizabeth Best from Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series. Elizabeth is a cunning, tour de force who’s afraid of nothing. She’s the kind of older woman I’d love to be.


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

MLC: My mom sparked the idea for my first book in the Harry and Emma series. She initially resisted the idea of moving to a condominium for years, stating that she valued her privacy and didn’t want other people sticking their noses into her business – even though it would make things easier in terms of yardwork and clearing snow. A few years later, she ended moving to a stand-alone patio home that was part of an HOA that would take care of this outside work. When I went to help her set up her new home, imagine my surprise when I found her running from window to window to watch her neighbors’ comings and goings. With that, the idea for Harry Lancaster was born.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MLC: I love finding books with characters I enjoy spending time with, and finding series that I go back to time and time again because the characters feel like old friends. I wanted to create and offer that same feeling with others who love to read.


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

MLC: This is a tough question because the list of authors I’d love to meet is quite long. Off the top of my head, I’d say M.C. Beaton, Ann Cleeves, Deanna Raybourn, and Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MLC: I’m reading Jess Cannon’s A Zoom with a View and Uzma Jalaluddin’s Moonlight Murder and just finished Jessa Maxwell’s The Golden Spoon. Each book is fabulous!


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

MLC: When I’m not working my day job or writing, I love to read, do yoga, or get outside, whether walking, kayaking, biking, paddle boarding, or skiing.


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

MLC: Salsa, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and quinoa – none of which go together but are great complements or additions to the meals I make.


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

MLC: I’ve just finished drafting flap copy for Harry & Emma Mystery books three through five, with the hopes of getting a two to three book deal to keep the series going. Fingers crossed!


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

MLC: I love chatting with readers and other authors about books and the writing process. It never gets old! 
You can learn more about me and my books or connect with me on social at the links below:

Website: https://mlcullen.com/

IG: @michellelcullen

Facebook: @MichelleLCullenAuthor

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 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

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.

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 -

Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils - A Review

 Review

SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS
By Sandra Jackson-Opoku
The Second Savvy Summers Mystery 

 

Savvy Summers may be the best soul food chef in the South Side of Chicago, but she's always willing to expand her culinary offerings. After taking a course in Cajun cuisine, Savvy finds herself experimenting, much to her sous chef Penny's annoyance. But her foray into New Orleans cookery helps when her old friend Dori asks for a favor. The new face of Dori's business is all about the Big Easy so Savvy agrees to cater a luncheon. What she finds is concerning, a greedy woman wanting free food, an intern who vacillates between mousy and bossy, and the new company face-a fake charmer. When a prank turns deadly Dori becomes a suspect and Savvy determines to get to the bottom of things. Not only will she prove her friend's innocence, but she'll uncover the underhanded business at work at Dori's company.

 

While I like Savvy Summers, my favorite characters in SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS are Jimmy Blue and his dog, Sergeant Stubby. While it's fascinating how Jimmy is teaching his dog to use talking buttons, what I love even more is their kinship and smarts. I appreciated the backstory of the mysterious patron at Essie's Place and the secondary mystery Savvy helped to solve.

 

The mystery was well plotted with lots of clues as well as misdirection, but as important as the mystery is, it's the characters, their relationships, backstory, and dealings that truly make the story. 

 

Whether you prefer sweet potato pie, king cake, or a soul food version of bread pudding, get ready to savor a well seasoned mystery in SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS. 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading All Aboard for Murder by Ellen Byron. This book is the third in the Golden Motel Mystery series and will be released next week.

The towns of Foundgold and Goldsgone are celebrating the birthday of Angus Sprockles, the man made the area a historic site. From the opening of a time capsule to the Sprockles Railroad Halloween-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society featuring former child star Dougie Keefer. After a wonderful event the last of the organizers are ready to take the train ride back only to find Moses Sprockles dead on the track. With murky jurisdiction, multiple law enforcement agencies soon descend upon the scene. Dee Stern, former screenwriter and new motelier is more than happy to leave this murder to the professionals. That is until her dad asks her to investigate the death of his friend. Did the murder have something to do with the silver spike from the time capsule? Or perhaps something related to Moses' work as a notary? With the Golden Motel once again associated with murder Dee and her partner, Jeff, will don their sleuthing hats and try to solve another murder.

Crime Rangoon - A Review

 Review

 

CRIME RANGOON by Vivien Chien
The Twelfth Noodle Shop Mystery 

 

Aside from Shanghai Donuts and her family's restaurant, the Modern Scroll is Lana Lee's favorite shop in Cleveland's Asia Village. After all books are food for the soul! Lana thrilled when one of her favorite authors, Charlene Chan is coming to the store for a book signing and Lana will be assisting as her handler, with a special perk of a private dinner with the author afterward. The event is running smoothly until an irate woman makes a scene claiming Charlene stole her book! Then a strange man dressed as the killer from her latest novel shows up, right before Charlene collapses. There will be no special dinner with the author-Charlene Chan has died. The murderer is copying scenes directly from Charlene's latest book. So much so, that instead of warning Lana to stay away, her boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, actually asks for her help! Is this the end of the world? With reality mirroring the book, Lana has cause to be worried for though her helping may not be the end of the world, it may be the end of Lana Lee! 

 

I absolutely love Lana Lee and Asia Village and thoroughly enjoyed this, the twelfth Noodle Shop Mystery. Lana is so relatable, especially in her love of books! Who wouldn't love to hang out with their favorite author? Being a mystery, of course things go terribly wrong. I like how the killer was using Charlie's latest book as a template. Real life and fiction intertwined...just how far will it go?

 

It was also fun seeing Lana and Adam working together. Instead of hiding her sleuthing from him, she's able to share her expertise-and she is an expert at this point. It's not just her knowledge of the author, her work, and Asia Village, but with eleven mysteries behind her as well as the fact an actual private investigator wanted to hire her, she's had lots of experience solving crimes!

 

While there were several suspects I did realize the killer's identity early on. Was that my expertise as a former cop and mystery blogger or sheer luck? Perhaps a bit of both. Even so, I enjoyed waiting to see when the penny would drop and Lana would solve the murder.

 

Death imitates art in CRIME RANGOON so grab a bowl of noodles, or maybe a doughnut, and settle in to see Lana and her friends solve another murder at Asia Village.