The Fleur de Sel Murders - Review

Review

THE FLEUR DE SEL MURDERS by Jean-Luc Bannalec

The Third Brittany Mystery

On a vague tip from trusted journalist Lilou Breval, Commissaire Georges Dupin decides to break a few rules and take a peek at the salt marshes, not believing he'll find anything. Enjoying the beautiful place he sees nothing amiss, until someone starts shooting at him! Wounded and unable to make contact with Lilou, Commissaire Dupin is determined to work the case, even though it's out of his jurisdiction. Now he, along with Commissaire Sylvaine Rose and her local team will sift through the salt marshes to discover the truth behind the blue barrels.

Jean-Luc Bannalec captures the essence of Brittany with his vivid descriptions, from the succulent food (My mouth is watering for a tartine with brie, walnuts, and grape mustard!), the myths and fables, the gorgeous landscape, even the scents. I want to visit the salt marshes to smell the violet fragrance of the salt!

THE FLEUR DE SEL MURDERS has a slow, steady, and methodical pace. It's not a light, easy read. The narrative needs to be savored and readers need to pay attention to appreciate the complex story and exquisite details given. I liked the characters, and wish I had my own Nolwenn! I enjoyed the different approaches of both Commissaire Dupin and Commissaire Rose as they begrudgingly work as a team, each with an honest respect for the other, but each used to doing things his/her own way! But it's the charming details that really heighten the appeal of the mystery, the gifts that Georges chooses for Claire, Riwal's stories, and the kangaroo!

THE FLEUR DE SEL MURDERS is a police procedural that traditional mystery fans will embrace. 

A Cobra Clutch Interview

I'm so happy to welcome A.J. Devlin to Cozy Up With Kathy today. A.J. debuts his "Hammerhead" Jed Mystery series with COBRA CLUTCH.

Kathy: Your debut mystery series introduces readers to "Hammerhead" Jed Ounstead, a former professional wrestler. Are you a fan of pro wrestling?

AJD: Yes, I am definitely a fan of professional wrestling. I was a huge fan as a kid growing up in the 80’s, then lost touch with it for awhile, before coming back to it in the late nineties during the "WWE Attitude Era” and when behind the scenes documentaries like Beyond The Mat started to come out.


Kathy: Jed has turned in his pro wrestling gear and is now working as a bouncer and doing errands for his dad's detective agency. If you had to choose between those three jobs, which one would you choose for yourself?

AJD: If I had to choose between being a pro wrestler, bouncer, or working for a detective agency I would definitely choose working for a detective agency. While I love the theatricality and performance art of pro wrestling and appreciate the physicality of bouncing, I think I would enjoy sleuthing the most for sure. Plus no baby oil and less fistfights!


Kathy:  In COBRA CLUTCH Jed's former tag-team partner asks him to help find his kidnapped pet snake. I admit, I think the snake's dinner makes a better pet (I love rats), but did you ever have a pet snake?

AJD: You love rats? Yikes! You’re braver than me! For the record I have never had a pet snake and reptiles, rodents, and bugs all kind of creep me out a bit (I might have to make an exception for hamsters). That being said,I don’t know why, but I’ve always been fascinated by people who have exotic pets that they adore. I saw a video on YouTube a while back of an Australian guy swimming in a creek while drinking a giant beer and throwing his pet snake around and every time the snake swam back to him and it’s equally awesome and adorable. And the video actually ends with the guy giving his pet snake a kiss on the lips! Needless to say, that video reinforced for me the fact that it is indeed very plausible that “Hammerhead” Jed’s former tag-team partner Johnny Mamba could love his pet snake so much that he wouldn’t hesitate to pay a ten thousand dollar ransom. Click here to see the video!


Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

AJD: My late professor, mentor, and friend, Academy Award nominated screenwriter and crime novelist Leonard Schrader, was the person who really turned me onto mysteries. Even though we were collaborating on screenplays together at the time, Leonard was always taking me to bookshops or recommending new crime authors for me to try. As a result I got hooked on mystery series by greats like Joe R. Lansdale, Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, and Charles Willeford. Leonard always used to refer to picking up the latest instalment of an ongoing series as “spending time with an old friend.”


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

AJD: When I used to write screenplays I dabbled in all kinds of genres. Action-adventure, thriller, horror, comedy, romantic comedy — I think the only one I never really tried in some way, shape, or form was science fiction (and I love good sci-fi). But as of now I am exclusively focused on crime writing and don’t see that changing anytime soon.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

AJD: The “Hammerhead” Jed mystery series follows “Hammerhead” Jed Ounstead, a former professional wrestler who quit the business just as his career and fame were blowing up. One of the mystery subplots of the first book is what caused him to walk away from it all. Cobra Clutch begins with Jed having returned to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada, where he has found work as a bouncer and errand boy for his father’s detective agency. However due to a favour owed to a friend, Jed soon finds himself drawn back into the very world he tried so hard to leave behind.


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

AJD: Joe R. Lansdale’s Hap and Leonard and Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch are definitely some long time favourite characters of mine, as well as Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Over the last couple of years I discovered Sam Wiebe's series protagonist Dave Wakeland, who has become one of my favs as well, and like “Hammerhead” Jed he is based out of Vancouver.


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

AJD: I have been a big fan of what I have dubbed the “hybrid-athlete detective” mystery sub-genre for years. From Harlan Coben’s ex-basketball star turned sports agent-amateur sleuth Myron Bolitar, to Tom Shreck’s boxer-amateur sleuth Duffy Dombrowski, to Jeff Shelby’s surfer-detective Noah Braddock, to Martin McKinley’s ex-hockey player-amateur sleuth Martin Carter – there were many different sports playing key roles in shaping these protagonists personalities. However, I realized that to the best of my knowledge no one had ever written a mystery featuring an ex-wrestler-amateur sleuth before and from there I was on my way to creating “Hammerhead” Jed.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

AJD: My publisher NeWest Press has been publishing all kinds of radically rewarding literature over the last 40 years, with a particular interest in Western Canadian authors telling Western Canadian stories, so they always seemed like the perfect fit for “Hammerhead” Jed to me. I was then fortunate enough to learn that they were indeed interested in publishing Jed’s debut adventure.


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

AJD: Oh man, what a great question! Right off the bat I would have to say my late professor, mentor, and dear friend Leonard Schrader, as even though we spent so much time together and shared so much over the years, I would love nothing more than to have the opportunity to spend time with him again and get his feedback on Cobra Clutch. When Leonard was a student he studied closely under Kurt Vonnegut at the Iowa Writers Workshop, and one of my favourite college courses ever was an undergrad English class where we deeply analyzed Slaughterhouse-Five, so he would definitely be next. And then I would probably round out the list with Joe R. Lansdale and Michael Connelly as I absolutely love their work and both authors have greatly inspired and heavily influenced my writing.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

AJD: I’m currently reading GIVE OUT CREEK, crime author JG Toews debut mystery novel and the first in her Stella Mosconi series, and then plan on starting the next book in R.M. Greenaway’s chillingly addictive BC Blues series, and can’t wait to dig into Joe R. Lansdale’s most recent Hap and Leonard mystery JACKRABBIT SMILE.


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

AJD: Of course! When I’m not writing I’m a stay-at-home dad to my 6 year old son and 3 year old daughter so taking care of them and running them around town to their activities keeps me pretty busy! I’m also a bit of a news junkie and love Batman. I used to regularly collect comics, but have dialled that down ever since I attended Bouchercon 2017 in Toronto as now I have a major backlog in my to-be-read pile! The good news is that when I do have time to read I always have a great new book waiting for me. I also really enjoy running with my labradoodle Dexter (but only when the weather is nice, don’t forget I live just outside beautiful — but often rainy — Vancouver) and I actually outlined most of the next “Hammerhead” Jed mystery while jogging with my dog last year.


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

AJD: Right now I’m pretty much focused exclusively on the “Hammerhead” Jed series but would love to take a crack at a stand-alone down the line.


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

AJD: That when my son goes to school he is able to say “Yes, my dad may spend 80% of his time in his pyjamas, but it’s for a good reason!"



************************************************************************

For more information about A.J. Devlin and COBRA CLUTCH, check out the following links:

ajdevlin.com

facebook.com/ajdevlinauthor

twitter.com/ajdevlinauthor

instagram.com/ajdevlinauthor

The book is available now in Canadian bookstores and online at Amazon.ca and Indigo.ca. However, the US release has been delayed. But in the meantime US residents can still purchase the book directly from the publisher at www.newestpress.com

 

Stay tuned for my review coming next month!

A Magical Match - Review

Review

A MAGICAL MATCH by Juliet Blackwell

The Ninth Witchcraft Mystery

While preparations continue for the magical show down coming to San Francisco, Lily Ivory is getting ready for her store's Magical Match charity event. But there's soon a bigger problem than a shady cupcake lady and not being able to find the perfect wedding dress. The groom-to-be has been arrested for murder. Multiple witnesses saw Sailor leaving the scene of the crime and a video confirmed it! The victim, a man Lily barely remembers, showed up at Aunt Cora's Closet earlier claiming she stole something from him. But things don't add up and even Detective Carlos thinks things are hinky. Lily must look to the past and get help from unexpected places in order to figure out what's going on and get Sailor out of jail in time for their handfasting!

I'm thrilled to be back in San Fransisco with these characters I've come to love. A MAGICAL MATCH kept me enthralled from start to finish. There is so much going on! Knowing that everyone is in danger from the magical big threat. Not knowing what problems are mundane and which may be magical threats. Is someone looking to weaken Lily? So many questions! The prophesy! Why can't Lily remember the time in Germany with her father? Is her relationship with Sailor harmful? How much does she really know about him? Could Aidan actually be working against her? 

Ultimately, this ninth Witchcraft mystery is about trust and family, the one you make as well as the one you're born into. Mother issues are explored as well as having to face your past. We also see that working together, acceptance, and believing in yourself will help you to succeed and be happy.

 

A MAGICAL MATCH is a complex action packed mystery with plenty of humor balancing out the danger and the unknown. It's a book that makes you think, laugh, and at the end, feel happy and filled with love.

The Library Ghost of Tanglewood Inn - Review

Review

THE LIBRARY GHOST OF TANGLEWOOD INN by Gigi Pandian

The Fifth and a Half Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery 

Trying to make it back home in time for Thanksgiving, Jaya and Tamarind are grounded by a Colorado snowstorm. A meeting with a man who looks somewhat like a Hollywood styled vampire procures them an invitation to join a group going to an inn off the beaten track in order to avoid sleeping in the airport. The inn has an interesting history, including being home to an avenging ghost. Screams in the night send everyone running to the library which they find locked from the inside. Gaining entry, they discover the vampire looking author quite dead. Has the avenging ghost struck again? 

I love getting another glimpse into Jaya Jones' world. What a fun idea to see what happens while not on a big adventure, but rather, returning from one and simply trying to get home in time for Thanksgiving. We only know two characters going in, Jaya and Tamarind, so a reader can jump right in without prior knowledge of the series. Of course, those of us who read this series can appreciate more nuances and enjoy it even more. 

Arriving at the Tanglewood Inn, Gigi Pandian creates a setting evocative of ghost stories and Golden Age mysteries, at once haunting, spine tingling, and cozy! The mystery is fiendishly clever and great fun. A dead body in a locked library with an early edition Agatha Christie mystery and an avenging ghost as a suspect, what's not to love?!? My only gripe is that it's a short story and so is...short! Such an atmospheric setting deserves to be explored more fully and at length. Perhaps Jaya will return for a visit?

THE LIBRARY GHOST OF TANGLEWOOD INN is a cleverly plotted locked room mystery. This short story is a delightful morsel to keep you going until the next full length Jaya Jones adventure is released.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Pairing a Deception by Nadine Nettmann. This book is the third in the Sommelier Mystery series and will be released May 8th.

Katie Stillwell and Detective Dean have finally coordinated their schedules and plan to enjoy their first weekend away as a couple at the Harvest Days Wine and Food Festival in Santa Barbara. A romantic wine filled getaway turns murderous when the pair discover the dead body of a woman lying against the door of Master Sommelier Hudson Wiley; the same woman who was desperate to talk with him. Could he have killed her? Although it's not Dean's jurisdiction he's certain to have an opinion, and Katie is sure to ask some questions. Who killed Jocelyn Rivers? And if the Master Sommelier is guilty, who will proctor Katie's Exam?

Researching Mushrooms - A Guest Post with Recipe & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Janet Finsilver to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Janet writes the Kelly Jackson Mystery series. Murder at the Mushroom Festival is the fourth book in the series and was released April 17th.

Researching Mushrooms

By Janet Finsilver

All of the books in my murder mystery series have special events in them based on real ones that take place in northern California. For the fourth book, Murder at the Mushroom Festival, I decided to use the Mendocino County Mushroom, Beer, and Wine Fest for my model. I read about the different activities and culinary choices and decided to attend several of them.

I participated in a cooking class put on by Assaggiare Mendocino. Chef and proprietor Julia Kendrick Conway provided an opportunity to learn about different types of mushrooms, a foraging walk, and a cooking session. The class met in her lovely home in the redwoods in Fort Bragg.

She had prepared a display with many different types of fungi. Later we used them in the recipes we prepared. Julia explained that for the classes she was required to buy commercially certified mushrooms, and we wouldn’t be using any of the ones we found. The class then went on a walk starting in her backyard and then into the surrounding area.

One of the surprises I had was how many mushrooms were all around us. Once we began to look, people were pointing them out almost constantly. Another new piece of information had to do with the wide variety of shapes and colors. The ones I was familiar with were the common varieties in grocery stores. What I now saw was a mushroom fantasyland as you’ll see in the photographs.




After the hike, we assembled in her kitchen. Julia had chosen a number of recipes for us. Everyone in class participated in cleaning mushrooms, chopping, and mixing. The mini wood-fired pizzas were my favorite. Julia had chosen local wines to accompany the fabulous food. It was a lot of fun!

I attended a few culinary events and a display at the Ford House Museum in Mendocino, then headed home. As the book began to take shape, a mushroom festival became an integral part of the story. I felt I needed to know a lot more about the fungi and headed back to Mendocino. I enrolled in a mushroom ID class put on by the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Mycologist Mario Abreu taught the class. I had met him when doing research for Murder at the Fortuneteller’s Table, which involves poisonous plants.

I decided to create a contest in the book. Originally I was going to have a prize for the most mushrooms found and one for the widest variety of fungi. Mario created a display of mushrooms he’d found on a couple hour walk near his home. It was on a huge table and the fungi covered it from end to end. I took out the “most mushrooms found” contest in my mystery!

At the end of the class he asked if I’d learned anything helpful for my book. I said yes, but I’d also have to change my opening scene. Mario told the class it’s a myth that you will get poisoned by touching a poisonous mushroom which I had in my opening scene. After some discussion, he agreed an allergic reaction could happen. Chapter one was back in place!

Porcini Crusted Paillard of Chicken

½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms

4 half breasts of chicken, sliced in half horizontally and pounded lightly

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 shallots, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 pound mixed wild mushrooms, coarsely chopped

½ cup dry white wine

½ cup crème fraiche or heavy cream

Salt and pepper


Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and sauté until tender and aromatic, but not browned. Add the mushrooms and sauté until they are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, 8-10 minutes. Increase heat to medium high and add the wine, simmering until liquid is almost fully reduced, 1-2 minutes. Add the crème fraiche and cook, stirring, until evenly blended. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Put the dried porcini in a spice mill or coffee grinder and reduce to a fine powder. Transfer the powder to a plate. Pat chicken filets dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Coat chicken filets on all sides with porcini powder, patting lightly to remove excess.

Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat (non stick works particularly well). When hot, add chicken and reduce heat to medium. Cook until the surface is browned and caramelized (the chicken will lift easily when ready to turn), 3-5 minutes. Turn and continue to cook until they spring back to the touch, but are not hard. Remove to a plate and serve with the warm mushroom ragout on the side.


© Assaggiare Mendocino, 2008

Murder at the Mushroom Festival (A Kelly Jackson Mystery) by Janet Finsilver

 

About the Book

Murder at the Mushroom Festival (A Kelly Jackson Mystery)  

Cozy Mystery 4th in Series  

Lyrical Underground (April 17, 2018) Paperback: 176 pages

There’s a corpse among the chanterelles!

Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast manager Kelly Jackson is hosting a cooking class during the Week of the Mushroom festival to attract guests, not drama. But soon after she finishes foraging for an edible mushroom species on sacred Native American land, a local newspaper reporter gets shot dead at the same site. With suspicions spreading like fungi in the quaint Northern Californian community over the culprit’s identity, Kelly and a savvy gang of sleuthing seniors known as the “Silver Sentinels” must uncover the truth about the secluded property before a tricky killer prepares another lethal surprise . . .

About the Author

 

Janet Finsilver is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Kelly Jackson mystery series. She worked in education for many years as a teacher, a program administrator, and a workshop presenter. Janet majored in English and earned a Master’s Degree in Education. She loves animals and has two dogs–Kylie and Ellie. Janet has ridden western style since she was a child and was a member of the National Ski Patrol. One of the highlights of her life was touching whales in the San Ignacio Lagoon. MURDER AT REDWOOD COVE, her debut mystery, was released on October 13, 2015. Her second book, MURDER AT THE MANSION, was released on June 7, 2016. Book 3, MURDER AT THE FORTUNE TELLER'S TABLE was released on March 14, 2017.

   
Author Links:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/janetfinsilverauthor/?fref=ts  
Twitter – https://twitter.com/JanetFinsilver  
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/janetfinsilver/  
Web – http://janetfinsilver.com/    

Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo Google+ BookBub
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal - The Gold Pawn

The Gold Pawn

 

November 1936. Mayor La Guardia’s political future buckles under a missing person case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . .

Finally summoning the courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains—and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . . .

Meanwhile, fears climb in Manhattan after the disappearance of a respected banker and family friend threatens the crippled financial industry and the pristine reputation of Lane’s virtuous boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia. Fio’s fight to restore order leads him into more trouble as he meets a familiar foe intent on ending his mayoral term—and his life . . .

Guided by overseas telegrams from the man she loves and painful memories, only Lane can silence old ghosts and derail present-day schemes. But when the investigation awakens a darker side of her own nature, will she and New York City’s most prominent movers and shakers still forge ahead into a prosperous new age . . . or is history doomed to repeat itself?

Ready . . .

                                             

Set. . .

                                             

Reveal!!!

                         

Coming September 25 from Kensington Books!

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon B&N BookBub Kobo Google Play

About the Author

L .A. Chandlar is the author of the Art Deco Mystery Series with Kensington Publishing featuring Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and a fresh take on the innovation and liveliness of 1930s New York City. Her debut novel, The Silver Gun released August 29, 2017, and the sequel, The Gold Pawn, will release September 25^th, 2018. Laurie has been living and writing in New York City for 16 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences for over 20 years including a women’s group with the United Nations. Her talks range from NYC history, the psychology of creativity, and the history of holiday traditions. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, writes and fund-raises for a global nonprofit is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band.

Author Links Website  
Social Media  
YouTube for Behind the Scenes Tours  
GoodReads

Time Flies - Guest Post

I'm happy to let Marty Wingate take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. Marty writes the  Birds of a Feather Mystery series. Farewell, My Cuckoo is the fourth book in the series and was released April 10th.

Time Flies – Or not, depending on what the author wants

By Marty Wingate

Time is fluid – and I don’t mean in any metaphysical, string-theory sort of way. No, I mean in the pages of your favorite mysteries. How else can we account for the Dorian Gray-like life of Richard Jury – Martha Grimes’s famous British policeman who has been solving crime since 1981 and hasn’t aged a day. And neither has his friend’s Aunt Agatha, apparently.

How the years go by is different for us mere mortals from how it is for characters in a series. It’s a choice that the author makes – and as the 24^th Richard Jury book is out this year, Grimes must be doing something right, no matter how slow time moves.

Sue Grafton chose a different route for her protagonist, Kinsey Millhone. A is for Alibi came out in 1982, and Grafton decided to free Kinsey within that decade. So, even as our years went by, Kinsey plodded along only a few months at a time, using an answering service instead of getting messages on her phone, and a street directory to find an address. This had to be hard work, remembering the ’80s – Grafton once said she kept forgetting how big our hair was back then.

For Julia Lanchester and the other recurring characters in my Birds of a Feather mysteries, I’ve taken a middle-of-the-road approach. When I’m in Julia’s world, I know how fast time is going by for her – and it’s always tied into the natural world and the movements of birds. Perhaps for me – for Julia – it isn’t the year so much as the season. When I arrived at the idea for Farewell, My Cuckoo, I knew it would be tied into the old rhyme:

The cuckoo comes in April,

And sings its song in May.

In June it changes tune,

And July it flies away.

Right, so I had the time of year down (the book begins in June) – but which year was it? This is book four in the series, and so I looked back at what had happened last. Book three, Every Trick in the Rook, had taken place in spring. Could Cuckoo follow hot on its heels and start up only a month later?

No, it couldn’t. Too many things had happened in Rook for Julia, Michael and the rest of them to pick up and fly forward so quickly. Things needed to settle down, patterns needed to be established, relationships find a new level. And so, I knew that an entire year had gone by before the opening pages of the new book.

What would they be doing a year later? I knew instantly – and I had my opening scene in a flash.

I hadn’t taken quite so long between book one (The Rhyme of the Magpie) and book two (Empty Nest). That had been a matter of only a few months, just enough time for Julia to grow to love her little Pipit Cottage before she was turfed out so that some major repairs could be undertaken. First she got settled, then she became unsettled – and then settled again, but for a different reason each time. When a person re-settles, it’s never quite back into the same old ways.

Here’s another difference related to how time passes in a series. Because I know these characters are living through events that will change their circumstances, I want to see them grow (and get old – eventually!). The passage of time happens to us all.

It happened to John Rebus in Ian Rankin’s books – the author took his policeman through each year just as we all live through them. And when Rebus arrived at the (then) mandatory retirement age of 60 in 2007, Rankin retired him. You can imagine the uproar from his fans (me included!) We’re fortunate Rebus has come back, and, although he’s one of those consultant-types, he’s still the same old rascal.

Apart from Christmas books, it isn’t often that an author releases a book suited to its place in the calendar. But Farewell, My Cuckoo is about working our way into summer, and so, although the book doesn’t actually start in April, I’m delighted that it’s being released during this most important month. Although, of course, I don’t expect you to take all the way to July to read it!

************************************************************************

Farewell, My Cuckoo By Marty Wingate

Cozy Mystery - 4th in series

Alibi April 10, 2018

Julia Lanchester must defend her love nest from an invasive species: her boyfriend’s sister. And then there’s the little matter of murder . . . “The cuckoo comes in April and sings its song in May. In June it changes tune and July it flies away.” Wedding bells are ringing in the small British village of Smeaton-under-Lyme. Julia Lanchester’s second-in-command at the local tourist center is finally getting married, and the lovebirds are giving Julia and her live-in boyfriend, Michael Sedgwick, ideas about their own future. But before anyone can say “Will you,” Michael’s flighty older sister, Pammy, crashes the party, fresh off a breakup and lugging all her worldly possessions around with her in a tangle of plastic bags. Before long, Julia’s cozy cottage starts feeling more like Pammy’s bachelorette pad. To keep herself from going cuckoo, Julia throws herself into her pet projects at work—until death disrupts her plans. First a body is found on the estate. Then the police discover that Pammy was the last one to see the man alive. And soon Julia gets the feeling that if she ever wants her home—or her boyfriend—back, she’ll have to get to the bottom of this mystery, even if it means breaking a few eggs.  

About the Author

Marty Wingate is a Seattle-based writer and speaker who shares her love of Britain in her two mystery series. The Potting Shed books feature Pru Parke, a middle-aged American gardener transplanted from Texas to England, and Birds of a Feather follows Julia Lanchester, bird lover, who runs a tourist office in a Suffolk village. Marty writes garden articles for magazines including Country Gardens and the American Gardener. She is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Crime Writers Association. She leads garden tours to England, Scotland, and Ireland, spending free moments deep in research for her books. Or in pubs. Marty Wingate’s captivating mysteries can be enjoyed together or separately, in any order:

 The Birds of a Feather series: THE RHYME OF THE MAGPIE | EMPTY NEST | EVERY TRICK IN THE ROOK | FAREWELL, MY CUCKOO  

The Potting Shed series: THE GARDEN PLOT | THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE | BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE | THE SKELETON GARDEN | THE BLUEBONNET BETRAYAL | BEST-LAID PLANTS

Author Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martywingateauthor  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martywingate  
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/453259.Marty_Wingate  
Website: www.martywingate.com  
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marthawingate/  
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Marty-Wingate/e/B001JS1AIS  

Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play