Cozy Up With Kathy: A Mysterious Mix Up Guest Post and Giveaway

Thursday, January 9, 2020

A Mysterious Mix Up Guest Post and Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Allie Cobb to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Allie on the pages of the Allie Cobb Mystery series. A Mysterious Mix Up, the third book in the series was released this week.

Checking in with Allie Cobb

A Mysterious Mix Up, book 3 in The Allie Cobb Mysteries was recently released. To mark the occasion, we’re checking in with The Kickboxing Crusader herself, Allie Cobb.

Hi, Allie. What’s new?
Yesterday, my cat hairballled on my new sweater, so that was a lot of fun. Fortunately, I wasn’t wearing it at the time. Seriously, though, things are good. My literary agency continues to grow. My bestie, Sloane, is putting up some of the best race times in her running career. Every day, I get more comfortable living in Rushing Creek.

Along that line, you grew up here, lived in New York City for almost a decade, then moved back. Any regrets or second-guessing along the way?

Not really. In retrospect, I think I had to leave in order to fully appreciate the Rushing Creek I experienced when I returned. I changed a lot during those years away. The town did, too. That’s one of the things about a tourist town, I think. New businesses are always coming in, and new faces with them. I’d like to think the changes have been for the better, both for Rushing Creek and for me.

So, what’s the best thing about living in a small town?

There are a lot of good things. Rushing Creek is a very safe place. Most of the time, at least. I think, for me, the best thing is the true sense community here. I have family, close friends, my job, and plenty of options for dining out since I hate cooking for one. When I was in New York, I had friends, but never got really close with anyone. I have a much bigger support network here than I did in the City. That said, I love New York, will always treasure the time I lived there, and look forward to getting back there soon.

When you’ve investigated murders in the past, you’ve ended up being strangled and shot at. Do these brushes with death scare you?

I don’t know that I would call them brushes with death, but yes, I have gotten hurt trying to help people. I try to live by the tenet of being in the service of others. In my job as an agent, I serve the authors I work with. When I’ve put on my sleuthing hat, it’s always been with the idea that a wrong has been committed and I’m trying to rectify it. I’m proud to say I’ve helped bring murderers to justice. That’s brought peace of mind to the victims’ families and friends. If I get a few bumps and bruises along the way, well, that’s a small price to pay.

What’s the future have in store for Allie Cobb?

Things continue to go well for The Cobb Literary Agency, so I’m hoping to be able to hire an agent’s assistant soon to help me with clerical and bookkeeping duties. That will give me more time to focus on my clients’ career development. My mom wants me to buy a house, but I love apartment living. I think that’s one New York lifestyle choice I’ll always maintain. Beyond that? I’ll take every day as a new chance to make a difference. If that means I find myself in the middle of another murder investigation, so be it. I’m ready for whatever life throws at me!

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A Mysterious Mix Up (An Allie Cobb Mystery) by J.C. Kenney

About A Mysterious Mix Up

A Mysterious Mix Up (An Allie Cobb Mystery)

Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series

Publisher: Lyrical Press (January 7, 2020)

Paperback: 190 pages

Murder hits the stacks when literary agent Allie Cobb investigates a fatality in the local library . . .

Allie Cobb returns home from a book conference armed with hugs for her cat and her boyfriend, and dreams of a long, hot bath. She’s also getting ready to take the plunge by hiring an intern for her expanding literary agency. But it’s one for the books when Allie finds the town’s librarian—and her longtime role model—seconds away from death on the library floor.

Who would want to poison Vicky Napier—one of Rushing Creek’s most beloved citizens—on the eve of her retirement? But it seems there were toxic people in her life, like the handyman with an obsessive crush, and a wood carver with a hair-trigger temper. The list of suspects includes Allie’s boyfriend, Brent, who’s in the running to take over as town librarian. Avenging her friend’s murder could be a trap as she goes up against a killer determined to write Allie’s epitaph . . .

About J.C. Kenney

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J.C. Kenney grew up in a household filled with books by legends Agatha Christie and Lilian Jackson Braun, among many others, so it was no surprise when he found himself writing mystery stories. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two sons, and a cat who is the inspiration for Ursula in the Allie Cobb Mysteries