Kathy: In MOUSSE AND MURDER Charlie Cooke returns to her hometown in Alaska to take over her mother's diner. Why choose Alaska as the setting for your series?
EL: The 49th state is so different from my east coast towns (3 of them) and California town (1). Alaska offer an opportunity to present startling landscapes and such a different climate.
Kathy: Charlie is determined to bring fresh life and flavors to the Bear Claw Diner. If you were opening a diner, what dishes would you put on your menu?
EL: I would stick with the classics! Grilled cheese, malts, and fries — and lots of pies.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
EL: Probably “Murder She Wrote” was the biggest inspiration. I remember thinking “I could write those!” (Well, not as easy as it looks!)
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
EL: I write darker short fiction. It’s hard for me to sustain darkness in a work as long as a novel.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
EL: • The Periodic Table series, features a retired physicist living in Revere MA, helping the police solve crimes, each one of which is based on an element in the periodic table.
• The Miniature Mysteries, features a miniaturist and her preteen granddaughter who make dollhouse and roomboxes, helping the police, etc.!
• The Professor Sophie Knowles series, features a college math teacher, helping the police, etc.!
• The Postmistress series, features a postmistress in a small New England town, helping the police, etc.!
• The Alaska Diner series, features a diner owner in a small Alaska town, helping the police, etc.!
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
EL: Probably Gloria in the Periodic Table series, because she’s scientist as well as a likable person and I see her as promoting science literacy.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
EL: Just the flurry of characters and ideas that every writer has.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
EL: Who doesn’t?
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
EL: Dante (read him in Italian in high school; lots of questions!); Joyce Carol Oates, Mario Puzo, Ursula LeGuin
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
EL: “8 Perfect Murders” by Malcolm Kershaw.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
EL: Miniatures/dollhouses, the Sunday NYTimes crossword (takes a week), teaching.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
EL: Ice cream, cookies, chocolate, cheese.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
EL: I’ll probably take a short story break after the 3 books in this new series.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
EL: Meeting, talking with readers and other authors at bookstores, libraries.
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Review
MOUSSE AND MURDER by Elizabeth Logan
The First Alaskan Diner Mystery
Charlie Cooke is used to having blowout fights with her chef. She's also used to him storming out after such blowups. But he's never wound up dead after an argument...until now. Teaming up with Chris, the good looking local journalist, Charlie decides to look into the life of her chef, who she discovers she really didn't know, and she if she can help find out who killed him.
MOUSSE AND MURDER introduces readers to an interesting cast of characters whose lives revolve around a small Alaskan town's diner. Charlotte "Charlie" Cooke has a lot to prove and a good deal to learn. Having taken over her mom's diner she discovers she really doesn't know her employees or how to deal with the long time chef with the French culinary credits. She also has a bit of a temper and can make more than one quick assumption. However, her willingness to admit her faults and try to learn from her mistakes makes her likable. There's also the romantic interest journalist, who is eager almost to a fault, and the solid state trooper. Although somewhat formulaic, the characters have enough personality to engage readers, even the flighty best friend and the workers who engage in diner lingo. I love Charlie's interactions Benny (short for Eggs Benedict, both of which are great names) who she cares for now that her mom is traveling. The app so she can check in and play with him while at work gives a modern touch and shows how technology can change pet interactions!
MOUSSE AND MURDER is an enjoyable introduction to a new mystery series.
***********************************************************************
MOUSSE AND MURDER introduces readers to an interesting cast of characters whose lives revolve around a small Alaskan town's diner. Charlotte "Charlie" Cooke has a lot to prove and a good deal to learn. Having taken over her mom's diner she discovers she really doesn't know her employees or how to deal with the long time chef with the French culinary credits. She also has a bit of a temper and can make more than one quick assumption. However, her willingness to admit her faults and try to learn from her mistakes makes her likable. There's also the romantic interest journalist, who is eager almost to a fault, and the solid state trooper. Although somewhat formulaic, the characters have enough personality to engage readers, even the flighty best friend and the workers who engage in diner lingo. I love Charlie's interactions Benny (short for Eggs Benedict, both of which are great names) who she cares for now that her mom is traveling. The app so she can check in and play with him while at work gives a modern touch and shows how technology can change pet interactions!
MOUSSE AND MURDER is an enjoyable introduction to a new mystery series.
***********************************************************************
Mousse and Murder (An Alaskan Diner Mystery) by Elizabeth Logan
About Mousse and Murder
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Berkley (May 5, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
A young chef might bite off more than she can chew when she returns to her Alaskan hometown to take over her parents' diner in this charming first installment in a new cozy mystery series set in an Alaskan tourist town.
When Chef Charlie Cooke is offered the chance to leave San Francisco and return home to Elkview, Alaska, to take over her mother's diner, she doesn't even consider saying no. After all--her love life has recently become a Love Life Crumble, and a chance to reconnect with her roots may be just what she needs.
Determined to bring fresh life and flavors to the Bear Claw Diner, Charlie starts planning changes to the menu, which has grown stale over the years. But her plans are fried when her head cook Oliver turns up dead after a bitter and public fight over Charlie's ideas--leaving Charlie as the only suspect in the case.
With her career, freedom, and life all on thin ice, Charlie must find out who the real killer is, before it's too late.
About Elizabeth Logan
Camille Minichino is turning every aspect of her life into a mystery series. A retired physicist, she’s the author of 28 mystery novels in 5 series, with different pen names. Her next book is “Mousse and Murder,” May 2020, by Elizabeth Logan. She's also written many short stories and articles. She teaches science at Golden Gate U. in San Francisco and writing workshops around the SF Bay Area. Details are at www.minichino.com.
Author Links:
Website - http://www.minichino.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/camille.minichino
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/160580.Camille_Minichino
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - IndieBound
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Thanks for hosting me, Kathy! The site has a great appearance and I look forward to "meeting" some of your readers. Camille/Elizabeth
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