I just finished reading Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow. This book is the second in the L. A. Night Market Mystery series and will be released next week.
Yale Yee was looking forward to a nice Thanksgiving dinner with her father and cousin, but her plans got derailed by the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association. Instead of a quiet turkey dinner with family, they're going to Ho's for Hot Pot to brainstorm with members of the association. Before the group even begins to eat, AAROA president Jeffery Vue suffers an immense shock. Detective Strauss believes it's murder and considers Mrs. Ho a good suspect. Confident after recently solving a murder at the Night Market and believing Auntie Ai innocent, Yale and her cousin, Celine, decide to track down the real killer.
I'm pleased to welcome Vikki Walton to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Vikki writes the Backyard Farming Mystery Series. Fungi Foul Plays is the seventh book in the series and was released earlier this month.
Kathy: In Fungi Foul Play Hope runs a mushroom workshop. I find mushrooms fascinating, even though I don’t enjoy eating them. Did you know a lot about mushrooms before writing this book? What most interests you about them?
VW: I have been interested in mushrooms, especially when I learned that the mushroom we see is only the “fruit”. Mycelium is the actual main fungi and is extremely beneficial and necessary to our world. I enjoy eating them as well. I have grown oysters and the standard white button mushroom.
Kathy: This book is the seventh in the Backyard Farming series. Have you ever had a farm, or a big garden? What are some of your favorite things to plant?
VW: I love gardening and have had a suburban homestead with chickens, bees, and lots of various gardens. Raised bed, in ground, vertical, etc. I’m also a certified permaculture designer, so my favorite things to plant are perennials. I often plant items that return year after year, such as asparagus, strawberries, herbs, etc.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
VW: As a girl, I loved Nancy Drew. As I grew up, my attention shifted to the Queen of mystery, Agatha Christie. I love trying to figure out “who-dun-it.” I usually know before it’s revealed, but when I don’t figure it out, that makes it even more satisfying.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
VW: Yes. I’ve written some nonfiction, but also write women’s historical fiction under a pen name. I will also be branching out into some Later in Life Romance.
Kathy: Kathy: Tell us about your series.
VW: Light-hearted, clean, cozy mysteries that makes you want to meet the characters and visit the town.
I currently have three series.
The Backyard Farming series is set in the fictional town of Carolan Springs, Colorado.
The Taylor Texas series is set in the Texas Hill Country with a pie-baking, horse-riding sleuth.
I also have a series with 60-year-old global pet-sitting amateur sleuth.
In a short story I did with all the characters, I also introduced a new character that I have in the works for their own series.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
VW: While I like them all equally, I’ll go with Anne as she was my first book character along with funny Kandi who makes me chuckle.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
VW: My inspiration when I started writing was my backyard farm. Since then, I’ve started doing travel as a global house and pet sitter. When things shut down for a few years, I put that series on the back burner for a bit. My Texas series came about when the character of Christie “arrived” in Book 2, Cordial Killing.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
VW: I wrote my first book when my daughter had to take part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). It was a big part of her English grade, so I said I’d always wanted to write a mystery, so I’d do it alongside her. I finished the book but didn’t publish for over a year as I worked on edits and learning to publish. I love having various streams of income—I wrote a nonfiction book on that—so I put it out and then I was hooked.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
VW: Oh, that’s a hard one. Definitely Agatha Christie, though she was extremely shy, so didn’t enjoy talking a lot. I think of Dorothy Sayers, as I feel we might have some things in common and I enjoy her books. Too many authors living for me to want to have dinner with, so I’ll stick with those two.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
VW: I tend to read what I write, though sometimes I’ll read something different. Just finished Herbs and Homicide by Carly Winter and deciding on another mystery or a switch to historical fiction.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
VW: I live in Colorado, so I love getting out on the trails hiking. Travel is another thing I like to do, which is why I started house-sitting some years ago. I get to stay in homes, cuddle up with pets, and get to explore new places like a resident versus a tourist. I love gardens and architecture and history, so I usually gravitate to those things when I travel.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
VW: I primarily eat whole-food plant-based, so the top items I always have on hand are oatmeal, various berries, greens, brown rice, and potatoes.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
VW: Yes. I’ll keep writing until I can’t write any more. I have a book I need to write for my Taylor Texas series—Death Wakes A Snake, and I’ll be writing another historical women’s fiction this summer.
Kathy: What’s your favorite thing about being an author?
VW: Seeing characters appear out of thin air and having stories pop into my head. I actually have so many ideas for stories, I could never finish them all. I love hearing from readers that my books made them laugh, or cry, or touched their hearts in some way. For my nonfiction, I love hearing that I’ve inspired them to do something in their life.
The author is generously offering a digital copy to one reader who comments on this blog post. Simply respond with your e-mail address (so I can contact you should you win), the digital format you need, and what you think about mushrooms! Do this no later than 11:59pm Eastern on Friday, June 2, 2023 for a chance at this giveaway.
Can Anne help her friend from being charged as a murder suspect?
Newlywed Anne is dismayed at the idea of closing the Inn and tensions run high as Hope leads a mushroom workshop. When fingers point toward Hope for causing a death, Anne must help her friend before she loses everything. Was the death a tragic accident or is someone out to destroy Hope? Or is there an even more sinister plot at hand?
Fungi Foul Play is Book Seven in the Backyard Farming series. Each book can be read as a standalone. However, if you enjoy getting to know the quirky characters who live in the town, here are the books in the series.Chicken CulpritCordial KillingHoney HomicideChristmas CapersPotager PlotDuck DisasterFungi Foul Play
About Vikki Walton
Vikki Walton writes sassy sleuths and clever clues. Her mysteries are clean so no blushes. She has three cozy series: one set in a fictional town in Colorado, one set in a real town in Texas, and one that takes place at various places around the globe. When not out hiking the beautiful Colorado trails, you can find her pursuing her passions of gardening, traveling, and of course, reading great cozies!
I'm happy to welcome Marlene M. Bell to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Marlene writes the New Zealand Cottage Mystery series. Copper Waters is the fourth book in the series.
Kathy: Annalisse Drury is an antiquities expert. Do like antiques? Do you have a favorite time period?
MMB: Yes! I do like antiques. There were a couple of years we didn’t have sheep to take care of and could travel during the early 1980s. My husband and I took a cross-country driving vacation in search of antiques from the Northwest throughout the Midwestern states. (Specifically looking for curved glass hutches.) We brought back two different versions.
My favorite time period is the Victorian Era, 1837 – 1901 because the furniture was more ornate.
Kathy: In Copper Waters Annalisse travels to New Zealand. Why choose the South Island for this mystery?
MMB: I chose the Temuka area of New Zealand due to the sheep stations. There are a few stations on the North Island, but the majority of the working stations are located on the larger body of land. The crime takes place on a sheep station, and if I were to travel to New Zealand personally, I’d visit that portion of the country. We considered going to a sheep station for a honeymoon, but the cost was prohibitive as was the three weeks away that we needed for such a long trip.
Kathy: What first drew you to crime fiction?
MMB: “Write what you know.” I love a good mystery, especially those produced for a British audience. The only problem with UK mystery stories is the slow, lumbering way they move and how long the story can draw out to an ending. My mysteries twist and turn, but do this quickly in a conversational style. I’m an avid reader of all kinds of mysteries.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
MMB: Yes! My series books cover a wide range and might be considered cross-genre to some. Book one, Stolen Obsession, is heaviest in Romantic Suspense between the main players, Annalisse Drury and Alec Zavos. Book two begins the changeover to stronger in suspense and mystery with a little romance. Books three and four concentrate more in the realm of international mystery with Annalisse and Alec trying to find their way as a couple.
In 2020, I released my illustrated children’s book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! in eBook and hardcover. Later in March 2023, I added a paperback version that’s become quite popular. https://tinyurl.com/2p83mkut The Mia and Nattie book is based on the true story of the bottle lamb we raised in the laundry room, and how she became a part of the family with a job in the flock.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
MMB: An antiquities expert lands in the middle of mystery and mayhem that knows no country boundaries. Trouble awaits a worldly couple as they uncover clues to a myriad of murders by villains of all types. Appearances are deceiving.
In the first four books, Annalisse and Alec travel to several countries. Greece and Turkey from their home turf of New York, in addition to Southern Italy and New Zealand with New England somewhere in the middle. Imagine the smells and sounds of a particular place, quiet and secluded or bustling with crowds. It’s my job to make readers believe they are at the scene as a witness watching everything play out in front of them. The Annalisse series covers some places I’ve never been to in person. To write realistic scenes and descriptions, I get my information from those who have actually been to these locations.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
MMB: The character I find the easiest to write is the detective friend in the series, Bill Drake. Throughout three books, he’s the mediator between main characters, Annalisse and Alec. He’s also the experienced sleuth who keeps the amateur detective, Annalisse, from getting into predicaments too deeply. Readers are drawn to Bill and have asked me to write a spin-off series with him and his partner. It’s possible he’ll have a larger role in upcoming books because of his popularity, and because his character seems to flow on the paper as I write.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
MMB: What began as a woman’s fiction romance of one standalone book, has changed to the international series due to adding too many subplots to Stolen Obsession and getting the all-important reader feedback. In my case, all reviews on that first book have been a blessing, both good and bad. You could say that my first book turned out to be the learning curve. I had so many genres going on, I had to decide what kind of book I wanted to write. Readers of romance didn’t want the mystery elements and hard-core mystery readers didn’t want any part of a romance between Anna and Alec. Book one released in 2018 and it was reworked in the summer of 2022 to the best form of “happy medium” for all readers.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
MMB: How would the author know if their work was good enough for the masses if the work wasn’t published? I wanted to know if this artist and photographer, (it’s also what I do,) could also translate over to a decent writer, and how difficult it would be. I found out quickly that writing isn’t for the faint of heart, and there are rules…lots of rules. It takes dedication, editing, and rewriting with only the best help by your side in order to succeed.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
MMB: Agatha Christie, Louise Penny, Shana Abe, and Karen Rose
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
MMB: Murder at Kensington Palace (A Wrexford & Sloan mystery)
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
MMB: Since the age of 6, I’ve sketched and painted, and been involved in all things in the art world. I love wildlife photography and taking pictures of our Horned Dorset breeding sheep. My photos have been published in several sheep magazines, especially while we were showing our sheep at county fairs and national sales throughout the country. I use these talents in my company catalog (Since 1985) and online at Ewephoric.us. I began writing in my 50’s. Much later. There are a few other interests on a much smaller scale like rug hooking in the wool made from our sheep.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
MMB: Cat food, pasta, homemade tomato sauce, and salad dressing
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
MMB: Yes! I’ve started a new book unrelated to the Annalisse series. It’s a standalone mystery with a completely different set of characters. Once the new book is published, I’ll get back to Book #5 in the current series. The title is a secret!
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
MMB: I like a challenge! Writing is out in left-field for me because I thought artwork would be how the public might eventually come to know me. My sheep art and photography are too narrow a field, I realized. There are many more readers than art collectors, too! All of my pastimes involve quiet time and being alone to create. Even though I never dreamed I’d be writing books, ever, I love immersing myself into other worlds in make believe point of views.
Antiquities expert Annalisse Drury and tycoon Alec Zavos are at an impasse in their relationship when Alec refuses to clear up a paternity issue with an ex-lover.
Frustrated with his avoidance when their future is at stake, Annalisse accepts an invitation from an acquaintance to fly to New Zealand—hoping to escape the recent turbulence in her life.
But even Annalisse’s cottage idyll on the family sheep farm isn’t immune to intrigue.
Alec sends a mutual friend and detective, Bill Drake, to follow her, and a local resident who accompanies them from the Christchurch airport dies mysteriously soon after. A second violent death finds Annalisse and Bill at odds with the official investigations.
The local police want to close both cases as quickly as possible—without unearthing the town’s dirty secrets.
As she and Bill pursue their own leads at serious cost, the dual mysteries force Annalisse to question everything she thought she knew about family ties, politics, and the art of small-town betrayal.
About Marlene M. Bell
Marlene M. Bell is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep on a ranch in wooded East Texas with her husband, Gregg.
Marlene’s Annalisse series boasts numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity,) and FAPA— Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award for two other installments, (Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy.) Her mysteries with a touch of romantic suspense are found at her websites or at online retail outlets.
She also offers the first of her children's picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! Based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.
THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE by Krista Davis The Sixteenth Domestic Diva Mystery
Geraldine Stansfield is known for her fabulous luncheons, but now
she's known for the dead bodies in her house! After the ladies of the Healthy
Meal committee have their meeting cut short when they find a dead body
behind the dining room table, Gerrie asks Sophie to help solve the
murder. What with running a Ghost Kitchen Convention, dealing with Natasha's new
business, plus the fact that Wong's ex is back in town, Sophie has a lot on
her plate. Despite this, Sophie agrees to help. Is someone gaslighting Gerrie, or is she the mastermind
behind it all? Sophie will have to sort things out as only a domestic
diva can do.
Questionable business practices and family drama collide in THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE. I loved this mystery that combines new to me food concepts, some ne'er-do-well characters, and the comfort of good friends. With a good assortment of suspects and a variety of motives readers will be unsure of who to believe and who to find guilty!
It's family that lies at the center of the sixteenth Domestic Diva mystery. A sense of belonging also pervades the pages-the desire to belong and the warmth of friendship that creates it. Relationships, rumors, and the nitty gritty that can both infect and uplift are found along with murderous intent.
THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE is a deliciously satisfying mystery full of good food and friends.
I just finished reading The Diva Delivers on a Promise by Krista Davis. This book is the sixteenth in the Domestic Diva Mystery series and was released yesterday.
Geraldine Stansfield is known for her fabulous luncheons, but now she's known for the dead bodies in her house! The ladies of the Healthy Meal committee have their meeting cut short when they find a dead body behind the dining room table. Gerrie asks Sophie to help solve the murder. Running a Ghost Kitchen Convention, dealing with Natasha's new business, and the fact that Wong's ex back in town, Sophie has a lot on her plate. Is someone gaslighting Gerrie, or is she the mastermind behind it all? Sophie will have to sort things out as only a domestic diva can do.
Today I'd like t0 shine a spotlight on a book I just discovered...and will add to my TBR pile. The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman is the first in the Ill-Mannered Ladies Mystery series and will be released next week.
Blurb:
Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by
society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She
and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a
distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend’s
goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.
The sisters
set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is
accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and
injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an
acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to
Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of
danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little
help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.
Back in
London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention
handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely
accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to
join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be
damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the
Colebrook twins.
Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book I just discovered. The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray is the first book in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery series. I didn't know it existed, but it's going on my TBR pile, along with the second in the series that was released last week.
Blurb:
The happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a party
at their country estate, bringing together distant relatives and new
acquaintances—characters beloved by Jane Austen fans. Definitely not
invited is Mr. Wickham, whose latest financial scheme has netted him an
even broader array of enemies. As tempers flare and secrets are
revealed, it’s clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham got
his comeuppance. Yet they’re all shocked when Wickham turns up
murdered—except, of course, for the killer hidden in their midst.
Nearly
everyone at the house party is a suspect, so it falls to the party’s
two youngest guests to solve the mystery: Juliet Tilney, the smart and
resourceful daughter of Catherine and Henry, eager for
adventure beyond Northanger Abbey; and Jonathan Darcy, the Darcys’
eldest son, whose adherence to propriety makes his father seem almost
relaxed. In this tantalizing fusion of Austen and Christie, from New York Times
bestselling author Claudia Gray, the unlikely pair must put aside their
own poor first impressions and uncover the guilty party—before an
innocent person is sentenced to hang.
A QUESTIONABLE DEATH AND OTHER HISTORICAL QUAKER MIDWIFE MYSTERIES By Edith Maxwell
A Quaker Midwife Mystery Anthology
A QUESTIONABLE DEATH AND OTHER HISTORICAL QUAKER MIDWIFE MYSTERIES takes
a quick look into the rich life of Quaker Midwife Rose Carroll as she
solves a variety of crimes. It is an anthology of ten historical short storiesfeaturing
midwife Rose Carroll and her friends. This delightful collection
gathers previously published Quaker Midwife short stories adding two never before published stories. These quick reads take us to a
time before we meet Rose, to when she was just an apprentice, and then
continues as the midwife gains investigative skills, finding justice for
murder victims as well as helping bring new life into the world.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the author's note before each story. Each one shared how the story came to be and, in some cases, where it had originally been published. Having read all of the full length Quaker Midwife mysteries, it was interesting to see the genesis of some of the full length mysteries in the short stories included here.
Although these are short stories, each can easily be read in one sitting, they are all rich in detail, capturing the sights and sounds of late 19th century America. I appreciate the appearance of John Greenleaf Whittier and enjoy the juxtaposition of Quaker beliefs with the violence of murder.
Smart female characters, interesting historical facts, and ingeniously plotted mysteries with a bit of Quaker practicality make A QUESTIONABLE DEATH AND OTHER HISTORICAL QUAKER MIDWIFE MYSTERIES a delightful read.
I just finished reading reading A Questionable Death and Other Historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries by Edith Maxwell. This anthology was released last month.
A Questionable Death and Other Historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries is an anthology of historical short storiesfeaturing midwife Rose Carroll and her friends. This delightful collection gathers previously published Quaker Midwife short stories in one place and adds one never before published story. These quick reads take us to a time before we meet Rose, to when she was just an apprentice, and then continues as the midwife gains investigative skills, finding justice for murder victims as well as helping bring new life into the world.
Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book being released today. Tell-Tale Bones by Carolyn Haines is the twenty-sixth book in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series.
Blurb:
Private Investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie
are in Sheriff Coleman Peters's office, consulting Coleman about cold
cases, when Elisa Redd storms in with a case of her own. She wants
Coleman to reopen the investigation of her missing daughter, Lydia Redd
Maxell, the heiress to a large fortune who disappeared along with her
friend Bethany nearly seven years ago. Lydia and Bethany were rumored to
be working as human rights organizers abroad, but Elisa suspects
Lydia’s problems might have stemmed closer to home. Now Lydia’s husband,
Tope, is set to inherit the fortune, and Elisa believes he’s behind the
disappearance.
Sarah Booth and Tinkie soon connect the case to a
series of mysterious disappearances over the years, as well as to a
perplexing recurring dream. With another woman’s life at stake, the
friends follow an increasingly twisty trail all over Sunflower County,
leading them to a tree and an empty grave in the county cemetery. A
grave that’s said to be haunted…
I'm pleased to welcome Samantha Larsen to Cozy Up With Kathy. Samantha writes the Lady Librarian Mystery series. A NOVEL DISGUISE is the first book in the series and will be released later this week.
Kathy: The Lady Librarian Mystery series is set in London in 1784. What made you choose this location and time period?
SL: I had the craziest idea—a woman burying her dead brother in the back garden and stealing his identity. I needed to choose a time period where I believed it could be plausible. 1784 works so well because men wore wigs, makeup, high-heeled boots, skirted coats, and put padding in all sorts of places!
Kathy: Historical mysteries require an extra special brand of research. What's your favorite method to research this time period?
SL: I majored in History in college and mostly I read about it. I try to read contemporary fiction for the time as well as historian’s viewpoints. I am obsessed with historical fashion and highly recommend the V&A Clothing in Detail series. I love looking at the pictures.
Kathy: In A NOVEL DISGUISE Miss Tiffany Woodall assumes her brother's identity in order to keep her home. Have you ever had to pretend to be someone you weren't?
SL: I used to pretend to be my sister Stacy, but never for long! I am six inches taller than her.
Kathy: What first drew you to historical mysteries?
SL: When I was eighteen, I fell in love with Tommy and Tuppence mysteries by Agatha Christie and I have been addicted ever since! I particularly enjoy reading Rhys Bowen, Sherry Thomas, Deanna Raybourne, BR Myers, and Clara McKenna.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
SL: Yes. Check out my historical romances under Samantha Hastings. Learn more at: www.SamanthaHastings.com
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
SL: Miss Tiffany Woodall has a “middle-age” coming of age at forty when she embraces life and becomes a librarian and an amateur detective. In each book, Tiffany solves a murder but also highlights different 18th century literature. In A NOVEL DISGUISE, it is gothic mysteries. In the sequel, ONCE UPON A MURDER, it is fairytales.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
SL: I absolutely adore the constable, Mr. Samir Lathrop. A bookseller + a librarian is the perfect match. He is kind and thoughtful, but not without his own struggles being a man of color in 18th century Britain.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
SL: Several women in the Civil War dressed as men so that they could fight. They even received pensions after the war. Although uncommon, I knew that women in the past had impersonated men to allow them more freedom in their actions. Also, several female characters in Shakespearean plays masquerade as men.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
SL: From the time I was in elementary school, I’ve always wanted to be an author. Getting here has certainly had many ups and downs, but telling stories is the dream.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
SL: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
SL: MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT by Mary Winters.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
SL: I love to make jewelry and I design themed pieces to match my books!
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
SL: Diet Dr. Pepper, popcorn, bacon, and s’mores ingredients.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
SL: Book 2 is ONCE UPON A MURDER and it comes out February 2024.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
A NOVEL DISGUISE by Samantha Larson The First Lady Librarian Mystery
Tiffany Woodall doesn't have much in her life. At 40 years of age, she's dependent on her half-brother, a stingy, pompous man who acts above his station and tells her in so uncertain terms what she can and cannot do. Still, she lives in a lovely cottage, a perk of her half brother's employment as librarian to the Duke of Beaufort. Her world comes crashing down when she finds Uriah dead. With no money and nowhere to go she'll lose everything. Unwilling to give up her cottage, she decides that she will dispose of his body and take his place as librarian. Able to do whatever she likes for the first time in her life, Tiffany is finally free. Life, however, is still not easy! Witness to some of the unseemly behavior of some of the staff at Astwell Palace, still Tiffany is surprised when a brazen maid is found dead...poisoned. Juggling identities, bantering with the handsome bookseller, avoiding the lecherous pastor, and finding time to finally read for her own pleasure, Tiffany will also search for a killer.
What a fun trip back in time! I really enjoyed this unique mystery, and it is truly unique, from the time period and the relationships to the switching of identities. I love historicals and in A NOVEL DISGUISE readers are treated to a period in history that doesn't pop up much in mystery novels.
We're introduced to a variety of
people in the first Lady Librarian mystery, most of whom have secrets and few are what they seem. People
hide behind titles, be they aristocratic or by virtue of their job. Set in 1784 A NOVEL DISGUISE deals with issues relevant to society today. While progress has been made in some areas, it's a bit distressing to see many of the problems still exist. White men of privilege hold all the cards. Prejudice towards people of color and women remain. At least, as spinster myself, I can own my own home, read what I like, and don't need to be overly concerned about weevils in my flour!
Rich in historical detail (don't eat when you start reading) A NOVEL DISGUISE delivers an intricately plotted mystery with multidimensional characters. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read, entertaining, enlightening, and thought provoking, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
A Novel Disguise (A Lady Librarian Mystery)by Samantha Larsen
About A Novel Disguise
A Novel Disguise (A Lady Librarian Mystery) Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Imaginary English village, 1784 Crooked Lane Books (May 16, 2023) Paperback: 320 pages
When Miss Tiffany Woodall assumes the identity of her half-brother after his death, she realizes she isn’t the only one with a secret to hide in this historical series debut, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Sherry Thomas.
1784 London.Miss Tiffany Woodall didn’t murder her half-brother, but she did bury him in the back garden so that she could keep her cottage. Now, the confirmed spinster has to pretend to be Uriah and fulfill his duties as the Duke of Beaufort’s librarian while searching Astwell Palace for Uriah’s missing diamond pin, the only thing of value they own. Her ruse is almost up when she is discovered by Mr. Samir Lathrop, the local bookseller, who tries to save her from drowning while she's actually just washing up in a lake after burying her brother.
Her plan is going by the book, until the rector proposes marriage and she starts to develop feelings for Mr. Lathrop. But when her childhood friend, Tess, comes to visit, Tiffany quickly realizes her secret isn’t the only one hidden within these walls. The body of a servant is found, along with a collection of stolen items, and someone else grows mysteriously ill. Can Tiffany solve these mysteries without her own disguise being discovered? If not, she’ll lose her cottage and possibly her life.
About Samantha Larsen
Samantha Hastings 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, the University of North Texas, and the 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. She also writes cozy murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen.
COVERT IN CAIRO by Kelly Oliver The Second Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery
With a threat to the Suez Canal, Fiona Figg along with Kitty Lane and
Captain Clifford Douglas have arrived in Egypt. Certain that the spy
Frederick Fredericks is behind the plot Fiona is determined to find him
as well as a missing British agent. Cryptic notes, a female master of
disguises, and argumentative archeologists, not to mention that shifty
South African spy, have Fiona befuddled. Will she be able to get to the
heart of the matter and save the Suez Canal? Or will she find herself
entombed with the mummies of Egypt, without ever receiving a promotion?
I have always been fascinated with Egypt, so I was delighted to see that Fiona Figg's latest adventure was set in Cairo in 1917. I loved reading about Shepheard's and enjoyed meeting a cranky Howard Carter prior to his big discovery. The detailed descriptions really captured the feeling of the city and I felt as if I was there, be it in the plush confines of that famous hotel, or atop a camel in a most uncomfortable saddle.
COVERT IN CAIRO is a bit silly, but it's also good fun. There's a jolly good mystery, a bit of romance, and lots of laughs. There's also a hint of something deeper-Egyptian nationalism in the face of British colonialism. I loved the ingenious ways that clues were given and discovered by our intrepid trio...well quartet, we can't forget Poppy. I wish Fiona would forget about Archie. I still think he's the real bad guy, not Fredericks. At any rate, Fredericks certainly keeps things interesting and I believe he genuinely cares for her while Archie does not!
COVERT IN CAIRO is a lighthearted historical mystery complete with intrigue, espionage, and lots of disguises.
Ancient mummies aren’t the only bodies buried in the tombs of Cairo.
The notorious Fredrick Fredricks has lured Fiona to Egypt with a cryptic threat on the Suez Canal.
But when a cheeky French archeologist is murdered, and an undercover British agent goes missing, the threat moves closer to home.
Is the notorious Fredrick Fredricks behind the murders? Or is the plot even more sinister?
Competing excavators, jealous husbands, secret lovers, and belligerent spies are the leading suspects.
As they dig deeper, soon Fiona and Kitty are up to their donkeys in dead bodies.
If they can’t unwind the clues and catch the killer, they might end up sharing a sarcophagus with Nefertiti.
With humor as dry as the Arabian desert, and pacing as fast as a spitting camel, Fiona and Kitty are back in another sparkling adventure, this time in WW1 Egypt.
PRAISE FOR FIONA FIGG:
“Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Maisie Dobbs.” BookTrib
“Tantalizing and riveting with a good dose of humor while keeping the heartbreaking reality of war in the mix.” The Los Angeles Post
“A clever mix of humor and espionage that will keep you turning the pages and laughing all the way!” Dianne Freeman, author the Countess of Harleigh mysteries.
“A perfect blend of wit, fun, and intrigue.” Debra Goldstein, Author of the Sarah Blair Cozy Mysteries
“The perfect wartime spy: Fiona Figg. Smart, sneaky, and full of surprises… A fun whodunit that will keep you turning the pages!” Cathi Stoler, author of The Murder On The Rocks Mysteries
“Fun, easy-to-read, witty mystery that had me happily turning the pages.” Melissa’s Bookshelf
“Humor, action, and intrigue. I found myself thoroughly entertained.” Urban Book Reviews
Covert in Cairo Trailer:
Book Details:
Genre: Cozy Mystery Published by: Boldwood Books Publication Date: April 2023 Number of Pages: 300 ISBN: Coming Soon Series: A Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery, 2 (These are Stand-Alone Mysteries) Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
This bloody war had taught me nothing was black and white… except perhaps a strong cup of tea with milk, when you could get it.
My mouth was parched, and my bottom bounced on the hard wooden bench I shared with Captain Clifford Douglas, my glorified chaperone. I glanced over at our carriage companions, Miss Kitty Lane—whom I’d known until a week ago as Eliza Baker—and a stranger who leaned against the wooden armrest, reading.
The Egyptian railway carriages were white wooden trollies. Nothing like the black iron horses back home. Deuced hot, too. The soot flooding in through the window was the same, though. British or Egyptian. It didn’t matter. We all choked on the same smoke.
As the carriage clacked along the tracks through the desert from Alexandria to Cairo, I distracted myself with Annie Pirie’s The Pyramids of Giza. Book in one hand, I held a lavender-scented handkerchief to my nose with the other.
Annie Pirie claimed it was under one of these grand pyramids that she’d met her future husband while they were both laid up with food poisoning. Having nursed soldiers suffering from that very same affliction back at Charing Cross Hospital, I didn’t find anything romantic about the squalls of salmonella.
Still, there was nothing like the vulnerability of the body to move the soul.
Why not fall in love over a bedpan?
After all, I’d met Archie Somersby when he was convalescing with a shot-up arm. He’d asked me to help him write a letter to his mother. So sweet. Writing to his mum.
My cheeks burned. Oh, Archie. Would I ever see him again? Did I want to see him again, now that I knew he was a government-sponsored assassin? When I closed my eyes, I could still smell his citrus cologne mixed with the lingering scent of Kenilworth cigarettes.
I dropped The Pyramids of Giza on the seat next to me and withdrew a fan from my purse. Even with the windows open, it was beastly hot, and the desert seemed to go on forever. Winter in Egypt was a far cry from the chilly dampness of London or the snow in New York.
No. I couldn’t allow myself to think of Archie. Dead or alive.
Instead, I looked out of the window.
Oblivious to the carriage’s shaking and clattering, with her legs stretched across the bench seat, Kitty had her nose buried in the latest issue of Vogue fashion magazine. Wearing dark glasses, a flowing pink chiffon skirt dotted with tiny roses, a white blouse with pearl buttons, and an adorable sailor hat, she looked the part of a fashion model herself.
Poppy, the girl’s Pekingese, had a pink ribbon in her topknot that matched her owner’s outfit perfectly. The furry nuisance sprawled across Clifford’s lap, her outstretched paw touching my knee. Only because the animal had rescued me from imprisonment in a loo on my last mission did I indulge her encroachment on my person.
Clifford was another matter. Indulging him often tried my patience. Captain Clifford Douglas had been sent along by the War Office to chaperone us, despite the fact I’d already completed four missions. And Kitty, well, for all I knew, she was an assassin in petticoats.
While engrossed in his hunting magazine and fantasies of killing, at least Clifford was quiet for a change.
“I say!” Clifford looked up from his magazine.
Blast. I knew it was too good to be true.
“Gezira Sporting Club has fox hunts with English hounds.” Clifford beamed. “Do you ladies fancy a hunt?”
My eyes met Kitty’s and we both laughed.
“We’re not in Arabia for sports.” I scolded him. “Hunting.” I gestured from Clifford to Kitty. “Fashion… You’d think we were on holiday instead of…” I glanced over at the stranger in our compartment. “Instead of on business.”
If it hadn’t been for the stranger sharing our compartment, I would have chastised my companions. While I was busy preparing for our mission by studying guidebooks, they were faffing about with pretty dresses, gruesome blood sports, and fussing over a spoiled little dog.
“You can tell our priorities by our reading material.” I held up my book. “Mine is written by a scholar and a lady explorer.” I nodded for emphasis. “She—”
“If you want to get to know a people,” the stranger interrupted, “study their poetry.”
I sat blinking at him. His English was heavily accented, but I didn’t recognize the accent. And yet there was something familiar about his voice.
“You must read Hafez Ibrahim, poet of the Nile.” The stranger opened both his hands in offering. He clasped his hands together in prayer.
“Do I know you, sir?” Clifford dislodged the pipe from his mouth.
“You don’t even know yourself,” the stranger scoffed. “If you English can’t make yourselves welcome with arrogant promises of freedom, you resort to armored tanks and Vickers machine guns.” His mustaches quivered.
“Well, I say,” Clifford huffed. “No need to be rude.” He tugged on the bottom of his jacket. Good old reliable Clifford. Quick to defend king and country… and any women within a twenty-mile radius.
“Those hunting hounds were brought here to fulfill your countrymen’s desire to turn every place into their homeland.” When the stranger waved his arms, the loose sleeve of his jacket danced a frenetic jig. “They died from the heat.” His dark eyes flashed. “Let that be a lesson to you.”
“Look here, whoever you are.” Clifford stood up. “This is no way to talk in front of the ladies.”
Good heavens. I hoped Clifford didn’t do something stupid like challenge this fellow to a duel or punch him in the nose.
The carriage swayed and Clifford fell back onto the seat, nearly landing in my lap.
“Now, now.” I patted Clifford’s arm. “The ladies can defend themselves, thank you.”
The stranger held up his book. “Here, you must learn Arabic if you want to do anything but see yourselves reflected in a mirror of your own hubris.” He stood up. “Since Egypt was occupied by the French before the English, you’ll get by passably well with French.” He opened the door to the compartment. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I, too, have work in Cairo.”
As he crossed the threshold, a folded paper fell out of his book.
I reached down and picked it up. The paper was heavy and thick.
“You dropped something,” I said to the closed door.
The stranger had vanished.
“What is it?” Kitty said.
“I say.” Clifford snatched it from my hands and snapped it open. “Why, it’s a map!”
“Heavens.” I gazed down at it. “Not just any map.” I grabbed it back.
A map of the Suez Canal. Marked with a big black X.
***
Excerpt from Covert in Cairo by Kelly Oliver. Copyright 2023 by Kelly Oliver. Reproduced with permission from Kelly Oliver. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of three mystery series: the seven-book suspense series, The Jessica James Mysteries; the three-book middle grade kids’ series, Pet Detective Mysteries; and the four-book historical cozy series, The Fiona Figg Mysteries, inspired by those trips to the Green Hills Library.
Currently, Kelly is the Vice President of Sisters in Crime.
When she’s not writing novels, Kelly is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.
I'm currently reading Covert in Cairo by Kelly Oliver. This book is the second in the Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery series and was released last month.
With a threat to the Suez Canal, Fiona Figg along with Kitty Lane and Captain Clifford Douglas have arrived in Egypt. Certain that the spy Frederick Fredericks is behind the plot Fiona is determined to find him as well as a missing British agent. Cryptic notes, a female master of disguises, and argumentative archeologists, not to mention that shifty South African spy, have Fiona befuddled. Will she be able to get to the heart of the matter and save the Suez Canal? Or will she find herself entombed with the mummies of Egypt, without ever receiving a promotion?
I'm happy to turn over the blog to Kathryn Long today. Kathryn writes the Sierra Pines B&B Mystery series. Blooming with Murder is the third book in the series.
Symbolism in Mystery Writing By Kathryn Long
If you received a bouquet of red and white tulips from someone you’ve been dating, or perhaps from a secret admirer, your first thought might be to admire the beautiful display. However, would you have guessed those flowers symbolize respect and commitment to love?
I’m Kathryn Long and author of the Sierra Pines B&B series—Boarding with Murder, Snowed Under Murder, and my latest, Blooming with Murder. (By the way, I also write the Paint by Murder mysteries as Bailee Abbott.) I’ll admit, one of my favorite parts of the writing process is finding interesting nuggets of facts that are unexpected and sometimes unusual. Those unusual ones are the pure gold nuggets! Let me say, even though I write fiction, my research often uncovers loads of that factual information which I can include in my stories. So, in developing the plot of my latest Sierra Pines B&B mystery, Blooming with Murder, I came up with this idea for the main character, Alexis, to receive clues to the mystery which are delivered through flowergrams. Both alarming and mysterious, right? At least that’s what I would think. What Alexis doesn’t realize at first is that those flowers have meanings, which of course should help her to figure out whodunnit. Or so we hope. To explain a bit further, floriography, the language of flowers, is a centuries-old practice, once popular but not so much today, of sending messages, secretive at times, between lovers who might have reason to keep their relationship quiet. Think Romeo and Juliet whose love was forbidden. You have to admit, if you’re intrigued with secret coding as much as I am, it sounds like a fun way to communicate. (As a child, I had a book on secret codes and loved to write messages, pretending I was a spy. Yeah, I was kind of nerdy, but also very creative.) In BWM, my idea was to use flowers matched with the relevant symbols and combine them with line quotes from some classic movies. (Of course classic movie references had to be included since that’s a signature trait of my B&B series. Right?) When Alexis reads “Round up the usual suspects” she’s wavering on whether the mysterious sender is friend or foe. Could he or she be encouraging her to solve the murder? Then after a visit to the local pub, she receives another delivery with the line, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Now, she’s wondering if her flowergram sender is a stalker. However, the beautiful orange flowers attached to the note are Indian Paintbrush, which she learns symbolizes trust and confidence in your journey. Of course, being the optimist, Alexis will choose to believe the sender means well, even if her sheriff boyfriend tells her to be careful walking down dark alleys!
The challenge for me was finding those flower symbols that fit solving a mystery, rather than those with a romantic theme. Surprise! I discovered loads in my search online and thought, let the fun begin! For instance, if I sent you a bouquet of purple monkshood, you might be a little worried because that flower means beware of danger. If you read Blooming with Murder, you’ll discover Alexis has plenty of danger threatening her life because you just know the killer is following every move and waiting for her to get too close to the truth. Still, we have to include some danger in our mystery novels, don’t we? Cryptic messages too! I love all that secret code stuff. In fact, you’ll think I’m an obsessed secret code fan when I tell you my research about this subject has ventured into music symbolism. Did you know that music cyphers or cryptograms were used centuries ago to send secret messages? Yes, musicians and even wizards loved being mysterious, especially when discovering their secrets could get them in serious trouble. No surprise that during WWII, the military employed this type of coding to send messages to the troops. Using this technique in my writing, I discovered that it’s actually a very complex creation placing many notes on the staff to represent all the letters of the alphabet. (I added this in another book I’ve written that hasn’t been published yet. TBA.)
Now, back to floriography. In history, it’s known that artists such as Van Gogh and authors like Emily Dickinson and Jane Austen used flower symbols in their work. Bet you never thought that as Jane Ayre gazed upon all those snowdrops, crocuses, purple auriculas, and golden-eyed pansies in the garden, the author meant to convey Jane was feeling hopeful, cheerful, modest, and preoccupied with the connection between money and happiness. What a “bouquet” of symbolism Charlotte Bronte included in her writing! More recently, when Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011, she used Victorian flower language for her bridal bouquet, choosing flowers for their meanings rather than looks. She chose lily of the valley to symbolize the return of happiness, beautiful hyacinths for eternal love, and ivy for true marriage, friendship and affection. How romantic in carrying on that tradition!
Symbolism is something all authors use in one form or another. Sometimes it’s simply in the choice of words written, and in others the symbolism can go a little further with floriography or music cryptograms to provide clues. Here’s to celebrating mysteries of all kinds.
Spring is blooming in Sierra Pines, and everyone’s busy preparing for the annual Spring Fling Festival. Ali Winston takes her B&B guests for a tour, and their first stop is the face painting booth. Local school board president, Melvin Renville, is there to honor a bet he lost to the student body by having his face painted. However, things turn tragic when he has an allergic reaction and ends up dead. No one is more surprised than Ali’s best friend and art teacher, Lyla Lane, when it’s discovered her face paint contains peanut oil, an ingredient Renville was highly allergic to. Lyla insists she’d never use store bought paint, only homemade, because in teaching elementary school, she’s aware many kids have food allergies.
Ali suspects someone wanted Renville dead and cleverly framed Lyla for the crime. The question is who had motive and the opportunity to pull off such a daring deed? Of course, rumors spread and fingers point at Lyla when word gets out that Renville had notified her, merely hours before his death, that the art program and her job would be cut next year. Talk about a motive to kill. With Sheriff Sterling painting Lyla as his prime suspect, Ali is determined to help her friend by discovering the true killer and to keep spring blooming in Sierra Pines.
About Kathryn Long
Kathryn Long is a native Ohioan who spends her days plotting murder and writing mysteries. She's a member of Sisters in Crime as well as of International Thriller Writers. She’s actively involved in the writing and publishing worlds and stays up to date on her social media platforms. Kathryn lives with her husband and furry friend Max in the quiet suburbs of Green, Ohio. The B&B series also includes Boarding with Murder and Snowed Under Murder. Inspiration for the storyline comes from her classic movie obsession, particularly Arsenic and Old Lace, and her love for Cary Grant. Kathryn also writes the PAINT BY MURDER mystery series under the name Bailee Abbott.
Quindicott, Rhode Island, and Buy the Book in particular, has gone to
the dogs. In honor of St. Francis Day, the local university is spreading
their celebrations into town and the Paw-some reading group has
convinced Penelope Thornton-McClure to host Pet Mystery Week at her
shop. Jane Cunningham, a core member of the group, was instrumental in
arranging many of the activities, but it's her dog, Sparky that gets
Pen's attention. Barking outside the bookstore, he leads Pen and her son
Spencer to Jane, lying on the sidewalk, shot...but alive. While the
Chief of Police believes it's simply a hunting accident, Pen is doubtful, and
ghostly PI Jack Shepard agrees.
You get twice the mystery and twice the fun in a Haunted Bookshop Mystery. I love the dual mystery as how Jack teaches Pen how to solve the mystery in her time by sharing one from his. Vivid descriptions, especially of Penny's 1940s clothing immerse me in that time. The wrestlers from Jack's time still have me grinning-I want to throw some pickles!
While I am most definitely a cat person, I love dogs too and was happy
to meet Sparky in the ninth Haunted Bookshop Mystery. It was
heartwarming to see that slice of Americana - a boy and his dog...even
if it was just temporary. It was also fun watching people who don't
really know about dogs handle the rambunctious pup.
Not everything is what it seems in THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS. However, I cottoned on to several clues, and I even solved the last line of the riddle well before Penny. I also had a fairly good idea of what was going on behind the modern mystery, at least one aspect of it, but I still didn't know who dun it until the very end! This ability to solve the mystery along with the protagonist made a great read even more enjoyable and reminded me of works from the Golden Age of detective fiction.
With laughs, thrills, and ghostly chills THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS is a doggone fun tale!
A stray dog leads bookseller Penelope McClure and her gumshoe ghost on a chase for a cunning criminal in this brand-new entry in the "UTTERLY CHARMING" (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.
Pet Mystery Week brings brisk business to Penelope's Rhode Island bookshop, but a real mystery comes barking at her door when a lost dog turns up in a panic. Pen and her son Spencer follow the furry fugitive to a wooded area where the dog's owner lies unconscious. Mrs. Cunningham is a warm-hearted widow who volunteers at the animal shelter and runs Buy the Book's pet lovers book club. Why would anyone shoot such a sweet soul?
The police believe it's an accident, a shot by a careless deer hunter, but Pen remains skeptical. To straighten out this doggone mess, she whistles for the ghost of PI Jack Shepard, an expert in hounding as well as haunting. Jack has a dog story of his own, a case from the 1940s that may help Pen sniff out clues to her present predicament. Yet even with Jack's hard-boiled help, Pen may not be able to stop the killer from striking again or letting this whole case go to the dogs...
About the Author
CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times-bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries and Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, now celebrating nearly 20 years in print. With more than one million books sold, their work has been honored with starred reviews and multiple best-of-year list selections by reviewers. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together.
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER by Colleen Cambridge The First American in Paris Mystery
At loose ends in Detroit Tabitha Knight accepts her grandfather's invitation to stay with him and Oncle Rafe in Paris. This former Rosie the Riveter is skilled with a screwdriver, but less adept with a spatula. Wanting to please her messieurs, Tabs is keen to improve her nonexistent cooking skills. Fortunately, her new friend, Julia, the larger than life American across the street, has happily agreed to help her. The pair soon become embroiled in a murder when a body is found in Julia Child's building...and her knife is discovered to be the murder weapon.
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER totally captivated me. I loved everything about it from the distinctive characters to the finely crafted mystery. Colleen Cambridge has exquisitely captured the feeling of a Paris recently freed from occupation. A certain resoluteness, determination, and joy suffuses the work along with the ambiance that is uniquely Parisian.
Tabitha Knight is a delightful protagonist. She's clever and caring, yet has her own foibles. It's wonderful to have Julia Child as a major character. Her lively and outgoing personality radiates from the page and I can see and hear her as she gets involved in murder, though cooking, and friendship, remain her priorities. Tabitha's grandpère and Oncle Rafe are an absolute delight, as are their pets, Oscar Wilde and Madame X. Inspecteur Merveille personifies the phrase "still waters run deep" and I know we'll get to know him more intimately as the series progresses; at least, if Julia and I have interpreted the writing on the wall correctly.
This crisply written mystery is well executed with suspense, thrills, and clever detection on the part of several of the characters. I was captivated from start to finish. MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER is simply post-war Paris perfection.
I'm currently reading The Ghost Goes to the Dogs by Cleo Coyle. This book is the ninth in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series and was released yesterday.
Quindicott, Rhode Island, and Buy the Book in particular, has gone to the dogs. In honor of St. Francis Day, the local university is spreading their celebrations into town and the Paw-some reading group has convinced Penelope Thornton-McClure to host Pet Mystery Week at her shop. Jane Cunningham, a core member of the group, was instrumental in arranging many of the activities, but it's her dog, Sparky that gets Pen's attention. Barking outside the bookstore, he leads Pen and her son Spencer to Jane, lying on the sidewalk, shot...but alive. While the sheriff believes it's simply a hunting accident, Pen is doubtful, and ghostly PI Jack Shepard agrees.
