In the Pale Light - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

 Review

IN THE PALE LIGHT
By Westley Smith

On Christmas Day 2015 Clay Graham, his wife, and teen-aged daughter were found brutally murdered. Although never proven, the consensus was that Terry Graham, Clay's brother, killed his family in a blind drunken rage. The whole town knew that Terry was a drunkard unable to control his temper and he was already vilified for the death of a well loved woman years before. Now, nine years after his family's murder, Terry remains alone on his farm, tormented by townsfolk who harass him and damage his property and tormented by his own thoughts, wondering if it was just possible that he did kill his family. New evidence has recently been discovered and the State Police have assigned two new detectives to investigate the cold case. As the police renew their investigation Terry starts his, but with his health declining, he doesn't have much time left.

Hickory Falls is a town full of small minded, low class bullies. It's a town filled with people without any hopes or dreams, a poor town filled with the dregs of humanity. After reading each chapter I wanted to take a shower as if by physically cleaning myself I'd be able to get the grime of the place off of me.

The writing was taut with increasing intensity. The characters were compelling, not only Terry and the detectives, but minor characters too. The villains here were twisted and as the novel progressed almost everyone was tainted by the cruelty of both fate and humankind. I really enjoyed how the two investigations paralleled each other culminating in the ultimate showdown. I also appreciated the dénuement as I read with grim satisfaction.

IN THE PALE LIGHT is a visceral novel of vengeance and the search for truth.

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

IN THE PALE LIGHT

by Westley Smith

August 12 - September 6, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

When Clay Graham and his family are found slain in the parking lot of his struggling business, the police suspect Clay's troublemaker brother, Terry. Terry claims he was drunk the night of the murders and passed out at home. With little evidence against Terry to make an arrest, the case soon goes cold.

Shunned from the community, harassed by the locals who believe he's a murderer, and suffering from an undiagnosed illness, Terry lives alone on his farm, punishing himself for his past indiscretions.

Then Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Henry Miller, who has ties to the town and the Graham murders, shows up with newly discovered evidence that kick-starts the case all over again.

Now, before his illness kills him, Terry sets out, battling against small-town secrets and old grudges, racing against time to stay one step ahead of both the State Police and his own impending death, to finally find out what really happened to his family and hopefully prove himself and innocent man --if he is one.

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thriller
Published by: Watertower Hill Publishing
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Watertower Hill Publishing

Read an excerpt:

December 25th, 2015

The emergency lights from the Hickory Falls Sheriff’s Department Ford Interceptor flashed across the snow when it pulled into the Graham Video store parking lot. The sheet of white should have been untouched by tires at 6:45 a.m., and the snow-covered green Jetta, sitting in the far left-hand corner of the parking lot should not have been there. Two different sets of tire tracks cut through the pristine snow. One set belonged to the Jetta. The other set made a large circle in the snow before making its way back toward Main Street.

The officer brought the SUV to a stop about five feet from the Jetta; its headlights bathed the car in the frigid darkness. Unable to see past the Jetta’s frosted snow-covered windows, a building sense of unease began to crawl over him, tightening the flesh to his bones.

The officer’s shift had been easy that night. He had not responded to any emergency calls, nor had he had to pull anyone over. A Christmas miracle itself. But all that had changed fifteen minutes ago while he was patrolling Broke Run Road, when Sheriff Will Daniel’s voice came over the radio.

“Call just came in. We got a report of shots fired at the Graham Video store. Caller says they saw a man running across the parking lot, carrying what appeared to be a shotgun. The suspect reportedly got into the passenger side of a blue sedan before it took off with two others inside. Need you to check it out,” Daniel had said.

Why the hell is the sheriff in at this hour? the officer had wondered. Shouldn’t Susan be on the call desk? And what’s going on at the Graham Video store?

Now on scene, with the first cracks of gray sky beginning to materialize through the night horizon, he radioed back into the station.

“I’m at the Graham Video store. I’ve located a V-dub Jetta. It’s an early 2000s model. No sign of anyone else, including the reported blue sedan. Though there are two sets of tire tracks in the snow, indicating another vehicle was present.” He glanced at the video store’s entrance. There were no broken windows and no ajar door to indicate a robbery had occurred. The place appeared buttoned up tight. “No signs of a break-in, Sheriff. Getting out to inspect the vehicle.”

“Ten-four,” Sheriff Daniel’s voice came back over the line. “Proceed with caution.”

Again, the officer thought it was strange that the sheriff was in at that hour, and on Christmas morning. Where was Susan Green? She usually worked the overnight shift; she should still have been at the station, working the dispatch desk. Still, the officer knew, she could have gone home for any number of reasons—the holiday, the storm, or maybe a family member had fallen –ill—and the sheriff had filled in for her. Pushing the thought from his mind, the officer returned to the pressing matter at hand.

Stay focused. Stay sharp.

Stepping from the SUV, the blowing snow and driving wind bit at the officer’s exposed skin, penetrated his clothes. Zipping his jacket up to his chin, he started toward the car, trudging through the shin-deep snow.

As he neared the Jetta, pelted with snow and ice so hard it stung, he noticed a set of footprints leading away from the passenger-side door toward the second set of tire tracks before vanishing. The tracks were nearly filled in with fresh powder, but it was unmistakable what they were. He assumed this was where the person had gotten into the second car—an old blue sedan. Looking back to the Jetta, he saw something smeared along the top of the passenger-side door. Whatever it was had frozen to a hard, ruby-colored substance.

He eased in for a closer look.

lood!

Frozen blood.

A strange tightness gripped the base of the officer’s neck as if Death had wrapped a cold, boney hand around him and begun to squeeze. His heart rate quickened. He placed his right hand on his sidearm and identified himself.

“This is the Hickory Falls Sheriff’s Department. If there’s anyone inside the vehicle, would you please step out?”

There was no reply. The car was dead still. The only sound across the parking lot was the howling wind and the ice pebbles hitting the closest metal lamp post.

Not wanting to disturb what he believed to be blood on the passenger-side door, the officer lumbered through the deepening snow, around the front of the Jetta, to the driver’s side. Reaching down, he took hold of the handle and pulled.

The driver’s side door was locked.

He took a deep breath of cold air, sending what felt like ice daggers into his lungs as he tried to steel himself for what he might find inside. His teeth began to chatter, and an internal shudder tremored in his core and quickly expanded to the rest of his body.

“I’m asking anyone inside to identify themselves and step out.” He waited, but when no one replied, he said, “If you do not comply, I will be forced to inspect the vehicle. Last warning.”

Silence.

No movement came from within. The car's stillness bothered him—like it was dead. But that was impossible. Cars could not be deceased like humans or animals. So why was he getting the dreaded feeling that death emanated from it?

Placing his gloved hand on the window, he brushed the light dusting of snow away and bent down to look inside.

The officer recoiled at what he saw or who he saw staring back at him. His feet slipped out from under him, and he went down onto his backside, hard. Snow kicked up when he hit the ground, and for a moment he was cocooned in falling white powder, protected from what he had seen.

But when the snow settled, the officer was again gazing at the driver’s-side door of the Jetta. There, he saw a man’s pale face pressed against the glass, the muscles twisted and tightened in agony. His eyes were open and locked directly on the officer with a vacant, lifeless stare, pleading with him, even in death, to save him.

Too late. I’m too late to save you.

The officer shot to his feet; snow fell off his uniform in large patchy clumps. And though the temperature was in the teens, he felt sweat break out across his back and forehead.

Moving gingerly toward the Jetta again, the officer realized he knew the dead man looking back at him.

Clay Graham—the owner of the Graham Video store.

He removed his Maglite from his belt and turned it on. Bending, he shone the beam through the ice-crusted driver’s-side window and began to scan the car's interior.

That’s when he saw them.

He pressed a gloved hand over his lips, suppressing the scream that wanted to leap from his throat at the horrific sight of carnage and death inside the Jetta.

It wasn’t just Clay Graham dead inside the car but also his wife, Claire, and their teenage daughter, Sidney.

***

Excerpt from In the Pale Light by Westley Smith. Copyright 2024 by Westley Smith. Reproduced with permission from Westley Smith. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Westley Smith had his first short story, Off to War, published when he was just sixteen.

He is, more recently, the author of two horror novels, Along Came the Tricksters and All Hallows Eve, as well as the thriller Some Kind of Truth. His short fiction has been published in various magazines and websites. Wes lives with his wife and two dogs in the beautiful woodlands of southern Pennsylvania--the perfect place to hide a body.

Catch Up With Westley Smith:
WestleySmithBooks.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @wssmith100
Instagram - @wsmithbooks
Facebook - @westleysmith100

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

 

 

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Westley Smith. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn. This book is the second in the Starlit Bookshop Mystery series and was released last week.

Everyone in Silvercrest, Colorado is excited for the Silvercrest Library Gala. Emma Stars is preparing for the classic mystery panel to be held at her family's bookstore as part of the event and is excited to attend the gala itself. This year the fundraiser is featuring stars from the popular television series Chasers, including hometown native Whitney Willton. Whitney's niece, Lyra, who also left Silvercrest for Hollywood, is joining her as event planner for the gala and associated events. But excitement turns to tragedy when Lyra is found murdered. However, the show must go on and Emma takes over as the event planner. As she and her nemesis and event chair butt heads, more problems plague the event. Is someone sabotaging the gala? Or targeting the Chasers cast? Emma will do her best to make the event a success as she quietly tries to solve the murder.

In the Pale Light - An Interview, Excerpt, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Westley Smith to Cozy Up With Kathy today. IN THE PALE LIGHT was released earlier this month.

IN THE PALE LIGHT we learn of a cold case murder investigation that starts to heat up. What makes cold cases so intriguing?

The unknown factor. The mystery of why a crime happened. Who did it. And why.


On Christmas morning a family is found shot to death in their car, the father's brother the main suspect. I always feel worse when deaths occur on a holiday. Was there a specific reason you chose Christmas for this crime?

Yes. The town where the murders occur is deserted because it’s Christmas Eve and in the middle of a blizzard.


It's fascinating that Terry, the main suspect and brother of the victim, isn't certain of his innocence. How did this uncertainty change your writing. Did it make writing the story easier or more difficult?

Difficult. I had to write Terry as an unreliable narrator and make every decision or action he takes in the book make the reader question if he really is a murderer.


What first drew you to crime fiction?

I’ve always loved mysteries since I was a kid. But the book, oddly enough that got me hooked on crime, was a Louis L' Amour story called BOWDRIE FOLLOWS A COLD TRAIL– where Texas Ranger Chick Bowdrie comes across a skeleton and has to solve what happened to this person.


Do you write in any other genres?

I do. I also write psychological thrillers.


Tell us about your series.

I don’t have any series just yet. Maybe in the future.


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

I like Steve James from my debut thriller, SOME KIND OF TRUTH. He’s a deep, complex, and flawed character who walks the moral line of investigative journalism ethics.


What made you decide to publish your work?

It’s been my dream to be a published author since I wrote my first short story when I was ten years old.


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

Michael Connelly, Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Raymond Chandler


What are you currently reading?
END OF STORY by AJ Finn and The ArchAngels Mission series by Joshua Loyd Fox


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

I’m a big movie buff and have amassed quite a physical media collection from Beta Max, VHS, DVD, Blu-rays, and 4K – my basement looks like a mom-and-pop video store from the 1980s. I love history and often watch documentaries or read books on various subjects. I enjoy weightlifting and walking.


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

Peanut Butter, Bananas, Chicken, Protein Powder


Do you have plans for future books?

Yes.


What's your favorite thing about being an author?

Crafting the story. I love creating stories; even though it’s hard work, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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

IN THE PALE LIGHT

by Westley Smith

August 12 - September 6, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

When Clay Graham and his family are found slain in the parking lot of his struggling business, the police suspect Clay's troublemaker brother, Terry. Terry claims he was drunk the night of the murders and passed out at home. With little evidence against Terry to make an arrest, the case soon goes cold.

Shunned from the community, harassed by the locals who believe he's a murderer, and suffering from an undiagnosed illness, Terry lives alone on his farm, punishing himself for his past indiscretions.

Then Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Henry Miller, who has ties to the town and the Graham murders, shows up with newly discovered evidence that kick-starts the case all over again.

Now, before his illness kills him, Terry sets out, battling against small-town secrets and old grudges, racing against time to stay one step ahead of both the State Police and his own impending death, to finally find out what really happened to his family and hopefully prove himself and innocent man --if he is one.

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thriller
Published by: Watertower Hill Publishing
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Watertower Hill Publishing

Read an excerpt:

December 25th, 2015

The emergency lights from the Hickory Falls Sheriff’s Department Ford Interceptor flashed across the snow when it pulled into the Graham Video store parking lot. The sheet of white should have been untouched by tires at 6:45 a.m., and the snow-covered green Jetta, sitting in the far left-hand corner of the parking lot should not have been there. Two different sets of tire tracks cut through the pristine snow. One set belonged to the Jetta. The other set made a large circle in the snow before making its way back toward Main Street.

The officer brought the SUV to a stop about five feet from the Jetta; its headlights bathed the car in the frigid darkness. Unable to see past the Jetta’s frosted snow-covered windows, a building sense of unease began to crawl over him, tightening the flesh to his bones.

The officer’s shift had been easy that night. He had not responded to any emergency calls, nor had he had to pull anyone over. A Christmas miracle itself. But all that had changed fifteen minutes ago while he was patrolling Broke Run Road, when Sheriff Will Daniel’s voice came over the radio.

“Call just came in. We got a report of shots fired at the Graham Video store. Caller says they saw a man running across the parking lot, carrying what appeared to be a shotgun. The suspect reportedly got into the passenger side of a blue sedan before it took off with two others inside. Need you to check it out,” Daniel had said.

Why the hell is the sheriff in at this hour? the officer had wondered. Shouldn’t Susan be on the call desk? And what’s going on at the Graham Video store?

Now on scene, with the first cracks of gray sky beginning to materialize through the night horizon, he radioed back into the station.

“I’m at the Graham Video store. I’ve located a V-dub Jetta. It’s an early 2000s model. No sign of anyone else, including the reported blue sedan. Though there are two sets of tire tracks in the snow, indicating another vehicle was present.” He glanced at the video store’s entrance. There were no broken windows and no ajar door to indicate a robbery had occurred. The place appeared buttoned up tight. “No signs of a break-in, Sheriff. Getting out to inspect the vehicle.”

“Ten-four,” Sheriff Daniel’s voice came back over the line. “Proceed with caution.”

Again, the officer thought it was strange that the sheriff was in at that hour, and on Christmas morning. Where was Susan Green? She usually worked the overnight shift; she should still have been at the station, working the dispatch desk. Still, the officer knew, she could have gone home for any number of reasons—the holiday, the storm, or maybe a family member had fallen –ill—and the sheriff had filled in for her. Pushing the thought from his mind, the officer returned to the pressing matter at hand.

Stay focused. Stay sharp.

Stepping from the SUV, the blowing snow and driving wind bit at the officer’s exposed skin, penetrated his clothes. Zipping his jacket up to his chin, he started toward the car, trudging through the shin-deep snow.

As he neared the Jetta, pelted with snow and ice so hard it stung, he noticed a set of footprints leading away from the passenger-side door toward the second set of tire tracks before vanishing. The tracks were nearly filled in with fresh powder, but it was unmistakable what they were. He assumed this was where the person had gotten into the second car—an old blue sedan. Looking back to the Jetta, he saw something smeared along the top of the passenger-side door. Whatever it was had frozen to a hard, ruby-colored substance.

He eased in for a closer look.

lood!

Frozen blood.

A strange tightness gripped the base of the officer’s neck as if Death had wrapped a cold, boney hand around him and begun to squeeze. His heart rate quickened. He placed his right hand on his sidearm and identified himself.

“This is the Hickory Falls Sheriff’s Department. If there’s anyone inside the vehicle, would you please step out?”

There was no reply. The car was dead still. The only sound across the parking lot was the howling wind and the ice pebbles hitting the closest metal lamp post.

Not wanting to disturb what he believed to be blood on the passenger-side door, the officer lumbered through the deepening snow, around the front of the Jetta, to the driver’s side. Reaching down, he took hold of the handle and pulled.

The driver’s side door was locked.

He took a deep breath of cold air, sending what felt like ice daggers into his lungs as he tried to steel himself for what he might find inside. His teeth began to chatter, and an internal shudder tremored in his core and quickly expanded to the rest of his body.

“I’m asking anyone inside to identify themselves and step out.” He waited, but when no one replied, he said, “If you do not comply, I will be forced to inspect the vehicle. Last warning.”

Silence.

No movement came from within. The car's stillness bothered him—like it was dead. But that was impossible. Cars could not be deceased like humans or animals. So why was he getting the dreaded feeling that death emanated from it?

Placing his gloved hand on the window, he brushed the light dusting of snow away and bent down to look inside.

The officer recoiled at what he saw or who he saw staring back at him. His feet slipped out from under him, and he went down onto his backside, hard. Snow kicked up when he hit the ground, and for a moment he was cocooned in falling white powder, protected from what he had seen.

But when the snow settled, the officer was again gazing at the driver’s-side door of the Jetta. There, he saw a man’s pale face pressed against the glass, the muscles twisted and tightened in agony. His eyes were open and locked directly on the officer with a vacant, lifeless stare, pleading with him, even in death, to save him.

Too late. I’m too late to save you.

The officer shot to his feet; snow fell off his uniform in large patchy clumps. And though the temperature was in the teens, he felt sweat break out across his back and forehead.

Moving gingerly toward the Jetta again, the officer realized he knew the dead man looking back at him.

Clay Graham—the owner of the Graham Video store.

He removed his Maglite from his belt and turned it on. Bending, he shone the beam through the ice-crusted driver’s-side window and began to scan the car's interior.

That’s when he saw them.

He pressed a gloved hand over his lips, suppressing the scream that wanted to leap from his throat at the horrific sight of carnage and death inside the Jetta.

It wasn’t just Clay Graham dead inside the car but also his wife, Claire, and their teenage daughter, Sidney.

***

Excerpt from In the Pale Light by Westley Smith. Copyright 2024 by Westley Smith. Reproduced with permission from Westley Smith. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Westley Smith had his first short story, Off to War, published when he was just sixteen.

He is, more recently, the author of two horror novels, Along Came the Tricksters and All Hallows Eve, as well as the thriller Some Kind of Truth. His short fiction has been published in various magazines and websites. Wes lives with his wife and two dogs in the beautiful woodlands of southern Pennsylvania--the perfect place to hide a body.

Catch Up With Westley Smith:
WestleySmithBooks.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @wssmith100
Instagram - @wsmithbooks
Facebook - @westleysmith100

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

 

 

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Westley Smith. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

Keeled Over at the Cliffside - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Taco to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Taco on the pages of the Sandcliff Mystery series by Nancy Stewart. Keeled Over at the Cliffside is the first book in the series and was released earlier this month.

Hello readers. My name is Taco. I am a dog. I am one of the main characters in a book you should read called Keeled Over at the Cliffside.

To be more specific, I am a service dog whose job is very important. I have an excellent sniffer, and my job is to sniff out legumes that might hurt my person, Dahlia Vale. She can’t eat them, so my job is to stop her any time I think she might be planning to eat one.

In reality, legumes don’t appear all that often in our lives, so my job is pretty laid back. In addition to the required sniffing, I try to do a few other useful things, but a lot of my time is spent napping. You know, so I’m ready to spring into action if a peanut or a chickpea attacks.

When I’m not napping, I spend time walking the streets of our new town, Saltcliff on the Sea. This is a very interesting place with lots of new smells. I smell ocean and fish, sand and salty wind. I also smell a lot of delicious baked goods and coffee. I don’t particularly like coffee, but Dahlia does.

Because I’m a service dog, I get to go inside restaurants other dogs aren’t invited to. Not everybody enjoys my presence. Saltcliff is generally more dog friendly than the place we used to live, though. It has a pet hotel, a pet psychic, a pet restaurant, and a pet clothing store. I don’t really want to wear clothes, but it is always nice to have options.

In the book you are going to read–the one I told you about–I even help solve a murder.

In case you have any dogs in your life, I wanted to suggest that more treats is always better than fewer. And be careful of legumes.

Thanks,

Taco Dog

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

Keeled Over at the Cliffside: A Delicious Seaside Cozy Mystery by Nancy Stewart

About Keeled Over at the Cliffside

Keeled Over at the Cliffside: A Delicious Seaside Cozy Mystery
Sandcliff Mysteries 1st in Series
Setting - California
Independently Published (August 15, 2024)
Number of Pages - 254 Kindle

In the charming seaside town of Saltcliff on the Sea, Dahlia Vale's life is about to take a dramatic twist. Leaving behind her monotonous job as a defense contractor, Dahlia inherits her late sister Daisy’s cozy inn and a new role as guardian to her spirited niece, Diantha. But Saltcliff holds more than just new beginnings; it hides whispers of past loves, local feuds, and a string of suspicious deaths that soon draw Dahlia into their depths.

Navigating her new life with the loyal Taco, her service dog, at her side, Dahlia stumbles upon secrets that Daisy left behind. The quaint Saltcliff Bed & Breakfast becomes center stage for these mysteries as Dahlia uncovers links between a controversial local chef's death and her sister’s secretive gardening habits. As Dahlia delves deeper, aided by the astute Detective Owen Sanderson, she finds herself untangling a web of betrayal, blackmail, and hidden motives—all under the guise of serving the perfect morning scones to her guests.

With each chapter, Dahlia transitions from an outsider to a beloved figure in the community, piecing together clues with a charm only a true amateur sleuth could possess. Amidst the culinary delights and scenic walks on the beach, Keeled Over at the Cliffside crafts a tapestry of intrigue and murder, testing Dahlia's wit and pulling her further into the heart of Saltcliff's darkest secrets. Will Dahlia serve justice as adeptly as she serves her guests?

Step into the pages of this culinary cozy mystery, where every character has a story, and the truth is as layered as a well-baked pastry. Perfect for fans of a good puzzle and a great plate of food (or those who just love a loyal Labrador), this book promises to be a delicious read from start to finish.

Join Dahlia, Diantha, and Taco as they discover that even the most picturesque towns can hide the most sinister secrets.

About Nancy Stewart

 

Nancy Stewart is the cozy pen name of USA Today bestselling rom-com author Delancey Stewart. This is her first cozy mystery, despite being raised on a steady diet of Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie, and supplementing that in adulthood with mysteries and thrillers whenever possible. She writes from her home near Denver, Colorado, where she lives with her former Marine hubby and two teenage boys. And of course, her dog, Charlie Taco (who appears in her mystery series as Taco the service dog.)

Author Links Website Facebook Amazon

Purchase Link Amazon

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A Scandal in Mayfair - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

 Review

A SCANDAL IN MAYFAIR by Katharine Schellman
The Fifth Lily Adler Mystery

Word of Lily Adler's ability to discretely handle problems that sometimes arise in polite society has come to the attention of young Miss Forrest. Believing that her uncle has stolen her inheritance, she begs Lily to find her departed father's will and prove her uncle's villainy. Uncovering some information, Lily is ready to wash her hands of the matter when she's informed that the uncle has been murdered and the girl's beloved accused of the crime. The more she investigates the more complex matters become...and that's not including matters between Lily and her good friend, Jack Hartley. Will Lily uncover a killer, or has the killer already been found?

A young woman given to histrionics, a ne'er do well who may or may not be trying to redeem himself, and a young girl who may be too smart for her own good ask Lily Adler for help in this, the fifth Lily Adler Mystery. Despite a desire to steer well clear of Miss Forrest, Lily soon becomes enmeshed in the murder and a most circuitous route to its solution.

I love seeing Lily and Jack start to realize their feelings for each other, something Amelia and Ofelia realized ages ago. I especially love Jack's acceptance of Lily, his letting her take the lead, and being there to support her. I also love how the romance doesn't take away from the mystery, but rather enhances it. I also love all of the wonderful relationships shown here, caring people who love and respect each other regardless of class or race. 

With dry subtle humor readers are treated to a complex mystery about greed, trust, and betrayal. A SCANDAL IN MAYFAIR is an enthralling historical mystery that will have your pulse pounding one moment and have you grinning the next. I eagerly await Lily's next adventure!

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

A SCANDAL IN MAYFAIR

by Katharine Schellman

August 19 - September 13, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A Lily Adler Mystery

 

Sometimes danger lurks in plain sight, and in the cutthroat London Season socialite Lily Adler must race against time to catch a killer.

Fans of Bridgerton will delight in this Regency-era mystery featuring an intrepid sleuth, plenty of intrigue, and a touch of romance.

London, 1817. The London Season is beginning once more, and Lily Adler’s return to her home on Half Moon Street feels different this year. No longer a recent widow, she has a life and friends waiting for her. Lily also has new responsibilities in the form of her protégée Amelia, the sister of her longtime friend Jack Hartley, who is escaping her own brush with scandal and murder.

It doesn’t take long for Lily’s growing reputation as a lady of quality who can discreetly find what is missing or solve what is puzzling to bring a desperate young woman to her doorstep. But helping her means unraveling a tangled web of family secrets. Soon, a missing will, a dead body and the threat of blackmail leave Lily facing danger every way she turns.

The glittering society of Mayfair conceals many secrets, and the back alleys of London hide even more. Lily Adler will need to find the connection between them quickly if she wants to stop a killer before it’s too late.

Praise for A Scandal in Mayfair:

"A perfect London crime novel... Fast paced, expertly researched, and intricately plotted."
~ Alex Grecian, New York Times bestselling author

"The strong characters will appeal to readers of the Bridgerton romances, as well as those who appreciate Georgette Heyer’s stories."
~ Library Journal

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781639108411 (ISBN10: 1639108416)
Series: A Lily Adler Mystery, Book #5 | Each is a Stand Alone
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House

Read an excerpt:

“You are Mrs. Adler? You do not look anything like I expected,” the young woman said bluntly. “I thought that someone who offers such investigations would be . . . more dramatic, I suppose. But you are very nearly plain. Well, not plain,” she added apologetically, looking Lily over once more. “Your gown is beautifully made, I must say, and you are very elegant—a tall figure helps with that, I suppose.” She sighed, glancing down at her own figure, which was of average height and rather waiflike. “But I thought you would be more glamorous. Is it not a glamorous occupation that you have?”

“Hardly an occupation,” Lily said firmly. Miss Forrest was not wrong; with unremarkable coloring and looks only just on the pretty side of average, elegant was the best descriptor Lily could hope for from an impartial observer. But it still rankled to be sized up so bluntly. “And not a genteel one, if it were. Besides, I think what you have heard of are discreet inquiries for those who need them. A dramatic or imposing appearance would hardly serve that purpose.”

“Oh, indeed. That does make sense.” The girl’s eyes were wide as she nodded along. “That is what Mrs. Mannering said—that you were the soul of discretion. I am so hoping it is true, believe me. My predicament is dreadful, and it would become even worse were it to be

widely known and discussed.”

“That is often the case, especially in town,” Lily said, but her eyes narrowed as she spoke. The Mannerings’ daughter had disappeared one night, leaving no trace of where she might have gone, and they had been beside themselves when Lily arrived for tea with a mutual

friend. She knew Mrs. Mannering to be a loose-tongued woman, so rather than offering to help directly, she had presented them with one of her cards and suggested that her “acquaintance” might track down their daughter.

The daughter had been located—she had become so fed up with her parents’ matrimonial ambitions that she had run away to the home of her aunt—and the Mannerings had never known that it was Lily herself who had found her.

“So it was Mrs. Mannering who suggested you contact the lady of quality?” On the one hand, Mrs. Mannering loved to gossip. On the other hand, sharing such a story about her own daughter would hardly reflect well on her, even if that daughter was now well married. And Lily had no interest in assisting someone who began with lying to her.

“Yes,” the young woman said, nodding.

Lily waited silently, her brows rising just a hair.

“No . . .” Miss Forrest stretched the word out hesitantly, biting her lip as she looked away. “That is to say, not exactly. Mrs. Mannering mentioned that someone had assisted them with a sort of inquiry—she made it sound dreadfully dramatic, which is why I thought—well, and she showed my cousin, who is my companion, and me the lady of quality’s card over tea. And I was already so worried, and in need of help, that I—I took it.” The final words came out in a rush, and the girl looked suddenly both deflated and relieved. “I stole it, I suppose. And then I wrote because I so desperately needed someone to help me. Can you?” She raised her eyes hopefully to Lily’s.

“Perhaps,” Lily said. “Though beginning with a falsehood does not bode well.” Miss Forrest’s face fell, and she looked like nothing so much as a scolded puppy. Lily sighed. “Tell me what it is you need assistance with.” She glanced at Clive and added coldly, “And how you come into it, sir. Then I shall make up my mind.”

Miss Sarah Forrest sat up very straight. “I need your assistance to escape my uncle. I fear he has stolen all the money my father intended for me to inherit.” Her mouth and hands both trembled, and she clasped her fingers together tightly to keep them still. “He says it is for my own good that he controls my inheritance. But I do not believe my father would do such a thing. And now, because he has kept my independence from me, my uncle is preventing me from marrying in order to keep me dependent on him, perhaps forever.”

Lily sat back against the bench. She glanced at Clive. “And that is where you come into it, I suppose?”

He, still standing, bowed. “I have asked Miss Forrest to marry me, yes. We met during the winter and were instantly in sympathy with each other.”

“Mr. Clive’s family is from Suffolk, and his property is there too, of course.” Miss Forrest said, holding out her hand to her suitor. “But he felt so dreadfully isolated that he came to London last winter.”

“I had not recalled that your family was from Suffolk,” Lily said, her eyes fixed on Clive. Her hands were clenched into fists by her sides; she took a deep breath, trying to relax them. “How forgetful of me.”

“No matter,” Miss Forrest went on, not noticing Lily’s tone. Clive’s sideways glance, however, said he had not missed it. “Such a handsome, charming young man is much better suited to life in town, do you not think?”

“My dear Sarah is too kind to me,” Clive said gallantly, taking the hand she held out to him, giving her a warm smile as he pressed it between his. “And I am fortunate indeed that she is. She is the love of my life.”

“So Miss Forrest said in her letter,” Lily said a little more cynically than she intended. But it was impossible to keep a completely straight face as she watched their romantic interlude, or as she remembered the melodramatic turns of phrase the young woman had employed.

“Yes.” Miss Forrest smiled at her sweetheart, showing no hesitation or embarrassment over her elevated prose. “He is a most dashing, wonderful young man. Though I hardly need tell you that,” she added earnestly, turning back to Lily, “as you are already acquainted.”

They were acquainted. And when Lily had met him in her aunt’s small Hampshire village, he was a cardsharp and a bookmaker, accepted into more elevated circles than the ones into which he had been born because nearly every young man with pretensions to dissipation owed him money. No one had trusted him, but no one could risk offending him either. He knew it, and he despised those around him even as he needed them in turn.

Once or twice, Lily had thought she saw a hint of the more admirable man he might have become had he chosen a different path. But if there was, he had not bothered to cultivate it. And he had made no secret of his plan, during that brief week of their acquaintance, to use his ill-gotten income to one day place himself in the role of a gentleman and improve his lot in life.

It seemed he had succeeded. Or would have, if Miss Forrest’s inheritance had not disappeared.

“But it seems this dashing, wonderful young man will not marry you without your inheritance?” Lily asked.

That prompted a scowl from Miss Forrest. “I know what you are thinking, ma’am. But you are wrong. My dear Mr. Clive has some money of his own. The problem we face is that my uncle will not give his consent.”

“How old are you, Miss Forrest?” Lily asked, glancing sideways at Clive.

“I am not yet two-and-twenty,” Miss Forrest said sitting up very straight, as though to look as mature and worldly as possible.

“Then you are legally able to marry, even without your uncle’s consent,” Lily said pragmatically. “If it is not a question of needing your inheritance, why not simply do so?”

Clive sighed. “Because—”

But Miss Forrest broke in. “Just because he is not marrying me for my money does not mean we’ve no need of something to live on,” she said, the irritation plain in her voice. She gave Lily a look up and down. “You will forgive me for saying, ma’am, but you look like you are no stranger to comfort. Is it so wrong that we might wish for the same in our own lives?”

Lily wanted to argue the point, but it was a reasonable one. Or it would have been, were it not for what she knew of the gentleman in question. “Very well,” she said, inclining her head. “I merely wish to know all the facts of the situation.”

“And if I had come to you for marriage advice, your interference might be warranted,” Miss Forrest snapped, her cheeks going splotchy with irritation. “But I did not.”

“Sarah,” Clive said before Lily could reply. When she glanced at him, his smile was firmly in place, but there was a cynical edge to it. “It is a mark of her good character that she asks such questions. Mrs. Adler does not know me as you do.”

Miss Forrest took a deep breath, reining in her emotions once more. “I suppose. But my uncle’s refusing his consent only proves my concern is warranted.” She clasped her book tightly against her midsection, as though it were a shield she could hide behind. “Even if my father did change his will, whatever inheritance my uncle is currently steward of would pass from Uncle Forrest’s control to that of my husband if I marry. What other reason could he have for refusing his consent if not to keep control of those funds?”

“Skepticism of your suitor, perhaps?” Lily murmured.

“But we have never met,” Clive put in. “He has refused to do so.”

“Which is also suspicious!” Miss Forrest declared.

Lily glanced around. Miss Forrest’s emphatic tones had drawn curious stares from the couples strolling nearby. One of the women glanced at them several times, though she had not stopped talking to the man with her. A feeling of unease settled in Lily’s stomach. She

thought she recognized the woman, though she could not put a name to the face.

She needed to leave this conversation as soon as possible.

“Well,” she said, tapping the tips of her fingers together, “you tell an interesting story.”

Miss Forrest met Lily’s eyes; her own, for the first time, were wide and sober. “I know it sounds like something out of a novel. But it is the truth. All I want is to reclaim the independence that should be mine.”

“Then you would be best served by speaking to your father’s solicitor,” Lily said briskly. “He would be able to assist you in understanding how your father left things, I’ve no doubt.”

The young lady scowled, her cheeks flushing red. “I do not know who his solicitor was. And for obvious reasons, I cannot ask my uncle for the name.”

“Then what is it you are hoping I will do?” Lily said. “I am one woman, Miss Forrest. I cannot retrieve your money for you.”

“I know that. But my uncle will have a copy of my father’s will in his house, and I think I know where it would be.” The girl leaned forward, her breath coming quickly and her hands trembling once more. “I want to hire you to steal it for me so I can prove what he has done.”

***

Excerpt from A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman. Copyright 2024 by Katharine Schellman. Reproduced with permission from Katharine Schellman. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Katharine Schellman is a former actor and one-time political consultant. These days, she writes the Regency-set Lily Adler Mysteries and Jazz Age Nightingale Mysteries. Her books have been praised in outlets from Library Journal to The New York Times, with reviewers calling them “worthy of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout” (Library Journal). Katharine writes in the mountains of Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.

Catch Up With Katharine Schellman:
KatharineSchellman.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @KatharineSchellman
Instagram - @katharinewrites
Facebook - @katharineschellman

 

 

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A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release. A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor by Darci Hannah is the first book in the Food & Spirits Mystery series and was released this week!

Blurb:

It isn’t how chef Bridget “Bunny” MacBride imagined her own cooking show unfolding. But, if preparing historic meals with a modern flair is what it takes to get her cooking on the air, she can deliver, even if her dinner guest is a ghost. That’s the premise of the new reality TV show Food & Spirits, where Chef Bunny teams up with ghost hunter Brett Bloom and psychic medium Giff McGrady to visit haunted locales around the world and tempt lingering spirits back to the table with a beloved meal. For their first episode, the Food & Spirits team sets off to investigate Bramsford Manor, a historic house turned famously haunted hotel, in picturesque Hampshire, England. The sprawling estate is said to be home to the Mistletoe Bride, a young woman who died in the 18th century, the victim of a tragic accident on her Christmas wedding night.


Disliking spooks but loving food, Bunny leaves the spectral search to the pros and focuses on the feast, creating a traditional English holiday wedding dinner, complete with a gorgeous prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, and rustic apple tarts. It’s a sumptuous meal she hopes will entice the ghostly Mistletoe Bride to take a seat and join them while the cameras roll. But Bunny’s task is made more difficult when someone steals a boning knife from her custom kit. Alas, when the blade finally turns up again—in the chest of an all-too-human dinner guest—Bunny’s woes only grow as she is named a lead suspect in the case! Now, with a haunted house full of living residents, staff, and crew, Bunny will need the help of Brett, Giff, and her clairvoyant Grandma Mac, to solve this murder before the manor gains another ghost!

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman. This book is the fifth in the Lily Adler Mystery series and was released yesterday!

Word of Lily Adler's ability to discretely handle problems that sometimes arise in polite society has come to the attention of young Miss Forrest. Believing that her uncle has stolen her inheritance, she begs Lily to find her departed father's will and prove her uncle's villainy. Uncovering some information, Lily is ready to wash her hands of the matter when she's informed that the uncle has been murdered and the girl's beloved accused of the crime. The more she investigates the more complex matters become...and that's not including matters between Lily and her good friend, Jack Hartley. Will Lily uncover a killer, or has the killer already been found?

Phoning in a Murder - A Spotlight & Giveaway

 Phoning in a Murder (Jolie Gentil Cozy Mystery Series) by Elaine L. Orr

About Phoning in a Murder

Phoning in a Murder (Jolie Gentil Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery 14th in Series
Setting -The fictional town of Ocean Alley at the Jersey Shore.
Publisher: ‎ Lifelong Dreams Publishing (June 30, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 181 pages

Lots of teachers are irritated by students paying more attention to their cell phones than what's going on in the classroom. Some would like to see their school ban cell phones during the school day. They don't hold out a lot of hope for a cell phone ban, so they work around them.

More than most faculty, the band director at Ocean Alley High School doesn't want students to have phones in class, and he especially doesn't want the band distracted by them when they march on the football field. Imagine his reaction when one goes off during the National Anthem. When no student will apologize, Mr. O'Halloran cancels band practice the week before a big competition. Talk about a good way to tick off students, parents, and band boosters. With Scoobie's brother Terry as one of the bass drummers, Jolie and family have strong opinions. But someone is a lot more upset. At least the knitting needle in the band director's neck seems to say so.

If Jolie hadn’t been the first to find the man, she would be less insistent to know what happened to him. What really gets the Ocean Alley crew invested is the last two people the school security system shows talking to Mr. O'Halloran – Scoobie’s brother and his best friend. Rumors abound.

With appraising houses, running the food pantry, and keeping four-year old twins in line, Jolie has her hands full. Scoobie’s best friend George is always willing to butt into a mystery. Sometimes that’s helpful. Other times, not so much.

About Elaine Orr

 

Elaine L. Orr has authored more than 30 works of fiction, including four mystery series. What makes her fiction different from other traditional mysteries? Some might say the dry humor (only a few say lame), but she thinks it is the empathy her characters show to others. Fiction doesn’t always have to be profound. But it can contain people whose paths we cross every day — whether we know it or not. Her books include the fourteen-book Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series, which is set at the Jersey shore. Behind the Walls was short-listed for the 2014 Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards. “Reading any Jolie Gentil book is like spending time with cherished friends. That feeling grows as the series continues.” Phoning in a Murder came out in late June 2024. The River's Edge series takes place among the cornfields of Southeastern Iowa, along the Des Moines River. A fired news reporter switches to landscaping, but still digs up trouble. Demise of a Devious Neighbor was a Chanticleer shortlister in 2017 The Western Maryland mountains, near Deep Creek Lake, host the five-book Family History Mystery Series. The Unscheduled Murder Trip received a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2021.. Small-town Illinois is the setting for the Logland Series, which features Police Chief Elizabeth Friedman -- a police procedural with a cozy feel. Amid the mystery and laughs, Final Cycle, set during a Christmas season, shows why it’s important to assist those who are difficult to help. Elaine also writes plays and novellas, including the one-act, Common Ground. Her novella, Biding Time, was one of five finalists in the National Press Club's first fiction contest, in 1993. Falling into Place is a novella about family strength as a World War II veteran rises to the toughest occasion. (It’s also Elaine’s favorite book.) In the Shadow of Light is the fictional story of Corozón and her family, who are separated at the U.S./Mexico border. A member of Sisters in Crime and the Independent Book Publishers Association, Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994. She now lives in Springfield, Illinois.  

Author Links: 

Website https://www.elaineorr.com  

Blog https://elaineorr.blogspot.com  

Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ElaineOrr55  

Threads https://www.threads.net/@elaine.orr1  

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/elaine.orr1/  

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@AuthorElaineOrr  

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elaineorr55/ 

 BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elaine-l-orr  

Purchase Links - Amazon - Apple - Kobo - B&N - Google

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March Roars - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on an upcoming release. MARCH ROARS by Maureen Jennings is the fourth book in the Paradise Café Mystery series. It will be released in September.

Blurb:

As December’s cold snap recedes and March roars in, private investigator Charlotte Frayne receives a strange letter requesting her services. The sender, Miss Olivia Brodie, is an elderly resident in the Toronto House of Industry (The Poor House) who alleges she witnessed suspicious activity from two men on a nearby street. When two Black teenagers are charged with burglary on that same street, Miss Brodie seeks out Charlotte’s help to prevent “a grave miscarriage of justice.” Meanwhile, Charlotte is hired by the affluent Mrs. Emmeline Larkin, who claims some of her precious jewelry has gone missing. Mrs. Larkin fears a member of her own social circle may be implicated and suspects the influential women’s club to which she belongs, harbors a thief in its midst. Charlotte finds herself investigating the cases brought by two women who couldn’t be more different.

Rich with historical detail, Maureen Jennings’s latest book depicts some of the grave injustices that once plagued Toronto’s history.

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

Maureen Jennings is best known for the Detective Murdoch series, which have been adapted to television for an unprecedented eighteen seasons. In 2011, she was awarded the Grant Allen Award for contribution to her genre. She has been nominated eight times for awards from the Crime Writers of Canada. In 2024, she received the Crime Writers of Canada Grand Master Award. She was born in the UK and now lives in Toronto with her husband, photographer Iden Ford, and her dog, Murdoch

Case of the Bayfront Murder - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome S.K. Derban to Cozy Up With Kathy today. S.K. writes the Macaroni on Wheels Mystery series. CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER is the first book in the series.

Kathy: Little Italy in San Diego has blossomed into a prominent tourist destination. I've visited Little Italy in Toronto, Canada and lived in Little Italy in Cleveland, Ohio. What's your favorite thing about visiting Little Italy?

SKD: You sound like a Little Italy fan just like me! I adore the art, music, culture, and food of Little Italy in San Diego. Of course, the food always beckons me, but the art is my favorite. Each year the community hosts an event featuring chalk artists. It is amazing to watch these magnificent artists recreate masterpiece paintings on the asphalt streets. The winners are then commissioned to paint a replica on a large board. These paintings are displayed on the buildings all around Little Italy. What a treat!


Kathy: In CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER we meet Terza Tiepolo an Italian caterer who owns Macaroni on Wheels. What's your favorite Italian dish? Do you prefer cooking or eating?

SKD: My favorite Italian dish just happens to also be the one Terza likes the best. Imagine that! (Wink, wink.) I adore Risotto Alla Piemontese. As a foodie at heart, I enjoy dining out, but only if the food is well prepared. My husband and I frequently cook so we can save up for a special meal at one of our favorite restaurants.


Kathy: If you were to hire Terza to cater an event what would you want her to cook?

SKD: Most likely the Sartù Di Riso dish she prepared. I have previously tasted the Italian rice dish, but have never attempted to make it.


Kathy: Terza has "vibrant Italian relatives". Do you have a large family? Are they "vibrant"?

SKD: Energetic might be the right word for my family! I have two brothers and one sister. The four of us together have made some very special memories.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

SKD: Nancy Drew, like so many others. However, the British murder mystery series clinched my desire to write cozy mysteries.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

SKD: My first three books were stand-alone fiction in the genre of suspense mystery. I did not feel at home in my writing career until I finally began writing cozy mysteries.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

SKD: The entire Macaroni on Wheels series focuses on Terza Tiepolo, an Italian caterer, and her animated family. With mystery solving skills sharper than her chef’s knife, Terza manages to successfully merge catering with crime.


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

SKD: Terza’s father, Ezio, has a special place in my heart. I adore his relationship with all three of the Tiepolo children. He is a loving husband with a strong faith in the Lord.


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

SKD: Little Italy! Our office was located in the heart of Little Italy, and we spent countless hours enjoying the community. I just knew my next book had to feature this gem of a neighborhood.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

SKD: Stories need to be shared with others. The more I wrote, the more I knew this was a book to be enjoyed by many.


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

SKD: Robert Ludlum comes first. He was a master storyteller! Lee Child, as he has an unbelievable way with words. John Grisham because of his kindness. I reached out to him after the publication of my first book. He took the time to hand write a personal letter of congratulations! Paul, the apostle from the Bible who wrote the book of Romans. It is one of the most inspirational letters I have ever read.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

SKD: ALASKA TWILIGHT by Colleen Coble.


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

SKD: Certainly! I enjoy being outdoors. Fortunately, San Diego has near perfect weather for year-round activities. My favorite sport is tennis, followed by golf, and pickleball. I also have fun SUP boarding along Mission Bay. (The scene of the murder in CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER!)


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

SKD: Dark roast whole coffee beans. Half and half to enjoy with the coffee. Fresh fruit. Sourdough bread. I have been watching many Instagrammers bake their own bread. (It’s in the back of my mind, but not yet.)


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

SKD: Yes, times two. CASE OF THE CURVED STAIRCASE is the next book in the Macaroni on Wheels series. It will be followed by CASE OF THE PAELLA PARTY.


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

SKD: Making readers smile. Many take the time to share their thoughts with me, and I can always feel their joy.

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Review

CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER by S.K. Derban

The First Macaroni on Wheels Mystery

Terza Tiepolo is known for her catering company, Macaroni on Wheels, her love of family and friends, and her love of mysteries, as proven by her membership to a mystery book club where she's always on top of their monthly whodunit competition. Arriving at a client's home to cater his dinner party she finds his murdered body! Though sad at the death of her client Terza sees it as an opportunity to really put her sleuthing skills to the test. With her best friend Moheenie by her side she'll search for clues as she prepares for the week's catering events. And if that provides more contact with the tall, dark, and mysterious Detective Garza, so much the better!

 

Terza Tiepolo is a delightful protagonist.She's witty, caring, and smart. She is also quite young, so I find it a bit disconcerting that she's lamenting not being married at 23! I appreciate her relationship with both family and friends. It's a joyful celebration as they make it a point to gather together to eat and play on a regular basis.

 

I liked the mystery and how Terza and Moheenie go about solving it. The mystery was well plotted with an ingenious murder. While Detective Garza is certainly swoon worthy, I really got a kick out of Jacob Radovan, the Medical Examiner.

One thing I could have done with less of was the religiosity. There's a description of Terza reading her bible every morning before calling her mom, although I admit the question and answer section that followed with her dad was cute. However, an entire chapter, albeit a short one, quoting the bible and praising God was a bit much for me. It seems that public praise of God is fundamental to the author's personal life, so this is a natural offshoot for her. I'm grateful that it's not preachy, but I wish she would have been more subtle incorporating her religious praise.

 

With droolworthy descriptions of Italian delicacies CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER is a lighthearted mystery combining family, friendship, and that delicious food with a puzzling murder. Pass me a slice of that Sartù Di Riso then join me for a rousing game of bocce ball, and don't forget some gelato while I wait for Terza's next mystery.

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

 Case of the Bayfront Murder: A Macaroni on Wheels Mystery by S.K. Derban

About Case of the Bayfront Murder

Case of the Bayfront Murder: A Macaroni on Wheels Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Little Italy, San Diego and San Diego Bay
Publisher: ‎ S.K. Derban (March 27, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 278 pages

Little Italy in San Diego, once a thriving fishing community, has blossomed into a prominent tourist destination. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant neighborhood, both travelers and residents find the Tiepolo Mercato a favorite spot to stop and shop. Ezio and Benedette Tiepolo are the proprietors of the Mercato, while their daughter owns Macaroni on Wheels, the catering company located directly next door.

There’s more than pasta cooking in the Macaroni on Wheels kitchen. Meet Terza Tiepolo, a feisty Italian caterer who fills her free time solving crime. She belongs to a local murder mystery book club, and leads the other participants in their monthly whodunnit contest.

Terza also works diligently to grow her catering business. But when a prominent doctor hires Terza’s company to cater a dinner party, she never expects murder to be on the menu. The prestigious bayfront event should enhance the Macaroni on Wheels portfolio, and Terza anticipates meeting many potential new clients. On the day of the party, Terza arrives early to prepare, only to discover her grand expectations are as dead as the body on the kitchen floor.

Fans of cozy mysteries will revel in solving the murder along with Terza, and will appreciate her zest for life. Readers will also treasure the introduction to her vibrant Italian relatives. They will enjoy getting to know the Tiepolo family, and will smile at the special relationship Terza has with her mother and father. The fun never stops when the animated relatives join together each Sunday for dinner. Consider this your personal invitation!

About S.K. Derban

S.K. Derban resides with her husband in Southern California. Although born in the United States she moved to London within the first three months and remained in England until the age of five. Her father, an American citizen, was a decorated veteran of the Second World War. Her British mother was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company and a great fan of the arts. After returning to the United States, Derban’s life remained filled with a love of the theatre and a passion for British murder mysteries.

S.K. Derban’s personal travel and missionary escapades are readily apparent as they shine through into her characters. Readers are often transported virtually across the globe. She has traveled to Hong Kong on five separate occasions to smuggle Bibles into China and has been to Israel on seven missionary trips. Derban’s other adventures include visits to Bangkok, Greece, Egypt, Italy, and the Caribbean.

Beginning with her faith in the Lord, S.K. Derban relies on all aspects of her life when writing. She hopes her books will allow readers to go on holiday without having to pack!

Author Links: 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/awriterofmystery/  

Twitter/X - https://x.com/skderban  

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/s.k.derban/  

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7394015.S_K_Derban  

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/s-k-derban  

Website - https://childofthecarpenter.com/  

Purchase Link - Amazon 

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