Lost Heart in King Manor - An Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Celeste Fenton to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Celeste writes the Mysteries of a Heart Series. LOST HEART IN KING MANOR is the first book in the series and was released earlier this year.

Kathy: In LOST HEART IN KING MANOR we meet Gabby Heart. When her mother has a health crisis Gabby discovers family secrets and a deadly agenda. Have you ever had to take care of a family member with health issues? Have you ever unearthed family secrets?

CF: Yes to both. Caretaking teaches you patience, resilience, and that sometimes the best medicine is a well-timed laugh. As a mother of twin boys, one or the other often had scrapes and bruises, but fortunately neither had serious injuries or illnesses. My late husband had a few surgeries that we got through together. As for family secrets—let’s just say I had a challenging childhood and learned early on that real life can be every bit as twisty as fiction. The difference is, in fiction, I get to decide how the story ends… and no one minds if I add a few dramatic gasps or saves. 

Kathy: Gabby teaches art and runs a gift shop. Aside from writing, do you create art?

CF: When I was younger, I sewed and quilted. When I retired, I took drawing lessons. And now here is my guilty little secret. I do paint by numbers!! People think I have done them freehand. Do I disabuse of their assumption? Maybe. 

 

Kathy: You published your debut novel later in life. How has age impacted your road to publication?

CF: You know...I believe in that old saying...make lemonade out of lemons. On the plus side, I have a lot of life experience to draw from. Both the joyful and the painful. All material for “well, that’s going in a book someday.” But, on the challenging side, I time is racing by, so I don't want to waste a second of it. I don’t waste time chasing what’s trendy. I write the stories I want to tell… and I do it before I forget them. 


Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

CF: Ah...I've always loved a puzzle. As a kid, I devoured Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I like the challenge of digging up the clues buried in plain sight. 

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

CF: I consider my writing to be a mystery and romance combo. My sweet spot is romantic suspense with a cozy mystery heart. But I also think the women’s fiction genre slips in. 

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

CF: The Mysteries of a Heart Series follows the journey of Gabby Heart, a sharp-witted (and sometimes sharp-tongued) illustrator with an uncanny knack for stumbling into adventures of a lifetime and secrets worth killing for. Each book unravels a new mystery while deepening the emotional ties between characters. 

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

CF: Gabby, of course. She's smart, her life is messy, she's scared of love, but still secretly yearning for it. A close second is Jay Laird. He’s infuriatingly charming, maddeningly cocky, and yet surprisingly vulnerable. He’s also the kind of character I love to write banter for—because he always thinks he’s winning… until Gabby gets the last word. 

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

CF: My love of small, close-knit communities—where everyone knows each other’s business, but still shows up when it matters. It’s a place where gossip travels faster than Wi-Fi. And, I'll confess that the idea of ACHE came from a conversation I overheard while standing in line at the grocery store, and another conversation at a coffee shop. Not that I make a habit of eavesdropping!

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

CF: When my husband passed away in 2021 I realized that time was flying by. I also realized that I had been letting fear (of rejection and failure) hold me back. I didn’t want to look back one day and regret not trying. Stories were stacking up in my head, and I had too many post-it notes with ideas all over the house. 

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

CF: That was a hard question!! If I have to pick only 4, I'll go with: Agatha Christie (her cozy style and twisty endings, plus I want to know the real reason she disappeared for a few days), Nora Roberts (genre-bending genius and great sex scenes), Jane Austen (for sharp wit and social commentary and more about Mr. Darcy), and M.C. Beaton (because her humor could cut glass and she’d probably start the best gossip). We’d have mystery, romance, and wickedly funny conversation over dessert.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

CF: Just finished ATOMIC CITY GIRLS by Jane Beard and just started PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry.

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

CF: Sure! Reading of course! In addition to the paint-by-numbers, I like escape rooms, playing Canasta and Hand and Foot, and my current project is creating a digital scrapbook for each year of my grandchildrens' life.

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

CF: Coffee (of course!), half-n-half for the coffee, blueberry preserves (I'm addicted), and bread and butter pickles.

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

CF: Oh yes! CAPTIVE HEART AT BRANTMAR CASTLE - Book Two in the Mysteries of a Heart Series – will be released on September 22. And BROKEN HEART AT AVALON CHATEAU will be released in late winter/early spring of 2026.

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

CF: Hearing from readers who tell me my book gave them an escape, made them laugh or comforted them when they needed it most. 

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Review

LOST HEART IN KING MANOR by Celeste Fenton
The First in the Mysteries of a Heart Series 

Dost Island is a quiet scenic location off the coast of Massachusetts. It's the home to King Manor and the enclosed ACHE, the Adult Care and Health Enclave complex, a rehabilitation center that also does research on elder care. After Gabby Heart's mother suffers some disturbing issues then falls and breaks her hip, her doctor recommends she goes to ACHE to recover. After a tour of the mansion turned retirement center the women agree. After all, it's not permanent. But not everything is as it seems at King Manor. As a hurricane is set to hit the island Gabby finds herself  at ACHE along with a good looking neighbor and annoying new office mate. Despite the attraction to both men, Gabby's more concerned for her mother's altered mental state and the odd things happening to other residents. Will the hurricane obliterate the mansion or reveal its dark secrets?

LOST HEART IN KING MANOR is an intriguing story that's part mystery and part romantic suspense. With wit, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and self confidence Gabby is a likable protagonist, even though she tends to ramble on and on when telling a story. I appreciate her long term friendship with Lola and Abe. The guys, both Rick and Jay, can be annoying. Very annoying. Jay's method for getting what he wants was a dead turn off for me and even Rick was problematic. Neither was any match for Lavanda, however. Ultimately, it's a novel of growth for Gabby. Letting go, letting in, and expanding to see who she really is.

There was a lot of excitement and I wasn't sure who to trust! I really liked how the history of the manor played a vital role. A few things did bother me, however. A main problem was the visitor in the hospital. A major thing, yet Gabby drops it and doesn't address it. It eventually is reintroduced near the end of the book, but it was driving me bonkers that she didn't look further into the situation at the start. Other things also happened and I couldn't understand the point, like teenaged Luke coming to ACHE during the hurricane.

Danger, excitement, and a bit of lust reside in LOST HEART IN KING MANOR. Check out the mysterious goings on and relationship issues in the first book in this riveting new series. I look forward to seeing what's in store for Gabby next!

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Author Links:

Website

https://celestefenton.com

Amazon Author page

https://www.amazon.com/stores/CELESTE-FENTON/author/B0F5HTW7RK

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@CelesteFentonWrites

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575815274859

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/celestefentonwrites

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@celestefenton?lang=en

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-fenton-33811a357

A Dish Best Served Dead - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

A DISH BEST SERVED DEAD by T. C. LoTempio
The Third Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery

The Foodie Fest Convention has come to Branson, Georgia and former chef and food blogger Tiffany Austin is looking forward to checking out all the action. With a food truck competition and a special episode of the TV show Last Chef Standing there's plenty of good food along with innovative cooks and chefs. In fact, Tiffany's ex boyfriend is there representing her former restaurant, along with his fiance. Also there is Jason Barclay, a food critic with an attitude and a rapier sharp pen. Word has it that he's about to publish a tell-all book with movie rights in the works. After a fantastic meal at the opening banquet Tiffany decides to get some air before dessert. Checking out the fountain she saw earlier she notices a shoe sticking out of the water-a shoe attached to the foot of the very dead Jason Barclay. In between interviewing chefs and tasting lots of delectable food Tiffany will start to look into Jason's murder. Lots of people hated the man, but the killer had to be someone whose secrets he was about to reveal. With help from her best friend and new cameraman Tiffany will try to uncover the truth, hopefully before her own secrets are revealed.

I want to attend a Foodie Fest Convention, though preferably one without a murder. I love the ambiance of a culinary gathering. A bit of competition along with greeting old friends makes a fun festive setting with crowds adding to a huge list of suspects.While I like Tiffany, I did want to bop her on the head a few times. Not only does she need to come clean with Phil, she should have provided him with her clues, not hold on and wait until she'd investigated and determine what was relevant. I couldn't believe what she did at the end. No spoilers from me, but it was almost a too stupid to live moment which almost did get her killed.

I loved the variety of suspects and the fact that there were mysterious strangers as well as not so mysterious ones. I enjoyed the addition of Jimmy, a Watson to Tiffany's Sherlock, but with contacts! I liked how so many people were acting suspiciously, even people Tiffany trusted. I didn't and was somewhat surprised by her loyalty.

Scrumptious food, lots of suspects, and murder cook up a delicious entry to this culinary series. I look forward to the next one!

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 A Dish Best Served Dead: A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery by T. C. LoTempio

About A Dish Best Served Dead

A Dish Best Served Dead: A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Georgia
Publisher: ‎ Beyond the Page
Publication Date: ‎ August 5, 2025
Print length: ‎ 258 pages

When a food convention turns fatal, Tiffany Austin will have to cook up a scheme to catch a killer . . .

The national Foodie Fest is in town and food blogger Tiffany Austin is thrilled to report on the event, even if it means crossing paths with an arrogant and annoying chef from her past. The man can’t help boasting of his success, but he also lets slip to Tiffany that he’s publishing a tell-all memoir that will be filled with scandalous secrets about many people in the food industry. It’s a risky career move, and maybe just plain risky, as Tiffany discovers later that day when she finds the chef’s dead body mere steps from the convention center.

With any number of reputations and careers at stake if the chef’s memoir were ever published, Tiffany realizes virtually everyone at the event is a suspect. Wending her way through the convention crowd in her guise as a reporter, she cautiously questions as many of the participants as she can, hoping to unearth a telling clue or a false alibi. Because while everyone has a skeleton or two in the closet, Tiffany knows someone at the food fest has a secret they’d kill to protect—and would kill for again if she gets too close to the truth . . .

Includes scrumptious Foodie Fest recipes!

About T. C. LoTempio

 

T.C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series! For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.ne

• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5
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• WEBSITE: https://www.tclotempio.net/

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Dish Best Served Dead by T. C. LoTempio. This book is the third in the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery series and was released last month.

The Foodie Fest Convention has come to Branson, Georgia and former chef and food blogger Tiffany Austin is looking forward to checking out all the action. With a food truck competition and a special episode of the TV show Last Chef Standing there's plenty of good food along with innovative cooks and chefs. In fact, Tiffany's ex boyfriend is there representing her former restaurant, along with his fiance. Also there is Jason Barclay, a food critic with an attitude and a rapier sharp pen. Word has it that he's about to publish a tell-all book with movie rights in the works. After a fantastic meal at the opening banquet Tiffany decides to get some air before dessert. Checking out the fountain she saw earlier she notices a shoe sticking out of the water-a shoe attached to the foot of the very dead Jason Barclay. In between interviewing chefs and tasting lots of delectable food Tiffany will start to look into Jason's murder. Lots of people hated the man, but the killer had to be someone whose secrets he was about to reveal. With help from her best friend and new cameraman Tiffany will try to uncover the truth, hopefully before her own secrets are revealed.

Murder at the Wham Bam Club - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a recent release that's on my TBR pile. Murder at the Wham Bam Club by Carolyn Marie Wilkins is the first book in the Psychics and Soul Food Mystery series. It was released last month.

 Blurb:

After the death of her brave Harlem Hellfighter husband during the First World War, young widow Nola Ann Jackson returned to her hometown of Agate, Illinois, to live with her Aunt Sarah, a known local psychic. Under her aunt’s care and tutelage, Nola has been learning how to tap into her own intuitive gifts and communicate with the spirits. And she will rely on their insightful guidance when she’s asked to help investigate a woman’s disappearance.

Lilly Davidson, the missing woman, was living at the Phyllis Wheatley Institute for Colored Girls where young ladies are educated and prepared to follow bright futures. But she vanished after a night at the Wham Bam Club where jazz music swings, prohibition is defied, and other vices are encouraged. Lilly was seen fraternizing with Eddie Smooth, trumpeter and leader of the St. Louis Stompers—and a notorious pimp. Nola finds Lilly at the club alive and well, supposedly engaged to Eddie. That same night, the Wham Bam is set afire and Eddie is killed by gunfire, leaving Lilly on the run, a suspected murderer.

Eddie Smooth had shady dealings with Agate’s wealthy elite, Black and white, making plenty of enemies with motives for wanting him dead. He was also a notorious womanizer who left several broken hearts in his wake. To prove Lilly’s innocence, Nola must listen to her spiritual instincts to unravel political schemes and personal vendettas to find a killer desperate to cover up a scandalous conspiracy . . .

Death at Rock Bottom - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Kris Bock to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Kris writes the Reluctant Psychic Mystery series. DEATH AT ROCK BOTTOM is the second book in the series and was released last month.

Psychic Powers in a Mystery Novel with Kris Bock

For the Reluctant Psychic Mystery series, I gave the main character, Petra, the psychic power of psychometry. That means she can touch an object and receive impressions about the person or people who held it previously. An author can choose how to portray a character with psychic powers, and few readers are going to claim, “That’s not how it really works,” since to most of us, it’s a speculative element.

In GRAVE RESERVATIONS by Cherie Priest, her heroine has psychometry but must concentrate for a minute or two in order to get anything from an object. It’s a skill she can use, or not, as she chooses. In my series, Petra’s psychometry is constant and out of her control. She never knows what images or feelings she might receive from touching a random object. The visions can come on hard and overwhelm her.

“Her psychic ability isn’t some glamorous superpower—it’s a burden. The way Bock describes her exhaustion from touching objects, the way she braces herself before every handshake, the way she longs for silence but is constantly bombarded by echoes of violence… I’ve never read a psychic protagonist who felt this real.” – Lauren Marks on GoodReads. 

This has affected every aspect of her life. She studied geology, because rocks and minerals usually don’t hold psychic emanations. (The exceptions would be things like a worry rock a person kept in their pocket – or a rock used as a weapon, as in book one, A STONE COLD MURDER.)

“Petra’s psychometry is such a fresh take on psychic abilities. It’s not about predicting the future—it’s about being drowned in the past. The scene where she touches the fluorite crystal and is flooded with the victim’s terror? I had chills. Bock doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of this ‘gift’—the way it isolates Petra, the way it makes her question every interaction. It’s brilliant character work.” – Lesa Ruby on GoodReads. 

Petra doesn’t have friends, because she doesn’t feel right learning things about people without their knowledge and permission. Yet she doesn’t want to tell people about her gift too quickly, for fear they’ll either think she’s crazy or want her to use it on their behalf, something that destroyed several relationships with family and friends in the past. She has many pets – cats, ferrets, rats, and guinea pigs – because she craves connections and affection, which she can’t get from other humans.

Or can she? When she moves to New Mexico to start a job at a quirky museum in book one, she plans to keep a pro low profile. That’s hard in a very small town though, and her museum coworkers quickly attempt to befriend her. Besides, since she’s afraid her predecessor might have been murdered, she’s motivated to learn more about the people around her. Almost before she knows it, she has friends. But that doesn’t mean she wants to tell them her secret.

The series explores themes of friendship or “found family,” expressing one’s authenticity, and whether or not we have an obligation to use our special gifts. How would you feel if you had a psychic power? Would you tell people or keep it a secret? Would you use it for gain, amusement, or to help others?

It’s not likely most of us will ever have to answer these questions, but that’s the fun thing about fiction: It allows us to explore questions and maybe get to know ourselves a little better. Inspire interesting conversations with others as well! If you have a book club, you can get discussion questions for A Stone Cold Murder here! 

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Review

 

DEATH AT ROCK BOTTOM by Kris Bock
The Second Reluctant Psychic Mystery 

Petra Cloch is slowly getting accustomed to life in small town New Mexico, making friends, and working in the quirky Banditt Museum. While still not comfortable with her gift of psychometry, Petra decides to practice her skill with the help of her friend and coworker, Liberty. Their practice is interrupted by a woman demanding to know the whereabouts of the rock her late husband donated. Assuring her that they know nothing about it, the widow says she believes her husband had dementia as he had begun to be forgetful, paranoid, and talking about aliens. Departing as quickly as she appeared Liberty starts to wonder. Frank was a healthy man who knew his way around the desert. And even fit people can get disoriented and die in the heat. But what's the importance of this rock? Is there more to Frank's death? It couldn't hurt to start looking for the rock and delve into Frank's last days. Haven is more than excited to start another investigation. A missing rock, a missing will, could the desert death actually be murder?

I really like Petra and completely understand being overwhelmed dealing with people. I'd rather be home with my animals too! But I like how she's venturing out and how people are welcoming her into their circle. She has friends now, even though she finds that somewhat difficult at times. I also love Liberty and her calm mature presence. Haven, however, is a bit much for me with her overexuberant eagerness. Still, she is a good counterpoint to the quieter and more sedate Petra and Liberty. I am also a bit in awe of Jenny. She really commanded a fun scene.

I liked how the mystery was a bit obscure. Was it murder, manslaughter, or a tragic accident? What's the significance of Frank's big find? Is the motive inheritance, land, fraud, or something else. I appreciated how Haven divvied up roles and assigned tasks to the members of the "book" club. I also appreciated how snacks and drinks are an integral part. Snacks, drinks, and friendship. Everyone has a task and plays an important role, no matter their abilities. I also like how they have a mind to keep the sheriff and police departments in the know. No one is running off and taking stupid risks on their own either. 

Rocks, aliens, and a death in the desert combine to make DEATH AT ROCK BOTTOM a unique and engaging mystery. The more I'm around these characters the more I love them and I can't wait to see what happens next!

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 Death at Rock Bottom: A Paranormal Mystery (Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery) by Kris Bock

About Death at Rock Bottom

Death at Rock Bottom: A Paranormal Mystery (Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - New Mexico
Publisher: ‎ Tule Publishing
Publication Date: ‎ July 30, 2025

She can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it before…

After solving the mystery of her predecessor’s death, geologist Petra Cloch wants to focus on her new job as the rocks and minerals curator at a quirky, small-town New Mexico museum. But her friend and colleague Liberty is suspicious of the “accidental” death of Frank Underwood, a retired petroleum engineer and rockhound who unexpectedly died while hiking. Frank acted odd and secretive in his last weeks—mumbling about an incredible find in the desert and aliens. Was he showing the first signs of dementia, or were more sinister forces at work?

Petra agrees to help excavate the truth, and soon, instead of meeting for book club, she and her friends become amateur investigators. Petra uses her gift and her brains to sort through the contradictory stories and confusing clues as she and her friends dig for answers.

Did Frank’s heirs decide to hasten their inheritance? Or did his rock shop business partner decide to go solo? Petra joins the local geological club to discover whether someone there acquired a taste for murder, because they’ll need rock solid evidence to catch a killer.

Perfect for fans of Paige Shelton’s Alaska Wild Mysteries and Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters!

If you love supernatural sleuths, small-town intrigue, and mysteries with a geological twist, Death at Rock Bottom is your next must-read! Grab your copy today!

About Kris Bock

Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance, often with Southwestern landscapes. In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven, which made Barnes & Noble's list of “Handpicked Favorites You'll Love!” Kris’s romantic suspense novels include stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue. Readers have called these novels “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

Learn more about Kris’s books or sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get an Accidental Detective short story and other freebies. Then every two weeks, you’ll get fun content about pets, announcements of new books, sales, and more. As for Kris’s romance stories, the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series stars the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves.  

Author Links: 

Website 

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GoodReads Author Page 

 BookBub Amazon US page or Amazon UK page  

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BlueSky  

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A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Melinda Mullet to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Melinda starts a new series with A GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER which was just released last month.

 

Kathy: In A GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER we meet Maeve Gardner, a ghostwriter for a long running mystery series. Why did you choose to make Maeve a ghostwriter instead of someone writing under her own name or even a pseudonym?

MM: Maeve would love to be writing under her own name but it’s not easy to get published these days even when you work for a publishing company. Maeve’s situation is a good reflection of the frustration writers can feel trying to become a professional. Writers often have to take jobs that aren’t their first choice. Maeve wants to create her own characters, but she is being paid to write PI Simon Hill because the original author is now suffering from dementia. Annoying as that is, the fact that she is being paid is in the end what makes her a professional writer and for now she’ll take what she can get. 

Kathy: Maeve lives on a houseboat in London. Have you ever wanted to live on a houseboat? 

MM: Absolutely! I am living vicariously through Maeve at every turn. I love the idea of touring Britain along the canal system. Anchoring at will and biking out to explore the countryside. What could be more fun. House boats have all the modern conveniences these days. Heating, kitchens, full bathrooms, washers and dryers. It’s truly the best of small house living. 

Kathy: When Maeve is arrested following the discovery of her ex's dead body near her home some of her friends come to her aid. If you found yourself in such a predicament, do you think any of your friends would try to help you? 

MM: I’d like to think so. Maeve’s friends are sure that she would never murder anyone. Convinced enough that they all bring their skills to bear to help prove her innocence. Ash the reclusive gamer/hacker, the pragmatic India who runs the local floating bookstore, and Paul a former Navy diver and now landlord of the local pub. Each of them brings something special to the investigative equation and they become quite the fearsome foursome.

Given my profession, I hope my friends would be equally convinced that I am not a killer in real life. 

Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries? 

MM: They always say write what you know. I know and love mysteries. I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager. Being a lawyer gave me a certain amount of exposure to people behaving badly and I’ve stashed some juicy bits and pieces away in my memory files for later use. I love the puzzle aspect of a good mystery more than the forensics and some of the darker deeds of humankind. That is why I generally write traditional mysteries rather than thrillers. 

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

MM: Not yet, but I am working on a police procedural, and a historical mystery. Also, I wouldn’t be opposed to doing children’s fiction at some point. 

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

MM: As we’ve noted above, the protagonist in my new book A GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER is Maeve Gardner an aspiring but personally unpublished writer who is currently being paid by her publisher to ghostwrite one of their most popular series as the aging author is no longer capable. Maeve like a lot of us needs the money and goes along. All is well until the body of Maeve’s ex-boyfriend is found floating face down in the canal by her boat and the police are convinced that she has gone from penning murders to perpetrating them. This sets off a mad chain of events involving everything from murder, to blackmail, to extortion, to the Legend of Zelda, to stolen loos. Come along for the ride!

My first series was the Whisky Business Mysteries. My protagonist in this series is Abigail Logan a journalist and gifted photographer who inherits a boutique whisky distillery in rural Scotland. Abi is the first to admit that what she knows about whisky making would fit in a shot glass with room to spare, but she quickly discovers that she is now part of a high-stakes business – more art than science – that elicits deep passions and prejudices. When one of Abi’s employees is found murdered, Abi vows to find out why. But distilling truth from lies can be tricky especially when everyone around you seems to have something to hide.


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

MM: My favorite character tends to change depending on what they are doing at any particular time. My current favorite is India from Ghostwriter’s Guide. India does so many things that I would love to do. She deals in rare and antique books. She runs a bookshop located on a Dutch Barge moored near to the Camden Lock Market. She’s a vibrant woman who’s not afraid to say what she’s thinking and she’s willing to go above and beyond for her friends. 

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

MM: As we mentioned earlier, I would love to live on a houseboat. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a child visiting Regent’s Canal for the Zoo and the markets. I think it would be a wonderful part of my retirement plan. Writing about Maeve gives me a chance to imagine what it would be like to live on the water, and it gives me a great excuse for renting a houseboat for “research” purposes. The whole neighborhood is amazing and full of fun bits of history from London’s hidden underground rivers, to the gin production along the Canal, to the birth of the punk movement in Camden Market. It’s the kind of setting that just keeps on giving and of course it’s right in the middle of the most fascinating city in the world London!

My first series, the Whisky Business Mysteries, were inspired by my husband’s love of Scottish whisky. I spent many years visiting facilities all over the Highlands. At one point while touring probably my fiftieth distillery, I looked into the huge wooden vat that holds the barley water as it ferments and it occurred to me, as these things do to mystery lovers, that it would be a great place to find a body. The rest as they say was history. Until recently whisky making in Scotland was very much a male dominated profession in large part because of the prevailing wisdom that women don’t like whisky. Now there are so many women enjoying Scottish whisky and as a result more and more women are staking out their place in the industry. Abi is a tribute to all the women blazing trails in the distilling world. 


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MM: I’d always dreamed of being an author. After I finished my first book, I decided to have a go at getting it published. I would always tell my teenage daughters and their friends how important it was to chase your dreams––you never know if you don’t try. I find it sad to see all these bright, competent young women with so little self-esteem. I was determined to set a good example. I confess I thought it might end up being a life lesson in how to pick yourself up and keep going when things don’t go exactly as you hoped, but in the end, I was incredibly lucky that it was a success story. 


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

MM: Agatha Christie (because she is unrivaled in the mystery field––still), JRR Tolkien (because I find him fascinating and adore his books), Michael Bond (because he wrote Paddington AND a rather saucy mystery series for adults. I think he’d be a real hoot) and Oscar Wilde (because he is the ultimate literary wit and because he experienced so much in his short life.).

Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

MM: Lucy Worsley’s autobiography of Agatha Christie, Ian Moore’s latest DEATH AND BOULES, and Catriona McPherson’s SCOTZILLA. Loving them all.

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

MM: I love to travel and start to feel restless if I’m not planning something. I’ve been a scuba diver since I was eight years old. Love the peace and quiet of being underwater. Not to mention all the amazing fish. Love cooking and drinking wine. The more wine I drink the less I cook, but it’s the thought that counts right?!

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

MM: Wine. Peanut butter. Good whole grain bread. Tea.

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

MM: I’m working on two freestanding books, and also the follow-up to GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER.

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

MM: I love doing something that is creative. It keeps my overactive mind working in productive ways. At this point in my life I also really enjoy the flexibility. My daughters both live a plane ride away and my husband travels a lot. As long as I have my laptop I can work from anywhere I like. That’s a marvelous sense of freedom and I truly appreciate how lucky I am.

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

Review

 

A GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Melinda Mullet

The First Book in a New Series

 

Maeve Gardner is enjoying life after ditching her cheating boyfriend. Living on a canalboat in London with her dog, Captain Jack, Maeve is the ghostwriter for a long running mystery series. She soon finds herself in a mystery when she tries to stop the Captain from chewing on one of the dock bumpers. Inside Maeve finds cash. A lot of cash. Though tempted, she puts the money back and goes to the local police station to report the found money. Only when the police return to her boat the money is gone...and a body is in the canal...her ex. The police, understaffed and eager to find an easy solution, determine Maeve must be the murderer. Now it's up to Maeve herself and her unique group of quirky friends to solve the crime. Each will play to their own strengths, but will it be enough to save her?

 

A GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER is a novel about teamwork. When Maeve finds herself in trouble her friends work together to solve the mystery and ultimately save her. It's also a story about friends as family and doing whatever it takes to protect each other. Everyone has unique abilities and together they combine to create a better whole. While Maeve may be at the center of the story, it's truly an ensemble piece. Ash, India, and Paul are just as important, indeed vital, to the story.

 

One of my favorite characters is Toliver. Is he a bad guy? A good guy? A right ruffian? Needless to say I adore Captain Jack and his stuffed dragon. I also really like Rowan and Sage and wished they had bigger roles. I can see endless possibilities with these two and hope we get to see more of them in future books. I like how Maeve is oblivious to Ash's attraction, consequently his jealousy was a tad annoying. Above all I really enjoyed the depth of all of the characters whether they had major or minor roles.

 

The mystery was fascinating from found money to murder. I appreciated the grim realities these characters faced as well as the fun-stealing a golden loo?!? And the big ending-positively brilliant! 

 

Capturing the unique canal environs of London A GHOSTWRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER is an absolute delight, an engrossing and intricately plotted mystery filled with strong characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book and can't wait to see what happens next.

 

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

 A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder: A Novel by Melinda Mullet

About A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder

A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder: A Novel
Traditional Mystery First in Series
Setting - A houseboat along Regent’s Canal in central London
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: ‎ July 29, 2025
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 320 pages

Charming yet wickedly imaginative mystery ghostwriter Maeve Gardner finds herself at the center of a murder investigation with more twists and turns than any story she's ever written, perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Richard Osman.

Maeve Gardner kills people for a living. A dodgy occupation perhaps, but as ghostwriter for the long-running Simon Hills mysteries, Maeve has planned the perfect murder time and again, and she enjoys it. She dreams of writing something under her own name someday rather than babysitting her adopted character Simon, but at least she’s writing. And as one of the burnt-out souls who’ve run away from dry land to live on London’s waterways, she has the joy of working from the home she loves: a colorful houseboat. Life on the canals is grand, but when her cheating ex-boyfriend turns up floating facedown in the water outside her boat, murdered, and the police arrest her, the plot takes a wayward turn.

Suddenly, Maeve is thrust into one of her own crime dramas, complete with missing money, violent thugs, extortion, and conspiracy. Only this time, there is no real-life Simon Hill to come to her aid. Instead, with the help of friends from the river—India, owner of a popular floating bookshop; Paul, the exceedingly attractive landlord of the local pub; and Ash, Maeve’s quiet, nerdy neighbor who is keeping some secrets of his own—Maeve may have a shot at saving herself.

As Maeve and her motley crew of would-be investigators find themselves wondering if they are in over their heads, a killer lurks and won’t hesitate to kill again…

About Melinda Mullet

 

Melinda Mullet is a dual US/UK national. Formerly a lawyer specializing in communications, media, and entertainment law she is now enjoying a second career as a mystery writer. Melinda is the author of the Whisky Business Mysteries, a six-part series of traditional mysteries set in and around a boutique single malt whisky distillery in Scotland. And coming in July 2025, the first of a new traditional series, A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder, set on a houseboat along the Regent’s Canal in London. Melinda is a travel junkie and a life-long advocate for children’s literacy causes both domestic and international. When she is not in the UK, she lives just outside of Washington, DC, with her whisky-collecting husband and two wild Covid canines named Bailey and Captain Jack.  

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.melindamullet.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mulletmysteries/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melindamullet/ 

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-mullet-b499564b/  

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16251039.Melinda_Mullet  

Purchase Links - Penguin Random House - Amazon - B&N - Bookshop.org - Books-A-Million -

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I just finished reading A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet. This is the first book in a new series and was released last month.

Maeve Gardner is enjoying life after ditching her cheating boyfriend. Living on a canalboat in London with her dog, Captain Jack, Maeve is the ghostwriter for a long running mystery series. She soon finds herself in a mystery when she tries to stop the Captain from chewing on one of the dock bumpers. Inside Maeve finds cash. A lot of cash. Though tempted, she puts the money back and goes to the local police station to report the found money. Only when the police return to her boat the money is gone...but a body is in the canal...her ex. The police, understaffed and eager to find an easy solution, determine Maeve must be the murderer. Now it's up to Maeve herself and her unique group of quirky friends to solve the crime. Each will play to their own strengths, but will it be enough to save her?

Tea With Jam & Dread - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a recent release. Tea with Jam & Dread by Vicki Delany is the sixth book in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series and was released last week.

Blurb: 

Long ago, Lily’s grandmother Rose worked as a kitchen maid at Thornecroft Castle, and now Elizabeth, dowager countess of Frockmorton, is celebrating her one hundredth birthday. Rose still has fond feelings for her onetime employer, so a group trip to Yorkshire is planned. It’s also an opportunity for Lily to visit her boyfriend, who’s currently working in England—and to indulge in some British tea.

Much has changed, however, and the ancestral home is now a luxury hotel, which will be closed for a week to accommodate the big bash, much to the chagrin of Elizabeth’s grandson, Julien—leading Lily to overhear an argument among the younger generation about the fate of the family fortune. Little do they know that Elizabeth plans to sell the famous Frockmorton Sapphires out of the family for the first time in centuries . . .

The icing on the cake comes when the jewels suddenly vanish—and things really go nuts when a party guest dies from an allergic reaction to almonds that someone smuggled into Lily’s coronation chicken sandwiches. Now she’ll have to scour the property to find out who would commit murder in such a manor . . .