I'm pleased to welcome Daisy Landish to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Daisy writes the Sophie Brooks Mystery series. Wine and Whispers is the first book in the series and was released yesterday.
By Daisy Landish
The Charm of Small-Town Life
Cozy mysteries almost always take place in picturesque settings—charming villages, idyllic seaside towns, or tight-knit communities where everyone knows everyone else’s business. As a reader, these settings feel like home, even if I’ve never been there before. Whether it’s Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove or M.C. Beaton’s Carsely, these fictional towns are a reminder of the beauty and quirkiness of small-town life.
As a writer, creating these settings is one of my favorite parts of the process. In my Sophie Brooks Mysteries, the farm-to-table world of Sonoma becomes a character in itself. It’s more than just a backdrop; it’s a living, breathing part of the story, with its vineyards, markets, and the occasional secret hiding in plain sight.
Amateur Sleuths We Love
The heart of every cozy mystery is its amateur sleuth. These aren’t hardened detectives—they’re bakers, librarians, gardeners, or food bloggers like Sophie, who find themselves unraveling crimes out of sheer determination (and a little bit of stubbornness). They remind us that anyone, no matter how ordinary, can rise to extraordinary challenges.
What I love most about these characters is how relatable they are. They’re not perfect, and they often juggle sleuthing with the everyday chaos of life. Who hasn’t felt like they’re trying to solve a mystery while also remembering to pick up groceries?
The Gentle Thrill of Intrigue
While cozy mysteries involve murder and mayhem, they’re never gory or graphic. The focus is on the puzzle—piecing together clues, deciphering motives, and uncovering the truth. For readers, it’s like solving a crossword puzzle with a story wrapped around it.
The thrill of a cozy mystery lies in its subtlety. The suspect could be the friendly neighbor who always bakes pies or the charming newcomer in town. The clues are often hidden in plain sight, waiting for the sleuth (and the reader) to connect the dots. It’s a mental challenge without the stress, and it’s oh-so-satisfying when the culprit is finally revealed.
The Promise of Justice
At the heart of every cozy mystery is the promise that justice will be served. No matter how dark the crime, we know the sleuth will solve the case, and the wrongdoer will face the consequences. In a world that often feels chaotic, this assurance is a welcome reprieve.
That sense of resolution is one of the reasons I love writing cozy mysteries. It’s a chance to explore complex characters and conflicts, but also to tie everything up in a way that feels satisfying and complete.
A Warm, Welcoming Escape
Ultimately, cozy mysteries are about more than just solving crimes—they’re about community, resilience, and finding light in dark times. They’re a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, people can come together, rebuild, and grow.
Whether you’re curling up with a favorite cozy or diving into a new series, I hope these stories bring you the same joy they’ve brought me. And if you haven’t yet dipped your toes into the genre, consider this your invitation—grab a cup of tea, settle into your favorite chair, and prepare to be charmed.
Wine and Whispers: A Cozy Mystery (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) by Daisy Landish
About Wine and Whispers
Culinary Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - California
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing (January 11, 2025)
Digital: 170 Pages
In the heart of wine country, secrets run as deep as the vines.
Sophie Brooks, a food blogger and digital nomad, heads to Sonoma’s wine country to explore its famous vineyards. But when a mysterious disappearance shatters the idyllic landscape, Sophie must uncover the truth hidden among the whispers and the wine.
Food blogger and digital nomad Sophie Brooks is on her first stop in Sonoma, California, where the wine flows as freely as the secrets. Eager to showcase the region’s farm-to-table dining scene, Sophie is ready to indulge in the local wines and meet the passionate people behind them. But when one of the vineyard’s owners goes missing, the peaceful countryside takes a dark turn.
As whispers of betrayal and old grudges swirl through the vines, Sophie finds herself caught in the middle of a mystery that threatens to unravel the very fabric of this picturesque wine country. With her sharp instincts and a love for uncovering the truth, Sophie must navigate the delicate balance between tasting fine wines and untangling deadly secrets.
Can she solve the mystery before the whispers turn into something more dangerous?
About Daisy Landish
Daisy Landish is a sweet romance and cozy mystery author, whose clean and sweet stories have tugged at readers’ heartstrings around the world. When she’s not writing love stories, Daisy spends her time reading, hiking at dawn, and riding into the sunset on her horse, Rosebud.
Author Links:
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Books 2 Read https://books2read.com/ap/RaNzqq/Daisy-Landish
Overdrive https://www.overdrive.com/creators/3244971/daisy-landish
Newsletter https://www.daisylandishromance.substack.com
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/daisylandish
Website http://www.daisylandishromance.com
Purchase Links: Amazon - B & N - Publisher - Apple - Smashwords - Everand - fable –
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