I'm pleased to welcome Jane Brookwood to Cozy Up With Kathy. Jane writes the Raven-Verse Mystery series. THE HANGED MAN is the first book in the series and was released earlier this year.
Kathy: In THE HANGED MAN we meet Fiona Miller who runs a metaphysical gift shop where she reads tarot, sells crystals, and mixes tea. This is my kind of shop! There are so many things that make metaphysical shops amazing. What's your favorite thing about them?
JB: Another kindred spirit! I absolutely love standing in front of a great crystal display—the energy is a wonderful little pick-me-up, especially since I gave up caffeine a couple of years ago. Some of my favorite stores carry fresh, wild-harvested teas, which I love to purchase and mix for my own home health brews. Beyond the crystals and teas, I can spend hours just browsing through the tools, sound bowls, books, and of course, the tarot decks.
Kathy:I am a crystal reader and also collect and read oracle and Tarot decks. Do you use crystals or use other forms of divination?
JB: Yes, I was introduced to pendulum dowsing fifteen years ago through Lynn Grabhorn’s book, EXCUSE ME, YOUR LIFE IS WAITING. Aside from dowsing, I am a very active dreamer. Which is how my tarot practice truly began—it grew out of a deep desire to untangle the symbols and meanings hidden inside my dreams.
Kathy:Rosie is Fiona's cat and familiar. I love all animals, but especially cats and currently have four. Do you have any cats? Is Rosie based on a real cat or is she completely fictional?
JB: Rosie is absolutely based on a real cat! She originally "worked" alongside her brother at the construction company I was with. When her brother passed away, she came home with me, and she was the most perfect real-life introduction to the feline world I could have ever imagined. Prior to Rosie, I genuinely thought I was strictly a dog person. It turns out, I’m a cat at heart.
Rosie was an exceptional example of a feline—regal, delicate, completely self-aware, and incredibly sweet when she wanted to be. She lived with us for a few years before choosing to move on to another home in our neighborhood. While her departure left a big hole in our lives, I deeply respected her decision; she was simply living her best life, which is exactly what her character does in THE RAVEN'S FAMILIAR. A year after she moved on, we adopted another female ginger cat named Poppy, who is much more content to stay close to home. She is my best friend and roommate.
Kathy:What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
JB: I’m pretty sure the first true cozy I ever read was The Cat Who... series by Lilian Jackson Braun. Around that same time, my roommate introduced me to the first book in Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series. While the Spenser books are hardboiled crime novels rather than cozies, I absolutely loved his obsession with cooking. He was actually the original inspiration for my very first explorations in the kitchen!
There was such a comforting, cozy feeling to those culinary scenes. That exact texture was then beautifully mirrored by Lilian Jackson Braun’s books. Her work was my very first introduction to cats, showing how life is a blessing despite the occasional darkness that comes our way—or perhaps, because of it.
Kathy:Do you write in any other genres?
JB: Not really, though I am always exploring my options! I have a very specific, intimate writing style that wouldn't lend itself well to certain genres. For instance, I love reading massive, long-anthology sci-fi and epic fantasy, but I couldn't imagine writing them. Historical fiction is likely beyond me as well. To be completely honest, I do best when I'm keeping track of a small handful of close-knit characters—which makes the cozy mystery genre the absolute perfect home for me.
Kathy:Tell us about your series.
JB: I write a metaphysical cozy mystery series structurally based on the deep themes and archetypes of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. The story features Fiona Miller, an intuitive gift shop owner who must lean on her cards, her sharp instincts, and the guidance of her witty rescue cat familiar, Rosie, to unravel the sudden murder of her best friend’s son
Kathy:Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
JB: That is a great question, and it's honestly hard to say! Of course, Rosie is the absolute easiest and most fun to write. She is the epitome of self-possession; she never second-guesses herself, and her pure reliance on instinct allows me to write her scenes forward without having to overthink her motivation.
But I would have to say Fiona is my ultimate favorite, precisely because she is my most challenging character to craft. I never truly know what she’s thinking or how she’ll react until the words hit the page, so I write her with a very interesting mix of confident insecurity.
Kathy:Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
JB: It was truly a combination of factors. Years of studying tarot collided with a period of great loss and upheaval in my life. It was born out of the presence—and eventual absence—of one remarkable ginger cat, right on the heels of my best friend sitting down to write and publish her own memoir.
Kathy:What made you decide to publish your work?
JB: I didn’t start writing thinking I was just doing this for myself, although I did write that very first draft in a kind of desperation to just prove I could finish it. However, once I’d refined the characters, sharpened the story, and received feedback from a couple of brilliant editors, I realized that Fiona and Rosie needed—and absolutely deserved—to have their voices out in the world.
Kathy:If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
JB: That is such a tough question! There are so many incredible authors on my list, making it hard to narrow it down to just four. But since I write a cat mystery, I would definitely want to speak to the maven herself, Lilian Jackson Braun. Sara Donati was my very first introduction to using tarot in fiction, and I deeply admire her rich writing style. I’d want Stephen King there so I could pick his brain and ask him questions about the grit and discipline of the craft. And lastly, I would invite Andy Weir for my late husband, who fell completely in love with his books near the end
Kathy:What are you currently reading?
JB: I’m finally halfway through THE CASUAL VACANCY by J.K. Rowling. I couldn’t get into it for the longest time, but I think I finally know why. She writes from a massive array of different points of view—which is a structural format I actually experimented with in revision four of THE HANGED MAN before eventually abandoning it. Reading it now is perfect timing, and I’m learning an immense amount from her execution. I think I’ll return to this multi-POV format in one of my upcoming 0.5 series companion off-branches!
Beyond that, my To-Be-Read (TBR) pile is massive—it’s actually a little embarrassing! On audiobook, I’ve just started my author coach Evan Parrott’s WIND'S EMBRACE, which is the start of a sweeping sci-fi series, and I’m really digging his world-building. Also on my immediate list is Carl Jung’s SYNCHRONICITY, Matthew Syed’s BLACK BOX THINKING (just recommended to me by my cousin), Alexis Hall’s 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED (it’s eerie reading someone with a very similar comedic style—I keep wondering if I wrote it in my sleep!), THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY by Sarah Penner, and Maggie O’Farrell’s THIS MUST BE THE PLACE. To name just a few!
Kathy:Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
JB: I love to bake bread and biscotti! The bread is generally an everyday white slicing loaf, though I like to experiment with a wide array of recipes. The biscotti is my mom’s absolute favorite, so I’ve worked really hard over the years to perfect that crunchy, classic texture.
Aside from baking, I strength train (primarily to offset impending menopause), I love to draw—which is a creative skill I actually feature inside my books—and I go for long walks. Oh, and then there’s the day job! While I certainly get paid for it, it honestly feels like a supportive hobby that keeps my life stable and allows me to do what I love most, which is write.
Kathy:Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
Yeast: Essential for my everyday bread-baking therapy.
Candied ginger: My acupuncturist tells me I’m "too damp" and need more internal heat, so I try to eat it every morning—whenever I actually remember!
Beans: Protein and fiber have suddenly become absolutely vital to my basic functioning as a human being.
Frozen blueberries: Perfect for smoothies, baking, or just to use as ice in my water. It cools the drink down, and then becomes a sweet reward at the end for actually finishing my water. I work incredibly well with an awards-based system!
Kathy:Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
JB: Yes! I am currently writing the final chapter on the first draft of THE RAVEN'S FAMILIAR: PART TWO, which is just about to be sent off to my editor. We haven't locked down the exact release date yet, but it's coming fast. If you love Rosie, you’re going to love her detective work in this one. It is again written in her point of view and it explores how Fiona and Rosie’s relationship evolves prior to THE HANGED MAN. It’s their very first mystery together (where no one dies).
I've also just broken the back of Book Two in the main series, titled THE FOOL. I still have a long road to completion there, but I am aiming for a December 1st, 2026 release. It is a Christmas-themed novel where Fiona gets roped into acting as the understudy for Katharina in Pineridge Hollow’s holiday presentation of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Rosie’s scored a bit part in the theatrical show as well, so she’ll be even more front-and-center than she is in THE HANGED MAN!
For my Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) readers, I’ve also tucked a massive Easter egg at the end of THE HANGED MAN. Elsie Greene discovers something shocking in the final pages, and if you’ve been lucky enough to receive one of my physical Golden Tickets at a live event, you'll be able to enter my website vault to see what she unearthed. Her private investigation will eventually be published as a special 0.5 companion off-branch novella. It has a distinct I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe involving Fiona’s best friend, Maggie, which will eventually tie directly back into the main storyline.
Finally, my next big wish is to release Book Three, THE LOVERS, in time for next Valentine’s Day. Fiona’s love life really starts picking up steam in Book Two, so exploring that passionate avenue in the third installment is going to be so much fun!
Kathy:What's your favorite thing about being an author?
JB: To be honest, I never thought I’d be able to write like this, nor did I think the lifestyle would suit me. But I absolutely love the freedom of just going somewhere, laptop in tow, and sitting down to write.
Sometimes it’s hard work, but compared to what I’ve done in my past corporate work life, the stress that comes with writing is entirely manageable. At the end of the day, I’m really just making stuff up!
It deeply excites me to write for that reader out in the ether who will truly "get" me. If something I write lifts someone up, makes them feel cozy, or inspires them to pause and brew a hot cup of tea, I am incredibly happy.
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Review
The First Raven-Verse Mystery
When Fiona Miller keeps drawing the hanged man from her Tarot deck she certainly doesn't expect to see it come to pass literally. But Henry Reynolds Jr. was found hanging at the building site his brother, Sam, was working on. Henry Jr. was a charismatic dealmaker, could he really have committed suicide? Chief Albright suspects murder and quickly takes Sam into custody. Fiona has known the brothers since they were little boys and things aren't adding up. With the help of her friends and the grudging acceptance of the chief of police Fiona starts looking into things. Will she be able to solve the murder before something else dire happens?
I enjoyed my first entry into Raven-Verse. Fiona is a fine protagonist, wise, loyal, and spunky. My favorite character is Rosie, though. People need to pay more attention to her. She was doing everything possible to show them a clue and nobody was paying attention but me! I also really liked Chief Albright and the way he worked with Fiona. Perhaps my favorite part of the story was The Raven itself. To me metaphysical stores are like a balm to the soul. I could picture this comforting space and see myself spending much time there. Indeed, Fiona's shop is a character unto itself.
While this is the first book in the series, reading it it seemed like I was missing a lot. How the characters related, why it's automatically assumed they'll be investigating together and so on. There is a prequel, but it's recommended to read this book first.
The mystery was complex and I really appreciated the tie in to the Tarot. For those readers unfamiliar with the Tarot, never fear, major points are explained and you can completely enjoy the story without this knowledge. That being said, if you have a passing familiarity or are quite knowledgeable about the cards you'll love it even more. The villain here is truly villainous and what they have planned after the murder is truly diabolical.
An atmospheric novel infused with Tarot wisdom and a bewitching cat THE HANGED MAN is a captivating mystery and a wonderful start to a new series.
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About the author:
Jane Brookwood writes cozy mysteries steeped in tarot symbolism, intuition, and the quiet magic that lingers in small towns. Though she lives just outside the fictional Pineridge Hollow, she knows its back roads and hidden corners by heart. Its shop windows, whispered rumors, and moonlit secrets inspire much of her work — and often feel as real to her as any place on a map. Jane has always been drawn to the moment when an ordinary day tilts into something strange, meaningful, or unexpected. She writes to capture that shift — the sense that something powerful is moving just beneath the surface, waiting for the right person to notice. When she’s not writing, she’s reading tarot, wandering through forests, visiting cafés that remind her of The Velvet Fig, or sharing quiet evenings with her cat, Rosie, who insists on chiming in whenever a mystery gets tense. Jane lives in British Columbia, where Pineridge Hollow grows a little more vivid with every sunrise. Learn more at: https://ravenversebooks.com/
Follow Jane Brookwood on social media:
Facebook: @ravenversebooks
Instagram: @theravenverse.world
TikTok: @ravenversebooks
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