Shake-speared in the Park - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

 Review

SHAKE-SPEARED IN THE PARK by Joy Ann Ribar
The Second Bay Browning Mystery 

 

The Spring Semester may have ended, but school isn't over for Professor Bay Browning. To fulfill volunteer requirements for Flourish College, Bay is assistant director of the school's summer production, a Shakespeare inspired play she co-wrote. With a short production time the set is being constructed as the actors rehearse. A scream pierced the night. Talon Hunt has fallen from the unfinished balcony after a mock sword fight. Was this a tragic accident or something more? There's more drama around the actors than in the play itself! Bay will have to keep her eyes and ears open as she discovers more about the elite of Angel Bird Bluff than she'd care to know.

 

Things are different for the wealthy and the second Bay Browning Mystery enters that world of legacy students and privileged adults who can seemingly make problems disappear by throwing money and power around. It's a story of how wealth can shape families, how scapegoats can be found, and underdogs championed. It also shows how some people are able to grow while others stagnate. and still others regress.

 

There's a lot to love in SHAKE-SPEARED IN THE PARK, a confounding mystery, intriguing characters, interesting dynamics, and more. As a former theatre major I loved the concept of a college's summer theatrical production, especially one that weaves the works of Shakespeare into a new play. I also loved how Posey, Cass's new boss decided on a Shakespearean theme for her party along with a game I'd love to play. And what a party it was. I enjoyed the interactions between Bay and Detective Downing as her production was plagued, not only by death, but by less serious mishaps as well. I appreciate the way she works with him to solve the crimes as well as how her sister brings her skills to the table.

SHAKE-SPEARED IN THE PARK is an exquisitely wrought mystery combining the worlds of the elite and academia with a theatrical background. This is fast becoming a favorite series and I can't wait to dig into the next one!

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

SHAKE-SPEARED IN THE PARK

by Joy Ann Ribar

March 17th - April 11, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A BAY BROWNING MYSTERY

 

When Bay Browning helps direct the Flourish College summer theater production, “Shakespeare’s Couch,” she doesn’t plan for murder at the first practice.

Someone wants revenge against the elite cast members, as more terror unfolds on stage and backstage with each rehearsal. What should be a lighthearted parody on The Bard and his characters is cursed from the start, even without someone shouting “Macbeth” in the theater. Detective Downing takes charge of the crime, but Bay and her puzzle-solving cohort, Jen Yoo, follow their own script behind the scenes. Cassandra, Bay’s extraordinary sister, makes her own dramatic entrance on the case. After all, Cass is now the personal assistant to one of the elites living the high life on the bluff above Prairie Ridge. How many tragic scenes will be scripted before the villain faces the final curtain?

Praise for Shake-speared in the Park:

"A clever cozy that reads like an elusive buried treasure, that, once uncovered, shines with a burnished gold. Shakespearean scholars can revel throughout, as a college summer play, Shakespeare’s Couch, features a myriad of familiar characters, representing their plays. A costume party with more Shakespearean identities milling about provides sheer fun and frolic. The best part, however, is the thorough depiction of humanity, characteristic of Ribar’s writing. Even secondary characters come alive with strengths and foibles that delight and endear."
~ Saralyn Richard, author of the Detective Parrott mystery series, Bad Blood Sisters, and Mrs. Oliver’s Twist

"Ribar serves up wicked, clever fun in 'Shake-speared in the Park,' the second installment in her Bay Browning mystery series. A young man with much promise falls from a stage-prop balcony. He's dead when he lands, but that's not what killed him. Was his brother, the wayward son, involved? His best friend? Or one of the wealthy equestrian crowd? Then, another death, this time in a greenhouse. It's like 'Knives Out' meets Agatha Christie. Suspects abound. Two sisters—one a killer magnet, the other an ex-con—are determined to find out. The escalating tempo keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the end!"
~ Laurie Buchanan, author of the Sean McPherson crime thriller novels

"In this fast-paced mystery and nod to Shakespeare, the murderous shenanigans would please the Bard himself! Professor Bay Browning’s play rehearsals go awry with deadly weapons, poisons, and just about anything else a playwright might use to scare or 'off' someone in dramatic fashion. As in 'Romeo & Juliet,' differences of class and money between families put a small Wisconsin college and Bay in the crosshairs. Replete with a twisty costume party, this novel opens the curtain on an entertaining theater production with actors poised to take their final bow, pun intended. Ribar balances scenes effectively between amateur detectives Bay and her sister Cass, the latter a plant aficionado and former prison inmate. To borrow from the Bard, 'To read or not to read?' The answer is easy: This is fun."
~ Christine DeSmet, author, Fudge Shop Mystery Series and Mischief in Moonstone Series

Book Details:

Genre: Blended Mystery: Traditional Mystery with Paranormal Twists
Published by: Wine Glass Press
Publication Date: February 2025
Number of Pages: 359
ISBN: 9781959078272 (ISBN10: 1959078275)
Series: Bay Browning Mysteries: Book Two
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Carillon Tower Park was buzzing with activity when Bay arrived for rehearsal. Desmond Carver, the director, was only steps ahead of her, so she dashed to catch up. Bay smiled at his signature bobbing walk on those extra-long legs that might belong to a pro basketball player instead of a theater professor.

“Desmond, hey. Looks like the students are psyched about the show.” Bay nodded toward the outdoor theater area where a portable tech booth had been set up. People inside were testing spotlights and sound effects.

The stage was midway through set construction showing false stone walls and two framed second story balconies. Someone was sweeping the stage free of pine needles, while a couple of others were taping the floor where furniture would go. Bay waved at Jen Yoo, her art professor friend, who was painting a flat with some students.

“It’s a positive sign when they show up early. Believe me, once we’re in the trenches, some will find reasons not to show up at all.” Desmond set a stack of scripts on one of the seats near the middle of the theater. “Actors,” he said using air quotes around the word.

Bay’s optimism didn’t dwindle. She was pleased with the turnout for auditions, considering it was a summer production, meaning many students were gone or working. The fact she and Desmond had backups for the main roles revealed enthusiasm for the show.

Desmond handed her a theater badge and key for the rooms beyond the stage. “By the way, in case I forget later, thanks so much for volunteering to help with the play. It can be a thankless job.”

Bay grinned but wondered why Desmond was being so pessimistic. He wasn’t close to retirement, maybe ten years older than Bay, and she’d pegged him as carefree and upbeat. Then again, in the two years she’d been a Flourish professor, she’d had a handful of short conversations with him.

At seven p.m. on the dot, the clock tower bell rang out the hour and Desmond spoke through a megaphone he’d brought to rehearsal. “Let’s get going. We start on time. We end on time. That’s my number one rule.”

To Bay’s surprise, every student hushed without delay. She’d heard Desmond was respected, and he knew these students from past plays. Many were seniors doing a final postgraduation show before entering the real world.

“For the first few rehearsals, we’re going to need to work around the set builders and the tech crew setting up lights and testing sounds. This isn’t a typical show. Summer theater is a shortened schedule, so we’re putting an entire production together in short order.” Desmond handed printed schedules to Bay, who passed them out to the actors and crew.

It wasn’t quite June, thankfully, because performances were marked for the last week of that month, just past the celebration of Midsummer on June twenty-fourth.

“You’ll notice on the schedule that all lines must be memorized by June tenth. That’s two weeks, my friends. Let’s make it happen.” Desmond used his teacher voice. Even Bay snapped to attention.

“Places everyone. We’ll start with the prologue and go straight through from act one as far as we can until eight-thirty. The script notes some introductory music, but we won’t add that for a couple of weeks. Proceed, Kitt.”

Bay and Desmond watched from the back third of the theater, taking notes as lines were delivered, stopping when necessary to help with enunciation or cadence. At the end of the second act, Desmond announced a seven-minute break, then headed to the tech booth to talk about lighting.

Bay noticed he seemed nervous about the tech crew being run by an intern. His normal production partner, Leo, another theater professor, was spending summer break in New York City at a Broadway intensive master class. Leo recommended a theater grad student from Madison to take his place.

As lights flashed on and off in different positions, Bay watched the techies at the booth. Desmond pointed at the script as intern Evan made notes, then flashed the light Desmond asked for. Bay noticed Evan’s body posture: alert, attentive, like a golden retriever eager to please. In contrast, Desmond alternated running a hand through the twists on top of his head, placing his hands on his hips, then rubbing the back of his neck before repeating the moves again.

“That looks intense.” Jen Yoo was sitting by Bay, a clean paint brush in one hand.

“Hey, Jen. Yes, I’ve never seen this side of Desmond. How about you?”

Jen shrugged. “I haven’t worked on a summer production in some time. The younger Desmond was laid-back. But some of us lose our patience as we age. Thankfully, I don’t have that problem.” She snickered.

Bay turned her full attention to Jen. “Why are you working on this production, anyway?”

“Two reasons. One: It fulfills my volunteer hours for the whole year. Two: It’s a show you wrote. I’m proud of you and want to see how it turns out.” Jen leaned her head over to meet Bay’s.

With break wrapping up, chatter from the stage echoed around the quiet outdoors. When a commotion ensued, Bay chalked it up to high energy from a new show, the honeymoon period. But then a loud thud sounded, someone began shrieking, and a cacophony of shouts and running feet ensued.

Bay, Jen, and Desmond ran to the stage, with the tech crew close behind. The adults vaulted onto the stage where the lead actor, Talon Hunt, lay crumpled in a twisted heap.

“Everybody back up,” Desmond shouted.

“He fell off the balcony,” one of the students called out.

“I didn’t mean to. We were goofing around, practicing a duel.” Jackson Lange knelt over Talon, his chest heaving, his face distraught.

Desmond, Jen, and Bay knelt beside Talon too, and Jackson stood up and looked away. Desmond checked Talon’s pulse, shook his head, listened for a heartbeat, and shook his head again. Bay called 911.

“Let’s straighten him a bit so I can do CPR.” Desmond motioned for Jen and Bay to get on either side of his legs and they gingerly turned him.

Desmond was still administering chest compressions and breaths when the emergency team arrived to take over. Thirty minutes later, the EMTs pronounced Talon dead.

***

Excerpt from Shake-speared in the Park by Joy Ann Ribar. Copyright 2025 by Joy Ann Ribar. Reproduced with permission from Joy Ann Ribar. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Joy Ann Ribar is an RV author, writing on the road wherever her husband and their Winnebago View wanders. Joy’s cocktail of careers includes news reporter, paralegal, English educator, and aquaponics greenhouse technician, all of which prove useful in penning mysteries. Her cozy Deep Lakes Mysteries, feature baker/vintner Frankie Champagne, who moonlights as an investigative reporter. Joy’s Bay Browning Mysteries blend edgy, traditional, and paranormal elements twisted around classical literary themes. Joy loves to bake, read, research wines, and explore nature. Her writing has received awards and recognition from WWA, PenCraft Book Awards, Book Fest, Reader’s Favorite, and Chanticleer Cozy and Not-So-Cozy awards.

Catch Up With Joy Ann Ribar:

JoyRibar.com
Joy's Substack
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @ribarjoy
Instagram - @authorjoyribar
Facebook - @JoyRibarAuthor

 

 

Tour Participants:

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

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win! Enter Today!

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

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Shake-speared in the Park by Joy Ann Ribar. This book is the second in the Bay Browning Mystery series and was released last month.

The Spring Semester may have ended, but school isn't over for Professor Bay Browning. To fulfill volunteer requirements for Flourish College Bay is assistant director of the school's summer production, A Shakespeare inspired play she co-wrote. With a short production time the set is being constructed as the actors rehearse. A scream pierced the night. Talon Hunt has fallen from the unfinished balcony after a mock sword fight. Was this a tragic accident or something more? There's more drama around the actors than in the play itself! Bay will have to keep her eyes and ears open as she discovers more about the elite of Angel Bird Bluff than she's care to know.

Shake-speared in the Park - An Interview, Excerpt, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Joy Ann Ribnar to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Joy Ann writes the Bay Browning Mystery series. SHAKE-SPEARED IN THE PARK is the second book in the series and was released last month. Be sure to return Friday, when I'll post my review!

Kathy: In SHAKE-SPEARED IN THE PARK Bay Browning helps direct the Flourish College summer theater production of Shakespeare's Couch. As a theatre major I'm curious, have you ever been involved in mounting a production?

JAR: I’ve been an assistant director in high school productions, but most of my time has been on stage from high school through community theater musicals and comedies. I understand the process of producing and directing a show because in community theater, everyone’s involved from painting sets, to creating costumes, to doing make-up and finding props. I love theater. My favorite shows I performed in are White Christmas, The Music Man, and Drinking Habits, where I played a wine-making nun trying to save the convent.

Kathy: Shakespeare was integral to my training and I still love the bard. Are you a fan?

JAR: Huge fan! I’ve never acted in a Shakespeare play, but I’ve performed monologues. As a high school and college educator, I’ve taught many of The Bard’s plays. We always take parts and read aloud the plays together in class, and that is the key to helping students understand and love The Bard, too. My favorite plays: Othello and Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Kathy: The Bay Browning Mystery series has a paranormal bent. Why choose to add something otherworldly?

JAR: Bay needed a good partner to contrast and complement her; Cassandra. I named Cass after the Greek maiden Cassandra, who has the gift of prophecy, but nobody believes her predictions. I decided my Cassandra would be a modern version from Greek mythology. Her gift is part of her character arc. As a child and teen, her gift makes her an outcast. Then, Cass uses her gift to perfect her grifting skills. Now she’s out of prison and trying to use her gifts for good.

Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

JAR: My older sister read the Trixie Belden series, so I grabbed them as she moved on to the next one. My local library had shelves of Nancy Drew mysteries, too, so there was always something new to check out. I loved the adventures, the puzzles to solve, and the brave young women taking risks. I graduated to Agatha Christie, Phyllis Whitney, and Taylor Caldwell. Reading women authors writing about smart, confident female characters, made me feel confident, too. When I decided to write something, mysteries were a natural fit.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JAR: I wrote a few flash fiction shorts of various genres, and essays as well. I used to be a newspaper reporter, so I feel comfortable writing non-fiction, too.

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

JAR: The Bay Browning mysteries are literature-themed and edgy with a paranormal twist. Bay, a college professor, and Cassandra, an ex-con with the gift of extra-sensory perception meld their talents and contrasting personalities to solve crimes in a small Wisconsin city.

The Deep Lakes Mystery series offer a light-hearted look at murder, recipes included. Frankie Champagne, together with best friend Carmen, own Bubble & Bake, a bakery/ wine lounge in a Wisconsin tourist town where murder is an occasional visitor. Frankie somehow lands in the middle of crime scenes and dives right in to investigate, proving she can go toe-to-toe with the pros.

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

JAR: All of them in one way or another because they all serve a purpose, but that’s a coward’s answer. I love Cassandra because she’s gritty and imperfect. Like all of us, she’s a genuine work in progress, and readers can see her evolution and her struggle to overcome a troubled past, learn from it, and redefine herself. She’s relatable and heartwarming.

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

JAR: I wanted my second series to be something quite different from my first cozy bakery/winery series. I had recently retired from teaching and missed having rich discussions about literature, poetry, classics, and Shakespeare with my students. That’s when it dawned on me to bring literature into a new series with an English professor as one of the main characters (Bay Browning). I think it’s interesting to have a reluctant sleuth as a lead character in a mystery series. Bay would prefer reading books or sitting in her office preparing lessons, but she’s dragged into a complicated murder investigation as a consultant because of her literary skills. The notion of creating literature-themed mysteries sounded worthwhile and fun.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

JAR: My husband and sisters nudged me after I wrote my first mystery. I sent it to a publisher, was rejected, then sent it on to a smaller publisher where I found someone who would hold my hand through the process. Together, we published the first four books I wrote, and then I went on to publish independently.

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

JAR: J.R.R. Tolkein, Maya Angelou, Julia Child, and Jane Austen. No party would be complete without Jane.

Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

JAR: THE GLASSMAKER by Tracy Chevalier, a novel about a female glassmaker during the Renaissance in Murano, an island near Venice.


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

JAR:  I love hiking, sight seeing anywhere in the world, history, and baking. I enjoy experimenting with different spices and combining flavors to create recipes for my first series.

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

JAR: Fresh fruit (berries, apples, grapefruit), hard boiled eggs, brie cheese, and butter.

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

JAR: I’m working on the next Bay Browning mystery: POETRY SLAMMED, featuring a newly-discovered Emily Dickinson poem and a missing English professor from Bay’s department.

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

JAR: 1) Talking to readers at in-person events or online author takeovers. 2) Creating a world and playing in it!

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

SHAKE-SPEARED IN THE PARK

by Joy Ann Ribar

March 17th - April 11, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A BAY BROWNING MYSTERY

 

When Bay Browning helps direct the Flourish College summer theater production, “Shakespeare’s Couch,” she doesn’t plan for murder at the first practice.

Someone wants revenge against the elite cast members, as more terror unfolds on stage and backstage with each rehearsal. What should be a lighthearted parody on The Bard and his characters is cursed from the start, even without someone shouting “Macbeth” in the theater. Detective Downing takes charge of the crime, but Bay and her puzzle-solving cohort, Jen Yoo, follow their own script behind the scenes. Cassandra, Bay’s extraordinary sister, makes her own dramatic entrance on the case. After all, Cass is now the personal assistant to one of the elites living the high life on the bluff above Prairie Ridge. How many tragic scenes will be scripted before the villain faces the final curtain?

Praise for Shake-speared in the Park:

"A clever cozy that reads like an elusive buried treasure, that, once uncovered, shines with a burnished gold. Shakespearean scholars can revel throughout, as a college summer play, Shakespeare’s Couch, features a myriad of familiar characters, representing their plays. A costume party with more Shakespearean identities milling about provides sheer fun and frolic. The best part, however, is the thorough depiction of humanity, characteristic of Ribar’s writing. Even secondary characters come alive with strengths and foibles that delight and endear."
~ Saralyn Richard, author of the Detective Parrott mystery series, Bad Blood Sisters, and Mrs. Oliver’s Twist

"Ribar serves up wicked, clever fun in 'Shake-speared in the Park,' the second installment in her Bay Browning mystery series. A young man with much promise falls from a stage-prop balcony. He's dead when he lands, but that's not what killed him. Was his brother, the wayward son, involved? His best friend? Or one of the wealthy equestrian crowd? Then, another death, this time in a greenhouse. It's like 'Knives Out' meets Agatha Christie. Suspects abound. Two sisters—one a killer magnet, the other an ex-con—are determined to find out. The escalating tempo keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the end!"
~ Laurie Buchanan, author of the Sean McPherson crime thriller novels

"In this fast-paced mystery and nod to Shakespeare, the murderous shenanigans would please the Bard himself! Professor Bay Browning’s play rehearsals go awry with deadly weapons, poisons, and just about anything else a playwright might use to scare or 'off' someone in dramatic fashion. As in 'Romeo & Juliet,' differences of class and money between families put a small Wisconsin college and Bay in the crosshairs. Replete with a twisty costume party, this novel opens the curtain on an entertaining theater production with actors poised to take their final bow, pun intended. Ribar balances scenes effectively between amateur detectives Bay and her sister Cass, the latter a plant aficionado and former prison inmate. To borrow from the Bard, 'To read or not to read?' The answer is easy: This is fun."
~ Christine DeSmet, author, Fudge Shop Mystery Series and Mischief in Moonstone Series

Book Details:

Genre: Blended Mystery: Traditional Mystery with Paranormal Twists
Published by: Wine Glass Press
Publication Date: February 2025
Number of Pages: 359
ISBN: 9781959078272 (ISBN10: 1959078275)
Series: Bay Browning Mysteries: Book Two
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Carillon Tower Park was buzzing with activity when Bay arrived for rehearsal. Desmond Carver, the director, was only steps ahead of her, so she dashed to catch up. Bay smiled at his signature bobbing walk on those extra-long legs that might belong to a pro basketball player instead of a theater professor.

“Desmond, hey. Looks like the students are psyched about the show.” Bay nodded toward the outdoor theater area where a portable tech booth had been set up. People inside were testing spotlights and sound effects.

The stage was midway through set construction showing false stone walls and two framed second story balconies. Someone was sweeping the stage free of pine needles, while a couple of others were taping the floor where furniture would go. Bay waved at Jen Yoo, her art professor friend, who was painting a flat with some students.

“It’s a positive sign when they show up early. Believe me, once we’re in the trenches, some will find reasons not to show up at all.” Desmond set a stack of scripts on one of the seats near the middle of the theater. “Actors,” he said using air quotes around the word.

Bay’s optimism didn’t dwindle. She was pleased with the turnout for auditions, considering it was a summer production, meaning many students were gone or working. The fact she and Desmond had backups for the main roles revealed enthusiasm for the show.

Desmond handed her a theater badge and key for the rooms beyond the stage. “By the way, in case I forget later, thanks so much for volunteering to help with the play. It can be a thankless job.”

Bay grinned but wondered why Desmond was being so pessimistic. He wasn’t close to retirement, maybe ten years older than Bay, and she’d pegged him as carefree and upbeat. Then again, in the two years she’d been a Flourish professor, she’d had a handful of short conversations with him.

At seven p.m. on the dot, the clock tower bell rang out the hour and Desmond spoke through a megaphone he’d brought to rehearsal. “Let’s get going. We start on time. We end on time. That’s my number one rule.”

To Bay’s surprise, every student hushed without delay. She’d heard Desmond was respected, and he knew these students from past plays. Many were seniors doing a final postgraduation show before entering the real world.

“For the first few rehearsals, we’re going to need to work around the set builders and the tech crew setting up lights and testing sounds. This isn’t a typical show. Summer theater is a shortened schedule, so we’re putting an entire production together in short order.” Desmond handed printed schedules to Bay, who passed them out to the actors and crew.

It wasn’t quite June, thankfully, because performances were marked for the last week of that month, just past the celebration of Midsummer on June twenty-fourth.

“You’ll notice on the schedule that all lines must be memorized by June tenth. That’s two weeks, my friends. Let’s make it happen.” Desmond used his teacher voice. Even Bay snapped to attention.

“Places everyone. We’ll start with the prologue and go straight through from act one as far as we can until eight-thirty. The script notes some introductory music, but we won’t add that for a couple of weeks. Proceed, Kitt.”

Bay and Desmond watched from the back third of the theater, taking notes as lines were delivered, stopping when necessary to help with enunciation or cadence. At the end of the second act, Desmond announced a seven-minute break, then headed to the tech booth to talk about lighting.

Bay noticed he seemed nervous about the tech crew being run by an intern. His normal production partner, Leo, another theater professor, was spending summer break in New York City at a Broadway intensive master class. Leo recommended a theater grad student from Madison to take his place.

As lights flashed on and off in different positions, Bay watched the techies at the booth. Desmond pointed at the script as intern Evan made notes, then flashed the light Desmond asked for. Bay noticed Evan’s body posture: alert, attentive, like a golden retriever eager to please. In contrast, Desmond alternated running a hand through the twists on top of his head, placing his hands on his hips, then rubbing the back of his neck before repeating the moves again.

“That looks intense.” Jen Yoo was sitting by Bay, a clean paint brush in one hand.

“Hey, Jen. Yes, I’ve never seen this side of Desmond. How about you?”

Jen shrugged. “I haven’t worked on a summer production in some time. The younger Desmond was laid-back. But some of us lose our patience as we age. Thankfully, I don’t have that problem.” She snickered.

Bay turned her full attention to Jen. “Why are you working on this production, anyway?”

“Two reasons. One: It fulfills my volunteer hours for the whole year. Two: It’s a show you wrote. I’m proud of you and want to see how it turns out.” Jen leaned her head over to meet Bay’s.

With break wrapping up, chatter from the stage echoed around the quiet outdoors. When a commotion ensued, Bay chalked it up to high energy from a new show, the honeymoon period. But then a loud thud sounded, someone began shrieking, and a cacophony of shouts and running feet ensued.

Bay, Jen, and Desmond ran to the stage, with the tech crew close behind. The adults vaulted onto the stage where the lead actor, Talon Hunt, lay crumpled in a twisted heap.

“Everybody back up,” Desmond shouted.

“He fell off the balcony,” one of the students called out.

“I didn’t mean to. We were goofing around, practicing a duel.” Jackson Lange knelt over Talon, his chest heaving, his face distraught.

Desmond, Jen, and Bay knelt beside Talon too, and Jackson stood up and looked away. Desmond checked Talon’s pulse, shook his head, listened for a heartbeat, and shook his head again. Bay called 911.

“Let’s straighten him a bit so I can do CPR.” Desmond motioned for Jen and Bay to get on either side of his legs and they gingerly turned him.

Desmond was still administering chest compressions and breaths when the emergency team arrived to take over. Thirty minutes later, the EMTs pronounced Talon dead.

***

Excerpt from Shake-speared in the Park by Joy Ann Ribar. Copyright 2025 by Joy Ann Ribar. Reproduced with permission from Joy Ann Ribar. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Joy Ann Ribar is an RV author, writing on the road wherever her husband and their Winnebago View wanders. Joy’s cocktail of careers includes news reporter, paralegal, English educator, and aquaponics greenhouse technician, all of which prove useful in penning mysteries. Her cozy Deep Lakes Mysteries, feature baker/vintner Frankie Champagne, who moonlights as an investigative reporter. Joy’s Bay Browning Mysteries blend edgy, traditional, and paranormal elements twisted around classical literary themes. Joy loves to bake, read, research wines, and explore nature. Her writing has received awards and recognition from WWA, PenCraft Book Awards, Book Fest, Reader’s Favorite, and Chanticleer Cozy and Not-So-Cozy awards.

Catch Up With Joy Ann Ribar:

JoyRibar.com
Joy's Substack
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @ribarjoy
Instagram - @authorjoyribar
Facebook - @JoyRibarAuthor

 

 

Tour Participants:

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

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win! Enter Today!

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

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

The Medusa Murders - A Review

 Review

THE MEDUSA MURDERS by Joy Ann Ribar
The First Bay Browning Mystery 

 

It wasn't bad enough that Professor L. L. "Bay" Browning's ex-con sister unexpectedly shows up. Or that her "always hides from a problem" father says it's good that the sisters live together. But when a mix-up with her dry cleaning turns out to be an intentional switch involving her with a serial killer it's worse than not being prepared for a new semester. As an English professor and a potential next victim of the Medusa Killer, Bay begins to work with the police. Will Bay be able to discover her connection to the killer before becoming the killer's next target?

 

I really enjoyed my introduction to Bay Browning and her first mystery! Bay is not a sweet or soft protagonist. She's a bit brusque, not overtly friendly, and doesn't suffer fools gladly. She's whip smart, interesting, and genuinely cares for the well being of her students. Her sister, Cassandra, was starting to grow on me...until I read what she planned to do at work and did while she was in prison. To me, that's unconscionable. I love the concept of the Pig Squeal and really like Mandy. It was also fun seeing how Bay and Downing interacted. I'd love to see more of the Fabulous Fiona!

 

My favorite aspect of THE MEDUSA MURDERS was how mythology and art were combined. I appreciated the way in which Art History Chair and Bay's friend, Jennifer Yoo, helped by introducing several works of art and also discovering a major clue. She made me want to go down that same rabbit hole and search these paintings out, if only online.

 

The mystery was compelling. Why on earth was Bay targeted? It was fascinating to see the reasons slowly unraveled with an exciting culmination and confrontation as well.

 

Smart writing and a unique story captivated me from the get-go making THE MEDUSA MURDERS a captivating start to a new series.  

Death at the Scottish Broch - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Rose Kerr to Cozy Up With Kathy today Rose writes the Mia Reid, Archaeologist Mystery series. DEATH AT THE SCOTTISH BROCH is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In DEATH AT THE SCOTTISH BROCH we meet Dr. Mia Reid, an archaeologist. I've always been interested in archeology. Has this been an interest of yours even before writing this series?

RK: I’ve been interested in archaeology since I read Agatha Christie’s MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA. My university studies took me in a different direction, but I still enjoyed hearing about archaeology. A few years ago, I took online courses in archaeology and in antiquity smuggling through Open Learn University. The courses helped me understand archaeology and the work of an archaeologist better. I’ve attended webinars and took more online courses. While taking the courses, I decided I wanted to write about a modern-day archaeologist, who will have to deal with artifact smuggling. It’s been fun learning about this career.

Kathy: This mystery is set on the Isle of Skye. Why choose this location for your series opener?

RK: I wanted the first book to be set outside of North America. Mia and Luke need to reconnect, and this was the way I could bring them together. I choose Scotland because the country has always fascinated me. And the Isle of Skye because it’s an island, atmospheric, and a beautiful part of the world.


Kathy: Mia and her team uncover a treasure with ties to Bonnie Prince Charlie. Were you familiar with this royal prior to writing this book?

RK: Not as much as I am now. My local librarians provided me with excellent reference materials on Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobites, and his role in Scotland’s history. I read six books to gather as much information as I could about this royal and found reputable websites to find more information and photos.

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

RK: I enjoy reading a mystery where I can solve the puzzle alongside the amateur sleuth. The supporting cast of characters often brings in many personalities that play off each other, often adding humor to the story. And there’s a satisfying ending when the criminal is brought to justice. I also like that there isn’t any violence on the page.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

RK: No, I’ve tried, but mysteries are the ones I enjoy.
 

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

RK: Archaeologist, Dr. Mia Reid, loves digging up history. But when murder and smuggling interrupts her work, she turns her instincts and puzzle solving skills to discover who is behind the smuggling and are they the killer.


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

RK: Mia is my favorite. She’s a strong, smart, independent woman. Close second, is Mia’s Gran, Marie Tremblay. She’s been a powerful influence on Mia throughout her life.

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

RK: I wanted my series to feature a modern-day woman archaeologist. The instructor who taught the classes with Open Learn University was a woman, and she had qualities that Mia has as well.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

RK: At first, I just wanted to write a story. Then I joined a writer’s group, and we supported each other’s efforts. They encouraged me to query agents and, with every rejection (there were lots!), they continued to encourage me to keep trying. They were thrilled for me when I signed with my agent and then when I signed my contract.

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

RK: Agatha Christie, Janet Evanovich, Vince Flynn, and Robert B. Parker

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

RK: An ARC of GOATS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, by Janna Rollins


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

RK: I like walking the trails along our waterfront and taking photos, doing Diamond Art painting, reading, and scrapbooking. My husband and I like to explore the area we live in.

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

RK: Cheese, pickles, salami, crackers

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

RK: I’m contracted for three books for the Mia Reid series. Hopefully there will be more from Mia. And I’m thinking about a new series that I’ll start working on as soon as book two in the Mia Reid series is done.

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

RK: I love meeting readers of all genres. And making up characters and locations! 

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Review

DEATH AT THE SCOTTISH BROCH by Rose Kerr
The First Mia Reid, Archaeologist Mystery 

Professor Mia Reid has finished the Spring semester at Lakeview University and is ready to depart for a summer dig on the Isle of Skye. After being cut off while bicycling to work on her last day before leaving and then being called to the dean's office to be told there will only be one professor position offered in the fall Mia is more than ready to join her good friend Ethan in the field. Before she leaves Canada Ethan tells her of a great find he and his students made and warns her to be careful. When she and her student arrive at the dig site in Scotland they find it surrounded by police. Ethan has been killed. Stunned by the death she's also surprised to find another old friend on the site. Luke is now working for the Antiquities and Art Recover Team of Interpol. Could Ethan's death have been caused by a smuggling ring? With an overzealous sponsor, a sneaky dean, and mysterious strangers Mia will have to run the dig and protect the students. Will she also find a treasure and help solve a murder?

I have long been fascinated with archaeology and was delighted to discover a new series featuring an archaeologist. I love how realistic the approach to archaeology was, from the difficulties in academia, the issues with sponsors, and the actual dig itself...not to mention the smugglers. DEATH AT THE SCOTTISH BROCH captured this reality and combined it with an engrossing mystery. 

I really like Mia, she's strong, capable, and willing to show her emotions. She's forthright and capable of speaking up for herself. I'm sad that we didn't get to engage with Ethan more, but I enjoyed Mia's reconnection with Luke. I also really like Mia's Gran and hope we get to see more of her in future books.

The first Mia Reid, Archaeologist Mystery provides a bit of suspense and some thrills along with a solid mystery. I appreciate how Mia works with the local police, and, of course, Interpol in the person of Luke. Readers are given lots of clues along with lots of sketchy behavior. 

Snippets of history, characters with depth, and a great setting provide DEATH AT THE SCOTTISH BROCH with a solid basis making it a wonderful start to a new series.

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Death at the Scottish Broch: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery by Rose Kerr

About Death at the Scottish Broch

Death at the Scottish Broch: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Isle of Skye, Scotland
Publisher: ‎ Level Best Books (November 5, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 264 pages

Dr. Mia Reid arrives on the Isle of Skye for a summer dig. She learns her friend and trusted colleague, Dr. Ethan Carter, is dead and valuable artifacts are missing.

Interpol agent and Mia’s former lover, Luke Forbes, is working the case with the police. They suspect murder and a smuggling ring.

Mia and her team uncover a treasure with ties to Bonnie Prince Charlie. Then two students are kidnapped, forcing Mia to trade the treasure for their release. During the rescue, she finds a collection of missing artifacts.

Are the smugglers and kidnappers the same people?

Can she dig up the truth before someone else dies?

About Rose Kerr

Rose Kerr writes cozy mysteries featuring strong, smart, women protagonists who must draw on their wits and resourcefulness to solve the crime.

Rose was born in a small community in Nova Scotia and has traveled across Canada.

More recently, Rose and her husband have moved to Southern Ontario. When she isn’t writing, Rose and her husband enjoy exploring the new region.

You can find Rose at her website https://rosekerr.com/

She’s active on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest) as well.

Author Links: 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RoseKerrAuthor  

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/r.m.kerr/?hl=en  

PINTEREST: https://ca.pinterest.com/RoseKerrauthor  

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22146877.Rose_Kerr  

Purchase Links: Amazon US - Amazon Canada - Barnes and Noble - Kobo 

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Cooking to Death - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Marcy Blesy to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Marcy writes the Ghost Texter Paranormal Mystery series. COOKING TO DEATH is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In COOKING TO DEATH we meet Vivien Belcher, a twenty-four year old kindergarden teacher. Did you ever want to be a teacher? What grade level would you prefer? 

MB: I am a former teacher! That's where a lot of my inspiration came from! I have taught kindergarten, fourth, and fifth grades. I was also an elementary school librarian for grades Pre-K through fourth grade. I have MANY years of experience in the schools.

Kathy: We also meet Kasper, Vivien's ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a ghost. Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had any ghostly encounters? 

MB: I have had some strong feelings of being reminded of special people that they are still with me.

Kathy: Kasper is trapped in the Transitional World and has to atone for his many sins in life. Do you think this should be a requirement for all of the departed? 

MB: No. That's not my thought process, but it was fun to fictionalize.

 

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

MB: I loved watching Murder, She Wrote with Jessica Fletcher when I was young. I love the mystery, but I really like the ensemble casts and feel-good stories.
 

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

MB: Yes! I wrote children's books for a decade, mostly early chapter books.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

MB: The Ghost Texter Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series: 24yo Kindergarten teacher, Vivien Belcher--Ms. B, for obvious reasons--is just trying to balance being a new teacher when her life is upended after she gets an unexpected text message from her jerk of an ex-boyfriend......her dead ex-boyfriend. Jealous ghosts only complicate things!

The Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series: 39yo Rosisophia Doroche Laruee, so named from her mother's beloved Golden Girls, has experienced some challenging knocks in life. A visit to her parents' 55+ retirement community is exactly what she needs for a reset. Surely there won't be any trouble. Surely.


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

MB: I always love my protagonists. I loved writing about Vivien as I recalled my years in the classroom. Teaching is HARD. It's frazzling and frustrating and exhausting, but her love for the children always came through.

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

MB: Yes, my Ghost Texter series was inspired by two things: One, my experience in the school system and Two, a TikTok video where a man received a phone call from his dad, but his dad had died years before. Unbeknowst to him, his mom had kept his dad's phone and used it sparingly. That experience sparked the idea of a texting ghost.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

MB: I've had a passion to write books for years. I write full-time now and love it.

 

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

MB: Agatha Christie, Kristin Hannah, Mo Willems, Janet Evanovich


Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

MB: THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL by Robert Dugoni

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

MB: I like to read and travel and take walks along the shores of Lake Michigan.

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

MB: Coca-Cola, black cherry yogurt, eggs, muenster cheese

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

MB: Absolutely! Book 2 in the Ghost Texter Paranormal Series came out on July 25th. Book 3 should be out at the end of the year. I am writing book 7 in the Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series.

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

MB: I love it when I'm stuck and find a way to make the pieces of the story come together like a beautiful puzzle.

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Cooking to Death: Stirring the Pot (The Ghost Texter Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series) by Marcy Blesy

About Cooking to Death

Cooking to Death: Stirring the Pot (The Ghost Texter Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Michigan
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published (June 14, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 302 pages

A Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series:

Twenty-four-year old Vivien Belcher--Ms. B, for obvious reasons--teaches a full class of kindergarten students in Southwest Michigan in a Lake Michigan beach town. Trying to maintain control of her overly enthusiastic students while managing life as a fully-fledged adult, Vivien's life is balancing as perfectly as a gymnast sticking her landing until the scale tips when she receives an unlikely and unwelcome text message from her ex-boyfriend…her dead ex-boyfriend.

Trapped in the Transitional World and having to atone for his many sins in life, Kasper must "make good" by helping to solve the murder of his beloved high school lunch lady. The problem? It's hard to solve a murder as a ghost. But Kasper doesn't count on Vivien's reluctance to help him, not to mention her doubt. And he really doesn't count on his reaction to Vivien moving on with relationships in her life that don't include him.

What ensues is hilarity and frustration as Kasper's time is running out to convince Vivien to help him. Being a ghost is hard. But so is being a new teacher.

Marcy Blesy is the author of The Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series which has sold thousands of books in the hilarious whodunit series.

About Marcy Blesy

 

Marcy Blesy is the author of over thirty books including the popular cozy mystery series: The Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series. Her adult romance mystery series includes The Secret of Blue Lake and The Secret of Silver Beach, set in Michigan. Her children's books include the best selling Be the Vet series along with the following early chapter book series: Evie and the Volunteers, Niles and Bradford, Third Grade Outsider, and Hazel, the Clinic Cat. Marcy enjoys searching for treasures along the shores of Lake Michigan. She's still waiting for the day when she finds a piece of red beach glass. By day she teaches creative writing virtually to amazing students around the world. Marcy is a believer in love and enjoys nothing more than making her readers feel a book more than simply reading it.  

Author Links: 

Website www.marcyblesy.com  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550966870826&mibextid=kFxxJD  

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marcy_blesy?igsh=MXhlYXpibnhoeWkyNw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr  

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211756265-cooking-to-death?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=9iB56fL6mx&rank=1  

Purchase Links - Amazon Book 2: Dribbling to Death (Taking His Shot) August 2024, Preorder Now! 

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Pride and Principal - A Guest Post Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to let Marc Jedel take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. Marc writes the Silicon Valley Mystery series. Pride and Principal is the sixth book in the series. Marty Golden is the protagonist of the series.

Marc (author): What’s with destroying all of Laney’s cars in this series?

Marty [quickly]: That’s not my fault.


Marc (author): Some might say it’s an homage to Janet Evanovich. Her character, Stephanie Plum, always seems to have her cars destroyed in many of Evanovich’s novels.

Marty: If you say so. I don’t have much time to read. Not to mention that I’m not some fictional character. Go ahead, pinch me. You’ll see I’m real.


Marc (author): No thanks. What about some of the crazy predicaments you always seem to wind up in?

Marty: Again, not my fault. I’ll admit to occasionally being a bit impulsive—


Marc (author): Occasionally?

Marty: Hey, I’m getting better at it. Some of the, uh, uncommon situations that happened last week were more Meghan’s doing than mine.


Marc (author): You know this will get published. Are you sure you want to throw her under the bus?

Marty: Uh, no. Definitely not. And now that I think about it, I have to say that none of these issues used to happen before my sister and her girls moved to town. Maybe all this craziness is really Laney’s fault. I wouldn’t put it past her.


Marc (author): Are you and your sister close?

Marty: I suppose we’re closer than we used to be. I mean, she lives only a few miles away from me now and that’s a lot closer than Spokane. [chuckles]. Sorry, I know that’s not what you meant but I’m not really one for introspection.


Marc (author): That’s kind of your motto, isn’t it? Avoiding introspection and leaping into action before you look?

Marty: Up until recently, I would have said my personal motto came from my dad: “If the appetizers are good, eat them. You never know what’s coming for dinner.”


Marc (author): Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Marty: You mean like wingsuit flying, jousting, or bullfighting?


Marc (author): Those are pretty extreme. Are those really your hobbies?

Marty: No, of course not. I’m not an idiot. My hobbies also don’t include tree shaping, extreme ironing, or competitive duck herding even though these are actual things that I’ve stumbled across while browsing the internet.


Marc (author): Seems like you spend a lot of time doing unusual searches?

Marty: Well, there’s only so much attention any one human can devote to staff meetings. I’ve got to do something to keep from going crazy or saying something I’d regret. But, in terms of actual hobbies, I enjoy hiking, surfing, and watching sports. Oh, and of course, hanging out with Meghan. Oh, could you please edit this interview to make that my first answer?


Marc (author): Of course, consider it done. Now, if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Marty: Good try. I know a trick question when I hear one. Next you’ll be asking me for my password and mother’s maiden name, right?


Marc (author): Okay, okay. Switching gears, how do you feel about your life being made into books?

Marty: I don’t understand. What books?


Marc (author): The Silicon Valley Mystery series. They’re humorous murder mysteries. Surely, you’ve heard of them? Nearly 200,000 copies are in readers’ hands?

Marty: Wow, that’s a lot of people. Congrats! But sorry, I’ve never heard of them. Lately, I’ve been too busy to read. I have had this feeling that someone seems to be watching me all the time and writing down whatever I’m saying. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable here. It’s as if the guy is inside my head and knows what I’m thinking. He follows me around everywhere. Is it paranoid if it’s the truth?


Marc (author): Okaaay. Thanks, Marty, for your time. That’ll be all for today.

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My novel, Pride and Principal, is on sale during this tour. It’s available at: https://mybook.to/PrideandPrincipal. You can find all my cozy mysteries at: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL. They’re available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback editions, plus my novels are all free for Kindle Unlimited members.

I love hearing from readers. Follow or contact me at:

Website: www.marcjedel.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author

BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel

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 Pride and Principal: A Silicon Valley Mystery by Marc Jedel

About Pride and Principal

Pride and Principal: A Silicon Valley Mystery
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Setting - California
BGM Press (April 23, 2024)
Number of Pages: 230

The school secretary has a sharp tongue but is she a killer? Can Marty do the math or will he get schooled by a criminal mastermind?

Marty Golden is frazzled. Struggling to juggle nieces, a rambunctious dog, a demanding job, and a serious relationship, the software engineer is never quite sure whether he’s coming or going. But when his nemesis begs for help after she’s accused of offing the school principal, the amateur sleuth agrees to hunt down the real culprit.

Confounded to discover the cantankerous woman stood to take the dead man’s position, he strives to find anyone who could benefit from discrediting the grump. And when his brilliant deductions and personal life implode, not even Marty’s groan-worthy dad-jokes can save him from an explosive threat.

Does this bumbling amateur sleuth have what it takes to capture the real killer?

Pride and Principal is the rollicking sixth book in the Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like heroes in over their head, family hijinks, and plenty of wit and charm, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s wild ride.

Try Pride and Principal to put two and two together today!

 About Marc Jedel

Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. It’s a skill that’s served him well as both an author and marketer. The publication of Marc’s first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations with people than answering, “marketing.”

Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, he grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like his character, Andy, from the Redwoods Country Mystery series, Marc continues to grow older and would prefer not to run a bed-and-breakfast inn when he retires. Like all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

Visit his website, marcjedel.com, for free chapters of novels, special offers, and more.

Author Links

• Website and mailing list: www.marcjedel.com
• Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Jedel/e/B07H7MVKJL
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author
• BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel?follow=true
• Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/

Purchase Links - Amazon

The Portraints of Pemberly - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

Karoline Bingley has decided to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. When not commandeering other people's blogs, you can find Karoline on the pages of the Austen University Mystery series. THE PORTRAITS OF PEMBERLY is the second book in the series and was released this week!

To: lbennet@au.edu

From: kbingley@au.edu

Subject: Free Darcy!

Lizzy - since we’ve agreed to team up to clear Darcy’s name, I thought you might start by posting something in that little school paper of yours. I know no one actually reads it most of the time, but maybe if I post it on my socials, too, it might stand a chance of being seen.

I’ve taken the liberty of putting together the article since, let’s face it, your newspaper is usually a snoozefest.

***

Stop the presses! (That’s what you people say, right?) It has come to our attention that there has been an EGREGIOUS error that must be corrected immediately. Fo-Hian Darcy has been accused of assaulting George Wickham and will lose his place at Austen University if we don’t rally the troops!

Darcy obviously didn’t do it. OBVIOUSLY. First of all, Darcy’s super rich. You think he would assault someone on his own? With that kind of money? He would definitely hire someone to do it, not do it himself. And did anyone see a paid thug running away from the scene of the crime? No. Therefore, it wasn’t him!

Second of all, Darcy might not like Wickham, but Wickham is so far below him on the social ladder that it doesn’t make sense for him to actually DO something about it. It would be like if a thoroughbred horse decided it didn’t like a fly that kept buzzing around it. Well, duh, but the horse isn’t going to beat the fly up, strip it naked, and tie it up on campus. That’s SO much effort just to get rid of a little fly.

Third of all, I’m sorry, I just can’t imagine it. Darcy’s, like, cultured. He reads the news and watches documentaries, FOR FUN. That is not the kind of man who goes around tying up people naked.

I rest my case, your honor. Now it’s time for the people to demand justice! We will not rest until Darcy’s free! (Metaphorically. He’s not, like, in jail or anything.)

For more details on this fascinating unraveling case, follow me on TikTok- @KweenKaroline  

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Review

THE PORTRAITS OF PEMBERLY by Elizabeth Gilliland

The Second Austen University Mystery

 

It may have been poetic justice that George Wickham was found tied up, spread eagle, and completely naked on the campus square, but his comeuppance comes at a cost. Lizzy Bennett is threatened with expulsion if she doesn't find out who assaulted Wickham and then Darcy confesses to the crime. Believing him to be innocent, Lizzie and members of the Austen Murder Club will try to uncover the real culprit before Darcy's untimely exit from Austen University.

The second Austen University Mystery once again transports and updates the characters of Jane Austen's novels placing them in a modern Louisiana University. You don't need to be familiar with these characters in order to enjoy the current mystery, but the more you know about them, the greater appreciation you'll have. After a congenial meeting between Lizzie and a sexy TA, he revealed his name, which may have led me to gasp in horror.

 

I really enjoyed this re-imagination of these famous characters. The mystery was intriguing, as well as everyone's actions and reactions to things going on. I liked how the unlikable Karoline Bingley became almost a good guy while other baddies remain just as despicable. 

The one thing I didn't care for was the timeline. The story started after "the incident", then it went to a time before the incident. Time seemed to go back and forth and although chapters were labeled it caused for some confusion.

With great character dynamics, foes learning to work together, and the realization that first impressions are not always correct, THE PORTRAITS OF PEMBERLY is a fun read for everyone, not just Jane Austen fans.

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The Portraits of Pemberley (Austen University Mysteries) by Elizabeth Gilliland

About The Portraits of Pemberley

The Portraits of Pemberley (Austen University Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Louisiana
Bayou Wolf Press (July 5, 2023)
Number of Pages - 285

After George Wickham is found tied up, naked, on the Austen University Campus Square, President de Bourgh gives student journalist Lizzy Bennet an ultimatum: Find out who committed the crime, or be expelled from the school. Lizzy must team up with some old friends (like the Austen Murder Club) and some new (like...Karoline Bingley?) to get to the bottom of the truth.

Complicating matters is the fact that the prime suspect is Fo-Hian Darcy. Darcy and Lizzy have a messy history, but even so, Lizzy just can't accept that Darcy committed the crime. An anonymous whistleblower tips off Lizzy about a secret website called the Portraits of Pemberley that may help her get to the bottom of the mystery--but discovering the truth about who's involved may very well challenge everything that Lizzy believes.

The Portraits of Pemberley is Book 2 of the Austen University Mysteries series but can be read as a standalone novel. It combines plot points of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with Sense and Sensibility (and characters from all of Austen's novels) in a modern-university setting, with mysteries.

About Elizabeth Gilliland

Elizabeth Gilliland is a writer, Dr., wife, mom, and lifelong Jane Austen fan. She is a playwright (whose plays have appeared off-off Broadway), a screenwriter (with a master's in screenwriting and production), an academic (with a PhD and a dissertation on Jane Austen adaptations), and now a published author! When she isn't writing or grading papers, she is most likely reading a good book, binge watching the latest hit, working on a puzzle, or hanging with her cute kid.

Author Links: 

Blog - https://medium.com/@lissag7  

Twitter: @egilliland7 – https://twitter.com/egilliland7  

Publisher Website: www.bayouwolfpress.com  

Purchase Link - Amazon

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What Happened on Box Hill - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Elizabeth Gilliland to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Elizabeth pens the Austen University Mystery series. WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL is the first book in the series and was released last week. 

Kathy: WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL brings the characters of Jane Austen into the present day. While the work of Jane Austen is just as relevant today as it was over 100 years ago, what made you decide to rejuvenate her characters?

EG: When I first started writing WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL, I also happened to be writing my dissertation about Jane Austen adaptations, so the topic was on my mind. I am a big fan of Jane Austen, and I also grew up loving so many of the amazing adaptations that have been made–Clueless, Sense and Sensibility (1995), the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice, etc. During my studies I found that a lot of fans, academics, and readers really seemed to resent some of the adaptations, but I always thought that anything that allowed me more time in the world of Austen was a good thing. When I thought about writing my own (then hypothetical) version, I knew it would have to be something I’d never seen before, and I love genre hybrids, so I thought why not really think outside the box? Part of what makes Austen brilliant is her adaptability into so many times, cultures, traditions, and genres, so I hope that this is a fitting tribute!

Kathy: Setting plays an important part in mysteries, why choose Louisanna, indeed a college in Louisiana, for the Austen University Mystery series?

EG: Part of the decision was purely practical–I was living in Louisiana at the time I began writing, going to school and teaching at LSU. It was a brand-new culture for me (I do NOT come from the South) and it just felt right. Even after moving to a different Southern state, I still felt like Louisiana had the best flair for this story. There is something really kind of fun and weird about Louisiana that fits the setting for a fun, weird murder mystery.

Kathy: There have been many adaptations of Jane Austen's novels, several set in the present day. My favorite is the film Bride and Prejudice. Do you have a favorite?

EG: I love Bride and Prejudice, too! It’s hard to choose just one, but I think my all-time favorite would have to be Clueless. It’s just such a smart adaptation and it has the most nostalgic value for me. A close runner up would be The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, which is really innovative and fun and isn’t afraid to take the story in new and unexpected directions.

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

EG: I kind of was a fan of cozy mysteries before I knew what they were. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at the local library and read pretty much anything I could get my hands on. I love lots of different genres, but some of the earliest books I remember really sticking with me (aside from Austen) were Mary Higgins Clark and Agatha Christie. Like I said before, I love genre hybrids and a cozy mystery is just the perfect blend of naughty and nice, funny and dark, to keep things interesting.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

EG: Yes - I pretty much write whatever I’m in the mood to read. In the past few years I’ve been doing a lot of literary retellings, but most are genre hybrids, ranging from romance to fairytale noir to space opera. This will be my first published novel, though, but hopefully some of those will be ready to see the light of day in the near future!


Kathy: Tell us about your series.  

EG: The Austen University Mysteries re-envisions the main characters from all of Jane Austen’s novels in one modern setting: Austen University, a small school in Louisiana.

The series will work both for fans of Austen and those unfamiliar with her work; the novels contain unique, individual stories that you can follow even if you’ve never read Austen (I’ve had beta readers verify this!) but also pay homage to major plot points and characters that Austen fans will recognize.


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

EG: Hmmm… that’s really difficult, because I truly have grown to love them all. Maybe Tilney, because he was probably the character who most consistently refused to stick to what he was supposed to do.


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

EG: Aside from Austen, I wanted the book to really pay tribute to Agatha Christie and true crime podcasts, and to have the feeling of Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” lyric video (found here). Also, the series came out after I’d finished writing the book, but the tone of Only Murders in the Building is very similar to what I was hoping to accomplish.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

EG: My husband was actually very much a driving force, both in encouraging me to write the novel in the first place (I thought I was just having fun daydreaming, but he told me I should actually write it down) and in having the courage to start our own small press and publish. Without him I really don’t think I would have been brave enough to do it.


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

EG: Ooh, good question. It will probably come as no surprise from my previous answers that Jane Austen and Agatha Christie would definitely be on the invite list. I would be very curious to meet Lord Byron, so we’ll make him the third. And because I love her and I think she would be as excited to meet Jane Austen as I would be, I’ll make Emma Thompson my fourth.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

EG: I’m reading John Green’s THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED for a book club that I’m in. I don’t know if it’s a book I would have chosen for myself, but it’s really interesting!


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

EG: I’ve gotten back into cross-stitching lately. I used to do it a lot when I was younger, fell out of it for a long time, and took it back up again (like everyone and their mother) during the early days of quarantine. It is incredibly relaxing and I’m glad it’s back in my life!


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

EG: Cottage cheese, grapes, dark cocoa powder, and honey


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

EG: There are two more books to follow soon in the Austen University series - next up will be THE PORTRAITS OF PEMBERLEY and the third and final will be LOVERS' VOWS.


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

EG: So many things, but today something cool and new happened - I got to look my book up on Amazon and click through the ‘look inside’ preview. I’ve done that for a thousand other books before, but doing it for my own book, I had a weird lightbulb moment realizing, I’m publishing a book! I don’t know why, but that really made everything feel real!

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Review

WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL by Elizabeth Gilliland
The First Austen University Mystery

Freshman Caty Morland is excited to be a student at Austen University pledging the Pi Kappa Sigma sorority. Although she's having some issues with her roommate, Isabella, Caty still considers the girl her bestie If only her brother wasn't such a jerk. When Isabella winds up dead, Caty is certain it's murder, not an accident, and is determined to investigate, just like the heroes on her favorite podcast. With some cute boys, some sorority house drama, and some mysterious goings on, Caty will have to keep her wits about her lest she meets an untimely end!

WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL transforms Jane Austen's characters into university students in modern day Louisiana. While you don't have to be familiar with the original characters, basic knowledge does make this mystery even more fun. I love seeing the interplay of characters from different novels, though admittedly I really only know the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE gang.

I was never a part of sorority life, in fact my university didn't have Greek life at all, a fact for which I am extremely grateful. Indeed, modern day sororities and fraternities mirror the societal mores of Jane Austen's time. I think Jane would appreciate this aspect in particular. The timeline, going back and forth telling the story from before Isabella's death and Caty's investigation after, was a bit cumbersome, especially with all of the characters involved. I did like how Caty thought through her investigation, making plenty of mistakes and assumptions along the way. However, the idea that the local police were encouraging her was a bit unbelievable.

WHAT HAPPENED ON BOX HILL is a fun reimagining of Jane Austen characters in a thoroughly modern world.

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 What Happened on Box Hill: Austen University Mysteries by Elizabeth Gilliland

About What Happened on Box Hill

 

What Happened on Box Hill: Austen University Mysteries
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Louisianna
Bayou Wolf Press (February 1, 2022) 240 Pages

What would happen if you combined all of Jane Austen’s characters into one modern-day novel?

Murder, of course.

When Caty Morland’s roommate, Isabella, falls to her death on Initiation night, Austen University is quick to cover up the scandal and call it a tragic accident. But avid true-crime lover Caty remains convinced that Isabella didn’t fall; she was murdered. With the help of Pi Kappa Sigma President Emma Woodhouse, Caty organizes a dinner party with the most likely suspects, including familiar faces such as Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Knightley, and Marianne Dashwood. The theme of the night is murder, and Caty has three courses to find out what happened to Isabella--and to try to keep the killer from striking again.

 

About Elizabeth Gilliland

Elizabeth Gilliland teaches English at the university level, putting as much Austen into her syllabi as she can get away with. In 2018, she completed her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, where she wrote her dissertation on Jane Austen adaptations and fever-dreamed this series in a caffeine-induced haze. She is a proud member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, and excerpts of the Austen University series have won awards through JASNA and Jane Austen & Co/The Jane Austen Summer Program. She lives in Alabama with her husband and son.

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