Spotlight - Sins of My Youth

I'm pleased to shine a spotlight on Sins of My Youth by Mary Ann Edwards.

Synopsis:

Back Cover Copy for Sins of My Youth
 
Secrets, lies, and revenge. What a deadly combination! When the owner of a local strip club is found with his throat slit, Detective Charlie McClung has only one obvious suspect: his wife’s best friend, Joan. Even though Charlie finds her clutching a bloody knife while standing over the body, he has been around long enough to know that crime scenes aren’t always as they first appear. But as other suspects become victims themselves, Charlie must delve deeper into Joan’s dark and seedy past to prove her innocence.

Bio:


Mary Anne Edwards is the author of The Charlie McClung Mysteries, Brilliant Disguise, A Good Girl, Criminal Kind, and Sins of My Youth. These are traditional murder mysteries with a touch of romance. There are six more books planned for this series. But her imagination tends to run wild, so you never know when it may end. Mary Anne was born in Mercedes, Texas. She now lives in Georgia with her husband of 35+ years and her Tuxedo cat, Gertrude. She and her husband dream of retiring in ... Well, they haven’t decided yet. For years, she only dabbled in writing, but with the encouragement of her husband, she left the accounting world to write full-time. Mary Anne is an advocate for the developmentally challenged and sits on the advisory board of Rockdale Cares, Inc. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime – Atlanta Chapter. Mary Anne can thankfully say that she is a breast cancer survivor. When Mary Anne is not writing, she loves to read, and watch all kinds of mysteries.

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Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaryanneedwards/
Website:  http://maryanneedwards.com/
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/maryanneedwards/
Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MaryAnneEdwards/posts
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/maryanneedwards
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/maedwards58
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Anne-Edwards/e/B00HZ28TIQ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791576.Mary_Anne_Edwards
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-anne-edwards
Wiselike:  https://wiselike.com/mary-anne-edwards



Buy Links Amazon
“Brilliant Disguise” – Amazon - http://goo.gl/OaJGwc
“A Good Girl” – Amazon – http://goo.gl/CBW00b
“Criminal Kind” – Amazon - http://goo.gl/7EzXn8

Buy Links Barnes & Noble
Brilliant Disguise - http://goo.gl/vTHD3S
A Good Girl - http://goo.gl/c5KmpA
Criminal Kind - http://goo.gl/I6Yuu3

A Criminal Kind Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Mary Anne Edwards back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Mary Anne writes The Charlie McClung Mystery series. Criminal Kind, the third book in the series, is being released today!

Kathy: The Charlie McClung Mystery series is a traditional mystery series. While staying true to yourself, do you sometimes try to channel some of the authors of the Golden Age of detective fiction, such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers?

MAE: I love the Golden Age detectives and I truly hope my stories has at least a tiny bit of that spirit woven into them. Someone once compared my writing style to that of Agatha Christie. I was thrilled by the compliment, not that I think I’m anywhere near her caliber. Maybe one day. An old lady can dream, right?


Kathy: Speaking of these great authors of the past, many were very interested in true crime and often studied cases and came up with their own theories. Are you interested in true crime as well? If so, stories of the past only, or current true crime cases as well?

MAE: Love true crimes of the past! So interesting to see how crime-solving has evolved over the years. Current crime cases can be interesting as well. Even with the advancements we have now, solving a mystery can still prove to be most difficult.


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?

MAE:  I fall somewhere in between. For each story, I have a three-ring binder with loose leaf paper. I first come up with the crime, then the characters, and then write a few lines for each chapter. The chapters always change but at least I have a beginning, middle, and an ending.


Kathy: Your protagonist in the Charlie McClung Mystery series is a man. Is there a reason you chose to have a man instead of a woman take the lead role in your series?

MAE: Good question! Well, I wanted to write a traditional mystery and I’ve always liked a man in the lead. I’m old fashion, I guess. So, I decided to have a strong male who could handle a strong, yet feminine, female. They are equals as well. My characters are based on real people and real situations.


Kathy: In Criminal Kind Detective Charlie McClung takes a Caribbean cruise. Have you ever been on a cruise?

MAE: Yes, I’ve been on 10 or 11 cruises. Love cruising! I did take a few liberties with the staff and their job duties. But it’s fiction, right? Sometimes facts are not that exciting. I hope I will be forgiven.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

MAE: I do a lot of people watching during a cruise. I wonder how many of the passengers are criminals in disguise. If any one of them, could toss someone over the side of the ship or push someone down the stairs without a second thought. My mind begins to spin and different scenarios pop into my head. I wonder how many people assume a different persona while on board and then return to their “real” life once they’re off the ship.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Charlie?

MAE: Charlie’s career advances. His and Marian's relationship will deepen. There will be surprises and tragedies.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

MAE: The fourth book, “Sins of My Youth,” will be focused on Joan, Marian’s best friend. And you’ll see the stalker, again. Right now, I have a total of 10 books planned for this series. Who knows how far Charlie and Marian will go.

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The author has an e-book for two lucky readers. One reader will win a Kindle copy of Brilliant Disguise, the first book in the Charlie McClung Mystery series and the other a Kindle copy of A Good Girl, the second in the series.To qualify, simply leave a comment on this post no later than 11:59 EDT Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Tell us if you've ever been on a cruise. Be sure to leave your e-mail address so that I may contact you if you win along with which book you'd prefer to win.

Review, Spotlight, & Giveaway - The Golden Age of Murder

Review

The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards

A woman who has recently discovered that her husband intends to leave her for another woman disappears. Police and citizens alike search for days with no results. Another woman found herself pregnant after a torrid affair. When told, the man in question informs her that he's married and wants nothing more to do with her, or the baby. The woman, aided by the man's wife, invents a mysterious illness to account for her extended absence from work and delivers the baby in secret. Plot lines for mystery novels? No, true life events of two of the most popular mystery writers of all time. They say truth is stranger than fiction. The Golden Age of Murder proves that saying true!

This book is not a cozy mystery, but it's about the genesis of them. The Golden Age of Murder is a highly researched book of non fiction about the Detection Club. Founded in the late 1920s, the group was "an elite social network of writers". Some of the greatest writers of detective fiction of all time were members of this exclusive club. In order to give details about the club, Edwards tells the stories of some of his members-whose lives could be just as mysterious as their novels. I was aware of the true life disappearance of Agatha Christie (of course, I know what happened to her as well-she was recovering from investigating a series of murders caused by a Vespiform), but was unfamiliar with the lives of some of the other members of this Club, Dorothy L. Sayers, G. K. Chesterton, and Anthony Berkeley, for example. 

Martin Edwards looks to solve the riddles of the Detection Club and provide truths to its mysterious history. Sharing the details of the oft times very private members of the group provides insight into the wonderful detective novels they wrote. The book also looks at the camaraderie and how authors worked together for promotional purposes as well as sharing the good and bad of the publishing world well before the advent of social media. Edwards has some expertise being the Detective Club's first Archivist. Sadly, his work has been made more difficult owing to the fact that almost all of the organization's early information, including minutes of meetings, was lost during the Blitz.

Although at times disjointed and not always a chronological history, with so much information I would be hard pressed to find a better way of disseminating it. While The Golden Age of Murder is a heavy tome it is not ponderous reading. The writing is engaging and the subject matter compelling. Each chapter is a story unto itself thus the book need not be read in one sitting, although the chapters do build upon each other. If you have any interest in the history of the mystery genre and some of its most prominent writers, you would do well to read this book. I discovered many new things and enjoyed learning more about the people who set the standard for this amazing genre!

 

The Golden Age of Murder

by Martin Edwards

on Tour April 28 - May 31, 2015

Book Details:

Genre: Biography, Mystery, Classic Crime
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: May 7th 2015
Number of Pages: 512
ISBN: 0008105960 (ISBN13: 9780008105969)
Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

A real-life detective story, investigating how Agatha Christie and colleagues in a mysterious literary club transformed crime fiction, writing books casting new light on unsolved murders whilst hiding clues to their authors’ darkest secrets.
This is the first book about the Detection Club, the world’s most famous and most mysterious social network of crime writers. Drawing on years of in-depth research, it reveals the astonishing story of how members such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers reinvented detective fiction.
Detective stories from the so-called “Golden Age” between the wars are often dismissed as cosily conventional. Nothing could be further from the truth: some explore forensic pathology and shocking serial murders, others delve into police brutality and miscarriages of justice; occasionally the innocent are hanged, or murderers get away scot-free. Their authors faced up to the Slump and the rise of Hitler during years of economic misery and political upheaval, and wrote books agonising over guilt and innocence, good and evil, and explored whether killing a fellow human being was ever justified. Though the stories included no graphic sex scenes, sexual passions of all kinds seethed just beneath the surface.
Attracting feminists, gay and lesbian writers, Socialists and Marxist sympathisers, the Detection Club authors were young, ambitious and at the cutting edge of popular culture – some had sex lives as bizarre as their mystery plots. Fascinated by real life crimes, they cracked unsolved cases and threw down challenges to Scotland Yard, using their fiction to take revenge on people who hurt them, to conduct covert relationships, and even as an outlet for homicidal fantasy. Their books anticipated not only CSI, Jack Reacher and Gone Girl, but also Lord of the Flies. The Club occupies a unique place in Britain’s cultural history, and its influence on storytelling in fiction, film and television throughout the world continues to this day.
The Golden Age of Murder rewrites the story of crime fiction with unique authority, transforming our understanding of detective stories and the brilliant but tormented men and women who wrote them.

Author Bio:

Martin Edwards was educated in Northwich and at Balliol College, Oxford University, taking a first class honours degree in law. He trained as a solicitor in Leeds and moved to Liverpool on qualifying in 1980. He published his first legal article at the age of 25 and become a partner in the firm of Mace and Jones in 1984.

He is married to Helena with two children (Jonathan and Catherine) and lives in Lymm. Martin is a member of the Murder Squad collective of crime writers, and is chairman of the nominations sub-committee for the CWA Diamond Dagger (crime writing's most prestigious award). In 2007 he was appointed the Archivist of the Crime Writers Association.

Catch Up:

Tour Participants:

Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Martin Edwards & Harper Collins. There will be one winner of 1 physical copy of The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards to a US recipient. The giveaway begins on April 28th, 2015 and runs through June 3rd, 2015 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards. This book is not a cozy mystery, but it's about the genesis of them. The Golden Age of Murder is a highly researched book of non fiction about the Detection Club. Founded in the late 1920s, the group was "an elite social network of writers". Some of the greatest writers of detective fiction of all time were members of this exclusive club. Giving details about the club itself, Edwards also tells the stories of some of his members-whose lives could be just as mysterious as their novels. I was aware of the true life disappearance of Agatha Christie (of course, I know what happened to her as well-she was recovering from investigating a series of murders caused by a Vespiform), but was unfamiliar with the lives of some of the other members of this Club, Dorothy L. Sayers, G. K. Chesterton, and Anthony Berkeley, for example. I'm enjoying learning more about the people who set the standard for this amazing genre!

To see a glimpse of how I learned what really happened to Agatha Christie check out this video:

Brilliant Interview & Giveaway!

I'm pleased to welcome Mary Anne Edwards to Cozy Up With Kathy. Mary Anne writes the Charlie McClung Mystery series. The first book in the series, Brilliant Disguise, was released in February 2014 followed by A Good Girl. The third in the series, Criminal Kind will be released June 30th. So, if you haven't started the series yet you have time to catch up!

Kathy: In Brilliant Disguise, Charlie McClung leaves the big city for a small one when he isn't able to find fulfillment in his career or personal life. Have you ever made a similar change?

MAE: My husband and I moved about three years ago to be closer to his work. I retired from my job as branch manager at a small credit union and began writing full-time. Not quite as drastic as Detective Charlie McClung but was quite a change for me, leaving our home of 26 years.


Kathy: The Charlie McClung Mystery series is set in the 1980s. What made you choose this time period?

MAE: This was a time when technology was just emerging, computers and cellphones were not common place. I feel that detectives had to rely more on their interview techniques, observations, and deduction of clues.


Kathy: You are very active in social media. What are your favorite aspects of it? What don't you like about it?

MAE: I love being able to connect with my readers. I enjoy seeing their pictures, I laugh when they laugh, and I cry when they are suffering. I feel their prayers and I hope they feel mine. I feel like we are close friends and family. There really isn’t much that I don’t like about it.


Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

MAE:I love solving puzzles, connecting the dots. I guess I’m curious, nosy, so to speak


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MAE: I have written Christian short stories, few have been published. My first manuscript, “Useless Beauty,” is Women’s fiction. One day, I will dust if off and publish it.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

MAE:  Oh, that’s hard for me to do. The Charlie McClung series are mysteries with a touch of romance. That’s it in a nutshell. My characters are different from most mysteries. They are mature, respectful, and believable. They are based on people I know. I hope readers will fall in love with them and will want to get to know them more intimately.


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

MAE: Right now, I would have to say, Ma, Charlie’s mother. She is funny, lovable, a great cook, loves everyone, and everyone loves her. She was going to be in just one book but I’ve had so many readers asking me to bring her back. So she will be in the fourth and fifth book. Who knows where she’ll pop up?


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

MAE: The first book was based on a true story. I get inspiration from news stories and Tom Petty songs, note the book titles.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MAE: My husband. He is my champion and cheerleader. With his support and encouragement, I followed my dream.


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

MAE: Just four? Fine, I’ll do my best to limit my party to four. Elizabeth Peters, Agatha Christie, Caroline Graham, and Wilbur Smith. If I can have one more, Gretchen Archer.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MAE: A must read! Expedition Indigo by Stacy Allen.


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

MAE: I’m rather boring. I collect shot glasses. Whenever I travel, I like to find a Christmas ornament for my ornament tree. My hobbies are reading, watching mysteries and historical fiction. I love anything Egyptian. I tried to teach myself to read hieroglyphics but my eyes crossed. I’ll try again, one day.


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

MAE: Eggs, cereal, Almond milk, and Diet Dr Pepper.


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

MAE: Right now, I have ten planned for the Charlie McClung Mysteries, who knows there may be more. I will publish Useless Beauty, my first manuscript and republish my collection of short stories.


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

MAE: I get to create my own world. I’m a puppeteer making my characters do and say whatever I want. Well, sometimes, they tell me “no” and do what they want to do. Plus, I get to set my own hours.


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Mary Anne Edwards has graciously offered a Kindle edition of  Brilliant Disguise and A Good Girl to Cozy Up With Kathy readers. To qualify all you have to do is comment on this blog post telling us what you like about mysteries set in the not too distant past. Also be sure to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you, should you win. Leave your comment no later than Sunday night at 11:59 pm EST. I'll use Random.org to pick 2 winners, one for each book!

Brilliant Disguise Teaser