Vacations Can Be Murder - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

 Review

VACATIONS CAN BE MURDER:
A TRUE CRIME LOVER'S TRAVEL GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND
VOLUME 1
By Dawn M. Barclay 

 

True crime enthusiasts who like to travel, even if it's only via armchair, will appreciate VACATIONS CAN BE MURDER: A TRUE CRIME LOVER'S TRAVEL GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND VOLUME 1. This handy book gives each state its own chapter which is then divided into sections: basic crime statistics and brief segments about the crimes followed by a sampling of true crime books set in that state. The next section includes various places to see including accommodations, restaurants, and other attractions. Addresses, websites, and current hours and prices are also given as well as more snippets about the crimes that took place there. The last section for each state features the itineraries, multiple ones for each state giving driving directions to a set of true crime sights. As with any travel book the problem is that they can easily become outdated. Information such as prices and hours of operations can change quickly and the author urges people to call before making any definitive plans. In addition, the stories remain the same even if restaurants and tour companies fade away.

 

The book includes notorious true crime cases, such as Lizzie Borden and Kitty Genovese, and historical cases such as the Salem Witch trials and the Boston Strangler, however a large number of the cases are tawdry murders which only die hard true crime fans, or those with some association, would be interested. I personally wouldn't care to visit the site where a man repeatedly stabbed his neighbor, though I may want to pay respects nearby where a woman was hanged for witchcraft.

 

This book is exceedingly well researched with a wonderful bibliography and index at the end. I really enjoyed reading about the haunted restaurants and hotels and found those bit even more interesting than some of the true crime sections.

 

Well organized and easily readable VACATIONS CAN BE MURDER: A TRUE CRIME LOVER'S TRAVEL GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND VOLUME 1 is an enjoyable travel guide for fans of true crime and those interested in more unique travel destinations.

 

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VACATIONS CAN BE MURDER

A TRUE CRIME TRAVEL GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND

by Dawn M Barclay

April 28 - May 23, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Vacations Can Be Murder

 

As Close as You Can Get to True Crime While Still Breathing!

For the true crime lover—finally, a travel guide from an award-winning travel journalist and suspense author that gives you the down and dirty on exactly where the major crimes occurred, and where the bodies are buried. For aficionados of paranormal, prison, and tombstone travel, there’s a goldmine of tourism suggestions for you here as well.

Along with summaries of the major crimes committed in New England, you’ll discover where to find the best crime and ghost tours; which hotels and restaurants are former jails, courthouses, or harbor paranormal activity; where infamous criminals are/were jailed, and which venues and attractions might feed your fancy for murder and justice. Reading lists in each chapter will guide you to books expounding on the crimes discussed.. Best of all, suggested itineraries bring all the pieces together to help you traverse New England’s criminal landscape in an organized and entertaining way. Up for a true crime road trip? Let Vacations Can Be Murder be your ultimate travel guide.

Praise for Vacations Can Be Murder:

"The perfect reference book for the U. S. crime traveler. Barclay rounds up a collection of known and obscure crimes, arranged by geographic area, that features museums, cemeteries, hotels, prisons, and private properties. She even offers itineraries, murder tours, a location-specific list of true-crime books, victim resources, and some ghost stories. This travel guide is a gem. Be packed and ready before you start reading because you’ll want to go explore."
~ Katherine Ramsland, author of Darkest Waters, The Nutcracker Investigations, and How to Catch a Killer

Vacations Can Be Murder Trailer:

Book Details:

Genre: True Crime, Travel
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Number of Pages: 340
Series: Vacations Can Be Murder, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt from Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England:

This is from the Crime Summaries section of the Connecticut chapter. The actual addresses of these crimes are all included in the Itineraries section of the chapter.

Hartford may be considered one of Connecticut’s most dangerous cities, but its suburbs have seen their fair share of crime over the years.

The Hartford Witch Trials occurred between 1647-1663. In all of Connecticut, there were 43 trials and 16 executions, many in Hartford and three in Wethersfield. On May 26, 1647, Alice (Alse) Young of Windsor was the first to be executed. Servant girl Mary Johnson was the first to confess to witchcraft in Connecticut but was likely coerced by extensive torture. She was executed somewhere between 1648-1650 (reports vary).

In 1839, The Amistad criminal and civil cases were tried at Old Statehouse in Hartford. The case revolved around a mutiny by, and subsequent charging of, 53 Mende African men, women, and children who had been captured and were being transported between Sierra Leone and Havana, Cuba aboard the ship to serve as slaves. The story was the subject of the Steven Spielberg film, Amistad. Several other Connecticut locations connected to the trial can be found at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelamistad/visit.htm.

Joseph “Mad Dog” Taborsky was a murderer sentenced to death after a string of brutal robberies and murders in Hartford and West Hartford in the 1950s. He was sentenced twice to be executed for two different crimes, but the first conviction was overturned due to the mental competency of a witness, his brother Albert, testifying against him. (Albert was later declared insane.) In December 1956, a little over a year after his release from prison, Taborsky launched a 14-month murder spree that killed gas station attendant Edward Kurpewski and customer Daniel Janowski, package store owner Samuel Cohn, shoe store customers Bernard and Ruth Speyer, and pharmacy owner John M. “Jack” Rosenthal. The second conviction stuck, and he died in the electric chair in 1960, the last execution in Connecticut until that of Michael Bruce Ross in 2005.

In 2004, Matthew Steven Johnson was convicted of the 2000 and 2001 slayings of three female sex workers he murdered—Rosali Jimenez (33), Aida Quinones (33), and Alesia Ford (37)—who were all found dead in the Asylum Hill neighborhood of Hartford. Each of the women had drugs in their system and were found with their bodies stomped upon, strewn with Johnson’s semen, and with their pants pulled down around one leg. Johnson was found guilty and sentenced to three consecutive 60-year sentences at the Cheshire Correctional Institution.

Lazale Ashby became one of the youngest prisoners on Connecticut’s death row for kidnapping, raping, burglarizing, and murdering his neighbor Elizabeth Garcia in 2002, when he was just 18. He was suspected of another Hartford rape, as well.

Ashby has actually been tried and sentenced three times for Garcia’s murder, the final time in 2023, when he confessed to the crime. Now that Connecticut has abolished the death penalty, he’s been sentenced to 46.5 years in prison. In addition, he was convicted and received a 25-year sentence for the 2003 fatal shooting of 22-year-old Nahshon Cohen of Manchester, whose body was found on a street in the city’s North End.

Speaking of Manchester, in August of 2010, the city became the location of a mass shooting at a beer distribution company, Hartford Distributors. Disgruntled former employee Omar Thorton, forced to resign after video evidence revealed he’d been stealing and reselling the company’s beer, fatally shot eight coworkers and injured two others. He then committed suicide on site. Those who knew him cited racism as the reason for his upset, but these allegations were disputed by the firm and not substantiated by the investigation that followed.

William Devin Howell’s rape and murder spree, which started on New Year’s Day in 2003, took place in Seymour, West Hartford, and Wethersfield, as well as New Britain. Triggered by a fight with his girlfriend, Howell succumbed to years-long rape fantasies, Referring to himself as the “Sick Ripper,” he would lure female drug addicts, unlikely to be missed, into his “murder mobile.” There, he would rape them, often videotaping bizarre sex acts, before murdering them and disposing of the bodies in a seldom frequented area behind a strip mall in New Britain which he called his “garden.” He was arrested in North Carolina and plea-bargained his way into a fifteen-year sentence for the manslaughter of Mary Jane Menard. However, new evidence that surfaced while he was already in jail earned him six consecutive life sentences (360 years in prison) to be spent at the Cheshire Correctional Institution.

In 1986 at the Jamaican Progressive League, a club in Hartford’s North End, Bonnie Foreshaw stopped to get a beer and ended up committing a murder that bought her the longest jail sentence ever handed down to a woman in the state. Having endured a lifetime of sexual and spousal abuse, when Hector Freeman offered to buy her a drink and wouldn’t let up when she turned him down, the encounter triggered her. She drew her handgun to fire a warning shot, but Freeman protected himself by using a pregnant woman, Joyce Amos, as a human shield. Foreshaw’s bullet killed her accidently.

Foreshaw spent the majority of her jail time at the York Correctional Institution in Niantic where author Wally Lamb taught a writing class for prisoners. Lamb took up her cause, believing she’d been over-sentenced, and thanks to his help, Foreshaw was granted clemency after serving just 27 years of a 49-year sentence. Once released, she changed her name to Bonnie Jean Cook and helped other ex-convicts adjust to life on the outside until her death in 2022.

All of these murders pale in comparison to the crimes of Amy Archer-Gilligan. While she was charged with five deaths (though only tried for one), she may have killed as many as one hundred. Archer-Gilligan ran the Archer Home for Elderly People and Chronic Invalids in the Hartford suburb of Windsor, where countless older residents were bilked out of money and then poisoned by arsenic, including the murderer’s own husbands. Other locations tied to Archer-Gilligan include Newington, where she and her first husband James Archer lived with John Seymour until he died, and then they transformed the home into Sister Amy’s Nursing Home for the Elderly. In 1917, she was convicted of the murder of Franklin Andrew and sentenced to death by hanging, but she appealed. During a second trial in 1919, she pleaded insanity and was convicted of second-degree murder, earning her a life sentence. In 1924, she was transferred to the Connecticut General Hospital for the Insane in Middletown, where she remained until her death in 1962. The play Arsenic and Old Lace is loosely based on her story.

Also in Hartford, the Circus Fire that killed 168 persons and injured 412-700 others through trampling and asphyxiation occurred on July 6, 1944 (“The Day the Clowns Cried”) and is considered one of the country’s worst fire disasters. The Big Top Tent was coated in paraffin plus gasoline or kerosene for waterproofing; therefore, it was highly flammable. On top of that, some of the exits were blocked by animal chutes. Arson was suspected; others blamed a carelessly tossed lit cigarette. A mentally ill man named Robert Dale Segee, 21, of Circleville, OH, confessed to setting the fire, as well as up to 30 other blazes in Maine, New Hampshire, and Ohio. He later recanted his confession and was never tried in Connecticut. However, Segee was indicted and convicted in Ohio on two charges of arson and served eight out of a four-to-forty-year jail sentence. He died in 1997.

Finally, on May 18, 1988, Billy “Hot Dog” Grant, a bookie who was in charge of Connecticut safe houses for New York’s five families, was reportedly murdered in the parking lot of the Westfarms Mall in Farmington. Grant, who had owned Augie and Ray’s Hot Dog and Hamburger shop in East Hartford, and later the South End Seaport restaurant on Franklin Avenue, was suspected of having given up details of the hiding spot of the brother of a mafia boss. He is supposedly buried underneath a Farmington residence.

***

Excerpt from Vacations Can Be Murder by Dawn M Barclay. Copyright 2025 by Dawn M Barclay. Reproduced with permission from Dawn M Barclay. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Dawn M. Barclay is a veteran travel trade reporter and an award-winning author who writes nonfiction under her own name and fiction as D.M. Barr. Her first nonfiction book, Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022) received a starred review from Library Journal, and won the 2023 Lowell Thomas Gold Award from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation, Honorable Mention from the American Society of Journalists and Authors (Books that Make a Difference), and first prize in the Maxy Awards. When not writing, she edits for various authors and publishers, creates book trailers, ghostwrites (nonfiction only!), plays competitive trivia, rescues senior shelter dogs, travel, reads, and apparently, drives her family nuts...but they won't admit it, of course, since she knows a lot about murder.

Catch Up With Dawn M Barclay:

www.VacationsCanBeMurder.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
Instagram - @authordmbarr
Facebook - @TrueCrimeTravelGuides

 

 

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An Escape Goat - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

 

AN ESCAPE GOAT by Janna Rollins
The First Zen Goat Mystery

Callie Haybeck has started a new adventure. Moving in with her long lost aunt and uncle she’s giving yoga retreats on their farm. The main draw to her sessions are the adorable baby goats featured in her goat yoga classes. After all, who can be unhappy with cute baby goats cavorting around and even on top of them. Her excitement at leading her first group fizzles however, when she discovers two of the women are nothing more than rich mean girls. Looking down on Callie and the farm with snide cutting remarks the retreat is not off to an auspicious start. Callie’s hopes for a better second day are dashed when she finds the body of one of the women in the barn. With a murder victim on her first retreat Callie’s going to need more than baby goats to find inner peace. 

Mean girls get their comeuppance in the first Zen Goat Mystery, but murder may put Callie Haybeck out of business before she truly begins! Callie is an interesting protagonist. Klutzy, earnest, and kind, she's also flighty and immature, but I sense this series will have her growing before our eyes. Her wonderful great aunt and uncle are slowly starting to ground her. As you can tell I love Aunt Ellen and Uncle Will. These salt of the earth octogenarians are feisty and fun. I like how her relationship with her new found cousin is growing and I am seriously disliking both of their fathers! 

I enjoyed the mystery, even though I knew who the murderer was early on. I still enjoyed learning about the other characters and their very solid motives. I really enjoyed the ultimate confrontation between Callie and the killer, assisted by two of my favorite characters. I also enjoyed the secondary plot, that of Callie finding her lost relatives and what happened to cause the family to split.

AN ESCAPE GOAT is a fun start to a new series that had me wishing I could sample Aunt Ellen's delicious cooking then practice yoga with adorable goats in a charming country setting.

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An Escape Goat: A Zen Goat Mystery by Janna Rollins

About An Escape Goat 

An Escape Goat: A Zen Goat Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - New Hampshire
Publisher: ‎ Level Best Books (March 12, 2024)
Print length: ‎ 265 pages

After finding long-lost family through a DNA test, Callie heads to Bobwhite Hollow, New Hampshire, to meet a great-uncle she never knew existed. Charmed by the village and more than half in love with her new family, she decides to stay and open a goat yoga studio and retreat space.

When retreat guest Angilene Claudson turns up dead with a wine glass shattered at her side and Callie’s favorite goat lapping up the spill, the death is written off as an accidental overdose. But when the goat gets sick, Callie’s gut tells her it wasn’t an accident at all. With her new business on the line and a possible murderer staying in the guesthouse, Callie sets to work to uncover the truth and keep her family safe.

About Janna Rollins

When Janna Rollins isn't writing, she likes to thumb through New England-based magazines and drool over the pictures. She has a love for red barns, goats, and genealogy. Janna can be found showing her socially awkward side on Facebook or sharing pictures of her tiny one-acre farm on Instagram. She is a member of Sister In Crime, and also writes the Hometown Hardware Mystery series as Paula Charles. Janna lives in Southwestern Washington with her husband and a whole menagerie of furry and feathered critters.

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.paulacharles.com  

FB: Rainy Day Mysteries - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556817479811  

IG: rainy_day_mysteries - https://www.instagram.com/rainy_day_mysteries  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209244230-an-escape-goat  

Purchase Links Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - Powell's Books -

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading An Escape Goat by Jenna Rollins. This book is the first in the Zen Goat Mystery series.

Callie Haybeck has started a new adventure. Moving in with her long lost aunt and uncle she’s giving yoga retreats on their farm. The main draw to her sessions are the adorable baby goats featured in her goat yoga classes. After all, who can be unhappy with cute baby goats cavorting around and even on top of them. Her excitement at leading her first group fizzles however, when she discovers two of the women are nothing more than rich mean girls. Looking down on Callie and the farm with snide cutting remarks the retreat is not off to an auspicious start. Callie’s hopes for a better second day are dashed when she finds the body of one of the women in the barn. With a murder victim on her first retreat Callie’s going to need more than baby goats to find inner peace. 

A Sour Note - An Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Jill Piscitello to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jill writes The Music Box Mystery series. A SOUR NOTE is the first book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: In A SOUR NOTE we meet Maeve Cleary who hopes to make a new start at the Music Box, her mother's music school. Do you play an instrument?

JP: I don’t have a musical bone in my body but always wanted to learn how to play the piano. Both of my children began piano lessons at six years old. Now at 20 and 21, they continue to play daily and have developed a lifelong appreciate for music. I suppose I’m living vicariously through them and have the benefit of enjoying hearing them play.

Kathy: Maeve has a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance. Do you believe that people can have this gift? Have you ever been to a psychic?

JP: Haven’t we all, at some point, experienced something we can’t quite explain? That gut feeling, intuition, vivid dream, or deja vu? Many years ago, I received a psychic reading and was surprised by a few of the obscure, how-did-she-know-that, statements. Unfortunately, there are people who prey on others’ need to connect with those they’ve lost or are desperate to hear their lot in life will improve. That said, so many things can’t be explained, and we’re all born with our own unique skillsets. Surely it’s possible some of us have gifts that aren’t easily understood. Maeve represents the person who casts reasonable doubt but is forced to sometimes recognize her cousin’s abilities. 

 

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JP: Thanks to Bedknobs and Broomsticks, I was already a fan of Angela Lansbury when I began watching Murder, She Wrote with my grandmother. Unlike many of my friends, I couldn’t stomach horror movies and was drawn to mysteries revolving around crimes that occurred off-screen. As an adult, I continue to prefer stories that allow readers and viewers to put their sleuthing skills to the test without worrying about unnecessary graphic violence.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JP: I have also written two sweet, holiday romances (HOMEMAKERS' CHRISTMAS and TINSEL & TEA CAKES).

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

JP: A SOUR NOTE is the first book in the Music Box Mystery Series. An unpleasant brush with fame, new beginnings, humor, and a dash of second-chance romance are found in this topsy-turvy mystery filled with a charming cast of characters set against the beautiful backdrop of Hampton Beach, NH.

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

JP: Maeve is my favorite character. Rather than playing the victim, she’s sorting through all of the decisions that led to her current situation. She took some risks that didn’t pay off and is working toward recognizing those decisions as learning opportunities rather than mistakes.
 

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

JP: I enjoy reading a variety of cozy mysteries and wanted to include elements of pet cozies and paranormal cozies in this series. However, instead of bonding with her mother’s four cats, Maeve is allergic to them. Also, instead of possessing her own clairvoyant abilities, she is skeptical of her cousin’s gifts and reluctant to accept her otherworldly advice.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JP: For years, I accumulated a slew of incomplete manuscripts. Working full time with two children didn’t allow much time for polishing a draft until it shined enough to query publishers. But children grow up, and I found myself filling newly empty hours with writing and editing. Submitting my work was terrifying but better than the alternative of allowing those pages to collect dust for another decade.
 

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

JP: Agatha Christie, Stephen King, Jane Austen, and Nora Roberts – and so many more…

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JP: I’m currently reading THE BOOKSTORE SISTERS by Alice Hoffman (no surprise, it’s excellent).

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

JP: For the past few years, I’ve been slowly renovating a dollhouse.

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

JP: Cheese, apples, yogurt, and the makings for a salad are always in my fridge.

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

JP: I’m currently working on the sequel to A SOUR NOTE.

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

JP: This is a difficult question to answer. I’ve never considered myself a particularly creative person. I don’t paint, draw, play an instrument, or even sufficiently decorate my home. But writing is my creative outlet. 

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Review

A SOUR NOTE by Jill Piscitello
The First Music Box Mystery 

After a humiliating breakup Maeve Cleary has returned to her mom's house in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire to wallow and hide. Finally taking the plunge to go out in public she's happy to meet up with her old friend Paige and not so happy to meet Trixie, the social media influencer and new fiancé of Paige's ex. A trip to the dumpster behind her mom's music school, The Music Box, where Paige works leads to the discovery of Trixie's dead body. Knowing her old friends will be suspects in the murder, Maeve decides to look into the crime herself, despite her old boyfriend and the hunky detective's objections. Maeve soon finds herself in the killer's sights. Refusing to back down, will she be able to determine who killed the insufferable influencer or will she wind up the next victim? 

Redefining oneself and second chances are the keys to the first Music Box Mystery. How people react to circumstances, both good and bad, and how people deal with others are also important aspects. Maeve has had a rough go of things and at first she wallows, but then she has to make several decisions. Will she go back to an early love, start with someone new, or return to the love she just lost? Her relationship with her mother and cousin also add conflict, and love, to the mix as Maeve has to learn from her past mistakes and redefine herself...all with a killer on the loose!

I enjoyed the complex relationships found in A SOUR NOTE as much as I enjoyed the mystery itself...a mystery that gave Maeve the impetus to stop wallowing and get back to living while giving her a purpose. While not the most adept investigator, I give her credit for the methods she uses, clumsiness sometimes helping, sometimes hindering. Maeve's someone thorny relationship with her mother will be an interesting one to see progress as the series continues. Although Calista didn't get a lot of "screen time" I found her to be my favorite character and I hope to see a lot more of her in future books. One thing I disliked was that the author turned the killer, a very clever killer, into a maniacal one upon discovery. It is a particular pet peeve of mine that the killer is described as crazy when the actions all along belong to that of a rational person. Insanity isn't a prerequisite to murder.

Interesting characters with intriguing dynamics give A SOUR NOTE a solid start to this new mystery series. 

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 A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery) by Jill Piscitello

About A Sour Note

A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Hampton Beach, NH
Wild Rose Press (June 26, 2023)
Paperback: ‎ 250 pages

On the heels of a public, broken engagement, Maeve Cleary returns to her childhood home in Hampton Beach, NH. When a dead body turns up behind her mother’s music school, three old friends land on the suspect list. Licking her wounds soon takes a back seat to outrunning the paparazzi who spin into a frenzy, casting her in a cloud of suspicion. Maeve juggles her high school sweetheart, a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance, a no-nonsense detective, and an apologetic, two-timing ex-fiancé. Will the negative publicity impact business at the Music Box— the very place she’d hoped to make a fresh start?

About Jill Piscitello

 

Jill Piscitello is a teacher, author, and an avid fan of multiple literary genres. Although she divides her reading hours among several books at a time, a lighthearted story offering an escape from the real world can always be found on her nightstand. A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.  

Author Links: 

Website: https://jillpiscitello.com/  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Piscj18  

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

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21978074.Jill_Piscitello  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jill-piscitello?list=author_books  

Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble Apple Google Kobo BooksAMillion Walmart Bookshop.org

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello. This book is the first in the Music Box Mystery series and was released last month.

After a humiliating breakup Maeve Cleary has returned to her mom's house in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire to wallow and hide.  Finally taking the plunge to go out in public she's happy to meet up with her old friend Paige and not so happy to meet Trixie, the social media influencer and new fiancé of Paige's ex. A trip to the dumpster behind The Music Box leads to the discovery of Trixie's dead body. Knowing her old friends will be suspects in the murder, Maeve decides to look into the crime herself, despite her old boyfriend and the hunky detective's objections. Maeve soon finds herself in the killer's sights. Refusing to back down, will she be able to determine who killed the insufferable influencer or will she wind up the next victim?

Left Fur Dead - An Interview, Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome J. M. Griffin to Cozy Up With Kathy today. J. M. writes the Jules and Bun Mystery series. LEFT FUR DEAD, the first book in the series, was released last month.

Kathy: Juliette “Jules” Bridge runs a rescue farm where she tends to injured or abused rabbits. Although I only have cats now I have had pet rabbits in the past. Do you have rabbits in your life other than those on the page? 

 

JMG: My family and I live in the countryside where there are deer, turkeys, foxes and raccoons, but there are also wild rabbits which are what my husband and I enjoy watching the most. I do have two indoor cats, though.


Kathy: In LEFT FUR DEAD we discover that Bun, a black and white rabbit, has the ability to communicate telepathically. Wouldn't that be wonderful if animals could communicate directly with us? How did you decide to grant Bun this ability? 

 

JMG: It would be great if animals could talk to us, but then, we might be overwhelmed with their wants. Take Juliette, for example. Bun nags and cajoles her, and often uses guilt to get his own way. He's very wily.

When I developed the characters, I soon realized Bun needed something to make him extra special, to stand out in readers minds. I wracked my brain and suddenly came up with the telepathy angle. So far the readers have enjoyed that aspect of Bun.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

 

JMG: I was a fan as youngster and as I got older, it seemed the best books I could find to read and to write were cozies. I've like the way the stories unfolded, the air of mystery, the fact that swearing isn't allowed, and that sex, (if there is any), takes place behind closed doors.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

 

JMG: I tried my hand at romance once. A disaster, at the very least. A good lesson learned though, I write what I know!


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

JMG: The Bun and Jules series takes place in southern New Hampshire, on a small farm that Jules owns. She raises rabbits, takes in abused and/or injured rabbits, and has found she owns a rabbit who loves to investigate mysterious happenings, but can also communicate by using mental telepathy. Jules and Bun find themselves in danger more often than not, due to their overzealous curiosity.

In the Vinnie Esposito series, the story takes places in and around Rhode Island. Lavinia, aka Vinnie, just can't resist poking her nose where it doesn't belong, and usually ends up in trouble with her lawmen friends as well as mobsters. The stories are fun to read and Vinnie's antics are bound to make you laugh.


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

 

JMG: I would have to say Bun is my current favorite, but Vinnie Esposito held that spot for several years, and just might again. I enjoy her and Bun's attitudes. They are more bluff than tough, and they're also willing to do what it takes to solve mysteries. Vinnie was fashioned after my daughter who was involved in women's safety, and held a degree in criminal justice. In my books, Vinnie teaches that subject, but hers has a different bend to it. The books are easy to write, I use artistic license in the storytelling and best of all, I try to convey how quirky and colorful Rhode Island is.


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

 

JMG: Not really, just a love of humor and independent characters.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

 

JMG: I knew I had stories to tell and decided to give it my best effort. I started independently publishing my books after many rejections. If nothing else, I'm quite tenacious and was determined to build a fan base, which I did. During those years, I secretly yearned to publish with Kensington Publishing. By pure chance, I met Evan Marshall, who is now my agent, and who sold the Bun & Jules series to none other than Kensington. I figure the stars were definitely in alignment that day.


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

 

JMG: Agatha Christie, Jules Verne, Dan Brown, and Charlotte MacLeod.


Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

 

JMG: DEATH AT SEA written by NYT bestselling author Andrea Camilleri.


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

 

JMG: I am a decorative artist, a sometimes gardener (only when the weeds threaten to take over), and I love to cook & bake.


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

 

JMG: Pasta, chocolate, Italian and French cheeses, and crusty bread to go with the wine.


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

 

JMG: The second book, WHO'S DEAD DOC?, in the Bun and Jules series will be released in February 2020, and the third book called HOP TILL YOU DROP is scheduled for 2021. Another book in the Esposito series is also in the works.


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

 

JMG: I can work at home, in my pajamas!

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Review

LEFT FUR DEAD by J. M. Griffin

The First Jules and Bun Mystery

Juliette Bridge, better known as Jules, is the owner of Fur Bridge Farm. From providing rehabilitation to rabbits that have been abused to bringing bunnies as entertainment to children's parties, Jules deals in all things rabbit. Her sidekick is Bun, a black-and-white rabbit who has the ability to communicate telepathically with her. After stumbling across a dead body the pair find themselves victims. Someone has been entering the barn and attempting to release the rabbits. The break-ins must be connected to the murder. But how? Not content to leave matters to the police Jules and Bun begin their own investigation. But will they stir up even more trouble?

Never give up and don't make yourself a victim. These are the two resounding messages found in the first Jules and Bun Mystery. After being left for dead after being run off the road years prior, Jules recovered with the help of rabbits and has vowed to stand up for herself and her friends no matter what. This attitude, while generally commendable, leads her to sometimes be abrupt and act rashly. Jules is refreshing in that she is so independent with a take charge attitude.  By far my favorite character is Bun. This is a rabbit with an attitude. He's funny and forthright, smart and protective.

LEFT FUR DEAD has a quaint premise. A rabbit with telepathic powers is certainly unique in the mystery scene and I appreciate how proper care for rabbits is emphasized. While it fit that Bun's speech patterns were slightly off kilter, the whole book had an odd use of phrasing and word choice that stopped the flow and made the pacing someone erratic.

Unfortunately, the author hit on a major pet peeve of mine. At the end of the story the villain, who had a very good motive, and had been behaving rationally, suddenly became a "maniac" with an "evil" laugh. The author could have gotten the story exactly where she needed with the same villain, motive, and even final exciting scene, without creating yet another crazed killer.

Bolstered by a charming rabbit LEFT FUR DEAD provides a unique mystery. With room to grow the first Jules and Bun Mystery is a promising start to a new series.

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EXCERPT FROM LEFT FUR DEAD 

Later in the afternoon, a car rolled into the driveway.I looked out the window and thought Jack Carver must have had more questions. I scooted across to Bun’s room and murmured, “Stay in here, the sheriff has arrived. The dead guy is Arty the Mime.”

One ear flipped forward, which I took as a sign of agreement. Bun remained on his bed as I closed the door to his room. With his superb hearing he’d know what Jack had to say. I didn’t want Bun underfoot and blabbing while I spoke with the sheriff. I flipped the coffeepot on and opened the front door as Carver reached for the doorbell.

“Come on in, it’s cold out there. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

His nod was answer enough, and I filled two cups with steaming brew. Setting them on a tray along with a sugar bowl and creamer, I carried it to the end table next to an overstuffed armchair in the living room, where Jack was seated. I handed him a mug of coffee and added cream to my cup.

Seated across from him, I rested my elbows on my knees cupping the mug with my hands. Not giving Jack the opportunity to accuse me of misleading him, I said, “Jess mentioned the dead man was Arthur Freeman. It was announced on the news.”

“You knew Mr. Freeman, didn’t you?”

I nodded. “Only in a professional manner, and only as Arty the Mime. We attended many functions as the entertainment du jour. He’d do magic tricks and I had the educational rabbit petting pen. I never saw him without his mime makeup on. Honest to God.” I crossed my heart.

“I’m glad you admitted that, Jules. After all, everyone is aware that you two were frequent entertainers at kids’ events and public affairs the town hosts. Especially the festival last fall. Didn’t you have a falling-out of sorts?”

“I didn’t make the connection, sorry. Arty was great at kids’ functions, and we shared a few jokes now and then. He took miming seriously and was in tune with his audiences, no matter their ages. As to the falling-out, it was actually a difference of opinion.”

“Different in what way?”

Quick to explain what had caused us to disagree, I mentioned Arty had been disgruntled. I left out the fury he had shown and how he’d walked away ranting about unfairness to animals. Jack sipped his coffee. “Are you aware of anyone who might have had a grudge against him?”

“Not that I can think of offhand. If something comes to mind, I’ll gladly let you know. Have you contacted his family?”

“He doesn’t have any family that I can find.”

“That’s a shame. He was a nice sort, we enjoyed our stints together, and parents appeared to like him.”

He placed the half-empty cup on the table and rose. “If you remember anything, anything at all, call me. I don’t want time to get away from us. The longer the investigation goes on, the colder the trail becomes.” At the door he reached for the knob and then said over his shoulder, “I know you might want to help out because you knew this fellow, but please don’t interfere.”

“I have no plans to,” I blustered.

“I’m glad we’re clear on that. Don’t poke your nose where you shouldn’t, I won’t stand for it.”

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Left Fur Dead (A Jules & Bun Mystery) by J.M. Griffin

About the Book

 

Left Fur Dead (A Jules & Bun Mystery)  

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series  

Kensington (June 25, 2019)  

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 

On Fur Bridge Farm, Jules cares for rescued rabbits. But when a killer strikes, she'll need a rabbit to rescue her . . .

Juliette “Jules” Bridge prides herself on the tender rehabilitation she provides for injured or abused rabbits on her New Hampshire rescue farm, but she has a very special relationship with one bunny in particular. Bun is a black-and-white rabbit who happens to have the ability to communicate through mental telepathy. Once she got over the shock, Jules found her furry friend had a lot to say.

One frigid March morning on their walk together, Bun spots a body. The police identify the frozen stiff as Arthur Freeman, aka Arty the Mime. Jules and Arty knew each other on the children's party circuit, where he’d perform magic tricks and she had an educational rabbit petting pen. With Bun egging her on, Jules decides it’s time they hop to it and put their heads together to discover who silenced the mime. But their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole of more suspects and lies, while a killer sets a trap for them . . .

About the Author

J. M. Griffin is the bestselling cozy mystery author of sixteen novels, including the Vinnie Esposito series. She lives in rural Rhode Island with her husband and two very mysterious cats. Visit her at jm-griffin.com.  

Author Links: Website - Facebook - Blog

Purchase Links : Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Left Fur Dead by J. M. Griffin. This book is the first in the Jules and Bun Mystery series and was released last month.

Juliette Bridge, better known as Jules, is the owner of Fur Bridge Farm. From providing rehabilitation to rabbits that have been abused, to bringing bunnies as entertainment to children's parties, Jules deals in all things rabbit. Her sidekick is Bun, a black-and-white rabbit who has the ability to communicate telepathically with her. After stumbling across a dead body the pair find themselves victims. Someone has been entering the barn and attempting to release the rabbits. The break-ins must be connected to the murder. But how? Not content to leave matters to the police Jules and Bun begin their own investigation. But will they stir up even more trouble?

By Familiar Means - Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book in my TBR pile. BY FAMILIAR MEANS is the second book in the Witch's Cat Mystery series by Delia James. It was released in September 2016.

From the back cover:

Magic, Meows...and Murder.

After discovering her mystical heritage-and being adopted by furry feline familiar Alistair-artist Annabelle Britton has decided to make picturesque Portsmouth, New Hampshire, her new home. Now, she can take the time to figure out her new abilities and welcome her grandmother, who is visiting Portsmouth and her old coven for the first time in decades.

But being a witch doesn't magically put money in the bank. When she's hired to paint the murals for a new coffee shop, it seems like a wish come true. But then a series of spooky sounds and strange happenings convince th eowners that their new shop is haunted. They want Annabelle and her coven to evict the restless spirits before the grand opening.

Annabelle is certain the haunted happenings at the shop are just hocus-pocus. When her search reveals hidden smugglers' tunnels beneath the shop-and a dead body-Annabelle, Alistair, and the coven suddenly find themselves in a cat and mouse game with a killer...

Between Good and Evil Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome R. Michael Phillips to the blog today. BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL is the first book in the Auburn Notch Mystery series and was released earlier this year.

Kathy: I admit to a fascination of asylums of the 19th and early 20th century and have visited a few. Have you visited any asylums?

RMP: I never gave them too much thought until I started the book, now I can’t wait to visit one. I’ve located one outside of London I might have to peek inside my next time over. There’s another one close to me in Pennsylvania I’d like to stop by.


Kathy: Is Willis Asylum based on an actual asylum?

RMP: The Willis Asylum is a combination of a few different abandoned buildings I came across while doing the research for the book. I blended the creepier parts together and then worked backwards to strip away the decay to give it a dignified beginning.


Kathy: Setting plays an integral part in mysteries, sometimes becoming a character unto itself. What makes Auburn Notch the perfect setting for BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.

RMP: Auburn Notch is a fictional town nestled beneath the shadows of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. New England was a center for industry at the turn of the century, and has always been an idyllic spot for vacationing. It’s kind of the last place you would expect to find crimes with a surprising twist, so I felt it was a good place to establish the town. You’re right about the setting becoming a character in the book. The freshness of the mountain air has a cleansing affect on Promise Flynn, and completely different from the gritty streets of Chicago she left behind. Then, in an instant, winter rolls in and it turns icy cold, just like the hand of death. Who could ask for more out of a setting?


Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

RMP: I’ve read mysteries all my life. Whodunits. Thrillers. Suspense—everything from Agatha Christie to Robert Parker. I guess I just enjoy a good puzzle, so I decided to create a few of my own.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

RMP: I’ve always heard it is best to write what you know about, so I write mysteries, just mysteries. In that same respect, I also use settings I’m very familiar with—New Hampshire for the Auburn Notch Mysteries, and London for the Ernie Bisquets Mysteries.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

RMP: The Auburn Notch Mysteries is a brand new series for me, set in New England. It combines a tough female protagonist with a past she is trying to put behind her, and crimes that aren’t what they appear to be in a setting where they would never be expected. This series is a little darker with a heightened suspense level than my other series.

My other series is the Ernie Bisquets Mysteries. It’s centered around a retired pickpocket in contemporary London who has decided he is going to help the London police with their more challenging cases—whether they want his help or not. These are English cozies, so the characters are quirky, and the crimes are intricate puzzles.


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

RMP: That’s a tough choice. Right now I have to say Ernie Bisquets is my favorite. I’ve written 3 books in his series, and have just started the 4th. Ernie is a true character, and someone I think anybody would enjoy meeting—just make sure you still have your wallet before he walks away. I’m just getting to know Promise Flynn, so there’s a good chance she’ll be right up there with Ernie soon enough. One of these days it might be fun to introduce them to each other in a story.


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

RMP: I’ve been writing the London-based series for so long I wanted to change things up a bit. I’ve been kicking around new characters and plots for a while now, but some didn’t seem to work well in a London setting. Then I took a trip back up to New England and it hit me—why not start a new series?


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

RMP: As tough as writing a book is, finding a publisher is even tougher. This was the goal I set for myself when I started the first book. Writing a book is an accomplishment in itself, but to be published and distributed adds a great deal of credibility to that accomplishment. I decided no matter how long it took, I was going to find a traditional publisher that believed in my work as much as I do. I was thrilled when I got the offer from Sunbury Press for the new series. They will also be publishing the next book in the Bisquets’ series.


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

RMP: Charles Dickens, for his thoughts on today’s social and political climate; Oscar Wilde, for his wit; Robert Parker, for his exceptional grasp of dialog; and Dorothy Parker, because she could make any gathering of authors an event worth attending.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

RMP: I’m just finishing Peter Ackroyd’s FOUNDATION—the history of England from its earliest beginnings to the Tudors, and CHOICE OF ENEMIES by M.A. Richards.


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

RMP: I’m a classically trained artist, so I always have a painting or two on my easels going at all times. Painting helps me think when I’m stuck on a plot direction.


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

RMP: Cream Of Wheat, Clotted Cream (great on scones,) Wise Potato Chips, and Cinnamon Raisin Bread. I’m a man of simple tastes.


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

RMP: I’m very excited to tell you I’ve turned in the 2nd book in the Auburn Notch Mysteries. If all goes well with editing and book jacket design, it should be released by the end of the year. I’ve also started book 4 in the Ernie Bisquets Mysteries. I have a very complete outline, so I intend to get this one done by the end of summer. Look for an early 2017 release for that. I also have outlines for 1 more book in each series, so I’ll be pretty busy for the next year or two.


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

RMP: I have to say the best part of being an author for me is meeting new people at book signing events. There is a great energy there, and I really enjoy the feedback about the series. I’ve incorporated a number of ideas into storylines we’ve come up with at these events. Mystery readers are very devoted to their genre and like being surprised, so I do everything I can to accomplish that for them in my books.

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Spotlight - Murder is Binding - Giveaway

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. This book is the first in the Booktown Mystery series and the Kindle version is currently on sale for only $1.99. If you like e-books now is the perfect time to pick up this book and start the series!

From the back cover:

Stoneham, New Hampshire, was a dying town until community leaders invited booksellers to open up shop. Now, its streets are lined with bookstores-and paved with murder...

When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles was met with friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she was met with friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed with a kitchen knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries-and hunt down someone who isn't killing by the book...

For more about Lorna Barrett and her alter egos Lorraine Bartlett and LL Bartlett, check out the following links:

http://www.LornaBarrett.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LornaBarrett.author

http://www.LLBartlett.com

http://www.LorraineBartlett.com

http://www.LLBartlett.typepad.com

http://astore.amazon.com/llbartlettcom-20

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Would you like a goodie bag filled with with bookmarks, postcards, and buttons? Leave a comment on this post telling us if you've read any of the Booktown Mysteries and what you'd think about living in a town filled with bookstores. Leave your comment no later than Monday, April 13, 2015 EST along with an e-mail address for a chance at this giveaway.

Maple Syrup and Murder

I'd like to welcome Jessie Crockett back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Check out our previous post from June 9th. In addition to her Granite State Mysteries, we mentioned her upcoming new series. Well, that series is almost here and I, for one, can't wait to read about maple syrup and murder!

Kathy:  Drizzled with Death, the first Sugar Grove Mystery will be released October 1st. How are you celebrating?
JC: I have a standing Tuesday morning date with my sister to walk four miles. I will attend a soccer game for one of my sons. I hope to have sushi and champagne for dinner. And maybe cake. After all, I will have walked that morning!

Kathy: You write both the Granite State Mysteries and the new Sugar Grove Mysteries. How do you juggle writing two mystery series at the same time?
JC: I actively write on only one series at a time. For me, first draft is much more challenging than revisions so I can manage both if I am at different points in each manuscript.

Kathy: Dani Greene is a 4th generation maple syrup maker. What’s your favorite way to use maple syrup?
JC: I really love Sugar-on -Snow, which is a type of candy made by boiling finished syrup to the hard ball stage and pouring it onto a bed of clean snow to cool. But my favorite way to eat maple syrup right now is on a sandwich I call a Who'd a Thunk It? It is a knife and fork affair and involves caramelized apples. The recipe is included in Drizzled with Death.

Kathy: Trouble breaks out at a pancake eating contest in Drizzled with Death. Have you ever entered a food eating competition-or watched one?
JC: I have never entered a food eating competition but I have been awed by watching a televised broadcast of the annual hotdog eating contest at Nathan's on the Fourth of July. The winner consumed fifty hotdogs. It was astonishing! 

Kathy: The state of New Hampshire plays a big role in your writing. How would you describe the state for people unfamiliar with it? What makes it great?
JC: New Hampshire has an outstanding quality of life. We have natural beauty, an independent spirit, quirky characters and fascinating politics. We even have a low crime rate. Well, except in my mysteries.

Kathy: Aside from writing mysteries, you design bento lunches. Will you tell us about that?
JC: When you work at home it is really easy to stand in front of the refrigerator at lunch time and pick at unhealthy things because you didn't plan ahead. I like the way bento lunches look and I think they are fun to make. When I am at my most organized I make them for my kids and myself in the morning. I send them off to school with theirs and I pop mine into the fridge until lunch. >

Kathy: How did your interest in bento begin?
JC: A few years ago my mother hosted a delightful foreign exchange student from Japan for a year. She brought gifts for all of us including bento boxes, which are a type of lunch container. I was intrigued by them and a google search led me to a lot of culinary eye-candy. At the time my children were younger and interested in cartoon characters like Pokemon. There is a style of bento called charaben which means character bento. The food is shaped or assembled to look like recognizable characters by cutting cheese slices into faces or making hair out of julienned carrots. I had fun and the kids ended up enthusiastically eating their veggies. 

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Author Bio

         A nearly life-long resident of the Granite State, Jessie naturally adores black flies, 98% humidity, killing frosts in August and snow banks taller than the average grandmother. When not working on her next murderous adventure she enthusiastically combs the beach, designs bento lunches and throws parties. She delights in mentoring young writers at local schools. Jessie lives with her dark and mysterious husband and exuberant children in a village so small most other New Hampshire residents have never heard of it. Her debut mystery, Live Free or Die, was the 2011 winner of the Daphne DuMaurier Award for Mainstream Mystery.

 
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You can read more from and about Jessie Crocket at these websites:
Drizzled with Death,Berkley Prime Crime,October, 2013

www.jessiecrockett.com

www.wickedcozyauthors.com

www.killercharacters.com