Some New Year Advice

As the new year begins I thought we could do with some advice for the year ahead. I posed the question to several characters from mystery series and this is what they said:

 

“Happiness in life is not about getting what you want, it’s about loving what you get.”

~ Zell, eighty-one-year-old amateur sleuth in the Magical Mystery Book Club series by Elizabeth Pantley. CAROUSELS AND CHARACTERS will release January 15th. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGVX668R

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Advice from Ella Shane's hard-working Irish Aunt Ellen: 

"When in doubt, do something constructive."   

Mentioned in A Fatal Reception, the most recent Ella Shane mystery, recently named to the 2024 Reviewer Favorites list at Aunt Agatha's, available here: A Fatal Reception: An Ella Shane Mystery a book by Kathleen Maple Kalb

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The new year is a chance to refresh and recharge. Like a well-balanced meal, make sure to nourish every part of yourself—your mind, body, and spirit. Cook a meal that brings you joy, share it with those you love, and savor every moment. Food, like a good book, has the power to bring people together and create lasting memories.

Allie Katz from the Literary Dining Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber
https://darylwoodgerber.com/

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Advice from Jitty from the Sarah Booth Delaney series by Carolyn Haines --

"Don't come a knockin' if the van is rockin'."

https://carolynhaines.com/

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Until recently, I haven't had many successes in my life, unlike my twin sister, Allie. Oddly, I never give up hope. At New Year's, I like to remind myself, as Scarlett did, "Tomorrow is another day." Anything can happen - in love, at the wine bar I manage, or with solving the occasional homicide that presents itself - and it might be something good.

Cece Barton
DEADLY CRUSH by Edith Maxwell, which released in November, is the second Cece Barton Mystery from Kensington Publishing.

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Advice for 2025 from Jocie Müller, Age 10, from Vintage Kitchen Mysteries by Victoria Hamilton:  

"You can never make too many puns. Did you know that there's this kid in my class who collects candy canes? They're all in mint condition! Do you know what I use to write my puns? A pun-cil! So... make more puns in 2025. It's going to be a particularly punny year."

Watch for Jocie and the whole family in the latest Vintage Kitchen Mystery, 'Cat Got Your Tongs' coming from Victoria Hamilton Mysteries in March, 2025!

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Declan from the "Hammerhead" Jed Mystery series by A. J. Devlin has this to say:

“At least I ain’t afraid o’usin’ me balls!”

This is what Declan says to get Jed to take the case in Bronco Buster — it’s also a pretty spot on take on his outlook on life — “quit being’ a wanker and ‘man up’ might be the take away underneath the Irish slang. 

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Hello and Happy New Year! My name is Lucy Berberian. I’m taking a break as manager from my family’s Mediterranean restaurant, Kebab Kitchen, to ponder my New Year’s resolution. This year, after a lot of thought, I decided to try something different. Instead of my typical “eat healthier and lose extra pounds” resolution (because working in a restaurant is too tempting), I decided to pick a cause that’s special to me and regularly volunteer to help others. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2025!

The Kebab Kitchen Mysteries by Tina Kashian
http://tinakashian.com/

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"Last year was a bit rough in Watchogue, but tough years always end, and new years always begin, bringing their own share of ups and downs, their own challenges and successes. My advice would be, remember the good times and celebrate your victories, even the small ones."

 --Danika Delaney -
The Coffee & Cream Mystery series by Lena Gregory
http://www.lenagregory.com/

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If I were to recommend the cultivation of any one virtue in the New Year, it would be the practice of mindful listening. I think there's always a temptation to be the speaker, the entertainer, the one soaking up the limelight, but it is in the practice of listening to others that we gain understanding and empathy of our human nature. It's aided me tremendously in my writing, opened the door to many new friendships, and even helped me solve a murder or two along the way.

Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early
Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher, Barbara Early: 9780593820049 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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“Survive everything—and do it with style.”

~ With love from "Madame" of The Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle
New Release Coming April 2025: No Roast for the Weary

To learn more or pre-order: https://cleocoylebooks.com/2024/12/05/21-no-roast-for-the-weary-by-cleo-coyle/

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Pay attention to your dogs and cats. They sense things that we don’t.

From Holly Miller, the protagonist in THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB by Krista Davis, coming on February 4th. 

https://www.kristadavis.com/

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My mom Eileen always tells me, “Don’t borrow trouble, Kate.” I have no idea what she means—with our family, trouble is on permanent loan!

—Kate Buckley, THE JIG IS UP by Lisa Q. Mathews
https://www.lisaqmathews.com/

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As for me, I'll encourage you to take time for yourself, enjoy life as best you can, and to paraphrase Declan-use your balls!

New Year Nuisance - A Spotlight

Since it's the first week in the new year I thought I'd shine a spotlight on New Year Nuisance by Tonya Kappes. This book is the fourth in the Holiday Cozy Mystery Series.

Blurb:

New Year’s Eve in Holiday Junction is always magical, with its annual Sparkle Ball lighting up the night and the Merry Maker spreading joy to residents and visitors alike. But this year’s celebration turns dark when notorious troublemaker Hillary Stevens is discovered murdered in the holiday town’s enchanting mini-village.

For Violet Rhinehammer, local journalist and secret Merry Maker, solving the mystery is more than a story—it’s a mission. But as Violet digs into the secrets surrounding Hillary’s untimely death, she must also juggle the arrival of her best friend, Mae West, who can never learn Violet’s hidden identity.

With a town full of suspects, buried secrets, and mounting tension, Violet races to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. Can she protect her Merry Maker identity while unraveling the mystery, or will this New Year’s Eve end in disaster?

Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's - A Review

 Review

MRS. CLAUS AND THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE NEW YEAR'S
By Liz Ireland
The Fifth Mrs. Claus Mystery

Santaland is in a state of excitement as everyone sees Santa off on Christmas Eve. Now comes the time of year for fun and relaxation...and celebration. April Claus, however, is anything but relaxed. Her husband has just left for a trip around with world in an ancient sleigh with no seat belts! She can't help but worry, even though everyone keeps telling her that Santa always comes back. But soon everyone is worrying. Boots, an elf living near the Farthest Frozen Reaches, has just brought three injured strangers to town -humans! As the strangers recuperate in the hospital everyone works to transform the town into a normal Canadian town, so the strangers will have no idea where they really are. When one dies, however, April must add solving a murder to her to-do list!

Every time I sit down with a Mrs. Claus Mystery I know I am in for a good time. I laughed so hard at Butterbean's transformation of Christmastown into the Canadian Centretown. Hearing Anne Murray and Celine Dion instead of Christmas carols, having maple leafs and Canadian flags strung about, I'm still giggling about the suggestion to change the Tiny Gliders ice show from the Nutcracker into the greatest hits of Gordon Lightfoot! And the changes the elves had to endure! Perhaps I found everything extra funny living on a border town and being of a certain age (you'll understand when you read what the elves are wearing!), but I'm grinning as I write this, just picturing it.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE NEW YEAR'S is more than just a funny mystery, albeit it is a very funny mystery. Relationship issues are highlighted while themes of belonging, fitting in, and self discovery make the book more than just fun. It's meaningful. There's also an intriguing mystery that ties everything together, along with the joy of Christmas and that special time between Christmas and New Year's.

Laugh out loud funny while simultaneously touching MRS. CLAUS AND THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE NEW YEAR'S is the perfect way to ring in the New Year!

Peking Duck and Cover - A Review

 Review

PEKING DUCK AND COVER by Vivien Chien
The Tenth Noodle Shop Mystery 

It's almost time for the Lunar New Year and Asia Village is gearing up for a big festival. As manager of the Ho-Lee Noodle House Lana Lee is helping to organize the event. The all day party will feature food and drinks from the Village eateries and conclude with a Lion Dance and fire crackers. Although following all New Year superstitions to a T Lana feels a vague sense of unease, especially after seeing tension among the Lion dancers. The festival ends with a bang-unfortunately, not just the bang of firecrackers. One of the dancers has been shot and once again Lana is out to find a killer and justice for a victim.

One of the fascinating things about the tenth Noodle Shop Mystery was learning some of the New Year's superstitions. I never knew about not using knives! Sharing these details immerses me even more in the culture, adding layers onto the mystery. Plus, it's just fun! Seeing the extended Lee clan enjoying time together is great and I enjoy seeing Adam become even more a part of the family.

Lana, Megan, and Kimmie make a formidable investigative team and I enjoyed their pursuit of the truth. As usual I enjoy meeting up with the Mahjong Matrons and love how they help Lana. In fact I enjoy seeing many of the shopkeepers and seeing how they all relate. I only wish I could actually visit Asia Village and pick up a doughnut before enjoying Peter's cooking.

Lunar New Year traditions and family drama along with good food and plenty of humor make PEKING DUCK AND COVER a delectable mystery.

Murder at the White Palace - A Spotlight

I read a lot of books and with so many great reads coming out, it's hard to keep up. I get behind in series without even realizing it!. Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on one such series. I read the first and today I discovered the sixth book in the series will be released this week. The book? Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair. 

Blurb: 

In post-WWII London, the matchmakers of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are involved in yet another murder.

In the immediate post-war days of London, two unlikely partners have undertaken an even more unlikely, if necessary, business venture—The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. The two partners are Miss Iris Sparks, a woman with a dangerous—and never discussed—past in British intelligence and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a genteel war widow with a young son entangled in a complicated aristocratic family. Looking to throw a New Year’s Eve soiree for their clients, Sparks and Bainbridge scout an empty building—only to find a body contained in the walls. What they initially assume is a victim of the recent Blitz is uncovered instead to be a murder victim—stabbed several times.

To make matters worse, the owner of the building is Sparks’ beau, Archie Spelling, who has ties to a variety of enterprises on the right and wrong sides of the law, and the main investigator for the police is her ex-fiancée. Gwen, too, is dealing with her own complicated love life, as she tentatively steps back into the dating pool for the first time since her husband’s death. Murder is not something they want to add to their plates, but the murderer may be closer to home than is comfortable, and they must do all they can to protect their clients, their business and themselves.

New Year Nuisance - A Spotlight

I'm still in the holiday spirit so I thought I'd start the New Year with a holiday spotlight. New Year Nuisance by Tonya Kappes is the fourth book in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series.

 

 

Blurb:

New Year’s Eve has always been a special time for the small town, Holiday Junction, with its annual tradition, the Sparkle Ball, along with the town Merry Maker spreading joy and cheer to all its residents. But this year, the joy is short-lived when local nuisance and troublemaker, Hillary Stevens, is found murdered in holiday town’s mini-village.

As the town’s resident nosy journalist, Violet Rhinehammer is determined to uncover the truth behind Hillary’s murder and bring the killer to justice. But her investigation is complicated by her own secret – she is the town Merry Maker, and must keep her identity hidden from Mae West, her best friend who is visiting for the festive town’s Sparkle Ball.

With suspects at every turn and a town full of secrets, Violet must use her keen investigative skills and determination to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. Will she be able to solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice, or will her own secret be her downfall?

2023 - The Year in Review

It's hard to believe that today is New Year's Eve. I thought I'd take time to look back over the books I've read in 2023.

The book I was reading when 2023 began was A TRACE OF POISON by Colleen Cambridge. This was the second Phyllida Bright Mystery. The first book I started in 2023 was THE ACCIDENTAL SPY by David Gardner while my first review of the year was MOVING IS MURDER BY Nellie H. Steele. The last review I wrote in 2023 was for MURDER ON MISTLETOE LANE by Clara McKenna. The last book I finished was MASTER OF ILLUSION by Nupur Tustin and the book I am reading to finish out the year is MURDER IN A CUP by Lauren Elliot. 

I read 100 books in 2023 and wrote 97 reviews-and I still have 4 to write! The moment that made me most proud was when I learned that my review of BULLETPROOF BARISTA by Cleo Coyle is quoted in the Penguin Random House Catalog!

Things were also busy on my Cozy Up With Kathy Party Page on Facebook. In addition to the big Welcome to Winter and Halloween Spooktacular parties, I had a few smaller parties throughout the year. I plan on doing the same in 2024.

So, what were my favorite books of 2023? As I say every year, I hate to make lists as I'm sure I'll forget someone, and books read earlier in the year are harder to remember off hand.

Favorite ongoing series include, The Deep Dish Mystery series by Mindy Quigley, The Mrs. Claus Mystery series by Liz Ireland, The Phyllida Bright Mystery series by Colleen Cambridge, The Deadly Series by Kate Parker, The Rita Calabrese Culinary Cozy Mystery series by Maureen Klovers, the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series by Dianne Freeman, and the Jane Wunderley series by Erica Ruth Neubauer, to name just a few.

Several new series also introduced great new characters and stories. Some of my favorite new series in 2023 include Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters, Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts, Paw and Order by Chris Abernathy, A Grave Roast by A. N. Sage, and Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd.

I enjoyed many books in 2023 and I hope you did as well. Wishing you all a wonderful 2024 filled with lots of great reads!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I'm wishing you a wonderful year full of good health, prosperity, and wonderful books! Thank you for following my blog and Facebook page as well as attending my online parties. I've had a sneak peek at some of the releases for this coming year and we're in for a treat! As we welcome in 2023 I thought I'd take a look back at 2022. 

I always hesitate to list favorite books as I worry I will forget some I really liked-especially those at the start of the year-and I'd hate for anyone to feel slighted. So, let's start with some basic facts.

I started 2022 by reading THE PARTING GLASS by Lissa Marie Redmond. This is the fifth in the Cold Case Homicide Mystery series. My first review of the year was for CRUMBS AND MISDEMEANORS by Nancy Warren. This book is the sixth in the Great Witches Baking Mystery series. My first guest post was also my first novella, that was also a prequel, of the year: ENTER A WIZARD, STAGE LEFT by Connie di Marco. My first interview of the year was with Lily Luchesi who writes the Paige Pappillon Mystery series.

According to Goodreads I read 93 books in 2022. While I mainly read mysteries, and primarily cozy mysteries at that, I also read some non-fiction and children's books too. I enjoyed almost all of them!

I discovered many new series in 2023 among them: SIX FEET DEEP DISH by Mindy Quigley, the First Deep Dish Mystery, TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER by Valerie Burns, the First Baker Street Mystery, A DOOMFUL OF SUGAR by Catherine Bruns, the First Maple Syrup Mystery, THE TURNCOAT'S WIDOW by Mally Becker, the First Revolutionary War Mystery, THE ROCKY ROAD TO RUIN by Meri Allen, the First Ice Cream Shop Mystery, AL DENTE'S INFERNO by Stephanie Cole, the First Tuscan Cooking School Mystery, CRY OF THE INNOCENT by Julie Bates, the First Faith Clarke Mystery, THE YARN THAT BINDS by Rebecca McKinnon, the First Clear Creek Mystery, and MURDER AT MALLOWAN HALL by Colleen Cambridge, the First Phyllida Bright Mystery, among others.

Of course, there were new installments in series I already loved such as  The Mrs. Claus Mystery series, the Stella and Lyndy Mystery series, the Deadly Mystery series, the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series, the Accidental Alchemist Mystery series, the Jane Wunderly Mystery series, the Ella Shane Mystery series, the Bay Island Psychic Mystery series, the Salem B&B Mystery series, the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series, the Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery series, the Abby McCree Mystery series, the Literary Pub Mystery series, and many more.  

As I leave 2022, the last book I completed was DIAL M FOR MEOW by Ruth J. Hartman. Stay tuned for my review on January 10, 2023. As I head in to 2023 I'm in the midst of reading A TRACE OF POISON by Colleen Cambridge.

I look forward to reading new favorites from authors I know, discovering new series and new authors, and being transported to wonderful locales. I hope you'll join me for more adventures in 2023!  

Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022

I'm not sure how today is the last day of 2021. What a year it's been! There have been lots of lows, COVID, anyone, but lots of highs too. I asked some favorite cozy authors what the best thing about 2021 was, any New Year's Eve plans (I'll be in lounge wear relaxing with my cats, in bed well before midnight), and resolutions and goals for 2022. Here's what they said.

From Meg Macy

Kathy: The best thing that happened in 2021...

My granddaughter's birth

Kathy: What are you most looking forward to in 2022?

More reading! Hoping we can go to Hawaii for our anniversary

Kathy: Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? 

Buying lighter dinnerware! Our Pfaltzgraff is getting too heavy

Kathy: Any New Year's Plans?

Playing games, usually, a wine cooler, snacks. I'd prefer being in bed before midnight, but the hub is a night owl. 

Meg Macy
National Bestselling Author of the ShamelesslyAdorable Teddy Bear Cozy Mysteries
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Also writing historical mysteries as
D.E. Ireland Meg Mims
~ Witty Mystery, Vivid History ~

 

From Kathleen Kalb/Nikki Knight

New Year’s Resolution:

Do better at accepting that there are things I can’t control – pandemic, family health issues, rejections – and focus on doing my best with the things I can control.

New Year’s Plans:

My favorite family – and Work Family – holiday is New Year’s Day. I work weekends and holidays so I can be a stay-at-home mom during the week. On New Year’s, I pull one last holiday fill-in shift with the same people I’ve been with for almost 20 years, then come home and have a wonderful dinner with my family. Everyone is relaxed and happy and it’s easily the best day of the season both at work and home!

Kathleen Marple Kalb
Author of the Ella Shane Mysteries: A FATAL FIRST NIGHT out now, A FATAL OVERTURE, 3/29/2022, Kensington Books
As Nikki Knight: Author of LIVE, LOCAL AND DEAD, A Vermont Radio Mystery, 2/8/2022, Crooked Lane Books
"Bad Apples" Honorable Mention, Black Orchid Novella Award 2021
https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/ 

 

From Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico

Best thing that happened in 2021?

Pogo, our beloved chihuahua mix rescue, survived a serious injury. He’s 15, so that’s saying something. Also, I was invited to be the 2023 Toastmaster at Left Coast Crime! I’m so excited about this.

Kathy: What are you most looking forward to in 2022?

Professionally, the launch of BAYOU BOOK THIEF, the first book in my Vintage Cookbook Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. Personally, our daughter’s graduation from Loyola University in New Orleans. Although that’s bittersweet. I’ll miss her college days.

Kathy: Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? 

Lose. WEIGHT!

Kathy: Any New Year's Plans?

Good luck getting me out of my jammies on New Year’s Eve! We celebrate twice, once at 9 p.m. PST, when it’s midnight in my hometown of New York. Then at midnight – if we’re still up! 

https://www.ellenbyron.com/

From Nancy Cole Silverman

Kathy: Do you have any New Year's Resolutions?

More walking, less worry and the start of a new series. Book One, THE NAVIGATOR’S DAUGHTER, drop June 7, 2021.

Kathy: Any New Year's Plans?

We’re not big New Year’s Celebrators. We’ll go to dinner early, come home and toast the New Year in quietly. 

 https://www.nancycolesilverman.com/

 

From Tina Kashian

Kathy: What are you most looking forward to in 2022?

 

As a mother, my oldest daughter graduates high school. It will be a sad and happy time. I will most likely be the mom sobbing in the bleachers. As a writer, I'm looking forward to the release of "Murder in the Mountains," an anthology with nine mystery authors. My story, "A Killer Pocono Hike," features my Kebab Kitchen amateur sleuths. Lucy Berberian and Katie Watson take a girlfriend trip to the mountains, but murder follows them. 

 

 Here is a link to the book for a special pre-order price of $0.99. https://amzn.to/3D41QHk

Kathy: Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? 

Exercise more!

Kathy: Any New Year's Plans? 

We used to go to big parties. Now we get together with close friends for food and wine.

 

From Victoria Hamilton

Best thing that happened in 2021? 

I had two well received books out in 2021, (DOUBLE OR MUFFIN, Merry Muffin Mysteries #7 & A CALCULATED WHISK, Vintage Kitchen Mysteries #10) and I feel so fortunate to be able to do that. That’s pretty special.

But… on a personal note, I started and stuck to an exercise routine, something I’ve never been able to do for longer than a few weeks. I was shaken to the core by the death of a close friend and neighbour in late 2020. He was someone I went to high school with, and one year younger than I am. It shook something loose inside of me; I want to have a long an active life. So I started and stuck to a ‘diet’ and exercise plan (ongoing), lost a little weight, but better, started to feel that exercise is now a part of my life. I’ve become a planking zealot.

Kathy: What are you most looking forward to in 2022

Professionally, I am going to tackle the BIG ONE, the passion project that haunts me day and night, a proposal for a mystery series unlike anything I’ve ever written. I don’t know yet if it will be any good, but I’m going to work on it, then put it out there. 

Kathy: Do you have any New Year's Resolutions?

Kinda/sorta. Christmas of 2020 a friend gave me a 2021 weekly planner. The cover said ‘Make yourself a priority’. Revolutionary thought!

So… on January 4th, 2021 I started exercising and kept it up all damn year, recording what I did almost every day. It has brought some weight loss and better health, but it is also something I am doing just for me, and there aren’t many things I do just for me. I resolve to continue to make me a priority, my health and well being. I resolve to keep working on me, how I can be and do better. I resolve to find a serene place in my mind where I can find peace. Bring on 2022.

Kathy: Any New Year's Plans?

2020/2021 was a couple of crappy years, although I will say 2021, while not great, has been consequential for me. I’ve made some changes. Midnight, New Year’s Eve I’ll be in front of the tube eating Chinese food with the two cats, and watching the two Andys on CNN. I’ll make it to midnight, shout hurrah, and yell “get out of here you stinking lousy 2021”, and hello to a hopeful new year.

2022 has to be better, right? That’s all I’m asking for, is better.

http://www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com/

 

From Jenny Kales

Celebrating the New Year with a Recipe from Callie’s Kitchen

When I started envisioning The Callie’s Kitchen Mysteries, one of the things I was most looking forward to was the food. True, this is a cozy mystery series, requiring my amateur sleuth, Calliope “Callie” Costas to find a killer amidst cooking assignments, but she is also a Greek American and a Midwesterner. The food traditions are plentiful, and they say a lot about who Callie is as a person. Yes, she is warm, nurturing and kind, but also ready to think on the fly and use kitchen equipment that just might help her in the face of a killer!

Of course, holiday foods play a role in my series. The following recipe for kreatopita, a special Greek New Year’s “pita” or pie, appears in my Callie’s Kitchen Mysteries Cookbook. Kreatopita is hearty and homey, true comfort food, and especially welcome at this time of year. What makes it special is that a coin is placed in the pie and whoever finds it has good luck for the New Year. This pie is traditionally served on New Year’s Day, and it has many derivations – you can use ground pork, beef, or lamb. I’ve included my family recipe for you below. It’s a delicious tradition that you don’t have to be Greek to enjoy! 

 New Year’s Kreatopita

Ingredients:

4 cups finely cut leeks

½ lb. unsalted butter, melted (2 sticks)

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 lbs.’ ground beef or lamb

6 eggs

1 -2 tsp. dried oregano, ¼ tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp dried basil OR 2 tsp. Greek seasoning blend, if you have it

½ cup grated kasseri (hard Greek cheese – available at many well-stocked supermarkets or gourmet grocery shops) or Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

½ lb. phyllo sheets (pastry sheets), thawed if frozen

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Have ready a large baking pan and a sterilized coin. Or, you can wrap your coin in a small amount of aluminum foil. This is also a good way to make the coin stand out so that the diners can see it so that they don’t accidentally eat it.

Sauté the leeks in a small amount of the melted butter until wilted and golden. Set aside to cool. In a large, wide frying pan, sauté meat in olive oil until browned. Set this aside to cool. When both meat and leeks have cooled, stir in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly mixed. Add cheese and mix gently. Add seasonings, plus salt and pepper to taste, and mix thoroughly.

On the bottom of a large baking pan, layer 8 phyllo sheets, one at a time, spreading melted butter generously over each sheet, all the way to the corners. A pastry brush works best. Place your sterilized coin on top of the last baking sheet. Work quickly so that the phyllo doesn’t dry out and cover it up with plastic wrap while you do the next step.

Spread filling evenly over phyllo, then cover the top with 8 more phyllo sheets, spreading melted butter on each sheet, one at a time. With a sharp knife, score into even squares before putting into oven (this makes it easier to cut after baking). If any of the phyllo overhangs your baking pan, carefully trim with kitchen scissors or a sharp knife.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the phyllo looks golden brown.

Note: Warn your guests that there is a coin in this pie, and of course, supervise any young diners so that there are no unhappy surprises. We only want good luck! Chronia Polla! That’s Greek for Happy New Year!

To learn more about my books, visit my Amazon author page: and follow me on Facebook at Jenny Kales Author.

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So, mystery fans, what are you looking forward to in 2022?

Death on the Danube - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Jennifer S. Alderson to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jennifer writes the Travel Can Be Murder Mystery series. DEATH ON THE DANUBE: A NEW YEAR'S MURDER IN BUDAPEST is the first book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: Lana Hansen finds herself jobless and penniless on Christmas Eve. Have you ever had a similarly horrible holiday?

JSA: Christmas when I was a child were a joyous, family filled affair. But for some reason, when I hit adolescent, things started to go downhill. I swear, for many years, it seemed as if Christmas was cursed. Cars would break down, roads would be closed, family members would become suddenly ill – you name it, it happened to one of us on or around December 25! Many years, we ended up celebrating Christmas whenever we were all healthy enough to get together, usually days or weeks after the holiday was officially over.


Kathy: Lana was an investigative reporter, but helps her landlady by becoming a tour guide. Of those two professions, which one would you prefer?

JSA: I have worked as both, and can safely say investigative journalist. I enjoyed my brief stint as a tour guide, but quickly learned that I enjoy traveling solo more than in a group.


Kathy: In DEATH ON THE DANUBE Lana leads a tour group to Budapest, Hungary. Why choose this setting for the first Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery?

JSA: Budapest is the vibrant capital of Hungary and the setting of my first cozy mystery, DEATH ON THE DANUBE. I enjoyed visiting this fascinating city so much, when I was trying to decide which cities my tour groups should visit, Budapest was the first that sprang to my mind!

When I first visited, I had visions of Soviet-era buildings, grey-clothed locals, and a depressing atmosphere. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is rightfully one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe these days. I hope my cozy inspires readers to consider visiting.


Kathy: When you travel, do you generally go on group tours, or do you do your own thing?

JSA: I am an avid traveler, yet most of my experiences are of backpacking adventures through multiple countries visited during one long trip. I have been on tours before, but never ones as luxurious as those described in my cozy mysteries! Luckily, my mother has been on several and has shared so many photos and stories about the guides, hotels, and fellow passengers, I feel as if I have. I was also lucky enough to spend a day with her travel group when they visited the Netherlands. That was a fun and educational experience, for sure.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JSA: For the past three years, art-based thrillers have been my bread and butter. As much as I enjoy writing the Zelda Richardson Mystery series, I wanted to try something new. After batting several styles around, I decided to write something lighter and funnier than my current plot-heavy thrillers. Creating a new character-driven series within the framework of a whodunit-style mystery – a cozy mystery series thus – was the solution.

I enjoy reading cozy mysteries because of the puzzle aspect, as well as the quirky yet intelligent characters you often find in them. My mother is a huge mystery fan and I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie – in some readers’ eyes, the queen of the cozy mystery!


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JSA: In addition to the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery series, I also write the Zelda Richardson Mysteries – a series of fast-paced, plot-heavy, art thrillers. I have also published three more books, two travel adventures and a travelogue that are part of my Adventures in Backpacking series.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JSA: My Zelda Richardson Mystery series are often described by reviewers as cozies, though technically they are more thrillers! Book One—THE LOVER"S PORTRAIT—is a suspenseful whodunit about Nazi-looted artwork that transports readers to WWII and present-day Amsterdam. Art, religion, and anthropology collide in RITUALS OF THE DEAD (Book Two), a thrilling artifact mystery set in Papua and the Netherlands. My pulse-pounding adventure set in the Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, and Turkey—MARKED FOR REVENGE (Book Three)—is a story about stolen art, the mafia, and a father’s vengeance.


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

JSA: Dotty Thompson, the owner of Wanderlust Tours, is probably my favorite to write. She is a combination of my favorite great grandmother and two great-aunts – all feisty, crazy, and fun women who taught me to not take life too seriously. Unfortunately all three passed on when I was in my twenties. Writing about Dotty is a wonderful way of bringing them all back to life.


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

JSA: Not really. After reading several different styles of cozies, I decided to create a world based around my passion in life – travel. Creating a cozy mystery series about a tour guide turned amateur sleuth was an ideal solution!


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JSA: I had written one book and was finishing up a second when my father had an unexpected and fatal heart attack at sixty-one years old. It was quite confronting, to say the least. It was also a vivid reminder that life is short and we don’t know how long we have on this earth. I had been working up my courage to query agents before he died, but after I recovered from the shock of his loss, I decided there was no reason to wait. It took a while to get published, but I now have seven books out and the eighth will be released in February 2020.


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

JSA: Donna Leon, Alexander McCall Smith, Alex Garland, and Philip Kerr. That would be an entertaining night!


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JSA: I just finished A LONG TIME COMING by Aaron Elkins and SECRETIVE by Sara Rosett. Next up on my lengthy TBR list is Harriet Steel’s PASSAGE FROM NUALA.


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

JSA: I love to kayak and create stained glass windows and objects.


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

JSA: Olives, feta cheese, red wine, and coffee.


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

JSA: I have a total of nine books planned out for the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery, though I recently realized I could easily make it twelve. I’m writing them in blocks of three, with the idea that the characters undergo a major change at the end of book 3 that affects the next three.

My Zelda Richardson Mystery series is potentially endless; I have a long list of art-related story ideas I hope to one day turn into stories.


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

JSA: It is a joy to create a world and mystery, and see how readers react to it!


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Review

DEATH ON THE DANUBE: A NEW YEAR'S MURDER IN BUDAPEST

By Jennifer S. Alderson

The First Travel Can Be Murder Mystery

Newly divorced and barely making ends meet Lana Hansen takes up her landlady's offer. All she has to do is co-lead a luxury tour and she'll get a reprieve on her rent and an all expense paid trip to Budapest. How hard could it be? Although the amenities are first class, the tour members keep Lana on her toes. From snobbish behavior, to veiled fighting over a man, and furtive glances all around Lana just hopes they don't kill each other! Unfortunately, Lana's hopes are in vain when her missing co-leader's body is found!  

I love exploring new places and would love to visit Hungary, especially the Christmas markets. I recently discovered I'm not cut out to be a world traveler, therefore I'm happy to allow Lana Hansen to be my guide. I enjoyed the descriptions of Budapest and, unlike Lana, I am a history buff and like learning all the details from the local guides. She and the Fabulous Five can keep the spa days, although I think I'd appreciate the architecture.

A good number of the tourists on Lana's first outing are the sort of people I hope never to meet and certainly not travel with. Lana is a likable protagonist, even though I'm not sure how she missed the connections between the travelers, especially as a former investigative reporter. My favorite character is Dotty and I love her way with animals and her new business venture for them. The pets also add dimension to the book despite their relatively small role.

There's a slow start to the first Travel Can Be Murder Mystery. While there is conflict from the tour group from the onset, the murder doesn't happen for quite some time. Then there's a slow investigation as the tour continues. Yet the penultimate scene, where Lana figures out who did it had me on the edge of my seat.

DEATH ON THE DANUBE: A NEW YEAR'S MURDER IN BUDAPEST is an enjoyable mystery which leads readers through the picturesque country of Hungary. The details of the travel blended with the furtive behavior of the tourists make an appealing narrative. I just hope Lana and the Fabulous Five, or Stupendous Six, don't sit near me at the opera! 

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Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in Budapest (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series) by Jennifer S. Alderson

About Death on the Danube

Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in Budapest (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series) 

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series  

Traveling Life Press (November 28, 2019) 

Print Length ~200 Pages 

Who knew a New Year’s trip to Budapest could be so deadly? The tour must go on – even with a killer in their midst…

Recent divorcee Lana Hansen needs a break. Her luck has run sour for going on a decade, ever since she got fired from her favorite job as an investigative reporter. When her fresh start in Seattle doesn’t work out as planned, Lana ends up unemployed and penniless on Christmas Eve.

Dotty Thompson, her landlord and the owner of Wanderlust Tours, is also in a tight spot after one of her tour guides ends up in the hospital, leaving her a guide short on Christmas Day.

When Dotty offers her a job leading the tour group through Budapest, Hungary, Lana jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect way to ring in the new year and pay her rent!

What starts off as the adventure of a lifetime quickly turns into a nightmare when Carl, her fellow tour guide, is found floating in the Danube River. Was it murder or accidental death? Suspects abound when Lana discovers almost everyone on the tour had a bone to pick with Carl.

But Dotty insists the tour must go on, so Lana finds herself trapped with nine murder suspects. When another guest turns up dead, Lana has to figure out who the killer is before she too ends up floating in the Danube…

Introducing Lana Hansen, tour guide, reluctant amateur sleuth, and star of the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series. Join Lana as she leads tourists and readers to fascinating cities around the globe on intriguing adventures that, unfortunately for Lana, often turn deadly.

Feel-good stories about friendship, travel, and celebrating new experiences. Coming soon: Books 2 and 3 in the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series!

About Jennifer S. Alderson

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she moved to Darwin, Australia, before settling in the Netherlands. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels. When not writing, she can be found in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.

Jennifer’s love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning mystery series—the Zelda Richardson Mysteries and Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries—and standalone stories.  

Author Links: 
Website: http://www.jennifersalderson.com  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JennifeSAlderson  
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferSAldersonauthor  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSAauthor  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/JenniferSAlderson  
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-s-alderson  

Purchase Links Amazon COM Amazon Worldwide Amazon Author Page

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恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) - Wishing You Wealth and Prosperity!

Happy New Year! Today is the start of a new year, the lunar new year. This year is the year of the Pig, or Boar, and this year it falls under the element of Earth. To celebrate I thought I'd focus on some books with Chinese and other Asian ties since the lunar new year is commonly referred to as the Chinese New Year and is celebrated in most Asian cultures.

One of my favorite new series may take place in Cleveland, Ohio, but the primary setting is a Chinese restaurant. The Noodle House Mystery series by Vivien Chien starts with Death by Dumpling followed by Dim Sum of All Fears. The third book, Murder Lo Mein will be released March 26, 2019. I can't wait! I'll be dreaming of noodles in various forms until then!

The Oxford Tearoom Mystery series may not seem as if it fits in a post celebrating the Chinese New Year. Nor does the Bewitched by Chocolate Mystery series. Indeed, they both are set in the bucolic Cotswolds in England. The author, H. Y. Hanna, studied at Oxford and currently lives in Australia. Hsin-Yi also happens to be Asian. A Scone to Die For and Dark, Witch, and Creamy are the first in the series, respectively. All-Butter ShortDead is a prequel to the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series.

Ovidia Yu writes the Aunty Lee Singaporean Mystery series and the Crown Colony Crime series, both of which are set in Singapore. The Aunty Lee series is a delightful culinary themed series while the Crown Colony is a historical series set in the 1930s. Aunty Lee's Delights and The Frangipani Tree Mystery are the first in the series, respectively.

In conclusion, I'd like to mention another book. While not a mystery, it does revolve around something a majority of mystery readers and writers enjoy-tea! The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo. is delightful little book published in 1906 which talks about the history and philosophy of the beverage developing into Teaism.

I wish everyone a wonderful New Year. May you get lots of red envelopes!  恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái)

Happy New Year 2017!

Happy New Year 2017! I'm wishing you lots of pleasurable reading ahead. May we discover new series and find authors that are new to us. Let us enjoy the work of authors we know and love and catch up on series in which we've fallen behind as well as start those on our TBR piles!

I read 62 books this past year and read books which started with 15 different letters of the alphabet! May I accomplish even more this year.

I hope share even more authors, interviews, reviews, and books with you in 2017. Make sure you stop by both here and on my Facebook page during the coming year. Keep in touch. Leave me a note, tell me about your reading, what you enjoy seeing on my blog, and perhaps ideas on what you'd like to see! Above all, have a healthy and happy New Year!

A Gnarly Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Anna Celeste Burke to the blog today. Anna writes the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery series. Gnarly New Year is the second book in the series and was released earlier this summer.

Kathy: Setting is very important to a story. What makes California the perfect setting for Kim and Brien?

ACB: Cue the surf music! When I sit down to write the Corsario Cove mysteries, the Beach Boys or some other surf band starts playing in my head. The three cozy mystery series I write are all set in California—the sunny blue skies an inspiration to write about murder and mayhem while keeping it light. My upbringing in San Diego wasn’t always easy, but the natural beauty and upbeat culture of the Golden State always helped put trouble in perspective. At age ten, biking to the beach and taking in the surf culture on weekends was a great escape.

Fun, even zany spirit seemed to be everywhere. Maybe it’s all that California Dreamin’ about becoming the next big thing in Hollywood or making it as a rock star. Of course, not all those dreams can come true, but it sure can be fun trying. Why not have “fun, fun, fun ‘til her daddy takes the T-Bird away” or some more serious mishap befalls you?

My characters, Kim and Brien, are young and in love. That’s a great surprise to the cynical, streetwise Kim who has not had an easy life. They’re filled with an almost reckless “can do” spirit. It’s reminiscent of my teenage years when love inspired me to throw caution to the wind and run off with a lead guitarist in a rock band. Underage, I got picked up as a runaway but managed to end up a few months later with the man of my dreams. Somehow, it all worked out for us, and we’re still together more than 40 years later. What the heck? According to Brien, “Love is the most excellent adventure after all, isn’t it?”

Kathy: The Sanctuary Resort and Spa at Corsario Cove has everything, including murder. Is this swanky resort based on a real one, sans murders, of course, or is it purely fictional?

ACB: The resort and Corsario Cove are fictional settings, inspired by real places. For a few years, I worked as a chef at Walt Disney World where I got my first introduction to resorts. After completing the Walt Disney World University’s chef training, I worked for several years at the Polynesian Hotel and spent time at other resorts. The resort and spa in my Corsario Cove mysteries have amenities like those you’d find in five-star resorts. Luxurious suites and lavish amenities like you’ll find at the Grand Wailea in Maui or the Mauna Lani resort on the Big Island. High-end resorts are known for the attention they pay to detail, including efforts to anticipate your likes and dislikes. I've tried to portray that realistically in their mystery adventures.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

ACB: I have always loved cozy mysteries—especially if you include classics in the mystery genre, like Agatha Christie’s tales, as cozies. I devoured Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and The Hardy Boys as a child. Since then, I’ve read thousands of cozy and not-so-cozy mysteries. I love film noir starring hard-boiled PIs like Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe, Hammett’s Sam Spade, or Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer. Perhaps, part of their appeal is that many of their tales are set in California, too.

Their hardboiled female counterparts, like Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski, are intriguing. What’s not to like? An independent woman who can take a punch and give as good as she gets, while still harboring affection for a pair of fabulous stiletto heels. Wow!

Still, for me, there’s nothing quite like an accidental or amateur sleuth who finds herself pulled into figuring out whodunit by circumstances and a bit too much curiosity. Maybe we haven’t been faced with murder, but life puts us to the test in less dramatic but similarly challenging ways all the time. I love light and breezy mysteries that have a befuddled, but clever and determined woman at the center. I like to write series because I have the luxury of watching the protagonist grow and develop as a sleuth, so she’s not the amateur for long!

One of my all-time favorite mystery series combines the two types of sleuths—professional and amateur. Dashiell Hammett’s Thin Man series pairs up Nick and Nora Charles for wonderful cozy mysteries that blend mystery and romance with a big dose of humor. I think of Kim and Brien as a kind of millennials’ take on Nick and Nora. The humor in Cowabunga Christmas & Gnarly New Year ranges from droll to slapstick, like that Thin Man series, too. I hope the chemistry between Kim and Brien is as loving and playful as that between Nick and Nora.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

ACB: I write books in three series. The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series set in the Coachella Valley, in and around Palm Springs; The Corsario Cove Cosy Mystery Series that, as I’ve said, takes place in a fictional location on California's Central Coast; and The Georgie Shaw Cosy Mystery Series set in Orange County, California—the OC. As I say on the homepage for my website, all my books involve "Snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, & food--California style!" Murder and mayhem, weighty subjects I write about under the influence of sunny skies and blue Pacific waters. Before I was a stuffy professor, I “worked for the Mouse” at Walt Disney World as a chef, so my characters always eat well as they fight off evildoers and figure out whodunit.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

ACB: I do have a 4th series I’d like to write. The Misadventures of Betsy Stark would be more to the thriller end of the continuum than the cozy end. Betsy’s an interesting character. Born and raised in the Coachella Valley but in the bleakest parts of this playground of the presidents. Betsy even spent time in “The Slabs.” I’ve introduced Betsy Stark, briefly, in A Dead Daughter. An enormous woman, over 6 feet tall, she’s physically strong and can bench press her body weight! Her early childhood was chaotic, and her best memories are of her Cahuilla grandmother. The real departure for me with this series stems from the fact that Betsy has some unique skills—is it a 6th sense, second sight, or an odd way her brain has of processing information? I still haven’t quite decided, but telling the story from her point of view flirts with the boundaries around what we regard as “real” vs. fantastical or magic. I’ve experimented a bit with magical realism once before. Love a Foot Above the Ground, the prequel to the Jessica Huntington series dabbles in that genre. The Betsy Stark series will push me back in that direction, I think.


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

ACB: That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child or pet. I enjoy them all—even the snarky, nasty bad guys. I do have a special place in my heart for Jessica Huntington since she’s the lead character in the first series I wrote.


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

ACB: The inspiration to write the Corsario Cove series came about while sitting at dinner with friends. They had asked us to meet them in Santa Barbara at a beachside restaurant up on a small slope overlooking this perfect little cove. The waves danced, the light sparkled, people played along the beach. I left that night with surf music playing in my head and a story about Kim and Brien—an unlikely pairing—on their honeymoon with a bigger, more upscale version of that little cove as their playground.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

ACB: Initially, I just wanted to hold the book in my hands. Now, I’m hooked—writing is a passion!


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

ACB: Agatha Christie, of course. She is one of the most prolific and best-selling authors of all times. A fascinating woman, too, with some secrets of her own—like her disappearance when confronted by the loss of her mother and revelations about an unfaithful husband. Dashiell Hammett because he created such a diverse mix of interesting stories and characters. In addition to the Thin Man series that I adore, The Maltese Falcon is another of my all-time favorite mysteries. I’d love to have Janet Evanovich at the table because of her use of humor and romance in the mystery genre with her long-running Stephany Plum series. Maybe David Balducci to have a thriller writer at the table. Technically, they’re more mavens of cinema than authors, but the Hitchcocks, both Alfred and Alma, would be interesting dinner companions.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

ACB: I read a lot of things at once, these days. I always have a cozy mystery I’m reading. Right now I’m reading Dianne Harman’s latest book, Murder on the East Coast. I have also started a Baldacci thriller, and I am reading a couple of historical fiction books—Ludwika, by Christoph Fischer and Rise to Power by Uvi Poznansky. I enjoy nonfiction too and am working my way through The Cloud of Unknowing, a spiritual guide written by an anonymous monk in the middle ages.


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

ACB: I love hiking in the desert and mountains surrounding the Coachella Valley. Trips to the beach are still favorite activities, although I prefer walking along the beach rather than swimming these days. I love reading and enjoy watching television series that feature mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction. I also spend time each day in meditation, contemplating the big mysteries of life.


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

ACB: Lots of fresh fruit and veggies—not sexy, I know, but dietary staples. Whole fresh-roasted coffee beans—right now I’m crazy about Mystic Monk coffee. Yeah, it’s roasted by monks. Spices—all sorts of spices. I love to open the pantry door and get that rush they provide—especially first thing in the morning when I grab the bag of coffee beans. Think Thin gluten free, high protein bars. I start everyday with chocolate and caffeine and a word or two of gratitude for both!


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

ACB: Yes. The third novella in the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series, All Hallows’ Eve Heist, was just released August 29th. I have an idea for the fourth book in that series. Although it’s still sketchy, the story will involve murder and mayhem surrounding a Christmas wedding. I’m currently working on the fourth book in the Jessica Huntington series, A Dead Mother. There’s still a lot of work to do to finish that book, but I’d like to get it out by the end of 2016. Kim and Brien will be back in Corsario Cove for an Epic Easter. They’re going to follow up on an interesting discovery they made while trying to escape the bad guys in Gnarly New Year. I can hear Brien’s voice talking to Kim with his high-energy, enthusiastic way: “It’s going to be epic, Kim!”


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

ACB: Getting my characters into awkward situations and watching them “Macgyver” their way out of them.


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