Death for Sale - A Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway

 Review

DEATH FOR SALE by Erik S. Meyers
The Third Sally Witherspoon Mystery 

Thanksgiving is Sally Witherspoon's favorite holiday and she's excited to spend the day with the majority of  Berry Springs, Arkansas at the Grand Hotel. With Joanna catering the dinner the buffet is jammed packed with delicious food - roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, the works! Sally and her crew, along with some temporary bartenders, are serving the drinks while also enjoying the scrumptious spread. After the satisfying event Sally is woken in the early morning hours by a phone call from Sergeant Soder. Several party goers seem to have gotten food poisoning and some have even been hospitalized. Was there something wrong with the food? Could the fruit in some of her cocktails have been tainted? When one person dies and the police consider the death suspicious Sally once again gets out her pen and notebook determined to help solve another murder. 

Who would be cruel enough to kill, not only taking a life, but taking the joy of the holiday season from the whole community? With motive murky at best Sally has her work cut out for her in the third Sally Witherspoon Mystery. One of the things I like best is that the mystery isn't solved in a matter of days. Generally speaking, murder investigations take time and time is given here. The book starts just before Thanksgiving and goes through Christmas and New Year's Eve and Day, sadly with more deaths as time goes by. I enjoyed reading about the festivities and appreciated how everyone tried to celebrate even as the number of deaths increased.

DEATH FOR SALE is the best Sally Witherspoon Mystery yet. The mystery was perplexing, the characters developed, and the emotions real. The story flowed naturally and kept me interested and engaged.

With a puzzling crime and a holiday season turned horrible DEATH FOR SALE is a compelling mystery you won't want to miss.

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DEATH FOR SALE

by Erik S. Meyers

April 13 - May 8, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A Sally Witherspoon Mystery

 

It's holiday time in Berry Springs, where many come together to enjoy good food, drink, and the company of friends. Unfortunately, death is among the mix as people get mysteriously ill at the town's Thanksgiving dinner. Deaths follow, and Sally must race to discover the truth before more people die off.

Coupled with worry for her aging parents, she is overwhelmed with the pressure and emotions, but she'll push through to solve the crimes and restore peace to the town.

Praise for Death For Sale:

"It’s always a delight to accompany amateur sleuth Sally Witherspoon as she takes time from her bar-owner job to bring murderers to justice. You’ve got to love a spunky middle-aged single woman who runs a biker bar and does a side hustle helping the local law enforcement solve serious crimes. The holiday setting of this third book in the series brings a touch of charm and festivity to the sadness the small town of Berry Springs experiences as some of their older citizens succumb to what appears to be intentional poisoning. Leave it to Sally to get answers in this difficult-to-solve murder case.
If you’re looking for a fun, holiday-themed cozy mystery, Death for Sale fits the bill perfectly. You’ll love spending time with lovable Sally Witherspoon as she restores peace and calm to her beloved town of Berry Springs. "
~ Ivanka Fear, author of the Blue Water Mysteries and Jake and Mallory Thrillers

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery with Grit
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: January 20, 2026
Number of Pages: 244
ISBN: 979-8898201258
Series: Sally Witherspoon Mystery Series, Book 3 || Amazon, Goodreads, Level Best Books
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Mystery Series

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Read an excerpt from DEATH FOR SALE:

 

 

Author Bio:

Originally from Connecticut, I am an American abroad who has lived or worked in six countries on three continents, currently living in Vienna.

The author of the Sally Witherspoon murder mystery series, an award-winning adult LGBTQ Jewish historical fiction novel "Caged Time," a short story anthology "Connections," and a business book "The Accidental Change Agent." I also have written several short stories and a thriller/horror script.

I am represented by Cindy Bullard at Birch Literary.

Oh and I survive on coffee and hiking.

Catch Up With Erik S Meyers:

www.ErikMey.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @erikmey
BookBub
Instagram - @erikmeyauthor
Facebook - @ErikSMeyersAuthor

 

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Order Up: Danger, Secrets, and DEATH FOR SALE

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Sticks and Bones - A Spotlight

With the new year just a few days away, I thought I'd shine a spotlight on a book set during this holiday. Sticks and Stones by Carolyn Haines is the seventeenth book in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series. If you're unfamiliar with this great series Them Bones is the first, published in 1999. Doggone Bones is the most recent book in the series, the twenty-ninth, and was published back in May. Ode to the Bones will be the next book in the series and will be published in May 2026! 

Blurb:

Private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends are celebrating New Year’s Eve at the party of the year, a smashing Winter Garden party at the Prince Albert Hotel. It’s a dazzling success…until Frangelica “Sister” McFee walks through the door. Sarah Booth knew Sister in college, before Sister became a bestselling author and moved to New York, and fame and fortune don’t seem to have tempered her arrogance and cruelty.

Sister’s latest book is a memoir about the death of her mother and brother many years ago. Now, a film about the book is in the works, and a film crew has descended upon Zinnia, Mississippi, to tell the complete tale. The film crew soon realizes there may be more to the story than meets the eye—or is told in Sister’s memoir—and they hire Sarah Booth to discover the absolute truth about those deaths so many years ago. But Sarah Booth quickly realizes that someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden and will go to any lengths necessary to protect a long-held secret.

Murder at the Moulin Rouge - A Review. Excerpt, & Giveaway

 Review

MURDER AT THE MOULIN ROUGE by Carol Pouliot

The Fifth Blackwell & Watson Mystery

 

Steven Blackwell has gotten used to the fact that his home is a conduit of sorts, first meeting Olivia Watson who lives in the house in the 2010s and allowing him to visit the future and Olivia the ability to visit his time, the 1930s. What he didn't expect was to see a young version of his deceased mother coming and telling him that he and Olivia need to come with her to solve a murder in 1895 Paris! The pair, stunned, agree and soon are investigating the death of a dancer. While it was deemed accidental, a horrible fall down icy stairs, some things don't add up and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec thinks it's murder. Fortunately for Steven, Detective Etienne Berthot with the Sûreté agrees and is able to help. Soon Steven and Olivia are entrenched in the world of dance both at the ballet and the Moulin Rouge and learn that their glittering world is more than a bit tarnished.

 

I truly enjoy when real historical people show up in mysteries and I was thrilled to see not only Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, but Edgar Degas and other notable artists of the Impressionistic era. It was also fun to see amazing things around today when they were in their infancy: motion pictures, the Eiffel Tour, and Sacre Coeur! I also loved attending an artistocratic New Year's party. The details were exquisitely portrayed. 

 

While I love the idea of Steven and Olivia being able to enter each other's time lines, and even consider it plausible, given Einstein's theories, I had to give the fifth Blackwell & Watson Mystery more of a willing suspension of disbelief in their ability to travel to 1895, as well as what they learned about time travel itself. Still it opens the series up to a lot more possibilities and I certainly had fun in 1895 Paris, although I'm just as happy in 1934 Knightsbridge, New York.

 

The mystery was twisty with lots of well placed turns and surprises. I enjoyed how Steven and Olivia work together with Etienne and even Evangéline. 

 

Combining historical facts with a fictional mystery MURDER AT THE MOULIN ROUGE is a delightful trip back in time.

 

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MURDER AT THE MOULIN ROUGE

by Carol Pouliot

November 3 - 28, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery

 

Paris, 1895. When a cancan dancer at the Moulin Rouge falls to her death from the top of one of Montmartre’s highest staircases, the police dismiss it as an accident. But, Madeleine was one of Toulouse-Lautrec’s favorite models, and the artist is certain she was murdered. Enter Depression-era detective Steven Blackwell and 21^st-century journalist Olivia Watson who travel back in time to Paris to hunt down the killer. Before long, they learn that a second dancer—a ballerina and favorite model of painter Edgar Degas—has died. Two dancers dead in two weeks. Two artists grieving. Is the killer targeting young dancers, or, does this case involve the enigmatic Paris art world?

From the moment Steven and Olivia arrive, Steven is out of his element. The small-town cop has no idea what techniques the French police use in 1895. Worse, he has no official status to investigate murder in one of the world’s largest cities. The sleuths soon discover disturbing secrets at the Paris Ballet. And when Olivia insists on going undercover to visit a suspect’s house alone, Steven fears he’s made the biggest mistake of his life.

Travel back in time with Steven and Olivia, as they enter the back-stabbing world of dance in one of the world’s greatest cities. Murder at the Moulin Rouge is their most daring and dangerous case to date.

Book Details:

Genre: Traditional Police Procedural with a Time-Travel Twist; Historical Mystery.
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
Number of Pages: 325
Series: The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, #5
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Level Best Books

The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery Series

Doorway to Murder Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Threshold of Deceit Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Death Rang the Bell Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

RSVP to Murder Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Chapter One

December 25, 1934
Knightsbridge, New York

“I need you to come to Paris.”

“You need what?” he asked.

Detective Steven Blackwell stared at the younger version of his mother standing in the room that had been her studio. Jaw dropped, eyes like saucers. He could barely speak.

“I need you—and your friend Olivia, if you like—to come to Paris. There’s been a murder and the police aren’t doing anything,” said Evangéline. “I thought I heard a voice a minute ago. Was that Olivia? Why don't you get her? She’s probably wondering what’s going on.”

In a daze, and feeling like he had no control over his actions, Steven turned away from the vision of his mother and stumbled out into the hallway. He saw Olivia still waiting in the doorway at the end of the hall. Her hand flew to her chest, and she heaved a great sigh. “Oh, my God, you’re okay! What’s going on? I thought I heard voices. Is somebody here?” As he came closer, she noticed the look on his face. “What’s wrong? You look funny.”

“It’s my mother. My mother’s here.”

“What?”

“She looks as real as you do, but she’s young, around our age. She said she needs me to go to Paris. And you should come too.”

“What?” For one terrifying moment, Olivia wondered if a year of grieving had unhinged Steven’s mind. How could his mother be here? Evangéline Neuilly Blackwell died last January.

Steven repeated Evangéline’s instructions. “She said I should come get you.” He held out his hand. Olivia took it and stepped over the threshold into 1934.

They moved slowly down the hall then paused at the doorway to look at each other. Steven squeezed her hand. Olivia nodded. They both took a deep breath then entered Evangéline’s studio.

There in the shadowy room stood a beautiful woman, shoulder-length copper hair shining in the lamplight. She was slender, taller than average, and wore a stunning emerald dress, the kind French women wore to perfection. A wool coat with a fur collar had been thrown over the back of a chair. She held out her hand toward Olivia.

“Hello. I’m Evangéline Neuilly. I’m so happy to meet you.”

Olivia had always wanted to meet Steven’s exotic-sounding mother—a famous French artist—but that possibility had died along with Evangéline. Or so she had thought. Olivia told herself to close her mouth, which had fallen open, and shook the woman’s hand. “Olivia Watson.”

Evangéline looked at Steven. “I can tell you’re surprised to see me. I must not have told you about my ability to time travel. Surely, you wondered why you can? And if your father or I also had that ability?”

“Eh, no. Not really.”

Evangéline rolled her eyes and gave Olivia a look that said, Men, huh?

Olivia couldn’t help grinning.

“Well,” Evangéline opened her arms wide, “here’s the answer to your unasked question. You got it from me.”

Olivia recovered first. “So, Evangéline, you traveled here from...when?”

“1895. And I really need your help. Both of you.” She shook her head and waved her hand back and forth. “I know. I know. You have a lot of questions. Let’s go downstairs and have something to drink. I’ll tell you what has happened.”

They trouped down the stairs and into the living room.

“I know I must have lived in this house for some time and I assume I decorated this room....” Evangéline turned to Steven for confirmation.

“Yes, we lived here about twenty years or so before you....” He swallowed hard.

“Before I died,” she whispered, then patted his hand. “Pauvre chouchou. Poor sweetheart. I’m so sorry. But, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know when. Of course, I have an idea. But not the exact date.” She opened a door in the sideboard. “Bon! A bottle of red.” She handed the wine to Steven.

Still dazed, he opened it and poured a glass for each of them. Evangéline curled up in a leather chair. Steven and Olivia sat facing her on the couch.

His mother took a sip and pursed her lips. “Not bad. So, listen, we must act fast. A young girl has been killed but the police do nothing. They say it was an accident. We know it was not. I want you to find out who killed Madeleine Gervaise.”

His cop’s instincts kicked in, and Steven found himself intrigued. Who was Madeleine Gervaise? How did she die? Why do the police think it was an accident? And what was her connection to Evangéline?

Suddenly, Steven remembered something Sherlock Holmes once said: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” And with that assurance, he snapped out of his stupor and accepted his mother’s bewildering appearance. He leaned forward.

“All right, let’s say, for the sake of argument, that I can and will go to Paris. Answer these questions.” He ticked them off his fingers. “Why do the police think it was an accident? How do you know it wasn’t? When did this happen?”

Evangéline placed her feet on the floor and mirrored him, ticking her answers off her fingers. Olivia almost laughed at the two of them. Talk about a chip off the old block, as her grandfather used to say. “She fell on one of the tall staircases in Montmartre. The police say she slipped on the ice. My friend Henri knows the human body and how it works. He says the...how do you say ‘marks of black and blue’?”

“Bruises,” Olivia chimed in. “We also say black-and-blue marks.”

“Ah! Bon. Henri says the bruises prove someone pushed her. It happened late Sunday night, early Monday morning. Today is already Wednesday. That is why we must move fast.”

Steven groaned, thinking of the days lost. “Is Henri a doctor?”

“No, an artist. But, believe me, Steven, he knows the body. If Henri says she was pushed, she was pushed.”

“So, again, if we were to do this, how would it work?”

“We must go with all speed. That means we must travel in Olivia’s time in one of those fast aeroplanes. That’s how I got here so quickly.”

“Wait, how do you know about Olivia?”

“Oh, mon Dieu, the questions! It is a long story but if it will help speed this up...last summer, I traveled to 1934, to America, with someone on business that had nothing to do with you or my future. When I was in New York City, I saw a photograph in a newspaper of the painting I’m working on right now. The article said a museum in Chicago had bought it and gave information about me, you, and your father. While my friend was completing his business, I had a couple of days to myself, so I took a train here and came to this house. Naturally, I was curious, so I came in and looked around. You really shouldn’t leave your doors unlocked, you know. Anyway, I saw the photograph of Olivia on your dresser. You have her name and the year 2014 written on the back. I realized you had inherited my ability to time travel and that Olivia also had the gift.” Evangéline blew out her cheeks. “Can we not return to the problem at hand now?”

Steven grinned. “Yeah, okay. You know, I always thought you learned English when you moved here with Dad. You speak really well.”

She rolled her eyes. “As you must know, my father is a professor of English at the Sorbonne. He taught me when I was a child.” She took a drink of her wine. “Now, to our problème...I went through the portal in Paris, from 1895 to Olivia’s time.”

“Why did you go into Olivia’s time?”

“If you keep interrupting me, we will never get anywhere. Just listen.” Evangéline took another drink of wine and went on. “Time is of the essence, as it’s already been almost three days. We must travel into 2014 and go to New York City as quickly as possible. Someone there will help us with what we need. Tomorrow night, we’ll fly to Paris. Once we’re there, we’ll travel back to 1895.”

“You make it sound easy. But I have so many questions,” Steven persisted. “How are we going to pay for all this? How do I get a passport fast enough to fly tomorrow? What about other things we might need?”

His mother tilted her head toward the ceiling and sighed. “You think I have come all this way without a plan? Before I left, Henri gave me a sketch. There’s a man in New York City—you will soon learn we have travel agents in cities all over the world who help us. This man in New York City, a place called Brooklyn, is selling the sketch for me, so we’ll have plenty of money. He’ll make a passport and other documents for you, Steven, just as someone in Paris made mine so I could come here.” Evangéline turned to Olivia. “Do you have a passport? Do you drive an automobile?”

“Yes. And I have a car.”

“Can you take us to New York City tomorrow morning so we can get Steven’s documents and the money to buy our tickets for the aeroplane? We must leave for Paris tomorrow night.”

“Sure. Listen, Evangéline, I’m sorry to hear about your friend Madeleine.”

“Thank you. She was lovely—a dancer and one of Henri’s favorite models. Such a waste.”

“Who is Henri? And why would anybody buy one of his sketches?”

“Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. I think he is well known in your time, Olivia.”

“Toulouse-Lautrec?” Olivia gasped. “He’s a friend of yours?”

“Yes, and he’s now your employer.”

Olivia’s jaw dropped.

Evangéline reached out toward Steven with her empty wineglass then settled back in the chair after he’d refilled it. “Now, let us talk about tomorrow. You must both pack a small bag. Steven, bring any tools or objects you will need to investigate. I don’t know what they might be, but that is most important. When we travel to my Paris in 1895, you can borrow clothes belonging to my friend Théo. He’s away on business right now. His wardrobe is filled with additional items—suits, shirts, collars, and so forth. There’s a cloak and hat as well. Olivia, we’re about the same size. I’m happy to share my clothes with you. I have plenty of skirts and dresses. I have an extra cloak, too. Just bring your personal things.”

Suddenly, Steven realized he had been given a gift. After a long, difficult year of grieving, he had the chance to spend time with the woman who would become his mother. How could he possibly say no?

“I’m sorry, but I have to interrupt again,” Steven said, grinning at Evangéline. “Before it gets too late, I need to call the chief to tell him a family emergency has come up and I need a few days off.” He stood and headed for the phone, then stopped. He turned around and walked back to Evangéline. “I know this is going to be weird for you. You don’t even know me yet. But I have missed you so much!” And he bent down and kissed his mother’s cheek.

***

Excerpt from Murder at the Moulin Rouge by Carol Pouliot . Copyright 2025 by Carol Pouliot . Reproduced with permission from Carol Pouliot . All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

A former language teacher and business owner, Carol Pouliot writes the acclaimed Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, traditional police procedurals with a seemingly impossible relationship between a Depression-era cop and a 21^st-century journalist. With their fast pace and unexpected twists and turns, the books have earned praise from readers and mystery authors. Carol is a founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks, 4 mystery writers who have banded together to share their love of mysteries, immediate Past President and Program Chair of her Sisters in Crime chapter, and Co-Chair of Murderous March, an online mystery conference. When not writing, Carol can be found packing her suitcase and reaching for her passport for her next travel adventure.

Catch Up With Our Author:

www.carolpouliot.com
Sleuths and Sidekicks
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @cpouliot13
Instagram - @carolpouliotmysterywriter
Pinterest - @cpouliot13
Facebook - @WriterCarolPouliot

 

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MURDER AT THE MOULIN ROUGE by Carol Pouliot [Gift Cards]

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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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