Death of an Antiquarian - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Luke Forbes to Cozy Up With Kathy. You can find Luke on the pages of the Mia Reid, Archaeologist Mystery series. DEATH OF AN ANTIQUARIAN is the second book in the series and was released last year.

 
Hello, Luke Forbes here. I’m an agent with Interpol’s AART. That’s Antiquities, Art Recovery Team. I’ve been living in London, England for approximately ten years.

I attended university in Chicago and met Mia there. We hit it off immediately and lived together for the better part of two years. We fully intended to live our lives together. After our graduation, I had to return home to England, my father had been ill. While I was there, a former girlfriend showed up at the house and we went out for dinner. One thing led to another and a few weeks later, she found me and told me she was pregnant. Now, I don’t know how that happened, because when I woke up she was nowhere to be found. And I had a massive headache. Which I don’t get after one drink. I think someone slipped me a Mickey. I tried to reach Mia, but she was on a dig in the jungle and couldn’t be reached. I did the honorable thing and married the woman. Turns out she wasn’t pregnant. I tried to make it work with her, but it was an impossible situation. I was miserable without Mia.

I was working with the British Museum for a few years when I was approached by a patron who wanted to sell an artifact that he had in his possession. I suspected the artifact was stolen. I spoke with my supervisor and together we researched the artifact and learned it had been stolen. My supervisor contacted Interpol and an agent came to the museum.

We worked with the agent and were able to obtain the artifact. The patron claimed he’d been given it as a gift, but couldn’t provide proof. The patron was a wealthy aristocrat and my wife thought I should simply help him sell the artifact. My wife was furious with me and that was the last straw as you would say. We divorced shortly afterwards.

The Interpol agent spoke with me about joining Interpol and working with AART. I admit it appealed to me. Being part of repatriating missing artifacts would be satisfying. I did my training in London and in several cities on the continent. My job is very satisfying. Locating missing artifacts and repatriating them to their rightful place.

This past summer, I was working with police in Scotland when we were advised of a sudden death at an archaeology dig on the Isle of Skye. The officer I was working with had to return, I followed because there was concern artifacts might have been taken as well.

I was shocked to learn Ethan Carter was the archaeologist who was dead. Ethan was a very good friend of mine and Mia’s when we were in grad school. I was more shocked to learn Mia was enroute to the dig for the summer.

We met and reconnected. It was awkward at first to say the least. We both had work to do. Mia with the dig and the students and me with the police and trying to recover missing artifacts.

We had a few close calls on Skye that made me realize Mia was still the person I wanted to be with.

At the end of our time on Skye, Mia and I had decided our relationship deserved a second chance. We spent ten days together in London, then went to the United States for Ethan’s memorial service. After that, Mia asked if I could spend some time with her in Lakeview. I was able to reconnect with Gran and with Alex too.

We’ve decided to give our relationship time to develop. At first, it appeared it would be a challenge. Me, in Great Britain, and Mia, in Canada. When I returned to London, I spoke with my supervisor at Interpol and asked if there were opportunities for me to work in Canada. Unbelievably, there was! I was pleased to learn that I could work in Lakeview City and provide hands on training to the local and provincial police as well as the RCMP. So, I’m back in Lakeview, at least for the moment. It’s been wonderful being with Mia.

Mia’s been pulled into investigating Mr. Fraser’s death and I’m beside her, making sure she’s safe. Although she really doesn’t need me to do that. She’s a smart, resourceful woman who’s proven time and again that she can take care of herself. But I don’t like the threats that she’s been receiving against her and Gran. I don’t want to lose Mia again.

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Review

DEATH OF AN ANTIQUARIAN by Rose Kerr
The Second Mia Reid, Archaeologist Mystery 

Pleased with the progress of her exhibit of Aztec artifacts at the Lakeview City Museum, archaeologist Mia Reid is happy to accompany her grandmother to a special sales event at Timeless Treasures, a local antique store. She's even happier that Luke Forbes, her significant other will be arriving in Canada soon as Interpol has him on assignment training local police about theft of artifacts. The following morning Tim Fraser, owner of Timeless Treasures, is found dead at his desk, poisoned. With ties to his family Mia becomes involved, soon discovering that Tim appeared to be linked with  a major smuggling ring. As police investigate, with help from Luke, Mia begins to receive notes threatening both her and her gran if she doesn't back off. Will they stop a smuggling ring and catch a killer or will a murderer strike again?

I absolutely love this series and changing the locale from the site of a dig to a museum is a fun change. It's fascinating seeing the various work involved at museums, from creating exhibits and authenticating items to marketing and publicizing events, working with schools, and helping the police! And this is just what Mia does. Living just over the border I also enjoy books set in Toronto, though it's called Lakeview. 

Mia makes a fantastic protagonist. She's smart and capable, with a fulfilling life. I also appreciate how Luke compliments her. They make a great team. The mystery was intriguing, with surprises about people Gran and Mia know to the shadow of an old bad guy. There's an indescribable quality to this book; conveying a sense of intelligence, family, and a strong work ethic with steady police work, thrills, and dogged determination.

Blending antiquities, police work, and relationships DEATH OF AN ANTIQUARIAN is a captivating mystery that has me dreaming of museum visits and butter tarts.

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 Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery by Rose Kerr

About Death of an Antiquarian

Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Lakeview City, Ontario, Canada (loosely based on Toronto, Canada)
Publisher: ‎ Level Best Books
Publication Date: ‎ December 16, 2025
Print Length: ‎ 242 pages

When archaeologist Dr. Mia Reid takes a contract position at the Lakeview City Museum, she expects artifacts, exhibitions, and research notes, not murder. The death of a local antique dealer, with unexpected ties to artifact smuggling, draws Mia into a dangerous mystery.

As chatter of an international smuggling ring surfaces, Mia and Luke race to uncover the truth. The stakes rise when threats reach her—and her beloved grandmother.

With lives in jeopardy and artifacts at risk of vanishing forever into the black market, Mia must use all her skills to piece together the puzzle. Can she expose a killer before the next artifact or person disappears?

About Rose Kerr

Retired in Southern Ontario with her husband, Rose spends her days crafting mysteries featuring strong, smart women who use their resourcefulness to solve crimes. When she’s not writing, she enjoys discovering the hidden gems of the region and indulging her lifelong curiosity.

Author Links: 

Website: https://rosekerr.com/ 

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

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

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

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

Amazon Author Central page: https://www.amazon.com/author/rose-kerr-mysteries  

Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo Bookshop.org

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Death of an Antiquarian by Rose Kerr. This book is the second in the Mia Reid, Archaeologist Mystery series.

Pleased with the progress of her exhibit of Aztec artifacts at the Lakeview City Museum, archaeologist Mia Reid is happy to accompany her grandmother to a special sales event at Timeless Treasures, a local antique store. She's even happier that Luke Forbes, her significant other will be arriving in Canada soon as Interpol has him on assignment training local police about theft of artifacts. The following morning Tim Fraser, owner of Timeless Treasures, is found dead at his desk, poisoned. With ties to his family Mia becomes involved, soon discovering that Tim appeared to be linked with  a major smuggling ring. As police investigate, with help from Luke, Mia begins to receive notes threatening both her and her gran if she doesn't back off. Will they stop a smuggling ring and catch a killer or will a murderer strike again?

Cold Snap - A Spotlight

Since we're in the midst of an Arctic blast with plenty of snow I thought I'd shine a spotlight on Cold Snap by Maureen Jennings. This book is the third in the Paradise Café Mystery series and has been patiently waiting on my TBR pile.

Blurb:

November’s rain in Toronto 1936 has turned into December’s cold snap. Charlotte Frayne escapes being hit by a mud-splattered car racing round the corner at Queen and Spadina. The stranger who saves her turns out to be the man her boss, Mr. Gilmore, has helped to escape Germany and is now a refugee in need of shelter.

In a world still recovering from the War to End All Wars and the Spanish Influenza pandemic that killed fifty million people worldwide, and still in the throes of the Great Depression, Stephen Lucas is not just any refugee from the Nazi regime; he is in possession of information that could alter the course of history — but only if seen by persons in power and if acted upon. In a surprising twist of fate, Charlotte’s estranged mother reappears, wanting assistance in locating the son she gave up at birth twenty years before. Despite her turbulent feelings about her mother, Charlotte agrees to investigate, having no idea that the two cases will connect in surprising ways.

Back at the Paradise Café, Christmas draws near and Charlotte’s beau, Hilliard Taylor, and his partners are in disagreement about the holiday concert. With her beloved grandfather in the mix, there’s no telling whether the show will end in good tidings or anarchy.

Shudder Pulp - A Review

 Review

SHUDDER PULP by Vanessa Westermann
The Second Charley Scott Mystery 

As autumn turns ever closer to Halloween things are getting spooky in Oakcrest, Ontario. Inspired by the legend of the local lake monster Charley Scott is turning her art gallery into an immersive event; a terrifying one at that. When Laura bursts in drenched saying she's been attacked by the lake monster and that it's Charley's fault, Charley is stunned. But she's more stunned when Laura's body is found dead near her brother's marina a few hours later. In her short time in town Laura managed to anger a multitude of people, but who would want to kill her? With Charley's relationship with chocolatier Matt Thorn intensifying the two will begin to investigate. But secrets are even more dangerous than lake monsters and may just destroy them.

Tension continually ratchets up in the second Charley Scott mystery as events take on a macabre nightmarish quality, in artwork, in relationships, in the very atmosphere. Everything seems to have multiple meanings and everyone appears to have a sinister aspect that is slowly being revealed.

The mystery was as unique as the cause of death and I suspected everybody! Innocent people that were suspects in the first book were acting even more shifty and I thought they could be guilty this time around. I still don't trust Kayla. The drama is not just found in the mystery, rather there is an emotional maelstrom intensifying the action.

SHUDDER PULP will have you shivering with both fear and delight in this slow burning mystery. 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Shudder Pulp by Vanessa Westermann. This book is the second in the Charley Scott Mystery series and was released earlier this month.

As autumn turns ever closer to Halloween things are getting spooky in Oakcrest. Inspired by the legend of the local lake monster Charley Scott is turning her art gallery into an immersive event; a terrifying one at that. When Laura bursts in drenched saying she's been attacked by the lake monster and that it's Charley's fault, Charley is stunned. But she's more stunned when Laura's body is found dead near her brother's marina a few hours later. In her short time in town Laura managed to anger a multitude of people, but who would want to kill her? With Charley's relationship with chocolatier Matt Thorn intensifying the two will begin to investigate. But secrets are even more dangerous than lake monsters and may just destroy them.

Cover Art - A Review

 Review

COVER ART by Vanessa Westermann
The First Charley Scott Mystery 

 

Quaint shops and peaceful lakeside living make Oakcrest the perfect place for Charley Scott's pop up art gallery. Charley is also happy to be spending time with her sister, sharing the cottage they inherited from their grandparents for the summer. But her stay is troubled by the arrogant Andrew Clarkston who threatens to squash her gallery. Sure enough Kayla, her childhood friend and wife of Andrew, pulls out of the show. On a positive note there is a shop offering amazing chocolates and an intriguing chocolatier. Matt Thorn, the chocolatier, is equally beguiled by Charley even as he deals with the recent death of his father and the secrets he held. But when Andrew is found dead, tampered chocolates by his side, Charley and Matt are drawn in to investigate the murder, even as someone continues to warn Charley off. Will they uncover Oakcrest's secrets or will someone stop them...permanently?

Long held secrets and flaring tempers collide in the first Charley Scott mystery. While a number of characters make for interesting suspects the primary characters are fun. I enjoyed the banter and flirtation between Charley and Matt and the realistic relationship between Meghan and Alex, showing the good and not so good aspects of cohabitation. I also enjoyed Charley and Meghan's relationship, though I'd be tempted to smack Meghan on more than one occasion. But Meghan's behavior is part of her charm, I suppose, and that sisterly bond is a special mix  of love, loyalty, and annoyance. I can't forget to mention Cocoa, the sweet dog who can get into trouble. I appreciated how the story progressed and while I generally don't care for multiple points of view, the way in which Charley and Matt shared perspectives was effective and didn't take me out of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the slow revelations, secrets from the past coming into the open to the detriment of some and the healing of others.

A compelling mystery fraught with tension as well as a distinct sense of place make COVER ART is an engrossing read and a fantastic start to a new series.

Shudder Pulp - An Interview

I'm pleased to welcome Vanessa Westermann to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Vanessa writes the Charley Scott Mystery series. SHUDDER PULP is the second book in the series and will be released May 3, 2025.

Kathy: In SHUDDER PULP Charley Scott is creating an immersive pulp art installation based on the local lake monster legend. I love learning about local legends! We have several near me and not too terribly far from me is Champ-the lake monster who lives in Lake Champlain. Do you have any legends local to you?

VW: The local legends that inspired SHUDDER PULP are historical rather than recent. While researching the cottage country setting, I learned about Kingstie, the 175-foot serpent in the water near Kingston Harbour, and the monster that was seen in the Bay in Belleville, Ontario. Sightings of both lake monsters were reported in local newspapers in the 19th century.

It’s hard to entirely dismiss these legends as fiction and that’s wonderfully eerie. Marine biologists acknowledge that the Great Lakes do harbour mysteries: prehistoric fish and reptiles that have adapted to the waters and thrived for centuries. I couldn’t help but wonder what might lurk under the surface of Charley’s lake…


Kathy: Charley teams up again with chocolatier Matt Thorn to investigate the murder of the newcomer who previously she had been attacked by the monster. I wouldn't mind teaming up with a chocolatier for many reasons...including chocolate. I love handmade specialty chocolate. Sponge candy is a local treat here and a favorite chocolate shop made raspberry flavored sponge candy this year! Do you have any favorite types of chocolate?

VW: Dark chocolate is my weakness! The chocolates in the Charley Scott mysteries are inspired by Centre & Main Chocolate Co’s flavours. The Gin & Tonic chocolate bar from Cover Art can be purchased from them, and so can the chocolate-coated maple sponge toffee from SHUDDER PULP. Researching the chocolate flavours is, as you can probably imagine, a real hardship!


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

VW: The title and general plot were inspired by Shudder Pulp dime magazine stories. The ‘shudder pulp’ formula of horror stories had one rule: All supernatural events had to be explained away in the end as nothing more than tricks played by the villain to cover his or her tracks. Although these original pulp stories were gruesome and menacing, I thought the idea would work well for a cozy mystery. Why not have the killer try to cover their tracks with supernatural elements, and blame the murder on a legendary lake monster?


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

VW: I’m currently working on book three of the Charley Scott mysteries, which is set in winter. The murder is a death by polar plunge. Charley gets drawn into a series of cottage country winter adventures that become increasingly dangerous. She must brave the elements to figure out whodunnit.


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

VW: I’m a plotter, but I like to leave myself some freedom to discover the story as a draft. I normally flesh out my characters and come up with key plot points before writing. The magic happens, however, when characters react to challenges. Their responses often surprise me and take the story in new directions that I couldn’t have planned in advance. One of my favourite writing quotes is from Ray Bradbury: “Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.”


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

VW: I actually enjoy all aspects of marketing because I get to finally share the story I’ve been working on for so long. I have the most fun creating Instagram posts that invite readers into the characters’ world. For example, I recently posted a glimpse into Charley’s sketchbook, sharing two pages she might have created to plan her Shudder Pulp art exhibit.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

VW: Cormorant Books is republishing my first mystery, titled AN EXCUSE FOR MURDER, along with the sequel, TURNING THE PAGE ON MURDER, in 2026. The series is set in England and features amateur sleuth and bookstore owner, Kate Rowan. This series combines elements of the cozy mystery genre with romantic suspense. In TURNING THE PAGE ON MURDER, Kate has given up on crime fiction after falling for a killer when she finds her great-aunt holding a bloody knife at a murder scene. Kate reluctantly teams up with Gary, the man who broke her heart, to find out whodunnit. Their search for the truth sends them on a high stakes treasure hunt through downtown London, from the safe deposit boxes in Selfridges department store to the Reading Rooms of the British Library.

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Author Links:

Website: www.vanessa-westermann.info

Instagram: @vanessawestermann_

Cat Got Your Tongs - A Review

 Review

CAT GOT YOUR TONGS by Victoria Hamilton
The Twelfth Vintage Kitchen Mystery 

Jaymie Müller is always willing to help out, even when she's busy. Then again when is she ever not busy? Her helpfulness leads her to care for a feral cat colony while its usual caretaker is vacationing in Florida. That decision reinforced by the fact that she and her family will be staying in Queensville itself instead of their remote cabin and the bad vibes she gets from the caretaker's nephew who demands that he should be the one caring for the cats. Feeding the animals leads her to freezing cold temperatures and the discovery of a body! Does this have anything to do with the strange lights Miss Perry has been seeing by the river? Or the obnoxiously loud new neighbors? Jaymie will just have to do what she does best, help people and find a killer!

Important societal issues, namely smuggling and feral cat colonies, blend seamlessly in the well plotted mystery found in CAT GOT YOUR TONGS. I enjoyed seeing Jaymie in action and love the support she receives from Jakob as she gets involved in a variety of things-and she certainly gets involved in a large variety in this twelfth Vintage Kitchen Mystery. One of the things I like best about this book is the multiple endeavors Jaymie finds herself in, almost all of which have bearing on the actual mystery.

I appreciate the fact that cat colonies are a focus of the mystery. Honest facts are shared including the difference between feral and stray cats. I was concerned when I saw they were using fabric bedding at the start and immensely pleased when it was changed to straw, along with an explanation. I hope readers will consider the hard life these animals face-caused by humans-and perhaps will help, or at least not hurt cats living in local colonies. 

Ne'er do wells, interlopers, and cats converge in CAT GOT YOUR TONGS creating a delectably satisfying mystery that, despite the freezing setting, will still manage to warm your heart.

March Roars - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on an upcoming release. MARCH ROARS by Maureen Jennings is the fourth book in the Paradise Café Mystery series. It will be released in September.

Blurb:

As December’s cold snap recedes and March roars in, private investigator Charlotte Frayne receives a strange letter requesting her services. The sender, Miss Olivia Brodie, is an elderly resident in the Toronto House of Industry (The Poor House) who alleges she witnessed suspicious activity from two men on a nearby street. When two Black teenagers are charged with burglary on that same street, Miss Brodie seeks out Charlotte’s help to prevent “a grave miscarriage of justice.” Meanwhile, Charlotte is hired by the affluent Mrs. Emmeline Larkin, who claims some of her precious jewelry has gone missing. Mrs. Larkin fears a member of her own social circle may be implicated and suspects the influential women’s club to which she belongs, harbors a thief in its midst. Charlotte finds herself investigating the cases brought by two women who couldn’t be more different.

Rich with historical detail, Maureen Jennings’s latest book depicts some of the grave injustices that once plagued Toronto’s history.

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Maureen Jennings is best known for the Detective Murdoch series, which have been adapted to television for an unprecedented eighteen seasons. In 2011, she was awarded the Grant Allen Award for contribution to her genre. She has been nominated eight times for awards from the Crime Writers of Canada. In 2024, she received the Crime Writers of Canada Grand Master Award. She was born in the UK and now lives in Toronto with her husband, photographer Iden Ford, and her dog, Murdoch

The Sulphur Springs Cure - An Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Jeffrey Round to Cozy Up With Kathy today. THE SULPHUR SPRINGS CURE is his latest book and it was released last month

Kathy: THE SULPHUR SPRING CURE encompasses two different time periods: 1939 when Violet first arrived at the Sulphur Springs Hotel and 2009 when she returns. Was one time period easier to write than the other? Was one more enjoyable to immerse yourself in?

JR: Of the two time periods, 2009 was sometimes the harder to write because of the rapid advances in technology in this century. For instance, I had to remind myself that Facebook was then a relatively new invention and therefore something Violet (my protagonist) could legitimately claim not to know about when her niece, Claire, first mentions it. As well, I had to recall what was entailed in airport security clearances at the time. The scene where Violet’s hip replacement pin sets off the scanner is one I lived through when my mother and I travelled to Nova Scotia, just a few years later than when it occurs in the book.

The chapters set in 1939 were a joy to create. It’s this sort of writing that sets my imagination on fire because I can really invent. In an effort to be factual, however, many of the details were taken from real life, either from photographs taken at the time or actual objects now in my possession. The Marconi radio mentioned in chapter 20, for instance, was a model introduced in 1939. One of these was purchased by my mother’s family, who at the time lived in Noel Shore, Nova Scotia. It now resides in my home in Toronto. The Victrola Enid Browne plays so reverently each night after dinner was similar to one owned by my family when I was a child. Although LP records were the norm by then, I used to enjoy going through a box of 78 RPMs and playing those.

Kathy: Violet and her parents originally came to the hotel for the waters’ restorative properties. Many places through the centuries have touted healing waters. Have you ever availed yourself of any?

JR: Good question. I am recently back from a trip to the La Fortuna region in Costa Rica. During a three-week period, I visited three different thermal springs, the waters of which are heated by the Arenal volcano. And yes — I am sold on their restorative qualities!

Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

JR: My friends, the Hardy brothers, Frank and Joe. We were best buddies from the time I was ten to around the age of twelve.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JR: I like to say that each book is its own genre and try not to force books into categories. I am also a playwright, poet and songwriter. I think it’s more interesting to explore a story in whatever way it wants to unfold and then let people tell me what they see or hear in each work.

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

JR: Violet McPherson is not yet a series, as this is her debut story. She is eighty-four when the story opens, and is clearly haunted by something that happened when she was fourteen. I explore her story in both timelines. I have sketched out a sequel, but one with an independent storyline that takes place on a vacation resort in Havana. We will see where it leads.

I have two other characters who can legitimately claim to be in a series — one is four books in total, to date, while the other is seven. The Bradford Fairfax mystery series is a sort of cozy, because there are always murders to be solved, although Bradford himself is a secret agent. These books are comedies. Again, there is that crossing of genres that makes them hard to define. The second is the Dan Sharp series, for which I won a Lambda Award. These are more hard-hitting and closer to what a noir mystery series entails.

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

JR: Strangely — or perhaps not — I don’t have a favourite character. Or, rather, my favourite happens to be the one I’m writing at the time.

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

JR: Generally, they involve travel. THE SULPHUR SPRINGS CURE started as the result of a day trip to the ruins of the former Sulphur Springs Hotel in Dundas Valley, near Ancaster ON. As I walked along, I felt as though the grounds were talking to me. I stopped to listen to what they had to say, and this book was the result.

The first Bradford Fairfax book, THE P-TOWN MURDERS, came about as the result of a vacation to Provincetown, MA. While there I came across many quirky, real-life characters who I felt deserved to be in a book. So I put them in one.

The first Dan Sharp book, LAKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, came about as the result of a sailing trip. While passing through the Bay of Quinte in Prince Edward County, I looked up at the ridge of a promontory and felt a shiver when I was told it was called Lake On The Mountain. When I returned home I began to research the area.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JR: THE SULPHUR SPRING CURE had been sitting on my desktop for a while when I got a message from Cormorant’s publisher, Marc Côté, asking if I had anything along the lines of the Bradford Fairfax books. I hadn’t, but it put me in mind of this book and I offered it to him instead. It was Marc’s suggestion that I focus a bit more on the book’s literary qualities that gave me the final push to polish it.

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

JR: Shakespeare would be first on the list. I recall saying this while on a panel of mystery writers and being labelled pretentious as a result. But who better to discuss murder, mayhem, and devious characters? I would also love to talk with John Le Carré, whose books enthral me even when I want to chide him for writing so many awkward sentences. Of living authors, I would invite Kate Atkinson, with whom I once had dinner and found her personality to be sparkling, and Pat Barker, author of the extraordinary “Ghost Road Trilogy.” They would all give good lip.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JR: This question would take up a lot of space, since I can take years to complete a book, but I’ll give you the short list:

1: AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare — the first of his plays that comes fully alive for me

2: INSOMNIA by Stephen King — dreadfully overwritten, but the characters are compelling

3: PROUST'S DUCHESS by Caroline Weber — an impressively researched book about the women on whom Proust based his Duchesse de Guermantes

4. THREE-WAY RENEGADE by Keith Garebian — poems about the early gay activist Samuel Steward

5: THE FOURTH COURIER by Timothy Jay Smith — a political thriller I discovered through an on-line podcast hosted by author Brad Shreve

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

JR: I had to pause to think. I don’t have hobbies because I take everything too seriously. It’s all or nothing. I am a nature lover and gardener, however. Does that count?

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

JR: I am stuck on the Cs: cheese, chocolate, chillies and cilantro are mainstays. Perhaps I should add cooking — another C word — to my list of hobbies.

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

JR: The Dan Sharp series is probably complete at seven books. I have four more volumes sketched out in the Bradford Fairfax series. As for Violet, she will let me know when she wants to pay another visit. She is always welcome.

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

JR: Good reviews! Not for the ego boost, but as an affirmation that I am doing my job as a writer. It’s a nagging feeling most of us get. Also, I love hearing from people about my books. It doesn’t happen often enough. It doesn’t always have to be a compliment. I learn from people’s reactions. In fact, I have probably learned more from well thought-out criticism than outright praise. I think writers need to stay in touch with what informed readers are saying. 

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For more information click here!

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Review

THE SULPHUR SPRING CURE
By Jeffrey Round 

 

Violet McAdams knows she's coming to the end of her life. Her husband dead, her body slowing, she's preparing to sell her house and move into a home for seniors. But memories are bothering her, the dead reminding her of her past and the secret she kept from that time seventy years ago. The time spend at the Sulphur Springs Hotel. The time she was involved in murder. With the dead becoming more insistent she decides to take one last trip. Accompanied by her youngest niece Violet heads back to Dundas, Ontario to discover the truth once and for all.

 

Part mystery, part coming of age story THE SULPHUR SPRINGS CURE is a unique and beguiling book. I appreciated the melding of the two time periods, the more recent past of 2009 and that of 1939. The historical part of the novel was fascinating with references to the upcoming war and compelling details of life at the Sulphur Springs Hotel. Invalids who nevertheless dressed for dinner, nightly dancing, the fact that personal time pieces weren't allowed, as well as the freedom given to the young girls all added to the ambiance and made it seem as if you were actually there, smelling the sulphur in the air, feeling the heat of the summer, and witnessing a girl growing up.

 

I really like Violet. She's a precocious youth and a headstrong senior. She knows her own mind and isn't afraid to speak it. Yet she's also naive and somewhat vulnerable. I enjoyed seeing Violet as both a fourteen year old and an elderly woman, how she's changed and adapted as well as how much she remained the same.

The author's use of foreshadowing lent a heaviness, a quietly oppressive atmosphere to the time spent in 1939. Knowing that before long something very wrong would happen, but not knowing exactly what kept me enthralled. So many mysteries, what was actually wrong with Violet's mother, what was Willoughby up to, and more. I was also captivated by the way the eighty-four year old determined the truth of what happened that fateful summer. It's interesting to note the use of tenses chosen by the author, with the modern section written in the present tense. I'm not a fan of present tense, but it did provide a notable change from Violet's past.

With wry humor and a distinct sense of time and place THE SULPHUR SPRINGS CURE is not only a mystery, but an intriguing story of a woman's search for truth and redemption.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Sulphur Springs Cure by Jeffrey Round. 

Violet McAdams knows she's coming to the end of her life. Her husband dead, her body slowing, she's preparing to sell her house and move into a home for seniors. But memories are bothering her, the dead reminding her of her past and the secret she kept from that time seventy years ago. The time spend at the Sulphur Springs Hotel. The time she was involved in murder. With the dead becoming more insistent she decides to take one last trip. Accompanied by her youngest niece Violet heads back to Dundas, Ontario to discover the truth once and for all.

The Snow Job - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Lois Stone to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Lois on the pages of the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series by Diane Ascroft. The Snow Job is the third book in the series.

Lois Stone’s Scottish Dilemma

Hello! Thanks for inviting me to drop by. I’m Lois Stone and I’m the main character in the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series. The books are set in Fenwater, a fictional small town in rural Ontario, Canada that was founded by immigrants from Scotland during the early 1800s. The residents of our town have a strong connection with its Scottish heritage, and everything Scottish is important to them, so the annual Burns Night supper is the biggest event on the calendar.

I’m a bit conflicted about it though. I only moved to town about six months ago. I have Scottish ancestry that my friends want me to celebrate since I’m now living in a really Scottish Canadian town, but I don’t really want to talk about my Scottish roots. You see, my grandfather was a bit of a scoundrel and my mother refused to tell me anything about him. My Scottish roots come from his side of the family so I wouldn’t want to explore them and upset my mother. But I can’t seem to get away from my ancestry here in Fenwater. Everyone around me is excited that the Burns Night supper is coming up and they want me to delve into my ancestry.

I might have been able to avoid all the fuss about the Burns Night supper if I didn’t play the bagpipes in the local pipe band. As The Snow Job, Book 3 in the series, opens our band is getting ready to play at the supper. I guess I’m actually looking forward to that part as this is the first Burns supper that I’ve played at with this band. I like our band uniform’s tartan kilt and I’ve learned all the tunes we’re playing. I’ll even know lots of people at the supper. My neighbours and friends will be there to toast the haggis and Burns’ memory. Though I’m still new in town, it will make me feel like I’m part of the community.

Oh, I’ve been rambling on but do you know what a Burns supper is? If you have any Scottish ancestry, you may have attended one. But, for those who haven’t, a Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the Scottish poet Robert Burns or Rabbie Burns as he is more commonly known.

Burns Night is celebrated each year in Scotland and in Scottish communities worldwide to honour Rabbie Burns, and it has also become a chance to celebrate all things Scottish – sort of like St Patrick’s Day without the green beer.

So, who was Rabbie Burns? He was a poet and song lyricist from Ayrshire in the southwest of Scotland, who was born on January 25, 1759. Only 37 when he died in 1796, he is regarded as the most prominent poet to have written in Scots, a UK regional dialect that is now recognised as a minority language. You probably know at least one of his works – he penned ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

The first supper was a memorial dinner organised by nine of Burns's friends on July 21, 1801, the fiftieth anniversary of his death. It was held at Burns Cottage in Ayrshire, where the poet was born. Although those present at the first supper didn’t foresee it, the supper has become an annual occurrence and Burns Clubs have been founded throughout Scotland and further afield. Burns suppers are now normally held on January 25th, the poet's birthdate.

Burns Night is steeped in respectful tradition but there are elements of fun and humour to the proceedings too. So, what happens at a Burns Night supper? There’s a traditional meal which consists of tatties (potatoes), neeps (turnips), and haggis, which was a favourite dish of the poet. Are you wondering what haggis is? Haggis is made from a sheep’s liver, lungs, and heart and mixed with suet and oatmeal. It may not sound particularly appetising to some of you, but it really is tasty – sort of like a spicier minced beef. There are also vegetarian versions available. Guests are piped in to the dining room and a Scottish grace is said. The haggis is then piped in with great ceremony and before the meal commences a guest recites Burns’ poem the 'Address to a Haggis', which extols how wonderful haggis is.

After the meal there are several toasts and speeches. The most important is the ‘Immortal Memory’, which is a speech commemorating Burns and his life followed by a toast to the poet.

At our supper, Dave Stewart, who has an antique stall in our market, is giving the toast, ‘The Address to the Lassies’. It’s a thank you to the women who prepared the meal, and the speaker often includes humorous opinions about women in general. My friend Marge is giving the ‘Reply to the Laddies’, rebutting any comments Dave might make about women. I’m rather nervous about that as you never know what she’ll come out with.

Preparations for our supper were going well until one of the Burns Night committee members died in suspicious circumstances the week before the event. My friend Connie found him lying in the snow. I had just been chatting with her on the street and I rushed back to help her when I heard her scream. I tried to revive the man while we waited for an ambulance. I was sad to hear later that he died, but I didn’t expect to have any more involvement in the matter. Marge had other ideas though. She worked with him at the museum and she wants to see justice done. So, she asked me to help her find his killer. I’ve promised my partner Bruce that I’d stay out of police matters but Marge is persuasive and what’s the harm in asking a few questions? So, I turned my thoughts from getting ready for the Burns Night supper to helping Marge find the killer. What could possibly go wrong?

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 The Snow Job (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries) by Dianne Ascroft

About The Snow Job

The Snow Job (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Fenwater, a fictional small town in the province of Ontario in Canada during the early 1980s.
Independently Published (December 13, 2023)
Paperback: ‎ 310 pages  

A Scottish shindig, a pretty pin, a cold corpse. When a well-liked and respected townsman is murdered on a snowy street in Fenwater, it’s up to Lois Stone to sift through a multitude of motives to find the killer.

Middle-aged widow Lois is beginning to feel part of the Fenwater community, and as winter sets in, she is getting ready for the town’s biggest Scottish event, the annual Burns Night supper. But when one of the committee members dies in suspicious circumstances, Lois has more to worry about than the fate of this year’s celebration. She tried unsuccessfully to revive the man and her friend Marge worked with him. So, they want to find his killer even though Lois promised her partner Bruce that she would stay out of police matters. But, what’s the harm in asking a few questions? Such as does someone want to safeguard their inheritance or give their business a boost? Will finding the motive for the murder lead them to the killer or maybe more?

And so begins a fortnight of slippery sidewalks, angst about ancestors, capable firemen and cunning firebugs, unreliable records, swirling Scottish music and swinging tartan kilts, calico cats and smouldering spooks set against the backdrop of snow glistening under streetlamps on serene streets, the comfort of ritual in a cold churchyard, the swish of skate blades in crisp night air and the tang of mouthwatering meatloaf in rural Canada in 1984.

The Century Cottage Mystery series is mainly set in rural Ontario, Canada during the early 1980s.

A tale for fans of Cindy Bell, Leighann Dobbs, Dianne Harman and Kathi Daley.

About Dianne Ascroft

 

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.dianneascroft.com  

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DianneAscroftwriter/  

Twitter/X: @DianneAscroft  

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/y1k5c3  

Purchase Links: Books2Read Amazon

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Cover Art - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Vanessa Westermann to Cozy With Kathy today. Vanessa writes the Charley Scott Mystery series. Cover Art is the first book in the series and will be released this week.

Kathy: In Cover Art we meet Charley Scott an artist determined to turn her hobby into a career. Have you done the same?

VW: I think anyone who is passionate about a creative pursuit, whether writing or painting, hopes to one day turn their hobby into a career. I felt very much like Charley, while submitting my first manuscript to agents and publishers. It was a dream come true, when I received a publishing contract!


Kathy: Charley is running a summer pop-up gallery in a lakeside village in Ontario. Do you enjoy artistic pursuits of your own?

VW: I’m much better at painting a picture with words than watercolors, but I love visiting art galleries, like Port Hope’s Inuit Fine Art gallery (https://inuitfineart.com/), The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Vincent Van Gogh immersive exhibit. Pre-pandemic, the Northumberland Hills studio tours, showcasing local artists, were wonderful as well.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

VW: A cozy mystery is a whodunit featuring an amateur sleuth, a distinctive setting and a limited number of suspects. There’s normally a healthy dose of humour and the sleuthing focuses more on interpersonal relationships than crime scene analysis or lab results. In fact, the focus is as much on the sleuth’s world, as on the murder. I wrote Cover Art during lockdown and it was so lovely to write a mystery that has emotional resonance but also features interesting characters, some lighthearted moments and a challenging puzzle.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

VW: At the moment, I’m focusing on writing mysteries with a hint of romance.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

VW: In the Charley Scott Mystery series, artist Charley Scott solves murders in Canada’s cottage country with the help of chocolatier, Matt Thorn, and her dog, Cocoa.


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

VW: One of my favourite characters in Cover Art is Cocoa, Charley’s chocolate Labrador retriever. She loves eating human food, getting into trouble and opening doors, which is a dangerous but adorable combination.


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

VW: The idea of writing a mystery involving death by chocolate was actually sparked years ago. My mom took part in a workshop run by a local chocolatier about how to make truffles and Belgian pralines. She came home with recipes covered in hand-written notes, samples, a chocolate-stained apron and a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse into a chocolatier’s workshop. We tried out the recipes in our own kitchen, chopping blocks of chocolate and tempering it to a glossy sheen. Then, later on, I thought about setting that mystery in cottage country, and the series evolved from there.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

VW: I love telling stories and write to entertain others. I can’t wait to get Cover Art into readers’ hands!


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

VW: I would invite Agatha Christie (and hope she brought one of her notebooks with, to share her plotting secrets!), Georgette Heyer, Dilys Winn, and Dorothy B. Hughes.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

VW: I’m currently reading Find You First by Linwood Barclay.


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

VW: One of the best activities to do at the cottage is go canoeing on a quiet lake. The sound of the paddle gliding through the water is the most wonderful thing. I’m still learning how to steer though!


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

VW: Dark chocolate, Red Rose tea, maple syrup, and cinnamon-raisin sourdough bread from my local bakery.


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

VW: I do have plans for future books in the Charley Scott Mystery series! I’m grateful to have received an Ontario Arts Council writing grant, to support the completion of the second Charley Scott Mystery, which I’m working on now.


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

VW: My favourite thing about being an author is creating fictional worlds and getting to spend time with my imaginary friends. 

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 Cover Art (A Charley Scott Mystery) by Vanessa Westermann

About Cover Art

Cover Art (A Charley Scott Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada
Cormorant Books (May 17, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 440 pages

Charley Scott is thrilled to be running a summer pop-up gallery in cottage country. Returning to the lakeside village, not on vacation but as an artist, she’s determined to turn her hobby into a career.

But, beneath the surface of this peaceful town, darkness lurks. There’s a history.

Local chocolatier, Matt Thorn, is struggling with his father’s death and his legacy of deception. As Matt plans to expose his father’s secrets, a local is found dead, the result of eating Matt’s chocolates.

Luckily, art is all about perspective and Charley’s always had a keen eye. Can she see past the obvious and find the killer?

About Vanessa Westermann

An avid reader of mysteries, Vanessa Westermann is a former Arthur Ellis Awards judge, holds an M.A. in English Literature, as well as a Bachelor of Education, and has taught creative writing. Her debut mystery, An Excuse for Murder, was published in 2019. At the heart of all of Westermann’s stories are strong female protagonists inspired by the heroines in her own life. She currently lives in Ontario.

Social media links:  

Blog: https://www.vanessa-westermann.info/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessasPicks 

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

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18861715.Vanessa_Westermann  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vanessa-westermann  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Indigo 

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More Than Arabella’s Ex - A Where There's a Will Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Levon Larroquette to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Levon on the pages of the Glass Dolphin Cozy Mystery series by Judy Penz Sheluk. Where There’s A Will is the third book in the series.

 

More Than Arabella’s Ex
A Guest Post by Levon Larroquette, antiques picker

If you’ve ever watched an episode of American Pickers, you’ll have an idea of what I do for a living, though unlike Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, who travel across the U.S., I spend most of my time in Cedar County, Ontario, Canada, and the surrounding area. Estate sales, auctions, charity thrift shops and yard sales, you name it, I’ve picked it. I’ve also taught Arabella Carpenter, my ex-wife, and the protagonist in the Glass Dolphin cozy mystery series, much of what she knows. In fact, I was there when she discovered her first antiques find: a pair of cobalt blue Boston & Sandwich glass dolphin candlestick holders. You might say there wouldn’t be a Glass Dolphin antiques shop without me…and without the shop, maybe there wouldn’t even be a series.

Now, I mentioned that Arabella is my ex-wife, and believe me, that was not my choice. In the first book in the series, The Hanged Man’s Noose, readers learn that Arabella believes I cheated on her with Camilla Mortimer-Gilroy, owner of the Gilroy Mansion, a Bed & Breakfast in Lount’s Landing. Nothing is further from the truth. Yes, I moved into Mansion when Arabella and I were having some marital issues, but it was only supposed to be temporary. Of course, it didn’t help that Camilla fueled the flames and if you’ve ever lived in a small town, you know how rumors can spread.

In A Hole in One, book two in the series, Arabella and her business partner, Emily Garland, sponsor a hole in one contest at a charity golf tournament. It was supposed to be good publicity but finding a dead body in the woods has a way of dampening the most festive of occasions. To make matters worse, the police suspected me of murdering the dead man. I’ll admit they had good reason for thinking so, but trust me, I didn’t do it. Thankfully, Arabella and Emily believed I was innocent. I don’t really approve of them acting like amateur sleuths, but I’ll admit to being grateful when they stepped up to clear my name.

Fast forward to Where There’s A Will, the third and final book in the series. This time, Arabella and I have been hired to appraise the contents of the old Hadley house. It sounded like an easy assignment, but nothing is ever easy when it comes to Arabella. Before long, we were digging into old secrets, long buried and, some might say, better left in the past.

I’m going to miss the Glass Dolphin series, but Judy tells me that she has plans for me. In fact, I’ve already made a guest appearance in A Fool’s Journey, the third book in her Marketville Mystery series. As for my on-again, off-again relationship with Arabella, you’ll have to read Where There’s A Will to find out what happens next. 

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 Where There's A Will: A Glass Dolphin Mystery by Judy Penz Sheluk

About Where There's A Will. . . 

Where There's A Will: A Glass Dolphin Mystery
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Publisher: Superior Shores Press (November 10, 2020)
Paperback: 210 pages

Emily Garland is getting married and looking for the perfect forever home. When the old, and some say haunted, Hadley house comes up for sale, she’s convinced it’s “the one.” The house is also perfect for reality TV star Miles Pemberton and his new series, House Haunters. Emily will fight for her dream home, but Pemberton’s pockets are deeper than Emily’s, and he’ll stretch the rules to get what he wants.

While Pemberton racks up enemies all around Lount’s Landing, Arabella Carpenter, Emily’s partner at the Glass Dolphin antiques shop, has been hired to appraise the contents of the estate, along with her ex-husband, Levon. Could the feuding beneficiaries decide there’s a conflict of interest? Could Pemberton? 

Things get even more complicated when Arabella and Levon discover another will hidden inside the house, and with it, a decades-old secret. Can the property stay on the market? And if so, who will make the winning offer: Emily or Miles Pemberton?

About Judy Penz Sheluk

A former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the author of two mystery series: the Glass Dolphin Mysteries and the Marketville Mysteries. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including The Best Laid Plans and Heartbreaks & Half-truths, which she also edited. Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves as Chair on the Board of Directors.

Author Links:  

Website/Blog: http://www.judypenzsheluk.com 0

Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/JudyPenzSheluk/  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/wwwjudypenzshelukcom  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyPenzSheluk  

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/judypenzsheluk/  

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

 BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judy-penz-sheluk  

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Judy-Penz-Sheluk/e/B00O74NX04  

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Apple  

 

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