Case of the Bayfront Murder - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome S.K. Derban to Cozy Up With Kathy today. S.K. writes the Macaroni on Wheels Mystery series. CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER is the first book in the series.

Kathy: Little Italy in San Diego has blossomed into a prominent tourist destination. I've visited Little Italy in Toronto, Canada and lived in Little Italy in Cleveland, Ohio. What's your favorite thing about visiting Little Italy?

SKD: You sound like a Little Italy fan just like me! I adore the art, music, culture, and food of Little Italy in San Diego. Of course, the food always beckons me, but the art is my favorite. Each year the community hosts an event featuring chalk artists. It is amazing to watch these magnificent artists recreate masterpiece paintings on the asphalt streets. The winners are then commissioned to paint a replica on a large board. These paintings are displayed on the buildings all around Little Italy. What a treat!


Kathy: In CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER we meet Terza Tiepolo an Italian caterer who owns Macaroni on Wheels. What's your favorite Italian dish? Do you prefer cooking or eating?

SKD: My favorite Italian dish just happens to also be the one Terza likes the best. Imagine that! (Wink, wink.) I adore Risotto Alla Piemontese. As a foodie at heart, I enjoy dining out, but only if the food is well prepared. My husband and I frequently cook so we can save up for a special meal at one of our favorite restaurants.


Kathy: If you were to hire Terza to cater an event what would you want her to cook?

SKD: Most likely the Sartù Di Riso dish she prepared. I have previously tasted the Italian rice dish, but have never attempted to make it.


Kathy: Terza has "vibrant Italian relatives". Do you have a large family? Are they "vibrant"?

SKD: Energetic might be the right word for my family! I have two brothers and one sister. The four of us together have made some very special memories.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

SKD: Nancy Drew, like so many others. However, the British murder mystery series clinched my desire to write cozy mysteries.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

SKD: My first three books were stand-alone fiction in the genre of suspense mystery. I did not feel at home in my writing career until I finally began writing cozy mysteries.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

SKD: The entire Macaroni on Wheels series focuses on Terza Tiepolo, an Italian caterer, and her animated family. With mystery solving skills sharper than her chef’s knife, Terza manages to successfully merge catering with crime.


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

SKD: Terza’s father, Ezio, has a special place in my heart. I adore his relationship with all three of the Tiepolo children. He is a loving husband with a strong faith in the Lord.


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

SKD: Little Italy! Our office was located in the heart of Little Italy, and we spent countless hours enjoying the community. I just knew my next book had to feature this gem of a neighborhood.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

SKD: Stories need to be shared with others. The more I wrote, the more I knew this was a book to be enjoyed by many.


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

SKD: Robert Ludlum comes first. He was a master storyteller! Lee Child, as he has an unbelievable way with words. John Grisham because of his kindness. I reached out to him after the publication of my first book. He took the time to hand write a personal letter of congratulations! Paul, the apostle from the Bible who wrote the book of Romans. It is one of the most inspirational letters I have ever read.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

SKD: ALASKA TWILIGHT by Colleen Coble.


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

SKD: Certainly! I enjoy being outdoors. Fortunately, San Diego has near perfect weather for year-round activities. My favorite sport is tennis, followed by golf, and pickleball. I also have fun SUP boarding along Mission Bay. (The scene of the murder in CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER!)


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

SKD: Dark roast whole coffee beans. Half and half to enjoy with the coffee. Fresh fruit. Sourdough bread. I have been watching many Instagrammers bake their own bread. (It’s in the back of my mind, but not yet.)


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

SKD: Yes, times two. CASE OF THE CURVED STAIRCASE is the next book in the Macaroni on Wheels series. It will be followed by CASE OF THE PAELLA PARTY.


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

SKD: Making readers smile. Many take the time to share their thoughts with me, and I can always feel their joy.

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Review

CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER by S.K. Derban

The First Macaroni on Wheels Mystery

Terza Tiepolo is known for her catering company, Macaroni on Wheels, her love of family and friends, and her love of mysteries, as proven by her membership to a mystery book club where she's always on top of their monthly whodunit competition. Arriving at a client's home to cater his dinner party she finds his murdered body! Though sad at the death of her client Terza sees it as an opportunity to really put her sleuthing skills to the test. With her best friend Moheenie by her side she'll search for clues as she prepares for the week's catering events. And if that provides more contact with the tall, dark, and mysterious Detective Garza, so much the better!

 

Terza Tiepolo is a delightful protagonist.She's witty, caring, and smart. She is also quite young, so I find it a bit disconcerting that she's lamenting not being married at 23! I appreciate her relationship with both family and friends. It's a joyful celebration as they make it a point to gather together to eat and play on a regular basis.

 

I liked the mystery and how Terza and Moheenie go about solving it. The mystery was well plotted with an ingenious murder. While Detective Garza is certainly swoon worthy, I really got a kick out of Jacob Radovan, the Medical Examiner.

One thing I could have done with less of was the religiosity. There's a description of Terza reading her bible every morning before calling her mom, although I admit the question and answer section that followed with her dad was cute. However, an entire chapter, albeit a short one, quoting the bible and praising God was a bit much for me. It seems that public praise of God is fundamental to the author's personal life, so this is a natural offshoot for her. I'm grateful that it's not preachy, but I wish she would have been more subtle incorporating her religious praise.

 

With droolworthy descriptions of Italian delicacies CASE OF THE BAYFRONT MURDER is a lighthearted mystery combining family, friendship, and that delicious food with a puzzling murder. Pass me a slice of that Sartù Di Riso then join me for a rousing game of bocce ball, and don't forget some gelato while I wait for Terza's next mystery.

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 Case of the Bayfront Murder: A Macaroni on Wheels Mystery by S.K. Derban

About Case of the Bayfront Murder

Case of the Bayfront Murder: A Macaroni on Wheels Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Little Italy, San Diego and San Diego Bay
Publisher: ‎ S.K. Derban (March 27, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 278 pages

Little Italy in San Diego, once a thriving fishing community, has blossomed into a prominent tourist destination. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant neighborhood, both travelers and residents find the Tiepolo Mercato a favorite spot to stop and shop. Ezio and Benedette Tiepolo are the proprietors of the Mercato, while their daughter owns Macaroni on Wheels, the catering company located directly next door.

There’s more than pasta cooking in the Macaroni on Wheels kitchen. Meet Terza Tiepolo, a feisty Italian caterer who fills her free time solving crime. She belongs to a local murder mystery book club, and leads the other participants in their monthly whodunnit contest.

Terza also works diligently to grow her catering business. But when a prominent doctor hires Terza’s company to cater a dinner party, she never expects murder to be on the menu. The prestigious bayfront event should enhance the Macaroni on Wheels portfolio, and Terza anticipates meeting many potential new clients. On the day of the party, Terza arrives early to prepare, only to discover her grand expectations are as dead as the body on the kitchen floor.

Fans of cozy mysteries will revel in solving the murder along with Terza, and will appreciate her zest for life. Readers will also treasure the introduction to her vibrant Italian relatives. They will enjoy getting to know the Tiepolo family, and will smile at the special relationship Terza has with her mother and father. The fun never stops when the animated relatives join together each Sunday for dinner. Consider this your personal invitation!

About S.K. Derban

S.K. Derban resides with her husband in Southern California. Although born in the United States she moved to London within the first three months and remained in England until the age of five. Her father, an American citizen, was a decorated veteran of the Second World War. Her British mother was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company and a great fan of the arts. After returning to the United States, Derban’s life remained filled with a love of the theatre and a passion for British murder mysteries.

S.K. Derban’s personal travel and missionary escapades are readily apparent as they shine through into her characters. Readers are often transported virtually across the globe. She has traveled to Hong Kong on five separate occasions to smuggle Bibles into China and has been to Israel on seven missionary trips. Derban’s other adventures include visits to Bangkok, Greece, Egypt, Italy, and the Caribbean.

Beginning with her faith in the Lord, S.K. Derban relies on all aspects of her life when writing. She hopes her books will allow readers to go on holiday without having to pack!

Author Links: 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/awriterofmystery/  

Twitter/X - https://x.com/skderban  

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/s.k.derban/  

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7394015.S_K_Derban  

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/s-k-derban  

Website - https://childofthecarpenter.com/  

Purchase Link - Amazon 

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Dead Wrong - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book that Amazon recommended for me. It was actually the third book in the series, but I thought I'd share the first book in the series. DEAD WRONG by Vannetta Chapman is the first book in the Agatha's Amish B&B Mystery series.

 Blurb:

Who killed Russell Dixon?

When Agatha Lapp’s brother and sister-in-law are tragically killed in a buggy accident, Agatha relocates to the new Amish community in Hunt Texas, nestled in the Texas Hill Country. She’s there to make a success of her brother’s dream–an Amish B&B. Agatha is friendly, efficient, and capable. She’s also a fifty-five year old widow who has learned to be independent. When she discovers Russell Dixon’s lifeless body in Cabin 3, she runs next door where retired detective Tony Vargas lives.

The police determine that her guest died of natural causes, but as Agatha and Tony put together the events of the previous two days they become convinced that the police are Dead Wrong.  

Dead Wrong is a story of discovering new friendships and embracing a different path in the midst of tragedy. Above all else, it’s a story of God’s grace and provision.

Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release that also happens to be a book in a series in which I am behind. Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower is the fourth book in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series.It was released December 22, 2022.

Blurb:

Millie’s decidedly not Amish best friend, Lois Henry, is outspoken, colorful, and so hopelessly romantic, she’s had four husbands. Millie doesn’t judge, and she also doesn’t expect to run into Lois’s most recent ex, gambler Gerome Moorhead, in small-town Harvest, Ohio. With him is the very young, new Mrs. Moorhead, aka “Honeybee.” Lois is outraged, but Millie is completely shocked to learn the next day that Gerome is already a widower . . .
 
When a large wood carving at the cozy Munich Chalet falls on “Honeybee,” all eyes turn toward Lois. Who else would want a tourist—a complete stranger—dead? And half of Harvest witnessed Lois’s enmity toward the young woman. Suddenly Millie must put aside her sewing needle and flex her sleuthing skills. She’s no stranger to a murder investigation, after all, and if she doesn’t learn who killed Honeybee, Lois could go from Millie’s boisterous best friend to her horrified prison penpal . . .

Death at Fair Havens - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Maria and Maren write the Rev and Rye Cozy Mystery series. Death at Fair Havens is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In Death at Fair Havens we meet Wanda Duff, an unconventional New England clergywoman. Wanda winds up working with high school vice principal Prudence Rye. Would you prefer a career in education or a more spiritual line of work?

Maria: Well, as it happens, I worked in education, teaching preschool and working as an admin for about ten years before I was able to split my time between writing and taking care of my young children, and Maren has been a pastor in the United Church of Christ for 41 years. We are definitely fans of the “write what you know” method!


Kathy: Originally from Buffalo New York and living nearby, I know all about wings. How did you decide Wanda would be addicted to them?

Maren: Well, first of all there is this amazing place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, called Wing-Itz. Best wings I have ever eaten. But, also, I wanted to differentiate Wanda from me and I am a pizza person, eight inches taller, different coloring and marital status, and I don’t wear high heels (see eight inches mentioned previously!)


Kathy: You write as a team. How does that work? Does one person work more on the plot while the other writes the actual words?

Maria: We’ve been writing together since 2000, so we have fairly seamless process. It’s not as cut and dried as one person focusing on one element and one the other – we each have characters that we write first drafts on, but the plotting, editing, and finetuning overlaps all the time. We have many meetings to discuss ideas and new directions, and we find that when we start talking about one option, the ideas usually start flowing and we may end up someplace totally different! It’s a great feeling, and I know our stories are more fun because of the opportunities we have to hash things out together.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

Maria: We love to read cozies and are always checking the shelves at the library or online forums for new series. We’ve written in other genres (mystery, sci-fi, poetry, religion) and enjoy it very much, but there’s something about writing the kind of book you want to read for pure pleasure…it’s just special.

Do you write in any other genres?

Maren: We do. Maria has a thriller. I’ve published science fiction short stories, a book of Christmas stories, books of poetry and many single poems in magazines. In the mainstream Christian market, we have published books on youth ministry, LGBTQI marriage resources, self-care for caregivers of people with dementia, anthologies of gender inclusive language worship, and global worship anthologies.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

Maren: “The Rev and Rye Cozy Mysteries” follows the sleuthing of Rev. Wanda Duff and Stoneridge High School Vice Principal Prudence Rye as the unlikely pair solve crimes in north central Massachusetts. In the first novel, the death of a man living in a memory loss unit could easily be passed over as a part of his illness if the two don’t risk their livelihoods and their lives investigating the tragedy. Wanda may be known as a “laughing pastor,” but she is serious about murder; Rye may be the enforcer of school rules, but she’s willing to push every boundary when a student may be at risk.

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

Maria: This is an impossible question. I love Rye and Wanda too much to choose between them. I also love the supporting cast of characters and it’s hard to pick just one, but if I had to, I would say Rye’s father, Hardy, has a special place in my heart. He raised his daughter alone while working full time and made a lot of mistakes (as all parents do), but he also believes in his daughter’s competence and strength without question and trusts her instincts. He accepts her with love, and although they don’t always get along, he is secretly deeply happy to have her living back at home again.

Maren: Two favorites … Tony, the hotwired and helpful church musician with heart who’s willing to play classical, country, or show tunes as needed at a funeral, and is Wanda’s best friend. Jenny Fjelstad is based a bit on my mother – funny, caring and, when she lived in a memory loss unit, she, too, expected me to bring in a new Norwegian joke every time I visited.

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

Maren: For me, it was more that I woke up and Wanda Duff was in my head, and I asked Maria, “Do you have a character who needs to live? I think we should write fiction and it should touch on issues of inclusion in our communities in story form rather than just serious essays.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

Maren: In early days we published anthologies and were glad to publish the work of folks whose voices needed to be heard. Some were youth, some, were folks from around the world for whom we needed translators. We accepted all submissions, if the writers were willing to be an edited and did not express offensive views. Publishing is sharing. It is not often becoming rich or famous, but it is connecting with others. We have simply applied that good advice to our own work.


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

Maren: If I was asked every day for a week, I’d have four each day, but today … I would invite Nyle DiMarco whose Deaf Utopia confirmed so many of the things we tried to gently slip in about Deaf Culture. It would enliven the table to have an energized ASL speaker and an interpreter. Because I’ve heard them interviewed as a mother/daughter team of writers, I would love to have Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles. I am just a huge fan of everything written by Laurie R. King.

Maria: Neil Gaiman, who has been my favorite author since I was ten years old and has introduced me to many dark and delightful stories that fill me up; David Sedaris, who I first fell in love with while waiting on a friend to get ready for a party (that friend, as it happens, is now my husband); Glennon Doyle, who binds me together with other women in a way no writer ever has before; and Lynne Cox, who has spent her life doing things that terrify me and writes about them with grace and awe.
 

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

Maria: I just finished Jacqueline Winspear’s A Sunlit Weapon (A Maisie Dobbs novel) and The French for Murder (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery) by Verity Bright

Maren: Kerry Greenwood’s just published book of short stories, “The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions,” Jessie Sutanto’s “A is for Aunties,” and Anne Hillerman’s “Sacred Bridge.”

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

Maren: I am passionate about rescue dogs and live with two amazing ones, Willie and Bug. I am a hand-patching quilter. I need to walk at least an hour a day or I am … cranky. I need to read an hour a day or it’s even worse. I am looking forward to visiting the Iona Community in Scotland this summer.

Maria: I recently got a cargo bike that both of my kids fit on and we’ve been having the best time going on adventures together. I also love to swim, so I’m glad summer has arrived (although I also still like sledding, so winter was delightful too). I’m a big indoor gardener – my favorite is the mint garden, with five varieties, because whenever I cut leaves, it smells like my mother is in the room with me.

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

Maren: Local maple syrup, very dark chocolate, grapefruit, and lots of greens.

Maria: Pasta, peanut butter, tea, and chocolate chips


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

Maria: Yes. Our plan for The Rev and Rye Mysteries is a five-book arc. The second one is already in the hands of our agent and publisher!

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

Maria: When I sit down to work on a story or poem, it feels as though everything is just as it should be and the world can be organized perfectly, for at least a moment. Nothing else in the world gives me that feeling with the same consistency as writing does. As a reader, finding a book that fits me just right is a gift I never get tired of, and getting to share our book with people who feel the same way is just the best.

Maren: I am not sure I can say it any better than my daughter does. It is the writing, not the promotional work that feeds my spirit, but when I have a chance to talk with a reader it is wonderful, and I always learn more. I also do book coaching, so I spend time telling a little-bit-shaky authors that they are giving readers a gift. I try to listen to myself.

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 Death at Fair Havens by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi

About Death at Fair Havens

Death at Fair Havens
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Massachusetts
Brain Mill Press (April 26, 2022)
Paperback: ‎ 318 pages

Wanda Duff is an unconventional New England clergywoman, addicted to chicken wings, high-octane ice cream, and saying yes to anyone in need of a prayer, even the folks her town might think don’t deserve one.

When parishioner Niels Pond dies unexpectedly at the Fair Havens assisted living facility, Wanda’s duty to minister to his family is beset by her suspicions about the circumstances of his abrupt passing. Wanda finds an unexpected co-detective in high school vice principal Prudence Rye, who fled town on graduation night a decade ago and returned only recently.

Rye puts her job on the line to investigate the mourning Ponds with the surprisingly edgy Wanda. As they expose difficult family truths and uncover a dangerous conspiracy operating out of Fair Havens, Rye and Wanda discover curiosity has an unanticipated cost.

Comfortably gossipy, with a fresh take on the characters and ethos cozy mystery fans will love, Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi’s Death at Fair Havens launches a series that celebrates intergenerational women’s friendship and the power of inclusion, curiosity, and love.

"Here’s small town life portrayed with humor and affection, peopled with quirky characters you’ll care about." —James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards

About the Authors

 

After teaching and working in early education for a decade, Maria Mankin has published six books with Pilgrim Press and has contributed to several anthologies. She is also a co-author of Circ, a mystery set in Skegness England, published by Pigeon Park Press, and Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality. She is a regular contributor to Living Psalms, a collection in which the Psalms are reinterpreted in poetry and art as a reflection of God’s work of justice and compassion. She is currently working on a book of poetry and the third novel in the Rev and Rye Cozy Mysteries.

 

After trouping the country in the 70s as assistant manager of theatrical tours for choreographer Agnes de Mille, The National Theatre of Great Britain, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Black Broadway production of ‘Guys and Dolls,’ Maren Tirabassi changed careers, to the surprise of everyone, to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and later Harvard Divinity School. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she served as a bi-vocational pastor to seven churches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire while developing her writing career. Maren is the author of twenty-two books, fiction, non-fiction and poetry, the majority published by The Pilgrim Press.

A former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, NH, and LAMDA Prize nominee for Transgendering Faith, Identity, Sexuality and Spirituality she currently facilitates programs for the NH Humanities Council with New Americans and people with cognitive difference and leads poetry and memoir workshops in prisons, recovery groups, churches and synagogues, hospice and survivor groups. She blogs at giftsinopenhands@wordpress.com.

With frequent writing collaborator, Maria Mankin, she is currently editing Death in the Woods, the sequel to Death at Fair Havens, as well as plotting the third novel.

Author Links: 

Website https://callingallcharacters.com/  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/marenandmankin  

Purchase Links Brian Mill Press - Powell’s - Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Indiebound - Indigo 

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A Changing Light - A Review

 Review

A CHANGING LIGHT by Edith Maxwell
The Seventh Quaker Midwife Mystery

 

It's Spring Opening and carriage makers from all over the world are gathering in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Rose Carroll Dodge has more on her mind than carriages, however. The midwife is now expecting a baby herself. But as new life is preparing to enter the world, Rose's mentor and good friend is preparing to leave it. While Orpha has led a good long life, a Canadian visitor's life is cut short. The carriage maker was found shot in the back. Was another carriage maker to blame? What about his wife, who seems to find business more important than the loss of her husband? Is the green eyed Brazilian to blame, or is the murderer closer to home? Rose can't help but sink her teeth into another mystery, but will doing so put her and her unborn child at risk? 

 

I love the smart and capable Rose Carroll Dodge. A CHANGING LIGHT proves both her intelligence and her ability to ferret out the truth. I absolutely love Dr. Chatigny (a spin-off mystery series, perchance?) and the manner in which she and Rose work together to stop the killer is brilliant and oh so satisfying. Although the novel takes place in the 1890s, I find it wonderful how the women are free thinking, and acting, and are able to take care of themselves. 

As much as I love the characters and setting, I also enjoyed the mystery. Plenty of red herrings led me to question the motive for murder as well as the suspects. I appreciate how Rose works with Kevin, now Acting Police Chief, and delight in his acceptance of her and the fact he values her thoughts and opinions.

Joy, grief, and murder combine to make A CHANGING LIGHT an intriguing and heartfelt mystery. I loved my time with Rose and only wish it was longer.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Death and a Crocodile by Lisa E. Betz. I believe it's a stand alone, but may be the start of a series.

Life is difficult in Ancient Rome, even for respectable young women such as Livia Aemilia. Her father has decided she must marry an aristocrat instead of the handsome family friend she admires. When her brother breaks the news that their father has been murdered, the two soon realize that this was not a robbery gone bad, but murder. Their scheming uncle accuses Curio of patricide and Livia knows she must search for the real killer. If she doesn't succeed she may not only lose her brother, but be married off to someone worse than an inscrutable senator. With her plucky slave and her new faith Livia will search for answers. But will she be stopped before she can reveal the truth?

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Changing Light by Edith Maxwell. This book is the seventh in the Quaker Midwife Mystery series and will be released next week.

It's Spring Opening and carriage makers from all over the world are gathering in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Rose Carroll-Dodge has more on her mind than carriages, however. The midwife is now expecting a baby herself. But as new life is preparing to enter the world, Rose's mentor and good friend is preparing to leave it. While Orpha has led a good long life, a Canadian visitor's life is cut short. The carriage maker was found shot in the back. Was another carriage maker to blame? What about his wife, who seems to find business more important than the loss of her husband? Is the green eyed Brazilian to blame, or is the murderer closer to home? Rose can't help but sink her teeth into another mystery, but will doing so put her and her unborn child at risk?

Abide with Me - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Jane Willan to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jane writes the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery series. ABIDE WITH ME is the third book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: Sister Agatha and her childhood friend, Father Selwyn, make a great team. How did you decide upon a religious pair of crime solvers for your mystery series?

JW: When I began writing, I had only Sister Agatha as my protagonist. But as I created the story, it became clear that she needed a sidekick. I had never thought about why detective novels, movies, TV shows almost always have the detective and then someone else. But I suddenly understood. Father Selwyn appeared on his own however at the first crime scene.

But why a pair of religious crime solvers and in the setting of religion? First of all, there's no better place than a church, a monastery, a convent for a murder. That kind of setting is filled with mystery and intrigue, dark spaces, holy and high places. How perfect for stumbling across a dead body. And then clerics or nuns or people in a religious order are perfect as amateur detectives because they have their finger on the pulse of the community. They know everyone and everyone knows them. Consequently, they are often thrown into places and moments when they could be investigating a murder.


Kathy: New nuns from LA join the Welsh convent in ABIDE WITH ME. Why invite American sisters to your mystery?

JW: I got the idea from an article that I read a couple of years ago about how younger women in the United States who were taking orders, were seeking a stricter, more traditional role as a sister than previous generations. And since the sisters at Gwenafwy Abbey are little bit more traditional, the sisters from the Los Angeles convent wanted to come over and join them.

But why did I bring them in as a writer? I thought it would be fun. And it brings a lot of potential for new stories and storylines and characters down the road.


Kathy: Technology plays a part in your latest mystery. Are you always up to date with the latest electronic marvels or are you more of a technophobe? I admit being somewhere in the middle, but not very adept.

JW: I am fairly up to speed with technology. But my husband is a computer expert and so a lot of the technology that I do know, he has taught me. Also I thought it would be fun for a nun to be very skilled at technology since it would be unexpected.


Kathy: What first drew you to traditional mysteries?

JW: I think I've always liked the chase. Hunting down the bad guy. But I also like mysteries where the characters drive the story as much as the plot does. Setting means a lot to me too. The first mysteries that I read with a happy Hollister's and I loved them.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JW: Yes, I'm writing a novel that would probably be called domestic fiction. It is a clerical story, the story of a young woman in her first year of ministry. It follows kind of the same genre as Gilead or Jan Karon’s Father Tim series.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JW: The series is set in North Wales. It takes place mostly in the village of Pryderi and at Gwenafwy Abbey. The protagonist is one of the Anglican sisters whose name is Sister Agatha. And she is a novelist, a librarian, a sister, and an amateur detective.

I do think though that the series is about more than just finding the dead body for the murder of the dead body but rather the series is also about relationships: our relationship with each other, our relationship with God, the church in the world today. I like to think that the series also asks larger questions than a typical cozy mystery.


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

JW: I think my favorite character is Father Selwyn. He is the victor in the village of Pryderi. I like him because he's a very good victor. He loves his parish, and he wants the best for them, and he will do everything he can for them. I probably like him the best because I too am a vicar.


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

JW: I don't think my expression specific. I think though I am inspired by all series about clergy. I love stories about the church and the people who try to make the church a better place.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JW: I wanted to hold a book in my hand with my name on the cover. I also wanted to walk in the Barnes & Noble and see my book on a shelf. I've done both those things now many times and I still like how it feels.


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

JW: Stephen King just because he is a great guy and a great writer.

Beverly Cleary because she was so amazing, and I think she would get along with Stephen King.

Barbara Pym because she was an extraordinary person. And I would love to be able to write like Barbara Pym.

Alice Munro because she was so talented.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JW: ERIN'S CHILDREN by Eileen O'Finlan

THE TRESPASSER by Tana French


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

JW: I am the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Paxton. That's really isn't a hobby but it's is what I do when I'm not writing. Or rather, writing is what I do when I'm not working at the church.


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

JW: Plain Greek yogurt

ice cream bars

blueberries (which are right now frozen)

marmalade


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

JW: Yes I'm going to write the fourth Sister Agatha book and I think she will be other writers conference in Scotland.


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

JW: Entering into the lives of other people (my characters).

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Review

ABIDE WITH ME by Jane Willan
The Third Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery

 

It's the time between Christmas and Epiphany and the nuns of Gwenafwy Abbey have welcomed new faces into their home. A group of young nuns from California has joined them bringing youthful enthusiasm and lots of technology. There's also a reporter from The Church Times. While Sister Agatha would rather be working on writing her mystery novel, she's tasked with escorting the reporter around. It's a bit concerning when the young woman doesn't show up for dinner or breakfast the following day. When her body is discovered, it's assumed she accidentally fell to her death while taking a selfie. Sister Agatha is not so sure. With Constable Barnes on vacation it's up to Deputy Parker Clough and Sister Agatha to solve the murder. 

With her murder book and fountain pen in the pocket of her habit Sister Agatha is on the case once more. I can't tell you how much I love this intrepid nun. She's smart, funny, and uniquely herself. A nun proud of her Welsh heritage and more interested in writing about murder than making cheese with the other sisters, she manages to fit in sleuthing between meals and prayers.

I admit that the third Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery made me cry. There were tears of sadness, but also tears of laughter. I'm still giggling at the jaffa cake debacle. I smile as I picture the Heavenly Gouda van on a stake out and chasing down suspects. I love the camaraderie of the characters. There's a realism here as well. They may love and respect each other, but they can also annoy each other and no one is above suspicion.

ABIDE WITH ME is a delightful mystery, both funny and moving. It captures life in a small Welsh village while providing a complex mystery. I only wish I could sample some of the nun's Heavenly Gouda and snuggle up in my own Sister Winifred knit hat and scarf set. I wonder what color she'd choose for me?

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Abide With Me: A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery by Jane Willan

About Abide With Me 

Abide With Me: A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Amazon White Glove (November 17, 2020)
Number of Pages - 300 Digital

Change is afoot at Gwenafwy Abbey. Ten new nuns from a convent in Los Angeles join the community of Anglican sisters bringing energy, youthful enthusiasm, and more electronic equipment than Sister Agatha could have imagined. The arrival of the new nuns brings something else to the Abbey—a bit of unexpected notoriety. Claire MacDonagh, an ambitious young reporter for The Church Times, interviews the new sisters for a feature story. Murder is the last thing on anyone’s mind when Claire is found dead on the beach, her mobile phone in the sand. A tragic death, says Constable Barnes. A selfie gone bad. Meanwhile, Sister Agatha is unconvinced and puts on her detective’s hat, only to find herself in the midst of a tangled murder mystery. Her suspect list includes everyone from the new sisters to Reverend Mother to the beloved archbishop of Wales. Time is running out as Sister Agatha uncovers a shocking reality. Will she reveal the truth hidden in an ancient document before it is too late?

About Jane Willan

Jane Willan wants to live in a world where everyone has time to read their favorite books, drink good coffee, and walk their dog on the beach, but until that can happen she enjoys life as a pastor and writer. When she's not working on a sermon, or hiking with her husband, Don, you can find her rereading Jane Eyre, binge-watching Downton Abbey, and trying out new ways to avoid exercise.

Author Links: 

Website - https://www.janewillan.com/  

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jane.willan.9  

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Jane_Willan  

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/authorjaneawillan/  

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8507263.Jane_Willan  

Purchase Links - AMAZON  

 

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