A Whale of a Murder - A Review

 Review

A WHALE OF A MURDER by Valerie Taylor
The First Venus Bixby Mystery

Chatham Crossing is a quiet Massachusetts town where nothing much happens, at least on the outside. An old whaling town, it's best known for the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum. It's also home of Oldies and Goodies, a popular music store run by Venus Bixby. While the town is gearing to celebrate Independence Day, everyone is also planning to celebrate Venus' fiftieth birthday with a gala affair at the museum. But some people have motives other than wishing Venus well. As Venus walks through the museum's garden to check on her party's progress she manages to trip over a pair of platform shoes. Shoes attached to a body. A body who won't be around to sing Happy Birthday.

Murder and robbery put a halt to a big birthday bash in the first Venus Bixby Mystery. Like the whales at the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum, A WHALE OF A MURDER has good bones. I wanted to love it and while I didn't dislike it, I had some issues with it.

The first part of A WHALE OF A MURDER jumped timelines so much I felt I had whiplash.  The book started with a report of the murder, then we went to a time before, then after, and back and forth. In addition, the story was told from multiple points of view. While doing so gave readers some insight into these characters, it was a jumble and took away any sense of continuity. I preferred it when the author finally got to a linear time frame told from Venus' point of view, interspersed with the newspaper articles which were a nice touch.

The characters here are certainly unique. Venus could use a better circle of friends-who needs enemies when you have friends like hers! Venus herself is certainly flawed and not the most likeable of protagonists, especially in the first part of the book. I never did work out why she should be the toast of the town. I did enjoy seeing her relationship with her sister evolve.

The mystery and Venus' investigation were very drawn out. She and her sister made a suspect list, asked some questions, but mainly went sightseeing. Too much time was taken away from the actual plot and spent on things not germane to the mystery. 

With musical jokes, delicious cookies, and a birthday diva, A WHALE OF A MURDER is an interesting start to a new series.

A Whale of a Murder - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Valerie Taylor to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Valerie writes the Venus Bixby Mystery series. A WHALE OF A MURDER is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In A WHALE OF A MURDER we meet Venus Bixby owner of the music store Oldies and Goodies. Does music play a big part in your life? What's your favorite musical style?

VT: I’ve loved music for as long as can remember. My interest in music emerged when I was a child in 1959; the year my father died. That was the year “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin hit the radio waves and Elvis Presley was shaking, rattling, and rolling. A year or two later, my mother enrolled me in a co-ed dancing class. Shortly thereafter, I was chosen for ballroom competition. Very different than Dancing with the Stars! Such memories, though. Not surprisingly, Venus owns an oldies music store, clearly my favorite kind of music.

Kathy: Chatham Crossing is a historic whaling town between Providence and Cape Cod. Were you interested in the history of this area or familiar with whaling prior to writing this book?

VT: Chatham Crossing is loosely based on New Bedford, Massachusetts. After I retired in 2016, I spent a day there and was so impressed. I especially loved the whaling museum because it opened my eyes to an important historic industry I knew virtually nothing about.

Kathy: In addition to playlists you also include cookie recipes in this book. Do you enjoy baking? Do you create your own cookies? Do you have a favorite cookie?

VT: I am the world’s worst baker. It took me years to accept the fact that, when baking, to ensure the recipe wasn’t a flop, the ingredients needed to be measured exactly. Except perhaps for the chocolate chips in my favorite cookie!

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

VT: Other than perhaps Agatha Christie novels, cozy mysteries were rarely on my bedside table. I can thank readers of my romantic comedy series for raising the prospect of my trying my hand at writing a cozy mystery. After I’d heard that suggestion from multiple readers, I figured they must know something I hadn’t thought of. The rest, as they say, is now history … or should I say cozy.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

VT: My debut novel in 2020, WHAT’S NOT SAID, was my first romantic comedy that evolved into a series I fondly call the What’s Not trilogy. WHAT’S NOT TRUE was published in 2021 and was followed by WHAT’S NOT LOST in 2023. I’d intended the first book to be my one great American novel, but readers had other ideas. They wanted more. So I obliged.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

VT: Set mainly in Boston with side trips to Venice, Paris, and Greece, the What’s Not romantic comedy trilogy tells the story of Kassie O’Callaghan who has been in her dysfunctional marriage way past its expiration date. When she’s ready to escape with a younger man she met on a solo vacation to Venice, she discovers her husband has a serious illness. This unexpected dilemma sets off a series of events where Kassie has to decide whether to uphold her marriage vows, to fight for what is legally and rightfully hers, and to figure out how to balance her career ambitions with her desire for happily ever after. Question is: can Kassie have it all?

The VENUS BIXBY MYSTERY series will consist of three cozy mysteries set in Chatham Crossing, a fictional whaling village. The first book, A WHALE OF A MURDER, introduces retro-music store owner Venus Bixby. On the morning of her 50th birthday party, Venus stumbles over a pair of orange platform shoes in the gardens of the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum and breaks her thumb. When it’s discovered the shoes are attached to the dead body of the manager of the museum’s gift shop, Venus becomes both a suspect and a sleuth. Will she sing and dance at her party, or will she and her broken thumb be hauled off in handcuffs?

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

VT: Not sure if this is strange, but my favorite character in the What’s Not trilogy is Topher, the cat. He’s an orange tabby that appears in the first book and then has a cameo in the second. Consistently, readers demanded more of Topher. Hence, in the third book, WHAT’S NOT LOST, Topher purrs a whole lot more.

One of my favorite characters in A WHALE OF A MURDER is Helen Davis, a minor character with a feisty attitude. She’s one of the bakers in Bixby’s Dozen, which is the bakery within Oldies & Goodies. In her mid-sixties, Helen assumes the world revolves around her. She reminds me of Ouiser Bourdeaux in Steel Magnolias. Like Ouiser, she also has a man who trails behind her and is at her beck and call.

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

VT: Venus Bixby inspired me to create a mystery series in her name. After I created her as a minor character in WHAT’S NOT LOST, I loved her so much I decided she needed her own story and series. Only recently did it occur to me that this cozy mystery series is actually a prequel to the What’s Not trilogy, especially WHAT’S NOT LOST. Talk about unintended consequences! 

 

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

VT: While I was drafting WHAT’S NOT SAID, it never occurred to me that I wouldn’t publish it. The question eventually became How? As I was exploring the different publishing paths, I discovered hybrid publishing. After I published the first two books in the What’s Not trilogy with She Writes Press, I decided to shift to self-publishing for the last book in the series. Logically, I self-published A WHALE OF A MURDER and will continue in that direction going forward.

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

VT: I’d invite two women and two men to my dinner party. Two of the four are dead, two are living. Number one invitation would go to Charlotte Bronte, the author of my favorite novel JANE EYRE. I’d want to know what it really was like to be a female writer in her day. Next would be Ernest Hemingway because I study his writing. The third invitation would go to Maggie O’Farrell, the author of THE MARRIAGE PORTAIT and HAMNET, so I could learn to be a better storyteller. Lastly, I’d fill the last chair around the table with Walter Isaacson. What an amazing prolific writer he is. I’d want to know how he can write historical biographies and then pivot to contemporaries who have influenced our current society.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

VT: Several years ago I read Sharon Dukett’s memoir, NO RULES, based on her life experience in the sixties. Her latest book, THE SHUTDOWN LIST, just came out mid-June. It’s a fast-moving and exciting thriller, showing the true breadth of Ms. Dukett’s talent. A must read.

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

VT: If I could roll back the calendar to my childhood, I’d learn how to play the piano or take up a sport, like soccer. One can dream, right? But since I can’t go back and change my future, I have to admit to being an exceptional sports spectator. I enjoy watching most sports either live or on television, even golf. Strange, huh?!

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

VT: Cheerios. Tea. Ice Cream. SmartWater.

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

VT: Currently, I’m writing the second book in the Venus Bixby Mystery series. I’m expecting there to be three in all. I’m about half way through the messy first draft. And then the fun begins!

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

VT: My most favorite aspect about being an author is creating a story out of whole cloth. My protagonists — Kassie O’Callaghan and Venus Bixby — are a figment of my imagination. They and their stories are as unique as each new flower that blooms. And that’s what gets me up in the morning! 

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 A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery by Valerie Taylor

About A Whale of a Murder

A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Chatham Crossing, a fictional whaling town situated between Providence and Cape Cod
Publisher: ‎ Aspetuck Publishing (April 23, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 358 pages

First in the Venus Bixby Mystery series from award-winning author Valerie Taylor.

Sea breezes and fireworks fill the air in cozy Chatham Crossing, the peaceful and historic whaling town situated between Providence and Cape Cod.

Venus Bixby, owner of the forever popular music store Oldies & Goodies, is counting on the festivities over the Fourth of July weekend to propel her to a position on the prestigious Town Committee.

After years of living in the shadow of her late husband, Venus will finally be the center of attention this holiday weekend: starting with her fiftieth birthday celebration and ending as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

Faster than a cookie crumbles, her dream collapses on the morning of her party when she trips over orange platform shoes in the gardens of the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum and breaks her thumb. When it’s discovered the shoes are attached to the body of the manager of the museum’s gift shop, Venus becomes both a suspect and a sleuth in Chatham Crossing’s first murder in decades.

Given this unexpected turn of events, will Venus ever sing and dance at her birthday party, or will her fractured thumb end up in handcuffs?

Includes cookie recipes and playlist!

About Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor tried to retire in 2016. But life had other ideas. After enjoying some of the best years of her life in Boston and Seattle, she moved back home to Connecticut and embarked on a second career as an author. Her first romantic comedy trilogy What’s Not Said, What’s Not True, and What’s Not Lost won multiple awards. Encouraged by her readers, she created a new cozy mystery series, spinning one of the secondary characters in What’s Not LOST into the role of amateur sleuth in A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery. When she’s not writing or reading, Valerie enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator.

Author Links: 

Website: https://valerietaylorauthor.com  

Facebook: facebook.com/valerietaylorauthor  

Twitter/X: twitter.com/ValerieEMTaylor  

Instagram: Instagram.com/ValerieETaylor/  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Bookshop.org -

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Currently Reading...

I’m currently reading A Whale of a Murder by Valerie Taylor. This book is the first in the Venus Bixby Mystery series and was released earlier this year.

Chatham Crossing is a quiet Massachusetts town where nothing much happens, at least on the outside. An old whaling town, it's best known for the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum. It's also home of Oldies and Goodies, a popular music store run by Venus Bixby. While the town is gearing to celebrate Independence Day, everyone is also planning to celebrate Venus' fiftieth birthday with a gala affair at the museum. But some people have motives other than wishing Venus well. As Venus walks through the museums garden to check on her party's progress she manages to trip over a pair of platform shoes. Shoes attached to a body. A body who won't be around to sing Happy Birthday.

Blind Sight - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Tanya R. Taylor to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Tanya writes the Lucille Pfiffer Mystery series. BLIND SIGHT is the first book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: In BLIND SIGHT we meet Lucille Pfiffer, who happens to be blind. Why did you decide to have your crime solving protagonist be blind?

TRT: I guess the idea stemmed from the fact that my father was dealing with Glaucoma issues at the time (he's now passed away) and I was trying to find remedies to help improve his vision. It was something that was at the forefront of my mind and it just so happened that one day as I was outside in a parking lot waiting for my daughter, the idea popped into my head about this older lady being completely blind, but yet being able to see what was going on around her. She ultimately proves to everyone that even though she has a disability, she's not hindered by it and can even unravel puzzling mysteries that might otherwise remain unsolved. I sat there in the car, pressed the record button on my cell phone and created the plot.

Kathy: Lucille's companion is a dog named Vanilla. Is Nilla based on a real dog you know, a composite of dogs, or totally fictitious?

TRT: Let me start by saying, when I came up with the idea for the book, I just knew Lucille should have a companion - a dog. I didn't know very much about dogs, so I thought I'd have a good amount of research to do. However, my daughter desperately wanted a puppy and saw one that she fell in love with. We brought her home and my daughter named her Vanilla - Nilla, for short. She stole our hearts and became my inspiration for the fictitious dog in BLIND SIGHT, whom I also named Nilla. I learned so much about dogs from the real Nilla and I must say she arrived at the perfect time!

Kathy: Lucille's neighborhood is "active" due to an event from the past. Do you believe past history influences a town?

TRT: Very much so! I believe the history of a town impacts the present in one way or the other. Certain things are engraved or linger in the surroundings of a particular place depending on what occurred long ago.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

TRT: I would say it was my Cornelius Saga series. It's mainly paranormal, but also has a cozy feel to it. I've always written mysteries and many of my books fall into more than one genre, but after writing twelve books in the Cornelius series, I wanted to write one that was not only cozy, but a little humorous as well. I also loved some of the cozy book covers out there and wanted to try a similar look for my new series. I think it was a really good decision.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

TRT: Yes, I do. I have a colorful selection of Paranormal Romance, Romantic-suspense, Fantasy, Thrillers, Science-fiction, Mystery and Suspense books.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

TRT: Lucille Pfiffer is a blind woman who's also a heroine. Her determination to solve the mystery surrounding the death of a beautiful young lady in book one - BLIND SIGHT - is crucial to the right person being brought to justice. In book two - BLIND ESCAPE - she finds herself entangled in a murder mystery, but also becomes a target for extortion. Each book will have an exciting plot that readers will get lost in.

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

TRT: Lucille Pfiffer in BLIND SIGHT (Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series) is my favorite character. She's a no-nonsense type of person who also loves and cares about people. In spite of her own disability, she will stand up and defend those she loves without fear of repercussion. She's a hero, in my opinion.

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

TRT: My father is my inspiration. Thankfully, he never went blind, which was my constant prayer. He had his struggles, but he was brave and strong like Lucille in BLIND SIGHT. He never complained or wanted us to worry about him. The real Nilla is also my inspiration. She's brought so much more love into our family that we never knew a tiny little animal can bring.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

TRT: I felt I had a story someone out there might appreciate and over time, I realized there were many people who truly enjoyed my books. My readers inspire me to keep writing and publishing my stories. I never regretted the decision.


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

TRT: I'd invite Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Agatha Christie and Mark Dawson.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

TRT: A book of short stories soon to be published by SUNBEAMS FROM THE HEART author, Fay Knowles


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

TRT: I love watching documentaries and researching interesting and useful information.

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

TRT: Punch, Water, fruits and Peanut Butter


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

TRT: Yes, I do. BLIND ESCAPE, Book two in the Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series will be released on September 5th and I'm working on Book thirteen in The Cornelius Saga Series TIL DEATH DO US PART. Release date will be announced soon. Those are the two series I'm currently working on.

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

TRT: I get to create new stories that people enjoy and give them a temporary escape from day to day life.

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BLIND SIGHT (Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series) by Tanya R. Taylor

  About the Book

 

BLIND SIGHT (Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series)  

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Self Published (July 28, 2019) 

Number of Pages: 200

Lucille Pfiffer sees, but not with her eyes. She lives with her beloved dog Vanilla ("Nilla" for short) in a cozy neighborhood that is quite "active" due to what occurred in the distant past. Though totally blind, she plays an integral role in helping to solve pressing and puzzling mysteries, one right after the other, which, without her, might remain unsolved. The question is: How can she do any of that with such a handicap?

About Tanya R. Taylor

Tanya R. Taylor has wowed readers with her riveting plots and compelling themes. She is the author of several #1 bestsellers on Amazon and published her first book titled: 'A Killing Rage' as a young adult. She has worked in the Financial arena and is also a seasoned ghostwriter. Her book 'Cornelius' climbed to #1 in the Teen & Young-adult Multi-generational Family Fiction category. And her supernatural, suspense/thrillers - 'CARA' and 'INFESTATION: A Small Town Nightmare' are multiple times #1 international bestsellers. Tanya writes in various genres including Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Thrillers, Science-fiction, Mystery and Suspense. She has a passion for the welfare of children and animals. Her hobbies include Reading, writing, and researching.

Author Links:

Website: https://tanya-r-taylor.com/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanyartaylorbooks/  
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tanya-r-taylor  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanyartay  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8634397.Tanya_R_Taylor  

Purchase Link - Amazon

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Fashionable Murder - An Interview with Barbara Jean Coast

I'd like to welcome two authors to the blog today, Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, together known as Barbara Jean Coast. They write the Poppy Cove Mystery series.

Kathy: I've heard that publishers believe that US readers are less likely to buy a book set in Canada than in the US. I know that some Canadian authors do set their stories in the US, including you. Was it your decision to set the story in California? If so, was it more to do with the plot, or marketing? For the record, I'm a US citizen who enjoys books set in Canada too. I actually live near the border of Southern Ontario.

BJC: Honestly, we never thought in terms of borders, regarding writing, or life in general – American, Canadian, anywhere, it never crossed our minds. We spend a great deal of time in California, so it was a naturally creative inspiration to set the series there, from the appeal of the culture, lifestyle and time. It had everything to do with the plot, the setting almost becomes its own character and drives the story lines. We do have plans for a series possibly set in Canada in the future, but the muse of California spoke first and we did the most natural thing for us and answered the call.


Kathy: Barbara Jean Coast is actually Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff. How do you write as a team? Does one person work more on the plot while the other writes the actual words?

BJC: We talk a lot. We sit and write together, talking out the scenes and plots, it’s truly a joint effort.


Kathy: Strangled by Silk takes place in 1957. What made you choose this time in which to tell your story.

BJC: It was a time when the clothing was beautiful and the handcrafting of a custom made garment was a skill that was valued, but not out of place in a mid-sized community. Also, the social mores and attitudes of the time were fascinating. Underneath the polished veneer, bad things still happened, and the way they were handled in the public just lent itself to a mystery.


Kathy: Margot and Daphne own their own dress shop. Are you a fashionista?

BJC: Both of us really appreciate fashion. Heather comes from a background of dressmaking and design, more of the technical side of it, and Andrea loves beautiful clothes and accessories, the overall picture of an outfit perfected.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

BJC: We’ve both been reading them for years. We like how the characters develop and the details of their lives, work, hobbies and communities.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

BJC: Andrea writes a couple of blogs, one on creativity and the other is poetry. She’s also got a novel on the go set in the 1800’s.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

BJC: Poppy Cove Mysteries is a cozy book series set in the fictional town of Santa Lucia, loosely based on Santa Barbara in the late 50′s, early 60′s and revolves around the glamorous comings and goings of the social set of the town, with a little murder and mayhem thrown in for good measure. STRANGLED BY SILK, published by Cozy Cat Press, is the first in the series.

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

BJC: Daphne and Margot, of course, we love. They are their own sense of fabulousness!
AT: I also really like Loretta Simpson, the Santa Lucia Times Society Editor. She always gets the scoop!
HS: I have a soft spot for Nancy Lewis. She seems to get the short end of the stick at times. I’m rooting for her to get it right.


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

BJC: Probably the love of the beautiful setting, the glamorous time period, and the love of feeling fortunate to be given the gift to be able to tell it and share it with others.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

BJC: We were very pleased and honored when Patricia Rockwell at Cozy Cat Press chose to publish our first novel, and it felt like the right fit. We are very happy in our publishing home and feel fortunate to be in the company of some very talented writers.


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

AT: Tracy Chevalier, Charles Dickens, Susan Wittig Albert, and Michael Ondaatje. An eclectic group, there’s so many others as well.
HS: Let’s see to narrow it down, Lawrence Durrell, Daphne du Maurier, Alice Hoffman and Carl Hiaasen.
Our joint apologies go out to all those who we have to miss…can the rest of the unmentioned sit at the kids’ table ;-)!?!


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

AT: Pinkerton’s Sister by Peter Rutherford, Calamity at the Carwash by Sharon Rose and The Other Woman by Hank Phillipi Ryan.
HS: The Fall of Atlantis by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Don’t Cry Over Killed Milk by Stephen Kaminski.


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

AT: Reading, writing, cooking, collage, watching movies and television, really enjoying Downton Abbey, Sherlock and Mad Men lately. Jogging, yoga and meditation helps keep me centered and organized in my busy days.
HS: I definitely agree with the jogging, yoga, and meditation. I also read and enjoy cooking, listening to music, especially alt/indie and jazz. Sewing, even though I had done it as a past profession, is still a great passion for me.
Keeping up our Barbara Jean Coast persona through Daily Tweets, quips on Facebook and Pinterest from her fashion perspective gives us great joy and inspiration.


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


AT: Wine, peanut butter, cheese and jam.
HS: Nice one, Andrea. Caviar, olive oil, crackers and chocolate.


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

BJC: We’re currently writing our second in the Poppy Cove Mystery Series (we’re bumping off a Beauty Queen!), and have a solid outline for the third, with more to come. We’re talking out ideas about a couple of other series, but they’re still in the ruminating stage.


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

BJC: Being able to share our stories with anyone who is willing to read them, to welcome them into our world. It’s nice that the voices in your head have a place to go!



Want to learn more? Check out these links:


Blog: http://welcometopoppycove.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraJCoast

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bjcoast/

Facebook: "Friend" Barbara Jean Coast & "Like" Poppy Cove Mysteries

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/BJCoast