Sieve and Let Die - A Guest Post

I'm pleased to let Victoria Hamilton take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. Victoria writes the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. Sieve and Let Die, the eleventh book in the series will be released tomorrow.

Keeping Series Characters Consistent

By Victoria Hamilton

I’m excited that Vintage Kitchen Mystery #11, Sieve and Let Die, is coming out tomorrow! I can’t believe it: eleven titles in the series so far, and that’s all due to wonderful readers who buy the books, allowing me to keep writing.

You, those readers, buy and read multiple mystery series. And you write letters, emails and comments to writers. Those notes are a real boost. Other authors feel the same way. Did you know that when I do hear from readers about forthcoming books, the most common comments are that they’re looking forward to revisiting the place, yes, but more than that, the people.

My people. The people I created, who now live and breathe on their own in the towns of my creation. I can picture Queensville so well, but the Queensville in your mind is likely different than the one in mine. And that’s how it should be. But the people I’ve created need to be recognizable to all of us, writer and readers alike, maybe not physically, but emotionally, and in their personalities. There should be a common understanding among us of what this or that person in the books would do.

Vintage Kitchen Mystery series consists, so far, of eleven books. In Jaymie Leighton Müller’s universe it has only been about three and a half years or so. A lot has happened in Jaymie’s life in three and a half years, and it’s so different than it was when I first introduced her in A Deadly Grind in 2012. But for me it’s been eleven years. In that time I’ve changed and the world has changed. Reconciling the two, writing a series over many years, can be tricky.

When I started to write Sieve and Let Die, I realized that I had been so busy with other projects that I hadn’t written a Vintage Kitchen Mystery for two years! Two years! I put aside that thought and got to the writing, then turned the book in to my editor. I received a note back from him; he expressed concern about my depiction of key characters. When I went back to edit the book, I understood what he was saying. I was failing at one of the most basic duties of a writer, keeping the characters consistent. Something was off, and it took my editor to spot it!

So what did I do? First, I went back and reread my own work, past Vintage Kitchen Mysteries. Aha! I started to see the problem. Jaymie and her friends and family have had some wonderful things happen to them in the last while, and I wasn’t celebrating that as I ought. She is a smart capable woman, with a husband she loves, a daughter she adores, and friends and family she relies on. A good life, but I wasn’t showing all of that in their interactions.

Thank goodness for editors! Mine steered me back onto the straight and narrow and so I rewrote the whole book. I’m so glad I did, and I’m so proud of the outcome. I think readers will enjoy it too.

On my never-ending voyage of discovery as a writer I have come to realize that I need to speed up my writing, not because I need to put the books out faster – though that won’t hurt; I don’t want to leave so long between books! – but also because it helps me keep in touch with my characters, their personalities, and their lives. Speed equals immediacy for me, I now understand. So I’m already writing the next Vintage Kitchen Mystery! And having great fun doing it.   

I’m so very happy that I went back and rewrote the book, finding my ‘friends’ again: Jaymie, Jakob, Jocie, Val, Becca, Mrs. Stubbs, and even huffy Georgina Brevard, Becca’s sister-in-law! Not to mention Hoppy, Lilibet and Denver, their animal companions.

I hope my wonderful readers feel the same.

***

Sieve and Let Die – Vintage Kitchen Mysteries #11

In the new Vintage Kitchen Mystery from the author of A Calculated Whisk, Jaymie’s not sure who to believe when every suspect’s alibi has as many holes as a sieve . . .

Vintage cookware collector Jaymie Müller is stunned when an irate woman accuses her pharmacist friend Val of tampering with her prescription. When more unfounded accusations follow, it seems clear the woman has a personal grudge against Val. But before they can figure out why, Jaymie and Val stumble upon the woman’s dead body on the steps of Val’s pharmacy. Given her altercations with the woman and the location of the body, the police naturally suspect Val. 

Jaymie has heard rumors that the victim had become forgetful and erratic, but could that explain her death? And why was Val being framed as her murderer? Determined to find the clues that connect the woman’s strange behavior to her death, Jaymie begins questioning the people in her life, and soon suspects that the culprit is among them. But she’ll have to be careful about who she confronts, because while solving murders is hard work, there’s a killer on the loose who finds committing them all too easy . . .  

Includes a vintage recipe! 

***

Watch for these books in 2024:

Lady Anne and the Haunted Schoolgirl – Lady Anne Addison Mysteries #5

Thanks for Muffin - Merry Muffin Mysteries #8

And #12 in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series: Cat Got Your Tongs

About Victoria Hamilton:

Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym of nationally bestselling romance author Donna Lea Simpson. Victoria is the bestselling author of four mystery series: the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, the Merry Muffin Mysteries, and A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder Mysteries. Visit her website at victoriahamiltonmysteries.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with all the latest in her mystery world!

Visit Victoria online:

Website: http://www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria

Overdue or Die - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

OVERDUE OR DIE by Allison Brook
The Seventh Haunted Library Mystery

After a trying renovation, the new addition to the library is finally opening. In addition to providing much needed programming space, the library is also kicking off an art exhibit with paintings on loan from the debonair Victor Zalinka. With the grand opening overshadowed by a woman claiming the building actually belonged to her and worry that one of her employees is about to be poached by a local art gallery librarian Carrie Singleton barely has time to plan her wedding to Dylan. But when Dylan spots a forgery among Victor's paintings and gallery owner Martha Mallory winds up dead, murder becomes Carrie's main concern.

Art forgery, affairs, and one rotten family dominate the seventh Haunted Bookshop Mystery. I love how Dylan's expertise marries with Carrie's as they work to solve the mystery together...along with the Sheriff, of course. I also really like how Carrie has grown since her arrival in Clover Ridge. And honestly, I'd be as possessive as she is about the new library wing. 

There were plenty of people to distrust and dislike in OVERDUE OR DIE, with a crime boss even making an appearance-and he was a character I liked! The plot skillfully weaved around art fraud, murder, and wedding preparations with some characters proving to have more depth than I'd originally thought. The ghostly Evelyn didn't make much of an appearance in this entry, but never having cared for her, I didn't miss her, although the haunted library wasn't very haunted.

With overlapping crimes OVERDUE OR DIE is an engaging and entertaining mystery that will keep you on your toes!

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Overdue or Die (A Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook

About Overdue or Die

Overdue or Die (A Haunted Library Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 7th in Series
Setting - Connecticut
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)
Hardcover: ‎ 304 pages

Carrie Singleton has a wedding to plan, a killer to catch, and a conspiracy to uncover in this charming seventh novel of Agatha Award-nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.

Carrie Singleton has more than her fair share on her plate: her job at the Clover Ridge Library, preparing for her wedding to Dylan Avery, and hoping that the local art gallery doesn’t steal away one of her part-time employees. Her fiancé Dylan accompanies her to the beautiful home of Victor Zalinka—art collector and successful businessman—to select paintings for an art show at the library. While Carrie muses that Victor's home would be the perfect wedding venue, Dylan spots a forgery among the paintings in Victor's collection. Then Martha Mallory is found murdered in her art gallery. With the assistance of Evelyn, the library ghost; the resident cat, Smoky Joe; and the office manager of Dylan’s private investigation company, Carrie comes up with a suspect list long enough to rival the size of an encyclopedia. During her investigation, Carrie stumbles across a terrible truth: Martha’s murder was part of something far bigger and more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. And it all leads back to the art gallery. How far will Carrie go to find the killer and uncover the truth? If the killer finds her first—will Carrie finally be taken out of circulation?

About Allison Brook

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook, she writes the Haunted Library series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Her juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Children's Choice and has recently come out in a new edition. And Don't Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards.

Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids.

Author Links: 

Website and Sign Up for My Newsletter: http://www.marilynlevinson.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson; https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook  

My Amazon Page: http://amzn.to/K6Md1O 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson  

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/  

Purchase Links : Amazon B&N Bookshop.org Kobo Penguin Random House (has links to many sellers) 

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Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld - A Review

 Review

MISS MORTON AND THE SPIRITS OF THE UNDERWORLD
By Catherine Lloyd
The Second Miss Morton Mystery

 

When Mrs. Frogerton starts seeing a Spiritualist Miss Morton has her concerns. Certain that Madame is trying to bilk her employer, Miss Morton accompanies her to a seance. What she finds is an angry son who needs to be forcibly removed and some inexplicable truths. When she accompanies Dr. Harris to visit the woman again they find her dead with a note telling Miss Morton to solve her murder. Miss Morton and Mrs. Frogerton begin to uncover much more than they bargained for as they begin their enquiries. Will they find the murderer before they become spirits themselves?  

 

I really love this series, from its well developed characters to its finely crafted mystery culminating in sheer enjoyment. I was especially drawn to this storyline as Spiritualism is one of my interests. Without revealing anything, I appreciate how certain things turned out. What did have me concerned was the behavior of Dr. Harris. I hope he gets things sorted as I see him as a nice foil for Miss Morton, and maybe something more. I more I know Mrs. Frogerton the more I love her, though I'd happily throttle her daughter.

 

Crafty characters and a healthy dose of the unknown make MISS MORTON AND THE SPIRITS OF THE UNDERWORLD a delightfully mysterious read.

Murder at Midnight - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

 Review

MURDER AT MIDNIGHT by Katharine Schellman
The Fourth Lily Adler Mystery

 

Lily Adler is accompanying her in-laws and Matthew Spencer to Mrs. Grantham's holiday ball. Happiness at seeing her good friends, the Hartleys, soon turns to worry. Amelia, the youngest daughter is enmeshed in some type of scandal. She's not talking, but the ton certainly is. As the evening progresses, so does the snow and the blizzard traps everyone but the closest of neighbors. As the unexpected guests hunker down, someone sees an opportunity. A scream wakes the house. A maid has found the murdered body of one of the guests. The very same young man associated with Amelia's troubles. As the magistrate, Lily's brother-in-law has taken charge, though she's actually had more experience when it comes to solving a murder. Will Lily be able to help find the killer before the snow melts? Or will a killer strike again?

 

Secrets! Everyone has them, and some will do anything to keep them private. The fourth Lily Adler mystery deals with the ramifications of having and keeping secrets. House parties have a bit of a reputation, with illicit liaisons the norm. And when Mrs. Grantham's ball inadvertently turns into a manor house party, being stranded together by a blizzard doesn't stop some goings on...some more nefarious than others. I truly enjoyed this complex mystery. So much was happening and with everyone keeping secrets it was hard to discover just who was the villain, especially when there were several people to dislike.

 

I love the different types of relationships found here, from family to romantic to business, and more. Each playing a key role in the mystery. Love, friendship, disdain, and everyone attempting to keep up appearances. It was also fascinating to see the cracks in the veneer of the upper class, the effect of being trapped and treated more commonly than they are accustomed. MURDER AT MIDNIGHT is as much a psychological drama as a mystery!

Secrets and surprising revelations make MURDER AT MIDNIGHT a gripping historical mystery.

**********************************************************************

Murder at Midnight

by Katharine Schellman

September 18 - October 13, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets.

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to a quiet Christmastide away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London. Not only will she be visiting the family of her late husband; she will be reunited with Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, finally returned after a long voyage at sea.

But secrets aren't only found in London. Jack's younger sister, Amelia, is the center of neighborhood scandal and gossip. She refuses to tell anyone what really happened, even when an unexpected snowstorm strands the neighborhood families together after a Christmas ball. Stuck until the snow stops, the Adlers, Hartleys, and their neighbors settle in for the night, only to be awakened in the morning by the scream of a maid who has just discovered a dead body.

The victim was the well-to-do son of a local gentleman--the same man whose name has become so scandalously linked to Amelia's.

With the snow still falling and no way to come or go, it's clear that someone in the house was responsible for the young man's death. When suspicion instantly falls on Jack's sister, he and Lily must unmask the true culprit before Amelia is convicted of a crime she didn't commit.

Praise for Murder at Midnight:

"Delightful . . . Historical mystery fans will devour this holiday treat."
~ Publishers Weekly

"A plummy period whodunit with a colorful collection of suspects."
~ Kirkus Reviews

Book Details:

Genre: Historical mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781639104321 (ISBN10: 1639104321)
Series: A Lily Adler Mystery, 4
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House

Read an excerpt:

Lily sat bolt upright. Where had the sound come from? It hadn’t been loud . . . another part of the house? For a moment, in the pressing silence, she wondered if she had drifted back to sleep without realizing it and imagined the whole thing.

But a moment later, the sounds of a commotion rose just outside her window. Lily dashed to the window, throwing it open with some effort and peering out into the swirl of snow and early- morning light.

The guest room she had been given was one of the smaller ones—the better to quickly heat rooms that hadn’t been prepared in advance—and as was typical for such rooms, it lacked a pretty view. Hers looked over what she realized after a moment must be the poultry yard. Darkly clad figures who she could guess were servants stumbled through the thick layer of snow that had fallen, trying to reach the two people in the middle of the yard.

One Lily could see from her vantage only as a still, upright figure, hand outstretched and pointing toward the second person, who lay sprawled on the ground. The one on the ground was half covered by the ice and snow, unmoving.

Lily grabbed the dressing gown from the chair, pulled on her shoes, and ran from the room. In the hallway, a few guests were poking their heads out of their doors, hair tousled and faces creased with sleep, inquiring grumpily if anyone had heard an odd noise.

Lily didn’t stop to consider propriety or worry about what anyone else might think before she yelled “Jack!” as loudly as she could. She didn’t know which room he had been given, but a moment later, a door past the stairs was flung open and the navy captain’s head appeared.

“What is it?” he demanded. He was already dressed and wearing his driving coat over his clothing. That was odd at such an early hour, but Lily didn’t have time to be surprised.

“Downstairs.” In spite of the months they had spent apart, Lily knew she could depend on him to understand and act quickly. “Something happened. We have to help.”

And in spite of those months apart, he didn’t stop to ask questions. More guests were emerging, summoned by Lily’s shout, and questions were beginning to fly back and forth as she dashed down the stairs, Jack on her heels.

They didn’t need to wonder where to go; on the floor below, Mrs. Grantham was following a stately-looking woman who might have been the housekeeper or another upper servant. Their pace was just barely too dignified to be a run, but they couldn’t hide their worry as they disappeared down the steps to the kitchen. Lily and Jack hurried after them.

The servants’ staircase was narrow and cold. At the bottom, servants clustered in the kitchen, talking in shrill, anxious voices as the cook tried to keep some order. The underservants glanced uneasily at Lily and Jack as they came into the kitchen, but no one seemed to know what to do or say. The door to the yard had been left wide open, and the wind blew in gusts of snow and icy morning light. Outside, more servants were gathered, though they parted like a wave as the housekeeper led Mrs. Grantham out to see what had happened.

As Lily and Jack tried to follow, they were stopped by the frail but determined body of the butler, who interposed himself between them and the open door. “Madam, sir, perhaps you would care to return to your rooms? Breakfast will be ready shortly.”

Jack drew himself up, clearly prepared to use his rank to push his way past the aging servant. Before he could say anything, though, and before Lily could think how to reply, Mrs. Grantham turned sharply.

“What is . . .” She trailed off, eyeing Lily and Jack with trepidation. She looked ready to send them on their way with some commonplace assurance. But half a dozen emotions chased their way across her face in that moment, and she instead asked, “Mrs. Adler, how many of the rumors about you are true?”

“That depends on the rumors,” Lily replied calmly, though her heart was pounding. Behind Mrs. Grantham, she could see the limbs of the eerie, still figure sticking out of the snowbank. “Though if you refer only to the ones that are most relevant at this moment . . .” She turned her gaze pointedly toward the body in the snow. “There is indeed some truth to them.”

Mrs. Grantham hesitated, then seemed to make up her mind in a rush. She stepped aside, pulling the confused housekeeper with her. There were boots for the servants lined up next to the door, crusted with mud from repeated use. Lily pulled off her delicate evening slippers, slid her bare feet into the pair that looked closest to her size, and followed as she and Jack were ushered into the yard, their eyes fixed on what awaited them there.

A man dressed in borrowed clothes, his skin white with cold, his hair thick with clumps of ice and snow. He could have fallen, hit his head, been caught in the storm and frozen. He could still be alive, in need of help. He could have had an innocent reason for being out in the storm.

He could have. But this close, Lily could see the snow that had been kicked aside and trampled by half a dozen feet in the servants’ frantic attempts to clear it away. The icy powder was too thick on the ground for her to see the mud of the yard. But it was still stained with red and brown from where the man’s life had leaked away in the night.

The once-snowy linen of his shirt was stained the same color, jagged and torn from the bullet that had ended his life. The gun that had fired it had been unearthed beside him, as snow-logged as his own body. The man’s frozen eyes and mouth were wide open, as though he had not believed until the last moment that whoever had faced him in that yard could be capable of the shot that had ended his life.

***

Excerpt from Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman. Copyright 2023 by Katharine Schellman. Reproduced with permission from Katharine Schellman. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Katharine Schellman is a former actor and one-time political consultant. These days, she writes the Lily Adler Mysteries and the Nightingale Mysteries. Her books, which reviewers have praised as “worthy of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout” (Library Journal, starred review), have received multiple accolades, including being named a Library Journal Best Crime Fiction of 2022, a Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2020, and a New York Times editor’s pick in June 2022. Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.

Catch Up With Katharine Schellman:
www.KatharineSchellman.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @KatharineSchellman
Instagram - @katharinewrites
Facebook - @katharineschellman

 

 

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Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman. This book is the fourth in the Lily Adler Mystery series and was released last month.

Lily Adler is accompanying her in-laws and Matthew Spencer to Mrs. Grantham's holiday ball. Happiness at seeing her good friends, the Hartleys, soon turns to worry. Amelia, the youngest daughter is enmeshed in some type of scandal. She's not talking, but the ton certainly is. As the evening progresses, so does the snow and the blizzard traps everyone but the closest of neighbors. As the unexpected guests hunker down, someone sees an opportunity. A scream wakes the house. A maid has found the murdered body of one of the guests. The very same young man associated with Amelia's troubles. As the magistrate, Lily's brother-in-law has taken charge, though she's actually had more experience when it comes to solving a murder. Will Lily be able to help find the killer before the snow melts? Or will a killer strike again?

A Clue in the Crumbs - A Review

 Review

A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS by Lucy Burdette
The Thirteenth Key West Food critic Mystery 

Having met them on her honeymoon Hailey Snow is delighted to welcome the Scottish Scone Sisters to Key West. The pair is bringing their UK Bakes! to the states looking for American bakers. There's a fire at their B&B, but Miss Gloria is happy to have them bunk with her. The first day's filming goes well, until the husband of the best contestant storms in demanding his wife leave. It turns out the couple own the B&B that burned. Then the angry husband is found dead and the wife goes missing. Could the Scottish Scone Sister tour end even before it truly begins?

The Key West Food Critic Mystery series joins the world of baking competitions in its thirteenth outing. I absolutely love the Great British Baking Show for its kind competitors, savvy judges, and fantastic bakers. Here we get the funny and genial hosts in the guise of the Scottish Scone Sisters, but the competitors aren't that kind and the bakes not great. Having met the Scottish Scone Sisters in the twelfth book in the series it was great to have them back and learn more about them. They are also integral to the mystery, both in propelling the investigation and solving it!

The mystery itself was compelling. Was the fire related to the murder? Is someone sabotaging the competition? How are the Scottish Scone Sisters involved? Suspicious behavior, conflicting perceptions, and unknown motives combined to create a delightfully complex mystery.

I particularly love the vibrancy and outgoing nature of the older characters. Just because a woman is in her eighties doesn't mean she can't live life to its fullest. Seniors can start new careers and be popular, as seen with the Scottish Scone Sisters. While some may be content to sit back, no one should be put out to pasture just because they've reached a certain age. Miss Gloria, as well as the Scottish Scone Sisters, make me laugh, not only with their antics, but with their joy of life.

Part baking competition, part mystery, all fun, A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS is a delicious addition to the Key West Food Critic Mystery series.

The Socialite's Guide to Death & Dating - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO DEATH & DATING
By S. K. Golden
The Second Pinnacle Hotel Mystery 

With her father tasking her to actually work at the Pinnacle Hotel where she lives, Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy has succeeded in organizing a fundraiser for the mayor. While neither Rockefeller nor her father deign to show up, the event is a success, replete with New York City bigwigs. As the party winds down Mac convinces Evelyn to leave the hotel and go to his apartment in Yonkers for the night. But as she's about to get into her Rolls-Royce she notices a shadow in a nearby car. Unable to let it go, she goes to investigate only to find Judge Baker dead in his car, a needle sticking out of his arm. An accidental overdose? Or murder?

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO DEATH & DATING is a book about loss and how you deal with it. Evelyn Elizabeth Grace has had a lot of loss in her life. She has created a persona to help her deal with it, although she still suffers its effects, her "teensy bit" of agoraphobia and her belief that she can use money to get out of every bad situation, for example. She's also self centered and spoiled, but not near as dim as some make her out to be. But as events continue to rock her world, she's growing.

I enjoyed the second Pinnacle Hotel Mystery with its complex mystery and challenging characters. There are some characters you love to hate, Evelyn's father and the new Detective McJimsey. Even Evelyn can be annoying. I'm also unsure people in 1958 spoke like her, continually saying "ever so much". Yet, you can't help but feel for her and grudgingly like her. She's a bird in a gilded cage, trapped by her own mind and the social and gender inequity of the time. But, ever so slowly, she's finding her own way out.

Though humorous THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO DEATH & DATING is unexpectedly moving with surprising twists and emotional upheaval. I look forward to seeing Evelyn continue to grow and wonder just what she will have to face next!

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 The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery) by S. K. Golden

About The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating

The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - 1958 New York City
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)
Hardcover: ‎ 336 pages

Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver, the second Pinnacle Hotel mystery finds another murder that strikes too close to home, and hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy knows she’s the only one who can save the hotel before it’s lights out.

New York, 1958. Even though Evelyn Murphy has made progress conquering her agoraphobia by leaving the Pinnacle, she still feels most comfortable in her father's hotel. With Malcolm Cooper, her new boyfriend and fellow employee at the hotel, Evelyn feels prepared for whatever happens next. In this case, it’s throwing a big fundraiser with the who’s who of New York City.

The night is a success, and Evelyn finally takes up Malcolm’s offer to finally visit his apartment in Yonkers. As the party ends, they sneak away to the garage to get Evelyn's car. But Evelyn's always been good at finding things, and she discovers the dead body of a guest, Judge Baker, in a car—with a needle in his arm.

Detective Hodgson and his new partner, Detective McJimsey, arrive on the scene, but before they can begin to question Evelyn, they are startled by another mysterious discovery: there’s a woman in the trunk of the car, and she screams as soon as she sees Evelyn’s face. Tangled up in the police investigation, Evelyn’s got another problem, too—her father insists she break off her relationship with Mac. The next day, her father is found attacked just like the judge, only this time the detectives find a dead woman nearby.

With Mac accused of the attacks and in police custody, Evelyn will have to find the killer on her own before she’s checked out of the hotel—this time, for good.

About S. K. Golden

S. K. Golden is the author of the Pinnacle Hotel cozy mystery series. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. Sarah graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now. Follow her across all platforms @skgoldenwrites.

Author Links: 

Website https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/  

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

Twitter (X) https://twitter.com/skgoldenwrites  

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

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22010011.S_K_Golden  

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

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