Archive for the ‘Cozy Mystery’ Category

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Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery)
by Peggy Ehrhart

 


Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
10th in Series 
Setting – Charming fictional town of Arborville, in northern New Jersey
Kensington Cozies (November 28, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496738861
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496738868
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZBM8P55

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Knit and Nibble member Pamela Paterson, and her best friend, Bettina, stumble on a body in a once grand Victorian house when they join a group welcoming new residents to Arborville—and must figure out if old secrets killed the new neighbor . . .

When Pamela, Bettina, and their friends show up at the Voorhees House to greet its new owner, they’re met with a most unwelcome sight: a dead body on the kitchen floor. Tassie Hunt just inherited the old Victorian, which had been occupied by a reclusive widow for many years and had a reputation for being haunted. But Tassie would have been unlikely to be spooked since her career involved debunking such paranormal phenomena.

Her demise sets off a new flurry of gossip and ghostly speculation in the New Jersey town, of course—and it’s tempting to think spirits were indeed involved considering there’s zero evidence so far of foul play. A nosy neighbor reports strange lights and sounds, and a man obsessed with the Victorian era starts photographing the place from the street. But it won’t take long before Pamela and Bettina are moving in on a killer . . .

Enjoy this peek inside:

Pamela led the way down the steps, down the narrow concrete path, and along the sidewalk, until they reached another concrete path. From this path, steps led up to another porch, smaller and with a plainer railing, onto which the back door opened.

Saying “I’ll try again,” Marlene hefted the gift basket and headed up the steps. As she pressed the doorbell, the rest of the group joined her on the porch one by one.

Marlene turned away after a few minutes and much enthusiastic pressing of the doorbell. “No answer,” she murmured. “And I was sure ANGWY was clear about the date and time.”

She shrugged, edged past the others, and started down the steps. Bettina, however, stepped closer to the door and tipped her head to peer at the doorframe. “I’m not sure it’s closed all the way,” she said and gave the door a tentative push.

The door swung open easily. After a shrug and a glance at the other women, Bettina raised a stylishly shod foot and stepped over the threshold.

“Tassie?” Her voice rang out with a cheerful lilt. “Hello? It’s the ANGWY committee.”

She disappeared inside, but a moment later she was back in the doorway. Her cheer had vanished, leaving her face a wan canvas that made her careful makeup appear garish.

Ignoring her heart’s sudden lurch, Pamela took a few quick steps and joined her friend in the doorway. Bettina backed up against the door, anchoring it in a fully open position, and Pamela slipped past her into the kitchen.

A woman lay sprawled on the ancient linoleum, a slender blonde woman wearing a light cotton robe printed with small flowers in shades of blue and lilac . . .

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About Peggy Ehrhart

Peggy Ehrhart is a former English professor with a doctorate in Medieval Literature. Her Maxx Maxwell mysteries, Sweet Man Is Gone(2008) and Got No Friend Anyhow (2011), were published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage and feature a blues-singer sleuth.

Peggy is currently writing the Knit & Nibble mysteries for Kensington Books. Her amateur sleuth, Pamela Paterson, is the founder and mainstay of the Arborville, New Jersey, knitting club, nicknamed Knit and Nibble. Knitmare on Beech Street is book #10 in the series. Peggy herself is an avid crafter, dating from her childhood as a member of the 4-H Club in rural Southern California.

Peggy is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She regularly attends mystery-writing conferences and participates in conference panels. She also gives talks on mystery fiction at libraries and other venues in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Author Links: Website / Yarn Mania Blog / Goodreads

Purchase Links – Amazon – Barnes & Noble     Bookshop.org      Kobo

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 28 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – Cozy, Suspenseful, and Sweet – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 29 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 30 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – Diane’s Book Journal – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 3 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 5 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Murder on Tour (Mystery Bookshop)
by V.M. Burns

 


Murder on Tour (Mystery Bookshop)
Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Setting – Michigan
Kensington Cozies (November 28, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496739485
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496739483
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZBPW627

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Bookstore owner and Michigander Samantha Washington is thrilled to see her debut historical mystery finally on the shelves, but a killer seems determined to steal away the spotlight . . .

While Sam wraps up her first whirlwind book tour, Nana Jo has kept Market Street Mysteries running smoothly. The last stop is a prestigious book festival in Sam’s hometown of North Harbor, Michigan. But not everyone thinks the guest of honor, bestselling author Judith Hunter, deserves stellar reviews. Sam witnesses nasty arguments between Judith and two different authors—who accuse her of plagiarism and sabotage . . .

When a publicist is poisoned during a cocktail reception, Sam wonders if the killer missed the intended target. It’s a twist that echoes the plot of Sam’s mystery, Murder at Wickfield Lodge. But fact can be stranger—and deadlier—than fiction. How much collateral damage is the killer willing to risk? With feisty Nana Jo and the girls from Shady Acres Retirement Village lending a hand, Sam tries to solve the case before the festival delivers another fatality . . .

About V.M. Burns

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is an Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Award Finalist. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series. Valerie is a member of Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, and Thriller Writers International. Valerie has a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern University, a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Fine Arts from Seton Hill University. In addition to writing, Valerie works as a manager at a call center, and is also a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwest Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia with her two poodles.

Author Links: Bookbub / Facebook / Goodreads / Instagram / Website

Purchase Links

Amazon   Apple     Books-A-Million     Barnes and Noble    Bookshop.org    Google Play    Hudson Booksellers    Target   KOBO   Walmart

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 28 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Island Confidential – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 30 – The Book Diva’s Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

November 30 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – My Reading Journeys – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW

December 4 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Nadaness In Motion – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Cry Wolf (An Alaska Untamed Mystery)
by Lark O. Jensen

 


Cry Wolf (An Alaska Untamed Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Alaska
Crooked Lane Books (November 7, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639104550
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639104550
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BQLHWGDL

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Perfect for fans of Paige Shelton, an Alaskan tour guide is bracing for winter when she realizes that the wolves aren’t the only predators on the prowl.

With boat tours off the coast of Alaska shut down for the winter, tour guide Stacie Calder is joining the dedicated team at the Juneau Wildlife World, a wild animal sanctuary. Along with Sasha, her husky companion, she’s prepared to spend the long season in the scenic park. But not everyone is so chipper about the newcomers—least of all, Stacie’s new manager, Oliver Brownling. He constantly gives Stacie a hard time, specifically because she brought Sasha along with her. That is, until his mauled body is found in a remote part of the sanctuary containing wolves.

When it becomes clear that a human was responsible for the brutal murder, all eyes are on Stacie. Encouraged by her friend, Officer Liam Amaruq of the Alaskan State Troopers, Stacie is resolved to find the murderer but knows that her investigation will be difficult with the long suspect list she’s made. Did the sanctuary director plot to get rid of Oliver? Or maybe it was one of Oliver’s coworkers, upset over a missed promotion? Stacie wonders about some of the newer employees, especially since Oliver’s personality made it easy to make enemies.

With the weather worsening, Stacie and Sasha are forced to stay at the sanctuary with the wolves—and her colleagues. As the storm gets worse, it’s clear that this killer has a taste for blood and may strike again. Will Stacie be able to find the murderer, or will the hunter become the hunted?

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MY REVIEW

I know this was tagged as a cozy mystery, but I felt it was more of a straight up mystery. Some situations didn’t feel as light as they would be in a cozy. That being said, I did enjoy the mystery. I liked the idea of Stacie. She’s a tour guide in Alaska. When the tours shut down for the winter, she opted to sign on with a wild animal sanctuary. She’d volunteered there before so she knew quite a bit about what was required. What she wasn’t expecting was landing on the suspect list when the manager she’d butted heads with was found dead. At first glance it looked like the native wolf population as culprits but quickly turned to a human killer.

I enjoy stories with amateur sleuths. Hence my love for cozies. This is where I struggled with the book. Stacie was so confrontational. Going around accusing people of the murder. Sure, she wanted her name cleared, but you’d think she’d realize that puts her in the killer’s path. Other than that, I had fun with my own list of suspects. As for who the killer was, I got it wrong. No worries though. I still had fun.

4 STARS

 

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About Lark O. Jensen

Lark O. Jensen is the pseudonym of Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer. Lark wrote Bear Witness, the first Alaska Untamed mystery for Crooked Lane Books, in 2022, and the second in the series, Cry Wolf, has just been published. Linda has also written the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series and the Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink and the Pet Rescue Mysteries and Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Linda additionally writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and her stories often involve dogs.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Writerspace

Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKobo – Crooked Lane Books

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 20 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 20 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

November 21 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

November 21 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 22 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 22 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

November 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 23 – THANKSGIVING U.S.

November 24 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Cozy, Suspenseful, and Sweet – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 26 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 27 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

November 28 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Butterfly Betrayal: A Seneca James Mystery
by Ruth J Hartman

 


Butterfly Betrayal: A Seneca James Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Rural Indiana
Level Best Books (November 21, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 Pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKJ16LXB

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Raising butterflies is peaceful and calm, until someone dies.

Majestic Monarch Butterfly Farm might flitter away forever. That is, unless Seneca James acquires the property next door. She and Winifred, her costume-wearing cat, have a fight on their hands. Their land sits next to a milkweed-covered field, essential for monarchs. If she’s unsuccessful in buying it, her precious, winged friends won’t survive. When people end up dead on her farmland, Seneca is suspected of murder.

What is it about the milkweed field that’s worth killing for? And who’s the murderer?

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Needing to get back to the caterpillars, I headed to the greenhouse. Winifred was already there. She’d done that several times lately. I’m not sure how she was getting inside since I always shut the door.

She greeted me with a shrill, scolding meow, like I’d stuck her in there and gone off and left her, even though I’d cuddled her only a little while earlier. Picking her up, I held her, so we were eye to eye. “Listen, kitty, I don’t know how you’re getting in here, but it needs to stop. It’s not that I’m trying to be mean, but it’s my job to protect you. Certain things in here are not for you to play with. Or sleep on. Or eat.”

My cat thrashed her tail back and forth like a broom, until it brushed against my hand. Did she think it would injure me? I wouldn’t tell her that her fluffy tail was as soft as feathers that tickled so bad, I nearly dropped her.

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About Ruth J. Hartman

Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats and her nights spinning mysterious tales. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people’s recliners. Not that the cats couldn’t get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else’s.

Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling writer uses her sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women who seem to find trouble without even trying.

Ruth’s husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her despite her insistence all of her books have at least one cat in them. See updates about her cozy mysteries at Ruthjhartman.com.

Author Links : Facebook / Facebook Page / BookBub / Website

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 21 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – My Reading Journeys – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 22 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 23 – THANKSGIVING U.S.

November 24 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

November 24 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

November 26 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW

November 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

November 27 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

November 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 29 –My Journey Back – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

November 30 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

 

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Spiked Punch (Maddie Sparks Mystery Series)
by Lesley A Diehl

 


Spiked Punch (Maddie Sparks Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Upstate New York
Camel Press (November 14, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 248 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1684921252
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1684921256
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C6NR8C3G

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On the other side of seventy, Maddie Sparks decides to spice up her life by changing her writing interests from cozy mysteries to romance. She also determines her appearance should reflect this transformation in her writing career. A sassy new haircut and more fashionable clothes complete the newer Maddie Sparks. Before she can begin this new chapter in her life, a stabbing death in the quiet country village she has made her home shocks the town’s residents.

When her son is accused of the murder, Maddie and the acting county sheriff come together to find the real killer. Their relationship soon blooms into more than one of shared determination to solve the murder. As they enjoy a hike in a nearby park, someone shoots the sheriff, barely missing Maddie. Another killer could be loose in the area, and the person may be closer to Maddie than she realizes. Maddie discovers parts of herself she didn’t know existed: real life romance with the sheriff, a talent for sleuthing and room in her life for a fuzzy, orange cat named “Spike.” This recent lease on life may be more exciting and more dangerous than Maddie expects.

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Interview with Author Leslie A. Diehl

Hello and Welcome back to the blog!

 

I am happy to have you here again and with a new book and series. Congratulations!

 

Before we get too far into the new book can you catch us up on how many series you have? I have lost count.

 

I’ve been busy since I retired to take up writing cozy mysteries. It has been a lot of fun, far better than my first career as a professor and college administrator, although I did love being in the classroom and working with college students.

 

My first series was only two books featuring a craft brewer; A Deadly Draught and Poisoned Pairings. I had a good time doing the research for the book, meeting brewers and sampling their product!

 

I followed this series with The Big Lake Murder mysteries set in rural Florida, the Laura Murphy murder mysteries based on my experiences as a college professor, and the Eve Appel mysteries which are set in rural Florida. I’ve moved my setting for the Maddie Sparks mysteries back to Upstate New York where I now live year round.

 

And, of course, I have numerous short stories published in various anthologies. To see all my work visit my website www.lesleyadiehl.com.

 

Now that we know what you’ve been up to lets chat about Maddie’s book.

 

From mystery writer to romance. Is there a little romance writer lurking in Lesley?

 

Well, the book is still a cozy mystery, but I have thrown in a bit of romance for my seventy plus protagonist. I have her fall for a younger man! He’s actually only a few years her junior (maybe  seven or so), but I like the idea that age is of no consequence for them. The romance seemed to emerge organically for Maddie as she begins writing outside her genre (because she’s a cozy mystery writer also), but she’s grown bored with the genre and wants something a little more….racy. As for me, I will continue to write cozy mysteries. I’ve always included romance in all my series.

 

Can you share a bit of the process of developing a new series?

 

I looked back on my work and realized half my characters were much younger than me, some were of retirement age, but aside from some characters in a series of short stories, none of my protagonists were close to my age. I thought it was time I brought a smart, active, snoopy older woman to the page. It was a natural to use my own perspective on life at this age to create the character. I paired Maddie with the retired county sheriff (the younger man) and included Maddie’s family as important characters in the story lines.

 

The first book is really a path to discovery for Maddie. She finds she’s still interested in love even after a disastrous marriage, that her mind is sharp and curious, making solving a murder her new mission in life, and she adopts a cat although she’s never had a pet before. Finding new aspects of herself is what we all hope for when we age, so I’m certain this series will bring joy to those who find a role model in Maddie and those younger folks who hope to continue growing and changing in their lives.

 

Did the idea come from any part of a previous series?

 

No.

 

Maddie sounds like a strong leading lady. Can you share with us and introduce us to her fellow cast?

 

Maddie has two sons from her marriage. The eldest, Geoffrey, and his wife Abigail own a real estate and property management company in Maddie’s village. They are rather traditional people. They work hard and are devoted to their daughter, Sara. Maddie’s other son, Richard, is a defense attorney in the area. He’s handsome, urbane and single. Sara, Maddie’s only grandchild, is a beautiful young woman, tall, slender, unlike our tiny Maddie in physical appearance, but much to her parents’ consternation, Sara has the same curious mind that her grandmother has and the same interest in taking down criminals. Maddie worries Sara’s curiosity might put her in danger.

 

Zack Montgomery, a former county sheriff, has come out of retirement to investigate a local murder. He and Maddie meet at the crime scene and, like her name, sparks of passion fly between the two.

 

One supporting character which I will develop more in the next books in the series is a woman (Jane) around the same age as Maddie. Soon a friendship develops between the two, another signal that new friends are possible even at Maddie’s age.

 

I am curious about the cover and a few questions.

 

I am guessing there might be a clue or two hidden. Am I right?

 

The cat on the cover is meant to be Spike, the cat Maddie finds and adopts. He is located center stage on the cover because he is at the heart of finding the murderer. It was my intention to include a cat in this series as I’ve not done that in my previous work. However, I wanted the cat to be a partner in solving the murder and Spike, as readers will see, is certainly key in solving the mystery.

 

Maddie’s house is located on the creek that runs through her village, and because much of the action occurs in her home, the cottage on the stream pictured on the cover is important.

 

I love the title too. Can you tell us about it? Home much input did you have? Did the title come first or after you were into writing the story?

 

With this publisher, Camel Press, I determine the title. I cannot tell you everything about the tile except to say it makes reference to the cat’s name (Spike). Beyond that, you have to read the book to understand.

 

Tell us about Spike.

 

Maddie found Spike, a fluffy orange fella, at the scene of the murder, hiding in a closet in the bedroom of the murdered man. One of the detectives at the scene wants to take Spike off to the local rescue group, but, perhaps because Maddie dislikes the detective’s attitude about cats (and Spike seems to agree with her), she takes Spike home with her intending to see if the cat belongs to anyone in the neighborhood or is the cat an orphan because Spike’s owner had been murdered. Little does Maddie know that she is now a pet parent. She has a lot to learn about cats and especially about Spike. To her surprise, the two of them grow increasingly close and along with the county sheriff,  they become a crime fighting trio.

 

One more question because I know you are busy and I think it is snack time.

 

What is your favorite snack?

 

Recently, I’ve found I love a chewy ginger cookie. I have one with my afternoon tea. Maddie loves tea also and, like me, she never finds time to bake anything to go with her afternoon cuppa, so she buys her cookies at the supermarket or the local bakery.

 

Opps I lied. Sorry.

 

What is your idea of a perfect date?

 

A good movie (is there any such thing anymore?) and movie popcorn. Yum! If not that, then a cuppa and a scone.

 

Would Maddie agree?

 

Maddie would prefer the tea. And a murder to solve with Spike and Zack.

 

 Thanks for inviting me to talk with you. I enjoyed it. We should get together for tea some afternoon.

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About Lesley A. Diehl

Cows, Lesley learned growing up on a farm, have a twisted sense of humor. They chased her when she went to the field to herd them in for milking, and one ate the lovely red mitten her grandmother knitted for her. Determining that agriculture wasn’t a good career choice, instead she uses her country roots and her training as a psychologist to concoct stories designed to make people laugh in the face of murder. “A good chuckle,” says Lesley,” keeps us emotionally well-oiled long into our old age.” She is the author of the Eve Appel mysteries from Camel Press as well as several cozy mystery series and numerous short stories. Go to her webpage to find out more: www.lesleyadiehl.com.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon
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Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKobo

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 15 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Cozy, Suspenseful, and Sweet – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 18 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 20 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 22 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 23 – THANKSGIVING U.S.

November 24 – Sapphyria’s Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

November 26 – fuonlyknew – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 27 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

November 28 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 29 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Crime and Parchment: A Rare Books Cozy Mystery
by Daphne Silver

 


Crime and Parchment: A Rare Books Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Fictional town of Rose Mallow, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay
Level Best Books (November 21, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 226 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKVBLPCY

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Rare books librarian Juniper Blume knows this much… an ancient Celtic manuscript shouldn’t be in a Maryland cemetery. But that’s exactly what her brother-in-law claims.

Last year, Juniper saw the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells in Ireland. She learned how their bejeweled covers were stolen centuries ago, never to be seen again. So how could they have ended up in Rose Mallow, a small Chesapeake Bay town? Being Jewish, the Book of Kells might not be her sacred text, but as a rare books librarian, the ancient book is still sacred to her, making it important to Juniper to find out the truth.

Rose Mallow is the same place where Juniper used to summer with her sister Azalea and their grandmother Zinnia, known as Nana Z. Ever since Nana Z passed away, Juniper’s avoided returning, but her curiosity is greater than her grief, so she heads down in her vintage convertible with her rescue dog Clover.

Juniper discovers that her sister Azalea has transformed their grandmother’s Queen Anne style mansion into the Wildflower Inn, backing up to the Chesapeake Bay. Although Juniper isn’t much of a cook, Azalea has kept their grandmother’s legacy alive, filling the house with the smells of East European Jewish treats, like sweet kugels and tzimmes cake. Will coming back here feel like returning home or fill Juniper with a deeper sorrow? Can she apologize to her sister for not being there when she was needed most?

Enjoy this peek inside:

My 1965, robin’s egg blue convertible backfired as I parked in front of the Wildflower Inn. The noise set off Clover barking in the backseat. Not exactly the quiet homecoming I’d hoped for. I jumped out of my Karmann-Ghia – or “KG” as I’d nicknamed her – to check under the hood, hoping I wouldn’t need to get the roadster serviced yet again. No idea where that money would come from.

A screaming, ranting madwoman poured out of a neighboring house. Maybe in her late seventies, she brandished a large umbrella. I dropped the hood to find the umbrella pointing at me. Clover – all twenty pounds of him – jumped out and started growling.

“Easy, boy,” I said.

“You shoot something off, Missy? Here to cause trouble? Because I’m on the board of the Friends of the Rose Mallow Police.” the woman said. She wore a perfectly fitted Mamie Eisenhower pink skirt suit with enormous pearls – straight out of the 1950s. Her white bouffant billowed around her head. She reminded me of a researcher I’d helped earlier that day at the Library of Congress. That woman had been a murder mystery author looking for books about early detectives. This woman looked like she wanted to murder someone – namely me.

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About Daphne Silver

Daphne Silver is the author of the Rare Books Cozy Mystery series. She’s worked more than twenty years in museums and has the great fortune of being married to a librarian. When she’s not writing, she’s drawing and painting. She lives in Maryland with her family. Although she’s not much of a baker, she won’t ever turn down a sweet lokshen kugel.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads

Purchase Link – Amazon 

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November 22 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

November 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 23 – Thanksgiving U.S.

November 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 24 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE

November 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 27 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 28 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 29 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Diane’s Book Journal – SPOTLIGHT

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Grounds for Murder (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory

 


Grounds for Murder (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Watchogue, Long Island, New York
Gemma Halliday Publishing (November 21, 2023)
Number of Pages 226
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CCLT922F

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From author Lena Gregory comes a tasty new mystery with a killer twist…

Danika Delaney is thrilled to have taken over her uncle Jimmie’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island and is working hard to make it her own. In an effort to increase business, Danika invites a mystery writer to the Coffee And Cream Café for a discussion and book signing. Things seem to be going well, until a guest shows up and confronts the author, accusing him of plagiarizing his work. Embarrassed by the incident, Danika goes to the inn where the writer is staying the following morning, hoping to apologize and offer him another chance to return. What she finds instead is his dead body—beside a cup of poisoned coffee! Now it’s up to Danika to find out who wanted to silence the author… before the killer decides to write Danika a not-so-happy ending!

About Lena Gregory 

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links: Newsletter / Website / Facebook / Facebook Page 

Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

Purchase Links
Amazon –   B&N  –  Kobo 

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November 21 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 22 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 23 – Thanksgiving U.S.

November 24 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

November 27 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

November 27 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

November 28 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT  

November 29 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW

November 30 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 30 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

December 1 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 2 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

December 3 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 4 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

 

 

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Christmas Lights and Cat Fights: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery
by Heather Weidner

 


Christmas Lights and Cat Fights: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Level Best Books (October 17, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 285 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CJQKWK3F
GoodReads Link Coming Soon

Christmas has come to Fern Valley, and the town’s decked out with enough glitter and sparkle for a month’s worth of celebrations, each more over-the-top than the previous one. The idyllic setting, filled with laughter, carols, and sweet treats, is shattered, along with some of the decorations, when the current wife and the ex-wife of a big-cat showman have a knock-down, drag-out fight in the center of town. Jules Keene, owner of the Fern Valley Glamping Resort, tries to keep peace among her guests and with the town council, but it turns into a catastrophe when Tabbi Morris, winds up dead in one of her ex-husband’s tiger cages.

And if the murder wasn’t enough, Jules discovers that some of the big cats are missing, but the owner and his family insists that nothing is wrong.

Curiosity gets the best of her, and she has to solve the murder and figure out if the owner of Cal’s Cats is pussy-footing around or whether it’s something more sinister before it ruins the holiday season and her business.

About Heather Weidner

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Christmas Lights and Cat Fights is the third in her cozy mystery series, the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries. She also writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series and the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries (2023).

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime and active in the Central Virginia, Chessie, Grand Canyon Writers, and Guppies Chapters, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Author Links: Website & Blog / Twitter – X / Facebook / Instagram

Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest / BookBub

Purchase Link – Amazon

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November 14 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 

November 14 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 15 – Lady Hawkeye – RECIPE

November 16 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

November 22 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 23 – THANKSGIVING U.S.

November 24 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

November 27 – My Journey Back – SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 29 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

 

 

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In Mint Condition: A Me Too Mystery
by M.L. Ortega

 


In Mint Condition: A Me Too Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting: Orange County California
Independently Published (June 3, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 146 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8396902985
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C6WDQCJG

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Single mom Maggie Chessman finds what might be a valuable Chinese porcelain bowl. When she takes it to be appraised at the local antique store, In Mint Condition, she finds a dead vendor. To her cop boyfriend’s dismay, this isn’t the first body she’s discovered, including a naked corpse in a model home and her dead sister-in-law at a local salon. But, unknown to him, this one is the corpse of a man who abused her as a child.

If the truth comes out, she might be the prime suspect in his murder. Her best friend and her therapist rally around her, discussing other suspects – the victim had a hand in a variety of crimes and sins.

As Maggie discovers, no adult is in mint condition, life takes its toll on everyone.

About M.L. Ortega

M.L. Ortega, a member of Sisters In Crime, is the author of The Conditions Series. Publisher Weekly said of the first book in the series, Turn Key Condition, “the entire production is . . an appealing mystery comedy.”

She lives in Southern California and enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and two cats.

Author Links: Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub

Purchase Link – Amazon 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 13 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 14 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 15 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Deacon of the Dead: A Second Chance Inn Cozy Mystery
by MJ O’Neill

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Deacon of the Dead: A Second Chance Inn Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Georgia
Sweet Devotions (October 10, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 274 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CK6LN21S

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Come Sit a Spell in Clinton, Georgia. Home to Southern Sass, Romance, Murder, and (Fake) Zombie Fun – a charming cozy mystery book series from award-winning author MJ O’Neill

Who Knew Fake Zombies Could Stir Up Such Real Trouble?
When Harmony Holt’s daddy lands in the hospital putting their family inn on the brink of foreclosure, she’s dragged back to her quirky hometown, Clinton, Georgia, with an unconventional rescue plan: zombies. Well, zombie tours to be precise. As autumn unveils its colors, she concocts a daring plan to intertwine the town’s newfound fame as film site for the hit TV show Walker, Zombie Ranger with it’s upcoming fall festival, all to save her family’s legacy—and ideally, while dodging any awkward encounters with her ex, Seth.

But when Deacon Miller, a vocal opponent of her undead tourism idea, is found murdered in the middle of her zombie-fueled grand opening, shot with her inn’s gun, no less, she’s in a heap of trouble on both fronts. Now, with her tour permit hanging by a thread, land snatchers are clamoring for a piece of her property, and the local businesses that banked on her venture are in the lurch. To top it off, she’s prime suspect in the Deacon’s murder. Her sole beacon of hope? Sheriff Seth Johnson, her ex.

Is it a Second Chance at Love or a Second Chance for Murder?
Dive into this fall treat by award-winning author MJ O’Neill, a unique blend of cozy mystery and romance, sprinkled with Southern sass and autumn charm. Can Harmony save her family legacy and find where her heart truly belongs, or are some secrets better kept whispered in regrets?

About MJ O’Neill

MJ O’Neill is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and literacy advocate.

Her love of mysteries started as a dyslexic child who relied on Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden to get through the dreaded book report. Now, she is a fierce advocate for literacy and stands firm against literary censorship.

Her professional writing adventure began when she owned a chocolate factory where writing mysteries was a safer bet than “murdering customers”. Currently, you might spot MJ rambling around the Pacific Northwest in her jeep, with her teenager and fierce Yorkie, on the hunt for bigfoot and her next captivating tale.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / BookBub / Instagram / Twitter

Purchase Link: Amazon

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November 13 – Lady Hawkeye – RECIPE

November 13 – Reading Authors Network – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

November 14 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 15 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 16 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – My Reading Journeys – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 18 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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