Elena Hartwell's Blog, page 26
March 2, 2024
Cozy Book Review: Murder in Masquerade
Cozy book review of Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters Mystery) by Mary Winters
Extra, extra, read all about it! Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury finds herself playing the role of sleuth when a night at the theatre turns deadly.
Victorian Countess Amelia Amesbury’s secret hobby, writing an advice column for a London penny paper, has gotten her into hot water before. After all, Amelia will do whatever it takes to help a reader in need. But now, handsome marquis Simon Bainbridge desperately requires her assistance. His beloved younger sister, Marielle, has written Amelia’s Lady Agony column seeking advice on her plans to elope with a man her family does not approve of. Determined to save his sister from a scoundrel and the family from scandal, Simon asks Amelia to dissuade Marielle from the ill-advised gambit.
But when the scoundrel makes an untimely exit after a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Amelia realizes there’s much more at stake than saving a young woman’s reputation from ruin. It’s going to take more than her letter-writing skills to help the dashing marquis, mend the familial bond, and find the murderer. Luckily, solving problems is her specialty!
Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – London, 1860
Publisher : Berkley (February 20, 2024)
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593548787
ISBN-13 : 978-0593548783
Kindle ASIN : B0C5V8FY7P
To purchase Murder in Masquerade, click any of the following links: Amazon – B&N – BAM – Bookshop.org – Powell’s Books – Hudson BooksellersCozy Book Review: My Thoughts on Murder in MasqueradeA fast-paced and captivating historical mystery that should be on every cozy reader’s list. Five-Stars!
“Dear Lady Agony, I’m very much in love with a man my father will never consent to.”
And with those words, she’s off! Lady Agony, better known as Countess Amelia Amesbury is once again embroiled in murder and intrigue.
Widowed after the briefest of marriages, Amelia finds herself embroiled in London’s high society. Unused to the behavior of the ton, Amelia walks a fine line between using her newfound freedom as a wealthy woman in the Victorian era, and losing her status through her often scandalous actions, regardless of her late husband’s impeccable ancestors.
Hiding one of her many talents from prying eyes, she anonymously pens a Lady Agony column for a penny paper. In her 1860’s version of Dear Abby, Amelia dispenses advice to women of various stations. Using her upbringing as the daughter of an innkeeper and her current status as part of the elite, she blends common sense with her own style of decorum, guaranteed to help women whether they reside upstairs or down.
Her latest query comes from the sister of her dearest friend Simon Bainbridge. Lord Simon Bainbridge that is—a handsome, worldly ex-member of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy, who served with Amelia’s late husband and is now her truest confident. Or is there something more simmering underneath the surface of that, “broad forehead, slim nose, chiseled jawline” and eyes of emerald green?
Caught up in her growing feelings for Simon, Amelia is equally distraught at Simon’s fears for his sister Marielle’s well being because of her infatuation with a man well below her status. A man Simon contends is a scoundrel intent on Marielle’s fortune.
Not long after Simon and Amelia launch a plan to stop Marielle from ruining her life, they stumble over the very man himself, dead in an alley with a knife in his chest.
Marielle might now be safe from the rogue, but Simon is under police scrutiny with his very good reason for wanting the man dead. Even worse, his sister is furious at his interference, and half convinced that her brother really did kill the man she loved.
Determined to solve the mystery and repair the relationship between Simon and his sister, Amelia recruits characters from book one to assist her, characters that readers will love to see again.
On that note, while readers may want to start with Murder in Postscript, Murder in Masquerade can be read as a standalone. Readers be warned, however, you are guaranteed to fall in love with Amelia and her co-horts in Murder in Masquerade, so you will be scrambling to read book one in order to get back into the smart, witty, and engaging world that Mary Winters creates.
With a deep understanding of the complex society of Victorian England, Winters builds a web of engaging characters, delicious historical details, and just enough romance to satisfy any palate.
A fast-paced and captivating historical mystery that should be on every cozy reader’s list. Five stars!
Mary Winters, Author of Murder in Masquerade
© Julie Prairie Photography 2016Mary Winters is the author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series.
She also writes cozy mysteries under the name Mary Angela. A longtime reader and fan of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London.
Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery—and another trip!
Find out more about Mary by clicking any of the following links: Website, Blog, Facebook, Instagram & GoodreadsTo read our interview for Murder in Masquerade, click the following link: Author InterviewVisit all the Stops on the Tour!February 20 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
February 21 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
February 21 – Jane Reads – REVIEW
February 22 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
February 22 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
February 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
February 23 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 24 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
February 24 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
February 25 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLGHT
February 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 26 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
February 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 28 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
February 28 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
February 29 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 1 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
March 2 – The Mystery of Writing – REVIEW
March 2 – Review Thick And Thin – REVIEW
March 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
March 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
March 4 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
March 4 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
The post Cozy Book Review: Murder in Masquerade appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.
February 28, 2024
One Wrong Move: Romantic Suspense
One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey
Author Interview + Book and Author Info + a Giveaway!Don’t miss any author interviews! Click the link here.One Wrong Move
Taunting riddles.
A deadly string of heists.
Two broken hearts trapped in a killer’s game.
Christian O’Brady was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country’s foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists targets one of the galleries Christian secured, he is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.
Andi Forester was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until her career was destroyed. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator’s game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.
To purchase One Wrong Move click on any of the following links: Baker Publishing Group, Amazon, Barnes & Noble & KoboInterview with Dani Pettrey, author of One Wrong Move One Wrong Move is the first book in your new JEOPARDY FALLS series. Can you share with us what this book—and series—is about?One Wrong Move is about two people with pasts they are ashamed of. Both are trying to make it right, but the road they’re taking only leads down a dangerous path of lies, riddles, and murder.
Only when they come face-to-face with their pasts are they finally able to move beyond the hurt and heartache and find healing in God and one another.
The last time you had a new series starting was back in 2019. How do you feel about entering a new era of your storytelling with the JEOPARDY FALLS series?Wow! It’s crazy to think it’s been that long. I’m ecstatic to be launching my fifth series with Bethany House.
It often seems like I was just meeting my editor and starting my debut series the ALASKAN COURAGE saga. At other times, I think of all that has happened in the last decade—all the amazing booksellers, librarians, and readers I’ve met and been blessed by and the stories I’ve told. Now, launching JEOPARDY FALLS, I’m full of excitement and gratitude.
I can’t wait for my amazingly supportive readers to get a new journey to set out on with the MacLeod family.
How many stories can readers expect in this series?There will four books in the series. One for each of the four MacLeod siblings, if the lost one decides to return home. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see 
I think the biggest difference is the setting. I’ve always written coastal series. I’m a beach girl and love the ocean, so I’ve always set my series by water, but this time I’ve gone a completely different direction into the desert.
JEOPARDY FALLS is set in a fictional town in New Mexico. Why New Mexico? Because I lived there for seven wonderful years and fell in love with the Land of Enchantment, and I wanted the opportunity to share such a breathtaking place with my readers.
At the same time, what will longtime readers who enjoy your work love about these books as well?The stories are still full of romance, suspense, adventure, those twists and turns that I love weaving in, and, of course, faith. My characters, particularly Andi and Christian in One Wrong Move, are real and raw and hurting. It’s through their journey together and the unplanned paths God leads them down that they find what they’ve been looking for all along.
Each book in the series follows one of the MacLeod siblings as they strive to overcome a family legacy of crime. Without spoilers, can you give us a little background on the family and their history?The siblings were raised in Las Vegas by illusionist parents, but beneath the glitz and the charm, their parents were con men, and they forced their children to participate in many of the schemes. They just kept pushing until one day they conned the wrong guy and had to go on the lam.
Being raised in cruddy motel rooms, always on the move, always committing whatever crimes they could find to keep them going, the siblings—now grown—have to live with the trauma they endured as kids. Their mother incarcerated and their dad killed in a car bombing, the four siblings struggle to find their footing. It takes time and some big mistakes of their own before they find level footing in Christ.
Now, they’ve turned their lives around and have devoted themselves as private investigators to bring those pulling cons, schemes, and heists to justice. To work off some of their “red.” It’ll take some rough roads with Jesus to see and accept that they are already forgiven and can let go of that need to prove ourselves worthy.
This book takes place in the fictional town of Jeopardy Falls. What do you look forward to readers experiencing about this new locale?A brand-new experience for those who have never experienced the Southwest. There will be beautiful sunrises over the mountains, purple- and orange-hue sunsets, horses, open land and skies, and a close-knit ranching community of wonderful and often quirky neighbors.
Throughout your career, you’ve highlighted a variety of law enforcement and investigative professions in your books. What kind of research was required to write Christian and Andi’s characters accurately?I spent a lot of time researching what private investigators do, the resources available to them, and the boundaries they can’t cross. It was fascinating and a little crazy to see all they, and anyone who’s good at research, can pull up on an individual. I also read a lot on real-life heists and the insurance agents who investigated them.
What kind of reader do you envision will fall in love with Christian and Andi’s story—as well as the rest of the series?I think readers who enjoy sweet romance, fast-paced suspense, and the fun of trying to figure out whodunit and how on earth the hero and heroine are going to survive.
Greyson Chadwick. He’s surprisingly not one of the siblings, but he works with them. He’s a man of mysteries I still haven’t fully figured out, so I’m really excited to dive in to his story thread.
One of the main themes in One Wrong Move that both Andi and Christian must deal with is facing the past to find healing. How do you think confronting old and often painful memories or choices that we’ve made can help us move forward?I think there’s a place where we should confront past memories and past mistakes, but the key isn’t wallowing there. I come from a trauma background, so I’m not making light of the pain of anyone’s past, but rather speaking of a lesson I learned in my own life.
I had a lot to deal with and walk through, but at some point, I realized I needed to stop treading water and to swim for the shore. I feel like that’s Christian, and once he realizes he’s free to swim to shore, he will. Andi is in a different place with her past, one that keeps her in a killer’s crosshairs. How she deals with it is very different, which made the story really interesting for me to write. Seeing how God has different paths of healing for each of His children.
What do you hope readers experience when picking up One Wrong Move ?I hope they feel like they’re part of Jeopardy Falls, riding in the car with Christian and Andi, seeing everything firsthand and experiencing the story as if they were there. I’ve called my stories “Armchair Adventures” since my debut novel, but it’s how I hope my readers enjoy my stories. Going along on the journey, the ups and downs, and Tilt-A-Whirl moments right from the comfort of their favorite chair with a yummy drink in hand.
Dani Pettrey — Author of One Wrong Move
Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.
Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).
She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.
To find out more about Dani, follow her on her website, Instagram, Goodreads, Twitter/X, Facebook.Visit all the Stops on the Tour!
02/05 Review @ dianas_books_cars_coffee
02/05 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
02/05 Showcase @ Silvers Reviews
02/06 Review @ Inkwell Inspirations
02/06 Showcase @ BOOK REVIEWS by LINDA MOORE
02/07 Review @ Country Mamas With Kids
02/08 Review @ Novels Alive
02/09 Review @ The AR Critique
02/09 Showcase @ Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense
02/10 Showcase @ The Book Divas Reads
02/12 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
02/13 Review @ fundinmental
02/13 Review @ Melmo2610
02/14 Review @ elaine_sapp65
02/14 Showcase @ 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS
02/15 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
02/16 Review @ Lynchburg Reads
02/17 Review @ Splashes of Joy
02/18 Review @ Paws. Read. Repeat
02/18 Review @ The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
02/19 Review @ Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews
02/20 Review @ Nesies Place
02/22 Review @ Cassidys Bookshelves
02/23 Review @ melissas_bookshelf
02/24 Showcase @ Reading is my Superpower
02/25 Review @ Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting
02/27 Review @ A Room without Books is Empty
02/28 Interview @ The Mystery of Writing
020/21 Review @ Catreader18
03/01 Review @ Melissa As Blog
The post One Wrong Move: Romantic Suspense appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.
February 27, 2024
Leave No Trace: A Thriller by A.J. Landau
Leave No Trace: A National Park Thriller by A.J. Landau, pen name for authors Jeff Ayers and Jon Land
Author Interview + Book and Author Info + Pet Corner!Don’t miss any author interviews! Click the link here.Leave No Trace
In a daring, brutal act of terrorism, an explosion rocks and topples the Statue of Liberty. Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service is awakened by his boss with that news and sent to New York as the agent-in-charge.
Not long after he lands, he learns two things – one that Gina Delgado of the FBI has been placed in charge of the investigation as the lead of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and two, that threats of a second terrorism attack are already being called into the media.
While barred from the meetings of the Joint Task Force for his lack of security clearance, Walker finds a young boy among the survivors with a critical piece of information – a video linking the attackers to the assault.
As a radical domestic terrorist group, led by a shadowy figure known only as Jeremiah, threatens further attacks against America’s cultural symbols, powerful forces within the government are misleading the investigation to further their own radical agenda.
To purchase Leave No Trace, click on any of the following links: Amazon, MacMillan, Barnes & Noble,Interview with Jeff Ayers, co-author of Leave No TraceHi Jeff,
Great to have you join me on my blog for the launch of Leave No Trace: A National Parks Thriller, which you have co-written with Jon Land.
Leave No Trace brings together terrorism, New York City, and the National Park Service, that’s a heady combination, how did you and co-author Jon Land arrive at the scenario for the first in this series?I had an idea that involved a conspiracy to the entire National Park Service.
Mysteries set in National Parks always involve one park, and having a story involving multiple locations was a book I wanted to read. I wrote a complete outline and tried several times to get the story to work, but it lacked what I call oomph. The story needed that extra to make it worthwhile. I was talking to Jon Land for advice, and his advice made me see what the story was missing.
As we talked about it more, we ended up writing it together.
I’m a massive fan of the National Parks, and I admire everyone who works to keep the history, landscapes, and monuments the same, whether you visit today or 100 years from now.
Leave No Trace introduces Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service. What would you like readers to know about him?
Michael works for the Investigative Service Branch of the National Park Service, the park version of the FBI.
He is a man who is still haunted by an incident on Mount Rainier National Park when he was a Law Enforcement Ranger, and a prosthetic foot is a reminder. He literally has to wear his grief every single day.
What was the writing process like for Leave No Trace? Any surprises working together?
Jon and I would meet over Zoom to discuss the details for the first 50 pages. He would type it up, and then I would edit and add the details from my research and contacts.
We would do a couple more passes together and then keep going.
You do a lot of work with the International Thriller Writers, tell us about that organization and your role with them:
I have been attending and volunteering at every ThrillerFest since they have been in New York. I’m now a co-executive director for ThrillerFest, so I work with the various committees and the ITW board on organizing all the details to make the conference a terrific event for everyone.
ITW and ThrillerFest have changed my life and career, and I’m blessed to be part of such a fantastic group.
What can we find you doing when you aren’t reading and writing thrillers?
I walk with my wife, spend time with my family, and visit National Park sites.
What are you working on now?
Jon and I are working on COLD BURN, the next adventure featuring Michael Walker and Gina Delgado.
I’m also under contract for a nonfiction companion book for Grand Central Publishing. I write book reviews for Criminal Element, First Clue, and Library Journal, so I’m always reading!
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Publishing is “Hurry up and wait.” Be patient, kind, and open to alternate avenues. Pursuing your dream might take different forms and methods.
Great advice!Author Pet CornerWe are huge dog fans in our household but don’t own one.
Our next-door neighbors have two sweet doggies, and the gate between our houses helps them visit.
Jeff Ayers
A. J. LANDAU is the pseudonym for two authors, Jon Land, the award-winning, bestselling author and co-author of more than fifty books, and Jeff Ayers, reviewer, former-librarian, and author. Land lives in Providence, Rhode Island, and Jeff Ayers lives in Seattle, Washington.
Jon Land is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty books, over ten of which feature Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong. The critically acclaimed series has won more than a dozen awards, including the 2019 International Book Award for Best Thriller for Strong as Steel.
He is also the author of Chasing the Dragon, a detailed account of the War on Drugs written with one of the most celebrated DEA agents of all time. A graduate of Brown University, Land lives in Providence, Rhode Island and received the 2019 Rhode Island Authors Legacy Award for his lifetime of literary achievements.
To learn more about Jeff, click the following links: Criminal Element , Podcast and FacebookTo learn more about Jon, click the following links: Facebook & Twitter/XElena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
The post Leave No Trace: A Thriller by A.J. Landau appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.
February 26, 2024
Dead Girl: Debut YA Fantasy/Thriller
Dead Girl the debut YA fantasy/thriller by Kerrie Faye
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any debut author interviews, click the link here for more.Dead Girl
Dying has its perks … mostly. Bullied teen, Ember O’Neill goes from the weird girl to the tyrant of her school when she is resurrected from a deadly prank.
Now secretly supernatural, she dethrones the school drama queen and snags the hot new guy, but her reign is at risk when the Order, a heretical sect, sends an assassin to eliminate her.
Ember must expose her powers, potentially losing all she has gained, in order to save herself and her friends as her killer closes in.
To purchase Dead Girl click any of the following links: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Interview with Author Kerrie Faye for her debut novel, Dead GirlHi Kerrie,Great to have you join me on my blog for the launch of your debut novel, Dead Girl ! Dead Girl is a YA fantasy/thriller novel, but it deals with very real-world bullying. What drew you to those elements for your debut?
Sadly bullying is a timeless issue, but I didn’t set out to write a book about it.
My main character, Ember, came to me first. She was clearly distraught and didn’t want to live. I had to dig deep to determine what made her that way. Turns out there were several issues at play, but her primary tormenter, Wayne, was her biggest concern.
At its core, Dead Girl is really an underdog story where an outcast navigates self-discovery and acceptance while balancing the pressures of high school and outside forces. Ember realizes that what makes her different is also what makes her special.
Dealing with a bully is not an easy journey, but I think, in the end, there is a satisfying resolution.
Dead Girl hinges on a prank turned wrong and teens acting badly, combined with the supernatural aspects this definitely conjures thoughts for me about Stephen King and Carrie. What writers are your inspirations? What can we find you reading?
Wow, I keep hearing that! I have not read King’s Carrie, but he is definitely an idol of mine. I LOVE The Stand! I had always assumed Carrie leaned towards the horror genre which I tend to avoid, but now I think I have to read it!
Actually, my author/book inspirations for Dead Girl are more in the realm of young adult fantasy. Cassandra Clare is an icon, and I drew a lot of inspiration from her Mortal Instruments series. Just like in her story, my main character discovers that she is more than human. She is Nephilim. And similarly, she has a male best friend that stays by her side and helps her navigate that supernatural journey while being hunted by an outside force.
I have always been an avid reader! I definitely lean more towards what I write, which is primarily young adult fantasy.
I am rereading Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series right now, not only for pleasure, but also for technique and growing my craft as an author. I feel like my TBR list is ginormous and is always growing! However, I will say one book that I am looking forward to reading in 2024 is Jay Kristoff’s second book in his Empire of the Vampire series. Kristoff writes with such voice and layered characters that is truly an immersive experience to read his work. I love his writing so much!
Dead Girl includes a heretical sect called The Order. Tell us about that group:
Yes! This is a fun question!
Without giving too much away, the Order is completely made up; but I took from real world institutions and let my imagination run wild!
If you are into conspiracy theories, you might have heard of the Illuminati. I sort of played with that idea of the rich and powerful secretly running things behind the scenes. The Order, in this story, is a subsect of the made-up Order of Saint Michael, who are privately funded to eliminate perceived “evils” in this world.
I would say they are similar to the Opus Dei in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. They are heretical and fully believe they are doing God’s work. Unfortunately for Ember, she lands on their radar when she survives a deadly prank and makes headlines as the “Dead Girl Who Lived.”
Dead Girl is set in Western Kentucky. How does that environment/setting impact the novel?
First of all, I love where I grew up, and I couldn’t imagine setting Ember’s origin story anywhere else.
Beyond my bias, it fit my main character’s backstory. Her “father” chose a rural area to raise her and keep her hidden. And let’s face it, small towns may be less splashy, but they are full of local drama—perfect for this book!
We are both Gen Xers. How do you think our generation differs in our approach to storytelling than Boomers and Gen Y?
Gen Xers are uniquely positioned witnessing the birth and rise of technology and mainstream media in society.
We see the beauty in the slow rising action of classic literature, but we also get the need to hook the reader and drop the body in the opening scene. I think if Gen X authors lean into it, they can produce truly compelling stories that appeal to a broad audience beyond their peers.
What are you working on now?
Dead Girl is the first book in a planned series. I am revising book two, and hopefully, it will be published next year.
I am also expanding my horizons and writing a young adult romantic fantasy. I jokingly call it Gladiator meets Bridgerton with magic! I like drama! I like fantasy! And, apparently, I like it with fights and ballgowns!
Additionally, I have a couple other projects on the back burner … a heroic young adult fantasy where a common thief with secret powers saves the kingdom and a young adult paranormal romance with enemies to lovers, dark academia vibes, vampires, and dead bodies. *insert crying face emoji*
I wish I had more hours in the day to play in all of these worlds! I love writing so much!
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Write a lot and read even more! Push yourself to try new things. Explore in different genres. Play and have fun with it!
And when it comes time to edit, read your scenes out loud. I can’t tell you how many times I have found errors, missing words, etc after doing this.
Most importantly, don’t quit. You can take a break. But if you love writing, don’t quit because you didn’t land a literary agent or a publishing deal. Don’t quit because a beta reader didn’t like your story. The publishing industry is fickle and subjective. Your story will find its audience. Be patient and keep at it!
Great advice!
Author Pet Corner!
Maggie!Love this! I do indeed have a pet co-writer!
Maggie is a five year old Saint Bernard. She usually lies beside me while I write.
There is a window she likes to look out of and ponder her plots. Though she does spend more time sleeping, than writing, she is the best co-writer this author could have!
Adorable!
Kerrie Faye — Author of Dead Girl
Kerrie Faye is a Gen X wife and mom who found her passion to write later in life.
A graduate of Murray State University, she has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Raised in Western Kentucky, where her debut novel, DEAD GIRL, takes place, the author currently resides near the Rocky Mountain Flatirons in Colorado where there is far less humidity, but not nearly enough BBQ.
Her debut novel, DEAD GIRL, will be published on February 26, 2024 by The Wild Rose Press.
To learn more about Kerrie, click any of the following links: Website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter & YouTubeElena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
Header image by Pixabay
The post Dead Girl: Debut YA Fantasy/Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.
February 22, 2024
Ill-Fated Fortune, A Cozy Mystery
Ill-Fated Fortune, A Magic Fortune Cookie Mystery by Jennifer J Chow
Book & Author Info + A Giveaway!Don’t miss any blog tours, click the link here for more!Ill-Fated Fortune
Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies.
They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.
Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Minotaur Books (February 20, 2024)
Mass Market Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1250323037
ISBN-13 : 978-1250323033
Digital ASIN : B0C1X7YG71
Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage.
She is an Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-nominated author.
Her newest series is the Magical Fortune Cookie mysteries; the first book is Ill-Fated Fortune.
Jennifer’s previous series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. Death by Bubble Tea was reviewed by the New York Times, featured in Woman’s World, and hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List.
Jennifer currently serves as Immediate Past President on the board of Sisters in Crime and blogs at chicksonthecase.com.
She is an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America. Connect with her online and sign up for her newsletter at JenniferJChow.com.
Follow Jennifer at the following sites: Website, Instagram, Facebook, BookBub.a Rafflecopter giveawayVisit all the Stops on the Tour!
February 16 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST
February 16 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 16 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
February 17 – The Book Diva’s Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
February 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
February 19 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
February 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
February 19 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 20 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
February 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
February 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 21 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 22 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
February 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – RECIPE
February 23 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW
February 23 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
February 23 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
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February 21, 2024
Murder in Masquerade by Mary Winters
Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters Mystery) by Mary Winters
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any author interviews, click the link here for more.Murder in MasqueradeExtra, extra, read all about it! Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury finds herself playing the role of sleuth when a night at the theatre turns deadly.
Victorian Countess Amelia Amesbury’s secret hobby, writing an advice column for a London penny paper, has gotten her into hot water before. After all, Amelia will do whatever it takes to help a reader in need. But now, handsome marquis Simon Bainbridge desperately requires her assistance. His beloved younger sister, Marielle, has written Amelia’s Lady Agony column seeking advice on her plans to elope with a man her family does not approve of. Determined to save his sister from a scoundrel and the family from scandal, Simon asks Amelia to dissuade Marielle from the ill-advised gambit.
But when the scoundrel makes an untimely exit after a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Amelia realizes there’s much more at stake than saving a young woman’s reputation from ruin. It’s going to take more than her letter-writing skills to help the dashing marquis, mend the familial bond, and find the murderer. Luckily, solving problems is her specialty!
To purchase Murder in Masquerade, click any of the following links: Amazon, Penguin Random House, Target & Barnes and NobleInterview with Mary Winters, author of Murder in MasqueradeHi Mary, great to have you back for another interview. I’m thrilled to introduce readers to your latest release, Murder in Masquerade , out today with Berkley.Thank you for having me on your blog, Elena, and congratulations on your upcoming release, A Cold, Cold World. I’m so excited to read it! (Thank you!!)
Murder in Masquerade follows the antics of Countess Amelia Amesbury. Amelia has a secret writing hobby, tell us about that and how it leads her to investigating murders:Amelia is the author of the popular agony (or advice) column Lady Agony.
Correspondents write in with their questions or problems, and she responds in the weekly penny paper under the pen name Lady Agony.
In book one, Murder in Postscript, a reader writes in about witnessing a murder, which leads to her investigation. In book two, Murder in Masquerade, Simon Bainbridge’s sister, Lady Marielle, writes to Lady Agony about eloping with a suitor, and she and Simon must stop her.
Murder in Masquerade also features the sexy Marquis Simon Bainbridge. What should my dear readers know about him?
He is a hunk, but he can also be aloof and distant at times.
He was good friends with Amelia’s deceased husband, Edgar, so he attempts to keep their relationship platonic. However, their attraction to each other is hard to deny, and the more time they spend together, the more difficult they find it to be just friends.
Murder in Masquerade is set in the Victorian era in England. How did you go about researching the era and the location?
I continue to read books about the Victorian era as well as agony columns.
I have a subscription to historical British newspapers that is indispensable. Reading agony columns helps with not only research but also inspiration! Each chapter begins with a letter to Lady Agony, so I love perusing columns for ideas.
The first book in the series, Murder in Postscript, was nominated for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award through the Mystery Writers of America. Tell us what that nomination means to you:
I am so honored to be nominated for this award!
The nominees in my category are incredibly talented, and it’s a joy to share the nomination with them. I love contributing to the mystery community, and the nomination makes my work feel valuable.
What can we find you doing when you aren’t killing people on the page?
I love reading, doing puzzles, traveling, and attending my daughters’ sporting events. I also love to bake—as you do!—especially this time of year. (So much baking!)
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the third book in the series, Murder in Season.
Final words of wisdom for aspiring writers:
Read outside your genre. It will help you better understand your craft.
Author Pet Corner!
Brownie (My concerned caretaker of all)
Bosco (My distinguished gentleman)
Mary’s adorable writing, reading, and riding companions!
Mary Winters — Author of Murder in Masquerade
© Julie Prairie Photography 2016Although I have degrees in Literature and Creative Writing, my love affair with Victorian fiction didn’t start in the classroom but with a monthly book club. I was a young eighteen years old, working a job I didn’t particularly enjoy, when I made the fortuitous decision to join a subscription service. From the moment I received my first chunky paperbacks and pink wine glass, I was hooked. I loved coming home and delving into my historical romances. They were the gateway to other historical fiction, including mysteries, like the Amelia Peabody series.
When I enrolled in college, I had already written my first novel, not surprisingly a historical romance. My professors frowned upon the genre, but I saw the heroines as nonconformists, constantly challenging the conventions of the time. Their fortitude inspired my own writing a great deal.
By the time I entered graduate school, I put away my romance novel and wrote a literary novel for my thesis. Then, when I graduated, I put away my literary novel and started a mystery series with an amateur sleuth professor (see my cozy series at MaryAngelaBooks.com).
But always my love for Victorian literature remained, and in 2019, when my family and I took a trip to England, it was reignited. Seeing Regent’s Park, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Square—all those places I had first read about so many years ago—I knew I wanted to write another book, a mystery, set in the time period. That book became Murder in Postscript. I’m thrilled to see this first dream come true.
To learn more about Mary, click on any of the following links: Website, Facebook & InstagramElena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
Header image from Pixabay
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February 20, 2024
Kill Call: YA Thriller by Jeff Wooten
Kill Call, the debut novel by Jeff Wooten
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any debut author interviews, click the link here for more.Kill Call
Dreams do come true. It’s Jude’s job to make sure they don’t.
Born with the curse of prophetic nightmares, Jude sees violent murders through the eyes of the killer before they happen. His father, who shares Jude’s dark gift, has trained Jude since birth to save the innocent and to kill the killer. A life for a life—it’s the only way.
But everything goes awry when Hanna Smith, the young woman he was supposed to save, rescues herself instead, and catches Jude in her home. Fate isn’t inescapable, but it demands balance.
While Hanna may be safe for now, Jude knows that the killer will strike again, only next time there will be no warning. Jude must now find the killer on his own, without the visions to aid him, in order to carry out the task he’s been training for before it’s too late.
To purchase Kill Call click any of the following links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Cam Cat BooksInterview with Jeff Wooten — Debut Author of the YA Mystery Kill CallHi Jeff,I’m so pleased to have you join me on my blog, congratulations again on your debut! Kill Call centers on Jude, who is born with a terrible curse. Describe that curse for readers. What are his visions like as he experiences them?
Jude sees murders through the eyes of the killer before the crime is committed in prophetic dreams.
His job is to save the person being murdered by killing the killer. The Dream only gives him what he needs to stop the act so the killer’s body he inhabits is an unrecognizable haze writing and other identifiers are often distorted … unless he needs to see them.
Kill Call is a Young Adult Thriller. How old is Jude? What made you choose young adult for your thriller?He’s a seventeen-year-old high school football star.
I chose YA for a bunch of reasons. First, I have three young adult children, and I wanted to write something for them. I also think that the late teenage years are an interesting time to explore. We are finding out who we are and who we will become.
Kill Call is very much a coming-of-age story and asks the question: Who do I want to be?
Another important character in Kill Call is Hanna Smith, tell us about her:She’s the object of the killer’s attention, who Jude soon learns is more than capable of saving herself.
She challenges Jude’s beliefs, and the things his father taught him, by first planting the idea that Jude could choose to do things differently and not just blindly follow orders. She’s goes through her own arch in the book, but I don’t want to spoil too much. Let’s just say, Jude isn’t the only hero type in this book.
Part of your writing journey included Pitch Wars. Tell us what that is and how that impacted your career:Pitch Wars is now a closed mentorship program that took place mostly on Twitter that was started by writer Brenda Drake. You submitted to mentors that had more experience than you, most having book deals, etc, and then you worked on the book together. At the end, there was an agent round where agents from all over read a sample and made requests.
There needs to be a documentary about Pitch Wars someday. There are multiple bestselling authors that got their start in Pitch Wars, and a ton of talented people involved on both the mentor and mentee side.
For me, it was the connections I made. I know so many amazing writers because of Pitch Wars. My book did not get an agent in Pitch Wars. In fact, I still do not have an agent.
You are also a physical therapist, what is a typical day at the office like for you?Forty hours a week of seeing people with all kinds of issues, everything from dizziness to rotator cuff repairs to back and neck pain.
I enjoy my job, especially engaging with my co-workers and patients. It can be difficult working with people that have just had a stroke or an amputation or are going through a bad episode of back pain.
The other therapist and I keep the mood light, and despite all the physical injury and pain, I think most patients enjoy their time with us. We certainly get a lot of positive feedback, and I have a long list of friends I’ve made over the years that are former patients.
What are you working on now?The sequel to Kill Call. Jude is in college and still Dreaming.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:Find your people. Offer to beta read for others. Reach out. Join a writing group. Find people at your level, work together, and level up together.
Also, I don’t think I can stress this enough: Sit your butt down and write! Don’t wait for the writing fairy to alight on your shoulder and whisper sweet inspirations in your ear. Write. Finish something. It’s okay to stop, to quit a project, and start another one, but finish something at some point.
Push through to the end. Then revise. Rinse. Repeat.
Great advice!Author Pet Corner!
Bo!Bo Wooten, certainly not Beau Wooten as my wife and the Vet insist, is one of three males residing in the Wooten household, bringing the boys to even standing with the girls. Bo’s mother was a Morkie (Yorkie and Maltese mix) and his dad was a teacup Yorkie, making Bo, like me, a mutt of the highest caliber.
Bo enjoys long walks in the park, or beach, or anywhere mailboxes reside, so he might mark them as his own. He enjoys pizza, especially the crust, which makes us believe he may be of the Italian line of Morkie -York-Yorkies, and he enjoys sleeping under the covers right next to my wife so that he might bare his teeth at any who dare disturb his person’s sleep.
Bo has read Kill Call five times and is always surprised by the twist at the end.
Adorable Bo!
Jeff Wooten — Author of Kill Call
Jeff lives in Arkansas with his wife, three kids, one dog, and a growing number of guppies. He sold ten short stories over five years and decided he was ready for novels. His second novel landed him in Pitch Wars, which was a great experience that introduced him to some great writers and he joined a writing group.
He writes mostly at 5AM until the day job starts and during the week and weekends when not going to his children’s soccer games, tennis matches, or football games. He is a full-time physical therapist that works with kids and adults with orthopedic issues. He also specializes in vestibular rehab.
Learn more about Jeff by clicking any of the following links: Twitter/X & AmazonElena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
Header Image from Pixabay
The post Kill Call: YA Thriller by Jeff Wooten appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.
February 19, 2024
Playing Dead: A New Mystery by TG Wolff
Playing Dead by TG Wolff
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Playing Dead
The nightmare is over. Alexander “Rotten” Carter is dead. But when his body is dumped in Cleveland Homicide Detective Jesus De La Cruz’s neighborhood, there are more questions than answers. Rotten was dressed up like the king of hearts, right down to the dagger in the suicide king’s temple. The elaborate staging is perplexing at the same time seems to be sending a message.
As Cruz investigates, he discovers Rotten Carter was more complex than the simple villain he had painted him to be. So is his murder, which is related to the deaths of his two lieutenants months prior. Both were strangled and found, with playing cards in their mouths. Jacks.
As the body count climbs, connection tie back to a dead CI and an accident that made a cop a widower. A web becomes apparent with one man in the middle: Narcotics Detective Matt Yablonski. But is he the spider or another fly?
Book Details:
Genre: Mystery
Published by: Down & Out Books
Publication Date: February 2024
Number of Pages: 398
Series: The De La Cruz Case Files, Book 4
Grab your copy of Playing Dead at Amazon | Goodreads
Read an excerpt of Playing Dead:
Playing Dead by TG Wolff
The crime scene was around the corner, no more than ten houses from Cruz’s own. Two streets came together at a sharp angle, creating oddly shaped yards. An island was formed at one of the peaks, surrounded by roadway. It was the length of one of the yards facing it. Geometric colors showed brightly in the morning sun, giving the landscape a third dimension it didn’t naturally have. Cruz approached, his mind transforming the lines and shapes into the macabre corpse.
“I called 9-1-1 and, thankfully, no one else has come out,” Binnie, the girls’ father, said. He stood guard over the island in worn sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He was barefoot.
“Aurora kept the girls. She’ll settle them down.”
“Good. I didn’t want them to see this, not any more than they had.” Binnie turned until he and Cruz were side by side. “The island was part of the city’s Color the Corners Chalk Festival. It took the artist two days to do it.”
That explained the background, a mosaic reminiscent of a stained-glass window, but not the character on it. Cruz thought Francie’s description of a costume was accurate. The victim, male, White, was in his twenties. The torso was covered by a tunic, the kind a knight might wear. Instead of regal, the tunic was decorated with hearts in groups of twos and threes, some facing up, others down. The costume was thin fabric. Details were printed on, not embroidered. The legs were dressed in a pair of tights, the red color coordinated with the tunic. The feet were bare.
The arms were bare as well. One was bent at the elbow with the hand resting on the lower abdomen. The other was positioned upward. The hand curled around the hilt of a long dagger, the blade buried in the head. It was an unnatural position that forced the wrist, elbow, and shoulder out of a flat alignment.
Cruz rounded to the base of the figure. He recognized it. “Someone made him into the king of hearts. Better get shoes on, Binnie,” he advised as vehicles began arriving at the scene. “This isn’t going to be quick.”
“I’ll put some coffee on,” he said and headed to the house directly behind them.
There was no estimate on when the man had died. His body temperature was lower than was naturally possible given the weather. The nighttime low bottomed out around fifty degrees. The body was low forties. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner would use methods more sophisticated than temperature to estimate time of death.
A cursory review of the body found no cuts, wounds, or contusions aside from the knife in the head. The blade had been driven in above the left ear. The handle was wrapped in leather, the complicated over-under weave spoke of skill and craftsmanship. Cruz examined the round, silver ball at the end and found it to be slightly flattened and marred with scratches.
Something about the position of the mouth drew Cruz’s attention. He applied pressure on the chin, opening the jaw. Inside was the white edge of folded paper. Widening the opening, he gently pulled. The folded item came easily. It wasn’t paper exactly. It was thicker. Coated. He turned it over, both sides printed in a blue elaborate pattern reminiscent of…a playing card.
He unfolded it, revealing the king of hearts.
Rising, he compared the body position to the card. It was a match.
He pictured the man resting his head on a table. His killer standing over him, holding the dagger in position with one hand and using a hammer in the other to drive the point deep. There were no defensive signs. It was as if the man simply lay down and allowed the knife to be driven into his head. The ME would tell him if the man was incapacitated via drugs or other means.
Wherever happened, it didn’t happen here. Beneath the body was the chalk of the drawing. The lines separating the colors were disturbed directly beneath but even that was minor. There was minimal transfer to the back of the clothing. The man was set in place, not dragged, which meant either multiple people were involved or one person strong enough to handle a body. The man was average to short with sinewy arms and legs. Cruz put him in the 160-pound camp.
Ready to tackle the timetable, Cruz went up the short walk to where Binnie waited with a cup of coffee.
“It’s nice and hot,” he said, holding out the insulated Cleveland Browns cup.
Cruz went up one step to accept. “I appreciate it. Tell me what happened this morning.”
“You know, Cruz, I can’t tell you much. I was dead asleep when Sunny screamed. You know how it is, one second out cold, then wide awake. I went to the front door. I could tell there was something on the island but not what it was.” He pointed to the screen now hiding the crime scene. “It didn’t make sense until I was nearly to the sidewalk. I told the girls to go get you and ran back in the house to get my phone. I didn’t even think about shoes. I called 9-1-1 and waited for you or them to arrive.”
“What time was this?”
Binnie pulled out his phone and searched for outgoing calls. “Eight minutes after seven. The sky was light but the street still dark. You know. You arrived just a few minutes later.”
Cruz did know but wanted details to supplement his own observations. “What about cars on the street? Anyone leaving the area? Any vehicles that didn’t belong?”
His witness thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Everything was quiet. I didn’t even see anyone walking their dog yet.”
“I had someone go house-to-house. Anyone who was awake was in their kitchen or backyard. There was no answer next door. Any idea where your neighbor is?”
“Metro General Hospital. He works first shift in the maintenance department. He left at twenty to seven. When he started his car, I woke enough to read the clock and decide it was too early to get up.” Binnie pointed to a pair of patrol officers waving their way. “I think they want you.”
“We’re close to wrapping up here. Let me see what they need, then we’ll go to my house. I need to ask your daughters a few questions.” Cruz left the porch, turning his attention to the officers. “What do you have?”
“The victim has been identified as Alexander Carter, age twenty-seven,” the leading officer answered. “His listed address is his parents’, but he’s spent a lot of time as a guest of the county. In and out for possession, assault, petty theft. He’s—Detective?”
Cruz stalked to the protective tent.
“Detective? Cruz?” The officer hurried to keep up.
Cruz took a knee next to the dead man’s shoulder and studied the face. He’d seen it in pictures a dozen times, only twice in person. In every case, the eyes had been narrowed with hate, the chin tipped up in challenge.
“Do you know this guy?” the officer asked.
“Not just me. We’ve been after Rotten Carter since July. Send me the information on his next of kin. I’ll make the trip after we wrap here, and I follow up with the girls. Go back through the neighborhood, see if anyone here knows our vic.”
The officers left the tent to execute orders while Cruz studied the man he daydreamed about killing. Without the attitude he wore like skin, Rotten Carter had a clean-cut look. He didn’t have ink tatted across his body or battle-earned scars saying the man fought his way through life. He could have been a family man with a white-collar job.
He could have been an ordinary guy earning an honest living.
But he wasn’t.
Rotten Carter was a mid-level dealer who had been on Cleveland police’s radar for years. His sister, Natasha “Sasha” Carter was a confidential informant to Cruz’s best friend, Narcotics Detective Matt Yablonski. Sasha snitched with her brother’s permission or at least knowledge. She fed information on Rotten’s competition, keeping her brother’s territory solid.
One day last January, Sasha got in touch with Yablonski and asked for a meetup. She didn’t follow their normal protocols, wanting Yablonski to come to her place. He arrived at the agreed upon time and found Sasha overdosing. Yablonski called for backup and began CPR. Rotten walked in and misread the situation. While Rotten and Yablonski fought, Sasha died.
Rotten blamed Yablonski. He focused his energy and resources on finding the man who killed his sister. Bad luck or bad timing put Rotten in the same place at the same time as Yablonski, and Yablonski’s wife, Erin.
Rotten saw his opportunity for revenge and took it.
That night, Erin and Aurora were driving to a restaurant for a celebratory night out. Rain poured down, making the street dark and the road slick. There was no evidence Rotten Carter tracked Erin’s car through downtown Cleveland. There was no proof Rotten drove the car and instigated the crash. There were no witnesses to point to Rotten as the reason Erin Yablonski was dead and Aurora’s legs might never be the same.
And yet there was no doubt.
Alone in the tent with the corpse of the man he hated, Cruz felt empty. This didn’t fix a damn thing. And now, it would be his job to find the killer who had done him and the rest of the city a favor.
Cruz didn’t want the job, but he wasn’t going to pass it on. He was going to use it to his advantage and prove Rotten Carter was behind the crash.
Closure. That’s what he could give Aurora and Yablonski.
*** Excerpt from Playing Dead by TG Wolff. Copyright 2024 by TG Wolff. Reproduced with permission from TG Wolff. All rights reserved.
TG Wolff — Author of Playing Dead
TG Wolff writes mysteries that play within the gray area between good and bad, right and wrong.
She specializes in puzzles, giving you everything you need to solve the mystery. Diverse characters mirror the complexities of real life and real people, balanced with a healthy dose of entertainment.
TG Wolff is the co-creator and co-host of Mysteries to Die For podcast. She holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
To learn more about TG, click on any of the following links: Website, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, Twitter/X & Facebook
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02/20 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
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February 15, 2024
Once Upon a Murder (A Lady Librarian Mystery)
Once Upon a Murder (A Lady Librarian Mystery) by Samantha Larsen
Guest Post + Book & Author Info + a Giveaway!Don’t miss any blog tours!Once Upon A Murder
Miss Tiffany Woodall must sleuth the slaying of a footman to clear her beloved’s name in the second Lady Librarian mystery, in the vein of Deanna Raybourn and perfect for fans of Bridgerton.
1784 England. Officially hired as the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort, Miss Tiffany Woodall is through with masquerades and murders for good. That is, until she stumbles upon the frozen dead body of former footman Mr. Bernard Coram. The speed with which her peaceful new life is upended is one for the record books: the justice of the peace immediately declares her the primary suspect in the murder.
As Tiffany hunts for the truth to clear her name, she learns that Bernard got into a fight over a woman at the local pub the night of his death–but he was also overheard blackmailing Samir. The justice of the peace arrests Samir, and Tiffany realizes that her life may have more in common with a tragic play than a light-hearted romance.
With her love locked up in jail and her own reputation on the line, Tiffany must attempt to solve the murder before the book closes on her or Samir’s life.
Publication Date: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Hardcover : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 1639106219
ISBN-13 : 978-1639106219
Digital ASIN : B0C4J6WW7B
References:
Pool, Daniel. What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. New York: Touchstone, 1994.
Samantha Larsen — Author of Once Upon a Murder
Samantha Larsen met her husband in a turkey sandwich line.
They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids.
She has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Reading (UK).
She also writes historical romances under Samantha Hastings. Learn more at www.SamanthaHastings.com
Learn more about Samantha by clicking any of the following links: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X.Visit all the Stops on the Tour!
February 15 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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February 12, 2024
The Mark of the Salamander
The Mark of the Salamander, by Justin Newland
Excerpt + Book & Author Info + Rafflecopter Giveaway!Don’t miss any blog tours!The Mark of the Salamander
1575.
Nelan Michaels is a young Flemish man fleeing religious persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. Settling in Mortlake outside London, he studies under Queen Elizabeth’s court astrologer, conjuring a bright future – until he’s wrongly accused of murder.
Forced into the life of a fugitive, Nelan hides in London, before he is dramatically pressed into the crew of the Golden Hind.
Thrust into a strange new world on board Francis Drake’s vessel, Nelan sails the seas on a voyage to discover discovery itself. Encountering mutiny, ancient tribes and hordes of treasure, Nelan must explore and master his own mystical powers – including the Mark of the Salamander, the mysterious spirit of fire.
THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER is the first in The Island of Angels series: a two-book saga that tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.Genre: Historical Fiction / Magical Realism
Published by: Book Guild
Publication Date: September 28, 2023
Number of Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781915853271 (ISBN10: 1915853273)
Series: The Island of Angels, 1 of 2
19
Home at Last26th September 1580
It was midway through the afternoon watch. On a Monday. It wasn’t any old Monday. It was a special Monday. Not because of an extra beer ration; nor because of the smell of fish emanating from the galley. No – it was because, on that autumn day, nearly all fifty-eight surviving crew members hung over the gunwale, their eyes dripping with expectation and glued to the horizon. On occasion, they glanced up at the topmast and the barrel man as if waiting for a message from the heavens. None came, even after they’d passed the Isles of Scilly. Nor did it come after they passed Wolf Rock. It surely wouldn’t be long in coming.
As the creaking of the sails ceased, the Golden Hind glided serenely through the waters as if drawn forward by a divine wind. Even the gulls stopped squawking. A light rain shower washed the decks. The men gazed at the white flecks on the waves.
Amidst the quiet, a cry went out, and travelled down the mizzenmast, across the poop deck and into the soul of each crew member. “Land ho!”
Nelan stood next to Fletcher, who raised his hands like an Old Testament prophet and cried out, “Oh, my God!” Then he knelt on the deck, hands clasped in a prayer of thanksgiving.
The other hands – all long-haired, heavily bearded, and stinking of piss, ale and perspiration – planted their knees on the deck. To Nelan, that moment felt portentous. It was one of collective bliss in which men of all ranks, natures and ages shared a sublime experience and encountered, perhaps for a few seconds only, the most concentrated religious feeling in the world: that of belonging to each other and to a land. Perhaps they didn’t know it fully, then. Maybe they had an inkling of it, as Nelan did. But at that moment, each of them knew that, through their voyage, their endeavours and their courage, they had unchained the shackles of the past, cut most of the remaining threads of the Gordian Knot of papal suppression, summoned the fresh, clean winds of the future, and set the people of England on a course towards the discovery of themselves and towards an exploration of the world and its peoples.
As the familiar jagged promontory of the Lizard hove into view, the hardy souls who’d survived unimaginable hardships together were stunned to silence. For once, their tongues stopped wagging. Where before they had been vocal in their japes and musical in their jaunts, now they were mute, stilled by the awe and wonder of seeing the distant contours of their land, their England, appear on the horizon. Their journey neared its end. They knew that another would begin as surely as God gave them the grace of another breath. They had not seen this land’s green pastures and gentle slopes for over a thousand days; 1,018, the pilot told them. England. Home at last. They would greet friends they had not seen for two years and ten months. See children who’d grown from suckling babe to infant. Meet mothers who’d given birth in the interim. Comfort wives grown old from the worry, and embrace daughters who’d married during their long absence. They’d clasp hands with their brothers, fathers and sons, and hold them close. Such were the anticipated joys of homecoming. Since they’d set out twice from old Plymouth – once when storms had forced them to return to safe harbour, and later when they’d finally embarked on that fateful day in December 1577 – this was a second coming.
Nelan swallowed hard. He licked his parched lips. While he didn’t expect anyone to meet him on the quay, he remained as excited as the native-born mariners to see old England. She was his home now. She had been a haven for Protestants from all over Europe fleeing the cruel persecution of the Inquisition. He couldn’t go back to Sangatte or Leiden. The angels of the island coursed through his blood and enriched his soul. He belonged to them, and they belonged in him.
From within him there arose a poem of persuasion, a song of softness, a dance of deliberation.
One question hovered on the lips of the crew. But none dared speak it aloud. Not Nelan, and, for once, not even Tom. But it demanded to be asked. The answer would decide their fate; particularly that of the officers and gentlemen and, most of all, of the admiral. He had to be the one to ask it.
*** Excerpt from The Mark of the Salamander by Justin Newland. Copyright 2023 by Justin Newland. Reproduced with permission from Justin Newland. All rights reserved.Justin Newland — Author of The Mark of the Salamander
JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. His stories explore the themes of war and religion, and speculate on the human’s spiritual place in the universe. Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.
His work in progress is the second in the series, The Midnight of Eights, the charting of the uncanny coincidences that led to the repulse of the Spanish Armada. Author, speaker and broadcaster, Justin appears on LitFest panels, gives talks to historical associations and libraries and enjoys giving radio interviews and making podcasts. Born three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.
To learn more about Justin, click on any of the following links: Website, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook & PinterestVisit all of the Stops on the Tour!
02/15 Review @ Novels Alive
02/16 Review @ The AR Critique
02/20 Book Talk with Fran Lewis Radio Interview
02/20 Review @ Just Reviews
02/22 Review @ Coffee and Ink
03/17 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
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