October Read & Discuss: Pumpkin Picking with Murder

[Allison]

I wasn't able to post the Chapters in the topic, I ran out of space, so let's do Chapters 1-5 to get us started.

This is Book 2 in the Otter Lake series by Auralee Wallace.
Set in Otter Lake,New Hampshire this book focuses on the Fall Festival and the heroine's return to town for a visit.

[Mark Pghfan]

I'll try to start this tomorrow!

[Allison]

I was able to see the Table of Contents on my new (so excited!) Kindle and there are 53 Chapters. I will split this into 4 reading sections with the third section being the longest.

I will probably start reading this today as I have just finished with some other books I was reading.

WELCOME to the Author, Auralee Wallace and thank you for joining us this month.

[Allison]

I started this today and I already like it! I'm about 7 Chapters in so I might stop reading this and read something else for awhile so I don't do any spoilers.
Has anyone else had a chance to start this yet?

[Auralee]

Allison wrote: "I was able to see the Table of Contents on my new (so excited!) Kindle and there are 53 Chapters. I will split this into 4 reading sections with the third section being the longest.

I will probab..."
Thanks so much for inviting me! I feel so honored that you chose my book for your October pick. I hope you all enjoy it.

It's Thanksgiving in Canada this weekend, so my online presence will be spotty for the next couple of days. That being said, I'm happy to answer any questions about the book when I check in.

Thanks again...Oh! And one small heads up for those who haven't started yet. My style has been described as a little bit "Scooby Doo" at times. What can I say? I'm a child of the 70's. You have been warned! :)

[Mark Pghfan]

It certainly starts out interesting! I'm just through chapter three and I think something is about to happen. The best friend character is intriguing; gay, asian and rich. We don't see that in our reads very often. I wonder why he is working, though, if he is rich.

[Allison]

"Scooby-Doo"! I love it and exactly my style! Glad you were able to pop in, Ms. Wallace, since it is a Holiday there.

The characters so far are all "bigger than life" in my opinion. Everyone has such distinct personalities and I love the best friend, Freddie. As Pghfan pointed out, "gay, Asian, and rich." Most BFF's are women in these types of cozy murder mysteries: Ms.Wallace what made you break the mold with the sidekick in this series?

[Tina]

Hi Ms. Wallace! So good to see you in The Parlor especially since you've holidays in Canada. That was nice of you. Sorry I wasn't here to greet you...was boarding up house for Matthew. Luckily, he decided to spare us. Well, on with the show.

Thanks, Allison, PI's for the snuggly mystery discussion in The Parlor. Appreciate it.

Oh, those twins. And mom with her retreat. Makes for a very um, colorful life. lol

[Allison]

Glad you are back Tina and so far unscathed by Matthew.

[Tina]

Thanks, Allison. We're some of the lucky ones. Wonder how those historic districts in St. Augustine, Charleston, Savannah etc. fared? That's a lot of our history in those areas.

[Tina]

Her side kick reminds me of a combo of two of Agatha Raisin's male buddies: the Asian cop and her former ad co worker minus the wealth. ;-)


Pghfan wrote: "It certainly starts out interesting! I'm just through chapter three and I think something is about to happen. The best friend character is intriguing; gay, asian and rich. We don't see that in our ..."

[Mark Pghfan]

I'm trying like the dickens to finish Closed Casket, the new Poirot and get it back to the library, before I move on further on this book. It is always such a rush!

[PugMom]

Hi Auralee!
I finally got to B&N and picked up my copy! I had a gift card that was burning a hole in my wallet LOL
Last week I finished Skinny Dipping with Murder so I would be caught up on the series and know something about the characters. I thought it was a fun read and I think Erica and Freddy have a really cool friendship. Scooby Doo is one of my favorites from childhood so I know why like this series! When I was a kid I thought it was the best cartoon because of all the mysteries and fun characters.

[Allison]

Nicole wrote: "Hi Auralee!
I finally got to B&N and picked up my copy! I had a gift card that was burning a hole in my wallet LOL
Last week I finished Skinny Dipping with Murder so I would be caught up on the se..."

I just went back and read "Skinny Dipping" as well. I liked it a lot. I love Erica and Freddy's relationship.

[Mark Pghfan]

I wish I had read Skinny Dipping as well; there seems to be a lot to be learned about our characters there.

I did finish Closed Casket last night and started up again with this book, so I will chime back in soon!

[PugMom]

I'm going to be a bit behind with these chapters! I started reading the ARCI got. Then, I read on Facebook that people had a hard time following along because it was book #3 in the series so the author sent us all books 1 and 2 to review as well! So...I have 3 books to read and review by the 15th! The good thing is that they are fairly short so I'm hoping to be done with the 2nd one by tonight. I don't want to pull an all nighter! I'm too old for that LOL

[Auralee]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you all for the warm welcome! I'm glad that Hurricane Matthew spared your area, Tina. From what I heard on the news, it was all pretty scary. And thank you for the question about Freddie, Allison. The inspiration for the character actually came from a number of real-life people. In particular, my best friend had a work-best friend/work-husband for a number of years, and they liked to spend their lunch hours getting mixed up in all sorts of adventures - like mistakenly buying pirated videos from scary little pop-up shops in Toronto. I always enjoyed hearing about what they were getting themselves into and thought it would be fun to fictionalize their dynamic.
Thanks again to all of you for taking a chance on my books. I'm off for a run - I ate way too much turkey this weekend.

[Allison]

I love that story of your friends and that they are the inspiration for the Erica/Freddy friendship.

[PugMom]

I always ask authors if their characters are modeled after people they know. Some say of course and some say never!! It's so interesting to find out how characters are created.

[Mark Pghfan]

Nicole, I was thinking the same thing with this book.

[Tina]

Thanks, Auralee. It was touch and go for a while. And then I couldn't get the stray cats to take shelter in our garage. But born and raised in Bflo. (just 'cross border) we'd friends in Kitchner, Hamilton and played regularly in the Falls, Sherkston Beaches, spots along the QE and Toronto. Love Canada and her people.

Hey, PI's. One thing over, now another. Have a nasty chest infection...had to have a chest x-ray taken and it's back to the doc Thurs. So I'm fighting a foggy head now and haven't been reading or online in a couple days. Thanks for keeping things going. See you soon in just a few days.

Pghfan, how did you like Closed Casket?

[PugMom]

Rest up Tina!!

[Tina]

Aw, thanks bunches, Nicole. Nice of you to post. Appreciate it.

[Mark Pghfan]

Hi Tina,

I hope you are feeling better. I was kind of disappointed in Closed Casket. A bit better than Monogram, but still quite convoluted. And the whole thing doesn't read like Christie in the least. I'm glad I got it at the library and didn't buy the thing.

[Jill]

Ok all I'm reading the correct book now, so far I like it! Sheriff Grady sounds a little delicious to me. I'm finding that the characters are letting me get to know them right off the bat. So far this holds promise for an enjoyable read.

Got my house decorated for Halloween, and now I can sit back and enjoy looking at it, can't wait for trick or treating, got my costume ready and actually surprised myself as deciding what I want to be before the day before.

[PugMom]

Nobody will come trick or treating at my house so I don't even buy candy. We will be going to my sister's Halloween party and I will wear the same costume I had last year. I think it's some sort of vampire woman. Next year I want to be a Pirate lady!

[Jill]

I have to work Halloween night, there's a couple of closer that have kids and I'm covering for one guy that him and his wife adopted a baby this past year and it's her first Halloween with them and he wants to go as a family so I'm covering for him so he and his wife can take her out.

But I still enjoyed decorating.

[Tina]

Thanks, Pghfan for the best wishes and crit of CC. I'll eventually get to the book. Must get my mojo back.

Pghfan wrote: "Hi Tina,

I hope you are feeling better. I was kind of disappointed in Closed Casket. A bit better than Monogram, but still quite convoluted. And the whole thing doesn't read like Christie in the l..."

[Tina]

I made up over 100 Halloween treat bags and will pass them out. Didn't do too much with decorations this year as my heart just wasn't in it this year. I'll be back on track by Halloween. ;-)