Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen

Book Description

London: 1968. Liz Houghton is languishing as an obituary writer at a London newspaper when a young girl’s disappearance captivates the city. If Liz can break the story, it’s her way into the newsroom. She already has a scoop: her best friend, Marisa, is a police officer assigned to the case.

Liz follows Marisa to Dorset, where they make another disturbing discovery. Over two decades earlier, three girls disappeared while evacuating from London. One was found murdered in the woods near a train line. The other two were never seen again.

As Liz digs deeper, she finds herself drawn to the village of Tydeham, which was requisitioned by the military during the war and left in ruins. After all these years, what could possibly link the missing girls to this abandoned village? And why does a place Liz has never seen before seem so strangely familiar?

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Elise’s Thoughts

The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen is more of a suspenseful novel that a historical one. There is a mystery, but also a dose of romance along with the serious topic of memory loss.

The book opens in London 1968 where Liz Houghton has been demoted to obituary writer for a London newspaper.  After a young girl has disappeared, Liz decides to investigate, hoping for a scoop.  Helping her is her best friend and roommate Marisa who happens to be a police detective.

They venture to Tydeham where during WWII the Army had all the residents relocated because they needed the area for military operations.  Now it is a ghost town. But through her investigation Liz discovers that there were three girls who disappeared during WWII while evacuating London for the countryside. One was found murdered in the woods and the other two were never seen again. Helping with her desire to get to the bottom of what happened is James, someone who grew up in Tydeham and is now back trying to salvage some of his parents’ items.

The multiple interrelated story lines raise questions that will keep people engrossed.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?

Rhys Bowen: I read an article on a real abandoned village on which the story is based. The army had come and said to the people who lived there for generations, that they had three weeks to get out. Then the army took it.  The community was given government housing. Many people thought they could come back after the war.  But the army had destroyed it completely after they trained for the invasion there. This village was army property since WWII. There are still live ammunitions so no one can go there.  This is sad. After I saw this, I wanted to write about it.

EC:  What would you say the book is about?

RB: The past is not exactly what people think it was and the different types of mothers.

EC: How would you describe Liz?

RB: She is in her late 20’s.  Her father thought it would be a waste of time to educate a girl, so she was sent to a secretarial course.  She has been overprotected all her life, being the only child of older parents. She has lacked confidence all her life. She is ambitious and wants to make her way in the world. She now has a job as a newspaper reporter. She jumps at the story where a little girl has vanished from London. She sees this as a way to redeem herself with her employer. Her parents are controlling and manipulative. She is curious, angry at times, and would like to be more daring than she is. She does feel that her parents are smothering.

EC: What role did Marisa play in the story?

RB:  Marisa is a detective and Liz’s roommate. She is the opposite of Liz who had a privileged upbringing.  Marisa has come from a working-class family. Liz envies her because Marisa’s family is very close. Liz would like to be Marisa.

EC:  How would you describe James?

RB: He, like Liz, has been wounded by his upbringing. He lost his mother early on, but she was a woman who made it quite clear she did not love him. He lost his two siblings. Now he is trying to be the support for his father.  He and Liz both feel responsible for their parents as they get older. He is a nice and caring person.

EC:  What about the relationship?

RB:  They click immediately because they both come from similar backgrounds. They bond early on. They take it slowly.

EC:  Why the dementia type illness of Liz’s mother?

RB: It plays into the plot because her mother does not remember something terrible that happened. But Liz’s discovery triggers something that has terrible consequences. It helps me plant the clues for the reader that things are not exactly as we thought they were. Liz feels very guilty that her mom is slipping away more and more. It is very hard to take for Liz.

EC: Next books?

RB:  It will be in the Royal Spyness series titled We Three Queens coming out in November. King Edward announced he wants to marry Mrs. Simpson causing a huge Constitutional crisis.

The next Molly comes out in March.  It is about the early days of the movie industry. Most of the people in the book are real characters. It is titled Silent as The Grave.

My next big stand-alone is a historical novel about a woman who has the perfect wife.  One day he announces he wants a divorce. She drives to the South of France and creates a whole new life for herself.  The working title is Mrs. Endicott’s Excellent Adventure. It takes place from 1938 to 1947.  It will be out in August of next year.

THANK YOU!!

***

BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Murder in Bloom by Liz Fielding

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for MURDER IN BLOOM (Maybridge Murder Mysteries Book #3) by Liz Fielding on this Books ‘n’ All Promotions Book Tour.

Below you will find a book synopsis, my book review, and the author’s bio and social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Synopsis

One part jealousy. Two parts rage. Somewhere in Abby’s sleepy little village, the perfect murder is brewing . . .

Abby enters the Maybridge Flower Show, never dreaming for one moment that she’ll win the gold. Or an invitation to appear on telly, alongside gardening legend Daisy Dashwood!

Some people say Daisy’s a tiresome diva. But starry-eyed Abby can’t wait for the cameras to start rolling. Until . . .

Daisy staggers out on stage. Only to collapse at Abby’s feet.

Her demise might seem like a tragic accident — resulting from a cocktail of booze and hay-fever medicine.

But Abby’s not so sure. She starts digging, to uncover shifty suspects at every turn. From snarky co-stars to a toy-boy lover, they all had reason to want Daisy dead and gone.

And that’s not the only puzzle playing on Abby’s mind . . .

In life, Daisy went nowhere without her trusty caddy of healing teas. Now it’s vanished.

What if someone’s been tampering with Daisy’s favorite cuppa?

MEET YOUR NEW FAVOURITE AMATEUR SLEUTH

Brilliant gardener and the busy mum of three, Abby Finch’s dreams of winning gold at Chelsea Flower Show were put on hold by an unplanned pregnancy and marriage. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. These days she’s kept on her toes looking after her beloved family, running her own business and dealing with her imminent divorce. In an effort to keep things cordial, she’s allowed her ex to bully her into restoring the garden of his family home. Thankfully she’s surrounded herself with a great group of friends to lean on.

THE SETTING

Pretty Maybridge is a charming village set in the sheep-dotted Cotswolds hills, with a long history stretching back to Tudor times. It’s the type of place where everyone knows each other, but there’s a wonderful bookshop on the corner of the bridge, a popular riverside café and a bustling market at Christmastime. And with Bristol nearby and a big supermarket round the corner.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216535713-murder-in-bloom?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=NP2o4gkFz1&rank=4

MAYBRIDGE MYSTERIES SERIES

  • MURDER AMONG THE ROSES
  • MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE
  • MURDER IN BLOOM

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

MURDER IN BLOOM (Maybridge Murder Mysteries Book #3) by Liz Fielding is another well written, enjoyable addition to the Maybridge Murder series. The inquisitive Abby Finch is back once again, and murder just seems to happen in her vicinity. While this is the third book in the series, it is easily read as a standalone. I have read and enjoyed all three books.

After months of work, the Maybridge Flower show is here, and Abby is hoping for the best with her first major show entry. To her surprise she won gold. As the legendary gardener and host of The Potting Shed TV show, Daisy Dashwood invites Abbey to appear on her show filming at the event. When she shows up for the filming, Daisy appears very ill and incoherent and falls on the stage. She is rushed to the local hospital and is pronounced dead.

Her death appears to be an accident, but Daisy had many secrets and with her secrets come many suspects. Daisy’s personal assistant discovers Daisy’s favorite tea ball and caddy are missing in which she always used her own herbal tea mix. Could someone from the show or Daisy’s infamous chef boyfriend want her dead? Abby has questions once again that place her in the middle of a murder investigation.

This is such a well written series. The plot is well paced and contains plenty of red herrings and twists that always keep me guessing to the climax. Abby is an endearing protagonist who is realistically written with no exaggerated problems. She has her own gardening business and is starting to believe in herself and her professional abilities. Her three children are all in their teens and happy. She has a boyfriend, many friends in the village, and in the police force. Maybridge’s inhabitants are all very believable and I want to continue to visit the village even if there do appear to be a few too many murders.

I highly recommend this winning addition to the Maybridge Murder Mystery series and quite frankly the entire series.

***

Author Bio

Award winning author Liz Fielding was born with itchy feet. She was working in Zambia before her twenty-first birthday and, gathering her own special hero and a couple of children on the way, has lived in Botswana, Kenya and the Middle East, all of which have provided rich inspiration for her writing.

She has written more than seventy books, several of which have won awards, and sold over 15 million copies. In 2019 she was honoured with the Romantic Novelists’ Association Outstanding Career Award.  She lives in West Sussex.

Social Media Links

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FACEBOOK
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Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Sun, Sea & Murder by J.S. Savage

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for Sun, Sea & Murder: A Locked Room Mystery by J.S. Savage on this Overview Media Blog Tour.

Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, and the author’s bio and social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Blurb

Two baffling murders. A hotel full of suspects. One secretive sleuth.

The guests at The Orange Tree Hotel arrive looking forward to a holiday filled with sun, fun, and sangria. But when Russell Aspell, the hotel’s owner, is found dead inside a locked room, any hopes of a relaxing break under the Spanish sun are ruined. Soon, each of the guests will become suspects as their lies and secrets are uncovered.

Then, when a guest is murdered in plain view of everyone else, it’s clear the murderer is not only ingenious but utterly ruthless too.

In order to catch a killer, some perplexing questions will first need to be answered… How did the killer get in and out of a locked room? What is the significance of the mysterious notes found in Russell’s office? What happened to the money in the hotel safe? And why is someone stealing guests’ mobile phones?

Only a special type of investigator with a unique skillset will be able to piece together the clues to stop the killer before they strike again…

Enter Penny Haylestone.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205687374-sun-sea-murder?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=njUDadfJO9&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

SUN, SEA & MURDER by J.S. Savage is an engaging and fun old fashioned locked room cozy mystery told from four protagonist’s points of view who are all English vacationers at a resort hotel in Spain. This is a very clever mystery plot from a new-to-me author that had me stumped.

A group of English vacationers have arrived at The Orange Tree Hotel in scenic and hot Spain for some holiday fun. The owner, Russell Aspell, is discovered dead in the hotel’s locked gym and the vacationers become suspects overnight. When the gum chewing, bumbling Inspector arrives on the scene, Russell’s longtime friend, Penny Haylestone, decides to do some detecting with the help of Marley, another vacationer and soon discovers secrets and lies among the group.

When a member of their group is murdered right in front of everyone at a cookout, the group realizes they are dealing with a ruthless killer and Penny is determined to uncover the killer before they strike again.

I absolutely loved this mystery, not only because it reminded me of the type of books that started me on my love of mysteries many years ago, but because all the red herrings and surprises kept me guessing as well as entertained from start to finish. I did not guess the solution to the mystery before the denouement and I love it when that happens. There are many characters, but they are all well defined by the author and easily sorted early in the story. Penny and Marley are a delightful mystery solving duo.

I highly recommend this enchanting locked room cozy mystery.

***

Author Bio

J.S. Savage is a London based writer who hails from Northern Ireland. His love of detective fiction originated one hot, dusty day in Kandahar when he was serving with the R.A.F. From a bookcase, he picked up Agatha Christie’s The Mystery of the Blue Train, and though she cited it as her worst work, J.S. Savage became enthralled by the deceptions, red herrings, and mastery at work. This fascination with the genre eventually led him to try his hand at his own novel, and so, The Mystery of Treefall Manor was published in September 2023. His latest novel Sun, Sea, and Murder was published in April 2024. Both of these novels were chosen as Book of the Month by the Crime blog In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel.

J.S. Savage has been shortlisted in several short story competitions and is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association. 

Social Media Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_S_Savage_

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CKPLVVN5/about

ARC Feature Post and Book Review: Molten Death by Leslie Karst

Book Description

A glimpse of a quickly melting corpse at the foot of a volcano has amateur sleuth and food enthusiast Valerie Corbin shocked. But how can she investigate a murder, when there’s no evidence the victim ever existed?

Retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have come to the Big Island of Hawai’i to treat themselves to a well-earned tropical vacation. After the recent loss of her brother, Valerie is in sore need of a distraction from her troubles and is looking forward to enjoying the delicious food and vibrant culture the state has to offer.

Early one morning, the couple and their friend – tattooed local boy, Isaac – set out to see an active lava flow, and Valerie is mesmerized by the shape-shifting mass of orange and red creeping over the field of black rock. Spying a boot in the distance, she strides off alone, pondering how it could have gotten there, only to realize to her horror that the boot is still attached to a leg – a leg which is slowly being engulfed by the hot lava.

Valerie’s convinced a murder has been committed – but as she’s the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, who’s going to believe her?

Determined to prove what she saw, and get justice for the unknown victim, Valerie launches her own investigation. But, thrown into a Hawaiian culture far from the luaus and tiki bars of glossy tourist magazines, she soon begins to fear she may be the next one to end up entombed in shiny black rock . . .

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199549081-molten-death?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=LsOPCpfjl9&rank=1

***

Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MOLTEN DEATH (An Orchid Island Mystery Book #1) by Leslie Karst is an entertaining cozy mystery featuring a retired lesbian foodie protagonist set on the lush, big island of Hawaii with beautiful descriptions of island locations and delicious island fare. This is a delightful new amateur sleuth who happens upon a murder in paradise written by a new to me author who has me hooked.

Valerie Corbin and her wife, Kristen have come to Hawaii for a vacation to hopefully reconnect and mentally heal after Valerie’s car accident in which she watched her brother die. They are staying with Kristen’s Island native friend, Isaac. When they go to watch the sunrise and walk on a lava field, Valerie falls behind and sees a boot in the distance that she goes to investigate and discovers it is in a lava flow and attached to a leg that is quickly disappearing.

Valerie is convinced a murder has been committed, but she has no proof now that the lava has done its job of destroying the evidence. Even though no one believes her, she is determined to discover who is missing and get justice for them.

I enjoyed Valerie and her sense of determination even when it gets her in trouble. While she investigates, the reader gets to follow her to many beautifully written scenic destinations on the island and gets to read descriptions of tropical and local island cuisine. I also liked that the Valerie and her wife were mature characters. Isaac is the perfect bridge between the white women and Hawaiian native culture, history (both past and present), and cuisine. The plot is unique with the lava destroying any evidence and causing everyone to question whether Valerie saw the leg and boot even as she questions the suspects. A good ending with everything tied up in the end and Valerie and Kristen considering a permanent move to the big island.

Overall a delightful cozy mystery that also delivers on beautiful geography, culture, and cuisine.

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About the Author

Originally from Southern California, Leslie Karst moved north to attend UC Santa Cruz (home of the Fighting Banana Slugs), and after graduation, parlayed her degree in English literature into employment waiting tables and singing in a new wave rock and roll band. Exciting though this life was, she eventually decided she was ready for a “real” job, and ended up at Stanford Law School.

For the next twenty years Leslie worked as the research and appellate attorney for Santa Cruz’s largest civil law firm. During this time, she discovered a passion for food and cooking, and so once more returned to school—this time to earn a degree in Culinary Arts.

Now retired from the law, Leslie spends her time cooking, singing alto in the local community chorus, gardening, cycling, and of course writing. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix, Ziggy, split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai’i.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.lesliekarstauthor.com/

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

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leslie-karst

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton

Book Description

When the Fallingbrook Arts Festival rolls into town weeks before she’s set to tie the knot, Emily expects talent and friendly competition at the week-long summer series to go together like coffee and double fudge. But the fun crumbles fast after a lively bagpiper takes first place on day one and turns heads for the wrong reasons—all before Emily and her tabby cat find him dead in a clear case of murder. Along with a distinctive weapon at the crime scene, several strategically placed items leave disturbing clues about the killer’s identity, including a broken piece of a Deputy Donut mug . . .

While detectives aren’t sure who silenced the bagpiper’s music, they don’t trust Emily or her family to tell the truth. With her nuptials and career on the line, Emily launches an unsettling investigation to save herself from trouble and bring a dangerous figure to justice. The search not only brings too many suspects into the picture, but also leads to a strange discovery on Deputy Donut’s rooftop. A discovery that tells Emily she better get cooking, because someone may be watching her every move . . .  and carefully plotting to turn a wedding into a funeral!

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Elise’s Thoughts

Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton is a scrumptious read.  She combines tasty treats with likeable characters within a riveting mystery.

The story has a murder but also a happy ending for Detective Brent Fyne and Deputy Donut Café owner Emily Westhill. It begins with the Fallingbrook Arts Festival with Emily expecting lots of talent and friendly competition at the week-long summer series that will go together with coffee and donuts. She is half owner along with her ex-father-in-law Tom. She’s thriving and happy. Someone who is strong, intelligent, empathetic, and smart.

Their relationship was a no go for a while because Brent was the detective partner of Emily’s late husband. In fact, unlike some of the other cozy mysteries Brent does not chastise Emily or get upset with her for investigating as an amateur sleuth. He relies on and trusts the information Emily finds and he’s happy for her to call for backup anytime she feels the need. Brent admires these things and doesn’t berate her when she finds clues for him.

During the contest bagpiper Kirk MacLean interrupts other performances with a noisy rendition of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” but despite that rudeness wins the contest. Kirk’s antics continue when he drowns out a teen barbershop quartet. He’s annoying, playing the pipes up and down the street even in the middle of the night while others are sleeping. After speaking with people, Emily finds out that he’s not well-liked. The next morning tragedy strikes when Emily finds the piper dead and calls the police. The list of suspects is long and include a local guy who lost first place to him, Emily’s own parents, the owner of the local café, and other friends of Emily.  She with help from some of her friends decides to investigate and find the real killer.

Bolton worries about jumping the shark after the marriage but has nothing to worry about because the focus of her stories are the characters personalities and a plot that has many twists and turns.  Readers are kept guessing in these fun and exciting mysteries. Not to mention mouthwatering donuts.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper:  How did you get the idea for the story?

GINGER BOLTON: A cozy writer said that there was a bakery that was about to close. The nine police in this small town decided to buy it so they run this bakery. I used that to jump start the series with a bakery donut shop somehow connected to law enforcement and first responders. I thought donut shops is a great place to pick up a lot of clues. For this book there was an incident that I based the murder weapon on. 

EC:  Do you like donuts?

GB:  I like the plain old-fashioned donuts with nutmeg. I actually cook donuts but do not do it often.

EC:  How would you describe Brent?

GB:  Brent is gentle, kind, loving, and thoughtful.  He keeps a neutral face when he needs to.

EC: How would you describe the relationship between Emily and Brent?

GB:  In the beginning of the relationship, he and Emily were standoffish because he was her first husband’s detective partner who got killed in the line of action. They share this major grief. When they finally got around to speaking with each other they bonded over communicating about their shared grief. 

EC:  Do you think you will jump the shark by having them get married?

GB: I hope I do not jump the shark by having them get married. This is a worry for me. I thought this was going to be the last book in the series.  But then the publisher wants two more books. 

EC:  How would you describe the victim?

GB:  Kurt the bagpiper is devious and mean.  He interrupts other performances.  Nobody really likes him.

EC:  How about your next book?

GB: The next book is titled, Blame The Beignets and is based on the famous New Orleans donuts. It will come out the end of November with Emily discovering a body while kayaking with her assistant a suspect.

THANK YOU!!

***

BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin

Book Description

When a murder unleashes a widespread investigation through Crosbyville, children’s book author Pris and her trusty bloodhound, Bailey, must sniff out the truth before the whole town goes to the dogs.

After deciding that life as a teacher wasn’t right for her, Priscilla found inspiration for her first children’s book in her three-year-old bloodhound’s nose for truth, and so The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound was born. After the book’s massively pawsitive response led Pris to move back to her hometown of Crosbyville, Indiana, to continue the series, she’s surprised by how things have changed in the town, but even more so how they haven’t.

Pris is frustrated to discover that newly elected school board trustee Whitney Kelley—a former high school mean girl—is intent on making Crosbyville more competitive by eliminating “frivolous spending” on the arts and social programs, including Pris and Bailey’s beloved pet-assisted reading program. A minor altercation between them isn’t anything unusual, but after Bailey sniffs out Whitney’s body in a bed of begonias, locals start hounding Pris and Bailey as suspects for the crime.

With Bailey’s sharp senses and Pris’s hometown know-how, can they prove to the community that they’re all barking up the wrong tree?

***

Elise’s Thoughts

Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin, the pen name for Valerie Burns, is the first in a new series.  This book is a delightful read that has humor and a riveting ‘who done it.’

Readers are introduced to the main character, Priscilla Cummings, who is a teacher by day and a children’s author by night.  That is until she has found success with her first children’s book, about the adventures of her dog, Bailey the Bloodhound.  Because of her success she has decided to become a full-time author, but also continues to have Bailey assist children to read.  Bailey is a trained therapy dog and frequently goes to the local library to have children read to him and watch him demonstrate his tracking skills.

The mystery has Bailey sniffing out a murder, digging up the body of Whitney Kelly.  She is a mean girl who earlier had a confrontation with Priscilla.  But Pris is not the only enemy she has made, and the list of suspects continues to grow for Police Chief Gilbert Morgan.  He is tenacious and determined to find the killer, but readers also see his other side.  Raising his daughter Hannah as a single parent, he is very caring and gentle. Both he and Pris develop a relationship after Bailey helps Hannah with her reading skills and Pris becomes involved in solving the murder mystery.

Readers will be kept guessing until the very end about who done it.  This plot has it all: delightful characters, great banter, a mystery, and a sweet bloodhound.

***

Author Interview

Elise Cooper:   Since it is an anonymous name how did you choose it?

Kallie E. Benjamin: Kallie was my great grandmother’s name.  I never knew my grandmother but did know my great grandmother. The “E” is from my mom whose name was Elvira but decided not to use Elvira as my author’s name. My dad’s first name was Benjamin.

EC: How did you get the idea for the story?

KEB:  I get nervous when I start a new series, hoping readers will enjoy it. Dogs are my thing and I wanted to write a new series with a new breed of dog.  To me, a bloodhound symbolizes search and rescue.  This series has a lot of family ties for me. Also, when I write cozies what is important to me is the ‘who done it.’

EC:  How so about family?

KEB:  It is set in Indiana, which is where I am from. The town’s name, Crosbyville is based on one of my nephew’s children, Crosby.  His other child is named Cameron.  The main character, Priscilla, is an author and her agent’s name is Cameron. Her best friend, Marcella is named after my niece’s daughter. Since I write murder mysteries, I will make sure that these names will endure and continue without having to be a character that can potentially get murdered or be considered a person of interest.

EC: Why make Bailey, the Bloodhound a therapy dog?

KEB:  I used to do therapy with my poodles. We would go to nursing homes and hospitals. I wanted him to help with assisted reading. When a child had to testify it was found that they were less stressed if they spoke directly to the dog.

EC:  You went down nostalgia lane-why?

KEB:  LOL.  I brought in Andy Griffith and Magnum PI.  I ran some things by my niece who just turned thirty.  She told me she watches the reruns of the old shows. I enjoyed throwing things in there.

EC:  Whitney, the victim was not very nice, correct?

KEB:  I based her on Cruella de Ville to a small extent. I usually murder someone who no one likes. They usually are villainous. Both Whitney and Cruella had issues with dogs. They viewed their agenda as more important than anything else. They are single minded without any concern about what happens to others. I use real people in my life in my books when they make me mad.  It is therapeutic for me. I will use their initials but change the names to be the victim.

EC:  How would you describe Priscilla?

KEB:  Pris and I have in common that we both have a job that provides income, but we are also authors. We have that same passion about writing mysteries that includes dogs. Pris wants to help people and can recognize people’s shortcomings. She is also a klutz and very curious.

EC:  How would you describe police chief Gilbert?

KEB:  He has dedicated his life to protecting others. He is very direct, straight-forward, responsible, and protective. He also is a single parent, raising his daughter. As the story progresses readers will find out more about his late wife and her family. His daughter and family are very important to him. His relationship with Pris will continue and grow stronger, although there will be some conflict surrounding their views.

EC:  Next book?

KEB:  The setting is a festival in Crosbyville where a murder occurred. Bailey finds clues that get Pris more involved in the mystery. The working title is Hounding a Killer, coming out in late 2024.

THANK YOU!!

***

BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.