Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am thrilled to have J.J. Murphy drop by!!
Thanks, Lori, for allowing me to ESCAPE with you again.
Q&A with J.J. Murphy
Q. Tell us a little bit about Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table.
A. Dorothy Parker was a real-life writer and poet. She joined a group of other writers and theater people who just happed to have lunch every day at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City in the 1920s. Soon, this group—called the Algonquin Round Table—became well known for their quotable quips and comments. I’m sure you’ve heard a few of Dorothy Parker’s most famous lines, such as “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses,” and “That woman speaks eighteen languages and can’t say ‘No’ in any of them.” When asked to use the word “horticulture” in a sentence, Parker fired back, “You can lead a whore to culture, but you can’t make her think.”
In the Algonquin Round Table Mysteries, Dorothy Parker becomes a very amateur sleuth—with a quip on her lip and a martini in hand—and her close friend Robert Benchley acts as her sidekick.
Q. What is the game of Murder? What makes it “friendly”?
A. The members of the Algonquin Round Table loved to play games. In addition to their daily wordplay at lunches, one of their favorite games was called Murder. In this game, one player acted as the Detective, one player was the Murderer (unknown to all the other players), and everybody else was a potential Victim or Suspect. It was the Murderer’s job to get another player alone, and then announce, “You are dead.” At this, the Victim would fall to the floor and not make a sound until discovered.
Upon discovery of the Victim, the Detective was summoned. The Detective’s job was to question each player to determine “whodunit.” Although they were good friends, the Algonquins loved “one-upping” each other. So this was the ideal game for them.
In my book, A Friendly Game of Murder,
It’s the perfect setting for things to turn deadly—but with some thrilling and hilarious results!
~J.J.
About This Author
J.J. Murphy is an award-winning health care writer in Pennsylvania, and has been a long-time fan of Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table.
Follow the mystery at www.roundtablemysteries.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RoundTableMysteries.
A Friendly Game of Murder:
An Algonquin Round Table Mystery
3rd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Obsidian (December 31, 2012)
Published by New American Library
A Division of The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451238993
E-Book File Size: 939 KB
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0451238990
How about a little friendly game of murder?
Dorothy and her friends gather at the Algonquin Hotel on New Year’s Eve for a swanky soiree hosted by movie stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Mary’s nose gets a little out of joint when young Broadway starlet Bibi Bibelot becomes the star of her party with her antics. But when Bibi is found later dead in the bathtub Mary is not the only suspect. No one knows who the killer is, but one thing everyone is sure of — they won’t be making any gin in that bathtub.
When even the Round Table members end up in peril, it is clear the game is afoot. Dorothy enlists the help of surprise guest Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to join the group and help track down the killer. It should be Elementary right!!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love, Love, LOVE this series and this one is my favorite so far!!! The Algonquin under quarantine! The cat and mouse chase around the hotel was priceless! Benchley running the switchboard had me in tears with laughter! The nuns at the party, oh my word!!
J.J. Murphy has gift of getting into these characters heads and coming up with these absolutely wonderful stories. Adding Sir Artie to mix this time was brilliant. The man behind Sherlock Holmes who really hates it when people think he can solve mysteries.
The Roaring 20’s, the hotel, the flapper dresses, the waiters, the movie stars. Reading this story was just like watching on old talkie! The author puts us there so easily. I rode up and down that elevator right along with Dorothy, ducked the flying objects in the kitchen, got chills in that icebox. J.J. Murphy I love the way you write! Don’t ever stop!!!
This story is not only fun and entertaining it is like a time machine taking us back in time!! and it is a marvelous trip!!! 10 starfish!!!
Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!
U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.
Leave a comment for J.J. for 5 Bonus Entries !
If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End February 6, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I’ve been wanting to read this series-I need to find the first one and start!
Katreader, you don’t need to start with the first one. You can start with this one, and if I may say so, I think this one is the best of the bunch. (I’m biased, of course). Best of luck in the giveaway!
after this review I have added this series to my wish list
Thanks, Vesper. Good luck in the giveaway!
A confession … the book did not catch my attention when I first saw it (Goodreads, maybe?) Then I read JJ’s interview & your review, and now I AM interested. Maybe these blog tour things really DO work!
A confession, eh? Well, your secret’s safe with us, Andrew. Cheers, and good luck in the giveaway.
Andrew, I hope you give this series a try. The stories are great escapes!!!
Another series to add to my t-b-r list. I love the sound of this!!!
Deanna, I love the sound of you loving the sound of it. Good luck in the giveaway!
I want to read this series. but have not yet been able to buy any of the book. Would be great wo win.
In that case, Nancy, hope you win. Cheers.
Sounds like such a fun series! Love the interview and the history behind the characters and would love a chance to win a copy!
Yes, Paula, the characters really are fascinating. You can check my website for more info about them: http://www.roundtablemysteries.com/about_dorothy_parker.html
Love the cover.
Peggy, the artist who does the covers also paints retro-age advertisements. I’m lucky to have him. Best of luck in the giveaway!
Interesting group with wicked senses of humor.
Liz, wicked is right! Dorothy Parker was known to say: “The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” Good luck in the giveaway!
JJ, love this! What a fun scenario, very Agatha Christie with a lovely twist! Can’t wait to snuggle into this one. ~ Avery Aames
Oh Avery! This book can’t wait to snuggle up with YOU. Cheers!
very cool giveaway! very nice indeed!
Glad you think so, Mark. Good luck in the giveaway!
thanks! i wasn’t able to follow you in all the ways earlier so i did so and reentered. go ahead and delete my first one! 🙂
Great sounding book.
Gloria, I wouldn’t say “great”–but if you want to say it, who am I to stop you? 🙂
Good luck in the giveaway!
this wonderful book sounds unique and fascinating.
You said it, Anne! Thanks for stopping by.
Good luck with the giveaway!
So enjoyable and special to learn about and reading this would be memorable. thanks.
Ellie, yes, there’s a little learning going on…But if I may say so, this series includes a bit of history but it never beats you over the head with it. Now, if you use the book to beat someone else over the head, that’s up to you. 😉
Cheers!
This looks so great! I love snowed in books 🙂
Yes, Christie, this is certainly the time for “snowbound” books—while keeping warm and toasty indoors!
Best of luck with the giveaway.
I love the fact that it takes place during the roaring 20s 😀 looks fun!
Lily, yes, they called ’em the Roaring 20s for good reason.
Cheers! Good luck with the giveaway!
Love reading author interviews, and am very grateful to authors who do them 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Sarah, we authors love ’em, too. Thanks for reading!
Good luck with the giveaway.
I love cozies with witty characters and this sounds perfect.
Merry, as Dorothy Parker said: “There’s a hell of a distance between wisecracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.”
I’ll let you judge if my Dorothy Parker is witty or wisecracking–or a bit of both.
Best of luck with the giveaway!
I love playing games, not sure I’d want murder involved, lol, except in a book. Thank you for hosting this giveaway.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I agree, Wendy. Games that end in demise are not quite as much fun. (Except perhaps The Hunger Games?) And, yes, thanks again to Lori for hosting this giveaway!
I’m anxious to see how Dorothy Parker’s sense of humor comes through in this mystery.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sue, it comes through without a scratch. 🙂 Can’t say the same for all the characters, though!
Good luck with the giveaway.
Sounds great! I will be looking for “A Friendly Game of Murder” and have added it to my TBR list.
Thanks, Amanda. Glad it made your list!
Good luck with the giveaway!
This is the 2nd book in which this game is used that I know. The other is a Judy Bolton Book.
Rachelle, I just learned the other day that the game of Murder was also used in an episode of “Frasier.” We’re in good company!
Best of luck with the giveaway!
Dorothy Parker is a hoot – this series is a fun read. Looking forward to this latest adventure. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
LInda, hope it lives up to your expectations. Thanks!
Good luck on the giveaway!
I enjoy playing games, this description sounds kind of like the game “Clue”.
sounds like a great book!
Thanks for the chance to win! =)
But, Melissa, hopefully it’ll last longer than a game of Clue. Cheers!
Best of luck with the giveaway!
These sound like wonderful characters to base a book on. Can’t wait to read it.
Ann
Ann, you’re an excellent judge of “character.” I couldn’t agree with you more!
Good luck with the giveaway.
I remember being quarantined back in the 40s – notice posted on the front door and my dad couldn’t come home for 2 weeks – and playing Clue back in the 50s. I live in MN so I’ve also been snowed in or had to hibernate due to the extreme cold many times over the years. Hmmmm – don’t you agree that your book would be perfect for me?!? 🙂
Wow, Karen, sounds like you’ve already lived it!
But…yes! I believe that it would be perfect for you! So good luck with the giveaway!
The Algonquin sounds like a great setting for a cozy series! Glad to hear you can start the series alright with this one! Thanks for the chance to win!!
It certainly is a great setting, holdenj. It was a wonderful place in the Roaring 20s, and it still is wonderful today (as you can see from the photo above). Best of luck in the giveaway!
If the wit and charm are as good in the book as you are in your interview, I’m sure I’ll have quite the jolly good time in A Friendly Game of Murder.
Cheers,
laura thomas
Laura, I guarantee that the book is $7.99 better than the interview! (Really, I actually guarantee it!)
Good luck with the giveaway!
I adore this series. J.J. my book club still talks about the meeting where you Skyped with us. It was one of (if not the best) meetings we have had. Can’t wait to read this new book.
Bev, I remember that fondly too. Few were injured and no one was killed in that Skyping incident. A positive experience overall.
Hope you do enjoy the new book. Best of luck in the giveaway!
Oh, this certainly sounds fun.
This looks like a wonderful series for me to try…looking forward to some wonderful winter reading!
I love to read cozies and this is one Im sure I will enjoy reading. Reading and games -fun winter time activities
This sounds wonderful! I have to find the first book so I can enjoy the series.
I would love to win/read this book. It sounds terrific.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
sounds fun .would love to win.thanks for the chance
Sounds like a great book.
This is a fun series. Sounds like an intriguing game of murder.
Thanks for the giveway.
Sounds super fun, thanks for the giveaway!
wall paper is for ME!
great gift idea