Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am excited to welcome Linda Reilly back to Escape With Dollycas today!
A funny thing happened on the way to the publisher . . .
There are so many components that go into writing a mystery. Fun characters, sneaky red herrings, a plethora of guilty-looking suspects . . . all of these have to be dumped together, shaken up, and poured out into a cohesive story.
When I was writing the initial draft of A FRYING SHAME
Normally I’d stare out the window to dream up a name, or I’d think of a street name from my childhood. I still can’t recall how I came up with “Oriole Road” that day, but it found its way into the story.
A few months after I turned in the manuscript to my publisher, my husband broke his hip. During the early stages of his post-surgery rehab, we decided the time was right for us to move to a place where he’d no longer have to climb stairs. I found a promising apartment complex nearby, and decided to check it out. A newly renovated unit had just become available, with full bath and master bedroom on the ground level. It was perfect! Even more delightful was that the upstairs bedroom would make the ideal writing lair for me.
We took the apartment. As soon as my husband was well enough to go home after weeks of physical therapy, we moved in. The address of our wonderful new apartment? Oriole Court. But the street name didn’t even ring a bell — not until the publisher sent me the edits for A Frying Shame
I’ll bet you’re thinking I’d driven past that street before, and that somehow the name got stuck in my sub-conscious. Nope. Oriole Court is an internal street within the apartment community. I couldn’t have seen it from the main drag unless I’d driven into the complex. And I hadn’t.
I’ve decided that the universe was whispering in my ear the day I made up that street name. The hubby and I are very happy in our Oriole Court apartment, just as Talia Marby, the fry cook in the Deep Fried mysteries, is loving her new digs in Wrensdale, Massachusetts. Living in her nana’s bungalow, she’s been having a blast transforming the old fish and chips shop into a deep-fried eatery.
But it’s not without its challenges. Wherever Talia goes, murder seems to pop into the picture. If you’re in the Berkshires, stop by Fry Me a Sliver and enjoy a deep-fried treat. The ambiance is cozy, the AC is pumping out chilled air, and the deep fryer is sizzling. And be sure to eavesdrop on the local gossip . . . you can bet it’ll be all about murder.
~Linda
(Guest Post Provided by Publicist)
Thank you so much for stopping by today Linda!!
You can find out all about Linda Reilly on her Webpage here. Find her on Facebook and GoodReads too!
A Frying Shame (Deep Fried Mystery, A)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Massachusetts
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery (April 4, 2017)
An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425274156
Kindle ASIN: B01E4WAFEK
Fry another day.
The town of Wrensdale is abuzz with excitement when Steeltop Foods sponsors a cooking contest to promote its new product, the Flavor Dial. With a $25,000 prize at stake, all the contestants are on edge, including Talia Marby, owner of Fry Me A Sliver. She hopes her mini deep-fried apple pies will win her the money to pay off the renovations on her restaurant. But when Norma Ferguson wins with her flaky-top chicken stew, the tensions dial up even more.
After Norma is found dead at her cooking station, the police suspect a losing contestant got a little too hot under the collar. Now it’s crunch time as Talia works to catch the killer and clear her name before another cook gets burned.
Includes delicious recipes!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We return to Wrensdale just in time for a cooking contest sponsored by Steeltop Fods. Talia is hoping to win the $25,000 prize for her mini deep-fried apple pies, but Norma Ferguson grabs the top prize for her flaky-top chicken stew. Before she can even deposit the check she is found dead in her cooking station and Talia’s part time employee Lucas is in the hospital in critical condition. Of course the police’s top suspects are the losing contestants, but Talia thinks there has to be other suspects with more motivation. When a key piece of evidence lands one of the contestants in jail Talia turns up the heat to catch a killer but she may be the one who fries.
I do enjoy the way Talia handles herself both in business and in her sleuthing. She is super friendly and honestly just wants to get to the truth. She does veer in some dangerous directions when her investigation goes awry making for some scary moments. She is a character with a lot of depth. If I lived in Wrensdale I think we would become fast friends. I also would love to meet Bojangles, the handsome kitty on the cover.
As in Out of the Dying Pan
Wrensdale is the perfect backdrop for this cozy mystery series. Large enough to bring a diverse group of characters into play but small enough for everyone to know everybody’s secrets to make amateur investigating fun.
This story reeled me in quickly. The only thing that could have made this book better was if it came with free samples. The food descriptions had my tummy growling. There are recipes in the back of the book, but I really wanted fish and chips so I made Mr. Dollycas take me out for supper.
A catchy cozy with a clever plot and cunning characters. Bait your lines and catch your own copy. If you are new to the series start at the beginning to fill up your reading plate and dig right in.
Thanks to the publisher I have 2 copies to give away!
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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.”
That is so cool about the street name, it was meant to be. The book is one I want to read. Thank for the chance.
I love when an author uses puns for titles. Sounds like a cute series!
I love that cover for A Frying Shame ~ that kitty is just so cute! This is a new series for me and one I’m adding to my must read list. There’s nothing better than a cozy mystery!
Interesting concept.
I like the title of the book. Imagine, naming a vicious street and then looking to relocate and end up living in said street. Unbelievable!!!!!. Book seems like it will be a good read.
What a wonderful story. Life is so much more than what we see on the surface. Thanks for the giveaway.
I read Out of the Dying Pan, which was great, so I’m ready to read this one! Thanks!
Wonderful review thank you, love the cover.
Penney
I love the title and the cover! I enjoyed your interview. The series sounds really interesting I will have to check it out! Thanks for the chance to win the book. Good luck everyone!
Thanks for this captivating cozy. The series is wonderful.
I like the sound of the book.
I haven’t read this series yet but it’s definitely on the list!
Sounds like a fun read.
Thanks for a chance to win a copy. As a Southerner, I know all about frying.
This is the coolest series and my Goldilocks looks just like the kitty!!!!!
I loved the first book and just realized I missed the second, I’ll have to correct that.
This looks like a fun read! Thanks!
Thank you for hosting Linda Reilly’s latest book on your blog. I would love the opportunity to read it.
I’m intrigued with the idea of a shop that specializes in fried food. Love to see the menu.
Deep fried apple pies = heaven!
Linda Reilly, this book sounds so good.
Interesting coincidence about the street name. Funny how those things happen. Love the cover and looking forward to reading the book.
I’ve read the first two in this series! I can’t wait to read this one!
I’m ready for this one! I’d love to win it!!
Thanks for the giveaway! I love this series!!
love this author and def love the title of this newest book of hers
Love the cat on the cover and the play on words in the title of this book. Do you throw more than a few red herrings in your mysteries?