It is my pleasure to welcome J. S. Mason
to Escape With Dollycas today!
Hi J. S.,
What are three things most people don’t know about you?
A). If you sit next to me at a restaurant, I might attempt to and succeed in eating your food even if you’re at a different table. Not out of persuasion, brute force, or even stealth, just being friendly with the waitstaff.
B). I have wielded a bookmark as a tool for self-defense quite effectively and let’s just say that grizzly won’t be bothering me anytime soon, especially since it was a teddy bear.
C). I volunteer at a soup kitchen and shelter in my community on a regular basis.
What books/authors have most inspired you?
Gruff, gritty, and heavy or sweet, light, and easy mystery reads appeal to me, so I would be doing a disservice to authors that encompass both sub-sets of genres. Outside of the general mystery realm, historical romance, and auto-biographical reads pique my interest as what might be considered mundane gets to the crux of human nature many a time. As someone who explores the psychological aspect of their characters, this is important to me. My intention is not to be evasive in answering, but perhaps slightly…mysterious.
Also, Aesop’s fables (For anyone who has read my previous four books, that should be quite apparent.) Telling tales of animals with moral lessons seems to influence people as well, quite effectively for a positive change.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I spend a great amount of time researching the setting of wherever my book is to take place as well as the crime and murder methods. The subtle details and getting them right means a great deal to me. For example, in Martinique, where Whisky Hernandez 
Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?
No, not anymore. But that’s only because I write every day. If I were to stop for a few days, I suspect that annoyance would find it’s way back.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Write.
When you are not writing what do you like to do?
Read.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
The Rainforest Café. Not any one in particular. But if you want specificity of locale, I would have to say I’d want a seat near the animatronic gorilla. I think they might be near the elephant, but my memory is a bit misty and foggy on that point in the restaurant. Unlike the elephant’s.
What is the next on the horizon for you?
The immediate future is more books in the Whisky Hernandez series. The next in the series is coming out very soon. There is also a new series that I will be introducing so feel free to check that out. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Have a great day!
Thank you so much for visiting today!
Keep reading for more information and my thoughts about Whisky Hernandez.
About Whisky Hernandez
Whisky Hernandez
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Martinique
Independently Published (November 25, 2022)
Hardcover : 269 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8364720542
Paperback : 269 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8360529972
Digital ASIN : B0BKQBGQGF
Martinique. Memories. Murder.
A mystery is abound and the government has called in by special invitation the world’s greatest detective by study and trade, Whisky Hernandez, to help and assist the local police and solve the case fast, making use of her language proficiency in French and Creole. Full-time hygienist and part-time sleuth, this licensed private investigator, daughter of a talented New York and New Jersey former police detective, utilizes the help of her humorous photographer partner to get to the bottom of the mystery that is revealing itself on this island of flowers.
These honest and generous partners of crime-solving are experienced members in obtaining the proof they need to arrive at and protect the truth. Keeping her anxieties and panic attacks in check with the help of her service animal, Whisky is determined to dive into a variety of guilty-looking suspects, analyzing, scrutinizing, and, outsmarting all the ways the villain, the killer, is trying to get away with the clever crime.
Secret undercover work, hidden riddles, challenging puzzles, unique perilous and dangerous situations are all up against Whisky. But along with some banter and comic relief situations with her sidekick partner, our worthy and reliable hero will lead the way and do what it takes to get the job done. With twists, turns, swerves, and contorts, this resolute private investigator plunges into the depths of Martinique, coming up for air in an unforgettable ending.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Murder on Martinique is rare and the chief magistrate doesn’t think his detective can handle the job so he makes a call to the States and asks full-time dental hygienist and part-time private investigator Whisky Hernandez to come to the island and solve the case as quickly as possible. She arranges for time off at the dental office, and she and her photographer friend, Sabastian, and her emotional support pig Vermouth fly off to Martinique.
They are met by the prefect, Felipe Prefountaine. He welcomes them and brings them up to date on the case. Detective Durand (RD) isn’t as happy to see them. He gives them more details about the murder and his files. Transportation is provided and they check in at their hotel. Then Whisky and Sebastian make plans to investigate the murder. RD had a list of suspects, and they decide to start there. Whisky plans to outsmart the killer, wrap the case quickly, and head back to the States. But the murderer is pretty clever so she has her work cut out for her.
Whisky Hernandez is a unique individual to be sure. She is smart and observant with the ability to puzzle out clues. With parents that have been involved in law enforcement, it is easy to see where she gets her drive but we also learn a previous case did not go as planned. So she is a bit skittish about this case. With a reputation as the “world’s greatest detective by study and trade” she needs to be fully ready to take a new case. Her friend, Sabastian, photographs everything trying to capture every detail. He makes a great sidekick and sounding board. The pig, Vermouth is around to calm Whisky as needed but does spend a lot of time in the pet daycare at the hotel. When out with Whisky and Sabastian her “oinks” convey her thoughts.
The mystery was complex with several suspects. Whisky’s quest to ferret out the killer took her to some interesting places and at times the clues had her going in circles. She also made some rookie mistakes. The showdown was bullet-filled and dangerous. I was unsure if the good guys were going to win this one. I was happy to see RD involved in the final parts of the story.
This story has good bones. The author’s descriptive style gets a little wordy in places but I was easily able to picture every person and every scene. I also need more of a backstory for Whisky and how she earned the title of the “world’s greatest detective”. For me, she was a great amateur sleuth but the world’s greatest would be a stretch. I know the author worked hard and has put several hours into this book and it was an entertaining read. I truly appreciated all the humor and his attention to detail. It was well-plotted with some nice twists. A little tweaking can take this story from a 3-4-star read to a 5-star read and set it up very well for future books featuring Whisky, Sabastian, and the loveable Vermouth.
Whisky Hernandez
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
More About J. S. Mason
J.S. Mason is an author of four short story collections and one cozy mystery and has the distinct honor of graduating pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and law school, receiving a diploma from each of the aforementioned education establishments.
Aside from their outstanding excellence within the field of academia, J.S. Mason has quite the records in the athletics department, hitting one triple, bowling one turkey, and scoring three hole-in-ones in a single miniature golf game.
Extending to the performing arts, J.S. Mason has played a sheriff with a past, a pushy prosecuting attorney, and literally a spear carrier, only to hang up their boots/tie/spear because there was too much drama.
Other noteworthy accomplishments of J.S. Mason are that they have a first, middle, and last name.
Impressively, with a background in law enforcement and trial litigation, J.S. Mason always manages to have their shoes tied when they aren’t wearing Velcro.
J.S. Mason is most proud that they are referred to in the third person on their bio, as this is always how they refer to themselves.
J.S. Mason is happy with this.
J.S. Mason is satisfied with this.
J.S. Mason is excited to provide more high-quality books to their audience and hopes they consume them with the utmost pleasure.
For clarity, in response to what some of their reviewers have said, they are correct – J.S. Mason is in fact an honorary A.I. module from M.I.T.
J.S. Mason hopes for you to have a good day and get through it because it can be hard sometimes.
J.S. Mason looks forward to giving you the experience you deserve.
Author Links
Webpage – Twitter/X – Instagram – Goodreads
Purchase Link
Amazon
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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.”
Intriguing, unique and captivating cozy mystery with an unusual setting.
J.S. Mason here. Thank you.
J.S. Mason here. Thank you for the extensive review. It is much appreciated.
What an intriguing book! I would love to read more about Whisky and her emotional support pig Vermouth.
J.S. Mason here. Thank you.