A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery)
by Mona Marple
It is my pleasure to welcome Mona Marple
to Escape With Dollycas today!
Why I Write Cozy Mysteries (and Always Will)
By Mona Marple
Every now and then, someone asks me a question that seems simple on the surface but always makes me pause before answering:
“Why do you write cozy mysteries?”
Not just mysteries. Not thrillers, or legal dramas, or gritty detective fiction. Cozy mysteries—with the quirky characters, small villages, amateur sleuths, and the comforting promise that no matter how chaotic things get, justice (and tea) will be served in the end.
So why cozies?
The short answer is: because they feel like home.
But if you’ll settle in with a cuppa, I’ll give you the long answer too.
Chapter One: Mum’s Lap and Murder She Wrote
I grew up in a house filled with stories.
Not the kind that cost a fortune or lived behind locked glass cabinets, but the kind you found stacked beside the bed, dog-eared and well-loved. My mum was a reader—the reader, really. Our living room was home to a tower of paperbacks that wobbled like they might collapse in a plot twist at any moment.
And her favourites? Always the mysteries.
Agatha Christie. M.C. Beaton. Patricia Wentworth. The queens of clever puzzles and quiet detectives. Mum had a particular fondness for Miss Marple, and I can remember sitting beside her on the sofa, both of us watching Murder, She Wrote, transfixed.
There was something magical about Jessica Fletcher, wasn’t there? All those suspects gathered in the drawing room. The final reveal. The way she always noticed what everyone else missed—not through force or power, but through observation, empathy, and quiet confidence.
It didn’t matter that I didn’t understand all the clues at that age. What mattered was the rhythm. The cozy cadence of a mystery gently unravelling.
Chapter Two: The Lawyer Who Loved Puzzles
Before I was an author, I was (and still am) a lawyer.
Now, when you picture a lawyer’s life, you might not immediately think of cozy mysteries. But here’s a secret: the two worlds aren’t as far apart as they seem.
Law is, at its core, about people and puzzles. It’s about asking questions, following trails, spotting inconsistencies, and putting the pieces together. It’s about looking beyond the obvious and saying, “What’s really going on here?”
Sound familiar?
That’s exactly what a cozy mystery sleuth does. Whether it’s a retired librarian, a cake shop owner, or a bookshop manager with a Swiss Mountain Dog sidekick (hi, Bracken), the job is the same: notice what others don’t. Dig a little deeper. Solve the puzzle.
So yes, my lawyer brain adores a twisty plot. I love a red herring. I love crafting a cast of characters where everyone has a motive—and then figuring out which motive matters most.
But I also love the fact that in cozy mysteries, it’s not just about the crime.
It’s about the community.
Chapter Three: A Dash of Whimsy
Life, as we all know, can be serious. Some days it’s heavy. Complicated. Messy in ways that don’t always get resolved within the space of a neatly wrapped-up chapter.
And that’s exactly why I write what I do.
Cozy mysteries offer us something rare: a safe place to explore danger. A gentle way to look at justice. A world where, yes, something bad happens—but the focus is on making it right.
In my books, you’ll find clues and suspects and shocking reveals—but you’ll also find seaside walks, village fêtes, warm kitchens, and the occasional magical reindeer. Because I believe we all need stories that comfort as well as entertain. That remind us that, even when things go wrong, they can still be put right.
There’s whimsy in a cozy mystery. A sparkle. A wink. The sense that, just maybe, the world isn’t quite as ordinary as it looks.
And I think we need that now more than ever.
Chapter Four: Building My Own Cozy World
When I began writing my first cozy mystery, I had no idea it would turn into a career.
I just knew I wanted to create something that felt like home. Like the stories I grew up with. Like the ones I still reach for when I want comfort, clarity, or just a good old-fashioned whodunit.
Since then, I’ve written about magical towns that celebrate Christmas all year round. About Yorkshire villages with more secrets than sea air. About women rediscovering their strength and finding themselves as they follow a trail of breadcrumbs to the truth.
Every time I sit down to write a new book, I feel grateful. Grateful that I get to do this. Grateful that readers invite my characters into their lives. And grateful that the world of cozy mysteries is big enough for all of us—for the readers, the dreamers, and the accidental sleuths.
Final Chapter: Why I’ll Keep Writing Cozy Mysteries
So, why cozy mysteries?
Because of my mum and the books on her nightstand.
Because of my legal training and the love of a good puzzle.
Because of Murder, She Wrote, and the way a bicycle basket full of letters could contain the key to everything.
Because life can be hard, but stories can be soft.
Because sometimes the best way to deal with the dark is to light a lantern—and invite readers in for a slice of lemon drizzle and a mystery to solve.
And because, deep down, I believe that a good story can change a bad day. That kindness and cleverness can go hand in hand. And that even the smallest village can contain the biggest surprises.
Cozy mysteries remind us of all that.
And that’s why I’ll always write them.
With warmth, whimsy, and a notebook full of clues,
Mona
Thank you, Mona, for visiting today!
Keep reading for more information about Mona and her new book!
About A Whale of a Crime
A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE COAST, ENGLAND
Independently Published (April 30, 2025)
Print length : 254 pages
Digital ASIN : B0DTZ3KGWP
After ten years away, Ryan Kennedy never planned on returning to Flamborough—the tiny Yorkshire village he once called home. But when his fiercely independent gran, Iris, needs him, he finds himself back behind the counter at her chaotic seaside bookshop, wrestling with jammed tills, nosy villagers, and the memories he’s spent years trying to forget.
What Ryan doesn’t expect is to be swept straight into the heart of a murder investigation.
When a mysterious boat appears on the beach and a body turns up at the exclusive Whale Watch Weekend picnic, all eyes turn to the cliffs—and to the secrets the village has been keeping. As Ryan and Iris dig into the tangled history of the victim, long-buried truths begin to surface, not just about the case… but about the night Ryan’s own husband died.
With the tide cutting them off, a killer on the loose, and a very observant dog named Bracken by their side, Ryan and Iris must work fast—because in Flamborough, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the sea has a habit of washing everything to shore.
For fans of twisty village whodunits, seaside charm, and heartfelt mysteries with a slow-burning emotional pull, A Whale of a Crime is the unforgettable first instalment in a brand-new series.
Excerpt
“He hadn’t expected it to feel like this—like being punched in the gut and wrapped in a warm blanket all at once.”
“Welcome home, little brother.”
“Because I very much doubt Vic decided to bash his own head in with a decorative whale.”
“You could dress a Flamborough lad in all the fancy clothes you liked, but the salt air would always find a way in.”
“They were trapped until morning. Six suspects, one murder weapon, and Iris’ grandson caught in the middle of it all.”
Great Escapes Praise for A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery)
by Mona Marple
A Whale of a Crime is a cute cozy with a seaside bookshop, a Whale Watch Weekend, residents with secrets, a boat and a body, a clever canine, an energetic grandmother, missing money, and troubling truths.
~The Avid Reader
Marine conservation, murder, and a bit of Yorkshire pluck make A WHALE OF A CRIME an outstanding series debut. Grab a nice cup of tea, or perhaps a pint, and be ready for a captivating read!
~Cozy Up With Kathy
I recommend A Whale of a Crime for other fans of cozy mysteries and especially for readers who enjoy a British village setting.
~View from the Birdhouse
More About Mona Marple
Mona Marple writes charming cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty whodunits, and settings you’ll wish you could visit—especially if you love a bit of seasonal sparkle. Best known for her beloved Candy Cane Hollow series, Mona creates worlds where murder meets mistletoe and sleuthing pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. When she’s not writing, Mona can be found walking her Labradoodle, Coco, plotting her next murder (on the page, of course), or hosting reader parties in her cozy online community.
Author Links
WEBSITE FACEBOOK FACEBOOK GROUP INSTAGRAM
Purchase Links
Amazon
Also by Mona Marple
Find all of Mona Marple’s Books HERE.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops.
June 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
June 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
June 4 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
June 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 5 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 6 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
June 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
June 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
June 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 7 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
June 8 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 9 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
June 9 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 10 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
June 10 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
June 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 11 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
June 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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I would love to read this story.