Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery)
by Michelle L. Clifton
I am happy to welcome Michelle L. Clifton
to Escape With Dollycas today!
Hi Michelle,
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in Southwest Colorado in the area my Taryn O’Kelly Mysteries and Sliver Springs, Colorado is based on. I am an outdoors girl. I hike, camp, hunt, and boat. Nature is where I feel most a peace and where I feel the most relaxed.
My husband and I meet when I was 17 and have been together ever since. He truly is the love of my life. We have two wonderful adult children. I homeschooled them through high school while working as a dance and theater manager and sitting on various sports boards. My kids are quickly making the transition from the child role to the best friend role. I love having them around. I am so proud of who they have become.
I have suffered many health conditions, some of which are active and incurable. It gets in my way some days and those aren’t my best moments but I try to push through and keep dreaming. We moved to Florida for my health, and I must say I miss the mountains and Fall but I love the heat and the beach!
As I enter the empty nester potion of my life my husband and I are ready for whatever adventure awaits us.
What is the first book you remember reading?
The first book I remember reading and loving was The Secret Garden. I loved the enchanting mystery of the English moors, Mr. Craven’s strange and almost spooky manor, and most of all the secret hideout where the children had freedom for adventure. I wanted to live in that manor and have that garden.
What are you reading now?
I am reading Shoot the Breeze by Gina LaManna. I am also on a judges panel for book awards and have four novels for that as well.
What books have most inspired you?
Janet Evanovich’s series, all of them. My favorite is the Fox and O’Hara series. I used to be a huge Stephanie Plum fan but I have had a hard time with the last several in the series. I also, love Gemma Halliday’s High Heels Mysteries, Kyra Davis’s Sophie Katz Mysteries, Cleo Coyle Coffeehouse Mysteries, and Kate Collins Flower Shop Mysteries.
What made you decide you wanted to write mysteries?
I love puzzles, Escape rooms, Clue-like board games, mystery series books, and TV shows. When I was in High School I interned at the DA office. I was going to become an attorney and put bad guys in jail. Life has a way of taking unexpected turns and becoming an attorney no longer was a priority. I decided I would write mysteries and catch bad guys another way.
Do you have a special place where you like to write?
I love writing on my lanai early in the morning, listening to the songbirds sing, and watching the sunrise. My Saint Bernard/ Aussie, Paige, and my Maine Coone/ Ragdoll, Flynn, are my writing buddies and oftentimes they sit out there with me.
Where do the ideas for your books come from?
I pull from real-life experiences and embellish them heavily. I see things while observing people and think to myself, how can I turn this into a story? I ask myself if this were a book or if this were a mystery, how would it go?
Is there anything about writing you find most challenging?
Descriptions are the hardest thing for me. I want my story to move fast. I don’t like to slow down and look at the scenery. I constantly have to remind myself how important scene description is. I have an excellent editor who keeps me in line when my dialogue is moving but the people talking need to be doing something. She lets me know where I need to add a bit more description.
What do you think makes a good story?
I believe a good story keeps the reader wanting more. The mystery needs to be intriguing and the pace needs to be fast. The characters need to be relatable, someone you could see yourself loving or disliking. There needs to be an element of danger and suspense. You can’t have murder without danger. I want my books to be hard to put down. I want my readers to become a part of the story and have a vested interest in how it turns out.
Which, of all your characters, do you think is the most like you?
I am most like Taryn. I am a hopeless romantic, fiercely loyal, and love helping people. I work too hard to make things as close to perfect as humanly possible and have a hard time relaxing when there is something that needs to be done. My husband helps to balance my obsessive qualities. Much like Alex does for Taryn.
What makes your books different from others out there in this genre?
My books are fast-paced and easy to read. My characters are reliable and have the same everyday life experiences that most people have, aside from finding bodies of course. My heroine has a different job than most cozy mystery sleuths; she is a party planner. She is also much younger than the average cozy sleuth. Because she is younger she has different life wants and needs. My books crossover into the mystery romance and romance suspense realm, just a little.
I have read many books in this genre that don’t move as fast as I would like them to and that’s perfect for certain readers. I am busy and enjoy reading but don’t always have a lot of free time. I need books that keep up with my pace.
A perfect example is most fantasy books are long and complicated but I love the story they tell. However, for me, it’s better to watch the movie than read the book since I don’t have that kind of time commitment. I know the movie doesn’t do the book justice but reading long descriptions and heavy themes isn’t something I have time for.
I write lighthearted, fast-paced murder mysteries, filled with shenanigans, romance, humor, and a strong female lead, always delivering a happy ending.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
I am writing a novella, an in-between the numbers book, that should be available this fall, and book 3 in the Taryn O’Kelly series that will be available next spring/summer. I do not have the official titles just yet.
My daughter and I are outlining a Paranormal Cozy Mystery series that we will co-author. No date as to when it will debut.
Thank you, Michelle, for visiting today!
Keep reading for more information about Michelle and Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses.
About Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses
Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in the Series
Setting – On Board a cruise ship and Cartagena, Colombia
Publisher : Salty Inspirations (April 8, 2025)
Hardcover : 277 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8990881730
Publisher : Salty Inspirations (April 8, 2025)
Language : English
Paperback : 277 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8990881747
Digital ASIN : B0F3Z14WPJ
Trapped in a sinister plot with a vengeful drug cartel is a killer vacation.
Taryn wanted sun, cocktails, and relaxation. Instead, she and Alex found themselves tangled in yet another deadly puzzle.
After months of chaos and a near-death experience, Taryn and Alex are desperate for a break. A romantic cruise seems like the perfect escape. Adventurous excursions, tropical drinks, and uninterrupted passion. But their dream vacation takes a dark turn when a danger from the past resurfaces, and bodies start piling up.
Trapped in the middle of a sinister plot, Taryn must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again. With a vengeful drug cartel lurking in the shadows, the stakes are higher than ever. Will Taryn’s sharp instincts be enough to outmaneuver the enemy, or will their dream getaway become a deadly nightmare?
Fans of Janet Evanovich and rom-cozy mysteries will love this fast-paced escape filled with murder, romance, and laugh-out-loud moments.
Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses is the second book in the Taryn O’Kelly Mystery series—but it can be read as a standalone. Perfect for readers who love strong female sleuths, tropical twists, and a splash of snark.
Excerpt
‛The other guests were fleeing the scene with their drinks still in their hands. At $10 a drink, you can’t waste those babies.’
‛That man needed coffee or something. Good grief, I barely touched him. He should not have been standing so close to my door. What right did he have to stare me down? Beginning to feel annoyed with the encounter, I took a moment to breathe and tell myself this was not worth my energy. He can not control my feelings or my day.’
‛I had never been so happy to see them standing together. My heart leaped; no one had been snatched or killed. Yay! What has my life come to?’
‛The ECS team did not want to panic the other passengers. Probably to keep the appearance that cruising is safe and people don’t die.’
“Who said anything about wasting it? If I am going to die, I am not going down without my drink. I’ll finish it. To justice!” She gulped the Aguardiente and coughed again. “It burns,” she wheezed.
Great Escapes Praise for Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery)
by Michelle L. CliftonWell-written, Clifton weaves in the romance of Taryn and Alex with humor, including a few laugh-out-loud moments. This is the second in the series, but is easily read out-of-order.
~Christa Reads and Writes
More About Michelle L. Clifton
Michelle L. Clifton is the author of the Taryn O’Kelly series, which mixes laugh-out-loud humor, steamy romance, and gripping mysteries. Her books are perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, offering a modern twist on cozy mysteries with amateur sleuth Taryn O’Kelly at the helm.
Michelle was raised in Southwest Colorado in the great valleys of the Rocky Mountains. There she married the love of her life and raised two beautiful kids, a cat, two dogs, and chickens! She has worked in the dental field, dance and theater industry, athletics, and event coordinating. She created Salty Inspirations to pursue her passion for writing.
However, her favorite job is being MOM. Her family made a major move to Cape Coral, Florida, just in time for Hurricane Ian. When not crafting tales of intrigue, Michelle can be found spending time with her family hiking and camping in Colorado and boating and beaching in Florida. Oh! And writing of course!
Author Links
Website Instagram Facebook Amazon
Book 2 trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Skm0gfIGSc
Purchase Links
Amazon Bookshop.org B&N Kobo
TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops.
May 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
May 6 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
May 7 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
May 8 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 9 – MJB Reviewers = SPOTLIGHT
May 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 11 – Deal Sharing Aunt – COCKTAIL RECIPE
May 12 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
May 13 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 14 – FUONLYKNEW – COCKTAIL RECIPE
May 15 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 16 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
May 17 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
May 18 – Angel’s Book Nook – COCKTAIL RECIPE
May 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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