I am happy to shine my Spotlight on Gone With The Whisker today!

Gone With The Whisker (A Bookmobile Cat Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting – Michigan
Publisher: Berkley (March 31, 2020)
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 0593100131
ISBN-13: 978-0593100134
Kindle ASIN: B083HLLP75

A friendly feline and a feisty librarian merrily roll along in the newest Bookmobile Cat mystery…until murder stops them in their tracks!

 

It’s the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library’s most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.

 

But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile’s most loyal patrons. And she knows she—and Eddie—will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime.

 

About the Author

Laurie Cass is the nationally bestselling author of the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries. She lives on a lake in northern Michigan with her husband and two cats. Find out more on her webpage here and sign up for her Newsletter.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Selah’s Stolen Dream (Dream Horse Adventures)
by Susan Count – Lori Sanford (Illustrator)

I am excited to shine my spotlight today on Selah’s Stolen Dream! 

About Selah’s Stolen Dream 

Selah’s Stolen Dream (Dream Horse Adventures)
Young Adult
4th in Series
Publisher: Hastings Creations Group (January 1, 2020)
Paperback: 262 pages
ISBN-10: 0997088389
ISBN-13: 978-0997088380
Digital Publisher: Hastings Creations Group (March 1, 2020)
Print Length: 217 pages
ASIN: B082L6CJ2H

One girl’s victory is another’s tragic defeat.

 

Thirteen-year-old Selah’s perfect life unravels when her beloved horse is stolen. Then ten-year-old Emma buys the dream of a lifetime at a horse auction. When she learns the horse was stolen, even removing her hearing aid won’t drown out the voice telling her to make it right.

 

But two girls can’t divide the horse they both adore. So will life surprise them with an answered prayer?

 

About Susan Count

How many twists and turns can one person take before they figure out what they were born to do? Susan Count’s degree is in Applied Science–nothing in that prepared her to write novels for children. But one day, she began to write with no preconceived ideas. No one could have been more astounded than she was when it turned into a middle-grade equine series. As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, she takes the craft of writing seriously and considers revision to be her super-power.

She writes at an antique secretary desk that occupies a glass room with a forest view. Fittingly, it once belonged to the same wise grandmother who introduced Susan to the love of reading via Walter Farley’s horse books. That desk has secret compartments that hold memories, mysteries and story ideas.

Susan is a lifelong equestrian and is owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse. She is convinced that the only thing more delightful than riding the forest trails might be writing horse adventure stories. She invites you to saddle up and ride along.

Author Links – Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – 

Purchase Link – Amazon 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Great Escapes Tour Praise for Selah’s Stolen Dream (Dream Horse Adventures)
by Susan Count – Lori Sanford (Illustrator)

Ms. Count has a whimsical way with her writing that makes the reader believe that they are there with the characters. I loved this book from beginning to end.
~Baroness’ Book Trove

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
April 1 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
April 1 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
April 2 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
April 3 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW
April 4 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
April 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
April 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
April 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
April 6 – Nadaness in Motion – SPOTLIGHT
April 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 8 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT
April 8 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
April 9 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
April 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

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The Missing Sister
by Elle Marr

I am thrilled to shine my Spotlight
on this thriller today from Elle Marr!

About The Missing Sister

 The Missing Sister
Thriller
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (April 1, 2020)
Paperback: 299 pages
ISBN-10: 1542006058
ISBN-13: 978-1542006057
Digital ASIN: B07QYMXX41

In Paris, her twin sister has vanished, leaving behind three chilling words: Trust no one.

 

Shayna Darby is finally coming to terms with her parents’ deaths when she’s delivered another blow. The body of her estranged twin sister, Angela—the possible victim of a serial killer—has been pulled from the Seine. Putting what’s left of her life on hold, Shayna heads to Paris. But while cleaning out Angela’s apartment, Shayna makes a startling discovery: a coded message meant for her alone…

 

Alive. Trust no one.

 

Taking the warning to heart, Shayna maintains the lie. She makes a positive ID on the remains and works to find out where—and why—her missing sister is hiding. Shayna retraces her sister’s footsteps, and they lead her down into Paris’s underbelly.

 

As she gets closer to the truth—and to the killer—Shayna’s own life may now be in the balance…

 

About Elle Marr

Originally from Sacramento, Elle Marr explored the urban wilderness of Southern California before spending three wine-and-cheese-filled years in France. There she earned a master’s degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris. Now she lives and writes outside Portland, Oregon, with her husband and one very demanding feline. When she’s not busy writing her next novel, she’s most likely thinking about it. Connect with her online at ellemarr.com, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Author Links

Website – Instagram – Facebook –Twitter 

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – IndieBound 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
March 25 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
March 26 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
March 26 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT
March 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 27 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
March 28 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – SPOTLIGHT
March 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
March 29 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
March 30 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
March 31 – Gimme The Scoop Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 31 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
April 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
April 1 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
April 2 – eBook addicts – REVIEW
April 3 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
April 3 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW
April 4 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
April 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
April 6 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW
April 7 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

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This is a tough time in the world today. Sheltering in place may sound easy at first, but as your days at home continue you are going to need an escape. Working from home partnered with childcare, homeschooling, or taking care for elderly relatives all add pressure to your day. You also may be worried about money and the uncertainty of how long we will need to remain at home as well. So, I have done a little searching and found some FREE Kindle Cozy Mysteries on Amazon written by Indie Authors to help you wind down your day and escape into a good book.

Note: I have not read these books, but have grabbed them for future reading. Books were free at the time I created this post. Amazon can change prices at any time. 

Cozy Mystery Starter Set – Six Books
by Gillian Larkin

A six-book collection of cozy mystery stories:

A Secret Killer – A Julia Blake Cozy Mystery
A Lesson In Deceit – A Julia Blake Short Cozy Mystery
The Death Planner – A Storage Ghost Murder
A Lonely Death – A Pearl and Derek Mystery
Playing At Murder – A Butterworth Mystery
A Ghost In The Store – A Ruby and Nessa Mystery

A Secret Killer – A Julia Blake Cozy Mystery

Julia Blake runs a cleaning business. She also has the uncanny knack of discovering murdered people.
In this story Julia visits one of her clients, a genealogist called Hugo Barnes. Hugo has uncovered a family secret during the course of his work. He tells Julia that the client won’t be happy about the secret he’s discovered.

Julia finds Hugo’s dead body the next day. She makes her own investigations into Hugo’s death and soon discovers that his assistant, Dinah, and his brother, Gilbert, have strong motives for killing him.
Julia also finds out who the last client of Hugo’s was. Did they have a motive to kill Hugo too?

And who is the man who’s been watching Julia’s house?

A Lesson In Deceit – A Julia Blake Short Cozy Mystery

In this story, Julia travels to Edinburgh University to visit her son, Sam. It’s not long before she stumbles upon a dead body. Julia is happy to leave the murder investigation to the police – until her son becomes one of their suspects. Julia has no option but to get herself involved, despite the danger she puts herself in.

The Death Planner – A Storage Ghost Murder

Grace Abrahams helps ghosts – particularly those who were murdered. She meets the ghosts at storage locker auctions.

Grace meets Jenny Lorrimer. Jenny was strangled by the lead of her headset. Grace finds out that Jenny was an events planner and she was murdered at a wedding that she’d organised. Grace delves further and discovers two suspects – Jenny’s sister and Jenny’s best friend. A shock discovery leads her down a different route.

A Lonely Death – A Pearl And Derek Mystery

Derek Quill is an elderly gent who can see the ghosts of murdered people. With the help of his ghostly friend, Pearl, he finds out who killed them.

In his first investigation, Derek meets the ghost of Eric Malone. Derek knows Eric from his schooldays. Eric bullied Derek mercilessly back then and now he’s asking for Derek’s help. Derek soon discovers that Eric never changed his bullying ways and there is more than one person who could be a suspect.

Playing At Murder – A Butterworth Mystery

A short murder mystery story

It’s always been a dream of Connie Butterworth’s to be a private investigator. Now that she’s retired, she makes that dream a reality and sets herself up as an investigator.

With reluctant help from her sister-in-law, Sable, Connie takes on her first client.

What starts out as a simple case of tracking down a missing person soon turns into an intriguing case of deception, phone hacking and murder.

A Ghost In The Store – A Ruby And Nessa Mystery

A short ghost story.

Ruby Laurel is a ghost hunter. She locates ghosts who are haunting places – or people.

In this first story, Ruby is called upon to investigate a haunting in a supermarket. She soon discovers the ghost of a young woman called Mary Jackson. How is Mary connected to the supermarket? And why is she haunting it?

Ruby’s investigation is made more difficult by the arrival of her troublesome younger sister, Nessa. Will Nessa help, or hinder, the investigation?

Click Here To Buy for FREE!

___________________________________

Dial P For Poison (Movie Club Mysteries, Book 1): An Irish Cozy Mystery
by Zara Keane

You can take the girl out of the force, but you can’t keep her away from the action…

Maggie Doyle moves to Ireland to escape her cheating ex and crumbling career in the San Francisco PD. When the most hated woman on Whisper Island is poisoned at her aunt’s Movie Theater Cafe, Maggie and her rock-hard muffins are hurled into the murder investigation.

With the help of her UFO-enthusiast friend, a nun, and a feral puppy, Maggie is determined to clear her aunt’s name. Can she catch the murderer before they strike again? Or will her terrible baking skills burn down the cafe first?

Includes a recipe for the fatal cocktail—minus the deadly ingredient!

Click Here To Buy for FREE!

_____________________________

Darcy Sweet Mystery – Books One to Six: Box Set One (Darcy Sweet Mystery Box Set)
by K.J. Emrick

The first six mysteries in the popular Darcy Sweet Cozy Mystery series: Death Comes to Town, Mists of the Past, From the Ashes, The Ghost of Christmas, The Stolen Valentine and Hiding From Death.

Introducing Darcy Sweet…

She isn’t what you would call a girly girl. She almost never wears makeup and loves nothing more than to wear a well-worn pair of jeans, a t-shirt and her most comfortable pair of sneakers.

She would like to think she is just an ordinary woman, but she’s not. She has a connection to the spirit world that seems to draw her into mysterious situations more often than not.

Add to the mix the antics of a rather naughty, slightly psychic cat and the eccentric ghost of her great-aunt Millie, and you have a life that is anything but ordinary.

658 pages of paranormal mystery fun. Over 200 positive reviews. Find out why over 100,000 readers have fallen for Darcy Sweet!

Pick up your copy of the box set to get six books you won’t want to put down!

Click Here to Buy for FREE!

___________________________________

Death by Chocolate
by Sally Berneathy

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
First book in the Death by Chocolate series

Lindsay loves chocolate. It tastes good, it makes her feel good, it never cheats on her like her almost-ex-husband. It’s her best friend. But someone wants her dead and uses her weak spot—chocolate—to try to murder her.

Lindsay’s only secret is the recipe for her chocolate chip cookies, but she is surrounded by neighbors with deadly secrets. Suddenly she finds herself battling poisoned chocolate, a psycho stalker, and a dead man who seems awfully active for a corpse.

Her best friend and co-worker, Paula, dyes her blond hair brown, hides from everybody and insists on always having an emergency exit from any room. Secrets from Paula’s past have come back to put lives in jeopardy.

Determined to help Paula, Lindsay enlists the reluctant aid of another neighbor, Fred, an OCD computer nerd. In spite of his mundane existence, Fred possesses tidbits of knowledge about such things as hidden microphones, guns, the inside of maximum security prisons and how to take someone down with a well-aimed kick to his chin.

As Lindsay battles the elusive stalker, poisoned chocolate, and the dead man, she will need more than a chocolate fix to survive. But that’s always a good start.

Click Here to Buy for Free!

____________________________

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery)
by Denise Grover Swank

The first book of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling series!

“Though much of the book is light-hearted and occasionally outright hilarious, the author sneaks in a few home truths along the way that will hit you where it counts, like how even someone’s best intentions can box you in.” –Everybody Needs a Little Romance

“This was one of those books that I kept telling myself one more page, then I need to put it down. Instead, I found myself tearing through the book instead, needing to know the outcome.” –Just Jump Book Reviews

“A southern mystery full of romance and fun!” –Goodreads review

****

For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She’s had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone’s toilet’s overflowed, but she’s never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn’t enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.

Rose realizes she’s wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She’s well on her way with the help of her next-door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won’t help with number fifteen– do more with a man. Joe’s new to town, but it doesn’t take a vision for Rose to realize he’s got plenty of secrets of his own.

Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they’ll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn’t her biggest worry after all.

Click Here to Buy for Free!

_______________________

This is just a small sample of what Amazon has to offer.
To find more Free Cozy Mysteries – Click Here. 

If you have Kindle Unlimited there are tons of books you can read with your membership.
Kindle Unlimited is $9.99 per month but you can start with a 30-day Free Trial. 

Also Audible is offering Kids books for free as long as schools are closed. 

For as long as schools are closed, we’re open. Starting today, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.

All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.

Explore the collection, select a title and start listening.

It’s that easy.

Click Here To Start Listening.

Stay Safe!
and Escape Into A Good Book!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Problem Child: A Jane Doe Thriller
by Victoria Helen Stone

I am excited to shine the spotlight on Problem Child today!

About Problem Child

Problem Child: A Jane Doe Thriller
Thriller
2nd in Series
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (March 24, 2020)
Paperback: 265 pages
ISBN-10: 1542014395
ISBN-13: 978-1542014397
Digital ASIN: B07SDTRJP9

She’s cold, calculating, and can deceive with a smile. Jane Doe is back in the Amazon Charts bestselling series—and this time she’s met her match.

 

After a brutal childhood, Jane Doe has been permanently wired to look after herself and only herself. Now, looking next to normal, Jane has a lover and a job. But she hasn’t lost her edge. It sharpens when she hears from her estranged family.

 

Jane’s deeply troubled sixteen-year-old niece, Kayla, has vanished, and no one seems to care. Neither does Jane. Until she sees a picture of Kayla and recognizes herself in the young girl’s eyes. It’s the empty stare of a sociopath.

 

Jane knows what vengeful and desperate things Kayla is capable of. Only Jane can help her—by being drawn into Kayla’s dark world. And no one’s more aware than Jane just how dangerous that can be.

 

About Victoria Helen Stone

Victoria Helen Stone, formerly writing as USA Today bestselling novelist Victoria Dahl, is originally from the Midwest but now writes from an upstairs office high in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. After a career in romance that included the American Library Association’s prestigious Reading List Award, she turned toward the darker side of fiction and has written the critically acclaimed novels, Evelyn, After; Half Past; and False Step. Her Amazon Charts bestselling thriller Jane Doe has been optioned by Sony Television. For more on the author and her work, visit VictoriaHelenStone.com.  And on Twitter @VictoriaDahl

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N  


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Great Escapes Praise for Problem Child: A Jane Doe Thriller
by Victoria Helen Stone

I love what gets Jane Doe’s emotions revving, her hate for the power plant and her fascination with wind turbines. I, too, feel they are an art form . . . Problem Child, for me, was eye-opening and thought-provoking.
~fundinmental

Victoria Helen’s storytelling is marvelous. The story leaves the readers in a trance-like situation. Jane’s well portrayed. A sociopath yes, but her sarcasm and witty sayings surely make you laugh.
~The Book Decoder

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops 
March 17 – fundinmental – REVIEW
March 17 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
March 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 18 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW  
March 18 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
March 19 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW
March 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
March 21 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
March 22 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
March 22 – This Is My Truth Now – SPOTLIGHT
March 23 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW
March 23 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

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Murder in the Cemetery: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery
by Karen Shughart

It is my pleasure to shine the spotlight on Murder in the Cemetery!

About Murder in the Cemetery 

Murder in the Cemetery: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (February 3, 2020)
Paperback: 279 pages
ISBN-10: 1946063983
ISBN-13: 978-1946063984
Digital ASIN: B084H2CHHQ

On a bright, spring afternoon the body of George Wright, a childhood friend of criminal consultant Edmund DeCleryk, is discovered at a cemetery where casualties of the War of 1812 are buried. After conducting an autopsy, the medical examiner determines that George has been murdered, the cause of death by poisoning. Lighthouse Cove Police Chief Carrie Ramos hires Ed to investigate, with his spunky wife, Annie assisting him.

 

Suspects include a physician’s assistant, college student and a family member, among others; however, George’s demise may be the result of secrets that have surfaced from the grave. You’ll discover what Ed found on the beach in Murder in the Museum and how that, and an artifact dating back to the early 1800s, are linked to this untimely death.

 

Annie loves to cook, and at the end of the book she shares recipes for meals she prepared for friends and loved ones.

 

About Karen Shughart

Karen Shughart studied English Literature at S.U.N.Y Buffalo, received a B.A. in Comprehensive Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and completed graduate courses in English from Shippensburg University. In addition to Murder in the Cemetery (book two of the Edmund DeCleryk Cozy mystery series), she is also the author of Murder in the Museum( book one of the series), two non-fiction books and has worked as an editor, publicist, photographer, journalist, teacher and non-profit executive. Before moving to a small village on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Karen and her husband resided in south central Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg. To sign up for her blogs and newsletters or for more information, visit her website at https:// www.karenshughart.com.

Author Links – Website   – Facebook  – Blog  – Goodreads  –  Hometown Reads/Rochester Reads  –  LinkedIn 

• Purchase Links – Amazon Paperback  – Amazon Kindle 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please Visit All The Stops. 
March 19 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
March 20 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW – unable to post
March 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT  
March 22 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
March 23 – eBook addicts – REVIEW
March 24 – Ascroft, eh? – GUEST POST
March 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
March 26 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
March 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
March 28 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
March 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 30 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
March 30 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 31 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
April 1 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

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Clearing a book from my Giveaway Shelf today!

This book could fill the “Q” on your Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Queen Anne’s Lace (China Bayles Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
26th in Series
Berkley (April 3, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425280058
Kindle ASIN: B073Z29PG7

A present day ghost leads China Bayles to a secret from Pecan Springs’s past in this haunting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert.

 

While helping Ruby Wilcox clean up the loft above their shops, China comes upon a box of antique handcrafted lace and old photographs. Following the discovery, she hears a woman humming an old Scottish ballad and smells the delicate scent of lavender….

 

Soon, strange happenings start to occur in Thyme and Seasons: misplaced items, a ringing bell, and the appearance of lavender sprigs in odd places. When a customer mentions seeing a mysterious woman picking flowers nearby and then suddenly disappearing, China must finally admit what Ruby has always known–their building is haunted. But by whom?

 

As China investigates, the tragic story of a woman in one of the old photographs unfolds. Annie Laurie was a young widow who’d lost both her husband and her child in the same day. She manages to survive through her lace-making business and finds happiness again only to have a suspicious death overshadow her new life.

 

China delves into Annie’s century-old mystery and realizes that solving it could have unimaginable repercussions in the here and now.

 

About This Author

Susan Wittig Albert is the New York Times bestselling author of four Prime Crime series: China Bayles, The Darling Dahlias, The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, and (with her husband, Bill Albert) the Robin Paige Victorian Mysteries. She also writes historical fiction. Recent titles: Loving Eleanor and A Wilder Rose. Her website: www.susanalbert.com

Books in this Series

Paws For Murder (The Barking Mad Mysteries)
by Scarlett English

I am so happy to welcome Scarlett English to Escape With Dollycas today!

Hi Scarlett,

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Scarlett English is a crazy cat lady who likes solving murders. Or actually, make that one crazy cat lady and one dog lady, because there are two of us who write together. One of us is British born and raised and the other American. Much to Scarlett’s chagrin, the police have never sought to consult her on the murder cases she works,  which is why she suspects there seems to be so much unsolved crime, especially—surprisingly enough—in the small English village where her stories take place. So, armed with curiosity, a penchant for taking in strays, a love of homemade wine and a good gossip, Scarlett puts her detecting talents to good use murdering the hapless inhabitants of Adlebury and then solving their cases one story at a time.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?

One of us used to be a nurse and the other a Literature teacher.

We both live in the American south. (though one of us lives in Florida, and is far more British than southern)

Our TBR list is always full, and we spend our days reading and writing.

What is the first book you remember reading?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

What are you reading now?

Don’t Lie to Me by Willow Rose

What books have most inspired you?

So many, it’s hard to narrow them down—all the classics, though, as I once taught Literature. (I’m the American one) Particularly the works of Thomas Hardy. I also loved Poe and the darker Romantics. I love the idea that Poe invented the fiction detective story, creating a character named Auguste Dupin before the word “detective” had ever been coined, and his stories are wonderful. Of the more recent writers, I love Dean Koontz and Peter Straub, Stephen King, Mary Stewart. So many.

What made you decide you wanted to write mysteries?

I’ve always loved mysteries. I like to unravel the puzzle and try to guess “who done it?” all from the safety of my living room. When we’re writing, I have so much fun at the beginning of the story, just figuring this out and how Ella and friends can solve it.

Do you have a special place you like to write?

In my office, ably assisted by my cats, who ride the back of my chair and stretch across the keyboard.

Where do the ideas for your books come from?

That’s hard to say. My British co-author came up with the original idea of a British woman living in a small village and an American former police officer who come back home to England, where he was born, and works as a “special constable.” I thought the idea was intriguing and we were off from there!

Is there anything about writing you find most challenging?

Pretty much everything! Finding the will to sit at the computer all day, every day, which is necessary for me. And ignoring all the distractions and the days when the words just won’t come.

What do you think makes a good story?

Good stories are everywhere if you just look around. I always start with a “What if…?

Which, of all your characters, do you think is the most like you?

In Paws for Murder, probably Lily!

What makes your books different from others out there in this genre?

I think our book is unique because of the two voices of Petronella, a village veterinarian and her American cop, who is tired and heartsick with big city crime and wants only to bask in the warmth and the kinder, slower vibes of a small English village. Instead, he finds that murder and mayhem are everywhere.

What’s next on the horizon for you?

We will continue to write this series—we have covers and titles for four so far, but hope to do more. We are loving it so much, and can’t wait to see what other adventures in Adlebury pop into our heads.

About Paws for Murder 

Paws For Murder (The Barking Mad Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Independently Published (January 5, 2020)
Print Length: 163 pages
Digital ASIN: B083JKWXVZ

Welcome to Adlebury where village life can be downright deadly.

 

Veterinarian Petronella Knight seems to have it all. A job she loves, good friends, and patients who adore her. But when she gets into an argument with dog breeder Gladys Harrington, and she finds the woman dead, she also finds herself accused of murder.

 

Ella will need all her friends, including the new and very handsome American policeman, and all her sharpest sleuthing skills to figure out who murdered the dog breeder before another dead body pops up.

 

Paws for Murder contains one enthusiastic amateur detective with a penchant for rescuing animals, a guard duck called George, a large amount of homemade gooseberry wine, and a very confused American who has never met an English village quite like this one.

 

You’d be Barking Mad to pass this one by.

Praise for Paws For Murder (The Barking Mad Mysteries)
by Scarlett English

With a sprinkling of humor and a healthy dose of romantic suspense, Paws for Murder makes a delightful start to a new cozy mystery series.
~Cassidy’s Bookshelves

Paws for Murder is a wonderfully written cozy mystery. I enjoyed the characters, the character development, and the world building.
~Sapphyria’s Books

This was so much fun. A mix of British gentle mysteries and American cozy mystery reads . . . This first of what I hope is a rollicking series, is very exciting.
~Laura’s Interests

A nice gentle start to a new series, also nice and short so ideal for commutes!
~A Wytch’s Book Review Blog

About Scarlett English

Scarlett English is a crazy cat lady who likes solving mysteries. Or actually, make that a dog lady. Much to her chagrin, the police have never sought to consult her, which is why there seems to be so much unsolved crime. Especially—surprisingly enough—in the small English village where she lives. So, armed with curiosity, a penchant for taking in strays, a love of homemade wine and a good gossip, she puts her detecting talents to good use murdering her imaginary friends and neighbors and solving the cases one story at a time.

Purchase Link – Amazon 

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Clearing in the Woods
by Phyllis M. Newman

I am pleased to shine the spotlight on Clearing in the Woods today!

About Clearing in the Woods

Clearing in the Woods
Women’s Psychological/Crime Fiction
Publisher: Independently published (October 31, 2019)
Paperback: 321 pages
ISBN-10: 1701629364
ISBN-13: 978-1701629363
Digital ASIN: B07ZTZMTVS

Roberta escapes her humdrum middle-class existence and the persistent ache of her dead mother’s secrets by fleeing to Alaska. Having abandoned everything she’d spent her life building, Roberta remakes herself in another place, doing anything other than responding to the demands of her self-absorbed husband, her entitled kids, and her Pottery Barn home. Taking her first job since college, and a small room above a tourists’ shop, she contemplates new vistas. She never expected, however, to find romance in the form of a handsome federal agent involved in murder and mayhem.And it is murder and mayhem, and the discovery of other’s secrets, that causes Roberta to run for her life into the Alaskan wilderness…

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce Clearing in the Woods. My story presents Roberta Blankenship as an unhappy wife and mother who has lived a life of sacrifice, one that denies herself for the sake of her entitled adult children and her ungrateful husband. After years of pushing aside her own hopes and dreams to promote those of her family, Roberta rebels. We’ve all been there, right? But Roberta takes it to the next level and flees to Alaska, the farthest point she can get from the Midwest without a passport, to start a new life on her own terms.

Roberta is a flawed yet sympathetic character. She is both cynic and romantic, jaded and enthusiastic, willfully ignorant and prescient. My goal was to create an unlikeable character, one who is self-absorbed and angry, and then transform her into someone we can all identify with. To accomplish this, I employed classic fairy tales, which are rich in symbols and archetypes. Insight into the meanings of these tropes and classic roles allows the reader to understand the tales, and therefore life, on a deeper level.

In her quest for self-fulfillment, Roberta repeatedly defies the rules that fairytales endeavor to teach us:

Don’t go into the woods alone.

You must not stray from the path.

Don’t question authority.

Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

You must be home by midnight.

Don’t talk to strangers.

Only innocence and goodness are rewarded with undying love.

Roberta refuses to play by the rules and embraces the world on her own terms. This leads to harrowing experiences including kidnapping, deceit, and murder. As a result, Roberta must face her dark side (the archetypal witch in classic tales) and reach some profound understanding, making connections that tap into deeper levels of consciousness to bridge a universal truth. Roberta rejects what she knows and what is expected of her to thrive and survive. She eventually is forced to become the classic heroine who takes the initiative, who grows in strength and understanding beyond her wildest dreams. After all, fairy tales are essentially about a kind of death and rebirth, leading to powerful transformations.

At the beginning of Roberta’s travails, she is a dreamy, cerebral character haunted by missed opportunities, beset by anger and resentment weighted by the isolation and alienation experienced by the career homemaker. By the end of Roberta’s story, she has not only saved her own life, she has also discovered the truth about her current circumstances and about her life in general. In other words, she has prevailed in the most meaningful and effective way possible. She has solved the mystery of the crimes surrounding her and comes to understand the story behind her mother’s unhappiness, something that heretofore has blighted Roberta’s existence.

Roberta’s story is one of discovery and transformation, just like in the fairy tales we all grew up with. I have established character and foreshadowed events by referencing not only fairy tales, but also pop-culture, classic literature, and mythology. This helps the story resonate with charm and humor, making Roberta’s world profoundly real.

About Phyllis M. Newman 

Phyllis M. Newman is a native southerner. Born in New Orleans, she spent formative years in Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, and on a dairy farm in Ross County, Ohio. After a long career in finance and human resources at The Ohio State University, she turned her attention to writing fiction. She published a noir mystery, “Kat’s Eye” in 2015, a Gothic mystery, “The Vanished Bride of Northfield House” in 2018, and the suspense thriller “Clearing in the Woods” in 2019. Today she lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and three perpetually unimpressed cats, none of whom venture far from home.

Author Links

Website,    Twitter      Facebook 

Purchase Link – Amazon 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 5 – TBR Book Blog – REVIEW
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March 9 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
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Death with a Dark Red Rose (A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Publisher: Berkley (February 25, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0451491939
ISBN-13: 978-0451491930
Kindle ASIN: B07SSQ1M8N

Writer’s apprentice Lena London is enjoying life in Blue Lake and being newly engaged, but is soon drawn into the terrifying disappearance of one of her closest friends….

 

Lena is starting to feel like having it all may actually be possible! She and suspense novelist Camilla Graham are busily plotting their next novel and she’s got a brand-new diamond ring on her finger thanks to her fiancé, Sam West. The only blot on her Blue Lake life is a strange new corporation that has come to town called Plastisource. They seem to be intent on gobbling up prime real estate and changing the landscape of Lena’s lovely adopted home.

 

When she and Sam get a call from their good friend (and Blue Lake detective) Doug saying that his girlfriend–and Lena’s pal Belinda–isn’t answering her phone and missed a date with him, they all head out to her home. The trio is shocked to discover that Belinda’s purse and phone are at her house, along with a single red rose on her countertop–but Belinda herself is missing. Has she been abucted? Could the strange new corporation play a role in her disappearance? Lena is determined to find out and rescue her friend because she knows that the truth can be stranger and much more deadly than fiction….

About the Author
Julia Buckley is a Chicago writer. She has two series with Berkley Prime Crime, along with a variety of mystery novels available on Kindle.

Her hobbies are reading, writing, binge-watching tv series on Netflix, and hanging out with her husband, sons, four cats, and one giant Labrador.

Visit Julia at her website, JuliaBuckley.com or her Facebook page, Julia Buckley Mystery Novels, or see her on Twitter @juliabucks or follow her on Instagram at jellenbuckley.

Also by Julia Buckley