Tag: Callie Cassidy Mysteries

Graven Images: A Rock Creek Village Cozy Mystery
(Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
by Lori Roberts Herbst

I am delighted to welcome Callie Cassidy
to Escape With Dollycas today!

Hi everyone. I’m Callie Cassidy, a professional photographer and owner of Sundance Studio in Rock Creek Village, Colorado. My author said she’d signed me up to write a blog post, so here I am. I admit I’m a little nervous. I’m much more comfortable behind the lens of a camera than in the limelight, but I’ll do my best.

Let’s start with basics. I’m forty-six years old and five-feet, six-inches tall. While I won’t give you my weight, I will say I’m about ten pounds lighter than I was when I moved back to Rock Creek Village two years ago, despite a mother who indulges me with comfort food, a boyfriend who’s a chef, and a place called The Fudge Factory two doors down from my gallery. My hair is best described as chestnut brown, shoulder length, and I pull it back in a ponytail while I work. I don’t wear much makeup, and I choose my clothes for comfort and practicality rather than fashion. Compared to my best friend, Tonya Stephens, who looks like she’s stepped off the cover of a magazine, I’m a slouch. Still, at least once a day, my boyfriend, Sam Petrie, tells me I’m beautiful. I might even be starting to believe him.

I was born in the village and lived here until I graduated from high school. Then, I went off to college in Austin, Texas, and spent the next twenty-five years traveling across the country chasing my dream job. Eventually, I got it—investigative photojournalist for the Washington Sentinel. At the risk of bragging, I was at the top of my field, even winning a prestigious Felden Award. Though you may not have heard my name, you’ve likely seen some of my work.

But then I made a serious misjudgment, one that resulted in my resignation from The Sentinel and a humiliating return to Rock Creek Village. Little did I know then that this was where I was meant to be. I’m not a big believer in fate, but my mistake ended up changing my life for the better.

Now that you’ve read my background, here’s the insider information—five things you should learn to be considered an expert on Callie Cassidy:

1. I treasure my animals.

I am the unlikely but adoring petmom to two furry orange creatures. My golden retriever, Woody, is a laid-back guy whose greatest fondness is ear scratches and snacks. As relaxed and cheerful as he comes across, though, don’t dare threaten anyone he loves. His growl is intimidating, and his teeth are sharp. His adopted brother Carl, an orange tabby cat, pretends indifference, but he’s the most inquisitive, intelligent soul you’ll ever meet. You don’t want to mess with him, either. His hiss is intimidating, and—you guessed it—his claws are sharp.

2. I’m surrounded by the best people in the world.

If I tried to name them all, it would sound like an Oscar award acceptance speech, and we all know how boring those get. I’ll just say that, from my parents to my boyfriend to my circle of friends to my former CIA self-appointed protector, the people in my gang provide me the support, the love, and the loyalty I need to make me a better person—along with the occasional not-so-gentle nudge in the right direction when I veer off path.

3. Photography is my passion.

It’s my gift, my aptitude, my craft—the pursuit that, when I’m not doing it, I’m wishing I was. Through photography, I’ve mastered top-notch observational and analytical skills. I’ve learned how to view the world and the people in it. Now that I’ve returned to Rock Creek Village, I’m focusing (pardon the pun) my talent on creating beauty rather than to document tragedy. Both are important, of course, but at this stage in my life, I choose beauty.

4. I sometimes get a bad rap for nosing into police business.

I’ll say it yet again: my involvement in Rock Creek Village crimes is not by choice! Even though my parents (and my boyfriend, and Detective Raul Sanchez, and many others) think I snoop my way into investigations, it’s not true. Sure, there’s an adrenaline rush that comes from working a case. And yes, I consider myself adept at the task. Even so, I don’t search for these crimes. They find me—even in a cemetery.

5. I love Rock Creek Village.

I hope you will, too. I look forward to having you join me on my adventures.

Thank you Cassidy for visiting today!

Keep reading for move information about Graven Images and author Lori Roberts Herbst.

About Graven Images

Graven Images: A Rock Creek Village Cozy Mystery (Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
6th in the Series
Setting – Colorado
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lori Roberts Herbst (April 23, 2024)
Number of Pages: 280
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CY9CQZWM
Paperback info coming soon.

A photo assignment at the cemetery leads Callie Cassidy to a corpse—this one above ground. Now, her search for the killer unearths some long-buried secrets…

Callie’s mother Maggie, a notorious hobby jumper, has embarked on a new pursuit—grave rubbing. When she recruits her daughter to photograph her first endeavor at the local cemetery, Callie brings golden retriever Woody and tabby cat Carl along for the outing. It’s a breathtaking autumn morning in Rock Creek Village, Colorado. Golden aspen leaves rustle in the cool breeze, and the air is filled with the scent of pine. What could go wrong on a day like this?

Then, a ghostly woman emerges from the trees, bleeding from a head wound and claiming to have no memory of how she arrived, or even who she is. Maggie quickly identifies her as a woman who disappeared from the village forty years ago—without a trace.

If that’s not enough intrigue, Woody disobeys her and sprints deeper into the cemetery. When Callie catches up to him, he is sitting sentinel at the tombstone of a recently deceased villager. And behind the stone, a man lies on the ground—with a pickaxe jutting from his neck.

Callie recognizes him as the low-level mobster who has been dating her best friend Tonya’s mother—and they’d been having problems. Did Tonya’s mother kill the man? Could it have been the mysterious woman? Or maybe someone with ties to his crime family?

Callie can’t resist investigating—and this time, Detective Raul Sanchez welcomes her assistance. Because if they can’t solve the crime soon, the town may be facing grave consequences…

Great Escapes Praise for Graven Images: A Rock Creek Village Cozy Mystery
(Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
by Lori Roberts Herbst

I definitely recommend Graven Images! The well-written characters, captivating mystery, and picturesque setting make this a cozy mystery you won’t want to miss!
~Christy’s Cozy Corners

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted cozy mystery.
~MJB REVIEWERS

About Lori Roberts Herbst

Silver Falchion and CIBA Murder & Mayhem award-winning author Lori Roberts Herbst writes the Callie Cassidy Mystery series. A former journalism teacher and counselor, Lori serves as Board Secretary for Sisters in Crime. She is a member of the SinC Colorado chapter, the SinC North Dallas chapter, and the Guppy chapter, where she moderates the Cozy Gup group. Lori spent most of her life in Dallas, TX, and now lives in Colorado Springs.

Author Social Media Links
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Purchase Links

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
April 23 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
April 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY 
April 24 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 24 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 25 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY 
April 26 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 26 – MJB Reviewer – REVIEW
April 27 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT
April 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
April 28 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
April 29 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 29 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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