Book Tour Stop/Giveaway: Rachel Darcus's The Deadly Tea

This post is part of a virtual book organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rachel Dacus will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Most sleuths don’t have the advantage of talking to the murder victim for clues, but Saffron has a window into the afterlife. The problem is, she's not a detective and has no wish to be.

In the charming heart of London’s Notting Hill, Saffron juggles motherhood, running an animal welfare foundation, and counseling recently deceased spirits—the invisibles. But her peaceful routine is upended when a spirit insists she solve the mystery of his untimely death. Lucas Troy pops into her awareness claiming he was killed and demanding she figure out who did it. He wants justice before he'll agree to move on. But Saffron's role isn't to play detective, but to help each invisible plan for the next adventure in living. She asks Lucas if he suspects anyone in the circle at his aunt’s tea party where he died. He can’t imagine anyone wanting to kill him, but he persuades Saffron to interview them all.

She feels for Lucas, who had hardly begun his life, and she tries to persuade him that he can have a great future next lifetime, but finally she gives in and agrees to a little investigating. If she finds out something, perhaps he’ll agree to move forward. But the closer she gets to the possible killer, the more she’s in danger. Saffron has no wish to join Lucas in The Room Over There.

Settle in to a cozy mystery with a touch of the supernatural, the heartwarming chaos of family, and the charm of London’s Notting Hill. "Interesting characters, intriguing mystery."

Read an Excerpt

It was glorious to dawdle around the bohemian and vintage shops on Portobello Road, and the addition of rare April sunshine in London made it seem to Saffron like her spa day. Not that she ever got to have those, as most mothers of young children didn’t. But today, browsing and shopping, she indulged herself in a glorious solitude amid the crowds. This busy street was her paradise, and she needed just a few more things for the children’s Easter outfits, but hoping not to find them too quickly.

Traffic and people swirled around her, and she thrilled to the bright colors, food stalls, brushes of music wafting out of open doors. She would forever be a tourist in her adopted city of London. Notting Hill was so like her San Francisco Bay Area, but snootier. In many ways, more exciting.

Peering into windows, she thought about the perfect bow tie she wanted for Percy’s suit, so her seven-year-old son didn’t look like a tiny banker. Four-year-old Freida could use a flower pin for her pinafore dress. Focusing on these ideas was such a pleasure. Saffron tried to wipe the smile off her face, remembering that Londoners did not walk around smiling, though Californians often did.

A passerby jostled her, and as she stopped to check her bag, a low voice drifted down. “Hey! Anyone here?”

Hella damn. An invisible. Another drifting spirit.

“I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m busy, as you can see. You can see me, right?”

“I see a lot of hair. Curly. Are you some kind of animal?”

Saffron huffed. “You’re looking at the top of my head. Come down lower, so you can see my face.”

Some might call it being haunted, but Saffron called it helping invisibles. She wasn’t often contacted by newly dead people, but occasionally one popped into her vicinity. They always needed orientation and comfort after the trauma of dying.

About the Author:

Rachel Dacus is the author of eight novels and five poetry collections. Her fiction features love and relationships, exotic locations and intrepid heroines, and emotional journeys of self-discovery, all with a touch of the supernatural. Her poetry, stories, and essays have appeared widely in print and online literary journals and anthologies. She enjoys life in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, with its coast and trails where she walks her tiny but mighty Silky Terrier with her architect husband.

Website: http://www.racheldacus.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelDacusAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rachel_Dacus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheldacusauthor/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Tea-cozy-mystery-Invisibles-ebook/dp/B0GPT7ZLFW

Discover Recipe For Murder by & a Giveaway

 

Welcome to Pine Cove.

The Mayor is a dog, B&B guests are fugitives, and the pancakes are burnt. 

Recipe For Murder

A Pine Cove Mystery Book 2

by Marla A. White

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Mel O'Rourke traded her LAPD badge for the quiet life, running a bed-and-breakfast in tiny, quirky Pine Cove.

But when Jackson Thibodeaux, the charming café owner who broke her heart, stumbles back into town, her tranquil second act is toast. While attending a culinary academy in New Orleans, Jackson found the body of a classmate. The police rule it a suicide, but Mel’s instincts—and Jackson’s near miss with a bullet—scream murder.
Between a cooking school full of shady suspects, a reformed cat burglar for a sidekick, and a complicated love triangle involving the deputy sheriff, Mel has her hands full.

Perfect for fans of the sweetness of Jenn McKinlay and the snark of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan.

 

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The aroma of maple bacon and coffee wafted into her office as Poppy interrupted her pondering with a plate full of breakfast and a mug to replace the one that had already gone cold on her desk. “Thanks,” she murmured, still studying the computer screen.

“Don’t get used to the service, mate. Liam talked me into checking on you after I told him about Jackson’s sudden appearance.”

“And the food?” Mel cocked an eyebrow at her friend, who she suspected was just as worried about her mental state as her brother after their chat last night. The lithe, vertically challenged woman might resemble a brunette pixie, but that brain of hers worked with devious speed.

“Figured you’d holed yourself up in here without getting a proper brekkie. Besides, I have a small favor to ask, but not while you’re sporting that glower on your phiz. What’s got you frowning so hard?” She didn’t wait for an answer but came around the desk to have a look for herself. “You’re reading about the cooking school?”

“Can you believe these gullible idiots, and yes, I’m including Jackson among them, pay for the honor of working for free in Isabelle Fontaine’s restaurant?” Taking a piece of bacon, Mel absently munched on it until the flavor of maple, meat, and unbridled joy exploded in her mouth. Poppy wasn’t as diversely talented in the kitchen as Jackson, but she was the master of the breakfast dishes she made. Mel moaned in appreciation before asking, “All right, out with it. What’s this favor?”

“Well,” her friend gave her a sly grin. Never a good sign. Whatever was about to follow would almost certainly be illegal. But when she said, “I need your advice on how to win over Doctor Hart.” Mel’s jaw actually dropped open.

“You’ve never struck me as the kind of person who worries about other people’s opinions.” She eyed the other woman suspiciously. “Why do you care what Doc thinks?”

Poppy wandered around the office, tidying a crooked photo and pulling out one of Mel’s hospitality course textbooks. The only purpose for all of her movement, as far as Mel could tell, was to avoid letting her see her face. “Because she’s important to you and it seems life would be much easier for you if the two of us got along.”

“Really?” She sat back in the creaky desk chair, crossing her arms over her chest as she tried to figure out the ex-thief’s actual motivation.

“Okay, fine.” The woman whirled on her in a huff. “I’ve never had anyone not like me. Ever. Pathetic loser Agnes Mary Nobel? Sure. But since I transformed myself into the fabulous Poppy Phillips? Even people I’ve stolen from end up liking me.”

“Kind of judgey of poor Aggie, aren’t you?” She’d only recently discovered Poppy’s true identity when Gregg investigated her as a murder suspect. Abandoned by her single mother, she’d grown up in Cleveland in various foster homes that ran the gambit from kind to truly horrific. Given that, she understood her friend’s choice to reinvent herself, fake English accent and all. She claimed she identified as British, whatever that meant. If Mel had to put money on it, she’d bet it was because the accent meant she could get away with murder. And she had to admit, it had come in handy more than once to soothe the ruffled feathers of a guest. But Doc Hart, who’d been suspicious of her from the start, remained an aloof skeptic.

“You could try dropping the accent.”

For the first time, she saw a flash of vulnerability in the bold ex-thief’s eyes.

“What would I even sound like without it?” Poppy murmured, then switched to a flat, nasal tone that presumably she thought people from Cleveland sounded like. “My name is Agnes from Cuyahoga County. I like cheese. Blch.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re confusing Cleveland with Milwaukee, but I see your point.”

 

Framed For Murder

A Pine Cove Mystery Book 1

After a life-changing injury, Mel O’Rourke trades in her badge for bed sheets, running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. Her peaceful life is interrupted when an old frenemy, the notorious and charismatic cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, shows up on her doorstep, claiming she’s been framed for murder. While she’s broken plenty of laws, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone. Good thing she’s a better detective than she is a cook as she sets out to prove Poppy's innocence.

The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?

 

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Mel gaped slack-jawed at her brother, whose palm covered his face. “Why did you kidnap Grandma?”

“I did not—ugh!” He answered from behind his hand before shaking off his frustration and moving to the back seat of the truck to grab their bags. “Mom forced me to bring her. That’s what the delay was all about. She’s been driving her crazy, and then this morning she lit the kitchen on fire.”

“She what?!”

“I wasn’t there, so I don’t know exactly, something about the toaster and a curtain. Anyway, Mom convinced her she should come help you out and halfway up the mountain she wove this kidnapping story.”

“Help me? How, by greeting guests with her charming personality?” She loved her grandmother, but her salutation and scathing condemnation of the inn with just one glance were pretty mild for the old woman. When she really got on a tear, the best thing was to go to a movie until she wore herself out.

“Beats me but pro tip, do not let her in the kitchen.” Balancing the bags in one hand, Liam enveloped her with his free arm. “At least, not until we make sure the insurance covers curtain fires.”

“No need to worry, I just hired someone today who is great in the kitchen.”

He looked at her askance. “Great as in better than you or someone who is actually a good cook?”

“Shut up.” She laughed in response to the insult. “The guests this morning raved about the food. For however long she stays, I think she’ll be a plus in the breakfast department, anyway.”

“Where did you find this culinary genius? Did you put out an ad already?” He held the door open for Mel and they entered the lobby.

“We didn’t, she found me.” She looked around. “Where’s Grandma?”

The echoes of laughter led the siblings into the Great Room where their grandmother sat in front of the fireplace chatting away with Poppy. They turned toward Mel and Liam as they entered.

“Mel, your mother is a hoot,” she gushed.

She narrowed her eyes at the alleged ex-thief, who had to know perfectly well the woman in front of her was too old to be her mother. Grandma O, however, took the compliment to heart and patted Poppy’s hand, gracing her with one of her rare beaming smiles.

To Mel’s surprise, Liam skidded to a dead halt. She turned back to see why and received the icy blast of the unmistakable storm in his eyes. She’d seen the same dark expression in the mirror when she was furious. What did he have to be so angry about? Before she could ask, he dropped their bags and launched into full hissy fit mode.

“You!” he bellowed at Poppy.

The brunette seemed sincerely surprised at his response. Swiveling her head to see who else was in the room and finding no one, she met his gaze and pointed to herself with an exaggerated, “Who, me?” expression.

Her brother spun, targeting his rage at her. “Don’t tell me this is who you hired?”

“You’re only being a grump because you haven’t tried her bacon,” she joked, hoping to deflate the situation. Years of trying to nail her for any number of jobs she’d pulled off had frustrated Mel, but she had to admit she always liked her style. Despite her suspicions when she found Poppy in the lobby this morning, so far she’d been nothing but charming and kind of fun, so what had she done to piss off easy-going Liam in the two minutes since they met?

Her brother crossed his arms, stubbornly jutting out his square jaw. “There’s no way that woman is working here. She nearly killed you once, I’m not giving her a second chance.”

“You two have met?” The information surprised her, so she let the macho b.s. slide for now. She didn’t need anyone to protect her, but his anger rolled off him so calling him on his chauvinism skittered close to throwing gasoline on a fire.

“We had to watch her on the news sound bites, taking her bows for saving your life, while you lay in that hospital bed, broken and in agony.” Mel had never seen his eyes blaze with such fury before. She’d been so focused on her own suffering she’d never thought about what her family had gone through. Liam clearly had been carrying steamer-trunk sized baggage. “Nobody bothered to mention she’s the one who put you in danger in the first place. Or that you’re crippled for life, thanks to her.”

“Crippled?” Poppy’s brows furrowed, her eyes darkening.

“Easy, drama queen,” Mel snarled, “nobody’s crippled.”

“We used to go rock climbing and now you can’t even mount a set of stairs without getting dizzy.” His exasperation exploded as he paced to the far end of the Great Room to stare out the floor-to-ceiling glass door at the patio and brook beyond. What really hurt was he sounded more bummed out for himself losing a climbing partner than concerned about her.

“Is that true?” Poppy sprang up.

“I’m working on it.” Embarrassed by the whole conversation, she busied herself with tidying the morning newspapers the guests had left strewn around the sitting area.

“She nearly killed you, she’s not working here,” Liam repeated without turning away from the view outside.

Grandma O’Rourke rose to her feet with more nobility than agility, stood between her two grandchildren, and pronounced, “I like her, and I say she stays,” before tottering off to the kitchen in a self-professed search for the infamous bacon.

Of course, she liked Poppy, she just paid her a huge compliment. Never mind if she was guilty of what Liam accused her of doing or not. After putting the last section of the newspaper back in place, Mel noticed the below the fold story on the front page and tightened her fist until she almost tore the paper in two.

Scientist Killed in Daring Heist

Marla White is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry.  She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s out in the garden, hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails.  

 

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter the Recipe For Murder Giveaway Here

Discover A Change In Plans by Mike Martin

 

A Day in My Life: Eddie Tizzard from the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series by Mike Martin

(Eddie Tizzard is Sgt. Windflower’s best friend in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Mounties)

What is your full name?  Eddie Tizzard

How old are you? 30’s

What is your profession? Mountie

Do you have a significant other? Yes

What is their name and profession? Carrie Evanchuk, Constable, RCMP

Do you have any children? Yes, two

Do you have any siblings? Yes, two sisters

Are your parents nearby? My Dad lives in Grand Bank

Who is your best friend? Winston Windflower

Do you have any pets? No

What town do you live in? Marystown, Newfoundland

Do you live in a small town or a big city? Small town

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent? Rent a house

What is your favorite spot in your home? Kitchen

Favorite meal and dessert? Almost anything. Except vegetables. No vegetables, please

Do you have any hobbies? Too busy with tow small children

What is your favorite vacation spot? Las Vegas

What music do you listen to? Old fashioned Newfoundland music

Do you have a favorite book? Don’t read much. 

What is your idea of a really fun time? A night out with my girl. Dinner and dancing. We haven’t done that in so long I forget what it was like. 

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it? Eat Dessert First

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with? Pro and I work with an excellent team of RCMP officers.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like? Breakfast with my son and now my daughter while Carrie sleeps in and then off to work. Back home after work to play with the kids, help get supper ready, watch TV and fall into bed.

If PROFESSIONAL, What does a typical day look like when you are on a case?

Lots of interviews and meetings and phone calls with lots of coffee. If I’m lucky we get regular snacks and I really try and never miss a meal. 

Food, family, friends and a few dead bodies…

RCMP officer Winston Windflower’s rare afternoon off gets interrupted when a hit and run turns into murder and he must pull together a team of Mounties from Newfoundland to resolve the crime. Following the money and fentanyl— and bodies—Windflower and his team join forces with police officers in southern Ontario to take down an international drug-smuggling ring.

Windflower must face personal doubts and fears when fellow Mountie Fil Romano is kidnapped. While the higher-ups at HQ make plans to give safe passage to the drug lords in return for Romano’s life, Windflower worries Romano will get caught in the crossfire. Windflower again looks to his friends and allies for help in the difficult hours and days ahead. 

╰┈➤Book Details

• Genre: Mystery
• Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery/Police Procedural
• Language: English
• Pages: 278
• Paperback ISBN: TBA

A Change in Plans is available at Amazon.

╰┈➤Here’s What Readers Have To Say!

“When a Mountie is kidnapped, it further complicates matters. As the tension keeps increasing, the action reaches a fever pitch. This author knows how to keep the plot moving swiftly to keep readers hooked. You will enjoy spending time with Windflower, a hero who’s clever, brave, and endlessly resourceful.” – Steven Finkelstein

“Readers cannot help but enjoy this series. Even though there are some nail biting, adrenaline pumping things going on, it is balanced out by the personal parts of the story. Yes, Windflower could be chasing down a killer or a drug dealer, but he is always grounded with his wife and two daughters, his friends and his community. I personally enjoy when he does his smudging and reconnects with his deceased Auntie and Uncle and gives back to the earth.” – Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

╰┈➤Read if you love…

 Mystery 

̷̊̊̊̊̊ International Drug-Smuggling Ring

Kidnapping 

Dead Bodies

Canadian Mounties to the Rescue

Edge of Your Seat Excitement

Excerpt:

Summer was nearing its end in the small town of Grand Bank on the eastern shore of Canada. Winston Windflower, husband, father and RCMP officer, was enjoying some quiet time while his wife, Sheila Hillier, and their two girls, Amelia Louise and Stella, were in St. John’s for their annual back-to-school shopping spree. He was alone except for his four-legged friends. Lady, an eight-year-old collie, was still frisky and ready to go for a walk as always. Molly, the cat, was ageless and just about lifeless as she sat in her bed waiting for the next treat to fall in front of her.

It was a fine, sunny day as Windflower looked out of their home onto the Atlantic Ocean. Because it was so nice, he had taken the afternoon off for picking berries. The summer had been unusually hot and sticky, and that meant the berries were out a little earlier than usual. His fervent hope was that his special picking spot had not been disturbed by early pickers trampling down bushes and limiting the harvest.

If things went well, he could pick a gallon of berries in a couple of hours, and if he was super lucky, Sheila would make something fabulous with the blueberries when she got back. Maybe a pie or even one of her blueberry specialties. Windflower salivated when he imagined all of that deliciousness. He grabbed a couple of Tupperware containers and a bottle of water and then headed for his favourite spot.

There was a congregation of berry pickers at the closest picking location, just past the clinic. Bent over, they paid him little attention. He didn’t mind being ignored. The area was too busy and crowded for him. He took the trail down by the brook and then up the hill to the lookout. He paused for a moment to take in the majestic view of Grand Bank. Windflower glanced over the brook to the town and the wharf, all the way to the craggy outcrop that the locals called the Cape. Then he continued on up over the hill and towards the other side.

He veered off the path about halfway down and was very pleased to find his desired location calm and untouched. He said a silent prayer of thanks to Creator and began his task. Some people would have thought of this as work, but Windflower found berry picking both meditative and spiritual. It reconnected him to the land and made him think of his early days growing up on the reserve in Pink Lake, Alberta. His Cree family would all go berry picking for the day, bringing a lunch and a kettle to make tea.

He soon had one container filled and was working on the second when his pocket buzzed. He checked the number on his phone. It was Corporal Samira Gupta, his right-hand assistant, calling from the bigger community of Marystown. He had made arrangements with his boss, Superintendent Ron Quigley, that he would take the job as acting inspector for the region as long as he could stay in Grand Bank and have an assistant in Marystown. Gupta filled her role perfectly.

“What’s up, Corporal?” asked Windflower.

“Sorry to bother you,” said Gupta. “Betsy said you were off. But I thought you should know. We had a hit and run in Marystown. Over near Walmart. A woman in her forties is in hospital. Sergeant Tizzard is on the scene.” Eddie Tizzard was one of Windflower’s long-time friends and co-workers. They’d been working together for the last 10 years in one way or another.

“That’s a dangerous area,” said Windflower. “How is the woman?”

“She was unconscious when they brought her to the hospital in Burin,” said Gupta. “But no other information so far.”

“And the driver?”

“We’re working on it. Tizzard has a team doing interviews from the scene.”

“It’s busy around there. Somebody would have seen something.”

“That was our thinking, too,” Gupta agreed. “If we don’t get anything back soon from the canvass, we’ll do a media hit.”

“Perfect. Keep me posted.”

Now that his reverie had been disrupted, Windflower packed up his stuff and headed back down to his car. He was driving towards home when he noticed the driver of a passing car flashing their headlights at him. He slowed down and pulled over and then went to see if they were okay. As he got closer, he squinted to see Moira Stoodley, co-owner of the Mug-Up Café, the best and only diner in Grand Bank, in the driver’s seat. She was also the wife of his best friend, Herb Stoodley, who was tutoring him in two very diverse subjects—classical music, about which Windflower knew next to nothing before he met Herb, and trout and salmon fishing, which he thought he had mastered but now realized he was only a beginner.

He assumed Moira had stopped him to say hello or to pass along a message from her husband. But it was much more serious.

“I saw Mike Winger, that crazy-looking guy, back on the road,” said Moira. “It looked like his wheelchair had tipped over. A few young fellers were helping him get back up. But he looked in bad shape. Had a cut over his forehead. I asked him if he was okay. He told me to mind my business and went on home. You might want to check in on him.”

It wasn’t exactly his job to look after wandering locals, but it had become expected of the lone police officer in the community. He may have the high and mighty title of acting inspector, but his day job consisted of part-time social worker, youth counsellor and senior companion when he wasn’t solving crimes or directing the limited amount of traffic that Grand Bank produced.

Helping citizens in distress certainly fell into his ‘other related duties’, and Mike Winger seemed to be in constant need of assistance of one kind or another. Mostly of his own doing.

Windflower knew a little about the man from his many interactions with him. Winger was an American and a veteran of the Gulf Wars. After he left the military, he got certified as a refrigeration mechanic and started wandering around, first in the United States and then into Canada. He ended up in the Grand Bank area working for fish plants and discovered a place where nobody really knew him but welcomed him anyway.

Mike Winger finally felt at home. He bought a house and found a girl who eventually moved in.

His life seemed perfect until… the crash that changed his life. His girlfriend was killed instantly as his car slid off the highway to avoid a moose one late spring morning. He was left with one leg paralyzed and the other badly damaged. Stuck with his feeling of loss and grief, he turned to alcohol and then drugs. Then he became mean and isolated. His scooter was his only escape, but even that turned out to be another source of problems.

Windflower had rescued him and the scooter more times than he could remember. From ditches by the side of the road. From a farmer’s field. From the pub, more than once, when he had been asked to leave, none too politely. One time from the cemetery, although Windflower wasn’t exactly sure how that happened. Mike Winger was certainly one of Windflower’s pet irritants in Grand Bank. But since neither of them were going anywhere soon, they had figured out how to survive, if not get along, together.

– Excerpted from A Change in Plans by Mike Martin, Ottawa Press and Publishing, 2026. Reprinted with permission.

About the Author

Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning author of the best-selling Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 17 books in this light mystery series with the publication of A Change in Plans. 

A Tangled Web was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award. All That Glitters was shortlisted for the LOLA 2024 Must Read Book of the year award.

Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest Darkest Before the Dawn was released as an audiobook in 2024. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.

Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and Capital Crime Writers.

Visit Mike’s website at https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com. 

Connect with him on social media at:

╰┈➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore 

╰┈➤ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mike54martin 

Sponsored By:

Book Tour Stop/Giveaway: A Deathly Display by Kirsten Weiss

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kirsten Weiss will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A killer stalks her sister.
A mysterious painting holds the key.
Can Maddie unravel the mystery before Melanie meets a deadly fate?

When Maddie and Herb attend a curation class at the upscale Domus Vinea museum, the mood turns darker than a gothic portrait after Maddie’s opera-singing sister, Melanie, discovers the museum director’s body. Now, with a cunning killer targeting Melanie next, Maddie must act fast.

Racing against time, Maddie and friends investigate a gallery of suspects, including a dashing vintner with a haunted painting that may hide a deadly secret. If Maddie can’t crack the case, and fast, her sister’s life could end in one fatal stroke.

A Deathly Display, the latest in the Paranormal Museum series, blends quirky sleuthing, small-town chills, and paranormal thrills with a dash of humor. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries!

Grab A Deathly Display and start reading this hilarious whodunit!

For readers who crave a cozy mystery about a woman finding belonging through small-town wine-country sleuthing and the gentle absurdity of everyday hauntings. Perfect if you like breezy pacing, light supernatural quirks, and warm humor over gritty tension—think vintage charm, quirky neighbors, and just-enough chills to keep pages turning without losing sleep. Book 11 in the series.

Read an Excerpt

Stuffing the brochure into the pocket of my navy hoodie, I walked to the window. The gentle blues of twilight streamed through it, making a trapezoid on the museum’s wooden floor.

A narrow, carved piece of wood stuck out beneath the sill. There appeared to be two wooden hinges at its base. It was another door. Curious, I pried the top open.

The slender strip of wood popped off the wall. I caught it before it could hit the floor and froze, squatting, door cradled in both hands. Horrified, I gaped at the piece of carved wood.

“You broke it,” Herb hissed. “You broke the house on our first visit!”

“I didn’t break it. It fell off.” Frantically, I tried to work the door back into the hinge.

“What are you doing?” Bran asked from behind me.

Heart pounding, I spun to face him and hid the slim little door behind my back.

“Are you hiding something behind your back?” Bran cocked an eyebrow. Now, he looked like an angry Roman general, the trimmed stubble on his jaw more threatening. Not even his jeans and blue button-up eased the effect.

I blinked, sweating. He’d caught me like a kid elbow-deep in a cookie jar.

Talking with author Kirsten Weiss about A Deathly Display

What is your latest book about?

A Deathly Display is book 11 (!) in my Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. On it’s face, it’s a classic cozy mystery – a body is discovered at a swanky museum event, and the more the heroine, Maddie, digs into it, the higher the stakes. But it’s also a book about love, and sisters, and discovering that you weren’t the person you used to be.

Taking the story from a concept to a published book is a long and involved process. How does that usually work for you?

I can usually publish a book in six months when I’m working through my authors’ cooperative, misterio press (which is much quicker than traditional publishing). It takes me about a week to get the concept out and some basic plotting. Then I spend roughly 6-8 weeks writing the first draft. I’ll set it aside for a month or so while I work on something new, and then I’ll edit it for another six weeks(ish). Then there’s some back and forth with my misterio editors, and then… we publish!

Which of your books would you recommend for readers to choose first if they’re new to you and your books?

I would start with book 1 in the Paranormal Museum series: The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum. You don’t have to read the books in order – each is a complete mystery with no cliffhanger endings. But the characters progress throughout, and a lot of people like to read them in order for that reason.

Do you have a favorite personal development or writing book you would recommend?

Revising Fiction, a Handbook for Writers by David Madden has immediately actionable techniques to employ. It’s helped me a lot. But since you ask… I’ve also come out with my own Cozy Mystery Writer’s Toolkit, with fillable PDFs and worksheets as well as a beat-sheet for a full-length cozy mystery novel.

Tell us something fun or interesting about you.

I’m teaching myself to read old English! If you’d like to give it a try, there’s this great book called Osweald Bear, which teaches you to read old English by using the progressive language model. The chapters in the story start out so simple you can pretty much figure them out, and then get progressively harder. And no, I have no good reason for doing this, but reading the book feels like deciphering a code and it’s a terrifically fun puzzle (possibly because I love reading cozy mysteries as much as I love writing them).

What have you learned throughout your writing process?

If it’s not fun, it’s not good writing. And if I’m rushing, it’s not fun.

What has inspired you to become a writer?

I wanted to be a cozy mystery writer since I was a kid and read my first Nancy Drew… followed by Sherlock Holmes stories, followed by Agatha Christie novels… But it wasn’t until I was in my mid-forties that I seriously pursued that dream. I’m so glad I did!

How do you keep your ideas fresh and avoid traveling over well-worn territory?

When I plot my mysteries, I think about the subplots first. How are the heroine’s finally laid plans about to be disrupted by the murder? What chaos will it cause in her life? Only once I understand that do I begin plotting the actual murder.

What trope have you not written yet but want to?

That’s a good question! I don’t usually think in terms of tropes—at least not when I’m first working on the book concept. They’re something I usually add toward the end of my plotting—what spice can I add that the readers will enjoy? So I honestly can’t think of any trope I’m dying to write!

Do you have a specific writing process?

I fall somewhere between a plotter and a pantser. Usually, I’ll only roughly plot out the first half of the book before I start writing. I need some structure to make sure the clues and red herrings line up and there aren’t any plot holes. Then once I’ve reached the end of my plotting, I’ll plot the next chapter right after I’ve finished writing the last, and start on it the next day. This gives me more room to play and see what comes up.

Do you have a favorite author and/or favorite book?

So many! Lately I’ve gotten into Japanese cozy mysteries. I just finished My Grandfather, the Master Detective by Masateru Konishi, and I’m working my way through the Food Detective series by Hisashi Kashiwai. The latter is a wonderful example of using food as a gateway to memory.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I recently got married, and I’ve found married life takes up a surprising amount of time. No regrets! ;-)

About the Author:

Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries, and now a Tarot guidebook that’s a work of experimental fiction. Her heroes and heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Website: http://www.KirstenWeiss.com
Twitter: http://www.x.com/SBPM_Museum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirstenweissauthor
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kirstenweissauthor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstenWeiss-Writer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243649538-a-deathly-display

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4p2g97b
Apple Books: https://bit.ly/4nIZMuW
B&N: https://bit.ly/4oL69zv
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43i6bWH
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3WDUrtY
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-deathly-display-a-small-town-murder-mystery-a-perfectly-proper-paranormal-museum-mystery-book-11-by-kirsten-weiss
Universal Book link: https://books2read.com/u/3J1MPQ

Discover the Detective Ryan Series by Clive Fleury today & a Giveaway

 

The truth doesn’t sleep — and neither does Detective Ryan.

Off Season

A Detective Ryan Mystery #1

by Clive Fleury

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Detective Ryan navigates drug overdoses, a mysterious foot on the beach and a long-buried cold case.

Detective Ramesh Ryan's career with Sydney's prestigious Organized Crime Unit is on the up, until he loses a court case against the city's most powerful drug dealer. In disgrace, the detective is relocated to the tiny Australian beach town of Barton.

It is off-season in Barton-when its few criminals usually take a well-earned rest. But not this year! With the detective's arrival, the town suddenly becomes murder central. Two bodies are discovered in the space of days, both victims of drug overdoses. Then a mysterious foot is found washed up on the beach, and memories are awoken of an unsolved cold case of the teenager who disappeared fifteen years ago. Add to this a blossoming romance, along with a contract taken out on Ryan's life, and it's clear that the detective has jumped out of the Sydney frying pan into the Barton fire.

What follows is an action-packed adventure, thrilling at every turn-where truth and lies are almost impossible to separate, and unexpected twists are the order of the day.

 

Praise For OFF SEASON

 

“Off Season is a sensational and thrilling mystery that will take its reader on a journey of ups and downs and twists and turns galore while always entertaining and thrilling you!”

 —Aimee – GOODREADS review

 

“Attention grabber. Moves quickly and smoothly. Informative. Enjoyable. Don't miss.”

—Margaret – GOODREADS review

 

“Fleury masterfully crafts a narrative that is both fast-paced and intricately plotted. The story kicks off with a bang and maintains its momentum throughout, with each chapter ending on a tantalizing cliffhanger. The plot is peppered with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers interested.”

—J. Komrie - GOODREADS review

 

“Great build-up of suspense, a layered plot, and an enticing protagonist. Takes a lot of turns, which I love. This is definitely a page turner for anyone who loves a good crime mystery.”

—Carolina Rolim – Verified AMAZON reader review

  

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Talking with Clive Fleury

 

What inspired you to write this book?

My decision to write “All or None” the second book in the Detective Ryan mystery series, came because I really liked the characters – Detective Ramesh Ryan, Zoe Yang, Mumta Ryan --- in “Off Season” the first book in the series. I wanted to explore where they would take me.

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

Definitely more Detective Ryan mystery novels.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in ALL OR NONE?

In my latest novel “All Or None” Detective Ramesh Ryan remains the principal character. He’s bright, determined, and loves being a detective. However, he is socially inept, a bit of a mother’s boy, and can be too stubborn and too much of a loner for his own good.

 

Detective Zoe Yang is Ryan’s junior partner. New to Sydney, she likes being a detective, but it is not for her the be all and end all of life. A Ying to Ryan’s Yang, she is social, friendly and outgoing. She is also indecisive… unsure about whether to stay in the city or return to beach life on the Central Coast.

 

Mumta Ryan,  Ramesh Ryan’s mother, was born in India, and met her late husband, British-born banker Harold, in Australia. Although financially secure, Harold’s death ten years ago has left an indelible mark on her, and she doesn’t intend to remarry.  She loves trying new things and flits from one passion/pastime to another.   

 

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

I’ve always loved thrillers and mysteries and so writing books that have both these elements was a no brainer. I live for part of the year in a suburb in Sydney, Australia called Potts Point. It is full of unusual and quirky people. I draw my characters and inspiration from here.

 

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

Names are my bête noire. I always have difficulty plucking characters names out of the ether. I regularly have to go back to change a name when I am halfway through a book because I think of a better name. This can cause major editing problems, and is not something I would encourage any writer to do. 

 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Finishing it.

 

I think people who don’t write for a living have this romantic notion of writing being a profession that is carefree and full of excitement. Nothing could be further from the truth. Writing is all about discipline… It doesn’t matter how you feel you have to aim to get a certain number of words on a page every day. It’s hard graft, and it’s only when you finally reach the end of a novel do you get that feeling of excitement and achievement.

 

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

It’s always difficult to come up with a title for a first novel, particularly when, as in this case, the book is number one in a series. In my case I wanted a title that was short and snappy, and gave some information about one of the themes of the novel. I thought Off Season fitted the bill, as the book is about a city detective who is assigned to a sleepy town during the winter when there are no tourists.  

 

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

I would love to have Dev Patel to play my lead detective, Detective Ramesh Ryan in a TV series.

 

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

The jobs my lead characters do are real, but who or what they are comes mostly from my imagination.

 

Is there a writer whose brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

Lee Childs/James Grant. I would like to pick his brains on how he had the discipline to write so many books about the same character, Jack Reacher, and to make all the novels interesting.

 

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I left university in one form or another --- first as a journalist, then as a screen writer and finally, now, as an author.

 

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

The advantage of writing a series is that after the first novel, the principal characters are established. Future books allow you to explore and expand on their quirks and idiosyncrasies. However, other characters, those who begin as minor players, can start to push their way into a book and become more important.  

All Or None

A Detective Ryan Mystery #2

Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running-investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer's crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there's another pressing problem-the plague of rats in his apartment block.

Detective Ryan's hands are well and truly full!

 

Praise For ALL OR NONE

A riveting read. Anyone who likes mystery and crime, you won’t be able to put this down. Thought it was an elegant continuation of this universe. - Carolina R, Amazon Reviewer

I really enjoyed this book. I love it when you keep changing your mind about who did it to find out at the end that you're still wrong. – Nancy F., Goodreads Reviewer

 

All or None exceeded my expectations. The murders kept me guessing, but what I loved most was Ryan himself tough on the outside, vulnerable on the inside, and surrounded by challenges that made him relatable. – Mary M., Goodreads Reviewer

 

I devoured this ARC in two sittings. The tension builds perfectly, and the clues are woven in so well that you feel like you’re investigating alongside Ryan and Zoe. The personal subplots (his mom, the romance, even the rats!) add depth without slowing down the action. – Minor C, Goodreads Reviewer

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently 'All Or None', the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.

 

'All Or None' sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnit's, crime thrillers, and cop and detective stories will love this novel. 

 

Clive's other books include 'Off Season' - book one in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; 'Kill Code' - a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world facing climate change;  ‘Scary Lizzy’  - a novel about an eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost –  and the teen action adventure book; ‘The Boy Next Door ‘ -  a story of what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems.  He also co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four’ - a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.

 

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