Friday, June 28, 2019

MURDER IN RED!

Meow, one of my very favorite series, book or tv, is MURDER SHE WROTE.  Jon Land has done a superlative job taking over as Jessica's co-author, and this time out he's crafted an intricate mystery indeed.....



Jessica Fletcher's favorite gin rummy partner, Mimi Van Dorn, checks into the brand-new Clifton Care Partners, a private hospital that's just opened up shop in town, for a simple procedure—one that leads tragically, and inexplicably, to her death. Seeking justice in her inimitable fashion, Jessica decides to pursue her own investigation on the hospital and its shadowy business dealings.

On the trail of what initially appears to be medical malpractice, Jessica digs deeper and learns her friend was actually a victim of something far more sinister. Death is bad for business, but murder is even worse, and Jessica will find plenty of both as she races to bring down Clifton Care Partners before someone else flatlines...

Land has done an excellent job of ratcheting up the suspense iin the latest Jessica mysteries. They seem more like the old tv shows!  If I had to nitpick on one thing, it would be the overuse of the term "dear lady" in this latest tome.  

What is your favorite Jessica mystery, either tv show or book?  Leave a comment with your email address below and tell us.  We'll select one at random to receive an autographed ARC of MURDER IN RED!
Ends July 7

Friday, June 14, 2019

We Welcome Alex Erickson


Meow! Today my guest is author Alex Erickson!

Alex Erickson has always wanted to write, even at a young, impressionable age. He’s always had an interest in the motive behind murder, which has led him down his current path. He’s always ready with a witty—at least in his opinion—quip, and tries to keep every conversation light and friendly. Alex lives in Ohio with his family and resident felines, who provide endless amounts of inspiration. 
Alex Erickson
Tell us a little about your background, Alex
There’s not a lot to say! I went to Ohio University for Telecommunications, and then did nothing with it. I decided to focus on my writing instead, and well, here we are!
Tell us a bit about your latest book
 The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice is a new series that is a Barnes and Noble exclusive for the first year. Like my Bookstore Café series, it’s a cozy mystery. It’s set in yet another small town, and the heroine owns a pet rescue that finds homes for “unwanted” pets. You know, the kind often overlooked in shelters because they are too old, or have health issues, or what have you. Since this is a mystery, not everything goes to plan and someone up and dies on her. But hey, that’s when the fun starts, right?
How do you “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?
 My characters tend to let me know about them as I go. Sometimes, it takes time before I get it right. I don’t try to come up with personalities beforehand or anything like that. I figure out the plot and then let the characters develop from there. If I try to force it, the characters come off as flat or unlikeable. I’ve learned to go by feel.
How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?
 I take a ton of notes before I write, most of which, I toss out once I actually start plotting things out. I typically try to get the first five to ten chapters fully plotted out. Then, I make a list of plot points I still need to hit that develops as I write. By the time I’m finished with the first five chapters or so, I’ll have everything I need to plot out the next five. I do that all the way until the end.
Which do you consider more important, plot or character?
 Character. Plot is important, of course, but if you have a great plot, but terrible characters, then no one is going to care. I believe you can sometimes skate by with a weaker plot if the characters are amazing. It’s not ideal, of course. Best case, you have both a fantastic plot and superb characters. In the end, though, I do think it is the characters that stick with people the most.
What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?
 More Bookstore Café and more Furever Pets, of course! Both take up quite a bit of my writing time, but I do hope to work on a lot more in the future. I would like to explore other genres, write epic fantasies and hard-boiled detectives. I enjoy so many different genres, I can’t help but want to work in them.
What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?
Never give up. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or inferior. We all suffer it, no matter how much success we have. People are going to say hurtful things. You’re going to get rejections. It’s all part of the process. Stick with it, dedicate yourself to being the best you can possible be, and you will succeed.

What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to find out about you?
 I spend far too much time playing games. Be it video games, board games, phone games, it’s what I do to relieve stress, to have some fun. And, yeah, I tend to be competitive in them as well. Not rude or mean, but man, I always feel the need to be the best I can be. It’s the same approach I take to my writing, actually. It doesn’t always work out the way I want it to, but I refuse to give up and settle.
 Where can we learn more about you and your books?



Just for Fun:
Night or Day?  Night
Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)  Cat, of course!
Beach or Pool?   Beach
Steak or salad?  Salad
Favorite Drink?  Don’t really have one, but I’ll go with orange juice since I drink a glass daily.
Favorite Book?  All of them? I love too many to name just one. Or ten. Or even three dozen.
Favorite TV Series?  Right now, I’d say The Expanse, though I do really enjoy a lot of shows. Most of them are foreign crime shows with subtitles. I find them to be far more intriguing that what we get on network television here.
Favorite Movie?  Once again, I can’t just name one. I do tend to lean toward Sci-fi or horror movies when given the chance to choose.
Favorite Actor: None. I often prefer unknown actors in roles. I find it far better to see the character and not the actor. Put a well known actor in a role, and I tend to expect them to act like, well, them.
Favorite Actress: Same as above. Give me an unknown who can act!
Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Neither. I don’t drink *hides*
Hawaii or Alaska?  Hawaii. Hate the cold.
Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be Stephen King. He is the one who inspired me to write.
If I had just one wish, it would be to get to keep doing what I’m doing. Sure, world peace would be nice. The cure to all diseases, but if I’m allowed to be selfish here, I don’t ever want to change my life.
If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be no one! Like above, I like my life and hope to keep living it. Besides, other people have their own set of problems. I’d prefer to deal with the problems I know, rather than a fresh new set!

Thank you, Alex!


Alex will give away a copy of The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice to one lucky commenter! To enter, leave your name and address in our comments section.  US entries only, please.  Winner will be selected at random.  Contest closes June 22.


Saturday, June 8, 2019

ROCCO's June Cozy Reviews!

Time for more cozy reviews!


AUNT DIMITY AND THE HEART OF GOLD
Nancy Atherton
Aunt Dimity Series
Berkley
June 18, 2019
Four Stars


It's almost Christmas in the small English village of Finch--and everyone is sick. Though many of the villagers regretfully decline their invitations to Emma Harris's annual Christmas bash, Lori Shepherd has no intention of missing it. When the winter weather takes a turn for the worse, it's agreed that none of the guests will leave until morning. There's general merriment as the Christmas party becomes a pajama party--until a car appears in the winding driveway and promptly slides off the slick pavement and into a ditch. 

Matilda "Tilly" Trout--a lost and scatterbrained, middle-aged woman--is mercifully unhurt and invited to stay the night. While she catches her breath, Emma asks her other guests if they would like a tour of the Manor--including an odd room that puzzles her. Several guests put forth guesses as to its purpose, but it's Tilly who correctly identifies the room as a chapel. Placing a palm on one of the ornately-carved panels, Tilly finds a hidden compartment concealing a pile of glittering treasure--including an exquisitely decorated heart made of solid gold. Where did it come from, and why does it look so different from everything else in the chapel? Why didn't Emma even know about this hidden compartment in her own home until now--and how did Tilly?

With Aunt Dimity's otherworldly help and Tilly's bewildering store of knowledge, Lori and friends set out to unravel the mystery behind the heart of gold. And, against all odds--and Christmas finally comes to Finch!
Entertaining mystery. Four paws!


WHISKERS IN THE DARK
A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
Rita Mae Brown
Penguin
June 4, 2019
Five Paws

A massive nor’easter has hit northern Virginia, where Mary Minor “Harry” Harristeen joins groundskeeping efforts at the National Beagle Club at Aldie as the date for its springtime Hounds for Heroes veterans’ benefit approaches. Harry’s fellow volunteers, including her oldest friend, Susan Tucker, comprise a spirited group of hunting enthusiasts, some former service members themselves. But things take a sinister turn when, after a routine tree cleanup along the Club’s hunting trails, retired foreign services officer Jason Holzknect is found dead, throat slit from ear to ear. Soon enough, another murder in their midst jolts the preparations, convincing Harry that the killer is familiar with the Club—and must be close by, masked in plain sight.

The intrigue extends to the grounds of Harry’s beloved local church, where the identity of an eighteenth-century skeleton wearing precious pearls remains a mystery. The anonymous woman’s neck had been snapped, and marks on the grave where her body was secreted indicate that someone recently tried to remove it, leading Harry to question how well she really knows those around her.

As always, Harry’s crime-solving cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker the Corgi share her determination to sniff out the foes among friends, even those long buried. Harry will need her four-legged companions’ help more than ever: a ghostly beagle only they can see may hold the key to the culprit.

One of my favorite series. I never tire of watching Mrs. Murphy and her friends Tucker and Pewter help Harry solve murders!  Definite Five Paws!

THE TELL TAIL HEART
CATE CONTE
Cat Cafe Mystery Series
St. Martin's
June 25, 2019
Four and a half Paws


Maddie is hoping to have some downtime during Daybreak Island’s off-season to tackle her to-do list. Her grandfather’s house-turned-cat-café is under construction and she’s also scoping out places to open a juice bar on the island. On top of that, her relationship with adorable dog groomer Lucas has taken a pawsitive turn.
But easy is getting harder every day for Maddie, especially when a big-name writer who’s on the island working on a new project winds up floating in the canal. This, on the exact same day an eccentric woman shows up at the cafe claiming Maddie’s cat, JJ, is hers.
As the investigation into the dead writer picks up, Maddie realizes that even the neighbors she’s known all her life might be keeping secrets that go deep into the heart of this small seaside town. Meanwhile, a killer remains at-large...and on the prowl. A very enjoyable series.


THE BOOK SUPREMCY
BIBLIOPHILE MYSTERY
KATE CARLISLE
PENGUIN
JUNE 4, 2019
FOUR STARS


Newlyweds Brooklyn and Derek are enjoying the final days of their honeymoon in Paris. As they're browsing the book stalls along the Seine, Brooklyn finds the perfect gift for Derek, a first edition James Bond novel, The Spy Who Loved Me. When they bump into Ned, an old friend from Derek’s spy days, Brooklyn shows him her latest treasure.

Once they're back home in San Francisco, they visit a spy shop Ned mentioned. The owner begs them to let him display the book Brooklyn found in Paris as part of the shop's first anniversary celebration. Before they agree, Derek makes sure the security is up to snuff—turns out, the unassuming book is worth a great deal more than sentimental value.

Soon after, Derek is dismayed when he receives a mysterious letter from Paris announcing Ned’s death. Then late one night, someone is killed inside the spy shop. Are the murders connected to Brooklyn's rare, pricey book? Is there something even more sinister afoot? Brooklyn and the spy who loves her will have to delve into the darkest parts of Derek's past to unmask an enemy who's been waiting for the chance to destroy everything they hold dear.


DEATH IN KEW GARDENS
JENNIFER ASHLEY
BERKLEY
JUNE 4 2019
FOUR STARS

n return for a random act of kindness, scholar Li Bai Chang presents young cook Kat Holloway with a rare and precious gift—a box of tea. Kat thinks no more of her unusual visitor until two days later when the kitchen erupts with the news that Lady Cynthia's next-door neighbor has been murdered.

Known about London as an "Old China Hand," the victim claimed to be an expert in the language and customs of China, acting as intermediary for merchants and government officials. But Sir Jacob's dealings were not what they seemed, and when the authorities accuse Mr. Li of the crime, Kat and Daniel find themselves embroiled in a world of deadly secrets that reach from the gilded homes of Mayfair to the beautiful wonder of Kew Gardens.  FOUR STARS


WIN ROCCO'S REVIEW COPY OF AUNT DIMITY AND THE HEART OF GOLD!

To enter, leave your name and email address in our comments section.  Winner will be chosen using random.org.  For extra points, share this post on twitter and/or facebook, or on your blog if you have one.  Contest closes midnight, June 16.