Always expect the unexpected. Alas, technology has got the best of me recently. I had several interviews recorded with future guests of It's a Mystery podcast, and then the external drive where I had them stored crapped out. So the show is taking an unplanned hiatus. I've got a tech guy seeing if he can retrieve the files off the hard drive. And I will keep you posted about what's happening. In the meantime, please check out these lovely mystery writers that I had the pleasure of connecting with recently. Lynda McDaniel writes lovely mysteries set in the Appalachian mountains that are as much about friendship as they are about the mystery. Check out her work at LyndaMcDanielBooks.com. There's a free novella available there and her first in series, A Life for a Life, is free in ebook format wherever you buy books online. Chris Racknor, a fellow Canadian with a PhD in physics (I don't meet those every day), who writes about disgraced professor Shawn Ronin and mysteries solved around academia. Learn more about him and his books at ChrisRacknor.com. Linda Norlander writes about northern Minnesota. Her sleuth is a native New Yorker who has escaped the city for a quieter life in the woods, only to become the prime suspect in a murder. Learn more about the two books in this series at LindaNorlander.com

It's a Mystery Podcast

Technical problems and a hiatus

We begin in Costa Rica. Author Amy Waeschle's protagonist Dr. Cassidy Kincaid is a volcano seismologist. I had to ask Amy what that is exactly. Turns out it's the perfect profession for an amateur sleuth as it takes her all over the world, where she encounters mysteries of all kinds. Dr. Cassidy is a surfer, visiting Costa Rica in the excerpt Amy reads. And, from the Small World department, Amy herself learned to surf where I live, on the on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She's even written a memoir about her surfing adventures. If you enjoy Amy's reading from Rescuing Reeve you can get the full book for free at her website. This week's mystery author Amy Waeschle is a bestselling mystery writer who fell in love with mysteries while reading late at night under her covers. Agatha Christie, Trixie Belden, and Ridley Pearson were her favorites growing up. She learned to surf just before her 30th birthday, and the challenging experience inspired her to write her first book, a memoir about surfing and traveling called Chasing Waves. After that, Amy was hooked on storytelling, and wanted to combine her love for adventure with fiction, and has been writing adrenaline-spiked mysteries and heartfelt dramas ever since. To learn more about Amy and all her books visit AmyWaeschle.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the excerpt below. Remember you can also listen on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Rescuing Reeve After a sunset surf session at another remote wave, Cassidy slipped to the bow of the Trinity with her stack of documents, hoping to pick up where she left off, but found fellow surfer Benita leaning back against the railing, playing Reeve’s ukulele and singing softly.  She must have seen the look on Cassidy’s face because she stopped mid-strum. “Is this yours? I found it on my bunk.” “Uh, no, I mean, yes, it’s mine.” Benita gave her a shrewd look.  “You can play it. I don’t mind, I was just surprised, is all.” “This is actually a really nice one. Do you play?” “No,” Cassidy said, settling in on her cushion. She realized that her answers were not making much sense.  “My son learned in school. He got really into it.” She looked up. “Do you have kids?” she asked.  Cassidy tried not to download all the reasons why she did not. “No,” she said. She remembered that she hadn’t answered Benita’s question the day before about her marital status.  Benita shrugged. “It’s the kind of thing that happens if you ever do. Your kid gets into something, and then suddenly you’re into it too.” “It’s my stepbrother’s,” Cassidy said.  Benita fingered a few more keys and strummed. “The one you’re looking for,” she said. It was a statement, not a question, and Cassidy remembered that Benita was a lawyer. A good one, too, she guessed.  Cassidy looked out at the blue horizon. The sun would be setting soon, and the soft glow on the water looked like a sheen of pearl luminescence. From inside the boat, she caught the occasional whiff of baking bread. “Yes,” she said.  Benita gave her a look. “Are you guys close?”  “Not really,” Cassidy replied, “but there isn’t really anyone else who can look for him.” She looked out again, this time at the distant charcoal-and-brown mountains shrouded in wispy clouds. “He was working for Bruce on one of these trips. He went ashore in San Juan and never came back.” Benita’s eyes narrowed, and Cassidy could tell her mind was working. “What did the police say?” “I talked to the police in Tamarindo and Santa Cruz, but they said there wasn’t much they could do because he disappeared in Nicaragua. I don’t know if anyone’s talked to the police in San Juan. My stepsister tried calling, but she doesn’t speak Spanish. She has been talking to someone at the U.S. Embassy, but I don’t think anyone’s taking her seriously.” “Do you have an idea of what happened?”

Volcanoes, Surfing, and a Missing Brother with Amy Waeschle

Mysteries and mysticism. Sarah Doucette Jean-Louis is a former therapist turned detective. And she's got a body on her doorstep. After author Myra Jolivet reads to us from The Holiday Murder Melange, we talk about the influence of Creole culture in Sarah's life, what Pushed Times Chewing Pepper means (that's the title of the first full length novel in this series), and the courage and tenacity it takes to be a writer. This week's mystery author At six years old Myra was a poet and playwright, holding SRO productions in her Berkeley, California backyard. That led to a 20+ year career in TV news, politics and corporate communications. When her children went off to college she gathered the nerve to begin a series of cozy, paranormal murder mysteries, the Sarah Doucette Jean-Louis mysteries. Sarah’s life is a blend of Myra’s own California and Louisiana Creole cultures that have helped her create a world of mysticism, murder and humor. To learn more about Myra and all her books visit MyraJolivet.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the excerpt below. Remember you can also listen on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Except from The Holiday Murder Melange Sarah Doucette Jean-Louis removed freshly baked kale chips from her oven and uncorked a bottle of Luc Pirlet Cabernet, as velvety as her new purple Chesterfield sofa. She had planned to sit, sip and read. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in the San Francisco Bay Area, but two interruptions pissed all over her one-person peaceful Saturday afternoon. The first was a call from her mother, a mini-Lena Horne look-alike powerhouse of a woman who stood four feet, ten inches. Every greeting from her sounded like an order.  “Good afternoon, Ma-ma.”  “Good afternoon, Sarah. I hope you’re well. I want to run something past you.”  “I get to have an opinion?”  “Don’t sass. I think that this year you should host the family holiday dinner.”  Sarah wanted to quiet the inner child begging for family validation, but couldn’t. “Oh, Ma-ma. Me? I’ve wanted to host since I was a kid. Wow, I get to pick the menu and set a gorgeous table, and . . .”  Ma-ma cut her off. “That’s right. You’re good at all of that.” “Yes, but why me this time? I know it’s usually the married-with-children and I’m neither.” Creole holiday meals are major events and to be chosen to host is a woman’s rite of passage, like a Creole bat mitzvah. Men are never chosen to host in the culture; they’re served. Sarah had a love-hate relationship with Creole tradition. “Sarah, you’re such a great cook. I just thought it was time.” Sarah remembered something.  “Wait a minute. Isn’t Lizette’s kitchen being remodeled?”  Her sister, with her slender caramel-colored face, was called the beautiful one. She and her husband, Tom, had the favored home for holiday gatherings. “Well, yes. The work isn’t going so well. It won’t be ready in time.” “Ah, and we all know that Lyle’s wife is a terrible cook. Her food tastes like feet.”  Sarah’s brother was a shorter version of their father with chocolate skin, a round face and a thin mustache. He and his wife Tracy had the least favored home for meals. One year they all were left with a touch of diarrhea. “Well, ok. You weren’t first choice. I just tend to think of my married kids for this.”  “No problem. I’ll make it festive.”  Fifty-plus years in California had only separated Sarah’s mother from her Louisiana Creole accent, not from the cultural biases. Sarah considered herself the misfit daughter born to transplants, Bernice and the late Charles Jean-Louis. She was a curvy size eight with brown locks, brown eyes and brown skin—a near monochrome. She had career success but lacked the MRS status symbol Creoles revered.  “Don’t forget to run the menu past me.” “Of course.” “How’s my favorite attorney?” “Manuel is wonderful.”

Creole Culture and California Murder with Myra Jolivet

Trouble is in Carrie McFarland's future. Carrie McFarland, the protagonist of Carolyn Marie Wilkins' book, Death at a Séance, isn't looking for trouble, but she finds it at her new job in 1920 Indiana. Carolyn is a woman with a wide range of interests, passions, and professions. She has been a Jazz Ambassador for the United States (I had to ask her what that is and she answers in the interview portion of the show), a music professor, a Reiki healer, a writer, and a medium, among other things. The dialogue and character voices that Carolyn performs while she reads her excerpt are amazing and she pointed out that this is due to her musical background. She has an ear for voices. This week's mystery author Carolyn Marie Wilkins is an author, a musician and a psychic medium.  She is the author of three mystery novels:  Death at a Séance, Melody for Murder and Mojo for Murder. She has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony and represented her country as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department.  In addition, Carolyn maintains an active private practice as a psychic medium and Reiki healer.  To learn more about Carolyn and all her books visit CarolynWilkins.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the excerpt below. Remember you can also listen on Apple Podcasts,Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Death at a Séance The offices of Gaylord Wilson Entertainment were located on the third floor of a seedy walkup in the heart of Claxton’s red-light district. It was just before noon, and the streets were still quiet. No doubt the ladies of the evening were still recuperating from the previous night’s endeavors. This was my first time away from Aronsville since leaving Blockport. Claxton wasn’t much bigger, but it did feel more alive. The few people out on the streets at this early hour bustled with a sense of greater self-importance. The buildings were taller; the traffic more intense, the sense of danger somehow heightened. Maybe this impression was colored by the fact that I was about to meet the partner of the man who may have murdered Miss Parker. Whatever the reason, my heart was pounding a mile a minute as I knocked on the Gaylord Wilson’s office door. “Don’t just stand there,” a gruff voice of indeterminate sex barked in response. “Come in. It’s unlocked.” The small reception area had a large black desk facing the door. Once inside, I could see that the voice I’d heard belonged to a colossus of a woman wearing what appeared to be full stage makeup – enormous circles had been painted around her eyes, and her lips were smeared with a shade of crimson that reminded me of an animal having just ripped apart a bloody carcass. Completing the ensemble was a foot-high pile of platinum blonde hair that could only have come from a bottle. “Good morning,” I said. Slowly, the gigantic woman raised her head and studied me, her beady kohl-enhanced eyes inspecting me from top to bottom. “If you’re looking for work on the cleaning crew, we’re not hiring,” she said, and returned to the work on her desk. So much for my plan to find work with Wilson’s company as a maid. My only choice was to bluff my way into being hired as a performer. “How dare you,” I said in my most regal voice. “I am no mere cleaning woman. My name is Bright Feather. I am a psychic and I have come to perform in your show.” The woman’s face brightened. “An Injun? Why didn’t you say so in the first place. What did you say your name was?” “Bright Feather,” I said. “I can talk to the dead, tell the fortunes of the living and cross between the two worlds at will.” The look on the receptionist’s face told me she had heard this kind of show-business puffery many times before. “We’ve already got a mental act on this revue, honey. Name’s Miss Cora. Reads minds, sees the future – all that stuff. We don’t need another one.”

Bootleggers, Mentalists, and Murder with Carolyn Marie Wilkins

Magical Venice ...and murder. Jane Thornley was one of my very first guests. She joined me on episode 14 to talk about her Crime By Design books. Today she is back to discuss The Carpet Cipher, the first book in the Agency of Ancient Lost and Found mysteries. Jane has always done a lot of traveling, which is reflected in all her books and that's true as well of the excerpt she reads to us. We begin in Venice, pre-Covid-19, and you can almost smell the damp and decay as Jane's protagonist, Phoebe McCabe makes her way through the city. I've never been to Italy, but am as desperate as ever to visit the floating city after hearing Jane read. This week's mystery author Jane Thornley has been creating stories forever, or at least, as far back as she can remember. Once a superintendent of schools, once a travel host, once a professional librarian, once and still a knitwear designer, now she remains passionate about travel, history and art. Though she's published many books, her new Agency of the Ancient Lost & Found series remains the most popular. To learn more about Jane and all her books visit JaneThornley.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the excerpt below. Remember you can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from The Carpet Cipher Venice, February 2019 How long had it been since she had last ventured into the Venetian streets at night—five years, ten? Too long ago, in any event, and to do so tonight of all nights, when the carnival finale was in full swing and the revelry would reach a raucous pitch, seemed foolish even for her. How she detested the noise, the crowds, even the fierce and gilded costumes that would press against her in the dark like fevered dreams. To stay home by the fire with a book and a glass of wine seemed far preferable. Still, it must be done. After tonight she would lay one matter to rest and possibly see the conclusion of another, much older mystery. She opened the front door, hesitating briefly before leaving the safety of her palazzo and plunging into the throng, her velvet coat wrapped tightly around her to ward away the spring chill. As expected, the young people were outdoing each other with fantastic finery. Gone were the days when only the time traveler mode of long gowns and medieval costumes ruled, though plenty of those still roamed the streets. Now creative interlopers had arrived with glittery fairy wings, and was that a chicken? Yes, a chicken, complete with an enormous egg tucked under one false wing! She stifled a laugh.  Her own mask, on the other hand, was demure by comparison, a lovely sun/moon creation she had had especially made for another carnival long ago when she had been a young woman, her whole life stretching ahead. Then, the duality of light and dark had been no more than a playful game. As on that evening, she also wore the cape worked in deep blue velvet stenciled in gold stars with Mariano Fortuny’s distinctive flair. Now, that subtle silken loveliness seemed to sink like a poor cousin against the surrounding sequins and gaudy trappings.  Never mind, she told herself, the man she was to meet would appreciate it for what it was: a testament to artisan beauty in a world that had long lost sight of what does not scream for attention. That she would reunite with the one with whom she had first worn the ensemble was a fitting end to their long torturous relationship. Though they had not seen one another for many decades, she prayed that he had finally forgiven her long enough to help her now. He of all people would know the significance of what she had discovered. But first, she must resolve the other matter. There was to be no meeting at her family’s weaving studio, on that point she was firm. The call had come just moments before she left the villa and her first response had been to refuse the request, but then she reconsidered.

Secret Messages and Ancient Textiles with Jane Thornley

The stage is set...for murder. Today's guest has been on the show before, way back in 2017. John Gaspard writes the Eli Marks mysteries, but today he's here to talk about his new series the Como Lake Players mysteries. In the interview, John explains why he's writing under the pseudonym Bobbie Raymond, what called him to write these books, and why he chose community theatre for his setting. (Hint: he's got experience with theatre and film.) John himself has a podcast where he talks to magicians about their work and also reads a chapter from an Eli Marks book. You can find that here. Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author John is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as four other stand-alone novels, The Greyhound of the Baskervilles, The Sword & Mr. Stone, A Christmas Carl, and The Ripperologists. He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films.  John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies. To learn more about Bobbie Raymond / John Gaspard and all his books visit AlbertsBridgeBooks.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Acting Can Be Murder Chapter One “How embarrassing would it be if we got lost down here? I mean, here I am in charge of the theater and then I go and get us lost while giving a tour. Nutty, right?”  Leah turned to see how her witticism had landed, recognizing immediately that the wisecrack had fallen on the far side of flat. The young man stared back at her blankly, and on that unlined, expressionless face she read nothing but judgment. And not positive judgment. This was a decidedly negative   assessment concerning her, her abilities as a tour guide and was probably inspiring a rising conviction that she was unqualified on all levels. In short, the tour was not going well. And they were only five minutes into it. Leah wished, not for the first time, that she had dragged Betsy along. The long-time administrative assistant had been a godsend on the last two theater tours Leah had spearheaded. And now she was questioning her decision to handle this one on her own. However, as the recently-hired Executive Director of the Como Lake Players, Leah felt the time had come to dispense with the handholding and conduct an actual tour on her own. The interview portion with this candidate had gone fine, although she sensed that he was underwhelmed with the prospect of directing at the theater and was just going through the motions. To be fair, she was a little underwhelmed with him as well. The appointment of a director for the last show of the season—a production of The Importance of Being Earnest—wasn’t exactly near the top of her ever-expanding To-Do list, but it had felt like something she could knock off quickly to give herself an easy—and early–win. This was the third interview she had conducted to fill the position. The first one had been with a cheerful, middle-aged woman named Nancy, who had a long list of children’s theater credits on her resume. Leah had barely needed to ask even one question, as the woman had started talking as soon as she walked in the do...

Community Theatre Can Be Murder with Bobbie Raymond (John Gaspard)

A stranger rides into town... In the tradition oIn the tradition of the classic lone private investigators who right wrongs wherever they go, Mike Donohue is writing the Max Strong series.f the classic lone private investigators who right wrongs wherever they go, Mike Donohue is writing the Max Strong series. Mike reads to us from book 5 in the series, Burn the Night, and we talk about the research he does in the various locations Max goes to and why he finds himself circling back to Max's origins in the next book in the series that he's writing now. If you love Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, or the Spenser series from the late-great Robert B. Parker, you're going to love Max Strong. A reviewer described Max as 'the guy who doesn't have to help, but needs to' and I think that's the perfect summation of this type of hero. Mike has generously offered It's a Mystery podcast listeners a free audio called How to Buy a Shovel. It's a stand-alone short mystery story. Click here to get your copy. If you're looking for new books and authors I've got a treat for you. There are over 70 mystery novels available for you to try - for free! - when you go to:alexandraamor.com/march21 (This offer expires March 31, 2021 so head over there today to take advantage.) Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author Mike Donohue writes crime fiction and suspense novels. His latest release, Burn the Night, is the fifth book in the popular Max Strong thriller series.  Born in New Jersey but raised in New England, Mike now lives outside Boston with his wife, two kids, and Dashiell Hammett. Dash is the family dog. When he’s not writing, Mike enjoys triathlons, making pizza, and reading. To learn more about Mike and all his books visit MikeDonohueBooks.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Burn the Night Max had merged onto the highway, headed back downtown, when he realized what had happened. He sighed, checked his mirrors, and got off at the next exit. He’d dropped the three women off at an old Victorian in Manayunk. It was clear the three were drunk when he picked them up outside the bar, but only one of the three seemed very drunk. The fare from Center City was high enough that Max thought it was worth the risk that he’d be cleaning up vomit before he made the address. All three also seemed very young and it was getting late. He let them in the car. The drunkest girl had been predictably obnoxious and, given the increasingly sour faces of her friends as the trip progressed, Max guessed she was getting on their nerves, too. But, by the time he pulled up outside the slightly dilapidated, pink and white gingerbread on Carson, she’d kept down whatever she ate and drank that night. If it came up again, it would soon be someone else’s problem. He’d stayed and watched as her friends supported the woman up the steep set of stairs onto the house’s sagging front porch and navigated her inside. It was only now, approaching the city again from the northwest on 76E, with the green expanse of treetops from Fairmont Park to his right, that he realized she hadn’t kept it all in. She’d urinated all over the back seat. Max could almost see the statue of old Billy Penn shaking his head from atop City Hall at Max’s naivete. It explained the friends’ demeanors. With the drunk girl sandwiched in the middle, it must have gotten on both of them. At least he had their address, their actual address,

Private Investigator as Knight Errant

Nicole Porter has a lot of explaining to do. In SJ Varengo's Cleanup Crew series, Nicole Porter ostensibly runs a company that cleans up crime scenes. The catch is that usually she and her coworkers are the ones who have caused the bloody messes in the first place. In this episode, Scott reads to us from The Beauty of Bucharest, book 1 in the series, which finds Nicole in the titular city with her new husband, Dan ...and her assassin colleagues who are on the job and ready for work. Scott and I also talk about his most recent book, Jelly Jars, which is something of a departure for him. As a general rule, this podcast is focused on my guests' mystery novels (obvs) but when Scott mentioned Jelly Jars in the interview I was intrigued, so I followed that thread and really enjoyed hearing about how this story came about and what it means to Scott. If you're looking for new books and authors I've got a treat for you. There are over 70 mystery novels available for you to try - for free! - when you go to:alexandraamor.com/march21 (This offer expires March 31, 2021 so head over there today to take advantage.) Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author S.J. Varengo is a married father of two adult children, living in Upstate New York. He is the author of The Cleanup Crew series, as well as his latest novel, Jelly Jars, a literary love story. In addition, he is the co-author of the SpyCo Thriller Series and is working with Crag A. Hart on the best-selling Shelby Alexander series.  Hart and Varengo are also partners in Northern Lake Audio, producers of audiobooks, and they co-host the popular literary-themed podcast, Good Sentences. Most recently they’ve launched a new website, e2books.com, to showcase their new work as well as their back catalog. To learn more about Scott and all his books visit e2books.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from The Beauty of Bucharest Taken from Chapter 4 – Arrival in Romania Nicole left Dan sleeping, his post-coital go-to move, and dressed quietly. She slipped out of the room with a level of stealth that would have caught him by surprise, as she normally made a show of being a little clumsy and a lot noisy at home. She thought about the vast amount of things that Dan was going to find surprising in the days... in the years ahead. Stopping at the desk, she asked directions to the bar, named simply The Pub, and calculated that at just a little over a half-mile away, she could make it to her meeting in time if she walked briskly, an activity she found invigorating anyway, not that she wasn’t already quite energized from the lovemaking. For her, sex was a stimulant. It sharpened her senses and made her eager, either for more sex or for some other equally exhilarating activity. As she stepped quickly along Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta, she pulled out her phone and wrote a quick text to Viktor, the local Crew handler, who would fill her in on all the pertinent details before bringing her to a place where she could gather up some firepower. When Nicole had first begun working for the Clean Up Crew, the protocol was to bring any weapons you’d be using with you, but the world’s social climate had changed considerably since then, and boarding airplanes with a gun (or more often than not, several guns), even in checked luggage, was no longer considered a worthwhile operational risk. Besides, the organization had grown to a size that allowed for a ...

Globe Trotting Assassins and a Love Story with SJ Varengo

Celebrating the Golden Age of detective fiction. If you love the Golden Age of detective fiction (and who doesn't?) you're going to be happy to meet Olive Belgrave, the high society lady detective. This cozy mystery series from Sara Rosett is set in one of my favorite periods in history - between the two world wars. Olive is a young well-bred woman in search of an occupation, not an easy thing for those of the female persuasion to find in 1923. In this episode Sara reads to us from Murder at Archly Manor to whet your appetite. And then I ask Sara to give us a synopsis of her three other cozy mystery series. They include: The Murder on Location seriesThe On the Run International mysteries; andThe Ellie Avery series. So as the title of this episode suggests, Sara has a cozy series for every taste and you can learn more about all of them at her website (link below). If you're looking for new books and authors I've got a treat for you. There are over 70 mystery novels available for you to try - for free! - when you go to:alexandraamor.com/march21 (This offer expires March 31, 2021 so head over there today to take advantage.) Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes lighthearted mysteries for readers who enjoy atmospheric settings, fun characters, and puzzling whodunits. She is the author of the High Society Lady Detective historical mystery series as well as three contemporary cozy mystery series.Sara loves escaping into Golden Age mysteries, watching Jane Austen adaptations, and getting new stamps in her passport.  To learn more about Sara and all her books visit SaraRosett.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Murder at Archly Manor London, Summer 1923 One might suppose a well-bred young woman with a good education wouldn’t have any difficulties finding employment. At least, that’s what I’d supposed, but I discovered those assumptions were wrong—quite wrong. On an overcast morning in late July, I had stepped off the train from my little village of Nether Woodsmoor into the bustle and busyness of London, confident that within a few days I would be one of that fascinating breed, the working girl, striding off to put in a day’s work, knowing a paycheck was not long off.  My view of the situation had been quickly brought into line. It had been a rather abrupt descent from the heights of my expectations to the depths of reality. I had become familiar with the shallow veneer of apology that accompanied the words, “Sorry, but we don’t have anything for you.”  But today would be different. I was seated on the other side of the desk from a newspaper editor as he looked over my article. His closed office door barely muted the clacking typewriters and the loud conversations from the newsroom. I realized I was twisting my handbag in my lap, causing the decorative beads to strain against the threads that held them in place. I released my grip and pressed my gloved hands against the folds of my skirt.  Mr. Clark, editor of The Express, hadn’t even bothered to perch his pince-nez on his nose to read the sample article I’d labored over the night before. Holding his glasses in the air a few inches in front of his eyes, he skimmed down my handwritten story that described the Duchess of Seton’s ball. The fact that his lips didn’t twitch meant he didn’t even get to the incident involving Barbara Clairmore’s sash,

Cozy Mysteries for Every Taste with Sara Rosett

Meet a P.I. whose past is catching up to him. Brand new to Delia C. Pitts' Ross Agency mystery series is Murder My Past, which she reads to us on this episode. Delia's private investigator, SJ Rook, is catching up with his ex-wife, which can only lead to one thing: murder. Harlem features largely in this series and as Delia mentions in our interview it's the perfect place to set a mystery series. A multi-cultural neighborhood that has seen lots of change over the years, and one that holds plenty of secrets. You'll also hear Delia and I discuss the Crime Writers of Color website. On the books page you'll find new featured authors and new releases each week. Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author Delia C. Pitts is the author of the Ross Agency Mysteries, a contemporary noir private eye series. She is a former university administrator and U.S. diplomat. After working as a journalist, she earned a Ph.D in history from the University of Chicago. The fifth novel in her series, Murder My Past, was published February 16, 2021. In addition to her mysteries, Delia has published short stories in several anthologies and in the Chicago Quarterly Review. She and her husband live in central New Jersey, too far from their twin sons in Texas. To learn more about Delia and all her books visit DeliaPitts.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Murder My Past “So, you clocked this Chuy. Three punches to the belly. He went down like a sack of onions, as I recall.” “You recall correctly.” I tipped my glass at her. “Hard to forget that fight. You were scary furious. Chuy was bigger than you. On the varsity wrestling team too. But you were mad as hornets in heat. Took him out quick and good.” “You were impressed?” “I was.” Annie squeezed her lids, then shook her head. “Day one of fall semester, I saw you in biology. I sat next to you at the lab bench.” “On purpose?” “Of course, SJ!” Laughter floated from her lips, tinkling and bright. “How do you think we ended up as lab partners?” “You didn’t mind the anger?” She twisted her lips to the side. “No. Not at first. I thought I could handle it. I was crushing hard on you.” She ducked her head, then picked at a salt crystal on the stem of her giant glass. “And I was so damn teen stupid.” I puffed until bourbon rippled over the ice like uneasy memories. The present was safer ground, I could regain my balance there. “Annie, I read you’re heading a multi-million-dollar operation. How do you do it? You look fresh as a baby in a cradle.” Laid on thick, south Texas cornpone slathered over the compliments. “You ought to bottle that care-free potion and sell it to these New York City women. Stress and distress are the name of the game. Up here, if you’re not anxious, you’re not really trying. That’s how they see it.” She detected the BS. “Aw, poor thing! New York City ladies not treating you nice like you’re used to?” She tossed her head until the brown column of her neck shimmied with laughter. “I’m doing all right in that department. Don’t worry your pretty little head.” Bravado rang stupid, but I tried it anyway. Thoughts of Brina jittered through my mind: her smiling face, her warm eyes, the intensity of her focus as we unraveled a puzzle together. Annie’s brow lifted, satisfaction tilting her full lips. “You got yourself a fancy New York City girl, do you, SJ? Tell me about her.” I hadn’t meant to mention Brina,

Contemporary Noir Mysteries Set in Harlem with Delia C. Pitts

Welcome to an alternative Los Angeles. The femme fatale is an archetype in literature, especially in crime novels. Think of Cora in The Postman Always Rings Twice or Phyllis in Double Indemnity. (Both those novels were written by James M. Cain. He seems to have had a thing for femme fatales.) These are women who are seductive and usually beautiful who lure men into compromising or dangerous situations. SG (Sandra) Wong has taken this classic noir mystery trope and turned it on its head, which I just love. Lola Starke is the femme fatale in Sandra's historical crime novels, and she's also the private investigator. Sandra reads to us from book 2 in the series (there are 3 books so far), called In for a Pound which finds Lola Starke and her friend Ria on the scene when a murder takes place. Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author SG (Sandra) Wong writes fiction across genres, has garnered some crime fiction awards nominations, speaks on writing and publishing topics, and volunteers for important community causes such as Sisters in Crime, which she serves as National President. Her Lola Starke novels and Crescent City short stories are set in a 1930s-era, fictionalized “Chinese Los Angeles,” with ghosts and magic, in an alternate history in which China established a city-state colony at the start of the Gold Rush. Sandra's next book is coming in 2022 from HarperCollins Canada and is a stand-alone suspense novel. To learn more about SG Wong and all her books visit SGWong.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from In for a Pound “Why, hello stranger.” Ria looked up at Lola, gave a lazy smile. She patted the shoulder of the man in whose lap she sat. “This is my new friend Charlie. Charlie, meet my best friend, Lola Starke.” She switched to a stage whisper. “I bet she’s here to take me home.” “I’m here to take you home,” Lola said, deadpan.  Charlie smiled and nodded. He had a dimple in his right cheek and a jaw shadowed with dark stubble. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Starke.” His gaze measured her from head to toe—and back again. There might have been an awkward pause then, but the trumpet player chose that moment to blow for all he was worth. Lola turned to face the stage. The club patrons were out of their seats, clapping, jumping, and shouting encouragement. Ria bumped Lola’s right hip as she straightened up. Lola threw her a sidelong glance. Ria winked. The trumpet player reached his apogee, his body a taut arc, his eyes squeezed shut. The cheering grew. Tables were bumped. Glassware tumbled with clinks and crashes. The crystal chandeliers rattled and Lola felt pressure building in her eardrums.  Just as she started to cover her ears, the trumpeter’s high note cut out and the rest of the band slammed to a halt. The calls of the crowd became a wave of sound and energy, cresting as the band members collapsed into their chairs, and breaking into laughter as the bandleader swept a spotted kerchief across his forehead and fell onto his seat at the edge of the stage. Lola turned to Ria. They grinned at each other like fools. Ria whirled around to face Charlie, kissed him soundly on the lips, and pushed away, laughing. She grabbed Lola’s hand and led the way around smashed glass, tipsy people, giggling cigarette girls, and potted palms. Lola glanced back to see Charlie wave languidly at her, dimples deepening and eyes glinting. 

Femme Fatale as Private Investigator with SG Wong

Small town, big mystery. Gloria Ferris writes in several genres, but today we're talking about her Cornwall and Redfern mysteries, specifically book #3 in the series, Skull Garden. Small towns in Ontario are some of my favorite places in the world. I grew up visiting my paternal grandparents outside Gravenhurst, and now have an uncle who lives in the exact area near Lake Huron that Gloria is writing about in these books. So it was very easy for me to picture the landscape and architecture as Gloria read from her book, which was a delight. In the introduction, I also mention a class I took recently on using the Enneagram to create characters. I loved the class and it made me reflect that there is always something new to learn about writing, which I love. Sometimes it can be intimidating, but mostly I love learning and hopefully improving my craft. Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author Gloria Ferris is a former procedure writer at a nuclear power plant, an exciting job to be sure, but it afforded little opportunity for plot and character development. So, she turned to fiction writing and is now the award-winning author of the humorous Cornwall & Redfern mysteries; a co-written Suspense series; and a YA urban fantasy series. Occasionally, she writes a short story just for the heck of it. Gloria lives in southwestern Ontario and is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Alliance of Independent Authors. To learn more about Gloria and all her books visit GloriaFerris.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Skull Garden CHAPTER ONE  I eased the Savage to the edge of the pavement and cut the engine. Chesley swung a lanky leg over my head and hopped off the back seat. While he checked his teeth for bugs, I spread a hand-drawn map across the seat. “It should be around here somewhere,” I told him.  Consulting the compass duct-taped to my dash, I faced north and pointed to a gentle incline covered with a century’s worth of pine growth. “It might be on the other side of that hill.” Hunting for a graveyard abandoned over a hundred years ago is no easy task, especially if the township records suck. Chesley hung my spare helmet over a handlebar and tucked his chin-length hair behind his ears. “The cemetery could be inside the thicket. The undergrowth’s had plenty of time to cover the gravesites.” The June afternoon heated up, and I stripped off my helmet and jacket. “I hope not. I want to take photos of any inscriptions, count up the headstones, and call it done.” “How did Glory talk you into this? Seems odd she’d care about old burials.” “She thinks she's my boss. She assumed I’d do it on a volunteer basis.” I snorted. “As if. So, she offered me minimum wage. I refused, but made a fatal mistake. I said I’d need the rate the town was giving summer students. After an epic tantrum, she gave in and pointed me towards the municipal archives for maps.” We crossed the road and ploughed through an expanse of waist-high grass. If the cemetery was inside the gloomy stand of trees, Chesley might come in handy, to serve as bear bait. I shoved him into the lead. As interim mayor of Lockport, a town of 7,000 hardy souls on the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario, Glory Yates was on a crazy power trip. Who cared if there were burial grounds being overtaken by time in the wilds of the township? Dust to dust, right? Apparently not. She wanted them located, inventoried,

Murder and Mayhem in Small Town Ontario with Gloria Ferris

Every goodhearted detective needs a loathsome nemesis. Mike Faricy is a prolific author and has several mystery series on the go. Today we focus on his Dev Haskell series with book #27, Alley Katz. Readers describe Dev as a 'likeable rogue' and I think that's the perfect description. In our interview I mention to Mike that Dev made me think of a cross between Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr and Robert B. Parker's Spenser. And I love how deliciously nasty Dev's nemesis/employer, Tubby Gustafson, is. If you like what you hear when Mike reads to us, there are two Dev Haskell novellas available at Mike's website for free, Twinkletoes and Dollhouse. You can sign up to receive those books here. In case you missed it, I shared the first part of one of my monthly short stories yesterday here on the blog. You can read that here. Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author Mike Faricy was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. He developed his love for books from his parents reading to him at an early age. He currently has written seventy-five books in four crime fiction series; The Dev Haskell series, the Corridor Man series, the Hotshot series, and the Jack Dillon Dublin Tales series. Mike is the winner of the 2019 Crime Master’s of America Poison Cup Award and the winner of the 2020 Crime Master's of America Poison Cup Award for the Best Selling series. Mike lives in St. Paul, Minnesota and Dublin, Ireland, which makes me the most boring guy in two towns. To learn more about Mike and all his books visit MikeFaricyBooks.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Alley Katz I hurried out of Annette’s house and sped toward Tubby’s palace. Every time the wheels turned, I seemed to dread the meeting just a little bit more. The drive went all too quickly, and before I knew it, I was climbing out of my car and pressing the button on the intercom at Tubby’s front gate. “Well, Haskell, back for more. Good luck with that,” the voice answered, laughed, and the gate suddenly began to open. Apparently, everyone had been alerted to my pending arrival. They’d probably set up some way to tape my beheading and use it as a warning to anyone who even thought of crossing Tubby in the future. I drove up the circular drive to the parking area. The usual two thugs were leaning against the house. By the time I parked, placed my pistol in the glove compartment, and climbed out, one of them was standing at the rear of my car. “You must be a glutton for punishment, Haskell. Suit yourself. Assume the position,” he said. I leaned over the trunk, and he patted me down, twice. “Okay, you’re good to go,” he said. I walked over to the front door, where his partner patted me down. “Lucky you. You get to go inside,” he said and laughed. He opened the door, and I stepped inside. Squiggy was reading a comic book. Probably the same one he was reading the last time I was here. He looked at me, shook his head, and pushed his bifocals on the bridge of his nose.“You know, Haskell, I’d normally tell you this is your lucky day, but you know better than that. Follow me,” he said and set off across the entryway. He was knocking on Tubby’s office door a moment later. “It’s about damn time. Send him in here,” Tubby growled as Squiggy opened the door. “Good luck,” Squiggy half-whispered as I hurried past and headed into Tubby’s office. I’d seen Tubby in this situation before, his massage hour.

Bad Decisions Make Good Stories with Mike Faricy

A perfect blend of knitting and cozy mysteries. Reagan Davis writes cozy mysteries set in small town Ontario. Her protagonist, Megan, owns a knitting shop; the perfect job for an amateur sleuth ;-) In the introduction I mention speaking (via zoom) with a university psychology class last week about my memoir about ten years I spent in a cult in the 1990s. The students were super engaged and thoughtful and it was a joy to chat with them and answer questions. I'm always thrilled to help educate anyone about how cults work and how even smart, self-aware people can get sucked into them. Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author Reagan Davis doesn’t really exist.  She is a pen name for the real author who lives in the suburbs of Toronto with her husband, two kids, and a menagerie of pets.  When she’s not planning the perfect murder, she enjoys knitting, reading, eating too much chocolate, and drinking too much Diet Coke.  The author is an established knitwear designer who regularly publishes individual patterns and is a contributor to many knitting books and magazines.  To learn more about Reagan and all her books visit ReaganDavis.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Twisted Stitches Monday July 6th “Megan!” The disembodied voice comes from nowhere. Just loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to recognize. There’s nobody around. This is the third time in fourteen hours the voice has called my name. Am I hearing things? Is this a neurological symptom? The disembodied voice comes from nowhere. Just loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to recognize. There’s nobody around. This is the third time in fourteen hours the voice has called my name. Am I hearing things? Is this a neurological symptom? The voice called out to me when I walked Sophie last night, again this morning during our morning walk, and just now, while I load groceries into my trunk at the Shop’n’Save in Harmony Hills. I make a mental note to search the internet when I get home, in case this is a symptom of a stroke, or a brain tumour, or something. Returning the empty cart to the cart corral, I see Mr. and Mrs. Willows across the parking lot. They’re getting into their older, oversize, white pickup truck that Mrs. Willows affectionately refers to as “The Beater.” They see me too. We smile at each other and exchange waves. Could one of them have called out to me? Like me, Mr. and Mrs. Willows live in Harmony Lake. They have a farm on the outskirts of town.  It’s not uncommon to run into other Harmony Lake residents in Harmony Hills. Harmony Lake is a small town with limited amenities. Most of us who live there make regular trips to Harmony Hills to visit the big box stores, medical facilities, and other businesses and services we don’t have on the other side of the Harmony Hills mountains. Standing in an asphalt parking lot with no shade, at noon on a July day, with the heat from the hot pavement radiating up my sundress, makes a hot summer day feel downright scorching. I start the engine, turn the stereo down and the air conditioning up. A few uncooperative curls insist on hanging rebelliously around my face as I twist my hair into a bun and secure it with the hair elastic I wear on my wrist.  I pull down the sun visor and open the mirror. With my sunglasses resting on top of my head, I check the mirror and wipe a smudge of mascara from below my left eye. I squint into the bright,

Knitting Together Murder with Reagan Davis

Step aside Stephanie Plum! In Jinx Ballou, Dharma Kelleher has created a tough, complex character who is a former police officer, a comic book nerd, and a Wonder Woman cosplayer. Jinx also happens to be transgender. Dharma herself is trans and in our interview she talks about writing the books she wants to read, something I can totally relate to because I do the same thing. Dharma wanted to read about complex characters with rich lives in a way that wasn't focused on their gender identity or their transition. Those kinds of books are amazing and have undoubtedly supported and assisted many people, and now there's room in the publishing space for the type of book Dharma wants to read and write. Thank goodness for that! In the introduction I also mention that I recently found out that my memoir, Cult, A Love Story, is being used as one of the textbooks in a psychology of cults class at a university in Iowa. Exciting! Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor This week's mystery author Dharma Kelleher writes gritty crime thrillers including the Jinx Ballou Bounty Hunter series and the Shea Stevens Outlaw Biker series. Dharma is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. Her action-driven thrillers explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world where the legal system favors the privileged.  She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the International Thriller Writers, and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She lives in Arizona with her wife Eileen and a black cat named Mouse To learn more about Dharma and all her books visit DharmaKelleher.com Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify. Excerpt from Chaser CHAPTER 1 A blond woman opened the door, her swollen left eye shining with the rich color and texture of an overripe eggplant. Dried blood trailed from her twisted nose, over her split lip, and onto her faded Disney Cinderella T-shirt. Purple, green, and yellow bruises on her arms and legs documented a history of abuse.  “Jesus Christ! That looks like it hurts.” I stood on her doorstep in Phoenix’s Sunnyslope neighborhood, sweat beading on my skin in the late-afternoon heat. “Freddie do that to you?” “What do you want?” Her fat lip and broken nose made it sound more like “Wuh you wuhn?” She glared at me from her open doorway, resting a hand on her hip.  “You’re Vanessa Nealey, right?” “Who wants to know?”  “Gee, I figured the words Bail Enforcement Agent printed in big yellow letters on my Kevlar vest would’ve given it away.” I handed her my business card with a sardonic grin. “Jinx Ballou, friendly neighborhood bounty hunter. Your boyfriend, Freddie Colton, missed his court date. Big Bobby Mills at Liberty Bail Bonds hired me to pick him up. Is he here?” Vanessa crumpled the business card and tossed it at my feet. “Go to hell, lady.” She started to shut the door, but I caught it with the toe of my boot. “Listen up, princess! You put your home up as collateral. If Prince Charming doesn’t come along with me, your bond is forfeit. Know what that means? It means no happily ever after. Liberty Bail Bonds will take your house, and you’ll be on the street. Is Freddie really worth all that?” She held my gaze for several seconds before her expression softened. “He ain’t here.”  “You sure about that?” Vanessa stepped aside. “You wanna look around? Be my guest.”  I was tempted to take her up on her offer, just in case she was bluffing. Technically,

A Tough, Compassionate Hero To Root For with Dharma Kelleher

Reader-focused interviews with mystery authors about their books, characters and the mystery genre. Introducing mystery fans to new authors they may not have heard of yet.