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Terry Ambrose

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Behind the story of A Composition in Murder by Larissa Reinhart

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A Composition in MurderLarissa Reinhart was a 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist. Her first Cherry Tucker mystery, “Portrait of a Dead Guy,” was nominated for a Daphne, an Emily, and was the 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. In this interview, the multi-award nominated author discusses the story behind her sixth mystery, “A Composition in Murder.”

“I strive for entertainment in my stories and don’t set out to deal with an issue or argument,” Reinhart said. “I really try to be true to the characters based on their backstory. But I do think issues naturally surface when writing whether they’re intended or not.

“In the Cherry Tucker mysteries, I’m dealing with a cultured redneck. Cherry’s a classically trained artist. She’s got a dysfunctional family. She grew up on a farm. She can be an art snob (she is an art snob), but she can’t stand snobbishness in others. I grew up in a small town. I tend to rankle at snobbishness. So it happens.”

Posh senior living enters the picture

In “A Composition in Murder,” the setting is a posh independent living residence. But instead of resenting the lavish amenities, Cherry embraces them. It’s like college dorm life all over again except much more luxurious.

“Like in all stages of life,” Reinhart said, “living in this kind of comfort comes with a price tag not everyone can afford. I guess that’s an issue I address, although I’m not making an argument of whether that’s good or bad. At least I don’t think I do. I’d just rather point it out.”

Reinhart has always liked the idea of a will or inheritance as a motive. She remembered the idea from the Golden Age of Crime novels. “I thought about what kind of setting would work with that sort of story, and came up with Halo House, a posh senior residence. Also, I grew up in a farming village of six hundred people. I’d say at least half of the population was elderly. I spent a lot of time with senior citizens growing up, so I knew it would be fun to partner Cherry with some seniors.”

HGTV’s House Hunters International

Before she moved to Japan, Reinhart visited one of those posh residences in her town. “This was not the kind of ‘senior citizen home’ I grew up visiting as a kid. The place was amazing. It had a swim up bar and a beauty parlor among other amenities. The director had a great personality and some of his funny stories did influence my writing. Plus, I knew a high schooler who worked in the residence’s restaurant and he gave me some great stories, too.”

In her new series, Maizie Albright Star Detective, Reinhart set the story in Georgia just as she did with “A Composition in Murder.” But, the Maizie Albright series takes place in a mountain resort town. “This time, the Georgia peach is a fallen TV star who’s returned to her hometown to become a detective. I also used some of my House Hunters International experience for research.”

Anyone who has watched HGTV may be familiar with House Hunters international. Reinhart and her husband were actually one of those house-hunting families. Might she have gotten some new ideas from the experience?

“I never believed we’d do House Hunters International until the film crew actually showed up in Japan,” Reinhart said. “I still can’t believe it. Here’s a fun industry secret. In one scene, the director wanted us to drive around Nagoya and talk about the house hunt. They stuck a GoPro to the hood of our hatchback and one on our windshield. And then the director climbed into the trunk of the hatchback and off we went. It was my first body in the trunk experience.”

Learn more about Larissa Reinhart and her mysteries on her website at larissareinhart.com.

Book & a Latte Contest

What: This month, Larissa is giving away two e-book copies of “A Composition in Murder” and I’m adding two $5.00 Starbucks gift cards. Two random entries will be chosen as winners. Each winner will receive a book and a gift card.

How to enter: Choose one or more of the options below. Each option gives you an additional chance to win.

Who can enter: This contest is only open to continental US residents over 18 years of age.

Winners:Selected winners must claim prizes within 72 hours of notification. Verification of entries: All winning entries are subject to verification.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Terry

I started out as a skip tracer. Just in case you don’t know, that’s the guy who finds the people who don’t want to be found. It was the little things—getting paid to lie—that made skip tracing the fun part of the job.

Those years of chasing deadbeats taught me many valuable life lessons, such as liars come from all walks of life, and always keep your car in the garage.

Find me on: Amazon Bookbub Instagram Facebook

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Julie N. says

    This book sounds so intriguing and I just signed up for the Snitch! Looking forward to photos of the aloha islands. My favorite place in the world. My favorite spot Waimea or toes in the sand on pipeline with sketchbook or a journal. This is where my words come alive! Thank you for the chance to win a great read .

  4. Peggy Clayton says

    This one sounds so good i would love to review and post a few reviews so happy it is in print. Happy Thanksgiving Terry and thank you for all of your info that you have given us on scams i have passed it along.

    • Terry Ambrose says

      Thanks Peggy! I’m glad you enjoy the tips. And, yes, this does sound like a good read. Something about the South just makes for a great setting.

  7. Sandra M says

    Sounds like a great book I like the setting. That is so interesting you were on House Hunters International!

    • Larissa Reinhart says

      Hey Becky! I still like print but I do read mostly on my Kindle now. Partly b/c I’m in Japan and getting print is a lot more expensive here (and I need to watch what I ship back). But there are certain authors I do love collecting in print and I love giving print books as gifts. Books are my favorite gifts to give!

  10. Cindy Sharber says

    I just recently found you through a give away I do believe, and I am anxious to read one of your books!!

  12. ktbeeblog says

    I read the short story by Larissa in the Halloween collection & fell in love with the Cherry Tucker character. This would be a great book to read (& who doesn’t like coffee?

    • Larissa Reinhart says

      Thanks for that! I really enjoyed working with all the authors in that book. It’s so nice to get to work in a group every once in a while since writing is so solitary. 🙂

  15. Lisa Hudson says

    I’ve read Larissa’a first 2 books in this series & really enjoyed them! Looking forward to reading Compositions. Surely sounds great!!

  19. Kathleen Costa says

    I love this series, and have been following Larissa for awhile. Thanks for offering a great opportunity to get one of her books.

  23. diannekc says

    “A Composition in Murder” sounds like a great read. Definitely adding to my TBR list. Really enjoyed Larissa’s episode of House Hunters International. Loved seeing how people live in Japan. Can’t wait to read the book.

  25. Cynthia Blain says

    What a great series Larissa has with Cherry Ticket. Great writing and so much humor. You will laught out loud too. Can’t wait to read book 6 and also her new series as well. I want to hear all about Maizie Albright and her adventures too. Watched Larissa’s House Hunter’s International show four times. It was wonderful to get to see where her creative genius is coming alive these days. Keep your great stories coming Larissa. Wonderful job.
    Cynthia B.

    Thank you Terry

  27. susan4cats says

    Sounds like an interesting series. Look forward to reading it. The cars driven in Japan are usually small. How did he fit in trunk & why?

    • Larissa Reinhart says

      You’re right that many cars are small, but there’s plenty of vans and sedans, too. The car was a Prius (maybe the most ubiquitous car where we live in Toyota town) and it has a very nice size hatchback. My director was a woman, so she just curled up in the hatchback. We were actually driving to another location shot, so she rode with us and was also giving us some cues about what to talk about (we were supposed to rehash the housing situation and after 3 days of filming, you forget what you originally said). She needed to stay hidden while we were filming, hence the trunk.

  29. Judith Anderson says

    I have to wonder if I have seen that episode of HHI. I will keep an eye out for the rerun and think of the body in the trunk.

    As a Sr. who could never afford anything that posh, the book sounds like a lovely fantasy for escape.

    I was also glad to see the recommendation for the Pot Thief Who books. I love them and got my sister reading and she has created several more enthusiastic followers.

    So is the word spread.

  33. Betty W says

    This sounds like a great book! Thank you for the chance to win it and something to drink, too!

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING to ALL!

  37. Margaret Appel says

    Have you started working on the next book in the Cherry Tucker series, and can you give us a hint (if you are) of what it may entail?

    • Larissa Reinhart says

      Hi Margaret! I have a novella, “The Vigilante Vignette” out in the anthology MIDNIGHT MYSTERIES, if you haven’t read that one. It released just before Composition, but it takes place sort-of before Composition. However, on my writing plate right now is the second book in the Maizie Albright Star Detective series, 16 MILLIMETERS. The first book, 15 MINUTES, releases January 24th. And then I go back to work on a romantic comedy set in Japan, BISCUIT GIRL IN NOODLE LAND. So Cherry Tucker has to queue up. I think after Biscuit Girl! 🙂 Thanks so much for asking!

  39. E. Michael Helms, author says

    Hi, Larissa! In what part of Georgia do you live? I was born in Marietta, but grew up in Panama City, FL, on the panhandle coast. Also lived in nearby Mexico Beach for a decade before moving to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in upper SC. My Mac McClellan Mystery series is set in the panhandle. Like me, Mac is a former Marine. Best of luck with your new book! 🙂
    –Michael

  40. Andrea Wojcik says

    I love Hawaii and have vacationed there twice. Once on Oahu and once on Oahu/Maui.

    I love a good mystery and hope to win, fingers crossed.

    • Larissa Reinhart says

      I like to read and watch true crime stories and also did my town’s Citizen’s Police Academy, but really I mostly make them up from my imagination. I try to think about motive first, then figure out the means and opportunity and the villain is usually derived from that. Thanks so much for asking!

  43. Amber Frechette says

    I love new twists on classic ideas. I look forward to reading this! What would you say you got the most of from your experience on House Hunters International?

    • Larissa Reinhart says

      I have a new series that’s starting in January about an ex-teen and reality star who decides to start life over as a detective (The Maizie Albright Star Detective series). I wrote it before I did HHI, but actually agreed to do the show because I thought it’d be good research (and I’m a big fan of the show). Now I’m friends with a producer and director and have the “behind the scenes” experience to add a flavor to the Maizie Albright series!

    • Larissa Reinhart says

      Usually something random just strikes me and gives me an idea. I always start with the characters and some kind of incident. The most of the book is just the characters reacting to the situation. A causes B causes C type of sequence.

  48. Joy Shelden says

    I look forward to reading A Composition in Murder, whether I win the giveaway or not (although I would love to win – a Starbucks coffee would go nicely with the book, too! ).

  55. Celia Fowler says

    I can’t wait to read A Composition in Murder — it sounds wonderful. i saw Larissa and her family on House Hunters International and it was great — would never have guessed about the man in the trunk!