Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot by Judith Gonda

Judith Gonda is a mystery writer and Ph.D. psychologist with a penchant for Pomeranians and puns, so it’s not surprising that psychology, Poms, and puns pop up in her amateur sleuth mysteries featuring landscape architect Tory Benning.

What’s behind the story of Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot?

“From an overall theme and plot perspective, like most crime writers, all my mysteries address the issue of justice and fairness. In Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot, along with amateur sleuth Tory Benning seeking the truth to make sure the right person is brought to justice, we also have the flip side, when Tory’s best friend, attorney Ashley Payne, seeks to exonerate a wrongly convicted individual through her pro bono work with a local organization, similar to the Innocence Project. 

Judith, who is a psychologist with a background in academic research, jury consulting, and human resources, also wanted to explore resilience as a personality trait. “I like to see how people keep on keeping on in the face of extreme adversity, not only victims, but their family and friends. For instance, even though Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot takes place a year after Murder In The Secret Maze where Tory’s new husband disappears, Tory is still struggling psychologically. Tory deals with stress and grief by distraction and denial at first, only dealing with her grief bit by bit as she regains her emotional equilibrium. So she employs several methods of distraction, work, exercise, comfort food, friends and family, hot guys, and throwing herself into a murder investigation, not resting until she finds the truth. She tries hard to channel her distressing emotions into proactive behavior. I think Tory and my other characters are relatable because they show that people handle stress, heartbreak, and grief in different ways. Maybe a reader’s reactions or coping methods are different, maybe they’re similar, but my point is there is no right or wrong way. We are all trying our best, given our different personalities, to get back on track after a personal disaster and move forward.  So, I guess I’m arguing for empathy, understanding, and compassion.”

A series idea with its roots at home

Judith said that for the setting of Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot, she indulged herself with what she saw as a huge juxtaposition. “I adore Christmas and Tory’s landscape design business operates a Christmas tree lot, so it worked out organically. In the book, the stakes for her and her business are immediately apparent. I also liked the shock value of having a murder take place at a tree lot, a place associated with joy and one where you’d least expect something bad to happen. Although I have to say, since I’ve subscribed to Google Alerts, the number of daily updates about real world murders on tree lots is chilling.”

The series’ protagonist, Tory, is a landscape architect just like Judith’s daughter. “Her profession absolutely fascinates me. It combines so many disciplines, urban planning, architecture, engineering, horticulture, and psychology so I thought it would be an interesting occupation to explore, especially because the project sites can be so varied and fun to visit, like mazes, Christmas tree lots, and community gardens. I adore plants and gardens not only because they’re pretty and intrinsically absorbing but because they’re soothing. I feel a wave of serenity and calm when I think about and experience gardens and nature. Plus, I’ve always enjoyed watching the British television series Rosemary and Thyme about two female gardening detectives.”

That I value kindness, acceptance, inclusion, positivity, and love above all, and try to show my main character, despite her flaws, embodying these attributes. I’m an optimist and so is Tory. Despite the crime that takes place and how it affects others, I want to show the resilience of the human spirit and that good triumphs over evil.

Learning personal resilience

“Writing it during the pandemic was a trip,” Judith said. “It wasn’t difficult to express Tory’s stress in certain dangerous situations because my own anxiety level was already high regarding the pandemic. Also, my older daughter was hospitalized during the summer surge for a non-Covid related ailment. That cranked up my stress level several notches, not only worrying about her, but about going to visit her, given that vaccines weren’t yet available. Each time I ventured out onto the deserted streets I suited up like a warrior with double masks and sanitized to the hilt, like the hospital workers I’d encounter in the eerily empty hospital corridors and elevators. So being able to immerse myself in the adventures of Tory and company in Santa Sofia at Christmas time was a welcome escape.”

When a crime is also inspiration

Judith still recalls the emotions she felt while being interviewed as a witness to a crime at her home. “The fear I felt witnessing someone smash cars with a rock in the middle of the night from my bedroom window was invaluable to my writing. The perpetrator happened to be inebriated, but witnessing his rage and strength as he broke windows despite car alarms blaring, and the fact he could barely stand without staggering, was terrifying. It was like he couldn’t stop even if he wanted to.”

The entire experience of answering questions from the police after the crime, the calls from attorneys for the defendant and his probation officer all made Judith view the incident from a variety of perspectives. “Observing myself tremble, experiencing fear, dread, and anxiety, feeling jumpy and suspicious of everyone, all helped me personally experience the vulnerability people face when they witness a crime, let alone when they are the victim. The silver lining: The rock he used was the inspiration for one of the possible murder weapons in Murder In The Secret Maze.”

Learn more about Judith Gonda at www.judithgonda.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.