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Review of The Pharoah’s Forgery

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From the publisher of Pharoah’s Forgery

After some of Karina Cardinal’s recent adventures—her lover Mike Finnegan would call them scrapes, jams, or pickles—she’s more than ready to blow this D.C. pop stand for a short girls’ trip to Mexico. Until Jillian’s roller skate wreck blows their plan out of the water. With Jilly injured and Mike working, her fellow lobbyist Rodrigo volunteers to share some sun, sand, and margaritas in Cancun. It’s tough to relax, though, knowing what’s in her suitcase. A package she promised to hand off to Mrs. Thundermuffin in Mexico. Mrs. T’s evasive maneuvers around Karina’s questions wave more red flags than a bullfighter, leaving Karina no choice but to take a peek. Okay, so it’s not a kilo of something illegal. It’s an Egyptian death mask that turns out to be a magnet for crooks, conmen, kidnappers, and outright killers. When the situation explodes into chaos, Karina and Rodrigo are lucky to have friends in the right place—at their backs. But they’re in one hell of a jam. And they could be going home in something tackier than a souvenir t-shirt—more like a body bag.

My review

I love it when a story begins with the main character doing something nice and it later comes back to bite them. In this case, the something nice was delivering a package for Karina’s neighbor. That favor kicked off a wild ride an adventure from beginning to (almost) the end. Unfortunately, the main story seemed to culminate about 3/4 of the way through. While this was really just a twist in the story and there was still some tension, it took a while for the pacing to ramp up again. With that one exception, this was a joy to read with mystery and mayhem at every turn. This one’s a clear winner for anyone who likes well-written action scenes, crisp dialogue, and plenty of twists.

Learn more about Ellen Butler at ellenbutler.net.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

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Behind the story of Checked Out for Murder

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Marilyn Levinson is a former Spanish teacher who writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Writing as Allison Brook, Marilyn created the Haunted Library series. The first book in the series, Death Overdue, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Marilyn’s other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Beginnings of Checked Out for Murder

Marilyn said she liked the idea of having a movie made in her fictional setting of Clover Ridge. “I also liked the idea of bringing in a cold case and connecting a murder that took place twenty years ago to the murders of two women whose lives are completely unconnected.”

With her ‘wish list’ in place, Marilyn began looking at what would be going on in Checked Out For Murder. “I wanted to explore the parent-child relationship. In this book, Carrie’s mother, Linda, comes to Clover Ridge because her second husband, who is 12 years younger than she, has a leading role in a movie being filmed there. Linda is neither maternal nor supportive, and Carrie dreads having her nearby for several weeks. But when Linda finds herself a murder suspect as well as considering divorce, Carrie invites her to stay in her home. Their relationship does change, but not as Carrie hopes.”

Marilyn also said that another parent-child relationship in the book raises the questions: Under what circumstances might a loving parent ever abandon a child in trouble? Could this parent ever be forgiven?

On a personal note

“Sometimes I find that I’ve only written half a sentence when I have to turn to Google for plausible possibilities. In Checked Out For Murder, Carrie befriends a psychic, who gives a library talk on psychic phenomena. I enjoyed reading about the various kinds of psychic abilities there are. Another kind of research I always enjoy is looking up photos of food when I’m deciding what Carrie will serve at a dinner party and checking out restaurant menus when she and her boyfriend are dining out.”

Marilyn added that she loves to provide a challenging mystery with many red herrings and suspects for her readers. “With that said, my characters and their relationships with one another are most important to me. The greatest challenge I faced in writing this book was exploring the stories behind the three homicides and figuring out how Carrie would discover the connection to all three murders.”

Learn more about Marilyn Levinson at marilynlevinson.com

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Spotlight on The House of the Setting Son by Nancy Cole Silverman

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THE HOUSE OF THE SETTING SON BANNER 640
House of the Setting Son

The House of the Setting Son

When Misty Dawn, the former “Hollywood Psychic to the Stars,” receives a phone call in the middle of the night, she knows it can’t be good news. Dorine Witherspoon, an actress and former client is in town for the opening of her touring musical and tells Misty the show’s leading lady, Cassie Marx, has disappeared and the understudy had to go on for her on Opening Night!

Misty immediately suspects foul play and when she and Wilson, her psychic shade, arrive at the theater the next morning they discover LAPD’s Detective Cesar Romero meeting with the cast and crew. Events on both sides of the veil take a dark turn when Romero asks Misty off the case, and Wilson appears out of his depth with ghosts who want nothing to do with him.

Death, close calls, and forces on both sides of the veil threaten to undo Misty and destroy her relationship with Wilson unless she can find Cassie and restore order to the show.

About Nancy Cole Silverman

Nancy Cole Silverman

Nancy Cole Silverman spent nearly twenty-five in Los Angeles Talk Radio. She began her career on the talent side as one for the first female voices on the air, and later on the business side, where she retired as one of two female general managers in the nation’s second-largest radio market.

Leaving her successful radio career behind in 2010, Nancy began to write fiction, and her crime-focused novels and short stories have attracted readers throughout America. Her Carol Childs Mysteries series (Henery Press) feature a single-mom whose “day job” as a reporter at a busy Los Angeles radio station often leads to long nights as a crime-solver. Her most recent series features Misty Dawn, an aging Hollywood Psychic to the Stars, who supplements her day to day activities as a consultant to LAPD and the FBI. Nancy lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a thoroughly pampered standard poodle.

Author Links

Facebook – GoodReads – Twitter: @NancyColeSilve1

Purchase Links for The House of the Setting Son

 Amazon – B&N 

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House of the Setting Son Tour Participants

September 3 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT

September 3 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

September 4 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW

September 4 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 5 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 6 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

September 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 7 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

September 8 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 9 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

September 12 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – Christa Reads & Writes – REVIEW

Behind the story of Dog-Gone Dead by Jackie Layton

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Dog-Gone Dead

Jackie Layton is a part-time pharmacist who also writes about the area where she lives, the Low Country. Dog-Gone Dead is the second book in the Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series.

Inspiration for Dog-Gone Dead

Jackie said that facing fears is the theme in Dog-Gone Dead. She began writing the book long before the COVID-19 pandemic and never imagined having to deal with something of this nature. “People face fears in different ways. Some people watch movies or read books focused on wars and that helps them not be as afraid of COVID-19. Others reach out to friends, family, alcohol, drugs, and keeping themselves busy with projects. Still others turn to God. One scripture on fear is Psalm 34:4, ‘I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.’

The area where Jackie lives, which is near the beach, was also a source of inspiration for the series. “I love living at the beach, and I created the fictional town of Heyward Beach based on some of my favorite beaches. I knew my character would need a flexible schedule to chase after killers, so I made Andi Grace Scott a dog walker. Family is important to Andi Grace, and her brother is a suspect in Dog-Gone Dead. She must defend him and decides the best way to prove his innocence is to find the real killer.”

On a personal note

“I love my husband, kids, and grandkids. I’m an author and work part-time as a pharmacist. My husband and I always dreamed of living near the coast, and four years ago he was offered a job in South Carolina. We’re a very short drive away from the closest beach, and if we really feel energetic, we can walk to the beach. I hope readers enjoy visiting Heyward Beach as much as I enjoy it.”

Jackie also said she loves traveling to visit beaches and small towns. “Eating at local restaurants gives me a real feel for the local people. Walking through neighborhoods and saying hi to people is also a great way to connect and learn about the area’s history. For the past two hundred years, the locals in Pawleys Island say the Gray Man Ghost has appeared before each of the five hurricanes. The Gray Man’s goal is to save people from harm. So if you see the Gray man, it’s time to leave.”

Learn more about Jackie Layton at jackielaytoncozyauthor.com.

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Review of Dash Away All by Christina Freeburn

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Dash Away All

Dash Away All by Christina FreeburnFrom the publisher of Dash Away All

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…Merry Winters is excited for her dream-come-true moment: Being an on-site crafter for a Christmas movie. The tidings of joy are short-lived as she finds herself becoming a referee, dealing with a raging Ebenezer, participating in a bucket brigade, and finding evidence in a “murder.”

Is someone trying to stop the production or is it tied to a secret someone has on Luna Carmichael, the star of the movie and the queen of Christmas?

When Marie, Luna’s assistant, stumbles away from a car accident and dies, Merry believes the accident wasn’t quite so accidental. Was Luna or Marie the target? Merry finds more questions than answers, but one thing is certain: Everyone has an ulterior motive for being part of the production—including Marie.

After another murder, Merry wonders if the deaths are tied to a baby born long ago and abandoned. And more importantly, will Merry live long enough to find out?

My review

Merry Winters is a likable protagonist with a very interesting job, a professional crafter. A crafting mystery centered around the set of a movie intrigued me. There was plenty of both in this well-plotted cozy. The storyline was logically laid out, beginning with Merry being hired to handle the Christmas crafts on the movie to her involvement in the investigation of her friends’ murder to the inevitable story resolution.

Dialogue flowed naturally between characters, even at those points where the author needed to provide backstory to move the things forward. Overall, I felt entertained from beginning to end with one exception based on a personal preference of mine. I’m not a fan of rhetorical questions in exposition, which is a popular tool used by many authors. Consequently, I sometimes skimmed through those sections to get to the next bit of action or dialogue.

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Behind the story of A Sprinkling of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber

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Daryl Wood Gerber is not only an Agatha Award-winning author, but also worked as an actress. She even had a role in Murder, She Wrote. Daryl writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries as well as the French Bistro Mysteries. Her new series, the Fairy Garden Mysteries, debuts with A Sprinkling of Murder.

It began at the Renaissance Faire

Daryl said the idea for the Fairy Garden Mysteries came to her after she went to a Renaissance Faire and saw a few fairy gardens. “I fell in love with the art. So I set about learning how to make them. I love to garden, but I no longer have the time to do huge gardening projects. Making a small fairy garden seemed the perfect answer to me. I visited a store in Tustin, CA, which was filled with whimsical creations and I felt a need to be creative, myself. As I was making my first one, I thought, wouldn’t this be a sweet theme for a mystery series?”
At first, Daryl wasn’t sure the idea would sell. The genre was a blend of fantasy and mystery and no one had written about a fairy sidekick. “The more I thought about it,” Darly said, “the more the world of fairies filled my mind. How would they talk? How would they act? When Fiona flitted into my mental sphere, I knew I had to write her story. Of course, the protagonist is Courtney, who lost the ability to see fairies when she was young, and now she needs to open her imagination to the possibility that they do exist.”

Believers vs. Non-believers

As an adult, we’re predisposed to stop believing in certain things. Daryl said, “Non-believers can be caustic. Why? Because something doesn’t fit into their mold of what life is supposed to be. In the story, there are fairies and the fairies speak and help with the mystery. Are there real fairies in life? One has to wonder. But the issue of so many in the town not believing and having a bias against Courtney, the protagonist, and her shop itself, poses a problem. People can be mean. Vindictive. One woman wants to close the place down for good. And yet another wants to see a fairy. Therefore, the push and pull of the community comes to bear, you know? What is real? What is fantasy? Who’s to say that one is right or wrong for believing?”

The long road to publication

“I love to entertain,” Daryl said. “It gives me purpose. It’s the main reason why I write. I want my readers to get lost in the world I create, if only for a day or two of reading. I think everyone needs a place to escape, and I like to provide that for my readers. Heck, I need that, too. It’s why I love to read. So if I can provide that moment of peace, relief, and wonder for readers, I’ve done my job on earth.”

The fact is, it took Daryl a long time before she could entertain readers with her work. She wrote for years before being published and said the rejection was heartbreaking. “Over and over, I received responses from agents like, ‘I love this, but I can’t sell it. Can you write another?’ As if writing another was as easy as making a pie. It’s not. But I did. I wrote another book. And another. I couldn’t pin down what I was doing ‘wrong,’ but my work wasn’t resonating. I was about to give up, but I persevered, because in high school I was given the ‘most persevering’ award – not sure why, then, but I sure know why now. LOL Along the way, an agent who did like my work (but couldn’t sell it) asked if I could write something ‘on spec.’ The publisher had come up with the idea for a cheese shop cozy mystery. I said I could, and I did, and they bought it, and I became a published writer. It took ten years to be an instant success. So to all those writers who have not yet been sold, don’t give up. Persevere. If you don’t know why you’re not selling, ask blunt questions of your critique group or agent. Be flexible. Be willing to change. Be willing to write to the market. But persevere.

You tasted how many cheeses?

“When I was writing the Cheese Shop Mysteries, I tasted over 1,000 cheeses. That was truly enjoyable. Now that I’m writing the Fairy Garden Mysteries, I’ve made over thirty fairy gardens. I have so much fun making them and tending to them. I go into my garden and I smile. My kids make fun of me. They think I’m slightly addicted. I probably am. But, hey, I have fairies in my garden. And butterflies. And hummingbirds. And whimsy. I adore whimsy.”

Learn more about Daryl Wood Gerber on her website at darylwoodgerber.com.

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