Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies . . . one trip to die for. All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series—is that too much to ask? Dru’s Short Musing: This was a fun-tastic whodunit that I could not put down until all was said and done. This well-written, fast-paced, and enticingly intriguing whodunit had me immersed in all aspects in the telling of this drama, from the eclectic cast of characters to the snarky and engaging dialog ..read more

Welcome to Cooper’s Cove Resort and Lake Covington. I’m Emmy Cooper. You’re here to take a tour, right? My parents, Paul and Claire, are busy with some personal matters in town. So, I’m helping out. I’m actually just here in Covington on a little respite for the next two weeks. I’ve been working as an interior designer in Chicago for the past five years, but I’ll admit, it’s been awfully nice being home…except for, well, never mind that right now. Would you like some sweet tea? I know it’s not a Wisconsin thing, but Mom is from Tennessee and makes it like her mama did. This beautiful property ..read more

Being frantic is not a good thing. I move too fast, and I don’t think things through. That can be a dangerous combination and, frankly, overwhelming. Why have I been feeling swamped? Well, because I’ve got too much on my plate. Do you ever do that? Load up with chores and obligations and think, what in the heck have I gotten myself into? Here’s what lays ahead that has me breathing high in my chest. The Summer Blooms Festival, for one. For three days, Carmel-by-the-Sea will close four blocks of Junipero. There will be vendors selling plants and flowers, and there will be live music and delicio ..read more

Sudden riches lead to a world of trouble… Newly widowed Charlotte McLaughlin is adrift following the sudden death of her husband of twenty years and the shocking discovery of the lavish double life he’d lived while purportedly traveling for business. Dru’s Short Musing: Mischief and mayhem await our protagonist on a cruise that leads to murder. When Charlotte’s nephew’s bride is murdered, he becomes the prime suspect and his aunts (Char and Jane) begin an investigation to clear his name on a cruise ship where the murderer is roaming free. This was a fast-paced and well written whodunit that ha ..read more

“Today we have Andi Grace Scott with us sharing tips about avoiding pet scams. Welcome, Andi Grace.” Podcaster Allison Blake smiled at me over the video screen. She had suggested we’d be more comfortable if we could look at each other, and I suppose she was right. I returned her smile. “Thanks for having me. In my life, I’ve learned that our love of dogs can be used against us. So, please use caution when searching for your next pet.” “Can you give us some specific tips?” “Of course, I’m happy to share. Many pet scams begin when you look online for free or cheap pets. Often the scammer claims ..read more

Here is a list of over 70 new titles representing major genres such as cozy mysteries, traditional mysteries, historical mysteries, and others releasing this month, with eight debut series. As always, I hope there is a new title to suit everyone’s personal taste. Enjoy the adventure!   MAY 1 The Bootlegger’s Daughter by Nadine Nettmann MAY 2 Death at Castle Wolf by Anna Penrose (Golden Murder Mystery Book #3) MAY 6 The Light Beside the Sea by Connie DiMarco (Zodiac Mystery Book #5) The 24th Hour by James Patterson (New Women’s Murder Club Thriller Book #24) MAY 7 Easier Dead Than Dr ..read more

It is my pleasure to share with you the cover reveal for Farewell Performance, coming June 2024 and now up for preorder. Publication Date: June 25, 2024 Publisher: Ravenhill Press Format: Print (June 4, 2024), Digital (June 25, 2024) Name of Series: Ginger Barnes, Book #6 Genre: Cozy Mystery Author Website: donnahustonmurray.com Book Synopsis Returning home to star in a movie about going home, Jan Fairchild stirs up old resentments galore. When the actress is found dead the morning after a nostalgic pajama party, several of her former high school girlfriends become suspects—including Ginger B ..read more

Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .   Why do you write the genre that you write? I write traditional mysteries because of my mom, who gave me my first Nancy Drew book. My mom is also the one who got me hooked on Phyllis A. Whitney, Mary Higgins Clark, Velda Johnston and Doris Miles Disney ‘cause I used to steal her library books when she wasn’t looking. Later, reading Naomi Hirahara, Jan Burke and Sujata Massey planted the idea of writing a traditional mystery about an Asian American reporter. What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has? PoPo believes her ..read more

One of the joys of my job with the Clarion newspaper is that every day is different. I’m lucky, when so many people have lost their jobs following the Wall Street Crash. To be a chief crime correspondent when I’m still the right side of thirty is a dream come true. And I’ve notched plenty of scoops, having been first on the scene after several bizarre murders. Some of my rivals on Fleet Street reckon I’ve made a pact with the devil. Actually, I collaborate with Rachel Savernake, which isn’t quite the same thing. When I take part in the morning conference of the Clarion’s journalists, I’m on th ..read more

As I’ve already told my friend, Dru, my life as a retiree in English Village is a simple one. Like others in my small circle of friends, I volunteer at the library and play a weekly game of mahjong. We’re senior citizens now. Honestly, no one pays any attention to women with graying hair. We are nearly invisible in our tiny town – though we do try to keep up on the local events, and we’ve named ourselves the Mahjong Mavens. Isn’t that fun? I only took the assignment as a freelance reporter because I missed the action of my former life in the big city, where I spent years as a crime reporter tu ..read more