Congratulations to the winners of the last contest. W.W. from Oakland, CA won Seven-Year Witch. Sandie H. from Sarasota, FL won Razorblade Tears. The books are going out in the mail today.
This week, both cozy mysteries are book-related. There’s more bloodshed in Victoria Gilbert’s latest Booklover’s B&B mystery, Reserved for Murder. Former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed owns and operates Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast in North Carolina. On this July weekend, a visit by one of the biggest names in romantic fantasy attracts throngs of admirers to the village. That’s not ideal, as the author retreated to Chatpers to get away from it all for a while. She agrees to appease her fans with a meet-and-greet and a book signing so she can rest afterwards. But, when the president of the writer’s fan club is found dead , Charlotte Reed teams up to her neighbor to sniff out the killer, so the book series and its author don’t come to a sudden, lethal coclusion.
Laura Jensen Walker’s Deadly Delights is a Bookish Baker Mystery. Baker-turned-mystery writer Teddie St. John has a pie in the annual baking contest in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin. The baking tent houses each entrant’s daily baked goods. And at one of those tables sits the corpse of the head judge, his face half buried in a delectable coconut cream pie. Les Morris hadn’t outgrown his reputation for lechery even though he was getting on in years. But, by his side lies Teddies’ distinctive embossed rolling pin…covered with blood. Teddie has no intention of ending her life beyond bars. So, she’ll concoct a recipe to clear her name, if the real killer doesn’t get her first.
Which mystery would you like to win? You can enter to win both, but I need separate entries. Email me at Lesa.Holstine@gmail.com. Your subject line should read either “Wind Reserved for Murder” or “Win Deadly Delights.” Please include your name and mailing address. The contest will end Thursday, Oct. 28 at 5 PM CT. Entries from the U.S. only, please.
I find it interesting that most cozies seem to be set in the Midwest, South or East. Or am I wrong on that? I just don’t remember spotting many set in the western states.
Good news, we are thrilled to see a Varied Thrush at our bird feeder this morning. Such beautiful markings! We only see them in Fall and Winter and very early Spring.
I can think of some set in Washington and Oregon, Rick, even a couple in California, but, you’re right. I think the Midwest, South and East with their small towns just seem cozier to people. And, many of the authors of cozies seem to live in those areas. But, Kate Carlisle, Juliet Blackwell, Jenn McKinlay, Leslie Budewitz, and others do have cozies set in the West.