I grew up with mysteries. So did my children and my parents. For my mother, they were radio shows. In my day, it was the black and white TV show Perry Mason that brought our family together. For my youngest daughter, it was the NCIS series. Now, TV mysteries are whatever’s the latest movie on Netflix or Hulu, I guess.
Fast forward to the next millennium and I’m actually writing mystery stories! I love it. Not only can I leave out the gory and scary parts if I want to, but I can also make my hero or heroine someone besides a cop.
I’m not the only one who likes Cozy Mysteries featuring Amateur Detectives. Five of us got together and blended our favorite themes and locales to come up with a new collection for our readers. MURDER IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY: DIEHARD DAMES AMATEUR DETECTIVE SERIES BOOK 2 has authors from around the English-speaking world (although our Canadian author, Susanne Matthews, is fluent in French).
I lived in Alaska for a long time, so I based my story there. The locals fascination with flowers and rush to get them up and blooming in the short growing season is part of my story. The dandelion on the cover? It’s there for a reason. The goofy guy all wound up about a loaf of bread? Yeah, he’s part of the murder mystery, too. NEVER A DULL MURDER features the gang from previous Arlie Undercover stories. Come along and see what happens when Arlie has more helpers than he wants.
From the upper Midwest of the USA, Denise Devine brings one of the sharpest Girl Fridays ever to the aid of her Private Detective stepbrother in SHOT IN THE DARK. Meet Stella James. She’s burdened with the task of rescuing her tall, dark, and classically handsome stepbrother. The guy’s ego is bigger than his brain and it soon gets him a free vacation at the county jail when one of his female clients ends up murdered – in his bed. Can she save him from relocating to the slammer on a permanent basis?
Come to Maine with Canadian Susanne Matthews as your guide. PROVE IT! When high school senior Liam ignores the threats to stop running, he’s left for dead by a hit and run driver. When his friend investigates, he goes missing. Now it’s up to Hannah to find the missing boy and whoever is responsible for his disappearance before they strike again.
The Pacific Northwest is home to Nancy Radke, the author of the Trahern Western Pioneer stories. She’s left the Nineteenth Century behind and updated her story with a Twenty-first Century sheriff who meets up with a sharp but lovable local lady. Sometimes help solving a mystery comes with curves and other times with four paws. Will the new sheriff be smart enough to accept the lady and her dog’s assistance in searching for the farmer’s eight-year-old son?
Last but not least, we reached across the pond to bring Katy Walters into our box set. A bit of romance, a twist of time travel, a whole lot of women’s lib, plus the murder of the talented chief librarian make for an interesting scenario in A DUKE’S BINDING LOVE.
Feel free to bounce around the set. If you’re more of a Regency Romance fan, start with the last book first. Looking for something a little silly? Start with my book (Louie’s a lovable hoot!). Available to read for free with Kindle Unlimited or only #99cents.
Join the Authors' Billboard Newsletter mailing list and get a newsletter filled with new releases and books on sale every Friday.
Start out your subscription with a free book!
Dani Haviland, formerly of Connecticut, Arizona, and Alaska, recently semi-retired from selling tractor parts, tools, and roses. She moved to a more temperate climate in western Oregon to pursue her passions: writing, gardening, and photography.
View website
