Mystery Manon

Manon Wogahn

Author Interview: Kate Lansing

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Kate is an award-winning short story author and the author of the Colorado Wine Mystery series, which includes Killer Chardonnay and A Pairing to Die For. The third book in the series, Mulled to Death, hits shelves on October 19, 2021. I was thrilled to interview Kate for the October 19 edition of the Cluesletter.

Want to pick up a copy of Mulled to Death? View it on IndieBound, Bookshop.org, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Kate-Lansing-author-photo

Connect with Kate on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and her website.

Hi, Kate! Let’s start with the main theme of your series, wine!  Your sleuth Parker Valentine is a wine aficionado. Do you consider yourself a wine expert too, or do you conduct some research to write your books?

Hi, Manon! I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but wine tasting has been a hobby of mine for years and it’s fun to incorporate random tidbits I’ve picked up into my stories. That being said, with each book, I’ve researched and learned even more about wine, especially the chemistry behind winemaking, which is super cool! One especially fun “research” trip was to a local winery during harvest, where I got to see tubs of grapes in early stages of fermentation and smell the intense jammy aroma pervading the space.

I have to ask about your covers, created by artist Samantha Dion Baker, which are adorable. Can you describe your cover design process?

It’s definitely a collaboration between me, my publisher (Berkley), and the artist, Sam, who is mega-talented. Early on in the process, often before the manuscript is even finished, my editor and I toss around ideas for the cover (which, let’s be honest, usually involve exchanging pictures of cozy backdrops, classy wine glasses, and cute cats). After that, my publisher works with the artist and I’m always wowed by the final product. Seriously, I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot in the cover department!

Kate Lansing-mulled to death

How do you approach writing a cozy mystery? Are you an outliner, or do you like to write and see how the mystery unfolds? What does your writing process look like?

My writing process has evolved with my series. During the writing of the first one, Killer Chardonnay, I was very much a pantser (i.e., fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants), but have fully transitioned into an outliner. In part because outlines are part of my contract, but I actually prefer that method! I love brainstorming characters and mystery elements and putting together a detailed outline, and then diving into the actual writing. I set myself word count goals during the first draft, which helps keep me from getting lost in the weeds of wordsmithing. After that, there are multiple rounds of revisions—both solo and with my brilliant editor—until the manuscript shines!

Could you share some of your favorite mysteries, cozy or otherwise? Are there any upcoming releases you’re excited about?

Absolutely! One of my favorite series this past year has been the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series by Louise Penny—I devoured those books, savoring every sojourn to Three Pines. I’ve also read a few advanced copies of cozies lately that double as upcoming releases I’m excited about! Namely, Mimi Lee Cracks the Code by Jennifer Chow (I adore this series), How To Book a Murder by Cynthia Kuhn (gotta love a bookstore cozy), and A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump (such a great debut).

I loved the way you described Boulder and the broader Colorado landscape, in Killer Chardonnay. If you were to set your series in another state, where would you relocate Parker and Vino Valentine?

What a fabulous question!! It would probably be Seattle. I love so much about that city. The cool vibe with Pike Place Market and all the musical influences, the drizzly weather and hilly landscape that leads down to the waterfront, THE FOOD. Not to mention, Bainbridge Island has a definite cozy feel—and a few wineries, to boot!

You recently announced a fourth book in your Colorado Wine Mystery series, Til Death Do Us Port, which is slated for Fall 2022. Are there any interesting tidbits you can share about this release?

As the title portends, there will be a wedding, although not for one of the main characters . . . yet ;-). In it, Parker attends her favorite cousin’s wedding, where she’ll be providing refreshments in addition to celebrating the happy couple. Although, of course, murder throws everything awry. As for the cover, there’s a cat in the role of ring bearer so I can only imagine it will be something related to that!

Thanks so much to Kate for the interview. Sleuths, I hope you enjoyed it! If you aren’t already subscribed, please be sure to sign up for the Cluesletter and get author features alongside other mystery goodies.

Author Interview: Elle Wren Burke

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Elle Wren Burke is a paranormal cozy mystery author who writes witty, fun books with strong females as protagonists. She is the author of Mediums & Murder, the first installment in the Prickly Pear Psychic Mystery series. I got the chance to feature Elle in the October 5, 2021 edition of the Cluelestter.

Elle Wren Burke Author Photo

Read on for info about Elle’s books, as well as her thoughts on self-publishing, cozy writing habits, and paranormal mystery recommendations.

Sleuths can grab Mediums & Murder on Amazon and connect with Elle on Facebook, Instagram, and via her newsletter. Keep an eye out for Tea & Talismans, the second installment in the series, which launches November 17!

Hi, Elle! Let’s start with your new book, Mediums & Murder, in which reluctant psychic Alara Beatty gets involved in the murder of a close coworker. Where did you get the inspiration for Alara and her psychic powers?

Alara just popped into my head one day! I’ve always loved reading books featuring psychics, so I thought, why not write my own? I loved the idea of Alara coming into her abilities at a young age, but I wanted the story to feel authentic. It would be scary and isolating to have psychic experiences at a young age, so Alara tried very hard to push her gifts away. With such a strong desire to be normal, I knew that Alara would only wield her gifts for a cause close to her heart, such as the murder of a friend. Of course, Alara needs support and guidance, so I gave her a long-lost psychic aunt to help her develop her clairvoyance and a couple of dogs to make her feel better at the end of the day.

A paranormal cozy mystery is a perfect read during Halloween season. Do you have any other cozies, paranormal or otherwise, that you’d recommend for the fall season?

Mediums & Murder Ebook Cover

Yes! I’m a big fan of Amy Boyles—she’s another indie author who writes paranormal cozies. Southern Karma, book 6 of her Sweet Tea Witches series, takes place at Halloween, but the witchy setting of the whole series is great for the fall season. I also recommend the Mitzy Moon series by Trixie Silvertale. The sassy, smart main character inherits a bookshop in Michigan and upon arrival discovers her paranormal heritage. Lastly, I’m a big fan of Gigi Pandian’s The Accidental Alchemist series. Her descriptions of the Portland setting make me want to curl up with a cup of tea—perfect for fall—and one of the characters is a sentient gargoyle!

Your second book, Tea & Talismans, comes out November 17. What can you tell us about this sequel?

I’m very excited for this installment, as we get to meet Alara’s biological mother, uncle, and cousin and they are quite a hoot. Alara is pretty nervous to meet them, but she doesn’t have much time to dwell on it, as her cousin Todd receives a death threat shortly after arriving. Alara uses new psychic investigation techniques along with old fashioned sleuthing to search for the person threatening Todd. I can promise hilarious antics and a mystery woven with family secrets and lies. And Alara’s love interest Rudi might just be back to join in on the fun!

What have you learned about the publishing process? Has it been a rewarding experience for you? Do you have any tips?

Self-publishing is scary, but also very fulfilling. I feel like I’ve learned so much about it, but I know there’s so much more to learn. One of the most important things I’ve learned is to stop overthinking everything. I worked with a mentor who called me out on getting lost in the details and she was right!

Lastly, I have to ask—what are your go-to writing traditions?

I always try to write in my Harry Potter themed office, but sometimes I end up writing on the couch! Either way, my Pitbull Lucy joins me. I need near silence to write—no music or TV for me. I love writing with a cup of coffee or tea. Usually coffee, but for Tea & Talismans, I had to opt for tea more often!

Thanks so much to Elle for the interview. Sleuths, I hope you enjoyed! If you aren’t already subscribed, please be sure to sign up for the Cluesletter and get author features alongside other mystery goodies.

Review: Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

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Rating: 5 ★

Killer Chardonnay, Kate Lansing
Berkley Prime Crime, 2020
Genre: Cozy Mystery
View on: Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Parker Valentine has always dreamed of opening her own winery in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. But she gets more than she bargained for when a food and wine critic unexpectedly shows up at Vino Valentine on opening day—and doesn’t make it out alive. Although Parker hoped that the attendees would put a cork in it, soon her winery is at the center of a social media firestorm. With #killerchardonnay trending online, Parker’s business is in danger of closing, and she has no choice but to investigate the murder herself.

Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

My thoughts

This was a fresh, fun, contemporary cozy that checked all my boxes.

Parker was an adorable sleuth, and I found myself wanting so bad to have her wardrobe and live in her apartment. The book was filled with enticing descriptions of wine, food, and of the setting, Boulder, Colorado.

As for the mystery, I stayed thoroughly invested throughout. The mystery was well-planned, with every piece of the puzzle was accounted for.

The writing was great, too. It’s written in first person and in the present tense, which I thought worked well for the story.

I loved how Lansing really stuck to her theme—the wine puns and references were as fun as they were educational. (I mean, Parker’s has a cat named Zin, as in Zinfandel! So stinkin’ cute!) All in all, this was simply adorable and a delightful cozy read.

There is a sequel out already, A Pairing to Die For, with a third book on the way. Mulled to Death hits shelves October 19.

Review: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

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Rating: 4 ★

Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear
SoHo Press, 2003
Genre: Historical Mystery
View on: Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Maisie Dobbs got her start as a maid in an aristocratic London household when she was thirteen. Her employer, suffragette Lady Rowan Compton and her friend Maurice Blanche soon took the gifted Maisie under their wings, helping her gain a college education. The outbreak of the Great War changed everything. As a nurse, Maisie left for France to serve at the Front, where she found—and lost—an important part of herself. Ten years after the Armistice, in the spring of 1929, Maisie sets out on her own as a private investigator, one who has learned that coincidences are meaningful, and truth elusive. To solve her first case, she must finally confront the ghost that has haunted her for over a decade.

My thoughts

Maisie Dobbs Jacqueline Winspear

Do you ever read the editorial reviews of a book and think that they’re trying too hard to sell the book? That the book won’t live up to the hype?

I am pleased to say that Maisie Dobbs surpassed all expectations. Miss Dobbs was every bit the self-reliant, vulnerable, intuitive sleuth she is presented as, and this book is truly a gem. It’s a story-within-a-story, at once emotional, mysterious, and historically immersive.

I took off a star to compensate for what I felt was a lacking mystery. Much of the book is backstory—how Maisie grew up, the circumstances leading to her fortunate education, her keen mentorship under Maurice Blanche, her time as a World War I nurse. It was all beautifully written, and did eventually relate to the mystery that slowly unfolded, but for a book billed as a historical mystery, there was certainly more history and less mystery. Readers seeking nail-biting, head-spinning mystery might be, therefore, disappointed.

But certainly not disappointed in Jacqueline Winspear’s masterful storytelling and writing. Really, the whole book was gorgeous.

As of the writing of this post, there are sixteen books in the Maisie Dobbs series, with a seventeenth out March 22, 2022. I hope to find stronger mysteries in future books in the series, which I am bound to pick up soon.

Review: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

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Rating: 4.5 ★

Death on the Nile, Agatha Christie
Originally published in 1937
Genre: Mystery
View on: Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

The tranquility of a luxury cruise along the Nile was shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway had been shot through the head. She was young, stylish, and beautiful. A girl who had everything . . . until she lost her life. Hercule Poirot recalled an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: “I’d like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.” Yet under the searing heat of the Egyptian sun, nothing is ever quite what it seems. A sweeping mystery of love, jealousy, and betrayal, Death on the Nile is one of Christie’s most legendary and timeless works.

My Thoughts

Agatha Christie Death on the Nile

Nothing thrills me like a good Christie. As a self-proclaimed Poirot fangirl, I am more than happy to pick up a good Hercule Poirot mystery. And as one of her most famous works, Death of the Nile has been on my list for a while.
I have seen the 1978 adaptation starring Peter Ustinov as our dear Belgian detective. And while I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Bette Davis and Dame Maggie Smith bicker throughout, the film as a whole tends towards what I’d call “slow and plodding.

The book, though, is a bit better-paced. While not strictly thrilling, it did move along well. I find that scenes in which Poirot interviews suspects, investigates scenes, and deliberates possible scenarios were the slowest in the book. The action scenes, and especially the night of the murder, were naturally the most exciting.

Christie, in my mind, is the master of characterization. Each person in Death on the Nile is so exquisitely crafted—through dialogue, habits, description of appearance—that they felt real and honest and believable.

To be frank, it feels strange (and even moot) to give a Christie a starred rating. But here we are—I finished this in just a couple days, so I would absolutely call it engrossing, but I did take off half a star for those slow-moving scenes.

On a related note, I know that there is a new adaptation of Death on the Nile on its way to theaters (currently, it’s scheduled for early 2022, after having been pushed back due to Covid-19). This one is directed by starring (as Poirot) Kenneth Branagh, who you may remember for his 2017 adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. Will I watch this new Nile film? Probably. Will I enjoy it? Well, based on the previous Branagh project, I’ll probably be disappointed. But yes, I will give it a try.

Review: Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower

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Rating: 3.5 ★

Farm to Trouble, Amanda Flower
Poisoned Pen Press, 2021
Genre: Cozy Mystery
View on: Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Shiloh Bellamy knows she has a lot on her plate. Returning to her hometown of Cherry Glen, Michigan after several years of California livin’, her dream is to fix up her old family farm and transform it into a hip, farm-to-table establishment. But when her shady investor turns up dead at the local farmer’s market, Shiloh finds both herself and her father as prime suspects in the murder investigation. In order to clear her name and realize her dream, Shiloh must first solve the crime.

My thoughts

This was my first Amanda Flower and I did, overall, enjoy the writing and the farm-to-table theme. I adored Shiloh’s adorable pug, Huckleberry, and the cute farm setting.

Review: Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower

Without spoiling anything major, I’ll say that there is a twist in this one. I certainly didn’t guess the killer, but I did suspect another character who ended up a villain, too. That said, I would say the twist is more for shock value than for a logical murder mystery. In other words, there were other characters I’d rather see implicated.

Mystery aside, my main gripe with this story was how mean the characters were to Shiloh. While having unsupportive characters in any book is realistic, to have nearly all of a small town upset with someone who didn’t directly ruffle their feathers felt unrealistic and unnecessary. Despite Shiloh financially supporting the family farm for years, her father and cousin were rude and unappreciative. As a result, the story didn’t feel as cozy as I’d like.

Would I read the second book in the series? YES! I’m not ready to quit on Shiloh just yet, and I think this premise has promise. I’d love to see when and how her farm grows over time. I just hope she finds a stronger support system.

Note: I read this as the June pick for the Cozy Mystery Book Club. ♥