| Editor’s Note |
Dear Mystery Lover,
Welcome to the New Year! It’s time to start making those resolutions, so why not resolve to read more mysteries? Check out one of our January Berkley Prime Crime releases!
Grab your favorite slice of cake and read THE CAKES OF MONTE CRISTO, the latest in the Piece of Cake Mystery series from Jacklyn Brady.
Rita Lucero, co-owner of New Orleans’s Zydeco Cakes, is thrilled to be catering an annual ball held at the Monte Cristo Hotel. Designing the high-end desserts is her priority—until she stumbles upon a mystery long-buried at her shop. It’s an ornate ruby necklace, hidden underneath her staircase and rumored to be cursed.
After the gem’s appraiser suddenly drops dead and Rita herself is targeted by a menacing stranger, she’s no longer laughing at local superstition. Now with five cakes on order and an investigation into the necklace’s past revealing layers of unsettling clues, Rita has reason to keep looking over her shoulder while she’s frosting. Because any way you slice it, the next victim of the legendary curse could be her.
DAISIES FOR INNOCENCE is the first in a brand new Enchanted Garden Mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Bailey Cattrell.
The Enchanted Garden behind Elliana Allbright’s perfume shop draws people of all ages with its fragrant flowers and lush greenery. But when the magical serenity is interrupted, it’s up to Ellie to sniff out a killer.
Ellie’s life has blossomed in Poppyville, California, since she opened Scents & Nonsense, a custom-made-perfume store. Her skills with aromas and botanical essences—some from her very own garden—seem almost…supernatural. Her perfumes can evoke emotions, bring about change, or simply make people happy. Customers are flocking to the store to buy her wares or just to sit in her beautiful garden, sip tea and enjoy homemade cookies.
But she smells trouble when she learns that her part-time assistant Josie is dating her ex. And before she can tell the young woman to beware of his charms, she finds Josie dead in the Enchanted Garden. Now the prime suspect in Josie’s murder, Ellie must search for the real culprit in Josie’s past—because it’ll take a miracle to nip this problem in the bud….
Old rivalries heat up in SWEET PEPPER HERO, the fourth Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery from national bestselling author J.J. Cook.
Fire chief Stella Griffin has been put in charge of judging the annual recipe contest, but Eric—her resident ghost and true culinary genius—has vanished. Before she can track down his latest haunt, she’s called in to investigate a local moonshine distillery that was set ablaze, making her realize there’s more than pies and cakes cooking in Sweet Pepper.
As rumors of a revived whiskey war ignite, Stella turns to the town’s elders to help her find answers. The past might have some clues as to what has sparked the present fires. But when following a lead lands her in buried rubble, Stella realizes she must extinguish this case fast or she might be going down in flames.
You are cordially invited to the White House for some FOREIGN ECLAIRS, the latest White House Chef Mystery from Julie Hyzy.
Things are about to really heat up for Ollie. News of a bombing and attempted breakout at a federal prison reveals that the brother of a terrorist she helped defeat is back with a vengeance. And after she gets mugged on her way home from work, the Secret Service won’t leave her side, fearing she is now a target.
When a White House staff member is murdered, officials rush to action over a possible security breach. It may be time for Ollie to trade in her apron for a bullet-proof vest as she becomes part of a bold strategy to make sure this terrorist gets his just desserts…
Amish country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has always been a place of quiet beauty—until a shocking murder shatters the peace in Jane Jensen’s KINGDOM COME, the first in a new Elizabeth Harris Mystery series.
After her husband is murdered, Detective Elizabeth Harris turns in her NYPD badge and moves back home, hoping that a quiet life in remote Pennsylvania Dutch country will help her overcome the dark memories of her ten years in New York. But when a beautiful, scantily clad “English” girl is found dead in the barn of a prominent Amish family, Elizabeth knows that she’s uncovered an evil that could shake the community to its core.
Elizabeth’s boss is convinced this was the work of an “English,” as outsiders are called in Lancaster County. But Elizabeth isn’t so sure. All she’s missing is an actual lead—until another body is found: this time, a missing Amish girl. Now Elizabeth must track down a killer with deep ties to a community that always protects its own—no matter how deadly the cost…
You’ll have olive oil on the brain when you read ONE FOOT IN THE GROVE, the first in a delicious new Olive Oil Grove Mystery series by Kelly Lane.
In the sweet Southern town of Abundance, Georgia, home of the Knox family’s olive farm, gossip isn’t the only thing that can kill you…
After leaving a man at the altar for the second time in her life, Eva Knox decides to head home to her family’s plantation to regroup and soak in some Southern charm. But hiding from her woes is a slipperier proposition than Eva imagined. For one thing, most people in town still haven’t forgiven her for leaving local boy Buck Tanner at the altar and hightailing it up north eighteen years ago. For another, a death on her family’s farm soon makes her the lead suspect in a murder case—and the sheriff investigating is none other than Eva’s old flame Buck.
With the police putting the squeeze on her, it’s up to Eva and her sisters, Pep and Daphne, to figure out who could have possibly left a dead body in their olive grove. And they’ll have to catch the greasy killer quickly—because it looks like Eva has been picked as the murderer’s next victim…
A ghost hunter’s job is never done in the latest Ghost Hunter Mystery, A GHOUL’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER from New York Times bestselling author Victoria Laurie.
M.J., Heath, and Gilley, are back home in Boston, where their new film is sure to be a monster hit! To promote the film, the studio is sponsoring a special exhibit of supernatural artifacts at a local museum. Unfortunately, Gilley—whose mind is engaged with wedding plans—gets talked into donating to the exhibit the very dagger that keeps the dangerous ghost Oruç and his pet demon locked down in the lower realms. Before M.J. can recover the bewitched blade, there’s a murder and a heist at the museum, and the dagger is stolen.
Now Oruç is coming for M.J. and her crew, and he’s bringing with him some fiendish friends from M.J.’s haunted past. She, Gilley, and Heath are certain to be in for a devil of a time. M.J. may even need to recruit a certain skeptical Boston detective to help stop the paranormal party crashers from turning Gilley’s wedding bells to funeral knells. . . .
Get ready to shop until you drop when you read COPY CAT MURDER, a Hat Shop Mystery, from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.
For Scarlett Parker, part of the fun of living in London is celebrating the British holidays, and she’s excited to share her first Bonfire Night with her cousin Vivian Tremont. Invited to a posh party by their friend Harrison Wentworth, Scarlett and Viv decide to promote their hat shop, Mim’s Whims, by donning a few of their more outrageous creations. The hats prove to be quite the conversation starters as the girls mix and mingle with the guests—never suspecting that one of them is a killer.
It’s a cold, clear night, perfect for the British tradition of tossing a straw stuffed effigy of Guy Fawkes, traitor to the crown, onto the bonfire. But instead of a straw man, they realize in the heat of the moment that the would-be Guy Fawkes is actually Harrison’s office rival and he’s been murdered. Before the smoke has cleared, Harrison is the Metropolitan police’s prime suspect, and Scarlett and Vivian must find the real homicidal hothead before their dear friend’s life goes up in flames.
Reality TV gets all too real with the latest Love or Money Mystery, A SECOND CHANCE AT MURDER by USA Today bestselling author Diana Orgain.
After Love or Money made them reality TV stars, former cop Georgia Thornton and her new boyfriend Scott were supposed to live happily ever after. Unfortunately as their fifteen minutes of fame came to an end, actual reality kicked in and their prize money quickly evaporated.
So Georgia and Scott agree to appear in a new program, pitting them against other teams in an athletic journey across the countryside of Spain for a chance to win $250,000. But the fierce competition turns frightening when Scott disappears during an overnight camping trip in the Pyrenees Mountains, leaving only his bloody wristwatch behind—and a woman’s dead body.
With the Spanish authorities ready to convict Scott, Georgia must find him and prove his innocence in an amazing race against crime…
DEATH OF A BAD APPLE is the latest deliciously appealing Food Festival Mystery from Penny Pike.
Anxious to take a break from bustling San Francisco, Darcy and her Aunt Abby pack up the food truck and head for the apple festival at Apple Valley, California. Aunt Abby is sure her almond apple tarts will be a hit and Darcy wants to collect more recipes for her food truck cookbook.
But when a fellow guest at the Enchanted Apple Inn is pared-down—and the Inn’s owner ends up the prime suspect—Darcy must peel away the layers of the mystery. Because an apple a day certainly isn’t keeping the killer away…
New York Times bestselling author Paige Shelton delivers a first in a new Dangerous Type Mystery series, TO HELVETICA AND BACK.
Star City is known for its slopes and its powder. But nestled in the valley of this ski resort town is a side street full of shops that specialize in the simple charms of earlier eras. One of those shops is the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare lovingly repair old typewriters and restore old books. Who ever thought their quaint store would hold the key to some modern-day trouble?
When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, Clare fears she may need to be rescued. A call to the police scares the man off, but later Clare finds his dead body in the back alley. What about a dusty old typewriter could possibly be worth killing for?
If you enjoyed A WEE MURDER IN MY SHOP by Fran Stewart, you’ll love A WEE DOES OF DEATH, the second in the Scotshop Mystery series.
While business is booming at the ScotShop in Hamelin, Vermont, proprietor Peggy Winn doesn’t have time to toast her good fortune thanks to her hot-tempered, fourteenth-century Scottish companion. Being thrust into the modern world hasn’t been easy for Dirk, but Peggy is at her wit’s end trying to keep the ghostie galoot in line.
But when the local police chief finds the body of Peggy’s friend Karaline’s college professor in a deserted mountain cabin, everyone is thrown for a loop. It seems the secretive professor may have been killed over his ecological work, an idea that’s only reinforced when Karaline herself is shot. Now Peggy and Dirk must set aside their differences to put the cold-blooded killer under loch and key…
Happy Reading! |
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January Releases from Berkley Prime Crime & Obsidian Mysteries |
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The Cakes of Monte Cristo
Jacklyn Brady
In the fresh new Piece of Cake Mystery from the national bestselling author of Rebel Without a Cake, a pastry chef becomes embroiled in a suspicious death as a mysterious curse casts a pall over an annual New Orleans ball.
Rita Lucero, co-owner of New Orleans’s Zydeco Cakes, is thrilled to be catering an annual ball held at the Monte Cristo Hotel. Designing the high-end desserts is her priority—until she stumbles upon a mystery long-buried at her shop. It’s an ornate ruby necklace, hidden underneath her staircase and rumored to be cursed.
After the gem’s appraiser suddenly drops dead and Rita herself is targeted by a menacing stranger, she’s no longer laughing at local superstition. Now with five cakes on order and an investigation into the necklace’s past revealing layers of unsettling clues, Rita has reason to keep looking over her shoulder while she’s frosting. Because any way you slice it, the next victim of the legendary curse could be her.
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
        
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Foreign Éclairs
Julie Hyzy
White House executive chef Ollie Paras has served plenty of meals to foreign dignitaries from around the world. But someone is ready to serve her an ice-cold dish of revenge…
Things are about to really heat up for Ollie. News of a bombing and attempted breakout at a federal prison reveals that the brother of a terrorist she helped defeat is back with a vengeance. And after she gets mugged on her way home from work, the Secret Service won’t leave her side, fearing she is now a target.
When a White House staff member is murdered, officials rush to action over a possible security breach. It may be time for Ollie to trade in her apron for a bullet-proof vest as she becomes part of a bold strategy to make sure this terrorist gets his just desserts…
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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A Wee Dose of Death
Fran Stewart
A second dose of Scottish charm from the author of A Wee Murder in My Shop.
While business is booming at the ScotShop in Hamelin, Vermont, proprietor Peggy Winn doesn’t have time to toast her good fortune thanks to her hot-tempered, fourteenth-century Scottish companion. Being thrust into the modern world hasn’t been easy for Dirk, but Peggy is at her wit’s end trying to keep the ghostie galoot in line.
But when the local police chief finds the body of Peggy’s friend Karaline’s college professor in a deserted mountain cabin, everyone is thrown for a loop. It seems the secretive professor may have been killed over his ecological work, an idea that’s only reinforced when Karaline herself is shot. Now Peggy and Dirk must set aside their differences to put the cold-blooded killer under loch and key…
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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A Second Chance at Murder
Diana Orgain
In the latest from the USA Today bestselling author of A First Date with Death, reality TV gets all too real with murder…
After Love or Money made them reality TV stars, former cop Georgia Thornton and her new boyfriend Scott were supposed to live happily ever after. Unfortunately as their fifteen minutes of fame came to an end, actual reality kicked in and their prize money quickly evaporated.
So Georgia and Scott agree to appear in a new program, pitting them against other teams in an athletic journey across the countryside of Spain for a chance to win $250,000. But the fierce competition turns frightening when Scott disappears during an overnight camping trip in the Pyrenees Mountains, leaving only his bloody wristwatch behind—and a woman’s dead body.
With the Spanish authorities ready to convict Scott, Georgia must find him and prove his innocence in an amazing race against crime…
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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One Foot in the Grove
Kelly Lane
First in a delicious new mystery series about Eva Knox and her family’s Georgia olive plantation.
In the sweet Southern town of Abundance, Georgia, home of the Knox family’s olive farm, gossip isn’t the only thing that can kill you…
After leaving a man at the altar for the second time in her life, Eva Knox decides to head home to her family’s plantation to regroup and soak in some Southern charm. But hiding from her woes is a slipperier proposition than Eva imagined. For one thing, most people in town still haven’t forgiven her for leaving local boy Buck Tanner at the altar and hightailing it up north eighteen years ago. For another, a death on her family’s farm soon makes her the lead suspect in a murder case—and the sheriff investigating is none other than Eva’s old flame Buck.
With the police putting the squeeze on her, it’s up to Eva and her sisters, Pep and Daphne, to figure out who could have possibly left a dead body in their olive grove. And they’ll have to catch the greasy killer quickly—because it looks like Eva has been picked as the murderer’s next victim…
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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To Helvetica and Back
Paige Shelton
The New York Times bestselling author of the Farmers’ Market Mysteries and the Country Cooking School Mysteries introduces readers to Star City, Utah, and a little shop called the Rescued Word…
Star City is known for its slopes and its powder. But nestled in the valley of this ski resort town is a side street full of shops that specialize in the simple charms of earlier eras. One of those shops is the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare lovingly repair old typewriters and restore old books. Who ever thought their quaint store would hold the key to some modern-day trouble?
When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, Clare fears she may need to be rescued. A call to the police scares the man off, but later Clare finds his dead body in the back alley. What about a dusty old typewriter could possibly be worth killing for?
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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Sweet Pepper Hero
J. J. Cook
Old rivalries heat up in the fourth Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade mystery from the national bestselling author of In Hot Water.
Fire chief Stella Griffin has been put in charge of judging the annual recipe contest, but Eric—her resident ghost and true culinary genius—has vanished. Before she can track down his latest haunt, she’s called in to investigate a local moonshine distillery that was set ablaze, making her realize there’s more than pies and cakes cooking in Sweet Pepper.
As rumors of a revived whiskey war ignite, Stella turns to the town’s elders to help her find answers. The past might have some clues as to what has sparked the present fires. But when following a lead lands her in buried rubble, Stella realizes she must extinguish this case fast or she might be going down in flames.
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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Copy Cap Murder
Jenn McKinlay
The New York Times bestselling author of At the Drop of a Hat returns to her London hat shop with a fresh tale of milliners and murder.
For Scarlett Parker, part of the fun of living in London is celebrating the British holidays, and she’s excited to share her first Bonfire Night with her cousin Vivian Tremont. Invited to a posh party by their friend Harrison Wentworth, Scarlett and Viv decide to promote their hat shop, Mim’s Whims, by donning a few of their more outrageous creations. The hats prove to be quite the conversation starters as the girls mix and mingle with the guests—never suspecting that one of them is a killer.
It’s a cold, clear night, perfect for the British tradition of tossing a straw stuffed effigy of Guy Fawkes, traitor to the crown, onto the bonfire. But instead of a straw man, they realize in the heat of the moment that the would-be Guy Fawkes is actually Harrison’s office rival and he’s been murdered. Before the smoke has cleared, Harrison is the Metropolitan police’s prime suspect, and Scarlett and Vivian must find the real homicidal hothead before their dear friend’s life goes up in flames.
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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Kingdom Come
Jane Jensen
Amish country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has always been a place of quiet beauty—until a shocking murder shatters the peace, and leaves a troubled detective picking up the pieces…
After her husband is murdered, Detective Elizabeth Harris turns in her NYPD badge and moves back home, hoping that a quiet life in remote Pennsylvania Dutch country will help her overcome the dark memories of her ten years in New York. But when a beautiful, scantily clad “English” girl is found dead in the barn of a prominent Amish family, Elizabeth knows that she’s uncovered an evil that could shake the community to its core.
Elizabeth’s boss is convinced this was the work of an “English,” as outsiders are called in Lancaster County. But Elizabeth isn’t so sure. All she’s missing is an actual lead—until another body is found: this time, a missing Amish girl. Now Elizabeth must track down a killer with deep ties to a community that always protects its own—no matter how deadly the cost…
Can be purchased in trade paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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Death of A Bad Apple
Penny Pike
The latest deliciously appealing mystery from the author of Death of a Chocolate Cheater…
Anxious to take a break from bustling San Francisco, Darcy and her Aunt Abby pack up the food truck and head for the apple festival at Apple Valley, California. Aunt Abby is sure her almond apple tarts will be a hit and Darcy wants to collect more recipes for her food truck cookbook.
But when a fellow guest at the Enchanted Apple Inn is pared-down—and the Inn’s owner ends up the prime suspect—Darcy must peel away the layers of the mystery. Because an apple a day certainly isn’t keeping the killer away…
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder
Victoria Laurie
Medium M. J. Holliday battles demons in the tenth Ghost Hunter Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of No Ghouls Allowed.
M.J., Heath, and Gilley, are back home in Boston, where their new film is sure to be a monster hit! To promote the film, the studio is sponsoring a special exhibit of supernatural artifacts at a local museum. Unfortunately, Gilley—whose mind is engaged with wedding plans—gets talked into donating to the exhibit the very dagger that keeps the dangerous ghost Oru� and his pet demon locked down in the lower realms. Before M.J. can recover the bewitched blade, there’s a murder and a heist at the museum, and the dagger is stolen.
Now Oruç is coming for M.J. and her crew, and he’s bringing with him some fiendish friends from M.J.’s haunted past. She, Gilley, and Heath are certain to be in for a devil of a time. M.J. may even need to recruit a certain skeptical Boston detective to help stop the paranormal party crashers from turning Gilley’s wedding bells to funeral knells. . . .
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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Daisies For Innocence
Bailey Cattrell
From Bailey Cattrell—who writes the New York Times bestselling Magical Bakery Mysteries as Bailey Cates—comes the first Enchanted Garden Mystery featuring custom perfume maker Elliana Allbright…
The Enchanted Garden behind Elliana Allbright’s perfume shop draws people of all ages with its fragrant flowers and lush greenery. But when the magical serenity is interrupted, it’s up to Ellie to sniff out a killer.
Ellie’s life has blossomed in Poppyville, California, since she opened Scents & Nonsense, a custom-made-perfume store. Her skills with aromas and botanical essences—some from her very own garden—seem almost…supernatural. Her perfumes can evoke emotions, bring about change, or simply make people happy. Customers are flocking to the store to buy her wares or just to sit in her beautiful garden, sip tea and enjoy homemade cookies.
But she smells trouble when she learns that her part-time assistant Josie is dating her ex. And before she can tell the young woman to beware of his charms, she finds Josie dead in the Enchanted Garden. Now the prime suspect in Josie’s murder, Ellie must search for the real culprit in Josie’s past—because it’ll take a miracle to nip this problem in the bud….
Can be purchased in mass market paperback and/or eBook format for/from:
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DAISIES FOR INNOCENCE Editor's Letter
Dear Mystery Readers,
Greetings! My name is Jessica Wade, and I’m a senior editor at Berkley. I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to a new series debuting this month—DAISIES FOR INNOCENCE, the kick off of Bailey Cattrell’s Enchanted Garden mysteries.
DAISIES introduces Elliana Allbright, a narrator whose lively voice will endear her to you right away. Her custom perfume shop opened in Poppyville, California just a year ago. The beautiful little shop has an “enchanted” garden out back, just brimming with wildflowers and wildlife, where customers can enjoy a cup of tea and a cookie. Elliana has always had, let’s say, skills with all things botanical, which allow her to create the perfect perfume to relieve stress or spark romance. And as we get to know her, she begins to realize her talent may be more of a power. Then one of her employees is killed, and as suspicion falls on Elliana, a fabulous, twisty mystery ensues.
I loved this book. The cast of characters—from Elliana’s pet-sitting best friend Astrid, to her corgi Dash—are just charming—so funny and fresh. Bailey’s descriptions of perfume and scents (as well, frankly, of food) just leap off the page (this book is practically scratch and sniff!). And just as a bonus, the cover, painted by Adrienne Langer, is utterly darling.
Some of you may not know that Bailey Cattrell also writes as Bailey Cates—and under that name she’s the author of the wonderful New York Times bestselling Magical Bakery series. For Magical Bakery fans, this series is just as delicious. And for readers brand new to Bailey—you’re in for a treat!
Happy reading!
Jessica
Dear Reader,
When I first began to work on my new series, The Dangerous Type mysteries, I knew a little bit about the characters, lots about the shop, The Rescued Word, but very little about where the characters and the shop were going to be located.
The shop, The Rescued Word, seemed to take shape in my mind immediately. I could “see” it as if I was standing inside it — the front windows, the older floor, the wooden shelves, the high windows. It was definitely housed in an older building but I didn’t immediately grasp the building’s origins.
I could see most of the characters fairly well. Chester, the protagonist’s grandfather, was so clear in my mind that I had to wonder if I based him on someone I really knew. As I dove into TO HELVETICA AND BACK he came alive on the page with an ease that authors always hope for. But something wasn’t quite right as I first wrote Clare, the protagonist. I knew she was blond with curly hair. I could see her but she was fuzzy. I’ve found that it’s best not to fight these things too hard and just let your characters come to you as they really want to be, so I stepped away from the manuscript and wrote a quick character sketch. At only the third sentence I found the problem. Clare wears glasses. I can do that. I went back to the manuscript, put glasses on her, and she came to life in my mind with such a vivid clarity that I wondered how I’d managed to first miss this important detail.
But where were these characters going to live, where was this amazing shop going to be located? I now find it hard to believe that I first put the setting next to Lake Michigan. A town next to Lake Michigan is a wonderful spot, but for these mysteries and these characters it was very square peg, round hole. I tried a deep southern setting which made me want to write something someday in such a place, but not these stories.
You know how Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz realized that home, her own backyard, was the best place of all? I had one of those moments. When I started the first book, I lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Park City was only a short half an hour drive away. I loved Utah and I really loved Park City. One day my son and I took a drive, veering off I-80 to go through Park City, up and down its fabulous steep Main Street, watching the skiers and boarders on the slopes and enjoying the sunny, clear sky that a cold, mountain day can bring. And suddenly I knew where these characters and this shop were supposed to exist.
Star City isn’t exactly Park City, but there are many similarities. We moved from Utah, but I consider myself very lucky that I still get to visit, both in person and through these mysteries.
Welcome, dear readers, to Star City. It’s good to see you here.
Best always,
Paige Shelton
www.paigeshelton.com |
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