Sunday, September 7, 2014

Mystery of the Month: Murder in RV Paradise

From the author:
My Logan & Cafferty mystery/suspense series came about after I had written what I hoped was a humorous mystery novel originally titled Shirl Lock & Holmes. My protagonists, Shirley Lock and Dora Holmes are two 59-year old widows living in a retirement village in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Shirl is a private investigator’s widow and Dora a mystery novel buff who decide to put their investigative knowledge to work when their friends begin dropping dead alphabetically. I had lived in the valley for a dozen years and experienced the dense tule fog, thinking what a great place for a serial killer to hide after he kills his victims. There’s nothing humorous about that but I inserted some quirky characters into the plot to make it more interesting. The first book in the series was then published.

When my publisher died and the business closed, I changed the names of my characters to Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty and sold the series to another company.  Dana and Sarah had both aged to 60 and the plots took on social issues for them to deal with as well as the murders. In A Village Shattered the two women discover the identity of the serial killer when the newbie sheriff bungles the murder case. In Diary of Murder, they prove that Dana’s womanizing brother-in-law is responsible for her sister’s death and the amateur sleuths are nearly killed by his involvement in a drug ring. In Murder on the Interstate they unwittingly get involved in homegrown terrorist activities while vacationing in their motorhome in Arizona. 

After they move into Dana’s sister’s mansion in Wyoming, an old man comes to their rescue on Gray Wolf Mountain when someone shoots at their car, causing it to overturn. They soon learn that someone is killing wolves as well as humans and the old man is attempting to save the animals. Dana and Sarah not only help the man but aid in the capture of the killer.

My latest book in the series is Murder in RV Paradise. My senior sleuths are vacationing in an exclusive RV report in Texas where they find the body of a woman in one of the lakes. They soon learn that the victim had a shady past and that any one of hundreds of resort residents may have killed her. Narrowing down the suspects is a problem and they discover secrets that no one wants revealed. A little romance makes the plot more interesting as both women not only solve the crime but capture their soul mates as well.

Buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=murder+in+rv+paradise
 
Jean Henry Mead has published 20 books, half of them novels. She not only writes the Logan & Cafferty series, but the Hamilton Kids’ mysteries, Wyoming historicals and nonfiction books. She began her writing career as a news reporter in California, and later worked for Wyoming’s statewide newspaper. Mead also freelanced for the Denver Post’s Empire Magazine and has been published domestically as well as abroad. Among her other positions, she served as a magazine, news and small press editor.

Comment for a chance to win "Murder in RV Paradise."

38 comments:

  1. I would love to read/win this book , sounds great

    debbiec1313@yahoo.com

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    2. Thank you, Debbie. And thank you, Pat, for featuring Murder in RV Paadise as "Mystery of the Month."

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  2. I've really enjoyed this series and I know I'll like the new book, too. Thank you for keeping us entertained.
    Marja McGraw

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  4. Thanks, Marja. I've enjoyed your work as well.

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  5. I read and enjoyed Gray Wolf Mountain. Quirky characters always appeal to me. Look forward to reading more of this series.

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    1. I enjoy reading and writing about quirky characters, J.R. There are quite a few in real life to inspire me. :)

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  6. I love your Logan and Cafferty books because they portray senior woman as competent, physical, smart and romantic.
    And as a former full-time RVer, i find the books appeal to my adventurous travel sense. Keep writing them!

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  7. I'd love a chance to read this book. I've never heard of this series so I will definitely have to look for them. Thank you for the chance!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Jill. I've read the other books in this series and they're all fantastic.

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    2. My pleasure, Jill. Thanks again, Pat, for the kind words.

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  8. I love mysteries with older sleuths. I'd love to win this book.

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    1. I love writing about them, Marilyn. I hope you get a chance to read the series.

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  9. As a former RVer, I am sure this mystery will be an interesting read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy to read. Good luck on your sales.

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    1. Best of luck in winning, Robin. RVing is a fun way to travel and I've drawn on a lot of my own experiences while writing this series.

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  10. This sounds like a great series, Jean. I'll have to put it on my TBR list. While I wish you well with your current novel, I like to start a series from the beginning. I'm glad you listed them all.

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  11. I hope you enjoy the series, Evelyn. I'm currently working on the sixth Logan & Cafferty novel.

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  12. As a former full-time, now part-time RVer (both solo and married), now author - this sounds like a fun read!

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    1. I hope you enjoy the book/series, if you get a chance to read it/them, Donna. The characters are fun to write about and seem like old friends.

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  13. Huge mystery fan in Ireland. Have exhausted what would be considered the 'mainstream' authors. Always in the lookout for something new.
    I certainly like the concept of this series. Are the books available on Amazon?

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    1. Yes, they are, Derek. They're available in print, ebook and Village Shattered is also on audio.

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  14. I've read several of your novels, Jean, and enjoyed them very much. Congrats on the new one!

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  15. Thanks, Jacqueline. I'm so glad you enjoyed the books.

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  16. I'm always on the lookout for new mystery series to read and this one has definitely piqued my interest with this title! My Black Horse Campground mystery series is set in an RV campground! I would love to win a copy of "Murder in RV Paradise"!

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    1. Your Black Horse Mystery series sounds interesting, Amy, and a series I'd be interested in reading. Best of luck in the drawing for Mystery in RV Paradise.

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  17. Love to read this...it sounds great.
    Marilyn (ewatves@yahoo.com)

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  18. Being a NEW Fulltime RVer, this sounds really interesting. Can't wait to read it!

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  19. I'm always pleased to hear from a fellow RVer. I hope you get a chance to read Murder in RV Paradise. Good luck in the drawing.

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  20. Hi Jean, late to the "party" but wanted to say how much I enjoy your series! Continued success!

    Madeline

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    1. Thank you, Madelilne. That means a lot coming from you. I hope you know how much I enjoy your work as well.

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  22. looking forward to reading this series ..jchizmar01@windstream.net

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    1. Thank you, Jane. I hope you enjoy reading about Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty, my best fictional friends. :)

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  23. Congratulations, Marja McGraw. You won the drawing for a copy of Murder in RV Paradise.

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