Mystery of the Month: A Nose for Hanky Panky

It's midnight in Granite Cove and only the sea clams are open. Murder strikes this sleepy fishing village and Rose McNichols, reporter for the Granite Cove Gazette, is drawn into the case. Who killed Vivian Klinger, Ph.D., a woman too perfect for mere mortals, a woman who had everything but a sense of humor?

"A great blend of mystery, murder and ghostliness with picturesque landscape of New England coast"  John R. Pleasant, Ph.D, Professor of Literature, LSU, Shreveport

Gary Larrabee, North Shore author and historian, said in his review: "An entertaining novel about a murder in a quaint coastal community on Boston's North Shore; a story punctuated by a witty undertone that will have you chuckling all the way to the climactic final chapter. Sharon Cook captures the charm of an insulated New England village jolted by an unthinkable crime."

The book's setting, Granite Cove, was inspired by Cape Ann, Mass. where Cook grew up and now has a studio at  Gloucester's historic Blackburn Building. 

Sharon Love Cook had her first newspaper column at seventeen when she wrote about the local doings for the Cape Ann Summer Sun, ie: swimming class schedules and jelly fish warnings. She is the author of A Nose for Hanky Panky, by Mainly Murder Press and The Legend of Judgment Rock and other Mystery Stories by Neptune Rising Press.

She has an MFA in Writing and is an art school grad who illustrated both book covers. She and her husband, their two children grown, live north of Boston with a collection of  rescued cats. Five days a week Cook visits her writing/cartooning studio in  Gloucester, Mass., where the seagulls are fierce and the cod is scarce. Visit her website and see the soaring seagulls and Cook's cartoons: www.sharonlovecook.com                                                                                                                                     

The Legend of Judgment Rock and other Mystery Stories, by Sharon Love Cook; Neptune Rising Press. Several stories in the collection have been published before, including "Bluefish Weather" (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine), "A Marriage Made in Heaven" (Over My Dead Body), "The Ghost of Winthrop Hall" (Atriad Press), and others. 

Some contain the origins for Cook's mystery, A Nose for Hanky Panky. The seaside fishing village of Granite Cove first appears in the title story. 

Available in soft cover and e-book from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and bookstores. Cover illustration by the author; 150 pages. 

Addicted to Reading

Hi! My name is Patricia and I’m addicted to reading. My drug of choice is mystery/suspense novels. I confess; it’s true. I can’t stop! (Not that I want to.) If I don’t get my daily “fix” of at least an hour or two, you don’t even want to be around me. Fortunately, that seldom happens because reading is a priority for me; it’s a very important part of my life. Give me a good mystery/suspense novel and I’m content. Try to take that book from me and, well, I don't recommend doing that.

The books I own are among my most treasured possessions. Fiction is magic; it opens up new worlds and gives us the opportunity to escape the realities of our everyday lives and immerse ourselves in someone else’s story. While I enjoy watching TV and movies, there’s nothing like reading a good book. Reading allows me to use my own imagination. I can visualize the characters and the settings instead of having someone else do it for me. It’s a much more personal, fulfilling experience.

When someone tells me they don’t like to read, my mouth falls open. I’m shocked! I envision all kinds of scenarios. Maybe no one read to them when they were a child. Maybe no one encouraged them to read. Or maybe, someone made fun of them for having their nose stuck in a book. My heart goes out to them. How sad is that? I can’t imagine going through life without reading. Non-readers have no idea what they’re missing and how much books could enrich their lives.

My mother was one of those people; she's never been much of a reader but, when my first novel was published, of course, she read it. (After all, I am her daughter.) Then she read my second book. Since then, she’s read two novels by Mary Higgins Clark and she’s currently reading a third – and waiting for my third novel too, she says. Now, she loves to read. 

Is there someone you know who hasn’t discovered the joy of reading? Do they have a birthday coming up? Why not buy them a book in whatever genre you think they might like? There’s something for everyone: Sci-fi, Romance, and, of course, Mystery. You could be giving them the gift that lasts a lifetime.

Getting to know Evelyn Cullet

I’d like to welcome mystery author, Evelyn Cullet. I recently read Masterpiece of Murder and I loved it. So much so that I added it to my “Best Of Mystery/Suspense Novels” on Shelfari. (See the link to the left.) 

Now, let’s get to know Evelyn.

Patricia: Evelyn, what are your favorite things to do when you’re not reading or writing?

Evelyn: In the spring, summer and fall I spend most of my time in my organic garden, feeding, watering, planting, pulling weeds, and harvesting veggies to cook for lunch or dinner. In the winter, I work on making cabochons out of stone, to put into jewelry settings. I reason I  say 'work on' is because I'm only an amateur lapidary, and sometimes my cabochons don't turn out exactly the way I want, but it's always a lot of fun to see if I can get one that's close to perfect.  

Patricia: What’s your favorite color? Why?

Evelyn: My favorite color is lemon yellow. I once took a "Color Test" that told me I chose that color because I needed excitement and constant stimulation, that's why I willingly participate in activities that are thrilling and offer adventure. I don't know if that's true, but I recently went digging for diamonds in Arkansas. If that's considered exciting and stimulating, than I guess that's why I must like yellow. Actually,  I like it because it's such a warm color. It makes me feel good, and it complements the color of my hair and my complexion.

Patricia: How would you describe yourself, personality wise?

Evelyn: I'd say I was forty-four percent extrovert and fifty-six percent introvert. I've always been imaginative and creative. I'm good at communicating and I focus on facts and try to see others’ points of view before I make a decision. I'm even-tempered, and I have a great sense of humor which I hope comes through in my writing. Although sometimes readers laugh at things that I don't intend to be funny.   

Patricia: Do you like to travel? If so, what are some of your favorite places to go and/or what was your favorite vacation?

Evelyn: Actually, I don't like to travel. I hate the whole airport experience, and if those airplane seats in coach get any smaller, we'll all be sitting in each other's laps. But I have to admit, my favorite vacation was my trip to the UK with my daughter and son-in-law, who is British. They took me to see all the usual tourist traps in London. But the best part of the London experience was that I got the chance to see one of the very last performances of Agatha Christie's Play, The Mouse Trap. And then we were off  to Nottingham, where we toured Nottingham castle and its beautiful grounds, and had lunch at the oldest Pub in existence, established in 1189 A.D.  And then to Guildford for a street fair, a local beer tasting, and a tour of the ruins of Guildford castle. After we left Guildford, we took a plane to Belfast to visit my son-in-law's parents in Northern Ireland. That's a trip I would like to take again, because there is still so much I want to see.    

Patricia: How would you complete this sentence? If I won a million dollars, I would  ------

Evelyn: move to a mansion, hire a cook, a maid, and a gardener, and spend all my time writing. I'm only joking. Or am I? Actually, That's a difficult question to answer because there are so many things I'd like to do if I only had the money, like support my favorite charities and help my immediate family members. So that's what I'd probably do, and then I'd move to a mansion, hire a cook....

Bio:

Evelyn Cullet has been an aspiring author since high school when she enjoyed writing short stories. She began her first novel while attending college later in life, and while working in the offices of a major soft drink company. After taking early retirement, she finally has the chance to write full time. As a life-long mystery buff, she's a former member of the Agatha Christie Society, and is a current member of Sisters in Crime. When she's not reading mysteries, reviewing them or writing them, she enjoys playing the piano, is an amateur Lapidary, and an organic gardener

Blurb:

Heartbroken American art student Charlotte Ross is so intent on locating her errant fiancé that she submits someone else’s painting as her own in order to gain access to a Master art class being held in the resort city of Bariloche, Argentina—the place her lost love was last seen. When the painting gets her accepted into the class given by a world-famous artist and womanizer, being a novice makes keeping up with the others nearly impossible as she struggles to fake her way though, while trying to win back the man she loves. But her fiancé has his own reasons for being in Bariloche that complicate Charlotte’s life and threaten her very existence as she stumbles into a downward spiral of deceit, art forgery, and murder. When circumstantial evidence begins to mount against her, the local police think she is the killer. Now, using the detecting skills she learned from her mystery writer friend, and with the help of two fellow art students, she must prove her innocence before she's arrested. Not an easy task with a military police officer dogging her every step.

Masterpiece of Murder is available in print and ebook versions from Wings ePress, Amazon.com, and at Barnes and Noble.com for the Nook.

 

Mystery of the Month by J.R. Lindermuth

It’s the summer of 1898. The nation, just coming out of an economic slump, has been at war with Spain since April. And Sylvester Tilghman, sheriff of Arahpot, Jordan County, Pennsylvania, has a murder victim with too many enemies.

There’s Claude Kessler, who is found standing with a knife in his hand over the body of Willis Petry.

There’s Rachel Webber, Petry’s surly teen-aged stepdaughter, who admits an act intended to cause him harm.

Then there’s the band of gypsies who claim Petry is the goryo who stole one of their young women.

If this isn’t enough to complicate Tilghman’s life, add in threats to his job by McClean Ruppenthal, former town burgess; a run-in with a female horse thief; scary predictions by a gypsy fortuneteller, and the theft of Doc Mariner’s new motorcar.

There’s plenty of good eating, church-going and socializing along the way. And, before all is over, Sylvester solves the crime and even comes a little closer to his goal of finally marrying longtime girlfriend Lydia Longlow.

A couple early review snippets:

“A sneaky, twisty murder mystery filled with colorful and intriguing characters and enriched by precise period detail.” W.D. Dundee, author of Dismal River and Reckoning at Rainrock.

“Welcome to Arahpot where Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman keeps the peace in his little town…you’ll appreciate his wry humor and keen intelligence.” Carol Crigger, author of Two Feet Below and Three Seconds to Thunder.

Buy links:

http://www.amazon.com/Sooner-than-Gold-J-Lindermuth/dp/1610090837/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_GKB3

http://www.oaktreebooks.com/Wild%20Oak-Westerns.htm

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J.R. Lindermuth is the author of 12 novels, including two in the Tilghman series and five in his Sticks Hetrick mystery series. J.R. is a retired newspaper editor and currently serves as librarian for his county historical society where he assists patrons with genealogy and research. His short stories and articles have been published in a variety of magazines. He is the father of two children and has four grandsons. He is a member of International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Society and EPIC.