Book Spotlight - A Stewed Observation

Please welcome Karen C. Whalen to the blog.  She is the author of a culinary cozy series, the “dinner club murder mysteries.” Her books are similar to those written by authors Jessica Beck, Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier, Cindy Bell and Laura Childs. 

Fans of mysteries centering around food – donuts, cakes, cookies, coffee shops, bakeries, and gourmet cuisine - and add in a western setting in Denver, Colorado - will enjoy Everything Bundt the Truth, Not According to Flan, No Grater Evil, and A Stewed Observation.

Everything Bundt the Truth tied for FIRST PLACE in the Suspense Novel category of the 2017 IDA Contest. The IDA is sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, but is open to all works of fiction in digital format. 

She worked for many years as a paralegal at a law firm in Denver, Colorado and has been a columnist and regular contributor to The National Paralegal Reporter magazine. She believes that it's never to late too try something new. She loves to host dinner clubs, entertain friends, ride bicycles, hike in the mountains, and read cozy murder mysteries.

A Stewed Observation A Dinner Club Murder Mysteries Book 4  Karen C Whalen

The Gourmet Dinner Club travels to Ireland to enjoy Irish cuisine while staying at a medieval, ivy-covered castle. Jane Marsh hopes Dale Capricorn will ask her to marry him at this romantic dream destination. But her plans are put on hold when the elderly castle owner becomes violent, a club member restrains him, and he collapses and dies. 

The police believe the mysterious death is murder and begin to suspect one of the club’s members. Dale leaves for home on a business emergency, and as the lone single gal in the club full of couples, Jane is thrown into the company of Griffin O’Doherty, the handsome Irishman who stands to inherit the castle.

Jane must prove her friend’s innocence by solving the crime. Which of the sweet-tempered Irish could be a callous killer?

The dinner club murder mystery series - a culinary cozy - is set in Denver, Colorado.

Amateur sleuth Jane Marsh is always game to try new things now that she’s in the empty nest stage of her life, including joining an exclusive dinner club. Stumbling across dead bodies has also developed into one of her hobbies. Using paralegal skills honed at her job in a downtown law firm, she knows how to conduct an investigation. But her suspicious mind collides with her trusting nature as she stirs up trouble while serving up one dinner party after another.

Visit her webpage at: http://www.karencwhalen.com/

Purchase Links:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Publisher 

Review - Murder in G Major

As some publishers, like Berkeley, have cut back on their mystery books they are offering, others are picking up the pace.  I have become more aware of Henery Press and their line of mysteries.  Somewhere in my internet wanderings or on a newsletter somewhere, I came across mention of this series featuring a young woman classical musician.  I had to read it, so I purchased it and kept moving it closer to the top of my To-Be-Read pile.  I am so glad I discovered this series.  See if this might be a new series for you too.

Author: Alexia Gordon

Copyright: Sept 2016 (Henery Press) 268 pgs

Series: 1st in Gethsemane Brown Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery

Main Character: Gethsemane Brown, African-American classical musician

Setting: Modern, Southwest Ireland Coast

Obtained Through: Personal Purchase

From book cover: "With few other options, African-American classical musician Gethsemane Brown accepts a less-than-ideal position turning a group of rowdy schoolboys into an award-winning orchestra. Stranded without luggage or money in the Irish countryside, she figures any job is better than none. The perk? Housesitting a lovely cliffside cottage. The catch? The ghost of the cottage’s murdered owner haunts the place. Falsely accused of killing his wife (and himself), he begs Gethsemane to clear his name so he can rest in peace. Gethsemane’s reluctant investigation provokes a dormant killer and she soon finds herself in grave danger. As Gethsemane races to prevent a deadly encore, will she uncover the truth or star in her own farewell performance?"

Gethsemane Brown is a fresh and unique amateur sleuth. She hears Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" play as her internal warning system, she is independent, smart, and determined to make her last-chance job as a music teacher work by her team winning the Annual All-County School Orchestra Competition in 6 weeks - which will hopefully get her career jump-started.  She gets to live in the cabin that the great composer Eamon McCarthy lived, Carraigfaire Cottage.  Eamon McCarthy, the spitfire genius composer who is accused of killing his wife and then committing suicide, is the resident ghost who insists Gethsemane clear his name.  He does not like Gethsemane drinking his 12 year old special order whiskey either.  She makes a few friends in the town of Dunmullach, and Francis Grennan - co-worker in the school is a potential romantic interest in future books.

Carraigfaire Cottage, where Gethsemane is staying, and the nearby lighthouse provide great atmosphere, Dunmullach gives us the Irish culture, and St Brennan's School for Boys ends up giving Gethsemane her second chance in music.  These settings are utilized to great effect and bring the place to life.

I enjoyed this book and found it hard to put it down.  The plot immerses you in Eamon's world of twenty-five years ago as Gethsemane tries to unveil who killed him and his wife. The action is consistent and kept my interest.  The killer confrontation was deliciously tense and heart-pounding.  The wrap up leaves it open for future adventures with Gethsemane.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new series.  Don't worry, you don't have to be into classical music to enjoy the story.  I found Gethsemane very relatable and a delightful character. Eamon is a fiery Irishman who grew on me and I found I cared about his character finding some closure.  I even grew fond of the cottage too. Excellent mystery and writing, indulge yourself with this new series.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list