Readers Roost: classic mystery

Showing posts with label classic mystery. Show all posts

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Snow Place Like Home Week Blast #rabtbooktours

Snow Globe Shop Mystery, Book 5

Traditional Mystery/Amateur Sleuth, Small Town Fiction, Snow Globe Shop, Minnesota Mystery

Date Published: 01-09-2026

The past collides with the present for Camryn Brooks on one cold winter evening. A man’s body is found in the passenger seat of a car, parked in her driveway. Camryn is chilled to the bone when she learns his identity: her old nemesis, the one whose actions ruined her career and tarnished her stellar reputation in Washington D.C.

Early Reviews

“Camryn Brooks soon discovers, like snowflakes, no two suspects are alike . . . a captivating cozy read.” Mary Seifert

“A cozy snow day read with wonderful characters and intriguing clues to a twisty mystery.” Alicia Kozak

“It pulls you right in. An ideal cozy mystery with just enough police procedural to keep you hooked.” Timya Owens

"So many twists and turns, it leaves you thinking, ‘There's snow place like home!'" Michelle Hess

“Mystery readers will appreciate the subtle clues sprinkled throughout and an unexpected twist at the end. A great read from a great author.” Natalie Fowler

“Set against a frigid Minnesota winter, Snow Place Like Home shows that friendship and forgiveness can go a long way in chasing the chill of murder away.” Thekla Madsen

Excerpt

I yawned on my way to the living room, stretched out on the couch, pulled a comforter over my body, and opened a book I’d been reading. I was involved in the novel’s complex plot when my cell phone buzzed. I reached over and plucked it from the coffee table. My best friend Alice “Pinky” Nelson’s name appeared on the screen.

I smiled and pushed the accept button. “Hey, Pink—”

She cut me off. “Ahhhh. Cami, you need to come out here. Now.” She spoke with a hushed intensity. Was she hurt, in trouble?

My heart sank as I dropped the book, threw back the comforter, and jumped off the couch. “Come out where? Where are you, Pinky?”

“Kitchen . . . window. . . yours. . . look . . . out.” It took me a second to process her words, comprehend what she meant. She was in my backyard? Had she tripped and fallen?

I crossed the ten feet in a flash, slid my feet into boots by the back entry, cast all apprehension aside, and pushed open the door. The early evening sky was cloaked in darkness, and with the help of an alley’s street lamp, I spotted a vehicle I didn’t recognize parked by my garage. What in the world?

Pinky’s car sat next to it. I flipped on the outside house light and saw Pinky sitting in her car. When I went down the steps and moved toward her, she jumped out from her driver’s seat and pointed at the other vehicle. “I think he might be dead.”

My heart sank even lower as I glanced at a bulky form in the other vehicle’s passenger seat. I was unable to move, frozen to my spot on the snow-covered lawn. Pinky closed the gap between us and threw her arms around me. We turned our heads in sync toward the vehicle occupied by an unknown—dead or alive–person.

About the Author

Christine Husom is a bestselling author from Buffalo. She writes the Winnebago County Mysteries and the Snow Globe Shop Mysteries. Christine has stories in six anthologies, wrote a collaborative novel with eight other authors, and co-edited A Festival of Crime for Nodin Press. She trained with the St. Paul Police Department and served with the Wright County Sheriff's Office. She's a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, active with the Twin Cities chapter. She loves meeting readers at events.

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Tuesday, July 18, 2023

A Cryptic Clue Book Tour and Giveaway

A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case

A Cryptic Clue

A Hunter & Clewe Mystery Book 1

by Victoria Gilbert

Genre: Mystery

A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case—in acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s new series, the perfect literary adventure for fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.

Sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, forced into early retirement from her job as a university librarian, is seeking a new challenge to keep her spirits up and supplement her meager pension. But as she’s about to discover, a retiree’s life can bring new thrills—and new dangers.

Cameron “Cam” Clewe, an eccentric 33-year-old collector, is also seeking something—an archivist to inventory his ever-expanding compendium of rare books and artifacts. Jane’s thrilled to be hired on by Cam and to uncover the secrets of his latest acquisition, a trove of items related to the classic mystery and detective authors. But Jane’s delight is upended when a body is discovered in Cam’s library. The victim, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, was the last in line of Cam’s failed romances—and now he’s suspect number one.

Cam vows to use his intelligence and deductive skills to clear his name—but with a slight case of agoraphobia, rampant anxiety, and limited social skills, he’ll need some help. It comes down to Jane to exonerate her new boss—but is he truly innocent?

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Thinking this offered a good opening to further prove my worth as an employee, I slid to the front edge of my chair. “I know the cataloging comes first, but I’d be happy to help any of your guests with research, since that’s another one of my skills.”

Cam drummed his fingers again, this time against the other sleeve of his ivory sweater. “Thanks. I’m not sure that will be necessary, but I’ll keep it in mind. Anyway, I’m sure you won’t get any requests for research assistance this weekend. Everyone’s focused on the fundraising gala happening on Sunday evening.” Perhaps sensing my surprise, Cam added, “Two friends of mine are actually hosting it. I’m just supplying the space, because their homes aren’t big enough. It will be rather a large crowd.” Cam grimaced, as if the thought pained him. “Now, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll have Lauren give you a tour of the house and property.”

In other words, I was being dismissed. I rose to my feet and crossed to him, extending my hand. “I really am delighted to be here, Cam. It’s a librarian’s dream to get to work with such fascinating materials.”

Cam examined my outstretched fingers for a moment before placing his own hands behind his back. “I’m just glad you’re so enthusiastic about the job. I hope that attitude won’t change when you have to dig through stacks of dusty boxes.”

“You really think I haven’t done that before?” I dropped my hand and offered him a rueful smile. “As I mentioned in my cover letter, we took in a lot of gifts at the library, and one of my duties was to examine and inventory those materials. Trust me, I’ve dealt with dust. Mold too,” I added, wrinkling my nose. “I doubt your collection is in as bad shape as many of those donations.”

Cam stared down at his expensive leather loafers. “That’s right. It’s one reason I put your résumé on top of my consideration pile. Along with your knowledge of cataloging and research, of course.”

I tugged down my slightly rumpled jacket. “I hope I can live up to your expectations.”

As he raised his head to meet my gaze, the ghost of a smile flickered over Cam’s handsome face. “Honestly, that would be a first,” he said.

It’s Never Too Late!

I’m sharing my story about achieving an important ambition later in life because I know there are many people who’ve had to give up dreams due to circumstances beyond their control. Life often requires a sacrifice of personal goals in order to provide for a family, to be able to make our own way (and not be a burden on others), or to support those we love.

But sometimes, deferring the dream goes on for so long that it’s easy to convince yourself it’s impossible. I’m here to tell you it is not.

I’m definitely a late-bloomer when it comes to my professional writing career. I always created stories, plays, and poetry, but didn’t actually complete a full-length book until about eleven years ago. I always swore I was going to write a novel, but somehow life, and perhaps my own insecurities, intervened. Instead, I earned a degree in theatre and worked as costumer for a few years. Then, needing a steadier career due to family circumstances, I went back to college to earn my Masters in Library Science. This launched my library career, which lasted for over 30 years.

It wasn’t until late 2012, when I was 56, that I decided I was going to finish writing one book, just to accomplish that life goal. Initially, I didn’t even consider publication, which is good, since my first two books weren’t “ready for prime time” (at least at that point). It was only after writing my third book, a YA Fantasy called CROWN OF ICE, that I seriously queried and landed an agent and publisher. I was 57 years old.

CROWN OF ICE, a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen.” was first published in September 2014, the same month I turned 58. I then wrote a YA scifi, FACSIMILE, which was released in the spring of 2016. (This book is now out of print).

But in the summer of 2016, after my new agent and I decided to pull my rights from my first publisher, I was at a point where I wanted to make a change. With the support of my wonderful agent, I finally decided to try out a new genre. So there I was, already 60, taking another big chance! But by this point I’d learned the value of leaping into the unknown, and wrote my first cozy mystery, book one in my Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. The submission process for that book started in early 2017, and I obtained a 3-book deal from Crooked Lane Books soon thereafter.

In the meantime, in the spring of 2017, I reissued CROWN OF ICE with my author co-op, Snowy Wings Publishing, along with its companion book, SCEPTER OF FIRE – a mash-up retelling of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” and “The Ugly Duckling.”

Then, in December 2017 (when I was 61) my first mystery, A MURDER FOR THE BOOKS, was published. Today, at 66, I have seven books published in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, with an eighth book releasing in November, and a ninth book under contract. I also have three books published in my second cozy mystery series, the Booklover’s B&B series. Two additional books in that series are under contract. Of course, A CRYPTIC CLUE, the first book in my Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series, is out now. Book two, A KILLER CLUE, will be released in 2024.

My point is – if you’d asked me eleven years ago whether I would have written 17 books by the time I was 66, and would’ve had 15 of them published (or soon to be published), I would’ve sworn that was an impossible dream. But it wasn’t. It took a lot of work, and required help from others – like my agent, critique partners, editors, and publishers – but I was able to make it happen. Not without some stress and tears and disappointment, of course, but still – the books exist and people can read them. That’s all that really matters.

So if you have a dream deferred, here’s my challenge – give it another try. Don’t worry about how old you are, or if it seems improbable. Forget the odds and reach for that dream. If I could do it, so can you.

I’ll be cheering you on!

Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired, she’s worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director.

Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover’s B&B Mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching TV and films, gardening, or traveling. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Victoria lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and two very spoiled cats.

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Sunday, February 12, 2023

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson Reveal #rabtbooktours

Mystery

Date Published: 03-01-2023

Publisher: Tekrighter, LLC

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Return to the streets and alleys of Victorian London, where the game is afoot once again! The Great Detective, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and his steadfast companion Dr. Watson are back for ten new cases, spanning the length of the quintessential detective's illustrious career. Beginning while Holmes was still a green investigator in Montague Street, this collection encompasses the 1880s and the 1890s, up to the dawn of the new century. Walk with Holmes as he puzzles over the problem of a drunken teetotaler, celebrates an old English Christmas at the Red Lion, tracks down the Camberwell poisoner, and experiences the horror in King Street. If you've been pining for new traditional, canonical Sherlock Holmes tales, Ten Steps from Baker Street is the collection you've been waiting for.

About the Author

Thomas A. Burns, Jr. is the author of the Natalie McMasters Mysteries. He was born and grew up in New Jersey, attended Xavier High School in Manhattan, earned B.S degrees in Zoology and Microbiology at Michigan State University and a M.S. in Microbiology at North Carolina State University. He currently resides in Wendell, North Carolina with his wife and son, four cats and a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. As a kid, Tom started reading mysteries with the Hardy Boys, Ken Holt and Rick Brant, and graduated to the classic stories by authors such as A. Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers, John Dickson Carr, Erle Stanley Gardner and Rex Stout, to name a few. Tom has written fiction as a hobby all of his life, starting with Man from U.N.C.L.E. stories in marble-backed copybooks in grade school. He built a career as technical, science and medical writer and editor for nearly thirty years in industry and government. Now that he's retired to become a full-time a novelist, he's excited to publish his own mystery series, as well as to contribute stories about his second-most favorite detective to the MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories.

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