Nominated for Award Archives

2023 Valentine’s Day Mysteries and Fiction

Leave a Comment / Bestselling Author, Book List, Cozy, Crime, Debut Author, Featured, Holidays, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Romance, Short Stories/Collection, Suspense

Are you a fan of holiday themed reading? Published between 2016 and 2023, here is an updated list of thirty-one novels, novellas, and short stories centered around Valentine’s Day. Be prepared to sigh, or giggle, or be entranced by the selection. Click on the titles to discover more about the books and enjoy!

Jennifer S. Alderson Death by Baguette

Carolyn Arnold Valentine’s Day is Murder

Belle Bailey A Sugar Maple Valentine

Patti Benning Tall, Dark, and Deadly

Bellamy Bloom & Addison Moore Murder Bites

Franky A. Brown What Happened to Romance?

Susan Carroll The Valentine’s Day Ball

Cherry Christensen Secret Valentine

Colleen Cross Witching for Love on Valentine’s Day

Sylvia Damsell A Valentine Wish

Steve Demaree A Valentine Murder

Liz Dodwell Valentine’s Day: a Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy

Jessica L. Elliott Operation: Romance

Tammy Falkner A Valentine’s Day Miracle

Amanda Flower Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous

Deborah Garner A Flair for Truffles

Patricia Gligor Marnie Malone

Donna Grant My Fiery Valentine

Holly Hepburn Valentine’s Day at the Star and Sixpence

Liwen Y. Ho Romantically Ever After

June McCrary Jacobs Handmade Hearts

Libby Klein Theater Nights Are Murder

Jackie Lau A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day

Lia London Love from A to Z

Ava Mallory & nine more authors Stirring Up Love & Mystery

Jenn McKinlay Royal Valentine

Leslie Meier Valentine Candy Murder

Mobile Writers Guild Valentine’s Day Pieces (Anthology)

Addison Moore & Bellamy Bloom Sealed with a Hiss

Summer Prescott A Blossom of Murder

Amy M. Reade Be My Valencrime

Happy Reading!

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Book List: Lynn Chandler Willis

Leave a Comment / Award Winner, Book List, Crime, Inspirational, Journalism, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Reviews, Romance, Suspense, True Crime

Have you read all of Lynn Chandler Willis’ books? Are you sure? Read on and click on the links to find out more about her terrific work.

North Carolina author, Lynn Chandler Willis, has been a professional in the writing business for quite a while, first as a newspaper owner/publisher/reporter. During that experience, she developed a keen eye for detail and for what makes people tick. She could sniff out a great story and her first book dealt with the real-life murder of the wife of a preacher’s son, committed by the preacher’s son himself in small town North Carolina. Willis attended the trial every day and did meticulous research into everything that surrounded that case. Twenty years later, the book is still being sold, a rarity in the publishing world. That book is “Unholy Covenant” (also known as “The Preacher’s Son”) and was the subject of a TV documentary about the case.

“The Rising” won a Grace Award (review here)

“Wink of an Eye” A private investigator tries to lay low in Texas and still gets involved in a case. (review here) It won Minotaur’s PWA Best First Private Eye novel competition. Well deserved!

The Ava Logan Series is a romantic suspense trilogy featuring newspaper publisher/reporter Ava Logan.

“Tell Me No Lies” is the first in the series (review here)

“Tell Me No Secrets”

“Tell Me You Love Me” third book in the Ava Logan trilogy (review here)

Periodically, Nightstand Book Reviews has a crossover post with www.kerriansnotebook.com. Ava Logan was a Visiting Detective with “Crime in Appalachia.” Take a look here.

New Series: January, 2023, brings us the highly anticipated “What the Monkey Saw.” I read it and can tell you it’s got a fantastic lead character, and taut action scenes. You’ll feel like you’re right in the middle of the fray! You can order it here.

The Second New Series: Introducing Raynor Beck, a detective who operates on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Coming in May 2023, The Devil to Pay: Raynor Beck, Book 1.

The setup: “Private Investigator Raynor Beck has been hired by the victim of a crime more than once. But he’s never been hired by a murder victim. Until now.”

How long is it until May? 🙂

Please visit www.lynnchandlerwillis.com for details about Ms. Willis’ appearances as well as news about Finn and the events in her life.

Facebook Author Page

*Book Covers and banner from Ms. Willis’ website and Facebook page.

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Book List: Author Sherry Harris

Leave a Comment / Bestselling Author, Book List, Cozy, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Reviews

Sherry Harris writes the Agatha nominated, wonderful Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries and the new Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon series.

Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries
Sarah Winston is a military spouse who must transition to being on her own. Her emotional struggles to make her own way as a newly single woman are realistic, and her scenes detailing military life ring true. Harris’ storylines peel back the layers of Winston’s battle with feelings about her ex in each book, while delivering great mysteries.

Have you read all the books in this marvelous series? Take a look at the list below, listed in order, with links included.

“Tagged for Death” read review here.

“The Longest Yard Sale” read review here.

“All Murders Final”

“A Good Day to Buy” read review here.

“I Know What You Bid Last Summer”

“The Gun Also Rises” read review here.

and…. “Let’s Fake A Deal” read review here.
“Sell Low, Sweet Harriet“

“Absence of Alice”

Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mysteries
Good news for Mrs. Harris’ fans: the first book of her Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries, “From Beer to Eternity,” was a hit! ‘Chloe Jackson’ was a Visiting Detective over at Kerrian’s Notebook and shared her experience about the murder with the Kerrians. Read ‘Murder at the Sea Glass Saloon’ here.

Book #2 in the series, “A Time to Swill,” is out

and #3, “Rum and Choke,” was launched today.

Check out this terrific series and get them all!

Sherry’s other writing includes:

A short story called “Country Song Gone Wrong” in the Deadly Southern Charm anthology from the Central VA chapter of Sisters in Crime. It’s a Sarah Winston story — She goes to Virginia.

The Sherry Harris Author Profile can be read here.

Please visit https://sherryharrisauthor.com to see what else Sherry is up to. 🙂

(Photos courtesy of Sherry Harris)

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Book List: Jessica Estavao/Jessie Crockett/Jessica Ellicott

Leave a Comment / Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Book List, Cozy, Historical, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Reviews

Jessica Estavao is a talented, bestselling, award-winning New England author with several entertaining mystery series to her credit. She is one of the “Wicked Authors,” a group of women writing wicked good mysteries mostly set in New England. Take a look at the list of her books below and see if you’ve read them all. (Click on the titles to learn more about the books)

Granite State Mysteries (as Jessie Crockett)

Her debut mystery in the Granite State series, “Live Free or Die”, was the 2011 winner of the Daphne DuMaurier Award for Mainstream Mystery, an auspicious beginning to her career.

Sugar Grove Mysteries (as Jessie Crockett)

The series begins “Drizzled with Death,” one hilarious romp through championship pancake breakfasts, maple syrup, and animals on the loose. Who knew that falling dead head first into a stack of pancakes could be used as a crime scene setting?

“Drizzled with Death” – review here

“Maple Mayhem”

“Sticky Situation”

Change of Fortune Mysteries (as Jessica Estavao)

Jessie moved her next series back in time to 1890’s Orchard Beach, Maine, with a con artist and tarot card reader protagonist. Ruby tries to stay one step ahead of the law, while helping her straight arrow aunt keep her hotel. Great fun featuring an innovative female lead character.

“Whispers Beyond the Veil”

review here

“Whispers of Warning”

Beryl and Edwina Mysteries (as Jessica Ellicott)

Jessie’s current series is set in post WW1 England and introduces the former Finishing School duo of Edwina, the conservative English character, to Beryl’s adventurous American persona. They reunite many years later in the quiet (or is it?) southern English village of Warmsley Parva when Edwina advertises for a boarder and Beryl crashes onto her property.

Beryl and Edwina, while culturally and personally quite different, are fond of each other even after years apart. They find that their distinctive talents help them wonderfully well in their new business venture, a ‘private inquiry agency’ that solves mysteries in the charming village, while earning them an income.

Ellicott has written a series that is both historically enlightening and entertaining, with the sometimes serious subject matter of the day woven into the story of the two women drawn together by economics as well as friendship. Beautifully researched, the books reveal societal views about women 100 years ago, and peek inside the quaint village shops that have survived despite the post-war challenges.

Edwina’s shrewd intellect and Beryl’s clever approach to the mysteries outwit lesser minds and create a few comical moments to save the day and befuddle the clueless. These two engaging, intelligent women will capture your hearts and minds as you enjoy these wonderful books.

Murder in an English Village”

review here

“Murder Flies the Coop”

“Murder Cuts the Mustard”

“Murder Comes to Call”

“Murder in an English Glade“

“Murder through the English Post”

“Murder at a London Finishing School” pre-order

NEW SERIES!
Jessica Ellicott has a new series, this time set in WW2 England. Titled the WPC Billie Harkness Mysteries, the first book is out now. Beautifully researched as always, it features Billie Harkness, a female police officer. Find “Death in a Blackout” here.

Enjoy them all!

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Book List: Julie Hennrikus

Leave a Comment / Bestselling Author, Book List, Cozy, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Reviews

New England author, Julie Hennrikus, has been entertaining us with three quite different mystery series, written under three different names, for several years. In honor of her most recent book launch, “The Plot Thickets,” here’s a list of all her books. Enjoy!

Click on the book titles to learn more about the books.

The Clock Shop Mystery Series by Julianne Holmes, features expert clockmaker Ruth Clagan who inherits the clock shop, Cog & Sprocket, from her Grandfather. The bells toll for more than one body in this lovely town of Orchard, Massachusetts, and Ruth must get herself in gear to outsmart the killers. The first book in the trilogy received an Agatha nomination for Best First Mystery. If you like clocks and/or are fascinated by the history and how they work, you’ll love this series.

Read the review for Agatha nominated “Just Killing Time” here.

“Clock and Dagger”

“Chime and Punishment”

The Theater Cop series by J.A. Hennrikus is actually the first series that Ms. Hennrikus worked on, but as happens with many writers, was not her first series published. She has been active in the arts field for a lot of her professional life and theater was a big part of that involvement. The drama of life in and around the stage are a focal point of this entertaining mystery series, featuring a diverse set of characters, and former cop, now theater manager, Edwina Sullivan.

Read my review of “A Christmas Peril” here.

“With A Kiss I Die”

The Garden Squad Mysteries, by Julia Henry, centers around a stealthy group of crime-solving, garden loving residents that fixes up neglected gardens and pathways. After dark. When nobody can see them or protest. Have digger, will weed. There are murders of course, but there are also great gardening tips, and (from the readers’ point of view) hilarious situations in which Henry places these midnight gardeners led by 65 year old Lilly Jayne. I wonder if I can hire them to take care of my neighbor’s scruffy looking sideyard….All kidding aside, the series is great.

Read my review of “Pruning the Dead” here.

“Tilling the Truth”

“Digging up the Remains,” has a Halloween theme.

“Wreathing Havoc” combines two of Hennrikus’ passions, gardening and the theater!

“The Plot Thickets” is the latest book in the series, just out!

Happy Reading!

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Book List: Author Liz Mugavero/Cate Conte

Leave a Comment / Book List, Cozy, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Paranormal, Reviews

Liz Mugavero, a delightful New England writer living in Massachusetts, has written three series, all three with animals as pals (and clue finders) for the lead characters. The first book in her first series, “Kneading to Die,” garnered her an Agatha nomination for Best First Mystery. It was clever, funny, and the beginning of one of the best cozy series out there, the Pawsatively Organic Mysteries. Who can forget the kibble on the body? Lolol

Cate Conte, Mugavero’s alter ego, pens the second series, the Cat Café Mysteries, also a big hit with the fans. Click on the titles (and a few reviews) to find out more about the enjoyable, wonderfully written books. A new title, “Gone, But Not Forgotten,” can be pre-ordered via the link below.

The third series, featuring a witch as the lead character, Full Moon Mysteries, is getting happy, great reviews.

Click on the titles to learn more about the books.

As Liz Mugavero:

Pawsatively Organic Mysteries:

Features Stan (Kristan) Connor, an Ex-Corporate PR Exec, & Nutty, her Maine Coon Cat. Among the fully fleshed out characters is a hunky bar owner boyfriend and his dog, making Stan’s life interesting as she navigates her new life in a small town and keeps finding bodies. Why the name for the series? Stan wants to open an organic animal treats business. Recipes included!

“Kneading to Die” – review here

“A Biscuit, A Casket” review here

“The Icing on the Corpse”

“Murder Most Finicky”

“Custom Baked Murder” review here

“Purring Around the Christmas Tree”

“Murder, She Meowed”

As Cate Conte: https://www.cateconte.com

The Cat Café Mysteries

Maddie James has a successful juice bar business on the west coast, but returns to her hometown of Daybreak Island off the coast of Massachusetts to take care of family matters. Maddie and a stray cat (based on one of Liz’ own cats) get caught up in murder! Maddie is a thoroughly enjoyable new character, with equally appealing love interests. The reason for the title of the series? Maddie is opening up a Cat Café, complete with cats for locals to adopt.

“Cat About Town” – review here

“Purrder She Wrote”

“Tell Tail Heart”

“A Whisker of a Doubt“

“Claws for Alarm“

“Gone, But Not Furgotten,” can be pre-ordered here.

You can read Liz Mugavero’s Author Profile here.

Cate Conte’s first title in The Full Moon Mystery series is the entertaining “Witch Hunt.”.

The second title, “Witch Trial,” is out now.

Happy Reading! 🙂

*Many thanks to Liz/Cate for the photos and book art! 🙂

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2022 Mystery Writers of America – Edgar Awards

Leave a Comment / Book List, Crime, Debut Author, Featured, Historical, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Non-fiction, Young Adult/Teen

The nominees for the 2022 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television from 2021, were announced in January, 2022. The winners were revealed on April 28, 2022 in New York City and are noted here in red.

BEST NOVEL
The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Five Decembers by James Kestrel
How Lucky by Will Leitch
No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR
Deer Season by Erin Flanagan
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza
What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins
The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell
The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
The Album of Dr. Moreau by Daryl Gregory
Starr Sign by C.S. O’Cinneide
Bobby March Will Live Forever by Alan Parks
The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell

BEST FACT CRIME
The Confidence Men: How Two Prisoners of War Engineered the Most Remarkable Escape in History by Margalit Fox
Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green
Sleeper Agent: The Atomic Spy in America Who Got Away by Ann Hagedorn
Two Truths and a Lie: A Murder, a Private Investigator, and Her Search for Justice by Ellen McGarrahan
The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade by Benjamin T. Smith
When Evil Lived in Laurel: The “White Knights” and the Murder of Vernon Dahmer by Curtis Wilkie

BEST JUVENILE
Cold-Blooded Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Concealed by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Dead Man in the Garden by Marthe Jocelyn
Kidnap on the California Comet: Adventures on Trains #2 by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman
Rescue by Jennifer A. Nielsen

BEST YOUNG ADULT
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY
“Dog Day Morning” – The Brokenwood Mysteries, Written by Tim Balme (Acorn TV)
“Episode 1” – The Beast Must Die, Written by Gaby Chiappe (AMC+)
“The Men Are Wretched Things” – The North Water Written by Andrew Haigh (AMC+)
“Happy Families” – Midsomer Murders, Written by Nicholas Hicks-Beach (Acorn TV)
“Boots on the Ground” – Narcos: Mexico, Written by Iturri Sosa (Netflix)

Please visit https://mysterywriters.org/mwa-announce-the-2022-edgar-award-nominations for information about nominees in the Short Story, Best Critical/Biographical, Mary Higgins Clark, and Sue Grafton Awards.

From the site: “MWA is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those who are devoted to the genre. The organization encompasses some 3,000 members including authors of fiction and non-fiction books, screen and television writers, as well as publishers, editors, and literary agents.”

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

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