Rhys Celebrates a Release

 
RHYS:  Saturday was apparently National Paperback book day (who knew there was such a thing?), and it was appropriate for me as this week I celebrate the release of the paperback edition of THE LAST MRS. SUMMERS.

The book came out in hardcover last year, with little fanfare, of course, as there was no book tour and only a couple of Zoom events. But it managed to reach #10 on USA Today list, and most recently won the Agatha Award for best historical mystery.  I should be happy--right?

But now, as I look at the paperback, I'm feeling a great sense of loss and nostalgia. Because, you see, the book takes place in Cornwall (a homage to Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca) and this marks the second summer in a row that I have not been able to be in England, staying with relatives in Cornwall and enjoying the magical surroundings.

Usually we fly to England and get straight on a train in Paddington Station, heading for Truro. There we pick up a car and negotiate those scary Cornish lanes (hardly ever wide enough for two vehicles to pass) until we reach my sister-in-law's manor house.

 It's at the end of a half-mile drive, with a river at the bottom of its land. There we just feel all tension slip away. We are outside the real world. We can walk through woodlands, sit on lawns, sip a Pimms, eat a cream tea. Absolute heaven!

But we still don't feel comfortable traveling to England (where case rates are rising alarmingly) and my brother-in-law is very ill, making a visit not wise at this time. So I think I'm going to re-read my own book to remind myself about all the things I love about Cornwall.

Number one is the coastline--little fishing villages nestled between cliffs. Sandy coves to swim in. A feeling of fairy-tale.

Number two is the people. To say they are nice is an understatement. They call you 'my lovey'. Time has no meaning. I was once rushing to catch a ferry when an old man, sitting on the dock, looked up at me. "You don't need to run, my lovey," he said, "He won't be going yet. He's still having his dinner."

And number three is the food. We indulge in all the things we avoid all year: Cornish pasties come first and we have to have one on the first day, from the Oggi Oggi Pasty shop in Falmouth. Then cream teas--plenty of those too with Cornish clotted cream and homemade jam. Oh, and the clotted cream is used to make ice-creams too.  I once took a group of hiking friends to Cornwall. They were super-fit ladies, who watched their diets. I warned them they may have to bend those diets a little. They tried Cornish ice cream once and thereafter it was a main point of every day to find a new ice cream shop!  And lastly fish and chips, made with local fresh fish.

I'm sighing as I'm writing this. I'll be reliving through my photos and going back to read Mrs. Summers again.

So dear Reds, what are you missing most about not traveling? What's the first place you'll go to when we can move freely again?

Books as Wish Fulfillment by Kate Carlisle, author of The Little Black Book

Jenn McKinlay: She's here! She's here! My amazing plot group buddy and partner in all manner of shenanigans is here to share the latest on her upcoming release The Little Black Book (which is FANTASTIC)!!! Yay! Everyone, please welcome the amazing Kate Carlisle!

Kate Carlisle is the New York Times bestselling author of two ongoing series: the Bibliophile Mysteries featuring San Francisco bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright, whose rare book restoration skills uncover old secrets, treachery and murder; and the Fixer-Upper Mysteries (as seen on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries), featuring Shannon Hammer, a home contractor who discovers not only skeletons in her neighbors' closets, but murder victims, too.

Kate: My husband and I love to travel. I’ll confess that the freedom to travel was a big part of why I wanted to be a writer. (And the tax write-off for research trips didn’t hurt!)

Right about the time the pandemic hit in March 2020, I was starting to work on the book that would become Little Black Book. Like so many other people, we’d had to cancel a trip, and planning future trips felt impossible with so many unknowns. I think that’s why I wanted this story to be an adventure, even more so than usual. I wanted to get away from COVID, to get out of my mind, out of my house, out of my life.

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Writing Little Black Bookwas my escape, and I hope reading it will be an escape for you. As bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright and her British security expert Derek Stone follow the clues discovered in a first edition of Daphne du Maurier’s classic Rebecca,the action takes them from San Francisco to the wine country commune where Brooklyn grew up and all the way to a castle on the shores of Loch Ness.

 

In essence, there are four settings in Little Black Book to take you out of your mind, house, and life: San Francisco, Dharma, a luxurious private jet, and Scotland. As a bonus, I’ve included one recipe from each of the four locales at the back of the book, plus a fifth recipe to tie them all together. I’ve included one of the recipes below to whet your appetite, but first. . . 

 

ABOUT LITTLE BLACK BOOK 

San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright is on the case when a rare edition of Rebecca leads to murder in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series.

Brooklyn and her hunky husband, security expert Derek Stone, have just returned from a delightful trip to Dharma, where the construction of their new home away from home is well underway, when a little black book arrives in the mail from Scotland. The book is a rare British first edition of Rebecca, and there’s no return address on the package. The day after the book arrives, Claire Quinn shows up at Brooklyn and Derek’s home. Brooklyn met Claire when the two women worked as expert appraisers on the television show This Old Attic. Brooklyn appraised books on the show and Claire’s expertise was in antique British weaponry, but they bonded over their shared love of gothic novels.

Claire reveals that during a recent trip to Scotland she discovered her beloved aunt was missing and that her home had been ransacked. Among her aunt’s belongings, Claire found the receipt for the package that wound up with Brooklyn and Derek. Claire believes both her own life and her aunt’s are in danger and worries that some complications from her past are coming back to haunt her.

But just as Brooklyn and Derek begin to investigate, a man who Claire thinks was following her is found murdered, stabbed with a priceless jeweled dagger. With a death on their doorstep, Brooklyn and Derek page through the little black book where they discover clues that will take them to the shadows of a medieval Scottish castle on the shores of Loch Ness. Under the watchful gaze of a mysterious laird and the irascible villagers who are suspicious of the strangers in their midst, Brooklyn and Derek must decode the secrets in Rebecca to keep their friend’s past from destroying their future....

Savory Cheese Scones

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp garlic salt

2 Tbsp sugar

8 Tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1 egg

1-3 Tbsp cold milk, divided

2 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1/8-inch pieces

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided

2 Tbsp fresh chives

Whisk or sift together the flour through sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt and egg, then put in the fridge until you're ready for it.

Cut the butter pieces into the flour mixture until it resembled wet sand. Stir in the cold yogurt/egg mixture. The dough is meant to be crumbly, but if it won't come together at all, sprinkle with one tablespoon of cold milk and stir again. If it still won't come together, sprinkle with one more tablespoon of cold milk. Fold in half the grated Parmesan, all of the cheddar and all of the chives. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and form into a ball of dough, and then into a round disk, about 3/4-inch thick by 9 inches in diameter. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Cut the disk into 12 wedges. Put 1 Tbsp cold milk in a small dish and brush top of each scone with milk. The sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake about two inches apart until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Do you love to travel? What dream trip would you like to take, if money were no object? 

Rhys on Cottages she has Known

RHYS BOWEN: I am nearing the first draft of my 14th Royal Spyness book, this one a spoof on REBECCA and set in Cornwall, a place I know well since we visit John's sister there every summer.
In this excerpt Georgie's friend Belinda has just inherited a property in Cornwall. They go to inspect and it turns out to be a cottage perched above the rocks. A rather primitive cottage.

As with all my books, I make my characters suffer my own experiences. In this case their suffering mirrors the time John and I were lent a farmhouse in France. We arrived and couldn't find a loo. We knew there must be a bathroom somewhere as the instructions told us how to work the shower. Eventually I went down to the cellar, across a dirt floor and down another flight of steps into...well, a cavern. Vaulted ceiling with ferns and mushrooms growing out of it. In one corner was a loo and in the middle a shower coming from the ceiling directly onto the stone floor. Needless to say neither of us went down there at night! Will Belinda and Georgie?  Read on:

Below was a stone basement with another large sink. The smell of fish still lingered. In one corner was a rusted tin bathtub, and in another a lavatory. Goodness knows where that drained to!

            “Not exactly much privacy,” I pointed out.

            “Can you imagine coming down here in the night?” Belinda sounded horrified. “Forget what I said about furniture being the number one priority. The first task is a proper bathroom.”

            “Are you sure this place is worth all the effort?” I asked. “it’s terribly remote. Would you really want to be here alone?”

            “I’m not sure,” she said. “I like the idea, but… Let’s sleep on it. I always say things look better in the morning.”

            “Do you think we should lock the front door, just in case?” I asked.

            “Who is possibly going to bother us out here?” Belinda said. “But maybe you’re right. We are far from any help, aren’t we?”

            She turned the big iron key in the latch. “Satisfied?” she asked.  I was.

After we had taken turns to use the facilities while the other stood guard at the top of the stairs we got undressed for bed. 

            “I don’t feel like turning off that oil lamp, if you don’t mind,” Belinda said. 

            “I agree. And wake me up if you need to go down to the loo.”

            “I rather wish I hadn’t had that pint of cider now,” Belinda said. 

            “Me too.”

            We climbed into the bed. The mattress was lumpy and the springs squeaked every time one of us moved.

            “I wouldn’t recommend this for a romantic hideaway,” I said, making Belinda laugh.

            “Oh crikey, can you imagine.”

            We both lay there laughing, as one does when very nervous.

            “I’m freezing. How about you?” Belinda asked.

            “I certainly am. The blankets feel damp, don’t they?”

            “I could put my cape over us. And your overcoat.”  She got up and started to drape them over the bedding.

            “Remind me whose mad idea this was,” I said.

            “At least you are not having to give tea parties and feel lonely and bored,” she said.

            “You’re quite right. It is an adventure. I must remind myself of that—especially if I have to get up in the night.”

            “Wake me and I’ll hold a candle for you,” Belinda said.

The extra layers started to warm us up. The wind had died down and all one could hear was the distant thump of waves on the rocks below. Gradually I drifted off to sleep. I awoke to pitch darkness. The oil in the lamp must have finally given out. I lay staring at nothing, wondering what might have woken me. Then I heard it again… the slightest sound. Was it the creak of a door? 

            Only the wind, I told myself. I knew from experience with Castle Rannoch that old houses were full of noises as they creaked and sighed and shifted. I turned over and tried to go back to sleep. I had almost drifted off when I felt the covers being peeled back and someone climbed into the bed beside me. The bedsprings creaked ominously. Silly Belinda, I thought. She’s been to the loo by herself. How considerate of her not to have woken me up.

Then I realized this person was getting into the bed on my left side. Belinda had been lying on my right. I reached out a hand and felt the warmth of her body. Then who on earth? 

Who on earth indeed? The plot thickens after this! It's called THE LAST MRS. SUMMERS (Those of you who know Rebecca might appreciate the names) and it comes out next August.

Summer Reading

LUCY BURDETTE: we are a little late on this​,​ but s​ince two​ full​ months of summer remain​,​ I think it’s a good time to talk about our summer reading​--i​n case ​anyone is desperately in need of a book for vacation. I’ll start… Having recently returned from Scotland, I decided to take Diana Gabaldon's ​OUTLANDER, the first​ whopping book​ in her blockbuster series.

I also took Deb’s older book, ​NOW MAY YOU WEEP​ because it to​o​ was set in Scotland. As it turned out, the tour was so busy that I didn't do as much reading as I'd expected. So I'm enjoying Gemma's journey to Scotland now.

And as always,​ ​​I love finding great foodie books.​ I recommend t​w​o memoirs, one by food writer and novelist ​Ann H​ood, ​KITCHEN YARNS,​ and SAVE ME THE PLUMS, Ruth R​eich​l’s newest memoir about her time at the helm of ​G​ourmet magazine. 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: What did you think of Outlander? That book is amazing, and Diana Gabaldon is a treasure For me.  Lots of advance copies this summer and recently--Denise Mina's fabulous CONVICTION, (which is out now) and the terrific new Ann Cleeves THE LONG CALL!  I also read THE STRANGER DIARIES, which  I adored, and my new love Carol Goodman, who I am so far behind on and the only good part is getting the fun of catching up. Her new THE NIGHT VISITORS is great.   You HAVE read Angie Kim's Miracle Creek, haven't you? Brilliant.  I know I have left some out...ahh.  Cannot wait to hear what you're all reading!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I've got Ruth Reichl's SAVE ME THE PLUMS, too, Lucy, and so far I'm really enjoying it. Also, I treated myself to the new Kate Atkinson, Jackson Brodie novel, BIG SKY, so I'm sort of switching back and forth between these two. I've just finished the first two books by British writer Roz Watkins, which I highly recommend. The first, THE DEVIL'S DICE, was short-listed for the Gold Dagger in the UK. The second is DEAD MAN'S DAUGHTER. They are set in the Peak District and the protagonist is a female DI named Meg Dalton. Fans of Vera and Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway will love these.

And, one of my big summer projects is rereading quite a few of my own books. In the Kincaid/James WIP, I'll be dealing with some characters and situations from earlier books, and I need to get in the zone!

HALLIE EPHRON: I just finished reading an advance copy of Deb's A BITTER FEAST. I was glued to it for three days. It is the PERFECT combination foodie book/brilliant mystery novel with great characters. I am hoping two of her characters, chef Viv and her moody teenage daughter, will be back in future books. Much of the story takes place in a restaurant kitchen (specializing in gourmet Irish cooking... I know, sounds like an oxymoron) with such fascinating detail. Short of running a restaurant herself, I have no idea how Debs managed the feel of authenticity. Then there were the thick juicy ins and outs of the plot. Sorry, It's not out until October but you can order it now.

JENN McKINLAY: I've been on a women's fiction bender since I'll be rolling into that genre next summer with the book that has yet to be named (you can picture my agonized face here). There is some fantastic writing happening in female centric fiction these days. Notably, I enjoyed Sonali Dev's Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, multicultural and a gender twist on Austen, and debut author Evie Dunmore's Bringing Down the Duke, a historical about suffragettes that is so smart and fun. On audio, I've been listening to Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, other than it is fascinating and he has a nice reading voice. We need to do a few hundred more miles on the treadmill together.

RHYS BOWEN: I’m writing this from a river boat in Europe so I haven’t had too much time for reading lately. However I also read Debs’ A Bitter Feast and thought it was one of her best with such a feel for the Cotswolds and lots of lovely food. I’ve been in Venice so on a Donna Leon binge and currently re-reading Rebecca as it will come into my next Georgie book.

​What about you? What have you read and loved, and what are you looking forward to?​

Mysteries for Readers who Don't Like Mysteries

INGRID THOFT

Can you believe it?  There are actually readers out there who don't like mysteries?!

A friend, who falls into this category, recently asked me for some mystery/thriller/suspense suggestions, a mystery gateway drug, if you will.  I had a few ideas, but I thought, who better to make recommendations to a reluctant mystery reader, than the Reds and all of you?  Here are my choices.  What would yours be?

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is one of the greats of suspense fiction, and its ongoing popularity would suggest it appeals to a broad readership.  The creepy characters and setting and the beautiful prose are sure to delight those who usually steer clear of the suspense shelves.

I always suggest newbies start with A is for Alibi, but every Sue Grafton book is a treat.  Why would I recommend a novel featuring a private investigator to non-mystery lovers?  Because Kinsey Millhone is a knock-out character.  Readers become engrossed in the story, but Kinsey is the real draw.  Once you spend time with her, I'm convinced you'll make quick work of the whole alphabet.

The third book in Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series, Faithful Place is mesmerizing and transports readers to a small neighborhood in Dublin where everyone knows everyone else's business, and yet, dark secrets remain.  The sense of place is so powerful and the drawing of the familial relationships is so sharp, I dare any reader to put this one down.

So tell me Reds and readers, which books do you recommend to readers who (gasp!) don't like mysteries?

In the Gothic Tradition: a guest blog by Sara Foster

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: It's no secret we Reds have a fondness for Gothic. Whenever we talk books-we-have-loved, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is always on the list, along with any assortment of other novels featuring Young Governesses In Peril, Lonely Houses Perched on High Cliffs, and Mysterious Brooding Masters. (I'm tempted to make an argument here that 50 Shades of Gray cut such a wide swath because it appeals to a gothic-starved audience. I'll leave it to you, dear readers, to hash that conceit out in the comments section.)


You can imagine my reaction, then, when I got a copy of Sara Foster's Beneath the Shadows (which you will be able to read starting June 5th!) Beneath the Shadows wasn't a parody, it wasn't an ironic reimagining - it was the genuine article, a classic gothic updated to a believably modern tale. It was not surprising when I discovered Sara was already a bestseller in her adopted homeland, Australia.


Is there a cold wind creaking the ancient oaks outside? Do you hear a mysterious howling out on the moor? Pour yourself a pot of tea and let Sara tell you how it all began...

I didn’t set out to write a gothic novel. The seed for Beneath the Shadows was my vivid imagining of a vulnerable woman called Grace, who is utterly alone, undone by the mysterious circumstances of her husband’s disappearance, and trapped by her own fears and uncertainties. Only as I began sketching out the details of the story did it become clear it was a gothic suspense. By that time, many of the elements were already present: a woman in distress, threatened by her surroundings; dark symbols and disturbing local legends; and a touch of romance. 

 

I shouldn’t have been surprised. My favourite writers as a teenager were the Brontes and Daphne du Maurier, who could pull me into their spine-tingling stories of love and loss so completely that I would sometimes be part of them in my dreams. Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca even wound its way into Beneath the Shadows. My character Grace reads it and is absorbed, just as I was, while her external life occasionally touches on or parallels the second Mrs de Winter’s.

For a truly gothic story, you need a fabulous, foreboding setting. My knowledge of the North Yorkshire moors was a gift given by my in-laws, whose cottage is not dissimilar to Hawthorn Cottage in Beneath the Shadows. They introduced me to this stark and beautiful landscape, and by the time I had learned many of the old stories and symbols, I had an abundance of material I could use. The hardest part was deciding what to leave out.

However, despite these traditional gothic allusions, Beneath the Shadows is also intended to be a thoroughly modern tale of a woman ensnared in shifting circumstances. Grace is caught between the past and the future; the city and the country; modern and traditional life; the safety of the familiar and the courage required to face the unknown. On top of it all, she must confront supernatural as well as psychological explanations of everything taking place around her. In gothic literature, the fortunes of female protagonists can be varied, and the stories I love most are not only concerned with thrills, but also highlight the determination of these women in extremis. These heroines might be pushed to the edge by fear and intimidation, but they also find ways to confront and move past their fears, however insurmountable, to ultimately set themselves free.

Intrigued? You can find out more about Sara Foster and her books at her website. You can also read her blog, follow her on Twitter as @SaraJFoster and friend her on Facebook. Sara also writes for Holiday Goddess, one of the most popular woman-oriented travel sites on the web. All you pack-a-bag-and-go gals need to check it out!