A California Magazine with Local Focus and Global Appeal:
Community - Entertainment - Human Interest

Weekly issues every Saturday morning and other special articles throughout the week — there's something for everyone. Check out our sister site KRL News & Reviews for even more articles every week.

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Finnegan, a Sweet Boy with a Special Talent

FROM THE July 4 ISSUE

IN THE Animal Rescue Adventures SECTION

by Lee Juslin



Finnegan, a five-year-old Scottie, was living in an unstable home, which was not safe for this sweet Scottie. He spent time in a kennel with his housemate, a Cocker Spaniel, that was pulled from the kennel by Cocker Spaniel Rescue. Finnegan was then placed with a friend of the owner. The placement didn’t work out, so Finnegan went to Scottish Terrier Rescue of New York/New Jersey.

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The Grim Reader By Kate Carlisle: Review/Giveaway

FROM THE July 4 ISSUE

IN THE Cynthia Chow SECTION

by Lorie Lewis Ham


Rare book restorer Brooklyn Wainwright and her husband Derek are delighted to be back in her hometown of Dharma, California, for their first annual Dharma Book Festival. As much as they love living in San Francisco, it can’t compare to the communal warmth of the tourist-friendly wine country near Sonoma County. In addition to the variety of restaurants and craft shops run by Brooklyn’s numerous siblings in the wine country, her British in-laws have also recently purchased a second home in the town where Derek’s tarot-reading mother flourishes.

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Proof of Murder By Lauren Elliott: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post

FROM THE July 4 ISSUE

IN THE Cynthia Chow SECTION

by Cynthia Chow
& Lauren Elliott


There are two things that Beyond the Page rare book and curio shop owner Addison Greyborne finds irresistible: mysteries and estate sales. The auction being held at Hill Road House offers both of these, having not only a huge library collection up for sale but also its own myth of residing ghosts.

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Local Artist Spotlight: Disc Jockey/Actress/Activist Rebecah Rye

FROM THE July 4 ISSUE

IN THE Movies SECTION

by Steven Sanchez



What do you get when you mix the elements of intelligence, beauty, talent, attitude, drive, ambition, spirituality, and tenacity? The concoction result would be local on-air personality, actress, and now activist, Rebecah Rye. She’s the nighttime voice for 105.1 The Blaze, “Fresno’s Best Rock,” playing headbangin’ metal anthems and the traffic coordinator for the rock station and the hip hop format Q97.1.

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Q & A With Local Actor & Podcast Actor Thomas Nance

FROM THE July 4 ISSUE

IN THE Lorie Lewis Ham SECTION

by Lorie Lewis Ham


Since theatre on stage is still on hold right now, we are continuing to feature some local actors who have also been acting on our podcast, Mysteryrat’s Maze. This week we chatted with local actor Thomas Nance who has been the voice of several of our episodes. Mysteryrat’s Maze features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors.

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Heartbreaks & Half-Truths: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk

FROM THE July 4 ISSUE

IN THE Kathleen Costa SECTION

by Kathleen Costa


I personally love collections: pins, movies, cookies, of course, and short stories. Short story collections afford me a marvelous opportunity to enjoy a variety of authors, many new to me, all at one time as well as being exposed to a variety of writing styles. These twenty-two shorts, edited by friend and author Judy Penz Sheluk, offer a glimpse into each author’s interpretation of the book’s theme “heartbreaks” and “half-truths.”

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Mystery Short Story: Happy Birthday, Baby

FROM THE July 4 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Gary Hoffman


Half a dozen servers gathered around Vince’s table and sang a jazzed-up version of Happy Birthday to him. There was a lot of hand clapping and stomping of feet. He shot his wife an I-thought-we-agreed-to-not-do-this-kind-of-crap look, but smiled at the singers. He politely said, “Thank you,” when they finished.

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Diversity in this Action-Packed Thriller

FROM THE July 1 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Sue Hinkin


The Burn Patient is a gritty, action-packed L.A. thriller featuring African-American TV reporter, Beatrice Middleton, and her photographer partner, Lucy Vega. It’s the third in the Vega & Middleton series with a fourth scheduled for release in 2021. If you like Rizolli & Isles, you might enjoy this series, too.

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Cat House on the Kings: Every Kitten Counts

FROM THE June 27 ISSUE

IN THE Animal Rescue Adventures SECTION

by Harvie Schreiber



As temperatures increase in the summer, so does the rescue pace at The Cat House on the Kings. The Cat House has two fundraisers that have just started, and we can really, really use your help. First, we have our “Every Kitten Counts” fundraiser that runs now through the first week of July. We’ve rescued about 800 kittens so far this year, and our goal is to raise the equivalent of $35 per kitten to help us offset the incredible costs of providing vaccinations, flea and deworming medication, spaying/neutering, and other vet care, as well as food and litter costs for 800 kittens!

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Mysteries For Your Summer Reading

FROM THE June 27 ISSUE

IN THE Food Fun SECTION

by Sandra Murphy


This week we have another catch up group of mysteries perfect for your summer reading-Death by Auction: An Abby McCree Mystery by Alexis Morgan, Marshmallow Malice: Amish Candy Shop Mystery by Amanda Flower, Murder She Wrote The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land, And the Killer Is… A Savannah Reid Mystery by G. A. McKevett, and Antiques Fire Sale: A Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery by Barbara Allan.

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Great Food Search: It Came From Someone Else’s Kitchen Take-Out Edition

FROM THE June 27 ISSUE

IN THE Terrance V. Mc Arthur SECTION

by Terrance McArthur


It happened. My daughter and I got sick of our own cooking. After three months of “It Came From My Kitchen,” we (and my wife) couldn’t take any more variations of Slow-Cooker Surprise and “Stuff Added to Packaged Mixes,” but our editor didn’t want us going to restaurants and dining like nothing was wrong with the world, even if they were open for business. For that reason, this Great Food Search features take-out food. (Lorie wanted places that deliver, too, but I have a perfectly rational fear of strangers coming to my door.)

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Interview with Local Designer Erin Rana

FROM THE June 27 ISSUE

IN THE Arts & Entertainment SECTION

by Lorie Lewis Ham


During Pride, we are featuring some local members of the LGBTQ+ arts community. This week we chatted with transgender designer Erin Rana from Fresno who is also involved in local theatre.

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Gay Mystery Podcast

FROM THE June 27 ISSUE

IN THE Lorie Lewis Ham SECTION

by Lorie Lewis Ham


As we continue to feature other mystery podcasts, Pride month seemed like the perfect time to chat with Brad Shreve about his podcast, Gay Mystery Podcast. Earlier this month we reviewed Brad’s first mystery novel, A Body in a Bath House..

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Divide and Concord By J.C. Eaton: Review/Giveaway/Interview

FROM THE June 27 ISSUE

IN THE Cynthia Chow SECTION

by Cynthia Chow


With only three months to go until her sister and brother-in-law return to take over their Two Witches Winery in Penn Yan, New York, Norrie Ellington is eagerly anticipating the return to her full-time job as a screenplay writer. So far life in Seneca Lake has been inundated by too many corpses, and it doesn’t look like the near future will be any smoother.

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