by Sarah Erwin

This week we have a review of the latest Darcy Gaughan Mystery by J.C. Kenney, along with an interesting interview with J.C. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a $10 Bandcamp gift card and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

Magic Box Murder by JC Kenney
Review by Sarah Erwin

Magic Box Murder by JC Kenney is the third book in the Darcy Gaughan cozy mystery series. If readers are like me and are new to this series, this entry reads easily as a standalone, although I already loaded book one onto my Kindle so I can get caught up.

Magic Box game store is next door to Darcy’s record shop in Marysburg, Indiana and is hosting a twenty-four-hour gaming marathon. Darcy pops over to help award prizes yet is shocked to learn later that night that the champion has been found strangled in the parking lot behind the store. Police suggest this may be a robbery gone wrong, but Darcy isn’t so sure, and when the owner of Magic Box asks for her help, she dives into searching for clues.

There is so much to enjoy in this cozy mystery! The mystery is solid, and the pacing kept me on the edge of my seat wondering when Kenney might finally unveil the true killer. The characters are quirky and entertaining, and I especially enjoyed how supportive Darcy and her friends were of each other. I also adored the music metaphors and similes woven throughout the story. Some of them I had to look up and others had me chuckling to myself––especially the references to “School of Rock.” I was so impressed by JC’s musical knowledge––this added such a fun element to the read. I loved the details of running a record shop, and because I went to college in Indiana and had friends in Muncie, the location added an extra layer of fun.

And my absolute favorite part of the story was Darcy herself. She’s reflective and transparent about her past struggles with alcoholism and her commitment to her sobriety. She’s not afraid to laugh at herself without putting herself down. Darcy makes this cozy mystery stand out among others in the genre and that was so refreshing. I look forward to catching up on Darcy’s past adventures and joining her on future ones.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Interview with J.C. Kenney:

KRL: How long have you been writing?

J.C.: I started writing regularly in 2011. That was after decades of starting any number of ideas but never getting anywhere with them.

KRL: When did your first novel come out, what was it called, and would you tell us a little about it?

J.C.: My first novel, Fallen Star, came out in June 2013. It was a contemporary romance told from the point of view of the hero. He meets the heroine at the Chicago train station, and they go on a cross-country trip together. Unfortunately, it’s out of print right now. I hope to self-publish it with a new cover sometime soon.

J.C. Kenney

KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense and if not, what else have you written?

J.C.: My first seven novels, along with a short story, were all contemporary romance. I also have a science fiction project I work on when I have down time from writing my whodunnits.

KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?

J.C.: I love music, and independent record stores are favorite places of mine to visit and hang out. I also thought a record store would be a unique setting for a cozy mystery. When I started writing the series, my younger kiddo was studying Music Education at Ball State University. Placing the series in a fictional town near the Ball State campus was a fun way to tip my hat to him and his musical pursuits.

KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to experience from your work?

J.C.: Mainly entertainment. I read to escape the real world, so I want my stories to provide a similar experience to my readers. That said, I was diagnosed with depression in 2012. Because of that, I often write characters who live with mental health conditions or experience mental health challenges. It’s my way of letting readers know they’re not alone if they’re living with depression or anxiety.

KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing or just work whenever you can?

J.C.: I don’t block out a specific time for my writing. Since I work from home, I tend to turn to my storytelling when I’ve finished my day job’s tasks for the day. Sometimes, that’s earlier in the afternoon. Other times, it’s a little later. With my kids grown and living on their own, I have a lot of flexibility.

KRL: What is your ideal time to write?

J.C.: I prefer to write in the afternoon or early evening. By that time, I have enough caffeine in me to make hopefully coherent sentences.

KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?

J.C.: I do. I start with what I call my story nugget, which is basically a scene in which someone was murdered in some way. I expand on that idea by writing a two-to-three-page outline. Next, I take that outline and put it into a timeline. I then use the timeline as a guide while I write the first draft. It’s got just enough detail to keep me from going off into the weeds while allowing me to have a lot of fun finding things out as the story progresses.

KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

J.C.: It seemed hard to me. Fallen Star was rejected 34 times before a small press in Oregon said yes. Over the years, I’ve learned 34 rejections isn’t all that many. I’d still rather not go through that again, though.

KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?

J.C.: I remember being at my desk for my day job when I got “the call” from my agent. I was so excited I could barely talk! That was a really good day.

KRL: Most interesting book signing story-in a bookstore or other venue?

J.C.: Not long ago, I had a retired gentleman buy one of my Alllie Cobb mysteries. He said he bought it because of the cat on the cover and thought his wife might like it. As a cat dad, that made my day.

KRL: What are your future writing goals?

J.C.: Well, I currently have a 6-book contract for an upcoming series called The Elmo Simpson Mysteries. It’s set in the Panhandle of Florida and is what I like to call a cross between Catriona McPherson’s Last Ditch Mysteries and Carl Hiaasen’s novels, with a serving of Jimmy Buffett on the side. Those stories will keep me busy for a while!

KRL: Who are your writing heroes?

J.C.: Agatha Christie was my gateway to mystery fiction, so I have to start with her. Elmore Leonard is also a big influence. We happen to share the same birthday.

KRL: What kind of research do you do?

J.C.: I spend a lot of time on the internet. I also have a few reference books I go to from time to time. I love my book on poisons. Not that I’ve ever used any of that information in real life. Promise!

KRL: What do you like to read?

J.C.: I’m a fan of mystery fiction, especially whodunnits. I’m fortunate to have a lot of friends who write amazing crime fiction. Sarah E. Burr, Ellen Byron, and Raquel Reyes are a few mystery authors readers should check out. I also enjoy fantasy and science fiction. I’m a big fan of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books and Arthur C. Clarke.

KRL: What are your favorite TV shows or movies?

J.C.: I’ve been a Star Trek fan all my life, so my all-time favorite would be Star Trek: The Next Generation. I also love mysteries on the light-hearted side. The Brokenwood Mysteries, Death in Paradise, and Psych are at the top of my go-to list.

KRL: Yay a fellow Trekkie! Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

J.C.: Have fun with your writing. Revel in the joy of making things up and telling stories. After all, if you’re not enjoying yourself, why do it?

KRL: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

J.C.: My senior year in high school, I played Harold Hill in the spring musical presentation of The Music Man. When I was in sixth grade, I played Charlie Brown in my school’s presentation of Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. Looking back, I was much better on stage than on a ball field!

KRL: Do you have any pets?

J.C.: I do. I’m a total Cat Dad and live with a laid-back Russian Blue named Maria. She’s totally the boss of me and everyone in the family knows it, especially her!

KRL: Is there anything you would like to add?

J.C.: I want to thank you so much for the invitation. This was a lot of fun! You do so much for authors, and I appreciate it.

KRL: Website? Twitter? Facebook? Instagram?

J.C.:
Website: jckenney.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JCKenney1
Instagram: instagram.com/j.c.kenney

You can click here to purchase this book.

To enter to win a $10 Bandcamp gift card, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “magic” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen March 30, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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