by Lorie Lewis Ham
This week we are featuring another LGBTQIA mystery author for Pride month, this time it is David S. Pederson. We have a review of his latest book, Puzzles Can Be Deadly, along with a fun interview with David. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.
Puzzles Can Be Deadly by David S. Pederson
Review by Lorie Lewis Ham
Set in 1950, Puzzles Can Be Deadly is a fun cozy mystery perfect for a summer beach read. The main characters, Skip Valentine and Henry Finch, are a couple at a time when such couples had to keep their relationships secret, and Skip has a passion for solving puzzles.
The book opens with Skip solving a crossword puzzle in his apartment together with his cat Purrvis. Then the phone rings and it’s Henry inviting Skip to take a road trip with him to Ann Arbor to visit his Uncle Ambrose and Ambrose’s mother. Ambrose is technically a cousin, but Henry has always called him Uncle. Henry received a letter saying that he will be the heir to the family money if something happens to Ambrose after his mother passes, and that Henry needs to go there to sign some papers. Also, Henry is hoping to ask Ambrose for a loan to help him get back on his feet as he has struggled since being discharged from the Army three years ago. Skip works for the library and has a few days off so he happily agrees to accompany Henry.
When they arrive in Ann Arbor they find a rather odd bunch of people, other than Ambrose who seems rather normal but was not informed that they were coming. His mother was the one who wrote Henry and invited them to come. After the uncomfortable welcome, Ambrose tells them they can stay. In the house with Ambrose is his rather odd mother who seems to be suffering from severe dementia, a nun who is caring for her, a strange housekeeper/cook, and her nephew Jake who does odd jobs around the house and obviously has anger issues. There is also a neighbor who claims to talk to dead people at seances, and possibly a ghost or two.
They soon discover that the groundskeeper and his dog died recently in a fire, and Ambrose’s mother is convinced they are both haunting the place. Skip and Henry begin to wonder if that might be true when they hear odd noises in the night. Then accidents begin happening and Skip is determined that something isn’t right and wants to investigate, though Henry is hesitant. Skip’s love of puzzles has the pair gradually putting all the pieces together of this complex mystery where no one is quite who they seem.
Puzzles Can Be Deadly is filled with secrets and surprising twists. Skip and Henry are delightful. Skip is very flamboyant and fun—which causes Ambrose some concern and he fears Skip will lead a “naïve” Henry down the “wrong path.” Even though the bigotry against the LGBTQ+ community of the 1950s is a very serious side to this story, Skip and Henry don’t let that deter them from their relationship. I absolutely love these characters—Skip is witty and Henry is sweet, and they make a perfect pair. If you enjoy a cozy mystery with quirky and great characters don’t miss this book. My only negative is that this is a stand-alone—I would love to read more of Skip and Henry. My hope is someday they return in another book!
Interview with David S. Pederson:
KRL: How long have you been writing?
David: Years! I first started writing in Junior High. We won’t talk about how long ago that was, lol. I started with short stories and poetry.
KRL: When did your first novel come out, what was it called, and would you tell us a little about it?
David: My first published novel was Death Comes Darkly, which was published in 2016. I was inspired to write it after a visit to Lake Geneva and an old house there. The story is very Agatha Christie-like, set in a spooky old house with an assortment of odd characters, one of whom gets murdered.
KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense and if not, what else have you written?
David S. Pederson
KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?
David: My latest is a stand-alone mystery titled Puzzles Can Be Deadly. I wanted to write something different than I previously had and set it in a location I hadn’t used before, so I chose Ann Arbor, MI. I made it more of a cozy, with two amateur sleuths solving the crime, as opposed to a detective, which I’ve had in all the previous books. The two main characters in this one are also much younger than the ones I typically write about, which was both fun and challenging.
KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to experience from your work?
David: Both, I would say. My goal, always, is to entertain, but, in writing mostly historical fiction with LGBTQ+ characters, I also want to show that Gay people have always been here in this world, just often hidden in the shadows while doing extraordinary things.
KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing or just work whenever you can?
David: Mostly, I just write whenever I can. When I’m in the zone, though, so to speak, I write for hours and hours.
KRL: What is your ideal time to write?
David: I don’t have a set time, or an ideal time, to be honest, though it helps if I have the house to myself so that I can concentrate.
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?
David: Good question. I do outline. In mysteries, I find it’s critical because I have to know where the story is going and how it’s going to end. In fact, I typically start at the end of the story, since it’s important that I know who the murderer is, who gets murdered, why they get murdered, and how.
KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning? Do you feel you faced any special challenges to getting a publisher being an LGBTQIA author?
David: Getting published initially was extremely challenging. It took years and years of patience and perseverance, submitting to one publisher, waiting, and then, when it was rejected, starting over again, until finally Bold Strokes Books decided to take a chance on me. Bold Strokes is a LGBTQIA publisher, so that definitely made it easier.
KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?
David: Definitely the acceptance story from BSB. I was at my day job, working at a furniture gallery as a decorator/salesman, when I got the e-mail from Bold Strokes Books on my phone. I didn’t even want to open it at first, as I assumed it would be just another rejection, and I was having a pretty good day.
Finally, though, I decided to just rip the band-aid off, so to speak, and get it over with. I couldn’t believe it when I read the news that they wanted to sign me to a contract. I got actual tears in my eyes, and I rushed to the office of the store manager to share the news. As I hurried in, the manager was alarmed, thinking something horrible had happened as I had tears streaming down my face. They were overjoyed when I finally spilled the happy news.
KRL: Most interesting book signing story-in a bookstore or other venue?
David: Hmm, that’s a tough one. I will say, for every book event I’ve ever done, I always do a song parody that ties in with the book, and I always try to make the event fun and entertaining, with photo ops and backgrounds that relate to the book as well. For my latest, Puzzles Can be Deadly, I bought small hand-held puzzle party favors for each attendee.
KRL: How fun! What are your future writing goals?
David: I hope to continue inspiring people, to continue writing mysteries, and to always learn to be better at my craft.
KRL: Who are your writing heroes?
David: So many, but Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett, and Harper Lee, for sure, among many others.
KRL: What kind of research do you do?
David: Research, to me, is very important. I feel that, since I am writing historical fiction, it is critical that I get the details correct. If I make a mistake, it detracts from the plot and takes the reader out of the story. I use the library, Google, and sometimes even in-person interviews.
KRL: What do you like to read?
David: I must admit I do love a good mystery, but I also enjoy non-fiction books on history and architecture, as well as books on the movies of the 1930s and 1940s.
KRL: What are your favorite TV shows or movies?
David: Movie wise, I adore Singing in the Rain, as well as all the Doris Day films, and movies like To Kill a Mockingbird. I could watch them over and over. I love just about anything Cary Grant has ever done, too. TV show wise I tend toward comedies.
KRL: Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
David: Don’t give up! Keep moving, don’t stop. Be patient and persevere. Believe in yourself, even if others don’t.
KRL: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
David: I do a great Donald Duck voice, lol.
KRL: Do you have any pets?
David: Yes, we have some very sweet cats. I adore and respect all animals, though. I’m a vegetarian.
KRL: Is there anything you would like to add?
David: I think you covered it really well! I just want to say that life is a mystery and enjoy it while you can.
KRL: Where can our readers find you online?
David: My website is www.davidspederson.com. I’m also on Amazon, Allstora, and Boldstrokes Books.
Recently, another one of David’s books was featured on a Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast episode!
You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.
To enter to win an ebook copy of Puzzles Can Be Deadly, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “puzzles” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 29, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Thanks for sharing how to do your writing. It is always fun to learn how authors write.
This sounds like a fun series.
We have a winner!