This week we have another fun group of cozy mysteries, some are even set at Christmas-Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews, Sugar and Spite by M. C. Beaton with R. W. Green (an Agatha Raisin mystery), Death by Java by Alex Erickson, A Perilous Plot: A Booktown Mystery by Lorna Barrett, and Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick.
Lev AC Rosen’s Evander “Andy” Mills mysteries have become one of the most refreshing, stylish, and emotionally resonant additions to the modern crime canon, making me think of the Joseph Hansen’s Los Angeles-based Brandstetter books of the 1970s through the early 1990s. Unlike the contemporaneous Brandstetter books, the Mills books are set in 1950s San Francisco.
The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery is book three in the Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series by Patricia Crisafulli. It is written as a standalone, so readers who are new to the series (like me) can easily start here.
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Local writer Steven Church’s story begins in Lawrence, Kansas. His life’s journey has carried him from this Midwest city, between the Wakarusa and Kansas rivers, to Fort Collins, Colorado; Bristol, Rhode Island; and Fresno, California. Along the way, Steven established an eclectic resume that includes such illustrious occupations as newspaper delivery boy, house painter, grocery store clerk, tour guide twice (he must have really excelled at it), maintenance man, and conflict mediator. Somehow, in the midst of what sounds like chaos, he obtained a BA degree in philosophy as well as an MFA in creative writing.
Here is your weekly reminder that there are also new articles up on our other website KRL News & Reviews! Every week there will be book reviews and giveaways, plus sometimes pet articles, theatre articles, and more! And listen to our new podcast!
One of the first questions that I, and probably many authors, am asked at book events—bookstores, libraries, and book clubs—is “Where did the idea for the book come from? What was the inspiration for the story?” One has only to check the acknowledgment pages of novels to gain insight into the various origins of authors’ inventions.
I began writing my first novel, The Wilkes Insurrection, by creating a series of character sketches. A day in the life of each of these personas that had been bouncing around in my head for years. The entrepreneur businessman, Johnny Humboldt, was first. His background was perhaps the most like mine, and I imagined he would be the main character once I shaped this early writing into a story.
Between school, screens, and social media, today’s teens are spending more time indoors and less time moving. But an active lifestyle isn’t just about staying fit—it’s about building confidence, resilience, and a positive sense of self. Physical activity can boost mood, improve focus, and help teens develop lifelong healthy habits that serve them well into adulthood.
Merry Wynter and Percival “Pish” Lincoln are hosting an elegant inaugural gala to introduce the Wynter Woods Center for the Performing Arts. Guests will travel via luxury party buses from Manhattan to Western New York for the opportunity to dress to the nines and have a holiday experience
In the heart of the Central Valley, where agriculture feeds much of the nation, hunger remains an urgent and often unseen issue. The Central California Food Bank (CCFB) has been working tirelessly to change that. Founded in 1992, CCFB is the region’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated solely to ending hunger.
