by Kathleen Costa
Mae is always trying to make Happy Trails a full-service campground. This year she’s added a variety of water sports to the “things to do” since the local company that she counted on was forced to close down. Mae doesn’t have a lot of experience with kayaking, canoeing, white-water rafting, and fishing, so why not jump into the deep end of the pool with Paddle Fest, a weeklong summer festival, and to make it more exciting, she’s reintroducing the kayak competition with contestants arriving from all over the country which includes future Olympian Bryce Anderson.
by Kathleen Costa
Passengers hoping to explore the ports of call head over to the Port Adventures and book a exciting excursion from up close animal interactions to once-in-a-lifetime explorations. Not always the easiest task for Lexi when one wants “this” and another wants “that,” but it is rewarding to help create forever memories. Her first client of the day arrives and turns into an unexpected reunion. Josie Brooks was a close childhood friend, but her parent’s divorce caused Josie to move away and the two friends to lose contact. Now, she stands in front of Lexi as the recently knotted Mrs. Phillip Edwards with a obscenely large diamond ring perched on her finger.
by Sandra Murphy &
Hy Conrad
Callie McFee became estranged from her father three years ago. Buddy McFee, former attorney general and now fixer of problems, was investigated following an offhand remark Callie made during her on-air television job. Now fired from her job, she’s returned home, and the only work she can find is as a reporter for the weekly local free paper, a giant step down in life.
by Kathleen Costa
PBS is an easy, free way to see some favorite and popular U.K. mysteries and police procedural with access to Masterpiece Mystery on KVIE and KVIE2 (Sacramento) and KQED (San Francisco). Every year Endeavour shows up, but with infrequent reruns the rest of the year. Father Brown is a regular with weekly reruns from the current and some of the previous seasons. I also make regular weekly visits to watch favorites like Vera, Death in Paradise, Prime Suspect, Grantchester, Morse, Lewis, Midsomer Murders, The Dr. Blake Mysteries and more although not the full series and not all the time. However, even with issues of regularity, variety, and completeness, PBS is a good way for many to enjoy these popular favorites.
by Sharon Tucker
Although I liked Robert Urich in Spenser for Hire, he never really seemed like the Spenser I read in Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels. His touch was too light. And Lifetime TV’s attempt at Spenser movies still starring the likable Urich were bland palimpsests of the books. No. The real Spenser was in the pages Parker wrote, and I have my doubts anyone could embody him with justice. Spenser’s stream-of-consciousness, first-person narratives gave the reader inside information into what made an idealist like Spenser able to survive with his soul intact sorting out dark tangles beyond the rest of us.
by Victoria Hamilton
Here is the latest installment of our new column, Top 5 Mysteries I Have Read During the Pandemic, this one from mystery author Victoria Hamilton. As we continue to spend most of our time at home, we are all looking for book suggestions so we asked mystery authors and reviewers to share the top 5 mysteries they have read during this pandemic.
by Randy Overbeck
Right about now—six months into this pandemic, still not able to do much and smack dab in the middle of an nasty election season—could you use a getaway? Have you had to restrain your impulse to throw something at the TV during the latest Coronavirus update or when another negative political ad comes on? Couldn’t you just picture yourself on an sun-drenched beach, toes in the warm sand, and a frosty drink on your hand? Or maybe sailing across blue green waters, waves lapping peacefully at the sides of your sailboat with the shoreline around you exploding with color?
by Kathleen Costa
When Max barks, Georgie listens, but this time it’s a more pleasant command. She’s expected to step in as a PR substitute and attend a cocktail party in the historic canal district of Venice, California. The evening will showcase guest of honor and jazz singer Kay Garland accented with excellent food with a “Big Easy” flare.
by Elizabeth Wilkerson
It’s been a tumultuous year. Calls for change, inclusion, and anti-racism have been front and center during these turbulent months.
Melanated crime fiction writers have long presented fresh perspectives, characters, and settings in novels often marginalized by mainstream media.
by Cynthia Chow
After decades of teaching high school teenagers, Gwen Franklin is looking forward to spending her early retirement reading in bed with her collection of Agatha Christie novels. That’s not about to happen if her best friend from childhood has anything to say about it, and Nora Goldstein doesn’t waste a minute enlisting Gwen in one of Nora’s many business operations. After a lifetime of marrying up earned Nora considerable wealth, her latest venture as a luxury apartment dog-walker is one she sees perfect for Gwen’s free time.
by Sandra Murphy &
Alex Erickson
Liz Denton is in the business of finding homes for hard to place pets. Right now, her latest foster is Seamus, a Maine Coon cat with a bad habit of sneezing. It’s not life threatening but sounds bad enough when it’s happening. He’s settled into her house and is friends with Liz’s calico, Wheels (she has her own chariot aka wheelchair to get around).
by Kathleen Costa
Shady Pines Resort is hosting their own version of the Great British Baking Show competition to highlight Florida’s iconic dessert…Key Lime Pie. Five competitors of varying age, background, temperament, and experience vie for an all-inclusive vacation as first prize. It is described as quite a culinary coup to get former TV chef, now food critic, Chad Coleman to agree to judge, and since Ellie has made a name for herself with her last success uncovering a murderous resort guest, she’s been asked by the resort owner to act as a judge in a runner-up contest…delicious, she thinks!
by Lorie Lewis Ham
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!
by Cathy Ace
Here is the latest installment of our new column, Top 5 Mysteries I Have Read During the Pandemic, this one from mystery author Cathy Ace. As we continue to spend most of our time at home, we are all looking for book suggestions so we asked mystery authors and reviewers to share the top 5 mysteries they have read during this pandemic.
