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A Murder Most French By Colleen Cambridge: Review/Giveaway
I’m no stranger to Colleen Cambridge’s enchanting storytelling, but this is my first time meeting her sleuth, Tabitha Knight. It can be a gamble picking up book two in a series without reading the first, but I am happy to report that the kindhearted, yet fierce Tabitha dazzled me right from page one, and by page two, she felt like an old friend. The warm, inviting way in which Cambridge writes her characters (and the settings they inhabit) has a mesmerizing effect on the reader.
Mystery Short Story: Who Squawked?
“This is Chet Armor. I need to dispose of a parrot.”
“Thanks for your call, Chet,” Jake replied. “I’m sorry, but we don’t––”
“You have to take him. I’ve called every bird and animal adoption place within an hour of Sacramento. No one will take a parrot. Snakes, pot-bellied pigs, and rats are welcome, but not parrots.”
Three Fudges and a Baby By Nancy Coco: Review/Giveaway
It’s April on Mackinac Island, and the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop’s owner Allie McMurphy is preparing for the spring tourist season to resume. Her best friend Jenn Carpenter is also very pregnant and ready to pop, and even though she is two weeks overdue she is relieved to have hired doula Hannah Riversbend to help her give birth. That relief ends when Allie and Jenn find Hannah standing over a body holding a gun, and having her doula suspected of murder sends Jenn into a spiral of panic and hysteria.
Perilous Waters By Terry Shames: Review/Giveaway/Interview
After her father was shot and killed when she was 14 years old, Jessie Madison was forced to step in for her alcoholic mother and raise her troubled younger sister Kayla. It also cemented Jessie’s decision to become an FBI agent in order to solve her father’s murder, but she’s forced to abandon her training when Kayla’s drug addiction forces Jessie to quit.
Pretty as Poison: The Life, Crimes & Accomplices of California’s First Black Widow Part 1
by Sarah Peterson-Camacho
It took a fiery earthquake—and over 3,000 lost lives—to boot Mrs. Emma Ledoux to page two. Mother Nature had to literally move Heaven and Earth herself to wipe the smirk of the simpering, beautiful murderess from the front of every single newspaper across the Golden State.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Bathroom Remodeling Company
Remodeling your bathroom can breathe new life into your home, boosting both its comfort and resale value. In Memphis, Tennessee, where the blend of historic charm and modern convenience is celebrated, updating a bathroom can mean preserving classic aesthetics while integrating contemporary efficiencies. The choice of the right bathroom remodeling company is pivotal to ensuring the project enhances your home in exactly the way you envision.
On Golden Pond On Stage at 2nd Space
The loons are back on Olive Avenue. You can hear them inside the Good Company Players’ 2nd Space Theatre in On Golden Pond through June 9.
The Best Nutrition Coach Certification Program for Sports Nutrition
Discover the ultimate best nutrition coach certification program designed for sports nutrition enthusiasts! Many programs make learning about sports nutrition simple and exciting, with easy-to-understand lessons and hands-on guidance.
Why Learning Life Saving Techniques Can Make a Difference
Have you ever found yourself wondering what you would do in an emergency? Learning life-saving techniques isn't just for professionals-it's something that can empower anyone, anywhere.
Rhythm and Clues By Olivia Blacke: Review/Giveaway
In Olivia Blacke’s Rhythm and Clues (the third entry in the Record Shop Mystery Series) readers are once again visiting Cedar River, Texas, but this time in a torrential Texas thunderstorm.
Jackie Dale-TheCatMother/Cat Trapper: Ebb and Flow, (Mostly Flow)
The cats and kittens have continued to flow both in and out this month. Most of these felines had happy endings that consisted of them going to rescue. Seventeen lucky kitties went to rescue this month!!
One young cat had a not-so-happy ending. I picked up a severely malnourished female cat at a packing house near my home. A lady who worked there witnessed the poor thing nearly get taken out by a forklift so she contacted me. I picked her up immediately. However, despite my best efforts, the poor thing passed away three days later. Her starved little body just couldn’t recover.
Q&A With Local Actor Jessica Knotts
We used to do a lot of local actor profiles early on, but we haven’t done as many in the last several years. It’s not that there aren’t still a lot of talented local actors out there, because there are, but we have expanded into so many other areas over the years that we don’t have as much space for the profiles as we used to.
Great Food Search: Pie a la Whatever
In March, we (Well, some of us...) celebrated March 14 as Pi Day (3/14 is the date; the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter is about 3.14). It was celebrated with pies...pizza, apple, Key lime, and more. Since I really like pi and pie, I have decided to unilaterally declare April Pi/Pie Month. Let’s dig in and see what I dug up.
Mystery Coming Attractions: May 2024
As May arrives with its blossoming flowers and gentle breezes, it's the perfect time to dive into the world of cozy mysteries. Join us as we embark on a captivating journey through quaint villages, charming bookshops, and intriguing puzzles.
Mystery Short Story: The Witness
Dan O'Leary dropped from Anna Peavey's bedroom window and melted into the darkness of the neighboring alley. He oozed confidence now, was no longer worried about the still form lying on the bedroom floor.
Q & A With Local Actor Edward Cuellar Touring With Aladdin Coming To Fresno
Fresno Lexus Broadway in Fresno is presenting Aladdin at the Saroyan in Fresno May 1-5. Recently, KRL had the opportunity to interview cast/crew member Edward Cuellar who is actually a local boy from Visalia. Edward is one of the show’s swings, as well as the dance captain and fight captain.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Presented By Visalia Players
This weekend the epic musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame will be opening at the Ice House Theatre in Visalia, presented by the Visalia Players. Recently we chatted with the show's director, Kelly Ventura, about the show.
Happy Dogs, Happy Tummies: Foods to Keep Your Pup Smiling
For pet owners, seeing their furry friends happy is a top priority. Happy dogs often have one thing in common: a healthy diet.
The Big Lie By Gabriel Valjan: Review/Giveaway/Interview
& Gabriel Valjan
When you’re a PI and dealing with Southie mobs, it’s a tightrope walk. Doing a favor, taking a job from both the Irish and the Italians at the same time, is working without a net. On the other hand, the reward is worth the risk, isn’t it? Shane Cleary convinces himself it is.
- Books & Tales
- Mysteryrat's Maze
- Coming Attractions!
- Every Other Book
- Fantasy & Fangs
- Terrific Tales
A Murder Most French By Colleen Cambridge: Review/Giveaway
I’m no stranger to Colleen Cambridge’s enchanting storytelling, but this is my first time meeting her sleuth, Tabitha Knight. It can be a gamble picking up book two in a series without reading the first, but I am happy to report that the kindhearted, yet fierce Tabitha dazzled me right from page one, and by page two, she felt like an old friend. The warm, inviting way in which Cambridge writes her characters (and the settings they inhabit) has a mesmerizing effect on the reader.
A Murder Most French By Colleen Cambridge: Review/Giveaway
I’m no stranger to Colleen Cambridge’s enchanting storytelling, but this is my first time meeting her sleuth, Tabitha Knight. It can be a gamble picking up book two in a series without reading the first, but I am happy to report that the kindhearted, yet fierce Tabitha dazzled me right from page one, and by page two, she felt like an old friend. The warm, inviting way in which Cambridge writes her characters (and the settings they inhabit) has a mesmerizing effect on the reader.
Mystery Coming Attractions: May 2024
As May arrives with its blossoming flowers and gentle breezes, it's the perfect time to dive into the world of cozy mysteries. Join us as we embark on a captivating journey through quaint villages, charming bookshops, and intriguing puzzles.
How I Failed My Way into Writing Books
March 24, 2021. My family and I were enjoying dinner after a show. I was working two jobs at the time, plus making my first feature film. After years of planning, I had shot most of it with the best cast anyone could have asked for, and magic had been made. I had brought my laptop and hard drive with me, hoping I could get some more editing done in the three-and-a-half-hour drive both to and from the show, but we were all in the moment and enjoying each other's company, so no editing had been done thus far on the trip.
KRL Staff Favorite Books of 2023
It’s that time of year again, a time to look back at the books we reviewed here at KRL over the past year and share with you some of our favorites! We reviewed a LOT of books last year. All of our main reviewers share in this post their top 5-10ish favorite books they reviewed in 2023, except for me. To find my list click here and you can also enter to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
Mystery Short Story: Who Squawked?
“This is Chet Armor. I need to dispose of a parrot.” “Thanks for your call, Chet,” Jake replied. “I’m sorry, but we don’t––” “You have to take him. I’ve called every bird and animal adoption place within an hour of Sacramento. No one will take a parrot. Snakes, pot-bellied pigs, and rats are welcome, but not parrots.”
- Arts & Entertainment
- Theatre
- Movies
- Music
- Podcasts
- Rogue Festival
- Web Series & Vlogs
On Golden Pond On Stage at 2nd Space
The loons are back on Olive Avenue. You can hear them inside the Good Company Players’ 2nd Space Theatre in On Golden Pond through June 9.
On Golden Pond On Stage at 2nd Space
The loons are back on Olive Avenue. You can hear them inside the Good Company Players’ 2nd Space Theatre in On Golden Pond through June 9.
Rogue Reviews: Cookie’s Cult Classics/S’Will ‘24/seaMAN/Titillated
Here are more Rogue show reviews, with possibly still a couple more to come! You will be able to find all of our reviews, and our performer preview articles, and our article about Rogue 2024 in our Rogue Festival section here at KRL.
Steven’s Eventful February Recap 2024
After a slow start in January when it came to events, February stepped in and brought the party. It’s the month of Valentine’s Day, and I must admit the Central Valley expressed its love to all the great artists that came through town—from guitar enthusiasts, heavy metal head bangers, hip hop fans, and old school jam lovers.
New Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast featuring Squashed to Death
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!
Rogue Reviews: Cookie’s Cult Classics/S’Will ‘24/seaMAN/Titillated
Here are more Rogue show reviews, with possibly still a couple more to come! You will be able to find all of our reviews, and our performer preview articles, and our article about Rogue 2024 in our Rogue Festival section here at KRL.
Missing Persons: A Ghost Short Story
I handed my friend Graham a print out of the portrait I’d just taken of him and he burst into tears. He was sitting in the tapestry chair with his elbows resting on the wooden, carved lions head armrests, gazing into the near distance, exactly as I’d asked him to pose.
- Pets
- Animal Rescue Adventures
- Feral Paws Rescue
- Rodent Ramblings
Mystery Short Story: Who Squawked?
“This is Chet Armor. I need to dispose of a parrot.” “Thanks for your call, Chet,” Jake replied. “I’m sorry, but we don’t––” “You have to take him. I’ve called every bird and animal adoption place within an hour of Sacramento. No one will take a parrot. Snakes, pot-bellied pigs, and rats are welcome, but not parrots.”
Jackie Dale-TheCatMother/Cat Trapper: Ebb and Flow, (Mostly Flow)
The cats and kittens have continued to flow both in and out this month. Most of these felines had happy endings that consisted of them going to rescue. Seventeen lucky kitties went to rescue this month!! One young cat had a not-so-happy ending. I picked up a severely malnourished female cat at a packing house near my home. A lady who worked there witnessed the poor thing nearly get taken out by a forklift so she contacted me. I picked her up immediately. However, despite my best efforts, the poor thing passed away three days later. Her starved little body just couldn’t recover.
Feral Paws Rescue: Betty and Fox
This month we feature two outstanding cats who recently came from the CCSPCA - Fresno. They both are gorgeous cats who were surrendered from different owners who were unable to keep them. Feral Paws Rescue was asked by the shelter if we would take them in. Of course we did!
A Valentine’s to Remember: Reminiscing with Raz & Blue
For those of you who appreciate the spirit of Valentine's Day, I invite you to join me as I reminisce with some furry Valentine's of my own. Regular readers may recognize Blue (aka Blueberry) and Raz (aka Raspberry) when they were featured in December 2022. I was sadly unaware that their brother, Grape, would pass away unexpectedly only a few short months after that feature was published.
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Food
The Great Food Search, Food Fun
LatestThree Fudges and a Baby By Nancy Coco: Review/Giveaway
It’s April on Mackinac Island, and the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop’s owner Allie McMurphy is preparing for the spring tourist season to resume. Her best friend Jenn Carpenter is also very pregnant and ready to pop, and even though she is two weeks overdue she is relieved to have hired doula Hannah Riversbend to help her give birth. That relief ends when Allie and Jenn find Hannah standing over a body holding a gun, and having her doula suspected of murder sends Jenn into a spiral of panic and hysteria.
Education
Education
LatestNew Theatre Opportunities For KCUSD Middle & Elementary Schools
While Reedley High School has been well known for its theatre productions for quite some time, I recently became aware that theatre was happening at some Kings Canyon Unified School District (KCUSD) K-8 schools in Reedley, so I set out to learn more. Little did I realize that this actually began last year and somehow slipped under KRL’s radar, with the first show, a production of High School Musical Jr., performed by TL Reed students at Silas Bartsch.
Going Green
Going Green
LatestMaster Gardener Spring Garden Tour
Winter is over and spring is finally here. So if you’re in the mood for an adventure in the great outdoors after emerging from hibernation (and who isn’t?), perhaps something affordable and close to home that will delight and possibly inspire you, listen up.
Reedley News
Reedley News
LatestGreat Food Search: Pie a la Whatever
In March, we (Well, some of us...) celebrated March 14 as Pi Day (3/14 is the date; the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter is about 3.14). It was celebrated with pies...pizza, apple, Key lime, and more. Since I really like pi and pie, I have decided to unilaterally declare April Pi/Pie Month. Let’s dig in and see what I dug up.
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