Hello, dear readers! In Queensville, Michigan (location of Sieve and Let Die, Vintage Kitchen Mystery #11) Jaymie Leighton Müller has a busy busy life, with multiple jobs, a food column in the local newspaper called Vintage Eats, a food blog, a husband, a daughter, and volunteering at the local historic home.
Every mystery series I write (I have four on the go: Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, Lady Anne Addison Historical Mysteries, A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder, and the Merry Muffin Mysteries) is completely different, deliberately so. It allows me to reference my different interests, from vintage recipes and kitchen utensils, to English history, to a budding interest in opera and classical music. From the beginning I knew that the Merry Muffin Mysteries would feature classical music and opera, though not, I hope, in an overwhelming sense. Even if you’re not a fan of either, you’ll enjoy the Merry Muffin series.
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.
Jaymie (Leighton) Müller and her CFFs (College Friends Forever) had enjoyed gathering for an annual late summer camping trip ever since their days at the university, but for the past three years adult responsibilities had taken precedent. This year, however, seemed a perfect opportunity to bring back their annual girls-only tradition. Jayme’s husband and step-daughter would be out of the country, so it would be a great distraction. But...is it prophetic that the campground had to cancel their reservation and all other camping options were full?
Our society puts so much pressure on the ‘perfect’ Christmas: tree, food, family, everyone being together, gathered around the tree, happy, cheerful. Not every year nor every family has that. But it’s not new pressure. I think women, in particular, have always felt the stress to make Christmas special for their family. I look back and wonder how my mom did it all. She worked full time as a nurse - and that meant shift work, and holidays, too - but still the whole family got together, if not on Christmas day, then on Boxing Day.
Emmaline St. Germaine appears to be a genteel single woman, a spinster. Her brother controls her inheritance, she lives in the town house he owns, her cousin Fidelity, is her chaperone/companion. For those who like a life of boredom, waited on by servants and constrained by what’s expected, it’s a good life. Emmaline wants more.
February is for lovers, no matter if it’s for a sweetheart or sweets. This month I introduce a new series by Victoria Hamilton and mysteries with weddings, a tulip-digging dog, lobster for a romantic dinner, and two “pie” mysteries. Enjoy!
This week we have some more July & August mysteries from Penguin authors-Addressed to Kill: A Postmistress Mystery by Jean Flowers, Sowed to Death: A Farmer’s Daughter Mystery by Peg Cochran, Muffin to Fear: A Merry Muffin Mystery by Victoria Hamilton, A Tangled Yarn: A Yarn Retreat Mystery by Betty Hechtman, & Chime and Punishment: A Clock Shop Mystery by Julianne Holmes.
Martha Rose is part of a close-knit quilting circle in the San Fernando Valley of California. The newest member has an eye for couture. But when his fingerprints are found at the crime scene where the body of a fellow quilter is found, he is the #1 suspect.
Merry Wynter had one really good date with Sheriff Virgil Grace before she was called to go to Italy to her estranged mother-in-law’s deathbed. She had blamed Merry for her son staying in the US and being killed in a car accident but now wants to make amends.
