A day in the life with Lara Caphart by Linda Reilly

Sixteen years—sounds like a long time, doesn’t it? But that’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen my Aunt Fran.

I’m Lara Caphart, watercolor artist and cat lover. I was eleven when my folks moved from Whisker Jog, New Hampshire to a suburb of Boston, taking me away from my aunt. For a long, long time, I missed Aunt Fran horribly. And I really missed her cats—she always had at least three adorable felines roaming her Folk Victorian home. The quintessential loving aunt, she cheered me on in my artistic pursuits. Every day after school, I headed to her house. She was a teacher, so she got home from work earlier than my folks did. I couldn’t wait to rush into her fragrant kitchen, where cookies, juice, sketch paper, and colored pencils were soon plopped onto the Formica table for me. I drew pictures to my heart’s content—usually with a cat in my lap—until Dad picked me up after work.

But after we moved, everything changed. For reasons I never understood, Aunt Fran and I became estranged. I wrote her letter after letter, but she never replied. And she didn’t call, either. Didn’t Dad give her our new unlisted number? After a while I stopped asking, but I still missed her like crazy.

Now I’m a real artist, living above an Italian bakery in Boston’s historic North End. Yup. Living the dream, as people say. Truth is, I’m a struggling artist. I work part time in the bakery to help make ends meet. . .and to score free pastries.

I have to admit. . .until a few days ago I was reasonably content. Then I got a call from my childhood bestie, Sherry Bowker. Sherry owns a coffee shop in Whisker Jog with her mom, Daisy. My aunt, she confided, is having serious troubles. Aunt Fran’s knees have gotten so bad she was forced to quit her teaching job. To complicate matters, she’s been taking in rescue cats and is now on overload. A few locals have even dubbed her the “crazy cat lady.” Add to the mix the town bully, who’s been harassing my aunt because he wants to buy her vacant lot. Sounds like one big mess, doesn’t it? I guess that’s why Sherry begged me to intervene.

I want to help my Aunt Fran, honestly, I do—and I definitely want to help with the cats. But will she even want to see me, after all this time? Will she blame me for the falling-out we never really had?

I don’t know the answer to that, but I just knocked on her door. My heart is pumping wildly, and my legs feel like pudding. Even if she answers the door, I’m not sure she’ll invite me in. Maybe you could come along with me. . .you know, for moral support? One thing I can promise—you’ll meet plenty of cats. I only hope I don’t have to deal with that town bully. From Sherry’s description, he sounds dreadful. And I’m not sure why, but I have a sinking feeling he’s going to be one colossal problem. . .

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You can read more about Lara and her Aunt Fran in Escape Claws, the first book in the NEW “Cat Lady” mystery series, coming December 26, 2017.

Here, killer, killer, killer . . .

For the first time in sixteen years, Lara Caphart has returned to her hometown of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire. She wants to reconnect with her estranged Aunt Fran, who’s having some difficulty looking after herself-and her eleven cats. Taking care of a clowder of kitties is easy, but keeping Fran from being harassed by local bully Theo Barnes is hard. The wealthy builder has his sights set on Fran’s property, and is determined to make her an offer she doesn’t dare refuse.

Then Lara spots a blue-eyed ragdoll cat that she swears is the reincarnation of her beloved Blue, her childhood pet. Pursuing the feline to the edge of Fran’s yard, she stumbles upon the body of Theo Barnes, clearly a victim of foul play. To get her and Fran off the suspect list, Lara finds herself following the cat’s clues in search of a killer. Is Blue’s ghost really trying to help her solve a murder, or has Lara inhaled too much catnip?

Buy Link

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Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a digital copy (Kindle or Nook) of Escape Claws. The giveaway will end December 26, 2017. Good luck everyone!

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About the author
Linda Reilly is the author of the Deep Fried Mysteries published by Berkley Prime Crime, and the Cat Lady Mysteries published in e-book format by Kensington Lyrical. A dyed-in-the-wool New Englander, she lives with her husband in southern New Hampshire. You can visit her at lindasreilly.com. She loves to hear from readers!

All comments are welcomed.

A day in the life with Talia Marby by Linda Reilly

I first want to say a big “thank you” to Dru for inviting me here again to chat with everyone. I’m Talia Marby, owner of a deep-fried eatery in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. I’m thrilled to be back here, except . . . well, I’m afraid there’s been another murder! I often hear people say that “three times is the charm.” Well, for me, three times was a curse.

It all started when I entered a cooking/baking contest sponsored by a national food conglomerate. Not that it was my idea. Crystal Galardi, co-owner of the recently opened Fork and Dish, talked me into it. The contest was sponsored by Steeltop Foods, whose CEO claimed to have ties to the Berkshires. That in itself was odd, since no one seemed to remember him. Anyway, the company arranged to have the contest held at our town’s annual summer festival. For my entry, I chose my mini deep-fried apple pies—a dessert I’d been testing on all my family and friends. Made with rounds of pie dough filled with scrumptious Cortland apples, sugar, and spices, they’re positively delectable when they come out of the deep fryer. Sprinkle one with powdered sugar and you’ve got yourself a yummy dessert!

I ended up being one of six semi-finalists, an honor I would later regret. I didn’t win the contest, but that wasn’t the bad part. Only a few hours after Norma Ferguson was awarded first prize for her flaky-top chicken stew, she was found dead—and not of natural causes.

Poor Norma. I’ll never forget her expression that day after her name was called. She’d sat there, frozen, as if her feet were glued to the makeshift stage. She looked like someone who’d been sentenced to the guillotine instead of a woman who’d just won a cool twenty-five grand. Not long after she accepted the prize money, she was found in her cooking station, dead. It was almost as if she knew a killer was on her trail . . .

Thinking about it makes me shiver all over again. The worst part is that the police have set their sights on the wrong person—someone I know could never have committed murder. I’m trying to prove it, but everywhere I turn I bump into a roadblock. The main roadblock being one Detective Patti Prescott, who thinks I poke my nose where it doesn’t belong. Luckily, I have some terrific helpers in the eatery, so I can sneak away every so often to try and track down the real killer.

If you’re in the Berkshires, stop by Fry Me a Sliver and enjoy a deep-fried treat. The ambiance is cozy, the AC is pumping out chilled air, and the deep fryer is sizzling. And as for the local gossip . . . once again it’s all about murder.

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You can read more about Talia in A Frying Shame, the third book in the “Deep Fried” mystery series.

A cooking contest becomes a fry to the finish in the new Deep Fried Mystery from the author of Out of the Dying Pan.

Fry another day.

The town of Wrensdale is abuzz with excitement when Steeltop Foods sponsors a contest to promote its new Flavor Dial. With a $25,000 prize at stake, Talia Marby, owner of Fry Me a Sliver, hopes her mini deep-fried apple pies will win her the money to pay off the recent renovations on her restaurant.

But when Norma Ferguson wins with her flaky-top chicken stew, the tensions dial up even more. After Norma is found dead at her cooking station, the police suspect a losing contestant got a bit too hot under the collar. Now Talia must work to catch the killer before another cook gets burned . . .

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About the author
Armed with a degree in Criminal Justice, Linda Reilly once contemplated a career in law enforcement. But life took a twist, and instead she found her niche in real estate closings and title examinations, where the dusty tomes in the Registry of Deeds enticed her into solving mysteries of a different sort. Retired from her day job, Linda lives in New Hampshire with her husband, where she loves solving mysteries of the cozy type. When she’s not pounding away at her keyboard, she can usually be found prowling the shelves of a local bookstore or library hunting for a new adventure. Connect with Linda at lindasreilly.com, on Facebook, on Twitter and on Pinterest.

All comments are welcomed.

A Frying Shame is available at retail and online booksellers booksellers or you can ask your local library to get it for you.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of A Frying Shame. US entries only, please. The giveaway ends April 7, 2017. Good luck everyone!

My Musing ~ Out of the Dying Pan by Linda Reilly

Out of the Dying Pan by Linda Reilly is the second book in the “Deep Fried” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, March 2016

Revenge is set to sizzle in the tasty new Deep Fried Mystery from the author of Fillet of Murder.

For Talia Marby, the sweet smell of success is a lot like the pungent aroma of fried fish and vinegar. Her new business, Fry Me a Sliver, is rapidly expanding beyond fish and chips to become one of the best eateries in the Berkshires. But the nasty owner of a neighboring boutique is making a stink, baiting Talia in a very public fight at a community center fundraiser and nursing an inexplicable grudge.

When the boutique owner is found strangled with Talia’s scarf knotted around her neck, our favorite fish fryer finds herself in hot oil. Needing to clear her name, and fast, Talia’s investigation soon yields some shocking surprises as well as a sizzling suspicion: someone had good reason to want the victim dead—and it’s frying Talia’s nerves. . .

This was a very enjoyable tale that I embraced from beginning to end. I love how comfortable the drama that folded within the pages of this story made me feel and the flow of the chapters made it easy to follow along with all aspects of the telling of this tale. The author did a very good job in focusing on the particulars that allowed me to see who the suspects were and how the clues narrowed the list down until there was one. I kept saying to myself, “don’t let them in”. . .that’s how intense I got at that pivotal scene. Talia is a great heroine who is surrounded by a great secondary cast. The dialogue kept me engaged and I love the small town feel. I can’t wait for the next book in this delightfully appetizing series.

A Conversation With Talia Marby by Linda Reilly

I can’t believe this is happening . . . again. Another murder, right here in the quaint little town of Wrensdale, Massachusetts!

Before I start sputtering, I should really introduce myself. I’m Talia Marby, the owner of a new eatery located in a faux Tudor shopping plaza in the Berkshires. Dru was kind enough to invite me here today to chat with you . . . and so I could give my new restaurant a plug. Thanks, Dru! Of course she probably would have thought twice about her invite if she’d known I was going to rant.

But really, another murder? In fewer than two months? Why did I have to find this body, too? Yes, you heard me right. This isn’t the first victim I’ve stumbled upon since I moved back to Wrensdale. Back in October I discovered a local shopkeeper dead in his office . . . murdered with a fillet knife. That little knife was bad news for my friend, Bea Lambert, who owned the plaza’s fish and chips shop with her hubby, Howie. All the other merchants knew that Bea and the victim had bad blood between them. Bea had even been overheard threatening to boil the guy in oil! Fortunately, the real killer was caught in time to keep Bea out of the pokey. (I helped with that, a little). By that time, Bea and Howie had decided to retire (Myrtle Beach, here we come!), so they sold the eatery to me.

Fry Me a Sliver (or Fry Me, as the locals are calling it) is the new incarnation of Lambert’s Fish & Chips. It’s truly an adorable place—cozy and teeming with the tantalizing scents of deep-fried everything. Oh don’t worry, we still serve our delectable fish and chips. But now our diners have a few more choices—deep-fried meatballs drizzled with spicy marinara being one of my special faves.

But just a few days ago poor Ria Butterforth was murdered! It happened at a local fundraiser, where we’d both set up booths to raise money for needy families. I found out that Ria had been carrying a grudge against me for nearly thirty years—since our elementary school days! Sad, but true. Anyway, it was me who found her—stashed in a closet with a scarf knotted tightly around her neck. The same scarf I’d knitted for my nana back when I was a teen . . .

Everyone, including the police, knows I had words with Ria that day. With so many accusatory fingers pointing in my direction, what choice do I have? I have to figure out who the killer is.

Oddly, Ria herself gave me a clue that day. I overheard an argument between her and her mom, and something Ria said stuck in my head. I don’t know what it means yet, but I intend to find out. If I don’t, I might end up working as a fry cook at the women’s correctional institution.

Meanwhile, I have to keep the eatery up and running, so I hope you’ll stop into Fry Me a Sliver for a deep-fried treat! You might even pick up a tidbit of gossip about the town’s latest murder . . .

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Out of the Dying Pan is the second book in the Deep Fried mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime, March 2016

Revenge is set to sizzle in the tasty new Deep Fried Mystery from the author of Fillet of Murder.

For Talia Marby, the sweet smell of success is a lot like the pungent aroma of fried fish and vinegar. Her new business, Fry Me a Sliver, is rapidly expanding beyond fish and chips to become one of the best eateries in the Berkshires. But the nasty owner of a neighboring boutique is making a stink, baiting Talia in a very public fight at a community center fundraiser and nursing an inexplicable grudge.

When the boutique owner is found strangled with Talia’s scarf knotted around her neck, our favorite fish fryer finds herself in hot oil. Needing to clear her name, and fast, Talia’s investigation soon yields some shocking surprises as well as a sizzling suspicion: someone had good reason to want the victim dead—and it’s frying Talia’s nerves . . .

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About the author
Armed with a degree in Criminal Justice, Linda Reilly once contemplated a career in law enforcement. But life took a twist, and instead she found her niche in real estate closings and title examinations, where the dusty tomes in the Registry of Deeds enticed her into solving mysteries of a different sort. Linda now lives in New Hampshire with her husband, who affectionately calls her “Nose-in-a-Book.” She loves solving mysteries of the cozy type. When she’s not pounding away at her keyboard, she can usually be found prowling the shelves of a local bookstore or library hunting for a new adventure.

Visit Linda at lindasreilly.com and on Facebook.

Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a signed copy of Out of the Dying Pan and Fillet of Murder. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end March 18, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!

All comments are welcomed.

My Musing ~ Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly

Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly is the first book in the NEW “Deep Fried” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, May 2015

Talia Marby serves up delectable English deep fried fare in the heart of the Berkshires—but she soon discovers there’s something fishy going on.

Sometimes in this life, you have to fish or cut bait. After walking away from a miserable job and an even worse boyfriend, Talia Marby has no regrets. She’s returned to her hometown and is happy to help her dear friend Bea Lambert by working at Lambert’s Fish & Chips, a cornerstone of a charming shopping plaza designed to resemble an old English village.

But not all the shop owners are charming. Phil Turnbull has been pestering Bea to sign a petition against a new store opening up, and his constant badgering is enough to make her want to boil him in oil. When Talia and Bea stumble upon Turnbull murdered in his shop, the police suspect Bea. Now it’s up to Talia to fish around for clues and hook the real killer before her friend has to trade serving food for serving time.

I enjoyed this evenly paced and light fare drama that was delightfully entertaining. We are introduced to Talia whose return home is marred when her beloved boss becomes a prime suspect. What else is she to do but look for a murderer among the other shopkeepers.

I love the flow of this well-written plot that moved effortlessly towards a conclusion with bits of Talia’s backstory and a slew of suspects that was fun to watch as the clues populated this tale. The author was very adept at pulling it all together with a sizzle of suspense and intrigue into the characters’ life that enable me to keep up with the story as the search for the killer narrowed down as I moved closer to the end. The conversational dialogue was believable and I like that Talia forced herself to get involved when it looked like the police was stalled. Talia is a likable heroine who is surrounded by an eclectic cast of characters and I look forward to the next book in this series that will bring new and exciting opportunities to Talia and her friends.

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog

A Conversation with Bea Lambert by Linda Reilly

Hello, luvvies . . . I’m Bea Lambert. Isn’t Dru Ann a dear for inviting me to chat with you today? Oh, I do wish she would stop by my eatery in the Berkshires. It’s on a charming cobblestone plaza called the Wrensdale Arcade. I know Dru Ann would find it cheerful and cozy. How I’d love to whip up some tasty fish and chips for her, with a scoop of my tangy coleslaw.

But I’m really here to tell you about my wonderful friend, Talia Marby. I first met Talia when she was a teenager. She came into the eatery I own with my hubby, Howie, looking for an after-school job. Poor luv – she’d had a lot going on back then, what with her folks having problems. Oh, but what a worker she turned out to be! She handled the deep fryer like she’d been born to it, and she could clean out the grease trap with the best of them. We’d have kept her on forever if we could have. Sadly for us, she went off to college after high school. We couldn’t fault her for that, of course. She deserved a higher education, and we wanted the best for her. After college she went on to a fancy job in Boston. She’d have stayed in Boston, too, if it hadn’t been for that silly chap she was semi-engaged to. The fool didn’t know enough to hang on to a woman as kind and darling as Talia. I’m so thankful Talia saw the light and left when she did. And you know what they say about timing? Well, as it turns out . . . it really is everything.

Several weeks ago, you see, my Howie needed knee surgery. A bad infection kept him in hospital, and I was having a devil of a time running the eatery with my young employee, Whitnee. Now don’t get me wrong—Whitnee is a sweet lass. But between her community college classes, that weird bloke of a boyfriend, and her overbearing mum, she has a lot on her plate. But anyway, when I heard Talia was back in town, living in her Nana’s bungalow, I asked if she’d like to help out for a bit. Luckily for me, she said yes.

I needed help, too—badly. The fellow who owned the classic lighting store across the plaza had been badgering me on a daily basis. Mr. Hoity-Toity wanted my signature on a petition that would have stopped a comic book store from opening up on the plaza. As if comic books aren’t good enough for his posh lamps! Turns out someone else didn’t take kindly to his annoying ways, either. When Talia and I went over to the lighting shop to give him a piece of our collective mind, we had the bad luck to stumble onto his body. Guess who the coppers tried to pin the blame on? Me.

Talia’s putting in plenty of overtime now, just trying to keep me out of the pokey. I really would look horrid in one of those dreadful orange onesies. But in the meantime, I do hope you’ll stop by and visit with us for a bit. Take a load off and enjoy some of our delicious fried treats!

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You can read more about Bea and Talia in Fillet of Murder, the first book in the NEW “Deep Fried” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 p.m. eastern on May 12 for the chance to win a copy of Fillet of Murder plus the “Deep Fried Mysteries” Tote Bag. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

About the author
Raised in a sleepy town in the Berkshires, Linda Reilly spent the bulk of her career in the field of real estate closings and title examination. It wasn’t until 1995 that her first short mystery, Out of Luck, was accepted for publication by a national women’s magazine. Since then she’s had over forty short stories published, including a sprinkling of romances. Fillet of Murder is the first mystery in the Deep Fried series. Visit Linda at www.lindasreilly.com.

Some Enchanted Murder by Linda S. Reilly

Some Enchanted Murder by Linda S. Reilly is the first book in the new “Apple Mariani” mystery series. Publisher: Five Star, March 2013

Paralegal and title searcher Apple Mariani is accustomed to solving mysteries—mysteries such as lingering liens and missing heirs. But when appraiser Lou Marshall is stabbed with an antique dagger at an estate sale‚ she finds herself plunged into the heart of a murder. For starters‚ she learns that the victim had entrusted her with a decades-old valentine minutes before he was killed. Then Apple’s Aunt Tressa—the victim’s new squeeze—is pegged as a prime suspect‚ and their elderly friend Lillian goes suddenly missing. Was Lillian kidnapped, or worse, because she witnessed the murder?

Despite the local police chief’s irritating lack of concern, Apple is sure her friend is in trouble when a cryptic call from Lillian’s cell phone awakens her late at night. Still haunted by childhood memories of her own mother vanishing, Apple is determined to find Lillian before it’s too late. From the shelves of a local antique shop to the culinary horrors of the grungiest diner in New Hampshire, Apple and Tressa collect a series of clues that seems maddeningly unrelated. But time is running out, because a desperate killer—a killer bent on keeping the truth buried in the past—is still walking free.

We are introduced to Apple Mariani and her Aunt Tressa in this delightfully charming debut series. This is a great read in this well-written drama where the mystery kept me glued to the pages as I had to know what was going on. The author did a good job with developing the flow of the story that never wavered from the beginning to an ending that I can’t wait to see how it is explored in the next book. There were plenty of suspects; a couple of surprising twists and it was fun watching Apple and Aunt Tressa narrow the list down while putting the pieces together that lead to the apprehension of a killer, one that was hidden in plain sight. Apple and her Aunt Tressa are wonderful characters surrounded by a great secondary cast. The dialogue was witty and fresh and the atmosphere warm and friendly. I’m so thrilled for this series and I look forward to more exciting times in Hazelton, New Hampshire.

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog

A Visit From Tressa Krichner by Linda S. Reilly

Hey there, my name is Tressa Krichner, and I’m thrilled that Dru gave me this opportunity to stop by for a bit and chat. I live in Hazleton, New Hampshire, and for the past three decades or so I’ve worked as a Realtor. I was once married to Marty Krichner–the most darling, wonderful man who ever walked the planet. He died almost eight years ago, sending me into a spiraling depression. I snapped out of it, thanks to Marty sending me a sign from that heavenly realm where the angels play Beatles music through all eternity. I still drive Marty’s car–a 1993 Caddy DeVille. Yeah, I know, it’s a big old guzzler of a yacht, but driving it makes me feel close to Marty.

Seriously, though, I’m here mostly to tell you about my niece, Apple Mariani. Apple is my brother’s kid. When she was seven, I got stuck . . . er, I mean, I ended up taking her in and raising her like my own daughter. We’ve had our moments, but mostly she was a joy. You’re probably wondering how she ended up with a name like “Apple,” but I’ll let her tell you about that herself. Suffice it to say it came from her dad’s favorite movie.

Apple works as a paralegal in a tiny law office, and she’s a whiz at examining titles. Whoever thought it would be that very job that helped her track down a nasty killer? I helped, too, although we had a few false starts before the real killer was revealed. I’ll never forget this one day when we were hunting down a clue, we visited the grimiest little diner you could ever imagine. I still shudder when I think of what I saw in that kitchen. But I won’t go there, in case you’re eating while you read this. I know I’m perpetually munching on something, especially when I’m reading one of my sizzling romances, or watching late night TV.

Well, I’ve got to head into the kitchen, now. Time to feed my two kitties–Pazzo and Ringo. They’re already circling my legs like vultures winging over a fresh kill. If I don’t give them their favorite kibble tout de suite, they’ll no doubt start clawing their way up my designer slacks.

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Linda is giving away one (1) copy of SOME ENCHANTED MURDER. Contest open to US residents only and ends March 20. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Book will be shipped directly from the author.

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You can read more about Tressa in Some Enchanted Murder, the first book in the new “Apple Mariani” mystery series.

Meet the author
Armed with a degree in Criminal Justice, Linda S. Reilly once contemplated a career in law enforcement. But life took a twist, and instead she found her niche in real estate closings and title examination, where the dusty tomes in the Registry of Deeds enticed her into solving mysteries of a different sort. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, who fondly refers to her as “Nose-in-a-Book.” In her day job, her duties resemble those of her main character, Apple Mariani.

Visit Linda at her website: www.lindasreilly.com

The book is available from online booksellers, or can be requested from your local library.