THE LITTLE SHOP of MURDERS (COLLECTED COZY MYSTERIES) By Millie Ravensworth, ACF Bookens, Geraldine Byrne, Rachel McLean, Diane Kelly, Nikki Knight, London Lovett, Lise McClendon, Flora McGowan, Kathryn Mykel, J. New, Eryn Scott, Debbie Young, Victoria Tait, Carlene O’Connor
About The Little Shop of Murders
The Little Shop of Murders (Collected Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery Anthology
Pigeon Park Press (April 1, 2023)
Number of Pages - 260
ASIN : B0BVG2LM9H
Book shops, boutiques and small businesses are the lifeblood of small towns but what secrets lie behind those pretty display windows and in the alleyways behind these charming streets?
Step inside for a personal retail experience like no other!
‘The Little Shop of Murders’ collects together fifteen superb cozy mysteries written by some of the finest authors in the genre.
All author and publisher profits from the sale of this book go to children’s charities, helping those most in need.
Stories include: Don’t Toy with Me by Diane Kelly A Man With No Imagination by Millie Ravensworth The Forget-Me-Not Antiques Mystery by Victoria Tait It Was Our Song by Nikki Knight Always and Furever by Eryn Scott Wild Irish Dreams by Lise McClendon Architect of a Murder by Carlene O’Connor Blooms and Blackmail by London Lovett Secondhand Murder by J. New The Lady of the House by Flora McGowan Requiem for a Violin by Geraldine Byrne Nightly Nuisance by Kathryn Mykel The Gift of Dragons by ACF Bookens Nowhere to Hide by Debbie Young Murder in the Bookshop by Rachel McLean
Blog Post by Author Victoria Tait – The Little Shop of Murders
Chipping Norton, a Market Town in England’s Picturesque Cotswolds
I set my story in The Little Shop of Murders in Chipping Campden. And what a wonderful name for a town, like the larger Chipping Campden, and nearby Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water. They are all typical of the honey-coloured stone villages and towns scattered across The Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the middle-south-west of England.
Arriving in the town from Moreton-in-the-Marsh to the east, the first significant building is the imposing two-storey town hall. But it’s only after parking on the cobbles and walking back do you appreciate the building’s Palladian-style architecture, complete with four large, plain columns raised up on a platform, supporting a triangular portico.
Although protected by a Grade II* listing, it is still well used by the community and is one of the venues for the vibrant Chip Lit Festival, the town’s literary festival held in April each year.
In 2019 I attend two talks. The first was presented by two young women who’d written books explaining how they’d each overcome mental health issues through running and humour. And the second highlighted a local garden which had been developed by three generations of women. Visiting the garden and reading the books certainly helped me during the pandemic.
I’m delighted that the Chip Lit Festival not only survived, but this year’s line-up, in April 2023, includes crime novelist Mark Billingham, author and presenter David Baddiel, and Costa award-winning novelist Claire Fuller.
What else does this often-overlooked Cotswold town have to offer?
The ‘Chippy Theatre and Cinema’ screens new releases, The National Theatre live and performances from The Royal Opera. It also hosts touring plays and talks and offers workshops and a community outreach programs.
By contrast, the pop-up Flock Comedy Club, gives would-be comedians a chance to stand up and perform. As long as they don’t find the green ‘field’ back drop and the many images of interested sheep too intimidating.
The Blue Boar, which is featured in my story, is a modern twist on a traditional English pub. Its scrumptious Sunday roast lunches include a choice of roast beef, pork, chicken served with roast potatoes, a selection of vegetables, huge Yorkshire puddings and lashings of rich gravy. And an added bonus, dogs are welcome!
My character, Dotty, would love to visit Station Mills Antiques and Interiors, which prides itself on ‘hunting far and wide for interesting and unique pieces’. And what better to do in the summer than cool off and splash around in the town’s Lido, or open-air swimming pool?
And of course, it’s fun walking around the town, enjoying its friendly atmosphere, admiring the architecture while exploring the back streets, and stopping for a rest on a bench in St Mary’s churchyard.
But be warned, you might just bump into one of the celebrities who recently been attracted to farmhouses in the area. They include The Beckhams, Former Prime Minister David Cameron and outspoken former Top Gear presenter, Jeremy Clarkson. And you can visit his Diddly Squat farm Shop and The Big View Café as you head south to Burford, leaving Chipping Norton.
If you love the Cotswolds, enjoy quirky but realistic characters, and enjoy a page-turning mystery, then why not read my Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. And you can try the prequel for free and find out more about my books and author life by visiting VictoriaTait.com and signing up for my newsletter.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy The Little Shop Of Murders.
About the Authors
Victoria TaitVictoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her experiences following her military husband to write cozy murder mystery books with vivid and evocative settings. Her determined female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and you’ll experience surprises, humour and sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings.
Link to My Dotty Sayers series:- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TMJFL7LCarlene O’Connor is the USA Today bestselling author of The Irish Village Mysteries, Home to Ireland Mysteries, and the new County Kerry Mystery series. Her mysteries have been translated into German, Estonia, and UK markets thus far and the Irish Village Mysteries have been optioned for television. Readers are encouraged to get in touch via Facebook, Goodreads, Book Bub, or through the contact form on CarleneOConnor.net. An admitted wanderer, Carlene spends as much time in Ireland as possible while currently residing in California and Chicago. She is always up for joining events via Zoom or in person.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carlene-OConnor/author/B01BJ1KOFYEryn Scott is the author of heartwarming cozy mysteries. Her Whiskers and Words cozy mystery series features deep friendships, strong families, a tight-knit small town, twisty mysteries, and a whole lot of adorable cats. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest with a handful of beloved animals. She enjoys knitting, hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and reading.
Link to my series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09LTWVPTG?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooksFlora McGowan is the author of the Carrie and Keith Mysteries, novels and short stories. Her stories combine a mix of mystery with the mystical and supernatural, often with an historical element as well as a touch of humour and a dash of romance. Flora was born in Dorset and has spent most, but not all, of her life there, and many of her stories are based in this locale. Flora enjoys travelling, taking inspiration from the places she visits. You can catch up with Flora via Goodreads, her blog, Facebook, Instagram or BookBub.
Flora McGowan on AmazonNikki Knight describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York City's top all-news radio station, 1010 WINS, she writes mysteries including LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD, a Vermont Radio Mystery from Crooked Lane, and as Kathleen Marple Kalb, the Ella Shane and Old Stuff series. Her short stories appear online and in anthologies, and have been short-listed for Black Orchid Novella and Derringer Awards. She, her husband and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.
Book link: Live, Local, and Dead (A Vermont Radio Mystery)
: Knight, Nikki: 9781643859453: Amazon.com: Books Many readers have called her Port Danby Cozy Mystery series a 'new favorite'. Port Danby features a small town florist with a powerful sense of smell. Lacey 'Pink' Pinkerton uses her impressive nose to help solve crimes as an amateur sleuth alongside her detective boyfriend, James Briggs. Blooms and Blackmail is a Port Danby short story.
You can keep up with London's books and access some delicious recipes on her website: www.londonlovett.com Link to Marigolds and Murder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NB3B54Debbie Young
Debbie Young writes two popular cozy mystery series featuring Sophie Sayers, set in a Cotswold village, and Gemma Lamb, set at a girls’ boarding school. One book in each series was shortlisted for the Bookbrunch Selfies Awards for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. She is founder of the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival, UK Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors, and a course tutor for Jericho Writers. She writes in the Plotting Shed at the bottom of her cottage garden. Her novels are now published by Boldwood Books and she is represented by the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BBQHC2G1
Here's the Amazon UK link for the whole series (the 8th book is up for preorder and will be published on 15th March): https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BGQHG246?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks Here are the links for my website and social media: www.authordebbieyoung.com Facebook: @AuthorDebbieYoung Twitter: @DebbieYoungBN Instagram: @debbieyoungauthorGeraldine Moorkens Byrne is an Irish mystery writer, poet and educator. She lives with her family in Dublin where many of her stories are set, especially The Caroline Jordan series. When not dreaming up modern murder mysteries, she knits, crochets and teaches classes on Irish folk traditions. Until 2021 she owned Ireland’s oldest family owned music shop, the basis for “Requiem for a Violin.” Mrs. O’Brien and friends will return in their own series in 2023, The Music Shop Mysteries.
She also writes a magical cosy mystery series, The Old Bat Chronicles under the pen name Nina Hayes.
Geraldine Moorkens Byrne Author@celebratingwords.com Www.CelebratingWords.comMillie Ravensworth has been writing (and sewing!) for years, and it seemed like a natural step to combine the two things in a series of cozy mysteries. She lives in England and has an adorable dog who likes to be at her side when she is sewing / writing, but he'd much rather she played fetch with his favourite toy!
Izzy King and Penny Slipper who appear in the story in this collection can also be found in the Cozy Craft Mystery books that are available to read now.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Millie-Ravensworth/e/B0BP2T4SV3/A full bibliography and reading order can be found at rachelmclean.com/bibliography
TOUR PARTICIPANTSHave you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
That is a great way to find some new authors.
ReplyDelete