A chat with Inspector Montgomery, an old school investigator!

Inspector Montgomery is a character created by Clarisa Vau

Greetings, guys and gals! Today I'm talking to my good friend Inspector Montgomery. He's a master when it comes to putting together the pieces of a case, and reminds me of the Inspector Maigret books I used to love when I was young.

Let's have a chat, Inspector. Tell my readers what’s your major strength while investigating a murder.

I’d have to say it’s my patience. My colleague, Mr. Fellman, is young and enthusiastic, but he jumps to conclusions too quickly. I like taking my time and let the little grey cells do their work.

I see you love crime novels as well. But solving a mystery in real life isn't always fun. What do you like least about investigating a case?Do you have a favorite quote?

The deaths, certainly. I truly regret every life lost, especially when the people were young.

That's my least favorite part as well. And what gives you the most satisfaction while investigating a case?

Being able to solve it, of course. Catching the criminals and bringing them to justice. I also enjoy a little seeing my colleague at a complete loss, that happens frequently and, although I appreciate him very much, it adds a funny touch to the job.

What do you know abou

t the psychology of a criminal?

I took a few courses for starters. The rest, I learned as I worked. I think it’s a crucial aspect of any criminal investigation and can certainly be the key to solving it.

And do you have anyone helping you in your investigations? Tell us more about them.

I’ve been working for some time now with Augusto Fellman. He’s got potential, I can tell, and Works hard. He does need guidance, of course, but fortunately, he’s got me as his mentor. He’s a great friend as well.

Do you have a favorite quote?

Fortune favors bold ones.

Thank you for your time, Inspector! And you, my readers, don't miss the novel Mystery at the Weisseblume Hotel, where the Inspector shows that it takes a lot of intelligence to catch a jewell thief. The book is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, the latter translated by our good friend Matt. Thanks a bunch and see you soon!

____________________________________

Clarisa Vau

Read Mystery at the Weisseblume Hotel in three languages!

English: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VMTG13J

Spanish: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07NKC1JPN

Portuguese: https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B088VP6T4K

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/clarisa.vau.9

Instagram: instagram.com/clarisa.v2019/

A Chat from Ella Shane, the Opera Singer Sleuth!

Ella Shane is a character created by Kathleen Marple Kalb

Greetings, guys and gals! Grandma Bertha here again! I'm back today with a new interview with the lovely Ella Shane. And what a character she is! Welcome to my blog, Ella, it's a great pleasure.

Delighted to meet you, Grandma Bertha, if I may call you that! Bertha is such a lovely name.

Thanks! My full name is Albertha Isobel Hepburn, but I love when people call me Grandma Bertha. Tell us, Ella, What’s your daytime occupation? How does it relate to your investigations?

Thank you for asking! I’m a mezzo-soprano, and I specialize in what are called “trouser roles,” male heroes sung by women, like Romeo. Between running a traveling opera company with my adored cousin Tommy Hurley, keeping my vocal and fencing skills sharp, and singing at benefits whenever I can, detecting was the last thing I wanted to do. Unfortunately, one night onstage, my Juliet drank real poison and died, and her cousin, who turned out to be a British Duke (of course he did!) asked my help finding out what happened. She was my employee and I felt responsible for her, and the poor man was clearly grieving…as well as rather appealing once I schooled him in how to treat a lady and an artist (with a little fencing match). So of course I helped him.

Did you know I used the story of Romeo and Juliet to solve a case? It's in The Homicide Magnet. Now tell us, why were you the ideal person to solve that case? 

As a fellow singer, I understood the young lady’s life better than anyone outside our world. Certainly better than the Duke, who seemed to think that singing was some dainty girlish accomplishment for the drawing room. I know how hard she had to work on her technique, and to maintain her instrument, and the challenge of finding roles suited to her voice and skills. Not to mention how incredibly difficult it is to launch a career. And the many dangers we face as traveling artists. But also, how incredibly fulfilling it is to sing well, know you are pleasing and moving an audience…then hear that moment of silence before the applause that only happens for an extraordinary performance.

Life in the theater sounds so exciting! Do you have anyone helping you in your investigations? Tell us more about them. 

The Washington Square townhouse I share with my cousin Tommy Hurley is almost never quiet…and if one of us is involved in something, we all are. Tommy, a former boxing champion, left the ring to manage my career, but he maintains strong friendships with several sportswriters, including noted columnist Preston Dare, who is a dear informal uncle to us both. Tommy’s best friend, Father Michael Riley, is also often about, playing checkers and arguing with Toms. For my part, I have two very close female friends, Hetty MacNaughten, one of two women reporters on the Beacon, and my fellow velocipede fancier, and soprano Marie de l’Artois, who is married with three small adorable children I enjoy visiting – and handing back to their mama.

How do you deal with the authorities while doing your investigation? 

As it happens, the authorities are part of the extended family too. Like so many Irish folk in New York, we have connections in the Police Department. Father Michael’s cousin is a detective, and Cousin Andrew the Detective, as he is known to us all, has been known to help us out occasionally. (We’ve also been known to help him out in his courtship with the lovely Miss Katie McTeer, but you won’t meet her until our next adventure.)

Being an amateur sleuth is tons of fun, but from my experience, there's always a time when things become harsh. What was the most difficult period in your investigation, and how did you deal with it? 

Aside from a rather depressing rainy day when a society matron did her worst to make me feel unworthy (and Tommy quickly reminded me what utter nonsense THAT was), I would have to say my final confrontation with the killer. Without going into too much detail, let’s just say that I found myself dueling this unpleasant person on a catwalk high above the stage. I was, naturally, equal to the task, but it was rather unnerving. I was quite glad for a medicinal sherry afterwards.

Now, to wrap this lovely interview, tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want others to know. 

I feel quite safe telling you this, since you are a grandmother and remind me just a bit of my dear Aunt Ellen.  When I hold Marie’s children, I sometimes wonder if I might want one of my own. And there was a moment in this recent adventure when I saw the Duke with a little boy, and suddenly there were all of these strange and unfamiliar feelings swirling about. It’s at least possible that I may want a husband and children someday. Not just any husband…but if the Duke continues to show respect for me and my career, and perhaps improves his fencing a bit, he might be worth a look.

Life is full of surprises, sweetie, and I'm sure you'll make a great mum someday. Don't forget to send me some tickets for your next performance!

__________________________________________

Kathleen Marple Kalb

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalbMarple

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmarplekalb/

Goodreads blog:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19637929.Kathleen_Marple_Kalb/blog

Buy the book: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496727237/

Thoughts on Murder #4: A True Crime Cozy Mystery Story

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

It's been such a long time since I last posted here! What could have brought me back? Just a simple and fitting image: a cat's pawprint made on the blood of a burglar who invaded my house not that long ago. Something straight out of a Grandma Bertha book!

That particular night I went to bed late, with a lot on my mind. Ever since the pandemic started, I've been staying with my mother in the house I was raised in. It's a big house with a big backyard, and we have a dog and two cats. One of the cats, Fantasma, decided he belongs to me, so who am I to disagree?

It was about two in the morning when I took a hot shower and went to bed. I had just finished the first draft of my new cozy mystery novel the previous morning and was still overwhelmed. Just as I put my head in the pillow, a moan c frame om the living room:

Please, help me! Help me!

My first thought was that the voice was coming from my mother's room. She might be having a nightmare. But, no, that was someone else's voice, and it came from the living room window. My mother and I got there and saw a man, a complete stranger, standing in front of our window, holding the bars and yelling:

Please, help me! I'm hurt! Help me!

So many thoughts crossed our minds, and the first one, of course, was to call the police. We hid inside my study and dialed the emergency number while the dog kept barking and the man kept moaning. By the time the police arrived, the man was already gone. We waited until the cops were in our backyard before we walked out.

There was blood everywhere. That man was a burglar who jumped inside our backyard and cut himself doing so. By now he had already jumped to the neighbor's house. A police helicopter soon arrived, and it didn't take much time for them to get the burglar. After all, he was leaving a trace of blood behind him!

When things calmed down, I thought of how this resembles the plot of my first Grandma Bertha book, The Convenient Cadaver. My granny, who was the main inspiration for the character, used to live in this same house with us until she passed away last year. What would she have done in a situation like this?

The next day we had to clean all the blood that was left in our backyard. There's still a little souvenir of that night: the pawprint left by Fantasma when he stepped in the burglar's blood. It doesn't get more cozy mystery than that!

A chat with Finn Bartusiak, from Port New

Finn Bartusiak is a character created by Kristine Raymond

Good day, everyone! Tonight we're interviewing Finn Bartusiak, who brings us an awesome mystery. Tell us, Finn, did you choose to become a detective? Or didn’t you have a choice?

First, I’d just like to say, welcome to my home.  It’s an honor having you here.  You remind me a little of my Grandma Lena.  Do you like to cook?  Grandma Lena loves to cook, to which my figure can attest.  I think there’s some leftover pierogi in the fridge.  It won’t take a minute for me to heat it up.  No?  Well, if you change your mind, let me know.  Her pierogi is to die for!

What’s that? Someone told you I’m a detective?  I’m afraid you’ve been misled.  I’m just a simple antique store owner.  As a matter of fact, that Tiffany lamp you’re eyeing is my latest acquisition.  Don’t you love the way the colors catch the light? One of the perks of my job is having first dibs on the inventory.  And I…

What?  Oh, sorry.  I tend to ramble when talking about antiques.  To answer your question, no, I don’t consider myself a detective, per se, although I did decipher that secret code awhile back which led me to… Garfunkel, stop begging.  You ate an hour ago.

My apologies.  He’s always ready for his next meal.  Yes, he is a Basset hound.  What’s that?  Oh, his baldness.  It’s a congenital condition, but he pulls it off, don’t you think?

So much information! I'm glad I remind you of your granny, though I'm not that great of a

cook myself. Tell us, Finn, what’s your daytime occupation? How does it relate to your investigations?

Right, my occupation.  Well, as I was saying, I’m the owner of Finn’s Finds, that cute, little antique store near the beach.  Yes, that’s the one.  A couple of doors down from Dough Knots.  Have you ever visited?  I’d like to think I’d remember all of my customers but the sad fact is, I don’t.  When we’re finished up here maybe you’d like to pop in and take a look around.  Something might catch your eye.  The shop is normally closed on Wednesdays, but I could ope-

Oh, right, sorry.  I'm rambling.  You’re on a schedule, aren’t you?

Well, when a new item comes into the shop, I do a little digging and trace its ownership back as far as I can.  Most of my customers appreciate the effort and enjoy learning the history of the piece they purchase, so I guess, in that sense, I am a detective.  Huh.  Who woulda’ thought?

I see being a detective more as a state of mind than a profession. Would you consider opening one and going pro?

I’m not sure that solving one case qualifies me as a gumshoe though the idea does hold a certain appeal.  On the other hand, after what happened in the cemetery that night, I’m not sure my heart – or any of my other organs and appendages – could handle the danger.  I mean, two hospital stays in the span of two weeks might be a great way to meet my deductible, but the fashions leave a lot to be desired, you know?

How do you deal with the authorities while doing your investigation?

Sorry for laughing.  You see, Port New’s head detective, Zara O’Hara, just happens to be my best friend, and her partner, Duley Beaudry considers me the sister he never had, even though he has two.  So, I tend to get the ‘inside scoop’ on the criminal happenings in town.  Though, come to think of it, they’ve both been kinda tight-lipped around me lately, ever since the secret code fiasco.  In fact, I had to find out about the break-in at Darby’s in the crime beat section of The Port New News. 

Why, those two have been holding out on me!  Just wait until girls’ night!  Zara’s gonna get an earful!

Do you have anyone helping you in your investigations? Tell us more about them.

To give credit where credit is due, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking with you today if it hadn’t been for Garfunkel.  He surprised the heck out of everyone who knows him when he… no, it’s not time for a Fido Bar.  Go take a nap while I visit with Grandma Bertha.  And, stop slobbering on me!

Sorry about that.  He gets enthusiastic when he hears his name.

Back to your question.  Besides Garfunkel, Spencer also lent a hand.  He helped crack the code and he called Zara when…would you like to see a picture?  Why, thank you, I agree; he is quite attractive.  Are you a reader?  The reason I ask is you may recognize him from one of his book jackets.  Yes, that’s right; Spencer Dane.  How many people can say their boyfriend is a best-selling author?

Oh, gosh, I love Spencer Dane! I would never imagine he was your boyfriend. But this is that crucial time in our interview. Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want others to know.

Is our time up already?  Boy, that hour flew!

Hmmm…something about me no one else knows.

When I was seven, I wanted to play with the class gerbil so I let it out of its cage while everyone was at recess.  It slipped under the door and disappeared behind the lockers – hmmm…so, that’s why the exterminator showed up at school the following day.  Anyway, I blamed Gerber’s escape on Monty Halloran and he had to stay after school every afternoon for the rest of the month.  In my defense, he was a bully back then, always pulling my hair and calling me names.

You’re not going to print this in the article, are you?

I make no promises!

______________________________

It wasn’t until later in life that Kristine Raymond figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up, an epiphany that occurred in 2013 when she sat down and began writing her first novel.  Sixteen books in multiple genres later, she’s added the title of podcasting host to her resume, thus assuring that she will never be idle.

When a spare moment does present itself, she fills it by navigating the publishing and promotional side of the business.  When not doing that, she spends time with her husband and furbabies (not necessarily in that order) at their home in south-central Kentucky, reads, or binge-watches Netflix. 

To find out more about Kristine, please visit her website at www.kristineraymond.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and BookBub. 

And for links to podcast episodes, guest posts, and other great stuff, check out Word Play with Kristine Raymond at www.wordplaypodcast.com.
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Thoughts on Murder #3: A Love Letter to the Cozy Community

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

Dear cozy people,

I love you because you are gentle and kind to each other and to everyone else...

I love you because you're nice to newcomers and don't make fun of people who don't know as much as you do...

I love you because you're quirky and spunky and funny, just like the characters you read and write about...

I love the writers who hold their own characters in their hearts, and put all their love and dedication into them...

I love the readers who follow series and are always keen to help authors improve their work...

I love readers who give a chance to authors they never heard about...

I love the way you adore your pets, and won't stand for animal cruelty...

I love it when you knit and bake, sew and paint, prepare coffee and sweets, all while reading a good murder mystery...

I love your crazy titles, your colourful covers, your funny names and funny surnames...

I love your tea houses, your B&Bs, your bakeries and your bookshops...

Thank you for making this crazy world a little cozier!

Yours,

Matt

A chat with Toby, the Spellbound Hound !

Toby, the Spellbound Hound is a character created by Jeannie Wycherley

What a delight! You all know how much I love doggies, and today we are going to interview a talking whippetty-Schnauzer-terrier-thingie named Toby. It's not every day that you get to talk to a talking dog! How are you, Toby? 

Hello Grandma Bertha *wags tail politely* I brought you some treats in case you’re hungry. They’re cheesy ones. Cheesy treats are my favourite favourite. It would be nice if we could share.

Oh, that's so sweet of you! Tell me, Toby, what was the first investigation you ever did? What was the

last? Do you expect to do more investigations in the future?

To be honest, as intrepid as I am, I’ve only been involved in one investigation. It was long and involved and incredibly complicated, and I had to draft in reinforcements in the shape of a human called Clarissa (she’s a witch but don’t let that put you off) and some squizzels. I think you might know them as squirrels, but they call themselves squizzels. Honest. I speak squizzel.

I also made friends with a Chaos Wizard. Clarissa calls him ‘an original’. I think she means he’s crazy, but that’s just impolite. I like him a lot!

You see what happened was that The Pointy Woman came to my little house in Devon in England and killed my owner. His name was Old Joe and I loved him so much. And before I could say ‘who’ll feed me my din-dins now?’ she had given me a voice. “Speak to none but me,” she said. And then, horror of horrors, she sent me to the kennels.

I had to escape, which is when I bumped into Clarissa. Together we started to track The Pointy Woman down and find out why she’d killed Old Joe.

I have a feeling there is another adventure in my future. I’ve been seeing someone hanging around my house. I have a feeling she needs my help.

That's very courageous of you, Toby. That's one of the things I love the most about doggies, you're always willing to do good. Now tell me, what’s your major weakness while investigating a murder?

I get side-tracked by snacks, or smells, or other dogs, or interesting people. Or itches.

What can you do that the police can't?

Besides having an amazing sense of smell and incredible hearing, I can scratch behind my ear with my back foot. I bet DC Plum can’t do that. I can also squish myself into a tiny ball and sleep anywhere. I’ve also been known to polish off more than one dinner.

It must be tough doing all that by yourself. Do you have anyone helping you in your investigations? Tell us more about them.

Clarissa is my new human. She’s actually Old Joe’s granddaughter and can you believe she had never been owned by a dog before? The first thing she did was give me a barf. Yuck! She’s a journalist and a witch, but to be honest my magick is better than hers. Don’t tell her I said that, but it is true.

She’s never got any money. I blame The Pointy Woman for that. But she is a good journalist. She’s good at research. I’ve been learning to read but I don’t really like screens so I leave all the google-goggling to her. Also, she can drive, and because I’m quite short, I struggle to reach the pedals. I like to stick my face out of the window and smell the cow manure and foxes when we’re driving down the lanes. I’m not sure Clarissa is that good a driver. I have to cover my ears sometimes because she gets a bit shouty about other road users.

What was the most difficult period in your investigation, and how did you deal with it?

There have been a few difficult periods in my investigations.  Being incarcerated in Sun Valley Pet Sanctuary and on death row, that wasn’t pleasant. Being hurt by The Pointy Woman made me very sad (but I was a brave soldier, Clarissa said). Through it all, I’ve been able to rely on my friends; Clarissa, Dom the Chaos Wizard and his dog, Star, and the dogs at the kennel. They kept me going.

Together we are stronger!

That's what friends are for, am I right? Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want others to know.

I hide my borlies under the Abelia bush in the back garden, but if you tell anyone I will have to magick you into a bee. Okay?

I need to repopulate the bushes in my local vicinity because I nearly caused bee-mageddon when I practised a disappearing spell last summer. Oopsie.

I apologised but, regrettably, I don’t think I’m seen as a friend to bees.

This makes me sad because I love all creatures!

Do you have a favourite quote?

When referring to sandwich fillings, because I like them all: “That’s my favourite favourite.”

Thank you, Toby, this was a great pleasure. Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? You're a good boy! See you all soon!

__________________________________________________________

Jeannie Wycherley has always been blessed with a wildly overactive imagination. Her formative years were spent inhabiting the glorious worlds that other writers had created, and even now she finds it a wrench to leave Narnia and Alderley Edge behind. As a child she loved history, and visited many sites of interest, with her family, in the UK and around Europe, and was a keen – and sorrowful – observer of the evil man perpetrates. No surprise therefore that she went on to study history at University, and left – or was eventually politely turfed out – with a PhD in modern and contemporary social history.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanniewycherley/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thecushionlady

Website: https://www.jeanniewycherley.co.uk/

Buy my books: http://author.to/jeanniewycherley

Thoughts on Murder #2 - Get a Clue (Board)!

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

I had a Clue board when I was a kid. Who didn't? The game was called Detetive in Brazil, and the names of the characters were a little different, but all in all, the game was the same. As a crime author, I'm always looking for inspiration, and, to me, the Clue board is an amazing tool to develop my writing skills. I'd go as far as to say that Clue is much more interesting for a writer than it is for a reader. Why is that?

A murder has happened, and there are six suspects: Miss Scarlett, Mr Green, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Mrs White and, of course, the infamous Colonel Mustard. The murder weapon could be a number of things, from a dagger to a pipe, and the body had to be found somewhere around a mansion. Each player had a pin that represented a character. They wandered the place trying to find the murderer, the weapon and the scene of the crime.

One of the most fascinating things about Clue is the fact that any player can be the murderer, even you. The game can be played for at least three players, but it's most fun when there are six participants, each representing one character.

The structure of the game isn't like any crime novel you find in a bookshop. Not only do you have to find out the killer's identity, but also the cause of death and the room in which the body lay. These are all things you know as soon as the crime is discovered in a novel or short story. Which such a strange premise, why is this game so popular? 

Playing Clue has much more to do with the process of outlining and writing a crime novel than

reading one. When you're writing a murder mystery, you first find figure all the details and solve the crime in your head. Then you sit down and put it on paper, adding twists and leads that will engage your reader. Outlining is like walking into a labyrinth leaving a thread behind you. Writing the novel is like following that thread all the way back. At some point, the thread can get broke, and it helps if you have the path in your mind. Clue is a great way of training your mind on that.

Some versions of the Clue come with a description of the suspects, which I never liked. In the classic game, you don't know much about these people and their relationship with Mr Boddy, the victim. Like an author who creates a character, you can give them personalities in your head (I know I never trusted Professor Plum). They are not going to be the same personalities your friends created, and that's great! It's part of the fun.

So, the next time you get writer's block, get the dust out of that Clue board and invite some friends for a game night. It becomes even more interesting if they're also mystery writers. You can all get some inspiration, all while having good laughs.

Cheers,

Matt Ferraz

PS: Grandma Bertha's next interview will be published by the end of the week

Thoughts on Murder #1: The Knives Out money issue

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

This is a spoiler-free essay about the movie Knives Out (2019). Please keep the comments spoiler-free as well

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the movie Knives Out was a pleasant surprise for mystery fans. The script for subverts the whodunit genre in many interesting ways and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The plot deals with the murder of crime writer Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer) and the investigation that ensues. With a great cast and clever twists, the movie is a treat and will keep you guessing till the end.

However, our goal here today isn't to discuss the mystery per se. Watching the movie for the first time, I was intrigued by Harlan Thrombey's career as a crime writer. Specifically, I was intrigued by the fact that he made such a big fortune by managing his books the way he does.

Harlan lives in a huge mansion and supports many of his younger relatives. His fortune is estimated at 60 million dollars at the time of his death. It's unlikely that a book author would make so much money. Unlikely, but not impossible. Remember the case of J.K. Rowling, who became richer than Queen Elizabeth through her Harry Potter books.

There lies the rub, though. The movie is very specific about Harlan's arguments with his son's Walt (Michael Shannon) who manages his publishing house. It's made clear that Harlan releases two books a year in the publisher that, apparently, only prints his own work. Meaning he's self-published and has been so since the beginning of his career, far before the advent of on-demand printing and ebooks. Speaking of ebooks, Harlan doesn't like them, neither does he allow any of his novels to be adapted into film or television.

By trying to make Harlan an old school author, Rian Johnson creates an uneven situation. It's established that the character is 86 years old at the time of his death and that the movie takes place in the year of its release, 2019.  One could argue Harlan started at a big publisher and then migrated to his own company, but that's pure speculation since it's never stated anywhere in the movie. If one considers the amount of resources it would take to make it that big as a self-published author around the time Harlan started releasing his work, it makes it hard to believe he would have done so without selling rights to film or TV or releasing other authors under his imprint. 

At a certain point, Harlan's son Walt complains about that attitude, saying that it's on movies and TV that the real money is. He also tries to convince his father to release his work on digital platforms. But Harlan remains adamant. He hates movies and is a brick and mortar author.

It's clear that Johnson wants to create an old fashioned crime author, who lives in a big mansion that resembles a Clue board and wants to do everything his own way. A mix of J.D. Salinger and Agatha Christie which, interesting as he may be as a character, doesn't make much sense for anyone who's familiar with the publishing business.

That doesn't spoil the movie, though. Not even Daniel Craig's attempt at a Southern American accent does. Knives Out remains an amazing movie that you should check out right now. Let me know your thoughts on the comments, and don't forget to check out Grandma Bertha's interviews! 

Yours,

Matt Ferraz