Cozy to Cold-Blooded: Mystery Shows 2

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: Mystery Shows 2

While taking an evening walk, I asked my husband if he could guess which mystery shows I put on my list last time. He did guess several, but he also mentioned a couple I actually felt ashamed I left off, like Only Murders in the Building and Castle. Genuine favorites of mine! Especially OMITB! I… Read more »

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: My Auto-Buy Authors

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: My Auto-Buy Authors

While I work on part 2 of my Sherlockiana post, here is another I promised—my auto-buy authors. You know what series I buy on sight (and don’t miss part 2 here). Now you will know the authors who inspire similar devotion in me.  My Auto-Buy Authors Rhys Bowen When I started reading mysteries more often… Read more »

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: My Auto-Buy Series, Part 1

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: My Auto-Buy Series, Part 1

In the course of writing this column, I haven’t shared my personal favorite mysteries yet. But today, for the debut of my Sunday columns, I made it all about my favorites. I’m sharing the books I don’t even read a description of before clicking buy, the ones I binge in between reading for my column… Read more »

Cozy to Cold-Blooded: Crime Authors Caught Up in Real Crimes

Recently in this column, I discussed real authors featured as fictional sleuths. But I discovered that real authors are sometimes real sleuths as well. Some seek to fight injustice and others become swept up in a mystery or crime. Some find the answers, some don’t, and some are the mystery rather than the sleuth. But… Read more »

Interview with Kellye Garrett

Today’s #OwnVoices installment is an interview with Kellye Garrett, author of the award-winning “Detective by Day” mystery series. Kellye and Sara talk about the influence of her TV writing days on her books, the difficulties of writing humor, and Crime Writers of Color, a writers’ group she co-founded with Gigi Pandian and Walter Mosley.  About… Read more »

Interview with Sherry Thomas

Our #OwnVoices interview series continues with a writer of one of Sara’s favorite series who also shares her hometown. Sherry Thomas is the author of the “Lady Sherlock” mystery series, set in Victorian London with a female Sherlock and Watson. They spoke about strong women and the role of outsiders in her books, as well as the lead… Read more »

Cozy to Cold-blooded: Famous Authors as Sleuths

One of my favorite types of books is historical fiction, so it stands to reason that I love historical mysteries. Imagine my happiness at discovering mystery series starring famous writers as sleuths. I’m surprised I was able to stand my excitement when I discovered mystery series with mystery authors as the sleuths.  The following seven… Read more »

female sleuths

#5onFri: Five Female Sleuths to Track Down Now

As a feminist who grew up being teased for her intelligence and lack of athletic talent, I’m enthralled by tales of women using their brains and brawn. You can probably tell from this list that I find it particularly satisfying when women kick butt in eras when it was uncommon for women to do so…. Read more »

Episode 68: Writing Psychological Suspense with Elizabeth George

Hello Hello word nerds! I’m so excited to share my interview with author Elizabeth George. Today we’ll be talking about writing psychological suspense and what it takes to build a great suspense novel with a lot of interesting psychological twists and turns. Listen to our conversation below or by downloading it on iTunes. I hope… Read more »