Happy Holidays, EVERYONE! I hope you’re having a chance to spend time with those close to you. As I sit down to write this post, the weather is chilly, damp, and dark. In other words, typical for Central Indiana this time of year. Not exactly conditions that are conducive to merriment, know what I mean?
That got me thinking. What if I took a page from Elmo Simpson, the amateur sleuth and namesake of my Tule mystery series? Elmo left Indianapolis, and after taking a rather winding path, settled down in the fictional town of Paradise Springs, in the real-life Florida Panhandle.
Would I move to a tropical locale? I would absolutely love to! As long as I don’t find myself being asked to solve a murder mystery. I’ll leave that to the experts. Would my life be different? I’m sure it would, including how I’d celebrate the holiday season.
First, the decorations would be different. Currently, our Christmas tree is an artificial white pine. If I lived in the tropics, I’d replace that by decorating a palm tree. Something like this, perhaps.
Yeah, that would get the tropical holiday vibes started.
What about decorations for my new domicile? My wife and I currently have four plastic crates that we store our ornaments, figurines, and other festive items in. I certainly wouldn’t abandon all of those items. Memories, after all.
I’d prioritize the placement of these two statuettes, though
I mean, my author friends don’t call me The Flamingo Kid for nothing! By the way, the flamingo on the right was a gift from one of my sisters, so my family supports my tropical madness dreams.
Once the tree and the house are decorated, I’ll turn my attention to music. Holiday music, from the classics delivered by Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby to more recent deliveries from the Brian Setzer Orchestra, is played a lot during the final few weeks of December. Not much of that would change, though, I’d add a lot more Jimmy Buffett. He has two Christmas albums, “Christmas Island” and “’Tis the SeaSon.” If you haven’t listened to them, do yourself a favor and do it soon. You’ll be glad you did.
Last, but not least, food. You aren’t fully embracing the holidays if you don’t partake in at least a little bit of feasting, right? I think I’d go with something like this mofongo dish. For those who aren’t familiar with it, mofongo is a traditional Puerto Rican dish made of mashed plantains and mixed with pork or other meats. Doesn’t it look amazing?
So, let’s see. I’ve got the tree and home decorated. I’ve got music playing. The holiday meal is ready. I think that means it’s time to celebrate the season in tropical style.
How about you? Would you like to celebrate the holidays in a different part of the world? If so, where and how would you do it? Let me know in the comments. Until next time, cheers!
J.C. Kenney is the bestselling author of The Allie Cobb Mysteries, The Darcy Gaughan Mysteries, and The Elmo Simpson Mysteries. He’s also the co-host of The Bookish Hour webcast. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He has two grown children and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and a cat.
It’s Friday night, you’ve had a long day at work, and all you want to do at the end of the day is turn off your brain with a greasy bowl of popcorn, a sparkling beverage, and a good movie.
Maybe you’ve had that tantalizing romance film on your radar for the last few months, or you’re finally ready to unravel the mystery behind the hair-raising thriller that everyone’s talking about. Regardless, you have no plans to start off the relaxing weekend by cracking open a book and actually reading. That would mean you’d have to think, and you’ve done enough of that for one week.
Here at Tule we understand the desperate need to sit back and unwind at the end of a very long week with a riveting story. That’s why we’ve curated our five best cozy mysteries that will transport you to the sleek recliners of the cinema without needing to spend any money on gas, tickets, or snacks.
These compelling and suspenseful reads are guaranteed to entice even the most reluctant readers, and keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
Before you reach for the TV remote this weekend, try checking out these five cozy cinematic mysteries that give off the very best movie vibes.
Picture this: you’re on your way to your best friend’s wedding, one that you have been excited for for ages. It’s a Christmas wedding, and the snowy Colorado lodge that you’re going to be staying at looks even grander in person than it did in the photos. You walk into the lodge, instantly greeted by a crackling, warm fire and the most elaborate holiday ambience that you could ever imagine, blanketing the vaulted ceilings. Everything is going to be perfect—
Unless you’re Rosie Hart, that is. Because there is nothing she hates more than Christmas and weddings—nothing, that is, until one of the members of the wedding party turns up dead, and a snowstorm traps the remainder of the guests inside the lodge with a killer picking them off one-by-one, Agatha-Christie style.
Cue the theatrical music.
Will Rosie’s final adrenaline kick give her the investigative skills she needs to solve the mystery and make it out of the snowy prison alive? Or will she be doomed to leave her legacy at one of her least favorite events in the world?
Start off the holiday season right with this cinematic thriller by Kaz Delaney that will have you feeling like you’re in a Knives Out and Stephen King movie crossover! Claim your copy today!
The Aconite Amulet by Louise Marvin is perfect for fans of all things paranormal, stormy, suspenseful, and cozy.
A fast-approaching Nor’easter into the small-town of Honesty Harbor isn’t enough to incite panic, but it is enough to inspire the elaborate train of gossip that keeps the residents both relaxed and thoroughly occupied. The current gossip circling around the mouthy citizens’ homes centers on the town B&B’s A-list occupants—who they are, where they came from, and of course, their latest juicy scandals.
But when famous actress and Honesty Harbor-guest Sabeen exits the patch of woods screaming about a “mountain lion attack” that resident Pax Hawthorne doesn’t believe, more strange things continue to happen that beg the town’s attention.
A strange man arrives who’s clearly withholding information, residents go missing, and bloody footprints increase in the stormy town.
Will Pax and the remaining residents be able to uncover the truth amidst the heavy rain and snow? Or will they be sorry that they let their guards down and didn’t take the storm more seriously?
An A-list wedding, a bloody bludgeoning, and a cursed mansion? Immerse yourself in this fast-paced wedding-gone-wrong and clear the suspected bride of murder!
Instead of walking down the aisle, the bride is suspected of murder….
Maddie Bell’s life and career have hit peak stride. She’s sold her cozy mystery series and is contracted for two more books; she’s engaged to Hemlock’s chief of police; and her mother has purchased and restored the beautiful historic mansion, Gracewood Hall, in their hometown of Hemlock, North Carolina. Three generations—Gigi, Maddie, and Jenna–are now happily engaged in the wedding and special event business.
But their highly scrutinized inaugural event—the wedding of an A-List social media influencer—becomes a murder scene before the rehearsal dinner. Kate Archer, the professional bridesmaid Jenna hired, is found bludgeoned by a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, not only threatening their new business, but also sending Jenna into a tailspin of guilt. She knew Kate from college and had begged her to fill in as the maid of honor.
Even as the police warn Maddie not to interfere with the investigation, mother and daughter set out to discover who killed Kate and dispel the growing rumors that Gracewood Hall is cursed.
Gatsby, spring break, a murder mystery party, and an actual murder? You wouldn’t want to be a college student in this town…
What happens on spring break stays on spring break…except murder.
It’s spring break in Rainbow Falls and true crime aficionado Annie Abbott is hoping to cater to the hoards of college kids descending on her coastal town by hosting a Gatsby-themed murder mystery party. She’s hoping her twenties era whodunnit at a local historic mansion will increase tourist revenue and build her business’s brand.
The party is the talk of the town when a despised social media influencer is attacked and left for dead on the estate’s grounds. With the help of her online friends, Annie searches for clues. The list of suspects reads like the town’s social directory—but who benefits most from the victim’s silence?
Annie’s parents are due home from their year-long adventure, so her time in Rainbow Falls is winding down. With a growing suspect list and tension among her friends, Annie worries about her own future. Should she settle in Rainbow Falls? Do she and Ben, her boyfriend and the town vet, have a future? Will she live long enough to find out?
“Terrific second installment in the author’s Shop ‘Round the World series… [full of] intriguing twists, nail-biter[s], and vivid[ity].” –Goodreads Reviewer
This small Pennsylvania town once again becomes a hotbed of secrets.
Only Angel Warren, a retired Navy Pilot and owner of Shop ‘Round the World, can turn a summer day at the river into a murder investigation. But when her brother Bryce’s unicorn float snags on a corpse’s hand, suddenly Angel and Bryce are suspects. It doesn’t help that Angel knows the victim and was one of the last people to see Hank Price alive, or that Angel witnessed a disturbing argument between Hank and his wife. Plus, she and Bryce may have heard the shot that killed Hank.
Once more, Angel inserts herself into the middle of the investigation, this time with her best friend Detective Trinity Colson’s tacit approval. Who could have wanted Hank dead? Angel soon discovers Hank had a secret life that included sketchy business dealings and a gambling addiction.
The question isn’t how Angel will juggle her sleuthing alongside managing her gift store during the height of tourist season, family drama, and a burgeoning romance. It’s how will Angel solve the crime without stumbling into the killer’s sights?
Why choose a movie when you have all sleuthing, drama, and suspense right here inA Mid-Summer Murder? Look into the secret life of the victim, Hank Price, and clear the two amateur detectives of being suspected of murder by ordering your copy!
In the mood for a heart-warming cozy mystery to dig into alongside your freshly-baked, gooey batch of cinnamon rolls? Look no further than these five baking-themed reads to kickstart your heart and inspire your sweet tooth this fall season!
Filled to the brim with suspense, quirky, lovable sidekicks, and enough baking inspiration to make your whisks spin, these cozy suggestions will warm up your TBR faster than your conventional oven!
Prepare your aprons and ready your recipe book, because these five cozy baking mysteries are guaranteed to whet your appetite for the cozy baking season!
If you’re a fan of Joanne Fluke, Jenn McKinlay, and Ellie Alexander, then A Case for the Cookie Baker by Candace Havens is perfect for you!
It’s all fun and games until the last cookie crumbles…
Ainsley McGregor and the entire town of Sweet River, Texas, are preparing for the annual summer celebration. And thanks to the extra tourist traffic, Ainsley’s shop, Bless Your Art, has never been busier. Good thing her new friend, Lizzie, has opened a bakery nearby and provides Ainsley and her staff with tasty treats and daily sugar rushes. It’s all cookies and fun, until someone ends up dead in the bakery and her new pal is the prime suspect.
Ainsley is convinced Lizzie is innocent. Unfortunately, her brother, the town sheriff, and her boyfriend, Jake, have some not-so-secret suspicions. With a town full of strangers who just might be suspects, Ainsley finds herself targeted by a killer. Even as her world crumbles faster than a cookie, she’s determined to prove her friend’s innocence—if she can stay alive long enough.
Emmie Lyn’s Cookies and a Killer combines delectable desserts, magic, adorable pet sidekicks, and murder for a perfect seasonal cozy mystery.
The launching of a new bakery and fundraiser in town should be cause for celebration, not a murder investigation. Just when Nikki Knight thinks things might be getting back to normal in Frog Hollow, her friend Carla’s business manager is found dead at the scene of her new, year-round Christmas bakery.
When Dale, the gourmet grocer next door, suggests that the cookie fundraiser be held at his place, Nikki and the Accidental Ghost Detective team suspect foul play.
But all signs are pointing to Carla and some strange magical happenings. Can Dash and Nikki sniff out this case before the cookie crumbles?
Every family has secrets, especially the sweet ones…
When talented baker Rosie Hart delivers cakes and cookies to her newest clients, The Sweet Treat candy store, she finds herself embroiled in yet another murder case. Will she ever catch a break?
Her elderly clients, The Percival sisters, are shocked when their long-lost great nephew appears with no warning. The sisters have never met nor heard of the man, but he’s family so they accept him with open arms. He immediately begins to tear up his aunts’ home, so when he turns up dead, Rosie feels only a sense of relief. Until she realizes the police suspect the sisters.
Rosie is as convinced of their innocence as she is of the deliciousness of her popular salted caramel cupcakes. But as the body count begins to rise and new secrets are unearthed, she begins to wonder if the sweet artisan candy makers are hiding more than their family recipes.
Ginger Danger by Emmie Lyn is perfect for readers who love small-town, idyllic settings, a budding romance, lovable animals, and mystery-solving!
It’s no secret that I, Sunny Shaw, am a magnet for mayhem right here on beautiful Blueberry Bay.
So, when a woman goes missing just before the grand opening of Shakes and Cakes, I think…it could be worse. And of course that’s exactly what happens when missing turns into dead. It’s hard to cry over a disastrous opening when there’s a murderer running around and things aren’t about to get any easier!
Oh my, Jasper, how will we ever juggle my nasty neighbor, a stalker, a murderer, finding homes for kittens AND serving the best shakes and cakes in Pineville?
The answer to that million dollar question might save my business but can we shake things up to keep my friends out of jail and me alive to see another day?
A small town surely can’t have any more skeletons in its garden, can it?
I’m Aubrey Rose, and after solving a decades long cold case in Willow Cove, I was ready to hang up my amateur detective hat. But when Willow Cove’s oldest and most revered resident, Edith Thomas, is found dead—everyone is suddenly looking to me for answers.
I didn’t plan on getting involved, but how can I say no when even Edith’s son is asking for my help? Now, I need to discover who would want to kill a sweet little lady whose worst offense was baking deliciously addictive chocolate chip muffins.
With handyman Gavin, and his terrier sidekick at my side, we’ll need to dig into Edith’s past and discover if this lovely senior had any scandals in her past.
