With the release of the 9th book in my Little Dog Diner series, Rolling Up Revenge, I’d like to share some interesting facts about Maine, the setting for my fictional series.
Maine, or the Pine Tree State, is a place of breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and unique culinary delights. With its rugged coastline, fresh seafood, and outdoor adventures, Maine offers something for everyone.
An incredible 3,478 miles of coastline, dotted with over 4,000 islands, offers plenty of unspoiled beauty. The charming fishing villages are the perfect destination to enjoy what Maine is famous for—it’s lobster roll or another delicious seafood dish, while enjoying the view of a lighthouses perched on a rocky cliff. It’s hard to beat that!
But Maine isn’t all about its shoreline. Home to miles of rivers and streams, it’s perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Or, if you love hiking, Mt. Katahdin offers breathtaking views and marks the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. You even might even be lucky and spot a moose, the state animal. But don’t get too close.
After all that activity, you’ll definitely need to make time to indulge in the state dessert—blueberry pie—or the official state treat, the sweet whoopie pie. Both are on the menu at the Little Dog Diner!
Early risers can claim bragging rights for being the first to see the sun rise from Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. You can hike or drive to the top.
And for you book lovers? Legendary horror author Stephen King calls Maine his home. I know, his books aren’t cozy but still worth a visit. The state’s eerie landscapes and quiet towns are the perfect inspiration for his books.
Maine is an unforgettable destination waiting to be explored.
If you can’t visit … grab a copy of Rolling Up Revenge and embrace the magic of Maine through my cozy mystery!
About the Author
Emmie Lyn grew up in a small town in New England, much like the towns where her female characters live—scenic, quaint and filled with colorful characters. She loves to create mysteries with twists and unexpected turns that draw readers in and capture their imagination.
Emmie lives in rural Massachusetts with her husband, a rescue terrier, and a black cat with a bad attitude. She shares twelve acres with a wide variety of wildlife including deer, bunnies, turkeys, and many songbirds. When she’s not busy thinking of ways to kill off a character (for a book, of course!) she enjoys a cup of tea and chocolate in her flower garden, hiking, or spending time near the ocean.
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!
Even occasional television viewers have caught an episode or two of NCIS since it began airing in 2003. Yep, that’s 21 years of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service digging into criminal cases and bringing the bad guys to justice.
So if you love these characters, you’ll definitely relate to these Tule mysteries, too:
Leroy Jethro Gibbs:
He’s the tough, no-nonsense leader of the NCIS team, a former Marine with a strong sense of duty and justice. But he also struggles with personal tragedies, finds it difficult to open up emotionally and is known for his gut instincts.
If he’s your guy, you don’t want to miss Can’t Go Home by Melinda Di Lorenzo. Detective Trinity Calhoun joined LEO to make a difference after her best friend was killed — but now someone wants her to relive the experience.
Abby Sciuto:
Ah, the upbeat forensic scientist who’s also into goth. Her childlike enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air in a serious profession, but don’t confuse quirky with careless. Abby is highly intelligent and brings the skills!
Rebecca Cuthbert is certainly comfortable with quirky as she consults with a talking cat to clear herself from the suspect list when the town’s shady antiquities dealer is found dead in Deanna Drake’s Paws, Claws, and Curses.
Timothy McGee:
This tech-savvy agent has grown from an insecure probie to a confident senior agent due in large part to the fact that he’s often the voice of reason. He’s also by the book—literally, as one of his nerdy interests is writing.
True crime writer Dougal Lachlan, the hero in C.J. Carmichael’s Buried, understands. Lachlan finds himself needing answers to a cold case and ends up working with a local librarian to unearth the secrets buried in small-town Twisted Cedars.
Ziva David:
As a former Mossad officer turned NCIS agent, she’s highly trained in combat and interrogation. Even though her playful side emerges a times, her complex relationship with her past makes her an intriguing character.
Agent Heather Slade in The Package by Kimberley Troutte is as badass as you expect from a highly trained government asset with no memory and no home. But this mission to smuggle a package from the oppression’s leader challenges all of that.
Donald “Ducky” Mallard:
The medical examiner may be known for his rambling stories, but there’s a method to his storytelling. He knows people, and that along with his war experiences make him an excellent profiler, too.
Kate Tessler of Something Shady at Sunshine Haven by Kris Bock can relate. A war injury has sidelined this news correspondent back home, where she finds a new purpose for her observation skills by investigating suspicious deaths at a nursing home.
Jenny Shepard:
She has solid connections that helped her become NCIS director, but she struggles to balance her personal need for revenge on her father’s killer with her professional duties—and that obsession ultimate leads to tragic consequences.
If only Sheriff Elizabeth Benoit of Straight for the Kill by Winter Austin had taken a page from Jenny’s book. But she’s not about to turn down the opportunity to finally nail the former sheriff for his sins, regardless of what it costs her.
Caitlyn Todd:
She’s one of NCIS’s dedicated profilers who is a whiz at counterfeit bill analysis and protection detail. But her compassion can sometimes be a fault, as she tense to get emotionally attached to victims and lets her personal believes and emotions influence her judgment.
She has a kindred spirit in KB Jackson’s Charlotte McLaughlin. In A Matter of Life and Depths, Charlotte finds herself being asked to find evidence that clears her late husband’s former mistress from murder charges—and there’s more on the line than just karma.
Ellie Bishop:
As a profiler, she’s top-notch. But NCIS fans know and love her for her knack of remembering details by connecting them to what she was eating at the time.
Ms. Bishop has a doppelganger in Ellie Hart, the heroine in Emmie Lyn’s Sprinkles and a Situation. She’s all about walking dogs with a donut in her hand, but murder and mystery manage to find her on these jaunts.
Tis the season for No. 2 pencils, notebooks, crayons, and glue sticks, hopefully all at great prices as you raid the big box stores for deals. But why do students get all the fun? Those of us who have long left school buses in our dust still deserve a back-to-the-routine treat. So throw these titles into your cart (they cost less a pack of topper erasers, so your budget won’t notice) and study up on these whodunnits:
#1. Have You Seen Sarah Baker?, TA Cruz
High school English teacher Sarah Baker is at the center of a large manhunt after her husband reports her as missing. But is she in trouble or did she run from the events stacking up in her classroom? The twists in this psych thriller will leave everyone guessing. An A rating with Amazon reviewers:
“I have never wanted to hunt down an author before I read this! TA Cruz, how could you? We’ve been warned, but still unprepared for the roller coaster ride!”
“It has been a while since I last enjoyed a mystery thriller book, and this one will make it to my top favorites of 2024. The book has so many unexpected twists and turns that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Every chapter keeps you guessing, and just when you think you’ve figured out who did it, TA Cruz throws in another clue that makes you doubt everything you know.”
#2. A Corgi Conundrum, M. Alfano
Leslie Winters is back in the fourth book in this Pecan, Texas Pet Groomer cozy series, with a loyal corgi who helps her sniff out the villain that murdered the middle-school secretary and left her body in the ag barn. Leslie moonlights as a substitute agriculture teacher herself, so she’s not just in the wrong place at the right time. This time, her involvement is personal.
Releasing October 23, 2024—preorder your copy now!
#3. Tangle of Lies, CJ Carmichael
Once a teacher, always a teacher. Bobbie Galloway may have retired as the high school science teacher, but when one of her former students is murdered and another is the prime suspect, she’s not one to take a recess. She’s suspicious of everyone and she won’t stop until she gets justice. An A rating with Amazon reviewers:
“A strong, diverse cast drew me into this interesting and unique setting of a Canadian border town. I appreciated the realistic mix of characters—strong & weak, resilient & flawed, clever & dangerous. Add a lovely plot twist or three and you have a rock solid whodunnit.”
#4. Homecoming and Homicide, Jody Holford
How do you make friends in a new community? Volunteer to help with the local high school drama club’s fundraising event! It’s all fun and games until a crusty teacher turns up dead after the carnival event—and newcomer Annie Abbott and her boyfriend look guilty. Now her homework is to clear her name. An A rating with Amazon reviewers:
“This series is a new favorite … Holford did a fantastic job of tying everything up in a nice bow at the end. I was blown away by the murderer. I’m still shocked I missed the clues.”
Weddings and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly, although most brides save that favorite for after the dress is safely packed away.
But mystery readers have no restrictions on when, where, or how they walk down the aisle with these unforgettable ceremonies. Say yes to the distress:
Maid of Dishonor, Nancy Robards Thompson (coming July 18, 2024)
Maddie Bell’s life and career are icing on her cake. 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 immersed 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. Even as the police warn Maddie not to interfere with the investigation, this mother and daughter set out to discover who killed Kate and dispel the growing rumors that Gracewood Hall is cursed.
Optioned for television by Candy Rock Entertainment.
Until Depths Do Us Part, by K.B Jackson
Congratulations on booking your first cruise on the luxury private residential cruise ship, Thalassophile of the Seas! We want to ensure your sailing adventure is everything you have dreamed.
But newly widowed Charlotte McLauglin didn’t dream her husband was cheating on her with another family or hiding millions in his bank account. She’s using her new windfall to treat her nephew to the perfect wedding venue aboard her luxury cruise home bound for Alaska. Then things get even frostier when the bride is found dead less than twenty-four hours after they set sail, and evidence points to the groom as the murderer.
Now Charlotte is making a new vow: to protect her family’s happiness.
Murder Below the Mistletoe, by Kaz Delaney
What could go wrong when baker Rosie Hart heads to a snowy Colorado mountain lodge for a week of elaborate pre-wedding festivities at her friend’s wedding? Well, for starters, one of the wedding guests turns up dead, the groom appears to be the target, and she’s stuck in a blizzard with the wedding party being picked off one by one.
The only suspect she can rule out is Santa.
Rosie’s investigative instincts kick in—only this time she’s on her own. That is, until her four irrepressible card-shark mentors from Riverbend Retirement Village unexpectedly turn up to rescue her.
It’s the perfect read to cool you off on a hot, humid day.
A Case for the Candlemaker, by Candace Havens
Ainsley McGregor has her hands full preparing for Sweet River’s Valentine’s Day celebration and her bestie’s wedding. But then Ainsley and her Great Dane, George Clooney, discover that a candlemaker passing through town is dead—in a room that was locked from the inside.
Nuptials have to take a back seat as Ainsley drops into sleuth mode, discovering some surprising truths about the mystery woman. But has she just put herself in the killer’s crosshairs? It’s time to speak now or she may forever hold her peace.
Look for The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker starring Candace Cameron Bure as the Great American Mysteries channel’s inaugural launch!
