Melissa Westemeier
Melissa Westemeier grew up around the edge of nerd culture, but marriage and motherhood with three sons immersed her in it. She’s fluent in Marvel, DC, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Godzilla, and more thanks to their influence. Her fiction work includes rom-com and a trilogy loosely based on her experience tending bar on the Wolf River in Wisconsin. She’s thrilled to realize her childhood dream of writing murder mysteries. Her books blend her humor and appreciation for nerd culture while tackling serious themes and unpacking the puzzle of whodunnit (and how and why!). In her spare time, Melissa needs to be outside or near a window. Her passions include hiking, swimming, biking, reading, and fantasizing about her next vacation destination.
Our Cozy Books by Melissa!
Old Habits Die Hard
Meddling and murder can both be deadly sins
When retired nun and teacher Sister Bernadette returns with her fellow residents to The Abbey: Senior Living, she is the first to discover the body sprawled in the hallway of the converted school where she once taught English and now lives. Instead of freezing with horror, Sister Bernie has questions. Lots of them. Why does Toni Travi, the bedazzled and bejeweled resident from apartment 218, have so much chest hair? Did anyone at The Abbey know Toni was a man? Was Toni’s death related to allegations that she cheated at cards? Where’s the murder weapon? Who had motive? And did someone kill Toni, or the man hiding beneath the Revlon foundation and blonde wig?
Detective AJ Lewis is in charge of the investigation though Sister Bernie acts as if he is still her student. With unholy stubbornness, she dogs his every step, eavesdrops, sneaks beyond the police tape and offers unsolicited conjecture and clues. He wants to keep her safe, but she’s determined to lend a helping hand—it’s her habit, after all!
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Dropped Like a Bad Habit
The bodies keep piling up along Chestnut Street…
When Sister Bernadette hears from the local pharmacist about plans to redevelop and gentrify their small community on Chestnut Street, she rallies her neighbors at The Abbey: Senior Living to help stop it. Chestnut Street is home to local mom-and-pop businesses that The Abbey’s residents frequently access. But when the healthy pharmacist mysteriously drops dead with no discernable reason, Detective AJ Lewis is stumped. Then another, younger, business owner dies with no explanation, and AJ is suspicious and starts to dig.
Sister Bernie, trying to solve  small, seemingly nonsensical thefts, is intrigued and positions herself to collaborate with the police for what she hopes will be her second murder investigation. Why did two seemingly healthy men conveniently die? Who’s behind the shadowy Vision Corporation? Each question leads to a dead end or another question. And then there’s an unexpected death at The Abbey. Coincidence or connection?
Murder’s becoming a bad habit Sister Bernie and AJ are determined to break.
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A Fatal Habit
A killer in costume. A holiday turned deadly.
Sister Bernadette Ohlson expected a relaxing getaway with her best friend—but Comic Con quickly becomes a crime scene. When Eleanor disappears, Bernie’s worst fears come true: her friend is found poisoned in the hotel parking garage, murdered by someone hiding in plain sight—a villain in a Star Wars costume.
Detective AJ Lewis is at the hotel with friends, torn between his own plans and helping Bernie navigate this deadly puzzle. Undeterred, Bernie dives headfirst into the investigation, facing cosplayers, suspicious guests, and anyone who might be the killer in disguise.
When someone breaks into her hotel room, the danger becomes personal. With time running out and clues buried among the costumed crowd, Bernie must outwit a cunning murderer before they vanish—or strike again.
Full of suspense, humor, and clever sleuthing, this latest installment is a cozy mystery with a thrilling twist—perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, murder investigations, and small-town crime with a high-stakes twist.
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