Author Guest Post
Motivating
a Mystery
Every
wonder where mystery authors get their ideas? Me too. Prior to writing my first
cozy mystery, Deadly Dog Days, I had
always wondered how mystery authors thought up all those twists and turns.
Sure, I’d published several novels prior to Deadly Dog Days. Sure, they had plot
twists and turns of their own, but a mystery relies so heavily on a well woven
plot—if the clues don’t stack up, the novel will fall like a house of cards.
How did they do it? More importantly, would I be able to?
It
was a scary proposition at first, but once I had Metamora, Indiana under my
skin, Cameron Cripps Hayman, my heroine, in my head, and the idea for Deadly Dog Days,
well there was no turning back.
A
few summers ago, I took a weekend trip with my mom, my grandma, and my great
aunt to Metamora, Indiana. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I knew this
place was special—and not just the tiny, historic canal town, but the people
who live and work there. Before our trip, I’d mentioned wanting to write a cozy
mystery to my mom, who now turned to me and said, “You have to write a book
about this place. Your cozy.”
It
clicked. The town and its shops—names and certain aspects have been changed in
my novel—became the backdrop for Deadly
Dog Days.
About The Author
Jamie Blair, young adult, romance, and now cozy mystery author, lives in Ohio with her husband, two teenage kids, two cats (one who fell through the ceiling, and one who’s been passed through the family), two bearded dragons (who might be immortal judging by how long they’ve lived so far), and Eddie the Morkie: Ghost Writer, Keeper of Dragons and Cat Wrangler. Jamie blogs at INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog.
She is the award-winning author of young adult and romance books, including Leap of Faith (Simon & Schuster, 2013) and Lost to Me. Deadly Dog Days is the first book in her Dog Days Mystery series.
Author Website
Google+
Goodreads
Book Review
Deadly Dog Days by Jamie M. Blair
Book 1: A Dog Days Mystery Series
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Format: Paperback - 240 pages
Kindle - 2382 KB
Nook - 3 MB
ISBN: 978-0738750187
ASIN: B01APSYPTS
BNID: 978-0738751238
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy The Book:
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
When she and her estranged husband, the town sheriff, are both named suspects for the murder, Cameron takes solving the crime into her own hands, teaming up with her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency.
As if hunting for a murderer with two high school geniuses, the town drunk, and an elderly kleptomaniac isn’t hard enough, Cameron adopts the five mangy guard dogs of her deceased neighbor. But maybe a stint at playing gatekeeper is just what she needs to come face-to-face with the killer and save another neighbor from being the next victim.
Book Excerpt:
Read
an excerpt from the publisher: https://issuu.com/llewellyn/docs/9780738750187/19?e=1072528/38803841
My Book Review:
In Deadly Dog Days, the first book in the Dog Days Mystery Series, author Jamie M. Blair weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the amateur sleuth adventures of Cameron Cripps-Hayman when she finds herself a suspect in the death of local resident Jenn Berg.
Set in the dying historic tourist town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is still trying to find her place in the community, but it has put a strain on her marriage to Sheriff Ben Hayman. After four years of marriage Cameron and Ben separate, and Cameron is left trying to pick up the pieces and move forward with her life. But it isn't easy to move forward when Cameron unexpectedly stumbles upon the dead body of local resident Jenn Berg in the town's canal, and suddenly finds herself a prime suspect in the murder because it has been rumored that Ben has been seeing Jenn. And to make matters worse, Cameron is at odds with her controlling mother-in-law from hell Irene, while also having to deal with her sister Monica and her step-daughter Mia. And if that isn't enough, Cameron adopts the dead woman's five ill-behaved dogs! With the help of a motley group of community service volunteers calling themselves The Metamora Action Agency, Cameron is determined to find the real killer and clear her name.
Deadly Dog Days is a captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama, calamity and mayhem that ensues as Cameron and her motley crew of call center co-workers and five lovable dogs try to solve the murder and clear her name. Cameron's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful new cozy mystery series!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I liked the dog treat recipes that were included. I am going to have to make them for my three fur babies (two Bichon Frises and one crazy Chocolate Lab)!
Deadly Dog Days is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will easily engage you to join Cameron and her lovable dogs in her amateur investigative adventure!
RATING: 4 STARS
In Deadly Dog Days, the first book in the Dog Days Mystery Series, author Jamie M. Blair weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the amateur sleuth adventures of Cameron Cripps-Hayman when she finds herself a suspect in the death of local resident Jenn Berg.
Set in the dying historic tourist town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is still trying to find her place in the community, but it has put a strain on her marriage to Sheriff Ben Hayman. After four years of marriage Cameron and Ben separate, and Cameron is left trying to pick up the pieces and move forward with her life. But it isn't easy to move forward when Cameron unexpectedly stumbles upon the dead body of local resident Jenn Berg in the town's canal, and suddenly finds herself a prime suspect in the murder because it has been rumored that Ben has been seeing Jenn. And to make matters worse, Cameron is at odds with her controlling mother-in-law from hell Irene, while also having to deal with her sister Monica and her step-daughter Mia. And if that isn't enough, Cameron adopts the dead woman's five ill-behaved dogs! With the help of a motley group of community service volunteers calling themselves The Metamora Action Agency, Cameron is determined to find the real killer and clear her name.
Deadly Dog Days is a captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama, calamity and mayhem that ensues as Cameron and her motley crew of call center co-workers and five lovable dogs try to solve the murder and clear her name. Cameron's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful new cozy mystery series!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I liked the dog treat recipes that were included. I am going to have to make them for my three fur babies (two Bichon Frises and one crazy Chocolate Lab)!
Deadly Dog Days is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will easily engage you to join Cameron and her lovable dogs in her amateur investigative adventure!
RATING: 4 STARS
Contest Giveaway
Virtual Book Tour
Tour Schedule:
November 8 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
November 9 – Books,Dreams,Life – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my! – REVIEW
November 11 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
November 11 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
November 11 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW
November 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
November 13 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
November 14 – A Date with a Book – REVIEW
November 14 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 15 – Book Babble – REVIEW
November 16 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
November 16 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
November 17 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT
November 18 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 19 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
November 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW
The cover of "Deadly Dog Days" really makes me want to read the book. I'm sure the book is as great as the cover.
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