Guest Post by Marilyn Leach ~ The Draw of Writing British Cozy Mysteries

Though I grew up in the Western United States, I became a dyed-in-the-wool British enthusiast after exploring the UK and making friends there.  My travels throughout England color me and my written works.  My most recent works include the Berdie Elliott Mysteries, a series of English whodunits that tickle the brain and add a giggle or two.

If I can't live in England, then living lakeside on the Front Range of Colorado is the next best thing. 

Lindsfarne Castle

The North of England grabbed me by the throat and won my heart the moment I stepped onto its soil.  I knew this untamed part of England, Northumbria, near the Scottish borders, was abundant fuel for stories.

 

When first I saw Lindesfarne Castle loom over the landscape of tiny Holy Island, the wind blew the rush of modern life from my soul, and the history of the place settled in like a warm cup of tea on a blustery day.  My story would be a mystery set in current day but with roots reaching back into history.

Whitby Abby inspired Criswell Abby 

All Hallows Dead: A Berdie Elliott Saints Day Mystery is the fruit of that idea.  Berdie and husband Hugh, a vicar, are attending a church course in Northumbria when Berdie’s captivated by the mysteries of an ancient church.  Two “accidental” deaths occur in circumstances she finds questionable.  Set among the ruins of Criswell Abbey, Berdie discovers truths that will impact Criswell’s entire village, from a local pub owner to the lord of the manner.

Of course, there’s plenty of humor as Berdie and her best friend, Lillie, get into circumstances that make us chuckle, all while solving dastardly events.

Blurb:

How can a sixteenth-century saint help solve a twenty-first-century crime?

When Berdie Elliott, vicar’s wife and sleuth extraordinaire, attends a church course with her husband in the North of England, she bumps into her former newspaper boss who calls upon her to investigate beguiling circumstances that spell murder.  

From the landed Cavendish family to the local pub’s manager, Criswell Abbey and its village are steeped in a centuries-old mystery.  The legend of a departed churchman, a mysterious bell tower, England’s tangled history, a delayed marriage proposal, and a wily parrot all help Berdie to declare the truth in All Hallows Dead. 

All Hallows Dead is a perfect read for this time of year. 

All Saints Day, November 1, marks our collective memory of those devoted pilgrims that have marched on in faith before us.  During this season, a comfy chair, hot beverage, and snuggly throw are all amenities that make reading All Hallows Dead an enjoyable event.

Buy: 

Amazon

Find Marilyn:

Website | Amazon Page

Lastingham Stairs

And now All Hallows Dead 

Five Secrets With Cozy Mystery Writer Marilyn Leach

It's my pleasure to bring you Marilyn Leach and her newest book Enigma of Fire.  

While the book is in pre-order, I just found out that if you order it (and you know you won't be billed until launch day) and Marilyn gets 300 preorders she will go mass market.
THIS IS HUGE!  

So if you're interested, and I love her books, please pre-order.

Before I expose the clandestine features of my life, let me just say thanks to LA for this fun opportunity.  I had an entertaining rummage into some truths that here-to-for have been relatively unknown.

1.  If it was possible, I’d not go food shopping at a big box grocer for the rest of my life.  Door to Door Organics, Schwans, the ice cream man:  all represent my kind of food procurement. They deliver. I will admit to enjoying farmer’s markets, but that’s seasonal in Colorado.  Sadly, endless food delivery is not a viable option for me at the moment.  So I soldier on at Safeway.

2. I’m a fairly good dancer.  I’ve taken classes in tap dancing (now a lost art), ballet, hula, folk, and cowboy line boogies.  I enjoyed them all and have even been complimented.  I also like an occasional silver glistening ball and the party dances it inspires.

3. But then, I’m an incredibly poor dancer.  Anything that relates to being held and guided by a partner is the kiss of mortification for me.  Ballroom dancing lessons, as much as I fancied them along with the dream of effortlessly floating across a romantic flood-lit floor, found me stumbling about, apologizing with every step and turn, and sending dance partners from seventeen to seventy scrambling for the door.

4. I love an occasional flutter at the horse track.  That’s why I don’t go.  For me, it has “bad habit” written all over it.  Only once have I gone home with less money than I brought.  That’s why it spells dangerous.  I discovered a winning technique that worked.  No studying of statistics, odds, or insider knowledge, but a practical winning system none-the-less.  I didn’t take home thousands, but it bolstered the readies.  However, I think I’ll keep my method to myself.  After all, we all need to keep some secrets or we wouldn’t be interesting.  Right?

5.  I can tell you one thing that is clearly not a secret.  I love to write.  And at the top of the list are British cozy mysteries.  I thank God for the opportunity to story-tell and share them with the world.

Now, what secrets are you ready to confess? I invite you to leave a comment. 

Blurb:
When English village, Aidan Kirkwood, experiences an explosive fire, the entire parish is aflame with rumor and innuendo until Berdie Elliott, the scorching sleuth and vicar’s wife, can douse the flames with cold, hard facts that expose the perpetrator. A heroic dog, elusive book, and military champions come together to reveal the enigma of fire.

Excerpt:
“Cedric, Don’t chance it. Please,” Doug’s voice trembled as he shot out the command.

“Don’t what?” Berdie asked herself as much as Doug.

“Down, Mrs. Elliott.” Doug’s eyes wide, his breathing was short and rapid for the toil of making his wheels go toward them as fast as he could manage.

“Down? What are you talking about?”

Berdie suddenly experienced a jolt to her body that propelled her to the ground with such force it left her breathless. A stab of pain coursed through her while the reverberation of full-on colliding trains penetrated her ears. The horrific ache that shot through her knees focused her senses as she tried to gather her thoughts. Grass etched itself into her cheek, making it itch. Then the smell of acrid smoke assaulted her nose. She worked to catch a breath of air. What’s happened?

Endorsement:
Are you an Agatha Christie fan? Does the thought of an English village make you long to grab your passport and head across the pond? Are cozy mysteries your cup of tea? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you won’t want to miss Marilyn Leach’s newest release, Enigma of Fire.
Intrepid heroine Berdie Elliott, a vicar’s wife whose sleuthing skills were honed as an investigative reporter, faces her most challenging mystery yet when her husband’s former military comrades come to the sleepy village of Aiden Kirkwood for a sculling regatta. From its riveting prologue to the final resolution, this story showcases Leach at her best.

~ Amanda Cabot, CBA and ECPA bestselling author

To Buy:
Amazon.com

Bio:

Marilyn Leach is a dyed-in-the-wool British enthusiast who lives lakeside near the Colorado foothills. She enjoys viewing and reading mysteries that originate across the pond. From the Scottish Boarders to Devon, city buzz to rural church bells, she enjoys excursions throughout the beautiful isle that inspire her writing. Her dear friends, who have become like family, live in Reading, England.

Find Marilyn:
Website | Amazon Author Page | Facebook