LUCY BURDETTE: Ready or not, here comes the new year and we’re all together in exactly the right place: around the kitchen table! We thought it might be a good time to let you know what’s coming over the next 12 months in our writing lives…I’ll start…The Mango Murders, the 15th book in the Key West food critic mystery series, will be out on August 12. It begins with a literal bang and ends with one too. I work hard to think of new settings and events to highlight for each book--I think you’ll enjoy this!
I’ve been working on another project that will available soon—the new edition of the Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook. This is the cookbook that played a major role in A DISH TO DIE FOR. The former editions are out of print and the club wanted to update and bring out a new one. I (insert crazy emoji) volunteered to be the editor. We’ve just seen the first copy—it’s a compendium of all the old recipes and sketches, along with some new ones. So much wonderful history!
I’ve been working on another project that will available soon—the new edition of the Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook. This is the cookbook that played a major role in A DISH TO DIE FOR. The former editions are out of print and the club wanted to update and bring out a new one. I (insert crazy emoji) volunteered to be the editor. We’ve just seen the first copy—it’s a compendium of all the old recipes and sketches, along with some new ones. So much wonderful history!
How about you MLK-ers—what can we look forward to in 2025?
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MADDIE DAY: SCONE COLD DEAD, Country Store Mystery #13, will be out April 1, and I'm so excited to bring the story to my devoted fans. It starts with a baby shower and ends with a birth!
Robbie is just weeks away from giving birth. The stranger is causing a stir in town, and Robbie’s Aunt Adele appears unusually preoccupied at the baby shower. But when someone finds a body in the ram field on Adele’s sheep farm, it’s Robbie’s turn to be worried. Especially after Chief Buck Bird uncovers a troubling link between Adele and the possible murder victim. Robbie has no choice but to knit the clues together and solve this mystery before anything else gets flocked up.
My next book out will be MURDER AT CAPE COSTUMERS, Cozy Capers Book Group #7, which begins at Halloween and sees some big changes in Mac Almeida's life. It will release on August 26.
As Pepper’s questions threaten to unearth secrets others desperately want to keep buried, danger creeps closer to her and those she loves. Can Pepper root out the killer, before someone nips her in the bud?
LESLIE KARST: Aloha all, and happy new year! I'm thrilled to say that book two in my Orchid Isle mysteries, WATERS OF DESTRUCTION, releases on April 1: 
After a vacation of a lifetime in Hilo, Hawai‘i, retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have decided to move permanently to the beautiful – if storm-prone – Big Island. The couple are having fun furnishing their new house, exploring their new neighborhood and playing with their new little dog, Pua. But while they’ve made good friends with local restaurant manager Sachiko and her partner Isaac, they can’t help but feel a little lonely.
So when Sachiko begs Val to fill in for a member of her bar team who’s gone AWOL, Val dusts off her cocktail shaker and happily agrees. It’s a great chance to meet more people – and learn the local gossip. Such as about Hank, the missing bartender, who vanished after a team-building retreat at a local beauty spot a week ago, and hasn’t been seen since. Until, that is, his body turns up at the bottom of the waterfall, and the police seem very interested in where Sachiko was at the time of his death.
Layla Virtue, a blue-haired, 30-something recovering alcoholic and former cop is trying to reinvent herself as a musician—between AA meetings, dodging eccentric neighbors at her trailer park, and reconnecting with her mysterious dad—in this unforgettable new mystery brimming with hilarity and heart for readers of Margot Douaihy, Jane Pek, and Darynda Jones.
Layla is taking her new life one day at a time from the Lake Pinecrest Trailer Park she now calls home. Being alone is how she likes it. Simple. Uncomplicated. Though try telling that to the group of local ladies who are in relentless pursuit of Layla as their new BFF, determined to make her join them for coffee and donuts.
Meanwhile, since her first career ended in a literal explosion, Layla’s trying to eke out a living as a rock musician. It’s not easy competing against garage bands who work for tacos and create their music on a computer, while all she has is an electric guitar and leather-ish pants. But Layla isn’t in a position to turn down any gig. Which is why she’s at an 8-year-old’s birthday party, watching as Chuckles the Clown takes a bow under the balloon animals. No one expects it will be his last.
Who would want to kill a clown—and why? Layla and her unshakable posse are suddenly embroiled in the seedy underbelly of the upper-class world of second wives and trust fund kids, determined to uncover what magnetic hold a pudgy, balding clown had over women who seem to have everything they could ever want. Then again, Layla knows full well that people are rarely quite what they seem—herself included.
Also in 2025 I'll have four short stories appearing! "When the Iron is Hot" will be out in ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE in the March/April edition, which goes on sale in mid February. I'll also have "Crashing Down" in a party-crashing anthology in the spring; "When Crime Pays" in SKINNING THE POKE, a story from the point of view of a child pickpocket in 1926 Boston; and "A Little Help," another 1926 story, in an anthology where each story breaks one of S.S. Van Dine's rules of detective fiction. Release dates of the last two collections are TBD.
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LESLIE BUDEWITZ: Lavender Lies Bleeding, the 9th Spice Shop mystery, will be out July 15. Here's the scoop:
At Seattle Spice Shop, owner Pepper Reece has whipped up the perfect blend of food, friends, and flavor. But the sweet smell of success can be hazardous . . .
Spring is in full bloom in Pike Place Market, where Pepper is celebrating lavender’s culinary uses and planning a festival she hopes will become an annual event. When her friend Lavender Liz offers to share tips for promoting the much-loved—and occasionally maligned—herb, Pepper makes a trek to the charming town of Salmon Falls. But someone has badly damaged Liz’s greenhouse, throwing a wrench in the feisty grower’s plans for expansion. Suspicions quickly focus on an employee who’s taken to the hills, though Liz herself is not convinced.
Then Liz is found dead among her precious plants, stabbed by a pruning knife. In Salmon Falls, there’s one in every pocket.
Pepper digs in, untangling the tensions between Liz and a local restaurateur with eyes on a picturesque but neglected farm, a jealous ex-boyfriend determined to profit from Liz’s success, and a local growers’ cooperative. She’s also hot on the scent of a trail of her own, sniffing out the history of her sweet dog, Arf.
Spring is in full bloom in Pike Place Market, where Pepper is celebrating lavender’s culinary uses and planning a festival she hopes will become an annual event. When her friend Lavender Liz offers to share tips for promoting the much-loved—and occasionally maligned—herb, Pepper makes a trek to the charming town of Salmon Falls. But someone has badly damaged Liz’s greenhouse, throwing a wrench in the feisty grower’s plans for expansion. Suspicions quickly focus on an employee who’s taken to the hills, though Liz herself is not convinced.
Then Liz is found dead among her precious plants, stabbed by a pruning knife. In Salmon Falls, there’s one in every pocket.
Pepper digs in, untangling the tensions between Liz and a local restaurateur with eyes on a picturesque but neglected farm, a jealous ex-boyfriend determined to profit from Liz’s success, and a local growers’ cooperative. She’s also hot on the scent of a trail of her own, sniffing out the history of her sweet dog, Arf.
No cover yet, but I can tell you I loved visiting local lavender growers. I've grown and cooked with lavender for years, but learned so much from the experts!
And I hope to have a couple of short stories out, too -- more on that later in the year!
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So when Sachiko begs Val to fill in for a member of her bar team who’s gone AWOL, Val dusts off her cocktail shaker and happily agrees. It’s a great chance to meet more people – and learn the local gossip. Such as about Hank, the missing bartender, who vanished after a team-building retreat at a local beauty spot a week ago, and hasn’t been seen since. Until, that is, his body turns up at the bottom of the waterfall, and the police seem very interested in where Sachiko was at the time of his death.
Sachiko couldn’t have killed him . . . could she? Val dives into the murky waters of the case, determined to find out.
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LIBBY KLEIN: I'm not just releasing a new book. I've got a whole new series debuting next year. The Layla Virtue Mysteries drops in April of 2025 and brings a whole new quirky cast of characters, and layers of mysteries.
Layla is taking her new life one day at a time from the Lake Pinecrest Trailer Park she now calls home. Being alone is how she likes it. Simple. Uncomplicated. Though try telling that to the group of local ladies who are in relentless pursuit of Layla as their new BFF, determined to make her join them for coffee and donuts.
Meanwhile, since her first career ended in a literal explosion, Layla’s trying to eke out a living as a rock musician. It’s not easy competing against garage bands who work for tacos and create their music on a computer, while all she has is an electric guitar and leather-ish pants. But Layla isn’t in a position to turn down any gig. Which is why she’s at an 8-year-old’s birthday party, watching as Chuckles the Clown takes a bow under the balloon animals. No one expects it will be his last.
Who would want to kill a clown—and why? Layla and her unshakable posse are suddenly embroiled in the seedy underbelly of the upper-class world of second wives and trust fund kids, determined to uncover what magnetic hold a pudgy, balding clown had over women who seem to have everything they could ever want. Then again, Layla knows full well that people are rarely quite what they seem—herself included.
Check out my promo video.
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VICKI DELANY: Thanks
so much for asking, Lucy. I’m now happily
settled into a comfortable release schedule with all four of my current series still
ongoing.
Last,
but definitely not least, we have the as yet unnamed eighth Year-Round Christmas
book in September.
All
of the books, except for the Year-Round Christmas book, are now available for
pre-order.
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KORINA MOSS: I'm excited to have my sixth Cheese Shop Mystery releasing on April 29th.
In Korina Moss's Bait and Swiss, Yarrow Glen’s newest business gives one unlucky resident the swiss of death.
It’s been almost two years since Willa Bauer opened Curds & Whey in Yarrow Glen, and both cheesemonger and cheese shop are thriving in the Sonoma Valley. While Willa doesn’t eat chocolate, it’s true that life is like a box of chocolates. Unfortunately, life’s latest curveball is that Willa’s ex fiancé and ex-best friend—the reason for her chocolate aversion—are opening a chocolate pop-up shop across the street. By the end of the shop’s first day, the town’s newest reporter is the victim of death by chocolate. Now Willa’s ex wants her to be Swiss Congeniality, solve the case, and save the day. As much as Willa wants to hit him with the nearest cheese wheel, she can't stop herself from saying yes. And it’s not long before tourists decide to stay clear of town until the killer is caught. To save Yarrow Glen, Willa and Team Cheese have some work to do.
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VMBURNS: I have three new books coming out in 2025, one from each of my series. February 25, 2025 the 10th book in my Mystery Bookshop Mystery series will be released, THE NEXT DEADLY CHAPTER.
All Sam wanted was to make a good impression on her fiancé Frank’s mother, the very proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. But when Nano Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village throw a surprise bridal shower for Sam at the Four Feathers Casino—watch out! Things spin out of control faster than a roulette wheel. Fortunately, Sam knows when to fold ’em and slips back to her room to work on her latest historical mystery set between the wars, in which a houseguest meets a grim end at an English country manor.
The morning after brings another rude surprise. Sam gets a frantic call from Camilia, who’s discovered a dead body in her room. Now winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law means keeping the good doctor out of a potential scandal and attempting to discreetly solve a murder without ruffling any feathers. For that she’ll need the help of Nano Jo—not exactly the soul of discretion—Detective “Stinky” Pitt, and the ladies—because the casino killer keeps upping the ante...
Writing as Kallie E. Benjamin, the 2nd book in my Bailey the Bloodhound series, HOUNDING A KILLER, will release on May 6, 2025.
After the new arrival riles up several other locals with petty arguments, the once sleepy town goes barking mad. Before long, the wealthy bachelor disappears without a trace, and the police suspect foul play. Bailey’s tracking instincts helped them collar the last criminal in Crosbyville, so the cops turn to Pris and her sweet hound to track down David.
But on their search-and-rescue mission, Pris and Bailey sniff out fraud, theft, and a body. Before they know it, both are hackles-deep inside another homicide investigation. Can the unlikely duo chase down the killer, or will they be left chasing their own tails?
Last, but not least, the 4th book in my Baker Street Mystery series, ICING ON THE MURDER, will release.
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PEG COCHRAN/MARGARET LOUDON: Next up is the tenth book in my Cranberry Cove Series. So far, the first chapter is completed along with a sketchy outline for the rest of the book. The title is going to be Where the Bodies Are Berried. I don't have a cover yet or a publication date, a blurb or, for that matter, even a deadline. But something tells me I'll be hearing about a deadline soon. The plot revolves around a murder at an event being held at Sassamanash Farm--Have Your Pet's Picture Taken With Santa--a fund raiser for the local animal shelter. Meanwhile, if you haven't read it, catch up with the gang in Cranberry Cove in the ninth book in the series--A Berry Suspicious Murder.
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MOLLY MACRAE: What a bunch of great books coming from all you cooks! I’m
happy to add my news, There’ll be Shell to Pay, book 2 in my Haunted
Shell Shop Mysteries, comes out at the end of June, and here’s the fabulous
cover. 
Maureen is still getting used to life on Ocracoke Island, learning how to play the “shell game” of her business—and ghost whispering with the spirit of Emrys Lloyd, the eighteenth-century Welsh pirate who haunts her shop, The Moon Shell. The spectral buccaneer has unburied a treasure hidden in the shop’s attic that turns out to be antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband’s family years ago.
Victor “Shelly” Sullivan and his wife Lenrose visit the shop and specifically inquire about these rare items. Not only is it suspicious that this shell collector should arrive around the time Maureen found the art, but Emrys insists that Sullivan’s wife is an imposter because Lenrose is dead. A woman’s corpse the police have been unable to identify was discovered by the Fig Ladies, a group who formed an online fig appreciation society. They’re meeting on Ocracoke for the first time in person and count Lenrose among their number, so the woman can’t possibly be dead.
But Lenrose’s behavior doesn’t quite match the person the Fig Ladies interacted with online. Now, Maureen and Emrys—with assistance from the Fig Ladies—must prove the real Lenrose is dead and unmask her mysterious pretender before a desperate murderer strikes again.
CLEO COYLE: As for Marc and I, we have a new release coming in our long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series, No Roast for the Weary. ☕ With plenty of twists, turns, and humor, this is a fun and unique entry for us, inspired by our many years of living and working as writers in NYC. Look for it’s release on April 1st (no foolin’)! As for the plot…
DEADLY CRUSH by Maddie Day
HONEY ROASTED by Cleo Coyle
COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER
by Molly MacRae
When she’s not selling seashells by the North Carolina
seashore from her shell shop, Maureen Nash is a crime-solving sleuth with a
ghost pirate for a supernatural sidekick...
Maureen is still getting used to life on Ocracoke Island, learning how to play the “shell game” of her business—and ghost whispering with the spirit of Emrys Lloyd, the eighteenth-century Welsh pirate who haunts her shop, The Moon Shell. The spectral buccaneer has unburied a treasure hidden in the shop’s attic that turns out to be antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband’s family years ago.
Victor “Shelly” Sullivan and his wife Lenrose visit the shop and specifically inquire about these rare items. Not only is it suspicious that this shell collector should arrive around the time Maureen found the art, but Emrys insists that Sullivan’s wife is an imposter because Lenrose is dead. A woman’s corpse the police have been unable to identify was discovered by the Fig Ladies, a group who formed an online fig appreciation society. They’re meeting on Ocracoke for the first time in person and count Lenrose among their number, so the woman can’t possibly be dead.
But Lenrose’s behavior doesn’t quite match the person the Fig Ladies interacted with online. Now, Maureen and Emrys—with assistance from the Fig Ladies—must prove the real Lenrose is dead and unmask her mysterious pretender before a desperate murderer strikes again.
When the Village Blend opens a Writer's Block Lounge, a cold case crime turns up the heat on Clare and her crew…
As much as master roaster Clare Cosi adores coffee the landmark shop she manages won't survive if she doesn't sell enough of it. So when the Village Blend's customer traffic grinds to a halt, she turns to her staff for creative ideas, and the Writer's Block Lounge is born. Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the shop, is upset by this news. Years ago, a group of accomplished writers used the shop's second-floor lounge to inspire each other, but the group disbanded when something dark occurred. Though that history is shrouded in mystery, Clare presses forward. Soon the Village Blend tables are filled with aspiring novelists, playwrights, and poets, all happy to be coaxed, cajoled, and caffeinated by her coffeehouse crew. Clare admires the stamina of these scribes, many of them toiling at night jobs—driving taxis, tending bar, ushering for Broadway—while penning projects during the day. Then one of their fictions turns fatal when a shocking secret leads to a deadly end. Unless Clare can untangle this mystery, uncover the truth, and stop a desperate killer, she fears more of these weary writers may be marked for eternal rest. ☕ No Roast for the Weary, Cleo Coyle's 21st Coffeehouse Mystery, is a gripping culinary mystery with a knockout menu of recipes!
GIVEAWAY!
Comment on our post to win these 6 great mysteries! Include your email address so we may contact the winner.
✨ Giveaway Prize Package ✨
THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS
by Lucy Burdette
by Lucy Burdette
FONDUE OR DIE by Korina Moss
A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH
by Valerie Burns
by Valerie Burns
DEADLY CRUSH by Maddie Day
HONEY ROASTED by Cleo Coyle
COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER
by Molly MacRae
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