Cozy mystery

Happy Book Birthday

January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 Jackie Layton

Two of my good friends had a book release this week.

I’ve read Heather Weidner’s Murder Strikes a Chord already, and it’s a winner.

The Pearly Girls return to solve a high school reunion murder in this sequel to Murder Strikes a Chord.

Event planner Cassidy Jamison and her not-so-helpful sexagenarian staff of Roxie, Kate, Aileen, and Ruthanne are up to their elbows with a high school reunion committee’s constantly changing requirements for an event that must be the most elaborate and memorable at all costs.

When well-known reporter, Darcy Branch, and former cheerleader, Brittany Mahoney, are found dead on her property, Cassidy and the gang have to find the killer before the party’s over. And the more Cassidy and her Chihuahua mix, Elvis, dig for clues, the more deadly secrets they uncover—including one that changes everything she knows about her family’s history.

The Pearly Girls need to solve the case before the Class of 2009 goes down in Ivy Springs history as the deadliest reunion.

The Sasquatch of Hurricane Ridge by my friend, KB Jackson, also released this week.

Cryptids beware . . . Jake, Jasmine, and Lanny, the Sasquatch Hunters of Washington, Inc., are at it again in the fourth book of the ever-popular Sasquatch Hunters series!

Fresh from their adventure in Scotland, the Sasquatch Hunters are headed to the Olympic Peninsula, the place where it all began when Jake’s grandpa first saw a Bigfoot. However, they aren’t the only ones pursuing the legendary cryptids on the peninsula. The crew of Jake’s favorite TV show, Bigfoot Believers, is filming an episode there. Another young team of Sasquatch stalkers also arrives. Will a friendly rivalry turn ugly? And which team will be the first to prove Bigfoot exists and get their TV show shot at fame?

Jake, Jasmine, and Lanny, members of The Sasquatch Hunters of Washington, Inc., are in for their greatest challenge yet as they encounter extreme competition in their quest to locate a Bigfoot. In author K.B. Jackson’s fourth title in the series, readers will dive even further into the adventures of the Sasquatch hunters but also learn more about the characters themselves and how their personal lives come to define their friendships.

Congratulations to Heather and Kate!

Happy reading, friends!

Jackie

Wings of Deceit

January 5, 2026January 4, 2026 Jackie Layton

Today, I’d like to welcome my friend, Ruth J. Hartman.

Thanks, Jackie, for inviting me today!

Hi, everyone, 😊

I’m Ruth J. Hartman, and I write cozy mysteries with a feline twist. I’m so excited for the upcoming release of my newest book, Wings of Deceit. It’s Book 3 in my Seneca James Mysteries. Books 1 and 2, Butterfly Betrayal and Murder at the Painted Wings Café are available now.

The main character, Seneca, owns a butterfly farm and The Painted Wings Café. Her cousin, Evie, runs the café for her, along with their blustery but caring chef, Murray. And Seneca’s best friend is Cody, the town sheriff, who Seneca sometimes wishes was more than a friend.

Seneca has a secret weapon named Winifred. She’s Seneca’s ginger cat, who insists on wearing a different butterfly costume every day. Not only is Winifred an excellent little advertisement at the farm, she’s also a huge help when Seneca finds herself in the middle of yet another murder in Maple Junction.

In Wings of Deceit, a murder happens at a wedding reception. Once again, Seneca is nearby, since she’s there to do a monarch butterfly release for the bride and groom. She’s involved further when Evie, who’s just reconnected with her old boyfriend, comes to her for help. Evie’s boyfriend seems to be the main suspect!

Watch for the release of Wings of Deceit to see what happens next.

I have several books coming up in the future. My Bookshop Kitties Mysteries will be re-published with three new books added. And a brand new series will also be coming up this year too!

If you like quirky cozy mysteries with sidekick kitties, you might like my books.

Thanks for tuning in today. Looking forward to sharing my new books with you!

Ruth

Thanks so much, Ruth.

Happy reading, friends!

Jackie

Cozy mystery

It’s Back

December 8, 2025December 2, 2025 Jackie Layton

The owner of Bell Bridge Books decided to retire and close the business, and she gave me back the rights to Bite the Dust.

So, I have self-published a revised edition of Bite the Dust. Here’s the cover.

What do you think?

Here’s what Meez Carrie said about the book:

i fell in love with these characters!

“Before reading the latest Low Country Dog Walker mystery by Jackie Layton, I went back and (finally) read the 1st book, Bite the Dust, and promptly fell head over heels for this cast of characters. Particularly Andi Grace & Marc – and even more particularly Andi Grace & Marc together as a couple, pretend or otherwise. Their respective dogs burrowed quickly into my heart as well, and the supporting players who fill in the rest of the cast are also great additions. The plot of Bite the Dust was intriguing and complex, with plenty of surprising twists & turns that kept me on my figurative toes from start to finish. What impressed me the most, though, was the warm tone of the author’s writing voice – it’s a warmth that wraps around you as you read, without overpowering the story or making it saccharine. Instead, you just want to snuggle in & keep reading.”

Here’s another review on B&N. “Love Jackie’s books!

I love Jackie’s cozy mysteries. Andi Grace is a plucky, determined, and caring dog walker. In book one she’s trying to get her business off the ground when her dear friend and client is killed. Unfortunately the detective on the case pegs Andi Grace as a suspect. With help from a handsome new friend, she investigates the murder and discovers an unbelievable secret. The Low Country is the perfect place to spend some time as the story unfolds. I’ve read and reviewed book two of the series, Dog-Gone Dead, and loved it, too. If you enjoy clean, cozy mysteries, you’ll love this book. Take this one on vacation!”

And one more review on B&N: “Great new cozy mystery with great characters!

Bite The Dust is the debut of a new Christian cozy mystery with a lot of heart. The cozy mystery is intriguing with some twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! The characters are likable and interesting. Andi Grace has a dog walking business. She is dog sitting for her friend Peter. When she goes to his house to take care of his puppy, she finds him dead and meets Marc, Peter’s neighbor. There are several suspects but the same few stay on Andi Grace’s suspect list . My one observation is the only background we get on Marc is when he was a child but some aspects of his life are left up in the air, like why he quit practicing law. Maybe it will be resolved in the next book. This was a very enjoyable book and a very pleasant debut! I can’t wait to read the next book.”

Friends, reviews mean the world to me and to all authors. Thanks for your support and encouragement these past five years!

Here’s the blurb for Bite the Dust.

Secrets can be deadly.

One steamy South Carolina morning, Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott discovers a client’s dead body. Police quickly decide she’s the prime suspect. Horrified, she knows she’ll have to turn detective if she’s going to convince them they’re barking up the wrong tree.

Proving her innocence could be a tall order. The local police never solved the hit-and-run that killed her parents; Andi Grace isn’t sure they’ll solve this crime either…not when they have a convenient suspect—one caught with the possible murder weapon in her hand. She’ll have to follow every clue and call in every favor, even if that puts her in danger.

If you love strong heroines, coastal small-town life, and dogs, you’ll love Bite the Dust.

“Andi Grace is adorable, resilient, and has a doggedly curious need to solve a murder. A pleasure to read.” –C. Hope Clark, award winning author of Edisto Tidings

I hope you’re having a great month, and happy reading!

Jackie

Cozy mystery

A Slight Delay

November 11, 2025 Jackie Layton

Some of you may remember that today is the release day for Killer Secrets. Sadly, there has been a delay.

But that’s okay. I decided to share more about Kate Sloan and hopefully build excitement for the new book.

Kate Sloan is an empty nester who moved to her hometown of Fox Island to start an organizing business with her best friend, Bess Walker.

Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series, and Kate will solve her first mystery.

In The Con, Kate will rely on her organizing skills to solve another murder.

Have you ever stayed at a resort? I’ve been blessed to visit a couple of resorts in my life. They are like little cities. There are many employees, guests, and events. Fox Island, Georgia is a popular vacation spot. So, it made sense to add a resort on the island. And if you’ve read The Con, you know one murder takes place at the resort.

Killer Secrets takes us back to Fox Island’s popular resort Seaside Hideaway.

If you haven’t read this series yet, here are a couple of links.

Clutter Free https://amzn.to/3PuLRuL

The Con https://amzn.to/4fYAhmR

The books are also available at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other places.

Have you ever hired a professional organizer? Has it helped?

Or are you naturally organized? I’d love for you to share some organizing tips.

Until next time,

Happy reading!

Cozy mystery, Events

A Bookish Moment

November 1, 2025 Jackie Layton

November is going to be a fun month, starting with A Bookish Moment. https://youtube.com/live/Rr49iCZkA4k

If you’re not familiar with A Bookish Moment, it was created by two of my favorite people, Sarah E. Burr and J.C. Kenney. They are fun, and we’ll have a wonderful time.

I hope you can join us Thursday at 4:30 ET.

Until then,

Happy reading!

Jackie

Cozy mystery, holiday

A Zappy Little Christmas

October 20, 2025October 6, 2025 Jackie Layton

A Zappy Little Christmas in October? You bet. Paula Charles’ new book releases October 21, and I preordered it months ago. Isn’t the cover beautiful? I can’t wait to read it. Paula agreed to stop by the blog today, and here’s Paula.

Thank you, Jackie, for inviting me here today to chat about my newest book.

A Zappy Little Christmas is the third book in the Hometown Hardware mysteries. This series features Dawna Carpenter, the widowed owner of Carpenter’s Corner Hardware in the mountain town of Pine Bluff, Oregon.

In Zappy, Dawna, her daughter April, and elderly family friend Smitty are taking a festive tour on the town bus, dubbed the Christmas Light Trolley, to ooh and ahh over all the beautifully decorated homes in town.

Having them jump on the Christmas Light Trolley was inspired by a similar tour we took my husband’s grandmother on years ago when we all lived in Cody, Wyoming. That tour was just like the one I described in the book, (sans a dead body!), with festive treats, lights, and fun Christmas music pumping through the speakers. We all enjoyed it so much, and Grandma Mary’s eyes truly sparkled that night. When I thought about writing a Christmas cozy, I knew the trolley had to be included.

I hope you all enjoy your time experiencing Pine Bluff at Christmastime!

My website: Paula Charles Books | Paula Charles

From the back cover:

Silver bells ring out, but in the air there’s a feeling of…murder.

Pine Bluff, Oregon resembles a perfect cozy Christmas card. Sparkling Christmas trees line snowy main street. Wreaths, red ribbons, and colored lights adorn every door. Hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter is in a festive mood. She invites her elderly neighbor, Smitty, to join her and daughter April on the Christmas Light Tour, a trolley that takes guests through all the best decorated neighborhoods while they enjoy steaming mugs of hot cocoa and scrumptious treats.

But when Smitty spies one of the homeowners dead—a macabre decoration in an otherwise merry display—the cheerful ride turns somber fast. Dawna notices the ghost of the deceased woman standing next to the display, clearly angry over her recent demise. As snow blankets the valley and her newest employee is implicated in the crime, it’s up to Dawna to find out who’s been naughty and who’s been nice—before it’s lights out for her, too.

Thanks for sharing, Paula. Congratulations on A Zappy Little Christmas!

Cozy mystery

Save the Date

October 18, 2025 Jackie Layton

I’m excited to share that my newest book, Killer Secrets, will release on November 11.

Here’s the back cover copy…

Speed dating sabotage?

Or straight-up murder?

Kate Sloan’s best friend Bess Walker decides to try speed dating and convinces Kate to go with her for moral support.

The night of the event is filled with many emotions. Excitement, hope, jealousy, fear, greed, and even anger. Emotions spiral out of control for one person.

Before the second round, the event’s host is murdered.

Kate will use her skills at organizing, list-making, and questioning to try and solve the murder. Can she unravel the mystery before the killer leaves town for the next weekend of singles events?

And now, drum roll please, the cover reveal.

Cozy mystery

Fall is the Season to Fall for a Good Book

September 16, 2025September 11, 2025 Jackie Layton

The days are cooler and shorter. What’s cozier than curling up with a good book?

If you haven’t read all my books yet, this is a good season to catch up.

In a few months, Killer Secrets, the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series will release. Stay tuned for a cover reveal and more information on the release.

Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

What are you looking forward to reading this fall?