Little Shop of Murders: Review and Guest Post
Little Shop of Murders is a collection of short mysteries by 15 authors, and we are fortunate to have Geraldine Moorkens Byrne here to share some background on her musical Dublin mystery, "Requiem for a Violin." Also--be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the post--four print cozy mysteries!
The Little Shop of Murders (Collected Cozy Mysteries) By Millie Ravensworth, ACF Bookens, Geraldine Byrne, Rachel McLean, Diane Kelly, Nikki Knight, London Lovett, Lise McClendon, Flora McGowan, Kathryn Mykel, J. New, Eryn Scott, Debbie Young, Victoria Tait, Carlene O’Connor
THE LITTLE SHOP of MURDERS (COLLECTED COZY MYSTERIES)
By Millie
Ravensworth, ACF Bookens, Geraldine Byrne, Rachel McLean, Diane
Kelly, Nikki Knight, London Lovett, Lise McClendon, Flora McGowan,
Kathryn Mykel, J. New, Eryn Scott, Debbie Young, Victoria
Tait, Carlene O’Connor
About The Little Shop of Murders
The Little Shop of Murders (Collected Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery Anthology
Pigeon Park Press (April 1, 2023)
Number of Pages – 260
ASIN : B0BVG2LM9H
GoodReads
Book shops, boutiques and small businesses are the lifeblood of small towns but what secrets lie behind those pretty display windows and in the alleyways behind these charming streets?
Step inside for a personal retail experience like no other!
‘The Little Shop of Murders’ collects together fifteen superb cozy mysteries written by some of the finest authors in the genre.
All author and publisher profits from the sale of this book go to children’s charities, helping those most in need.
Stories include:
Don’t Toy with Me by Diane Kelly
A Man With No Imagination by Millie Ravensworth
The Forget-Me-Not Antiques Mystery by Victoria Tait
It Was Our Song by Nikki Knight
Always and Furever by Eryn Scott
Wild Irish Dreams by Lise McClendon
Architect of a Murder by Carlene O’Connor
Blooms and Blackmail by London Lovett
Secondhand Murder by J. New
The Lady of the House by Flora McGowan
Requiem for a Violin by Geraldine Byrne
Nightly Nuisance by Kathryn Mykel
The Gift of Dragons by ACF Bookens
Nowhere to Hide by Debbie Young
Murder in the Bookshop by Rachel McLean
My Mini-Review:
Guest Post from Geraldine Moorkens Byrne
A little about me, to introduce myself. My name is Geraldine Moorkens Byrne, and I am a poet and mystery writer from Dublin, Ireland. The Moorkens in my name is Belgian, from my mother’s family. The Byrne is all Irish!
When I say I’m a poet and mystery writer, people give me a “look.” Admittedly, on the surface it’s an odd combination but for me, poetry is a matter of teasing out the mystery of human emotions and dilemmas. My poetry is rooted in my Irish heritage, mythology and history. My mysteries are set in modern Ireland, especially my beloved Dublin, and are also full of Irish history and heritage. So, not as far apart as people might imagine.
My traditional murder mystery series is The Caroline Jordan Mysteries, based on a PR company in Dublin. The heroine, Caroline, is an ambitious, sometimes ruthless but basically decent woman, with a glittering clientele of politicians, bankers, and socialites. I also write cozy mysteries under both my own name and the pen name, Nina Hayes. Nina is a family name, and Hayes was my paternal grandmother’s surname. As Nina, I write the Old Bat Chronicles, a magical series set in charming Bramble Lane, in a leafy suburb of (you’ve guessed it) Dublin.
The Little Shop of Murders is not just a great read, but will raise money for three children’s charities. The Irish charity that will benefit is the Ronald McDonald House, which provides safe and caring accommodation for the families of sick children attending the Children’s Hospital in Crumlin. I live fifteen minutes from the hospital – my youngest recently spent five days there. Because we live so near, we were able to be with him day and night, but I realized how hard it would have been if we weren’t from Dublin or the stay was much longer. It was a personal comfort that my little story might help raise money for other families in that situation.
Contributing a story to The Little Shop of Murders has been a great experience for other reasons too. Some of the other authors were already known to me, and I am delighted to share paper with them. Others are new to me, and it’s been such a pleasure connecting with them. Reading all their stories was a treat; there really is something for everyone in this anthology. Writing my story, Requiem for a Violin, prompted me to write a tale that has been on my mind, and in my heart, for a very long time. My “Little Shop of Murder” is a music shop, based on the one I ran for my family for thirty years.
The real music shop existed for one hundred and fifty years, and was the oldest family owned music shop in Ireland and one of the oldest in Europe. The building itself is a listed building, which is lovely but also meant it had no actual heating. Many a winter’s day was spent huddling over a plug in radiator! But it was a lovely business, and brought us into contact with unforgettable characters and talented musicians. I enjoyed creating its fictional counterpart so much, I am already half way through the first in The Music Shop Mysteries, featuring the wonderful Mrs. O’Brien and her young protégé Michael. Don’t tell her, but she is based on my own fabulous mother, who stood behind that counter until she was almost ninety years of age.
Writing about my city is an enduring pleasure for me, and through the Music Shop Mysteries I feel like I am keeping my own piece of its history alive. If you ever get to visit Dublin, make sure you check out the Creative Quarter, the area around South Great Georges Street, Drury Street, South William Street and Stephen Street Lower – my street. I may be slightly biased but it’s the best area, filled with independent retailers and restaurants, great coffee shops and pubs, and every street has a wealth of history. Design, fashion, market stalls, music, jewellery – the best Ireland has to offer. Did I mention the food? Eat your way around the area and you’ll never regret it!
The National Concert Hall sits on the corner of Earlsfort terrace, a ten-minute walk from my real/fictional music shop. Treat yourself to an evening there; I promise murders rarely happen in real life.
The Little Shop of Murders anthology will take you to many place, all of them worth the visit, and I hope you enjoy your trip to my Dublin, and Mrs. O’Brien’s music shop.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll be sure to take your advice if I ever make it to Dublin!
About the Authors
Victoria Tait
Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her experiences following her military husband to write cozy murder mystery books with vivid and evocative settings. Her determined female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and you’ll experience surprises, humour and sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings.
Link to My Dotty Sayers series:– https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TMJFL7L
Carlene O’Connor
Carlene O’Connor is the USA Today bestselling author of The Irish Village Mysteries, Home to Ireland Mysteries, and the new County Kerry Mystery series. Her mysteries have been translated into German, Estonia, and UK markets thus far and the Irish Village Mysteries have been optioned for television. Readers are encouraged to get in touch via Facebook, Goodreads, Book Bub, or through the contact form on CarleneOConnor.net. An admitted wanderer, Carlene spends as much time in Ireland as possible while currently residing in California and Chicago. She is always up for joining events via Zoom or in person.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carlene-OConnor/author/B01BJ1KOFY
Eryn Scott
Eryn Scott is the author of heartwarming cozy mysteries. Her Whiskers and Words cozy mystery series features deep friendships, strong families, a tight-knit small town, twisty mysteries, and a whole lot of adorable cats. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest with a handful of beloved animals. She enjoys knitting, hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and reading.
Link to my series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09LTWVPTG?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks
Flora McGowan
Flora McGowan is the author of the Carrie and Keith Mysteries, novels and short stories. Her stories combine a mix of mystery with the mystical and supernatural, often with an historical element as well as a touch of humour and a dash of romance. Flora was born in Dorset and has spent most, but not all, of her life there, and many of her stories are based in this locale. Flora enjoys travelling, taking inspiration from the places she visits. You can catch up with Flora via Goodreads, her blog, Facebook, Instagram or BookBub.
Flora McGowan on Amazon
Nikki Knight
Nikki Knight describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York City’s top all-news radio station, 1010 WINS, she writes mysteries including LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD, a Vermont Radio Mystery from Crooked Lane, and as Kathleen Marple Kalb, the Ella Shane and Old Stuff series. Her short stories appear online and in anthologies, and have been short-listed for Black Orchid Novella and Derringer Awards. She, her husband and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.
Book link: Live, Local, and Dead (A Vermont Radio Mystery)
Diane Kelly
Diane Kelly writes funny stories that feature feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed friends. Diane is the author of over three dozen novels and novellas, including the Death & Taxes white-collar crime series, the Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the House Flipper cozy mystery series, the Busted female motorcycle cop series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series. Find Diane online at DianeKelly.com, on Twitter and Instagram @DianeKellyBooks, and on Facebook at her Author Diane Kelly page.
Link to the first book in my House Flipper series – Dead as a Door Knocker: https://amzn.to/2oE3Epb
J New
J. New is the author of The Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries. Immerse yourself in country house murders, dastardly deeds at English Church fetes, daring escapades in the French Riviera and the secret tunnels under London, in the award-winning series readers call, ‘Miss Marple’ meets ‘The Ghost Whisperer.’ She also writes two contemporary mystery series: Tea & Sympathy featuring Lilly Tweed, former Agony Aunt now purveyor of fine teas and Finch & Fischer with mobile librarian Penny Finch and her rescue dog Fischer at the helm. Jacquie lives in the North of England with her partner and an assortment of rescue animals.
London Lovett
London Lovett is a cozy mystery author and connoisseur of delicious baked goods.
Many readers have called her Port Danby Cozy Mystery series a ‘new favorite’. Port Danby features a small town florist with a powerful sense of smell. Lacey ‘Pink’ Pinkerton uses her impressive nose to help solve crimes as an amateur sleuth alongside her detective boyfriend, James Briggs. Blooms and Blackmail is a Port Danby short story.
You can keep up with London’s books and access some delicious recipes on her website: www.londonlovett.com
Link to Marigolds and Murder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NB3B54
Debbie Young
Debbie Young writes two popular cozy mystery series featuring Sophie Sayers, set in a Cotswold village, and Gemma Lamb, set at a girls’ boarding school. One book in each series was shortlisted for the Bookbrunch Selfies Awards for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. She is founder of the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival, UK Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors, and a course tutor for Jericho Writers. She writes in the Plotting Shed at the bottom of her cottage garden. Her novels are now published by Boldwood Books and she is represented by the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BBQHC2G1
Here’s the Amazon UK link for the whole series (the 8th book is up for preorder and will be published on 15th March):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BGQHG246?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks
Here are the links for my website and social media: www.authordebbieyoung.com
Facebook: @AuthorDebbieYoung
Twitter: @DebbieYoungBN
Instagram: @debbieyoungauthor
ACF Bookens
ACF Bookens lives in Virginia’s Southwestern Mountains with two hound dogs and a very energetic preschooler. When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching shows with teenagers who are way cooler than she ever was and cross-stitch. You can find her books at acfbookens.com
Link to my first book on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XVQDQ58/
Kathryn Mykel
Kathryn Mykel is the author of the Award-Winning Sewing Suspicion – A Quilting Cozy Mystery. Kathryn is inspired by the laugh-out-loud and fanciful aspects of cozies. Kathryn Mykel aims to write lighthearted, humorous cozies surrounding her passion for the craft of quilting. Born and raised in a small New England town—Kathryn is an avid quilter.
Sewing Suspicion – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HVC4K2N
Lise McCLendon
Lise McClendon is the author of numerous novels of crime and suspense. Her bestselling Bennett Sisters Mysteries continue to charm readers worldwide. Her first mystery series was set in Jackson, Wyoming, featuring art dealer, Alix Thorssen. When not writing about foreign lands and dastardly criminals, Lise lives in Montana with her husband and has recently become a fan of sunny winters in the desert. She enjoys fly fishing, hiking, picking raspberries in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. She has served on the national boards of directors of Mystery Writers of America and the International Association of Crime Writers/North America, as well as the faculty of the Jackson Hole Writers Conference.
Books: Bennett Sisters Mysteries: https://amzn.to/3Iyijt8. Alix Thorssen series: https://amzn.to/3W05kmY
Geraldine Byrne
Geraldine Moorkens Byrne is an Irish mystery writer, poet and educator. She lives with her family in Dublin where many of her stories are set, especially The Caroline Jordan series. When not dreaming up modern murder mysteries, she knits, crochets and teaches classes on Irish folk traditions. Until 2021 she owned Ireland’s oldest family owned music shop, the basis for “Requiem for a Violin.” Mrs. O’Brien and friends will return in their own series in 2023, The Music Shop Mysteries.
She also writes a magical cosy mystery series, The Old Bat Chronicles under the pen name Nina Hayes.
Geraldine Moorkens Byrne Author@celebratingwords.com Www.CelebratingWords.com
Millie Ravensworth
Millie Ravensworth has been writing (and sewing!) for years, and it seemed like a natural step to combine the two things in a series of cozy mysteries. She lives in England and has an adorable dog who likes to be at her side when she is sewing / writing, but he’d much rather she played fetch with his favourite toy!
Izzy King and Penny Slipper who appear in the story in this collection can also be found in the Cozy Craft Mystery books that are available to read now.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Millie-Ravensworth/e/B0BP2T4SV3/
Rachel McLean
Rachel McLean is an award-winning crime author who writes UK-based police procedurals. She is best known for the Dorset Crime series and the DI Zoe Finch series set in her home city of Birmingham. Book 1 in the Dorset Crime series, The Corfe Castle Murders, won the Kindle Storyteller Award 2021. Her new McBride and Tanner series is set around Loch Lomond in Scotland. Link to Zoe books: https://geni.us/zoefinch
A full bibliography and reading order can be found at rachelmclean.com/bibliography
Purchase Link – Amazon – The Little Shop of Murder
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
April 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
April 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 4 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
April 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 5 – Nadaness In Motion – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 6 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT
April 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 7 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 7 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
April 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
April 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
April 9 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
April 10 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
April 10 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 12 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
April 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
April 13 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
April 13 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
April 14 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
April 15 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
April 15 – Rebecca Douglass, Author – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 16 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT
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