I had an appointment to view a small house to rent in West Hollywood. It was my second day in Los Angeles having just moved—with my ten-year-old daughter and two cats—from a tiny English village to pursue a screenwriting dream. Luckily, I had a job lined up at New Line Cinema and a green card. …
Chapter One “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean.” Anxiety pooled in the pit of my stomach, and I knew it had to be reflected in my face because my sister, Margot, grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Nigel Hearst, my newly deceased husband’s accountant, regarded me with sympathy. “I’m…
We teamed up with five cozy mystery writers to create a short story in real-time. The end result was “Sweet Voodoo Magic” which you can read in full below! A special thank you goes out to the participating authors (in order of appearance): Hannah Dennison, S.C. Perkins, Donna Andrews, Diane Kelly, and Ellie Alexander. The…
Evie Mead has had a rough week. Her beloved husband Robert has died suddenly. His lawyer informs her that his fortune has disappeared via bad investments. And she discovers that all that may be left is a hotel on the remote Tregarrick Rock, off the English coast. All Evie wants to do is hide away…
Every Wednesday, we here at Criminal Element will put together a list of Staff Picks of the books that published the day before—sharing the ones that we are looking forward to reading the most! This week, we're delving into some of our favorite series! Pamela Wechsler released the newest thrilling Abby Endicott novel, and Hannah…
Hannah Dennison's Honeychurch Hall series isn't the only thing set in the West Country, UK—countless movies and television shows have been filmed in Devon and Cornwall. Read about some of Hannah Dennison's favorites, and then make sure to sign in and comment below for a chance to win a copy of the 4th Honeychurch Hall…
What do you do when the only copy of your manuscript is lost in transit? Get Ravished with a few cocktails and start investigating! And I think this week's Pick Your Poison—where we create a cocktail inspired by a recently published mystery, thriller, or crime novel—is the perfect cocktail for the job: the “Honeychurch Highball”…
Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison is the 4th book in the Honeychurch Hall series (available May 2, 2017). When the only copy of Ravished, Iris Stanford’s new manuscript, never arrives at her London publisher’s office, her daughter Kat investigates the tiny local village post office, where it appears the package never left…
Discover (or remember to order) your next cozy with a delightfully convenient shopping list of upcoming soft-boiled mysteries! Last month, we got April showers and great cozies; this month, we get beautiful weather and more amazing books! Let us know in the comments how you like it and what you can't wait to read next!…
When Downton Abbey finally ended after six glorious seasons, I don’t think I was alone in feeling an acute sense of loss. Even my husband was maudlin for about three days after the finale. On the whole, it was a satisfying ending, where all the storylines—both upstairs and down—were tied up neatly. Even poor Lady…
