Kinship. Most simply, Kinship is the name I assigned to the county seat at the heart of fictional Bronwyn County in which Lily Ross— inspired by Maude Collins, Ohio’s true first female county sheriff in 1925—investigates the murder of her husband. But just as Kinship is the heart of the beautiful yet challenging Appalachian county…
Not long after I completed the final draft of The Widows—the debut title of my Kinship Mystery Series, inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff in 1925—my husband and I were enjoying a Friday night like the introverts we are: reading. (But in the same room.) My husband happened to be reading an article online…
Inspired by the true story of Ohio’s first female sheriff, The Widows by Jess Montgomery is a powerful debut about two women’s search for justice as they take on the corruption at the heart of their community. The characters in Jess Montgomery’s debut novel, The Widows, wait for signs. The cry of a hawk wheeling in…
A Welcome Murder by Robin Yocum is set in the gritty Rust Belt town of Steubenville, Ohio, told through the perspectives of five different, deeply memorable characters. Steubenville’s (Ohio) population has been declining since it peaked in 1940. According to Wikipedia, a 2010 census shows the number of residents has decreased faster than any other urban…
New York Times bestselling authors Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris investigate the 2009 death of a young Amish wife and mother. Faith, sex, and betrayal feature prominently as Olsen and Morris uncover the truth about who murdered the devout Barbara Weaver in her own bed. I recently spent Memorial Day weekend visiting family in Lancaster…
This week's edition of True Crime Thursday is the first two chapters of The Lost Girls by John Glatt—the chilling account of the three Cleveland women that were kidnapped and imprisoned in a basement for a decade by Ariel Castro. They were held in brutal captivity—and managed to make it out alive. “This is their…
A Brilliant Death by Robin Yocum is coming-of-age mystery where young Travis Baron searches for answers about his mother's mysterious disappearance so many years ago (Available April 5, 2016). Amanda Baron died in a boating accident on the Ohio River in 1953. Or, did she? While it was generally accepted that she had died when…
Christie's Mysteries Agatha Christie, beloved author of 66 detective novels and creator of fictional sleuths Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple, is a hero and inspiration to many. Her literary style permeates the entire mystery fiction genre. However, many people don’t know that she was once the subject of a massive manhunt. History.com reveals the details…
Aryan Art? A bizarre lawsuit has been filed against the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. The New York Post reports that 33-year-old Justin Renel Joseph is suing The Met for their “offensive aesthetic whitewashing” in several paintings depicting Jesus Christ as pale-skinned with blond hair. Joseph claims that this “Aryan” Jesus caused him “personal…
Whiskers of the Lion by P.L. Gaus is the 9th Amish County Mystery, and this time an Amish woman in mortal danger attempts an ingenious disappearing act (available March 31, 2015). After Fannie Helmuth's unwitting actions make her the target of a murderous drug ring, the young Amish woman hides in plain sight among America's…
