Everything’s coming up roses for Professor Emmeline Prather. Her scholarly book is finished, spring term is coming to a close, and her love life is blossoming. Then the festival surrounding the exhibit of Shakespeare’s First Folio opens, bringing with it a tempest more dramatic than the bard’s.
In his panel presentation, actor and grad student Tanner Sparks contends Shakespeare isn’t Shakespeare, boasting that he can prove the long-debated theory that an aristocrat actually penned the sonnets and plays. His bombshell sets off an acrid debate among scholars. But were they upset enough to kill him? That’s what Em wonders when Tanner is found dead in Shakespeare’s Garden, his macabre pose inspired by a scene from Hamlet.
At her department head’s urging, Em sets out to find the killer. Suspects abound, and Em finds herself targeted by Shakespeare-themed threats. Undaunted, she persists, determined to solve the case before the end of the semester.
Character Interview
Q: Dr. Prather, welcome to Island Confidential. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself–maybe something they might not guess?
My name is Emmeline Prather, but my friends call me Em. I’m an assistant professor of English at the university in Copper Bluff, South Dakota. Readers might not know that I like fast cars and drive a 1969 Mustang convertible. I’m from Detroit. What can I say? I haven’t met a muscle car I didn’t like.
Q: Is there any character in Coming Up Murder you get along with particularly well?
Lenny and I get along swell, especially lately. We’ve been dating four months, and I’m surprised by how little we fight—except when I’m investigating a murder. Then he feels compelled to give me the usual warnings, which I promptly ignore.
Q: Is there anyone you aren’t a big fan of…of whom you aren’t a big fan…you know what I mean.
Mrs. Gunderson (my elderly next-door neighbor) and I are resolving our conflicts one cookie at a time. I used to be irritated by her yapping dog, constant lights, and well-meaning advice. But now I understand I was being a little rash. Lights do deter criminals, and her dog, Darling, really isn’t that bad. He’s just old and cantankerous—like someone else I know. Ahem.
Q: Which brings me to my next question. Just between you and me: What do you really think of your author?
She’s terribly devoted. I’ll say that. She cried when she finished this book, and I don’t blame her. What Lenny did, well, it was quite touching. My heart still skips a beat at the thought of it.
Q: Sorry readers, no spoilers, you’ll have to find out for yourself what Lenny did. Dr. Prather, what’s next for you?
I’ve solved four murders, so I think I’ll take a break. In the meantime, my author is starting a new series. This one is about a shop keeper, Zo Jones, who owns the eclectic Happy Camper gift store in the heart of the Black Hills National Forest. The first book, Open for Murder, will be out November 2020 by Kensington. We’re both very excited!
Mary Angela
Professor Prather Mysteries, Happy Camper Mysteries
Mary Angela is the author of two cozy mystery series that have strong protagonists with soft hearts. Emmeline Prather is the witty young teacher in the Professor Prather series, and Zo Jones is the sassy sleuth and shop owner in the Happy Camper series (coming from Kensington in 2020). When Mary isn’t penning heartwarming whodunits, she’s teaching, reading, traveling, or spending time with her family. She’s the proud mom of two beautiful daughters and the shameless owner of two very spoiled pets. You can find out more about her loves, including her writing, at MaryAngelaBooks.com.
Website–Facebook–Twitter–Goodreads
Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Indie Bound – Kobo
Review
Coming Up Murder is the fourth Professor Prather mystery, but it reads just fine as a standalone.
When the book opens, we join Emmeline Prather at a high point, with her love life humming along and the much-anticipated Shakespeare exhibit about to start. Naturally, this being a murder mystery, things don’t run smoothly for long.
Like the earlier books, Coming Up Murder has an entertaining cast of characters, some you will root for, others you want to nominate as the next murder victim. But if you work in academia, you will recognize all of them.
There aren’t nearly enough academic murder mysteries in the world. With her fourth Professor Prather mystery, author Mary Angela helps to right this cosmic imbalance.
Professor Emmeline Prather is a likable and relatable heroine, and the academic shenanigans are understated if anything. Highly entertaining, and recommended for anyone who likes cozies with a light touch of satire.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Having a bad hair day? Whip out your whisk, snatch up your spoon, and prepare your palate. Inside the pages of this cookbook are recipes that will bring you good cheer. Enjoy 160+ tasty recipes from Nancy J. Cohen’s popular Bad Hair Day cozy mystery series. Included in this cookbook are excerpts, cooking tips, and anecdotes written by hairstylist and savvy sleuth Marla Vail. From appetizers to desserts, Marla offers cooking tips and tricks along with commentary about the dishes she prepares for her family. Whether you’re a skilled cook or an eager novice, this cookbook will unravel the mystery of cooking. Put on your apron and plan to make some killer recipes.
Amazon Apple Books Nook Kobo Books2Read BookBub Goodreads
About the Author
Nancy J. Cohen
Bad Hair Day Mysteries
Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won a Readers’ Favorite gold medal, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Nancy’s instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery, was nominated for an Agatha Award and won a gold medal at the President’s Book Awards from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. When not busy writing, Nancy enjoys cooking, fine dining, cruising, visiting Disney World, and shopping.
Author Links
Website: https://nancyjcohen.com
Blog: https://nancyjcohen.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJCohenAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyjcohen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjcohen
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nancyjcohen
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/njcohen/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-j-cohen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nancyjcohen
The Wipeout Affair by Rachel Neuburger Reynolds
There’s trouble in paradise, in the hilarious second book of the Red Frog Beach Mystery Series. When the body of a beautiful wealthy local is found at an isolated surf camp, the owner calls on Lexie to help him figure out who did it in this delicious whodunit. Reluctant sleuth Lexie first turns to the police, but her sudden access to a treasure-trove of island secrets convinces her it’s time to solve another murder on her own.
Rachel Neuburger Reynolds
Red Frog Beach Mysteries
Rachel Neuburger Reynolds is the author of the Red Frog Beach Mystery Series. Book 1, Drowning Lessons, was released on May 21, 2019, and the second in the series, The Wipeout Affair, was released on October 17, 2019. She’s also working on a separate series, The Evelyn Bay Murder Mystery series, and has written book one The Death Of A Classic. If all goes as planned you’ll be reading this in 2020. This is the first of book of seven in the series. Two of her plays have been produced in recent years. The Silencer, a cautionary tale about the perils of online dating, premiered at the Edinburgh Festival, followed by a run in New York. Nepenthe, a one-woman show about the 1960’s Hollywood-fication of the Holocaust had its premiere in London, and she is currently in talks about a film adaptation in 2021. Previous to her life of putting pen to paper, she produced theatre in New York City for fifteen years. Though she bounces back and forth between London in New York my headquarters is in Crowhurst on the South Coast of the UK.
Blog | FaceBook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon
One Reply to “#Midweekmystery: Coming Up Murder by Mary Angela, A Bad Hair Day Cookbook by Nancy J. Cohen, and The Wipeout Affair by Rachel Neuburger Reynolds”
Comments are closed.