Aspen Adams is the sleuth in the “Aspen Adams” mysteries. One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions. So, let’s get to know Aspen.
What is your full name?
Aspen Adams, no middle name
How old are you?
Thirty-four
What is your profession?
Private investigator. I used to be a therapist in the Bay Area, working at the Bay Area Rehabilitation Clinic with at-risk patients. After long consideration and heartache at the loss of a patient, I gave up that career and moved to Lake Tahoe to work at my aunt’s investigative agency.
Do you have a significant other?
I do.
What is their name and profession?
Nick Shaper is a detective for the Placer County Sheriff’s Department.
Do you have any children?
No, but my niece, Candace, is now living with me. She’s in high school and looks very much like me—same nose, same hair.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, Rosie, who is two years older. She lives in Auburn, California, about an hour and a half away from Lake Tahoe. She can be a challenge. She struggles with sobriety. She is much taller than me and bigger boned, and she can be quite argumentative.
Are your parents nearby?
My parents passed away. They were killed fourteen years ago.
Who is your best friend?
Nick. After him, it’s Gwen, although she recently got married and is on a worldwide trip. My best friend during high school college, and into our careers as therapist was Serenity Dawson. She hasn’t visited Tahoe yet and I haven’t been to the Bay Area for a long while. The first real friend I made in Tahoe was Vikki. She was killed two years ago. I miss her terribly.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, Cinder. He’s a rescue dog that survived a fire. He’s loving and wonderful and I’d be lost without him.
What town do you live in?
Homewood, an unincorporated area in Placer County, near Tahoe City on the California side of Lake Tahoe.
Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Homewood is small, only about 200 residents. Tahoe City has about 2,000 residents. Tourism is a big aspect of Lake Tahoe.
Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I own a cabin. It’s two bedrooms and a living room, lined with knotty pine. I’ve decorated with a lot of my Washoe ancestors’ keepsakes. The cabin has a beautiful porch.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
Sitting on the porch, looking out through the pine trees at my narrow view of the lake.
Favorite meal and dessert?
I know it’s not PC but I adore barbecued steak and a baked potato. For dessert, I love ice cream. I go back and forth between having a favorite—French vanilla or deep dark chocolate.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love to swim and take long walks. I’m not a painter or knitter or anything like that. I like to read. In the summer, I swim and hike a lot. In the winter, I love to ski. The mountains in Lake Tahoe have great trails.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Where I live. I don’t need much more than the mountains and the lake and the aromatic scent of pine.
What music do you listen to?
Mainly instrumental jazz. I enjoy the sound of a good saxophone.
Do you have a favorite book?
I prefer reading a good mystery or thriller, but during college, I read books by Ogilvie, Peck, and Provinem. I cherish the broad spectrum of reading I’ve been able to take in over the years.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
As I said, I love to ski and I love to take long hikes in the mountains around Lake Tahoe. There are some fabulous creeks and mini-lakes and trails. Wildlife is rampant. Taking a picnic to the top of a mountain that might include cheese, gluten-free crackers, fruit, and a bottle of pinot noir would be a touch of heaven.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
My Journey Home. Given my family history filled with sorrow and regrets, I’m often searching for the answer to who would I be if this or that hadn’t happened? The story would probably have to start with the present and work backward.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I am a professional PI and I work with my aunt Max (Maxine Adams), who started the agency. There are two others in the agency, Yaz Yazdani and Darcy Doherty. My aunt has been like a second mother to me. She’s tough but fair. And she has a great sense of humor. She keeps me anchored.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
I wake early, take a quick walk with the dog, then get Candace ready for school, and I head to work. Near the end of day, I pick up Candace, and we head home for homework and a simple dinner. Nick will join us for a meal once or twice during the week. If he’s available, he’ll join me for a picnic on the weekend. Candace likes hanging with her friends.
What does a typical day look like when you are on a case?
I will spend a lot of hours on the Internet researching my subject, doing a deep dive to get to know the client I’m working for as well as the targets I’m after. I’ve been known to do a few garbological deep dives into dumpsters—my least favorite part of the job. I like tailing suspects, taking photographs. I like talking to witnesses and getting their take on things. Listening is vital to my profession, and as a former therapist, I’m a good listener. I also feel I’m good at reading people, picking up on their tells, knowing when they’re lying to me. I’m not as seasoned as my aunt, of course, but I hope to stay the course and become the best PI I can be. I owe it to my clients.
Thank you for the questions. A few made me really have to think about the answers. I wish all your readers the best. And if they ever need a private investigator, they know where to find me.
Cold Conviction is the third book in the “Aspen Adams” suspense series, released October 27, 2020.
Agatha Award–winning author Daryl Wood Gerber returns with private investigator Aspen Adams taking on a cold case that has haunted her for years . . .
When her parents were murdered fourteen years ago, Aspen Adams coped as best she could as a college freshman and numbly moved on when the case was never solved. Living since then with almost daily reminders of how the tragedy shaped the lives of her and her sister, she’s always known that someday she would launch an investigation of her own. And now, with her sister in crisis, she draws on all her experience as a private investigator to untangle a case that left the police baffled and her family in ruins.
Interviewing the detectives who worked the case, scouring endless pages of their notes, and even tracking down the original suspects, Aspen discovers aspects of the crime and her parents’ lives she never knew about—and ignites a menacing series of events that threaten to engulf everyone near her. Certain she’s on the trail of the killer and unwilling to be deterred, Aspen faces down her own fears about what she’ll find in her search for answers—and justice—before a killer who scarred her life can resurface to wreak havoc on her family once again . . .
About the author
Daryl writes the bestselling the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, and the Fairy Garden Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she wrote the Cheese Shop Mysteries. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She has also jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and hitchhiked around Ireland by herself. Make sure to visit her website to learn more at darylwoodgerber.com. You can also find Daryl on the following social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Instagram.
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Daryl has generously offered to give away one print copy of Desolate Shores or Fan Mail. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends November 2, 2020. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
What a great contest to enter to win the first Aspen Adams suspense book Desolate Shores. Would love to start at the beginning of this series with this first book. Love suspense books. Thanks for a chance to win and start this series.
Linda, I love to start series at the beginning, too. Enjoy.
Thank you for the chance to win. I haven’t read this series yet; so, I would love to start with Desolate Shores.
Bonnie, I’m glad you’re interested. I loved writing this series.
Sounds like a great new series. Looking forward to getting to know Aspen Adams.
Dianne, thanks. I hope you will get to know her. I’ve had a good time getting to know her myself. 🙂
What a fantastic idea! I loved the interview with Aspen. It answered the questions that I had. Thank you for your generosity.
Nancy, I’m so glad to hear it answered questions. 🙂
Do you have a bucket list?
Mary, I’m not sure Aspen has a bucket list, having lived a few years at a time and making decisions. At this point, I think she’ll want to consult Nick in what their bucket list might be, you know?
I loved this interview with Aspen, the book character. Great idea. Would love to start this series at the beginning book, or any of them. Mysteries, cozy or darker are great reads. Thanks
Kris, glad this piqued your interest. I agree that mysteries are the best reads. 😉
I enjoyed reading the interview. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Diana, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was fun to answer.
I love the interview with Aspen. I read Desolate Shores and loved it! Sometimes suspense is too much for me, but this series has just enough to make me turn the pages as fast as possible without too much graphic violence, etc.
Christi, that was my intent. As I grew up, I really enjoyed suspense that was simply moving the story along faster, not the graphic stuff. I’m glad that came across for you.
What a great feature and giveaway. This book sounds captivating and I enjoyed the interview. Thanks.
Anne, I love the word captivating. 😉
I would loved to begin a new series.
Nancy, I’m with you. Finding series that you can read a few books in a row is always appealing.
You are so kind to have such a lovely giveaway. The interview with Aspen was very revealing (or was it?) Thank you.
Theresa, ha! You think there might be more secrets? 😉
I can’t wait to get a start on this series. My neighbors used to have a dog named Cinder. She was a very skittish black lab. I love knowing a bit about Aspen before I start reading the series. It has peaked my interest even more. Thank you so much for letting her share so much about herself. I now have a few more questions about her that I can’t wait to see if she answers for me in throughout novels.
Jennifer, how cool. Isn’t that like getting to know a new best friend? You want to know more about them. How much will they reveal? It’s part of the fun of relationships.
I love that Aspen lives in a small town because I do too! Looking forward to reading the series!
Nancy, what’s interesting is I came from this “small town” and never thought of it as small. There are thousands of people, and yet it is an intimate area where many people do know each other. The history is rife.
I have not read this series yet and it sounds very interesting.
Kim, I do hope you’ll check it out. Thanks for stopping by.
I have yet to read these wonderful books that you wrote and would love to win a print starting with the first one in the series and then I can go from there. I will also review on a few sites !
I have read the First two books and would love to win this one! Thanks for the chance.
**** WINNER ****
Desolate Shores is Jennifer Koller
Congratulations!
Thank you so very much! This was a great way to start my day!