Bridgy Mayfield Gives Us The Low Down About Sassy Cabot, Fort Myers Beach And Murder.
Hi all. My name is Bridget Mayfield. Everyone calls me Bridgy, except my dear Aunt Ophie who calls me Bridget whenever I break one of her well-mannered ladies rules, but that’s a story for another time. I grew up in Brooklyn right down the block from my BFF Sassy Cabot. I married a local boy named—oh who cares what his name is. I caught the Bonehead having a fling with a Mrs. Robinson type and well, that was it for me. Out he went. Two days later, while I was still crying my eyes out and consuming copious amounts of brie, crackers and mojitos, Sassy’s bosses announced they were moving the company to Connecticut and taking Sassy’s job with them. A few more mojitos and we decided to ditch the past, leave Brooklyn and head for sunny Florida where we could fulfill our dreams the minute we figured out what they were and how we could merge them.
Within months we were co-owners of the Read ’Em and Eat Café in the island town of Fort Myers Beach and waking up each morning to a glorious view of the Gulf of Mexico. Sassy always wanted to operate a bookstore. I always dreamed of running a breakfast and lunch eatery with a catchy theme. Books are a fabulous theme, right? Fiction or non-fiction they can take you any place you want to go. In the café we have floor to ceiling shelves stuffed with all kinds of books. They line two walls in the book corner where Sassy holds her book club meetings, like the Potluck Book Club—yummy snacks at that one.
All was going along swimmingly (beach humor, get it?) and then the first sign of doom—Miguel Guerra, our brilliant and highly organized chef fell in the kitchen and broke his leg. Of course Aunt Ophie (she of the well-mannered ladies rules) was more than happy to take his place temporarily. Her food is inspired and appealing but she’s a mini-tornado spinning around the kitchen in impossibly high heels. She manages to create chaos and clutter along with her Harper Lee Hush Puppies, True Grits and other delicious fares. Following her around with a mop and broom quickly became my full time job.
Ophie wasn’t even settled in the kitchen when we discovered that one of our favorite book club members had been murdered. Such a sweet old lady. Who’d want to harm a hair in her head? That’s what her cousin, who is mega tetchy and totes obstinate, wants Sassy to find out. Sassy is my best friend but she can be really bull-headed when she makes up her mind and I’m afraid she has made up her mind to catch the creepy killer. I warn her to be careful. I tell her to pass along everything she finds out to the Sheriff’s deputies. I really have to push, though. There’s a bit of friction between Sassy and that handsome new lieutenant, Frank Anthony, so any conversation they have seems to annoy them both. Then there is the newspaper reporter Cady Stanton. I think he really likes Sassy, if you get my drift, but she flippantly uses him as a source. And she’s not above flirting with him or plying him with huge slices of Aunt Ophie’s Buttermilk Pie to get the information she wants.
So that’s where we are—living on the beach, working a business we love, and trying to catch a murderer. Life in paradise—it’s not for the timid.
You can read more about Bridgy and Sassy in Well Read, Then Dead, the first book in the new “Read ’Em and Eat” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
This is the sixth stop on the Well Read, Then Dead Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. For other stops on this tour, click HERE
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on August 11, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of WELL READ, THEN DEAD. 
A special add–on prize is this nifty cosmetic bag signed by more than a dozen cozy authors (Victoria Abbott, Beverly Allen, Janet Bolin, Laura Bradford, Janet Cantrell, Erika Chase, Sheila Connolly, Krista Davis, Vicki Delaney, Rosie Genova, Mary Ellen Hughes, Annie Knox and Terrie Farley Moran) and stuffed with goodies. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, unless specified.
Meet the author
Terrie Farley Moran is delighted to introduce mystery fans to the Read ’Em and Eat café and bookstore, where murder and sweet tea are always on the menu. Well Read, Then Dead, is the first book in the Read ’Em and Eat series published by the always-sure-to-please mystery imprint Berkley Prime Crime.
Terrie’s short mystery fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and various anthologies. She has been short-listed twice for the annual Best American Mystery Stories.
The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her seven grandchildren. You can find her at website.
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I’ve been waiting for this book to come out. It sounds like a great read. Reading and eating all in one place – what could be better?
Love the premise of this book and can’t wait to read it. I have forever wanted to work in a bookstore/ tea room. My dream retirement job.
This book sounds really fascinating, and I love the setting.
This one’s on my TBR list. Great giveaway too.
I love the title, and an added bonus is my daughters name is Bridget too! This one is going on my wish list !
yays!! a ‘must-add’ to my Wish List!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
Sounds wonderful, looking forward to reading it
This has been on my TBR list for a long time!
The book sound interesting. I think it will be a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love finding new series to try. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Fort Myers is a beautiful spot. Will look forward to reading this new series! Thanks for the chance to win.
Would love to win! This cozy sounds awesome .
Congrats on the new release. Sounds like a fun read.
Anne
Another for the list!
I’m really looking forward to reading this one. Come on mailman! I love the giveaway! Thanks.
Can’t wait to read this one. Hope I win, good luck to all.
Terrie, sounds like my kind of read. Really looking forward to it It’s already on my TBR list.
This looks like a great series to start. Thanks for the offer.
This is at the top of my TBR list!
Hi Terrie, Congrats on the book! Love the concept of the bookstore/café. Just add bodies… Good luck with the series!
Give me a break, food and books in one store? I want the book, and the stories that go with it.
Toss my hat into the contest ring Dru, I think I’m in love with a new series.
I would love to read this book—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
Food and books! What could be better 🙂
Great cover, so colorful. Love the play on words business name. A wall of books, oh my dream. Enter me, please
My husband is going to have fits. Another book added to my list of need to read. This books sounds like a page turner that I’ll definitely want to follow future books.
This sounds great! Thanks for sharing your talents. I would love to win.
Combining books and good food sounds like paradise to me. I will definitely be on the lookout for this new series!
This is going to be a great series. Thank you!
Sounds like a fabulous read.
First off, the cover instantly pulls me in! I want to be there! “Read ’em and eat” is just too darn clever for words. More importantly, it sounds like a great new series. Looking forward to checking it out. Thanks for the chance to win!
A must read for me.
Know what you mean about playing games with the grandkids. All the boys are teens and the three little ones are girls. Makes for interesting play times and book sharing . I am looking forward to reading and reviewing this book about books. Spunky characters there!!
This sounds like my kind of read with characters that I’ll love. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’m excited to discover another cozy mystery set in Florida! I was in Fort Myers only a couple of weeks ago, too. Congrats, Terrie, and much success!
I know the east coast of Florida, so this sounds right up my alley.
What an awesome giveaway!
This seems like it would be a fun read. And a great giveaway!
Food and books and a mystery add up to a great read!
I was just recently introduced with this series, and now I am anxious to get the previous books read, so just ordered them so that I will be ready for Well Read, Then Dead. Sounds like a great cozy but it has humor which I love, love, love in my cozy mysteries. Since I have been to this area of Florida and have family there, this is an even more intriguing book for me. 🙂 Looking forward to catching up on this entire story. What a great offer of a signed cosmetic case. How original. Crossing fingers.
Thank you.
Cynthia in MA
I’ve heard so much about this book, I can’t wait to read it.
Hi! I would very much like to comment on this awesome post. I have to say that I have not read any books by Terrie Farley Moran, but just from looking at the very awesome book cover I definitely plan to start reading her books. I am a huge reader and usually read up to 3 books per week. That’s because once I start I can’t seem to put them down until I finish…wish does leave me with many sleepless nights….but oh how I enjoy reading. Just looking at the cover of this book makes me want to open the door and walk right into that cool looking room and sit myself down and have a cup of tea and read. I believe that the cover of the books really tell you alot of what you are about to experience once you open the pages of the book. When reading I tend to turn to the cover many times just to gaze at it again and again. This cover offers a very warm and cozy feeling and I am sure the book is going to be super fantastic. I would love to be entered into the contest to win a copy of the book Well Read, Then Dead. I plan to pick up the other books too and get busy reading! God bless you and much success with your new book Terrie! And once again, thank you so very very much for another awesome email dearest Dru…..you are amazing sweetie!!!! God bless you too!!!! Fondly, Beverly Guy
This sounds like a good cozy. Who does not love books.
Sounds like a great debut to me. Can’t wait to get a copy and dive in.
I am a big fan of biblio mysteries so this has been added to my TBR pile.
Great giveaway and it sounds like an awesome book. I will definetly be reading this.
This sounds like a winner! Sign me up for the giveaway please.
I’m anxious to read this book. I would love a place like Bridgy and Sassy’s in my town. I would love to win a copy of the book!!
I have added this book to my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway!
Raquel36m(at)gmail(dot)com
Best friends running a a business in Florida—what could be mor perfect for a cozy mystery. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
would love to win this book and the added bonus is so special.Terrie has shared her travels in writing this book.
Read ’Em and Eat Café sounds like a great place to hang out. Thanks for a chance to win a great cozy!
I am such a fan of this kind of book. I look forward to reading it! Thanks for the chance to win.
This book is on my list! Must read!
This sounds like a great series. I can’t wait to read it.
Books, food, & the Gulf of Mexico – what a perfect combination! Definitely on my list to read soon!
This book sounds great. I grew up going to Ft. Myers Beach every year, so I know this setting well. Thanks for the giveaway.
This sounds like a great read, really like the premise. Also I grew up spending summers at Ft. Myers Beach, so I know this area well.
I am overjoyed to see so much interest in Well Read, Then Dead. Thank you, Dru, for hosting me.
I love books that are set along the coast. This one sounds so good. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Appreciate you doing this..
Can’t wait tor read!
Sounds interesting
contest is closed.