This should be one of the happiest days of my life; Bud and I are due to fly from Canada to Wales where we’ll get married in a couple of days’ time, so I’m bursting with anticipation, as you can imagine. At least I was when I got up this morning. . .which was fifteen hours ago. . .and we still haven’t left the ground! We’ve been sitting in the airplane for a couple of hours, buckled up and ready for the off, and we’re all getting a bit restive. They finally announced that we should be “wheels up” in about an hour. I think every single passenger groaned, except the ones lucky enough to have fallen asleep already. I tried to catch a nap, but my mind kept whirring through everything that could go wrong. A delayed flight had been one of my worries, which is why we’d planned to have a couple of days to “settle in” before the wedding.
It should all be wonderful – my sister Siân is flying in from her home in Perth, Australia, and the ceremony will take place at a fanciful location named Castell Llwyd on the Gower Peninsular, which is near my home city of Swansea on the south coast of Wales. Bud and I spent a week in Swansea back in October – the rules for people who want to marry in the UK but don’t live there are pretty strict, so we had to prove we had seven days’ of residency to be able to register for our wedding. We had a wonderful time, and I got to show Bud a lot of my old haunts. Even better? There wasn’t a corpse in sight. It’s not often that happens!
Following a frenzy of last-minute packing (and re-packing!), three hours at the lovely-but-still-an-airport YVR, and a couple more on the tarmac, I’d tried to focus on the book I’d stuffed into my carry-on at the last minute. However, I became fascinated by the chap sitting just ahead of me in the aisle seat. Sometimes I can’t help but try to work out all I can about a person just by observing them, and this guy was ripe for observation. Just about my height – believe me, it’s an advantage to be only five-three with the tiny spaces between these seats – he appeared to suffer from some sort of Napoleon complex. Within the first hour of our delay he called for attention three times, and was quite rude to the poor attendant who answered his buzzing. Everyone was annoyed by our delay, but he seemed to be taking it personally. I noticed that his hands were exceptionally pink, gleamingly clean, and he’d recently had a manicure. Quite rotund, his surprisingly slim fingers moved expressively, especially when conducting the music he was listening to on his headphones. His clothes spoke of money, but little taste. No wedding ring suggested no wife, and I heard him speaking—loudly—in a North American accent that I’d pegged as being from somewhere around Boston. I’d plumped for him being some sort of medic and was proved right when a stewardess moved to his side in an urgent, but professional manner. She whispered something to him and he dashed from his seat, following her to the curtained area at the front of the aircraft where the folks with pots of money sit.
They don’t put out a call asking if there’s a doctor on an airplane these days – there’s quite enough for the passengers to worry about as it is. So, when he returned to his seat a little while later, then it was announced that we’d be returning to the gate so that a passenger with a medical condition could receive care, I knew I was right about his occupation. Which was satisfying. But the fact that some poor devil was taken ill means we’re likely to be delayed for even longer than we all thought, and I’m beginning to wonder if planning to get married in a Welsh castle, right between Christmas and the New Year was such a bright idea after all.
However, knowing Bud is by my side means I’m sure everything will turn out fine in the end. So I’ll try to read my book, and doze, and convince myself that things won’t get any worse before we say “I do.” Maybe the fact that someone was taken ill on the airplane means there won’t be a corpse at the castle. Fingers crossed!
You can read more about Cait in The Corpse With The Sapphire Eyes, the fifth book in the “Cait Morgan” mystery series, published by Touchwood Editions and released on May 5, 2015. The first book in the series is The Corpse with the Silver Tongue.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on May 21 for the chance to win a print copy of THE CORPSE WITH THE SAPPHIRE EYES. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
Meet the author
Welsh Canadian mystery author Cathy Ace is the creator of the Cait Morgan Mysteries, which include The Corpse with the Silver Tongue, The Corpse with the Golden Nose, The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb, The Corpse with the 
Platinum Hair, and The Corpse With The Sapphire Eyes. Born, raised, and educated in Wales, Cathy enjoyed a successful career in marketing and training across Europe, before immigrating to Vancouver, Canada, where she taught on MBA and undergraduate marketing programs at various universities. Her eclectic tastes in art, music, food, and drink have been developed during her decades of extensive travel, which she continues whenever possible. Now a full-time author, Cathy’s short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies, as well as on BBC Radio 4. She and her husband are keen gardeners, who enjoy being helped out around their acreage by their green-pawed Labradors.
You can find out more about Cathy Ace, and Cait Morgan, at www.cathyace.com. Follow her on Twitter, or on Facebook.
Would love to win a copy of the new book!
Glad you like the sound of it, Anne. Good luck!
I’m betting there will be a corpse in the castle & I want to know all about it. Thank you for the giveaway. I’d love to have a copy to share with the library after reading-reviewing it. Thanks.
It’s a safe bet, you’re right, ktbeeblog! So pleased you have an enquiring mind 😉 Good luck.
I am not familiar with this series but it sounds like a series I need to get familiar with! Love the sounds of this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Glad you like the sound of it, and hope you have a chance to meet Cait Morgan between the covers of a book some time soon 🙂
I love to people watch also. This book sounds great! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
I agree – people watching is great fun. Good luck 🙂
I enjoy this series. Looking forword to reading this new one.
So pleased you enjoy spending time with Cait, Kari. Fingers crossed you get a chance to enjoy her company again 🙂
I love this series. I got to meet Cathy Ace at LCC. She is awesome
I’m delighted you enjoy the series, Kaye, and, having now met you and hugged you, I can tell everyone you’re pretty awesome yourself 🙂
Never fun sitting on the plane delayed for take off. Becomes really close quarters very quickly.
You’re right, sally – close quarters indeed! NOT a happy time…but I hope reading the book is 🙂
Okay, I’m hooked. My curiosity is aroused.
Delighted to hear it, Barbara! Hope you get to spend some quality time with Cait Morgan very soon 🙂
Looks interesting, the cover is lovely; thanks for the chance to win it 🙂
Thanks, Lisa, and I too love my book covers…thanks to Pete Kohut at TouchWood Editions…we are aiming for a vintage travel poster look, because each book has a very different setting. 🙂
It was such a pleasure to meet you at Malice and have a voice etc. to go with the photo! I love Canadians and long to go to Wales. Congratulations!
It was good to see you at Malice too, Katherine, and congratulations on being selected to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at Malice Domestic 2016 – so very well deserved. I have always enjoyed, and been inspired by, your work. Very kind of you to drop by and comment, too! 🙂
This one will be an interesting read I am sure. Hope I win!
I’m glad you think it sounds interesting – I really enjoyed writing it! Good luck, Amy 🙂
Sounds like a good read—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I hope it is a good read Sheila – Nancy Drew meets Agatha Christie with a setting by Poe 🙂
Another author/series I haven’t read – and I don’t know why! Sounds terrific and going on my wishlist.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Thanks for putting my work on your wishlist, Karen. Hope I get to the top of it very soon 😉
This sounds like a great book to have along next time I’m delayed on a plane (Once I read an entire book while waiting for a plane to finally take off!)
Sounds like you shared this experience with Cait Morgan, Karlene – shame…still, reading a whole book is never a bad thing. Good luck 🙂
What an unpleasant start to a very special trip.
Trust me, Libby, things get worse!!!! 😉 (You know, in ways that are good for mystery readers!)
Oh but things can always get worse!
How very perceptive of you, Lisa! 🙂
What a fascinating feature. thanks.
Glad you like the sound of it, anne – happy reading 🙂
I’ve never read this series, but will add it to the list–this installment sounds great, and now I’ll have to go back and read the others before getting to this one. Looking forward to it.
Good to meet you – and I hope you enjoy the series. I know what you mean – I like to start at the beginning too! Happy reading (#6 is out in October, THE CORPSE WITH THE DIAMOND HAND, so you have time to catch up, rochf!) 🙂
I’ve not read any of this series, but it has been on my wish list for a while. Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for putting Cait Morgan on your wish list, Daniele. I hope she shows up on your TBR pile soon! 🙂
I would love to win a print copy for my Mother; I know she would enjoy it!
Thanks Kathy – my Mum is my first reader…so the books are all “Mum approved”! 🙂
I can’t wait to read this book. I love flying, never minded waiting in terminals because you can watch everyone. However I dislike people talking in loud voices on their cell phones in the midst of everyone. I tend to give them the stink eye, not that it helps. Longest wait on a Tarmac was close to three hours in Washington, D.C. Lots of free snacks.
Liz! How lovely of you to drop by here…you;re right, everything is better with snacks! 😉
The Corpse with the Saphire Eyes sounds like a great read.
Thanks for the opp to win.📖📚
Glad you like the sound of it MaryAnn. Good luck 🙂
Sounds like an interesting series – but one I haven’t tried. the beginning of the book sounds typical – waiting on a plane after rushing to get there.
Thanks for the chance to win the book and try a new series.
Glad it sounds interesting, Marylouh…to be fair, the book itself opens when they reach Wales…so they do finally leave the tarmac! 🙂
I’m now very intrigued by this new-to-me series, and adding it to my TBR list. A wedding set in a Welsh castle, with a murder mystery to solve—what’s not to love about that!?! Nice to meet you, Cathy. Thanks for the chance to win!
Nice to meet you too, Lynn. Hope all is well there in Texas! Hope you enjoy the book 🙂
I love to discover new series and now I need to know if this wedding happens or not! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh goody! Glad you want to know what happens next, Cindy. Fingers crossed you get a chance to find out 🙂
The wedding sounds delightful, sorry about the pesky delay getting there. Thanks for the chance to win the great-looking book.
Ah yes, they have to face up to quite a few more challenges before there’s any chance of a wedding, carlscott! 🙂
Oh, I hope you get to your destination in time to settle in and enjoy your wedding!
Thank you, on Cait’s behalf, elainee246 Suffice to say, they have to overcome a few more challenges yet! 🙂
Sounds like another great book! Thank you Dru for the chance to win.
Glad you like the sound of it, Mary Jane H. Enjoy 🙂
Will Cait and Bud’s wedding in Wales be memorable?.
Thank you for the chance to win!
It will be memorable alright, Grace, but you’ll have to read the book to find out why 😉
Wow sounds perfect for me .
Thanks, Rhonda – perfect’s a great word. Happy reading, 🙂
This sounds like one of the best mystery series I’ve seen in a long time. I hope i win!
Praise indeed, Heather! Good luck 🙂
I love the titles in this series……
Thank you for the giveaway!!
Thanks cyn209 – I have fun thinking up the titles, and the puzzling plots 🙂 Enjoy.
I’ve read the first 3 in series! Need to catch up! Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for choosing to spend time with Cait Morgan, Lindar. I hope you enjoy time with her in Vegas and Wales…having already visited with her in France, BC wine country and Mexico! 🙂
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
Happy reading, Jill. Good luck 🙂
Sounds like an exciting mystery! Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Jen – glad you like the sound of it. 🙂
You just reminded me of one of the reasons that I no longer fly—that many hours waiting on the runway would have me totally stressed out. Thanks for the contest, I’d love to win this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Funnily enough, suekey12, I’ve been away for the weekend, and had a delayed flight to contend with. Not THIS bad, but bad enough. 🙂
I’ve been checking out the others in this series, but I’d love to win “Sapphire Eyes”. I think you will “ace” this one. Judy D.
Thank you for the worst (best!) pun in this comments section, jagjhd! 🙂
Wow what a great description, cover and premise for reading this book.
Thanks, Pamela – hope it gets onto your TBR pile. 🙂
Sounds great! Thanks!
Glad you like the sound of it, Pam. 🙂
Oh my, I may have found another must read series. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks, Judy. “Must read series” are just about my three favourite words 🙂
Castle on the cover, corpse in the title….I’m ready to read!
Thanks for the giveaway. Fingers crossed to win
So you’re a castles and corpses person, eh, Verna? Then, yes, this would be just your cup of tea, I think 😉
Sounds like a great read!
Glad you like the sound of it, Jane 🙂
The “Cait Morgan” mystery series is new to me, but sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
So pleased to have reached you with word of a new-to-you series, Darlene 🙂
Sounds like a good read.
Glad you like the sound of it, Karen 🙂
Thanks Cathy for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.