Emergency surgery is never pleasant – not for the person concerned, nor for those who love them – but I’m pleased to be able to report that Ebba, Bud’s Mum, has come through her operation very well. She took a tumble down some steps about a week ago, and they’ve finally been able to give her the treatment she needed – a replacement hip. Bud’s been brilliant; he’s been with his dad, Leo, at Ebba’s side at the hospital since it happened. The doctors were finally happy enough with her general condition for the surgery to take place yesterday, and they say she’ll be walking about by this evening. Amazing!
I’m delighted she’s looking perkier, and that Bud and Leo have finally been able to sleep in their own beds, but the whole thing has put a bit of a kink in our plans. Bud and I have talked it through and I know he’s right to decide to not accompany me when I leave next week; I’m off to teach for a month at the Hungarian University of Budapest, as part of a “hands across the nations” effort on the part of my school of criminology at the University of Vancouver. Without Bud’s company, I have a feeling it will be a long month.
We’d planned to do so much: enjoying a trip on the Danube to see all the fabulous architecture, of course; indulging in our favorite pastime of hunting down hole-in-the-wall places to eat and drink, as well as a few swankier spots, too; even taking a bit of time to visit tourist highlights like the Fisherman’s Bastion, which isn’t usually my cup of tea. But now? I dare say I’ll just put my head down and get on with work, and hope Bud’s able to come to join me when my classes are over – just for a week…we think he’ll be able to manage that, so long as Ebba’s recuperation goes well.
I’ve brushed up on my Budapest history – and what a history it is…so bloody and tragic! – so I’m ready for Austro-Hungarian grandeur on the Pest side of the Danube where I’ll be teaching, and the slightly more domestic scale of Buda where the HUB (that’s what they call the Hungarian University of Budapest) has an apartment they retain for visiting professors, which is where I’ll be staying.
I was looking forward to my time there so much more before Ebba’s unfortunate fall. Watching Masterpiece Mystery on PBS every week I love seeing the Budapest Parliament Buildings and the Danube they show in those advertisements for Viking River Cruises, and I was excited to think I’d see it all first-hand. But the main thing is that Ebba’s well, and Bud will be the dutiful son for a while supporting his mum and dad when they need hm. I’m sure I’ll be fine on my own – though Bud has mentioned several times that I’m not allowed to go getting myself “mixed up in anything dodgy”. I cannot imagine what he means!
You can find out exactly what Cait Morgan gets mixed up in during her time alone in Budapest, and how Bud has to help her out while he also oversees his mother’s recuperation, when you read The Corpse With The Ruby Lips, due to be published in Canada on October 18th and in the US on November 1st, by TouchWood Editions, and available for pre-order right now.
Quirky criminology professor Cait Morgan is invited to be a guest lecturer at a Budapest university, and although she’s hesitant to go without her husband and trusted sidekick, Bud, who must stay home to care for his aging parents, she decides to make the month-long trip on her own.
Soon after arriving, one of her new students, Zsofia, pleads with Cait to help her uncover any clues about her grandmother’s unsolved murder, which happened decades ago on the campus of Cait’s own home university in Canada. Cait agrees, but when she is repeatedly hassled by an creepy colleague, and as bizarre details about Zsofia’s family members come to light, Cait is beset by uncertainty.
As she gets closer to the truth, Cait’s investigation puts the powers-that-be on high alert, and her instincts tell her she’s in grave danger. Bud races to Budapest to come to Cait’s side, but will it be too late?
# # # # # # # # # # #
About the author
Cathy Ace’s criminal psychologist, and overindulgent-foodie sleuth, Cait Morgan, has stumbled upon Corpses with a 
Silver Tongue, a Golden Nose, an Emerald Thumb, Platinum Hair, Sapphire Eyes, a Diamond Hand, a Garnet Face (April 2016) and now Ruby Lips (October 2016) during her globetrotting. Ace’s other series features the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency (one is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish, and one English) who solve quintessentially British cases from their office beside a stately home deep in the Welsh countryside. BC bestselling author Cathy Ace won the 2015 Bony Blithe Award for Best Canadian Light Mystery for The Corpse with the Platinum Hair.
You can find out more about Cathy, and Cait, at Cathy’s website: cathyace.com or on Facebook or Twitter: @AceCathy
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of The Corpse With The Ruby Lips. US and Canadian entries only, please. The giveaway ends October 20, 2016 at 11:59 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
This is a fantastic author & series. I can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for stopping by to comment, Doward, and for all your support 🙂
This book sounds very good. I love Budapest.
Ha! Another lover of Budapest, Jody…you obviously have excellent taste. Thanks for stopping by to comment 🙂
I’ve read books by this author before and enjoyed them. Thanks!
Thanks for commenting, Donna – I’m so pleased you’ve enjoyed my previous work, and hope you choose to spend more time with Cait Morgan 🙂
I love the Cait books, and I have been to Budapest. Such a beautiful city…looking forward to reading about Cait’s adventure there!
Hello Grace – thanks for commenting. I’m delighted you love my work…and with this book you’ll be able to “location spot” as you read the book 🙂
I enjoy the WISE series and I’m sure I would enjoy this one.
Hello Gram – the Cait Morgan Mysteries are certainly in the traditional vein, and I believe those who like the WISE women also enjoy spending time with Cait. 🙂
Cait’s books are very enjoyable and intriguing. Thanks.
Oh, “enjoyable and intriguing” are such great attributes for a book and I thank you for saying you feel that way about Cait! 🙂
I enjoy these mysteries so much—I’d love to win one.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Hi suekey12 – so pleased you enjoy my work… and thanks for stopping by to comment. 🙂
I’ve never been to Budapest but would love to see it through Cait’s eyes.
Hello rochf – I hope you have the chance to do so….happy travels! 🙂
What a location to have as a setting for a book. This makes the book more enticing so it has found a place on my to be read list. Thanks for the chance to enter the giveaway.
Hello robeader – having my work on a person’s TBR list is a great honour. Thanks 🙂
an intriguing and mysterious location….I imagine this makes for an great read. Thanks for the review and a chance to win a copy of the book
Hi johnnabooks – you’re right, Budapest is all that – and more. I hope you enjoy visiting with Cait 🙂
I’d love to read a mystery taking place in Budapest — I was always intrigued that Buda is on one side of the river, and Pest is on the other if I remember right. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of The Corpse with the Ruby Lips!
Hello Celia – you;re right, two cities divided by the Danube, now living as one…it’s a super place to visit. If you can;t get there in person, visiting with Cait might be the next best thing. 🙂
Fascinating story line. I think I’ll wander over to Amazon to check out anything else by this author.
Hello cjreynolds25 – I’m so pleased you like the sound of it….and here’s a handy-dandy link: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Cathy+Ace 🙂
Reading “The Corpse with the Ruby Lips” by Cathy Ace would be a great way to recall and love again the great city of Budapest. That city was my favorite of all on my tour in Europe. This book will be paced on my To Read list.
Hello Pauline – I’m so pleased you enjoyed visiting Budapest, it’s a wonderful place. YAY! You’ll be able to relive happy memories and “location spot” as you read 🙂
A new-to-me author to try. Thanks for a chance to win a copy. I love mysteries.
Nice to meet you, elainehroberson, I hope you like the sound of my work, and choose to meet Cait Morgan “in person” 🙂
Wow, it’s good that hubby will be able to join you for at least one week. Hope his Mother continues to improve after her fall and surgery!
Thanks Mary Jane H – you’re right…it’s amazing what surgeons can achieve these days. Ebba’s not looking forward to the physiotherapy at all…though I’m sure Bud will do his best to ease her way through it. She’s a bit stubborn – Bud said he cannot imagine how she’ll react to be being told what to do by (possibly) a young strip of a thing. Maybe she’ll surprise us all and be all sweetness and light 😉
Congratulations on the book launch. I am adding it to my TBR list.
Thanks Marlene – to be on a TBR pile is wonderful 🙂
This is a new author and series to me. Really enjoyed the synopsis of the book and would like to read “The Corpse With the Ruby Lips”.
Pleasde to meet you, diannekc, and I hope you get to meet Cait Morgan “in person” 🙂
Oops – I meant PLEASED!
Great story line and intriguing title
Thanks, Elizabeth – I’m glad you like the sound of it 🙂
The Corpse With Ruby Lips, what an eye-catching title and Budapest makes the story much more interesting.
Thanks Vicki – so glad you like the sound of it, and that the setting tickles your fancy 🙂
Yes please Dru, Toss my name into the magic hat. I’d love to add this book to my Cathy Ace collection.
Thanks for dropping by, noraadrienne – I love the way “my Cathy Ace collection” sounds 🙂 Thanks for your support
This looks awesome to read! I love reading mystery books. Thank you for the giveaway and a chance to win.
Thanks, Kristina….I’ll take “awesome”! 🙂
Awesome! Yes, please!
Good luck 🙂
Love the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries – adding the Cait Morgan mysteries to my list.
I hope you enjoy spending time with Cait Morgan as well as with the WISE women 🙂 Thanks for your kind words
I haven’t been able to travel for a couple of years and would so like to armchair travel to Budapest with Cait. Thank you for the chance to win.
Hello Daniele – it’s a shame you haven;t been able to travel for a while…I know Cait would love to have you along for the trip 🙂
thanks for the chance.
Good luck, Judy 🙂
We love Cathy’s books and are very much looking forward to this one. I did visit Budapest once and I wish I had been better read about the history too. Such a grand place and so much to see. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.
I’m so pleased you like my books, carlrscott, and I hope you enjoy the chance to “location spot” with Cait Morgan 🙂
Such a cool title!
So pleased you like it, Karin A 🙂
I haven’t read this Author either but its an unusual title and it sounds good…please enter me.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Good to meet you, Marilyn….I hope you choose to meet Cait Morgan “in person” 🙂
Love the sounds of this mystery and that I get to travel to Budapest without having to pay air fair. Fun.
Pleased you like the sound of it, Julie, and you’re right….no lines, no airports, no hassle, and yet you get to travel 🙂