I’m thrilled to be back in my hometown of North Ashcot, Massachusetts. It’s a small enough town that we all know each other, but big enough to have its own post office. And if there’s one thing I love, it’s the US Postal Service!
I’ve been a fan of the USPS since I was a kid, sitting on my porch, waiting for the mailman, crossing my fingers that there would something with my name on it. I’d send away for things, just to receive letters or packages addressed to me. I ordered free information kits for home improvement, pamphlets on family health, brochures for colleges and universities all over the world. All before I was in junior high. One time I sent in a request for information on becoming an airline flight attendant. They responded immediately, never asking my age. I took the package to school and impressed all my friends.
Looking back, I figure I needed something to affirm my rightful place in the busy world I lived in. If I was on the mail route, I mattered. If someone sent me mail, I existed, even if I ordered the mail myself.
I saved everything the mail carriers delivered in a special box that I covered with colored adhesive paper. Now and then I’d pull the box from under my bed and go through the treasures: a flyer advertising the flea market in the school parking lot on Saturdays; information about life insurance that was secure and affordable; a catalog of new toys from a big store across the ocean in London (my father explained the meaning of the funny L that was like the dollar sign in the United States).
Now, at thirty-five years old, I no longer have to wish for mail. I have my dream job—I’m Postmaster Cassie Miller. Every day I raise the flag outside the front door of the post office and take on the awesome responsibility of handling every citizen’s mail. All the correspondence of North Ashcot’s three thousand citizens passes through me. Birthday greetings and sympathy cards. Packages to friends and relatives all over the world. Letters of complaint and Get Well Soon messages. I see them all and stamp them to get them started on their way or accept them and distribute them to our citizens.
I have tales to tell, and I’ve gotten started with my first book, DEATH TAKES PRIORITY. I’m going to order my own copy through the US mail!
You can read more about Cassie in Death Takes Priority, the first book in the NEW “Postmistress” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
About Death Takes Priority
Introducing a murder mystery that really delivers!
After caring for her dying aunt and being dumped by her fiancé, Cassie Miller decides to return to her small hometown in the Berkshires to lick her wounds and live in the house where she was raised. Leaving behind her managerial position in the Boston main postal office, Cassie trades in her tailored suits and high heels for the comfortable blue shirt and red, white, and blue striped scarf of the Postmaster for North Ashcot, Massachusetts.
Everything is business as usual until Cassie arrives at work one day to find that someone has broken into the post office building. The only items stolen: stacks of telephone books. Who steals phone books? Two days later, the body of an unidentified man is found in the woods. And when the handsome antiques dealer she just had lunch with is taken into custody, Cassie is suddenly drawn into the case. With a crime enveloped in mystery, she needs to track the killer—before another victim’s fate is sealed in the dead letter office. . .
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on Tuesday, November 10 for your chance to win a print copy of Death Takes Priority. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
About the author
Camille Minichino (aka Margaret Grace, Ada Madison, and Jean Flowers) has written more than 20 cozy mystery novels in four series, plus short stories and articles. Latest release: Death Takes Priority, the first in the Postmistress Mysteries. A retired physicist, she loves writing, but misses her helium-neon laser. Visit Camille at www.minichino.com.
Priority mail, phone books, business is never as usual…all sounds interesting to me.
I enjoy everything this author has written whatever name she uses. Looking forward to this new series.
Sounds like a great new cozy series! I’m looking forward to reading Death Takes Priority. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
What a fun and great sounding book, looking forward to a new series. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I love getting mail! Can’t wait to read this book! Thanks Dru for featuring it today! Thanks to Jean and Dru for the chance to win a copy! 🙂
A kindred spirit – I used to love to send away for things when I was young. I had travel info from the Chamber of Commerce in every state.
I love the idea of a small town postmistress series. Hadn’t thought about the idea of a postmaster knowing what was going on in town even though my cousins had to go to the PO to get their mail. No home delivery.
Another new series to try. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds like a great start to a new series. Thank you for sharing
Cassie is excited to meet Dru Ann’s friends! She thanks you all for stopping by.
Camille/Jean speaking now — this has been such a fun series to write!
New Series…yay…and this one sounds so good. Thanks for the chance.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Sounds very cool! I loved the mailman coming by because that meant letters from my pen pals 🙂 And I especially love that the author is a physicist. Yay science!
So excited to meet Dru Ann’s friends! Thanks for stopping by.
Looks like a fun series!
Looks like a great read!
I do like other series by this author, so I am sure I will like this one.
I just love being introduced to new authors … thank you!! This book sounds like a great cozy read! I’m adding Death Takes Priority to my ever growing TBR list. Thank you for the giveaway.
peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net
So happy to see a new series, looks like a fun cozy
Ah, Cassie sounds as though she’s someone I’d like to get to know.
Need to check this one out.
I would love my mail carrier to deliver a copy to me! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I haven’t read a book about a female postmaster. I’m interested in this story plot. Thanks for the chance to enter.
My rural mailman is the best and I would love for him to deliver this offer to me.
I do love my mail carrier. She knows her customers and takes care of us each day. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love getting magazines and books that I order in the mail, and think this sounds like a great new series to add to my list.
I always thought it would be fun to be a postmistress in a small town where everything isn’t necessarily automated. What better way to get to know your fellow townfolk. robeader53@yahoo.com
Love the sound of the book.
Now this is one cozy that intrigues me and I definitely want to read it. I like the premise, the character, and the book’s front cover is cute!! I also have a great mail carrier who is friendly and conscientious.
Sounds like a fun read.
We have a small post office in our village so it will be interesting.
thanks.
Would love to win this book as I love the our Postal Service. Just have to keep the authors’ name right. I love all the books she writes no matter whick authors name she uses.
We all love getting mail, will except for junk mail and bills, lol sounds like a great book, would really love to win, ty for the chance
I love finding new-to-me authors. Thanks for a chance to win a copy. Sounds like a book I would really enjoy.
This sounds like an awesome adventure. I love collecting stamps and getting mail except for those dreaded bills… Would love to win a chance. Thanks for giveaway. elisanabby at gmail dot com
What a marvelous idea to send away for an eclectic batch of mail!
Sounds wonderful! I also live in a small town and know the postal carrier and postmaster. Always see someone I know when I go to the post office! Thanks for the chance!
I still enjoy the excitement and anticipation checking the mailbox brings. Death Takes Priority sounds like a great new series. Thanks for the opportunity to win.📖💐
Sounds great. Thanks for this captivating giveaway.
Thanks for all these hopeful comments. All my author names love to hear from you!
Sounds like a good book. Thanks for the great giveaway Dru and Camille.
Oh, this sounds good! Who doesn’t/hasn’t waited for the mail to come?
I have enjoyed your other series so I am happy to see a new one.
Congats
This sounds like a great new series, and as well as a new-to-me author. Looking forward to reading this – I couldn’t imagine being the only postal person for a town!!
It’s always fun to learn about a new cozy series. This sounds like a winner!!
This sounds like alot of fun, and different than alot of other books I’ve been reading. Would love to win a copy! Thankyou for the opportunity! Going on my TBR list right now!
I love new series! Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Death Takes Priority.
Wow can’t wait to read I was in an abusive and many other things foster home and couldn’t wait till the post man came it was in a rural area and he used to come so late that it was even after the school bus made a one hour trip from where i went to school,.Well i would sit out near the road and wait and wait so the foster parents then put an alarm on the box so that i couldn’t open it and check to see if he had been there,. So i had to walk the 1/4 mile to the house well every once in a blue moon my grandma used to mail me dime cards those were what Hallmark sold and she would send me one with a note inside and it was the most positive thing i ever got and that was my reasoning for waiting for him. I love the post office i collect stamps and just love our mail man he is just so nice. I greet everyone from Oct-dec with candy for those 3 months that is ups.postman anyone who is delivering something and have for many years as we get no trick or treaters so i treat the delivery people to the postman he also gets water during the hot days of summer. Can’;t wait to read your book !
Congratulations Camille on the debut of your Postmistress mystery series! I just put it on my tbr list. Thank you for the chance to win!
Sounds like a good read.
Yay – new series! Thanks for the chance to win.
I always figure the postmaster or mistress in a small town knows everything that is going on around town, Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sonds like a fantastic read!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
I don’t mind going postal as long as it is with Camille/Jean. I love the mini post office and other rooms she creates.
What a great idea! We should all order books to be delivered via the USPS! Thanks for the peek and chance to win!
I’ve loved everything that I’ve read so far by this author and have been looking forward to what sounds like a great beginning to a new series. Thanks for the chance to win.
New author to me, new series, sounds like fun
Hooray for another new series! I appreciate the chance to win!
contest is closed.