Thank you for inviting me back, Dru Ann. Much has happened since we chatted a year ago. The summer tourist season in our little beach village of Corolla, North Carolina started quietly enough until Tropical Storm Ana unearthed a body buried under a vacation home boardwalk, local developer Denny Custis died in a suspicious fire, and I got pressured into being a bridesmaid for the “spiritual union ceremony” of one of my firefighters.
Maybe I should go back a bit. Over the last few months, there has been a string of arsons of abandoned properties on the mainland. Jimmy Bartlett, my veteran captain, and I had been keeping a close eye on those developments and hoping that whoever was responsible didn’t decide to cross Currituck Sound and continue his crime spree on the Outer Banks. My heart sank when land developer Denny Custis ended up dead in a fire set to a beach house under construction – not that I’m a fan of Denny’s after the way he teased my border collie Sparky, but it’s always devastating for firefighters when we can’t save a life. During the course of the homicide investigation, Bill and I have discovered that virtually everyone has had a beef or run-in with Denny and a motive for killing him. Right now Antonio “Pinky” Salvatore, Denny’s business rival, is Bill’s chief suspect but I have serious doubts that Pinky is our man. Bill thinks I’m letting Pinky off the hook because I have a soft spot for him. Ridiculous. I just don’t think Pinky would jeopardize the business he’s worked so hard to build. . . although I do think he’s hiding something.
To complicate matters and our investigation, we’ve also learned that Myrtle Crepe, the head of the Lighthouse Wild Horse Preservation Society and my cranky former third grade teacher, has been embroiled in several battles: one with Denny about Corolla’s wild Spanish mustangs, a second with the Tour-zilla tour company for destroying the dunes in the sanctuary where the horses live, and a third with the folks at the endangered piping plover shore bird protection society – although why the horse and bird folks are feuding I have yet to figure out.
What’s that? You want to know about my relationship with Bill? Okay, okay, I admit that maybe we’re a bit more than friends now. When he was away during the winter I realized how important he was to me. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder. But don’t get any ideas. The upcoming sunrise wedding is definitely not ours.
All of this might give you the impression that Corolla is a dangerous place to visit, but let me reassure you and your readers that our community is perfectly safe. Tens of thousands of people visit every year without a single incident – unless you count being stung by a jellyfish in August an incident. If you do make it to Corolla, Myrtle will happily take you on a four-wheel drive tour of Carova where you’ll see the beautiful wild horses, the Outer Banks’ second largest living dune, the maritime woods, and the ancient cedar and oak stumps dotting the long, wide beach. And if you survive a morning with Myrtle, I’ll treat you to a famous homemade doughnut from Lighthouse Bagels or a cool delight at Ned’s Ice Cream!
You can read more about Colleen in Neighing With Fire, the third book in the “Colleen McCabe” mystery series, published by Minotaur. The first two books in the series are Foal Play and Murder On The Hoof.
Check out the trailer below
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NOckYnWRsg]
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on May 27 for the chance to win a signed copy of Neighing With Fire. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Two lucky commenters will be randomly selected. 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.
About the author
Kathryn O’Sullivan is a winner of the Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Competition. Neighing with Fire is the third in the Colleen McCabe series. She is also an award-winning playwright, creator and writer of the Web series Thurston, and a theatre professor at Northern Virginia Community College. She lives with her husband, a film director and cinematographer, and their rescue cat Oscar in Reston, Virginia.
For more information, visit Kathryn at www.kathrynosullivan.com
Yes please Dru, I want to enter this contest. I love horses… I only stopped riding when my weight made the horse I always rode up at the farm uncomfortable. So if you’re too heavy for your mount, it’s time to hang up your spurs.
Thanks for visiting and your interest in the series! Sounds like you’re a wonderful horse owner! The Corolla wild horses featured in the series are endangered but recently strides have been made to diversify the herd’s DNA with the introduction of Gus, a stallion from another Spanish mustang herd who now has a harem. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund is also hoping to introduce three mares this year. Horses are amazing animals! Good luck with the giveaway!
I haven’t heard of this series. It sounds great. Thank you.for the chance
Thanks, Candace! Thanks for checking out the post and good luck!
I am not familiar with this series. I love the setting and live horses so I think i should get started on it. Thanks for the chance to win.
North Carolina’s Outer Banks is one of my favorite places in the world, Mary. The shots of the beach in the book trailer above were filmed by my husband in Corolla so you get a sense of what it is like there if you’ve never been – minus the house on fire, of course! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!
I am not familiar with this author, thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Most libraries have my books, Lisa, if you’d like to check them out. 🙂 Good luck with the giveaway!
Sounds like a great book. Look forward to reading it.
Thanks for stopping by, Debbie! I hope you enjoy the book!
Okay, I’ll admit it. I want this one, too.
Thanks, Amy! I’m giving away two so hopefully that increases your chances! 🙂
This sounds like a good book, thank you for the chance to win
Best of luck to you! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you again!
🙂 Good luck, Erin!
A fire chief is a new type of “detective” for me. Should be an interesting read. thanks for the chance to get started on the series.
The Duck, NC fire department (which is the next one down from Corolla) has a female fire chief so it’s been fun for me to portray a woman in that role. I hope you enjoy the book! Cheers!
This sounds like yet another great read.
Thanks, Dru
Thanks for visiting, Libby! Dru Ann is so wonderful about sharing my books with her wonderful readers… just in time for the start of summer! Good luck with the giveaway and happy reading!
This sounds like a delightful series! I’ll have to check it out – and I would love to win a copy of the new book! Thanks.
I love when new readers discover the series at Dru’s Book Musings! Thanks for visiting and commenting! Happy summer reading!
Thanks for the chance to win! This sounds like a great read!!
Thanks, Karen! I like to think of the books as mini-vacations to the beach. 🙂 Best of luck with the giveaway!
So excited to start this series:) I was a Firefighter and RN for years before I had to retire from an injury. Love to see a women as a Chief. Thank you for this series and chance to win the third book. Library here I come:)
You amaze me, Penny! Thank YOU for your service as a firefighter and RN! The Corolla and Duck firefighters have been so wonderful to me. When I asked if they were okay with my more lighthearted portrayal they were so great – said, “Oh yeah, we know it’s fiction!” I have a great deal of admiration and respect for firefighters and dedicated this book to them and first responders. Thanks for stopping by! Best of luck with the giveaway!
I enjoyed the post. I love Kathryn’s books. This has been a really fun series. I just wanted to leave a comment, but please do not enter me into the drawing. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Neighing with Fire so I already have a copy.
Thanks, Ann, for your incredible support! You’re the best! <3
I haven’t had the opportunity to read any of Kathryn O’Sullivan’s books. The cover is inviting me in to read it. Thanks so much for the review. robeader53@yahoo.com
Always nice to “meet” a new reader through Dru’s Book Musings, Robin! A little trivia: In the book trailer we tried to recreate the cover and my husband served as the cover’s dead body as curious beachgoers looked on! We got quite a laugh! Hope you enjoy and thanks for visiting!
My husband wants the doughnut and I’ll take the ice cream as I read the book you send:)
That’s so funny, Karin! Writing about the great treats there always makes me hungry, too. I’m going to have both when I visit at the end of June! 🙂
I was not aware of this series but will certainly check it out. I haven’t ridden for a number of years and then only episodically but maintain my fascination and love for horses remains intact! One of my favorite riding memories is 42 years old: horseback riding in London’s Hyde Park when I was there for a 3 1/2 week short term course my senior year in college!
Thanks for sharing your fond memory, Cheryl. It sounds like an extraordinary experience. Horses are incredible gifts. I can just watch them and never get bored. Good luck with the giveaway and thank you for checking out the series!
First time reader – new series for me – you had me at ‘Tour-zilla’ ! Thank you for the chance to win your book!
Rita, I had a lot of fun with Tour-zilla and describing their vehicles! 😉 I appreciate you stopping by and checking out the series. Good luck and happy reading!
Thanks for letting us know about this author. I will look for her books.
Thanks, Prentiss! I love my readers and hearing their thoughts on the books. In fact, I set a scene in “Neighing with Fire” in the Gold-N-Gifts jewelry store in Kill Devil Hills, NC after one of my readers suggested I check the store out! Most libraries have the books so if you don’t win the giveaway you can check them out there!
This sounds delightfully quirky.
I love “delightfully quirky,” Sally! Can I quote you? 🙂 Cheers and good luck!
Sounds good, thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for stopping by, Mary Jane, and best of luck with the giveaway!
Strange things do happen there but I don’t really think of Corolla as a dangerous place and the horses sound beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win.
Your comment made me chuckle because you’re absolutely correct… Corolla is in no way dangerous! The only crime spree they have is the one I’ve created in the books! 🙂 And the horses are beautiful. If you ever get there take a tour with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund who manages the herd. You won’t be disappointed! Good luck winning a book!
I have never read any of the books, but this looks great! Thanks for the giveaway, and the chance to win! 🙂
Thanks for leaving a comment, Abby! Maybe you’ll have a chance to check the series out this summer. Hope you win a book!
New series for me
I hope you’ll be a new reader for me, Verna! Best of luck with the giveaway! Happy reading!
Would love to win Neighing with
Fire by Kathryn O’Sullivan📖📚
Thank you.
I hope you do, Mary Ann! Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
What a wonderful feature and giveaway. Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by, Anne! It’s always fun posting for Dru Ann! Best of luck!
I would love to win. I want to start reading this series.
I hope you do, Kaye! 🙂 Readers who haven’t read the first two books in the series but start with the third one tell me it’s easy to pick up on the characters and what’s going on. So if you win, you can start with three and work your way back! 😉
Sounds like a very interesting and good time book! Like Colleens attitude!
I’m glad you like Colleen, Lynn! She’s tough and knows how to keep the fellas in line at the station but she doesn’t have it all figured out when it comes to her romantic life… at least not yet! 😉 Good luck winning one of the books!
This is a new series to me…it sounds good!
I’m glad you’re discovering the series, Christi! The books are fun reads… just in time for summer! Hope you enjoy and win a book!
Seeing the wild horses of the Outer Banks is one of the things on my bucket list.
Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Seeing the horses is amazing, Sue, especially when you think the horses have been on the Outer Banks since the 1500s when Spanish ships brought them to our shores. Generations of horses… wild and free! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you win a book… and get to see the horses!
Loved the first. Now I’m behind by two! Adding to my TBR.
I’m glad you enjoyed FOAL PLAY, Linda! I know what it’s like getting behind. I have a huge TBR pile. So many books and so little time! Thanks for reading and good luck with the giveaway!
I have always wanted to go to the Outer Banks. I would love reading this series.
I hope you’re able to make it to the Outer Banks someday, Lisa! A truly wonderful place. I try to capture the feel of the OBX and real locales in the books. Good luck winning a copy of “Neighing with Fire!”
Each year our daughter, son in law and now our three grandchildren all under 11 take a family vacation somewhere in the Eastern part of the US where we can drive. This year we just went to Myrtle Beach for one week then to Wilmington, NC for a second week. Next year we are planning on going to Corolla to the Outer Banks where we have rented a big house right on the beach, as all the children love not only the ocean/beach but horses, and we thought it would be great for them to see the horses running free and not just being ridden like they do. We try to incorporate history of each area to which we travel and this will be one of the ways that we can show them things that they just cannot imagine in a book. That all being said, I just have to get your series, Kathryn. I am sorry that I had not heard of it before this, but that is why I love Dru’s Book Musings as I learn so much and find so many new/new-to-me authors and great books.
I would be delighted to become the recipient of this book and I am actually ordering the first two in this series from Amazon right now after I send this message.
Continue success in what sounds like a fabulous cozy series that I definitely will be following now.
Thank you for the introduction to Kathryn, Dru.
My fingers are crossed!!!
Sincerely,
Cynthia B. in MA
You are a wonderful grandparent/parent, Cynthia! I discovered the wonder of Corolla and the Outer Banks when my parents took me on vacation when I was a kid. Trust me, you will be providing your family a lifetime of memories. What a fantastic gift!
The Corolla horses have a fascinating history. You may also want to check out Manteo and the pirate history as well. The Whalehead Historic House Museum is also a must see – great history – as is the Historic Corolla Village where the schoolhouse, chapel, etc. are. There are several tour companies that will take you to see the wild horses but you should do your tour with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. They are the organization that is responsible for the maintenance and care of the horses and the entire tour cost goes to helping the horses. A piece of advice: make sure you book the tour in advance because they get quite busy. You can find information about the horses, the tour, etc. on their website. If you have any questions about places to eat or see for next year, feel free to email me at Kathryn@kathrynosullivan.com.
Thank you for stopping by and for purchasing the books! (Yes, Dru Ann is the best! 🙂 ) I wish you lots of luck with the giveaway. Happy reading and have a great summer!
This would be a new author and new series. This sounds great!!
I love it, Judy. You would be a new reader for me! Love how Dru Ann brings us all together! Best of luck with winning a copy of the book!
Definitely going to have to look up this series.
Thanks, Laura! I sincerely appreciate your interest in the series and hope you enjoy the books. Have a great weekend and good luck winning one of the copies!
Oh thank you for posting this and as a contest, no less. I couldn’t remember who wrote the first book so I could follow the author. I just loved it! Thank you again and I am making note right now of Kathryn O’Sullivan!
I’m thrilled that you enjoyed “Foal Play,” Kathleen! So nice of you to comment. One of the nicest things about being a writer is meeting readers. You made my morning. 🙂 You should be able to find “Murder on the Hoof” and “Neighing with Fire” in your local library but maybe you’ll win the book and only need to find one! Best of luck and have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Thanks!
Thanks to you for stopping by, Erin! Good luck!
Have not had the chance to pick up this series but the cover is beautiful so i’ll need to find the other two books to read. Thank you so much for a chance!
The covers of the books are all accurate to the area – the first two even use photographic images from Corolla. The beach is particularly spectacular in the winter when it snows – like powdered sugar sprinkled over the light brown sugar of the sand. 🙂 Good luck with the giveaway and thanks for commenting!
A new-to-me autor/series….
Thanx for the introduction & giveaway…
Yes, I love how Dru Ann brings us all together! Always happy to meet a new reader. Thank you for checking out the series. I hope you win a book!
I love finding unique mysteries series, can’t wait to read. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I hope you enjoy the series, Patty! The books are fun summer reads – appropriate as we launch into the sunny months. Thanks for stopping by and best of luck with the giveaway!
Sounds action packed. Would love to win a copy.
I love your comment! Thanks for visiting and good luck winning a copy! Happy summer reading! 🙂
thanks for the chance!
You’re welcome, Charlene! Good luck and thanks for stopping by!
The cover alone makes me want to read this book.
The cover reminds me of the Outer Banks so much, Barbara… well, except for the dead man under the walkway! 😉 Thanks for commenting and good luck winning a book!
Thank you Kathryn for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.