One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Robyn.

What is your full name?
Robyn Louise Cavanagh

How old are you?
I’m in my mid-forties.

What is your profession?
I’m a self-employed accountant, and I’m also building a second career in portrait photography. Accounting has long put the meat, potatoes, and vegetables on my table and paid all my bills. Photography nourishes my spirit and provides the creative outlet I need. My photography work has developed (sorry for the pun!) into a steady source of income, one that pays some of those monthly bills and keeps my dog in Milk Bones.

Do you have a significant other?
There is someone, a childhood friend, who has grown in significance in the past few months.

What is their name and profession?
Will Vonderlin. Will’s a talented architect.

Do you have any children?
No. I do have several nieces and nephews and derive much joy in being their Aunt Robyn.

Do you have any siblings?
Yes. I have two sisters and two brothers. I’m the second eldest of the Cavanagh family.

Are your parents nearby?
Yes. My parents, Geri and Ed, live a few blocks from my house. I have a great relationship with them and their proximity is wonderful. Most days. Other days…My parents involve themselves in my investigations. For example, they’ve conducted surveillance, on both suspects and me. Yes, they’re a bit overprotective. I do appreciate that Mom and Dad have my back, but sometimes I wish they’d find something else to keep themselves occupied in their retirement.

Who is your best friend?
My older sister, Meredith. She’s a terrific listener and has always given me excellent advice. My friend Will has become an invaluable confidante, delightful companion, and someone I trust completely.

Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
I have a Collie mix. His name is Yogi, after the legendary New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra. Yogi is the sweetest dog ever and gives me a heavy dose of adorableness every time he enters the room.

What town do you live in?
Garland, New York. We’re a Hudson River town in northern Orange County. The growth of our business district has turned Garland into a popular weekend destination for people from NYC and our southern suburban neighbors. Many out-of-towners make day trips to visit our shops, enjoy our outdoor activities, and spend time at our beautiful local farms. We’ve also welcomed new residents who’ve moved to Garland for a quieter, more affordable way of living.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I’m the proud owner of a Craftsman-style home that’s painted cornflower blue.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
The kitchen. It’s not big—no open-concept with views into my living and family rooms¬—and it doesn’t have a nine-foot island, but there’s plenty of room for a table that seats six, enough floor space for Yogi to sprawl for a nap, and a good amount of counter area to accommodate several baking sheets when I make Christmas cookies. When people visit, we often sit at the table with a soda or mug of tea and something delicious from an Entenmann’s box.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
Will and I have a standing Friday date at Andretta’s pizzeria. Good food, good conversation, good company. It doesn’t get any better than a slice covered with a rich tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese. Ice cream is always a welcome finish to a meal. Or after a bit of sleuthing. Will and I recently popped into Garland’s Carvel after a chat with someone who gave us a helpful bit of information for our recent investigation into the death of a real estate developer. It was a cold December night, but so what. Ice cream is an all-season treat.

Do you have any hobbies?
Photography was my hobby for a long while, until I turned my love of taking portraits into a second career. I haven’t discovered a new pastime yet. No way am I going to admit it’s catching killers.

What music do you listen to?
1980’s Rock!

What is your favorite color?
Blue

What is your favorite vacation spot?
I love to visit New York’s Adirondack region. I’m more of a mountain and lake gal than a beach person. A placid lake surrounded by pine trees is more soothing than crashing waves and hot sand. Lake George, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, and Lake Placid are beautiful towns and great choices for a relaxing vacation.

Are you a morning or night person?
Morning. I have two businesses to run and a dog who wants a walk as soon as the sun rises.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
It’s definitely not crunching numbers, trying to make uncooperative toddlers stand still and smile, or solving crimes. I’m happiest when I’m with my family and Will (not always at the same time, though they all like each other). Long walks with Yogi, particularly when we’re joined by Will and his beagle, Peanuts. Friday night pizza dates with Will. I see a pattern developing…Get the picture?

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Dynamic Range. It’s a photography term that describes a camera’s ability to capture both the brightest and darkest details in an image without losing the quality of either. I think of it as maintaining the reality of what your eyes see. I’ve experienced many bright moments in my life, but in this last year, I’ve seen the darkness in others. Their anger, jealousy, bitterness, fear. I’d include both the bright and dark in my story

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Will and I work together. We just solved our third murder case, the death of the real estate developer I mentioned earlier. Russell Nowak was killed during a Christmas party at the most notable address in Garland. It was a puzzling case, but we solved it in time to celebrate Christmas and unwrap something other than suspect motives. We’ve come up with some wacky theories along the way, which have prompted a remark that answers your first question: “We put the amateur in amateur sleuth.”

What is a typical day in your life like?
It starts with a walk with Yogi, a shower, and breakfast with a hot cup of tea. I do much of my accounting work in the morning in my home office. In the afternoons—and sometimes evenings—I hold photography sessions. I can go from taking the first photos of a newborn to photographing a high school senior for her official class portrait to creating a moon-lit portfolio of a newly-engaged couple. Self-employment allows me to squeeze moments of sleuthing into my schedule, and sometimes I can combine a visit with a client with a fact-finding mission. My days are exhausting and exhilarating. I help people and bring a bit of joy to their lives. I finally have the fulfillment I sought for a long time. I love my “typical” days, though I’d like them with less murder, please and thank you.

Happy holidays, everyone!

The Holiday Photo Murder – A “Robyn Cavanagh” Mystery, Book 3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: November 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Portrait Photographer Robyn Cavanagh has had a busy fall season taking a record number of client photos for holiday cards. She’s ready for a quiet December to do her own Christmas preparations, but she has one more job to close the year. It’s the best gift of the season: taking photographs at wealthy Natalie Hoffmann’s holiday party.

Excited to be the official photographer at the party held at the publisher’s estate overlooking the majestic Hudson River, Robyn hopes the event will win her new clients. Everyone will want to forget the evening, however, after Natalie’s companion, Russell Nowak, is found dead in the garden.

Who among the guests wanted the successful businessman dead? While everyone counts down to Christmas, Robyn’s wish list is filled with suspects. She teams with her friend Will Vonderlin to catch the killer and restore her holiday spirit in time to enjoy the festive season.

About the author
Jeanne Quigley is the author of the Veronica Walsh Mysteries and the Robyn Cavanagh Mysteries. Unlike her fictional sleuths, she has never been a soap opera star, accountant, or professional photographer, but she has worked in the music industry, for an educational publisher, and in a county agency. She lives in New York’s historic Hudson Valley.