My name is Jude Dillane, and I’m co- owner of The Corner Lounge on Tenth Street and Avenue B in Manhattan. I manage the bar and my partner, Pete Angel, runs the kitchen. When I mention to people that I own a bar and restaurant in the trendy East Village, they begin to gush and says things like, “Oh Jude, that must be so exciting and so much fun, right?” Or in an awed voice ask: “Do you get to meet a lot of celebrities?” Usually, I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes or telling them that Justin Timberlake stops by every time he’s in town.
People wouldn’t ask such questions if they knew how the bar and restaurant business really works. Yes, it’s interesting and social and sometimes fun, but it’s also a whole lot of work, some of which I get to repeat day after day.
Like making up the schedule for the kitchen and wait staff, ordering food, produce and wine, and cutting the fruit for all the mixed drinks we serve. The latter being how I start my shift as soon as I step behind the bar, which as I mentioned, is my domain. We’re beginning to be known for our menu, which thanks to Pete is delicious and inventive. At least I don’t have to worry about the food. Our customers love it.
That’s part of what keeps them coming back for more. Well, that and the drinks I mix up at the bar. My best customer is my landlord and friend, Thomas ‘Sully’ Sullivan, a former Marine Lieutenant Commander who likes things ramrod straight and orderly. He owns the building that houses The Corner Lounge, as well as my apartment, and his. He stops in every afternoon after his shift at the Big City Food Bank where he volunteers and runs their delivery program. Sully keeps me company while I cut the fruit, polish the glasses, and wipe down my beautiful bar. In turn, I let him expound on the intrigues going on at Big City as he savors a glass of Jameson’s Irish whiskey.
It was one of those intrigues that got me involved in the murder of a Big City employee in the first place. Sully’s pal, Ed Molina, an accountant in charge of Compliance for the non-profit, was supposed to meet him at his apartment to discuss a work problem. When Sully realized he was going be delayed for the meeting, he asked me to give Ed his keys, which I did. When Sully tried to call Ed to tell him he was on his way, there was no response. Instead, Sully sent me upstairs to see if Ed was still there.
He was. Lying in a pool of his own blood, as dead as the empties at the end of the night. The police were convinced it was suicide but Sully had other ideas. He believed Ed was going to tell him about a crime going on at Big City. That’s when he asked me to go undercover and got me a job in the accounting department. As you might imagine, accounting wasn’t part of my skill set. If that wasn’t bad enough, Big City was in the Bronx, a borough I’d sworn I’d never set foot in again.
It was hard to refuse Sully, so I did as he asked and joined the accounting department as an intern. I soon found out that things didn’t exactly add up. Even though I wanted to quit and get back to my daily routine at bar, which was looking pretty good, I didn’t. Of course, soon I found myself investigating several Big City employees. When one was killed in a car crash, and Sully was injured on the job, I was in too deep to pull out and I knew I’d have to act fast before the killer got to me, as well.
Giveaway: Tell us what your favorite drink is. Leave a comment for your chance to win a print copy of Bar None, A Murder On The Rocks Mystery. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends October 18, 2018. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Jude Dillane in Bar None, the first book in the NEW “Murder On The Rocks” mystery series.
Bar None, set in New York City, features Jude Dillane, owner of The Corner Lounge on 10th Street and Avenue B. When Jude finds her friend and landlord Thomas “Sully” Sullivan’s work pal, Ed Molina, dead in a pool of blood in Sully’s apartment, she’s sure it wasn’t suicide as the police suspect and adds murder to her plate when she helps investigate a case of major fraud at the Big City Food Bank.
Jude and Sully get more than they bargain for when they follow the leads left by the victim. The secrets Ed carried are passed along and the target now falls on their backs. They soon discover that uncovering corruption means uncovering the killer. They just have to stay alive long enough to bring justice and reveal the truth once and for all.
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About the author
Cathi Stoler is an award-winning author. Her new urban thriller, Bar None, A Murder on the Rocks Mystery, featuring The Corner Lounge bar owner, Jude Dillane, was recently published this October by Clay Stafford Books. A new series, with Blackjack player, Nick Donahue, includes the novel Out Of Time, and the novella, Nick Of Time. Both will be published next year by Black Opal Books. She is also the author of the three volume Laurel & Helen New York Mystery series, which includes Telling Lies, Keeping Secrets and The Hard Way, and a three-time finalist, and winner of the 2015 Derringer for Best Short Story, “The Kaluki Kings of Queens”. Very involved in the crime writing world, Cathi serves as Co-Vice President of Sisters in Crime New York/Tri-State, and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Find out more about Cathi at cathistoler.com.
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds like an interesting new series. I guess my favorite cocktail is a margarita.
I don’t drink often, so my list would be very short to choose from! I would say a nice Pina Colada.
I love finding a new series and this one sounds very good!
Thank you the review and the chance to win it.
A new mystery series set in NYC sounds perfect for Fall reading – just like a Dark and Stormy is my fav cocktail for these autumn chilly nights!
What a wonderful sounding new series. I’d be delighted to win a print copy of this book.Congratulations to the author! As to favorite alcoholic drinks it depends on what I’m eating as I don’t drink without having food with it. 😃
My selections would be Reisling,well chilled if possible, Mai Tais, margaritis, and Kahlua and cream for an after dinner drink instead of coffee.
Otherwise it’s water,!!
I love new series and would really be happy to begin this one.
Thank you so much.
Cynthia B
I love coffee..and coffee brandy, but I think my favorite might be cream sherry.
Back in the day before my son was born, there were several drinks that I was quite fond of. When I was celebrating something it was a Brandy Alexander. Other times it was Pena Colada and days when there wasn’t much money in my pocket a glass of wine or a simple beer would suffice. Not my drink of choice is Chai Tea.
Gin & tonic, anytime. Thanks for the great post & giveaway.
Favorite drink? At a bar, a Sidecar.
Back in my younger days when all 3 of my brothers were fighting in Viet Nam I looked forward to their visits home on leave. They’d take me to the “O” Club at a nearby base. My drink of choice was vodka,tonic,bitters and lime. An acquired taste.
My tastes are too varied to settle on a favorite. A made from scratch mojito is wonderful in hot weather.
My favorite drink? Coffee or sweet tea or coke-a-cola. even in a bar setting 🙂
..New to me series..Thanks for this blog and chance! Have a great day everyone!
Sounds like an interesting new series! I look forward to reading it-maybe with an amaretto sour in my hand. (or just amaretto on the rocks-yum)
Long Island Iced Tea
I’m a Margarita and Mojito kind of a gal. Love the NYC and bar setting for a mystery. Sounds like fun!
Gin and tonic
Sounds like a great book. My favorite drink is a Moscow Mule.
Sounds like an intriguing plot. I like white wine the best, but a singapore
sling is also good.
Moscow Mule
This series sounds awesome. Thank you for introducing me to a new author and a new series that takes place in New York City. My favorite drink is a toss up between a Sloe Gin Fizz and Southern Comfort on the Rocks. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Bar None.
I like a good white wine. I cold beer is good on a hot summer day. Back in college days it was gin & tonic.
This is a new series for me. Thanks
Hot tea is my favorite drink. I don’t drink alcohol very often, but when I do it’s usually a margarita.
I like the ‘tutti-fruitti’ drinks…lol….
Thank you for the giveaway…
A Long Island Iced Tea suits me just fine.
**** WINNER ****
Bar None is Cynthia Blain
Congratulations!
Hi Cynthia,
I’ll be sending our your copy of BAR NONE today.
Hope you enjoy it!
Cathi Stoler