Hey there. I’m Leta Petkas Parker, and you can probably tell from my name that I’m Greek. Greek families love food and cooking—and eating, though I try to keep the eating part under control. At only 5’2”, I’d be a little butterball if I indulged as much I’d like to. Since I’ve retired to the Cotswolds from the States, my new friends have come to expect my Greek salad whenever they eat at my cottage—that and the occasional pan of pastitsio or spanakopita.

How did I get to England from my home in Atlanta? Tragically, my husband Henry died in an accident nearly two years ago. I threw myself back into my banking career, thinking the long hours and weekly business trips would chase the pain away. All that did was exhaust me. What did the trick was my spur of the moment decision to retire to the Cotswolds, something I’d always dreamed of.

And here I am—living in a storybook cottage with my dog and cat Dickens and Christie, making new friends, and making my way. We three have a daily routine. Only after Christie gets her milk and Dickens visits the garden am I allowed to take my cup of coffee to our cozy sitting room. I get the fire going, read the paper, and play Words with Friends before I attack the day.

Okay, okay, I no longer work sixty-hour weeks, but I kept my side job writing columns after I moved “across the pond.” I love writing, and my readers tell me they enjoy hearing about life in the picturesque village of Astonbury. Back home, I wrote about the deer in the yard, fall festivals, trips to the mountains—whatever struck my fancy. Here, it’s trips to quaint villages, overnights to Oxford, and the joy of walking country lanes.

Several mornings a week, I take yoga at the Let It Be yoga studio on High Street, often with my friend Wendy. Now that she’s retired from teaching high school English in the States—if you can believe it—she’s back here living with her mum, Belle. Nearly ninety-years-old, Belle is a pistol. The fascinating thing about Belle is that her mother knew J.M. Barrie, the person who wrote Peter Pan. They became friends when he summered in the Cotswolds.

That’s why Belle’s daughter is named Wendy, and her twin brother’s name is—you guessed it—Peter. It was Peter who told me I could buy a refurbished London taxi to drive around in, and that’s what I did. How cool is that?

Wendy and I bonded right away over our love of books and shopping. She’s not quite the word nerd I am, but we both attend the monthly book club meetings at the Book Nook. Between the yoga studio, the bookshop, and Toby’s Tearoom, we spend lots of time on High Street. Visiting the Tearoom is a must after yoga, as much for Toby’s to-die-for scones and muffins as for the tea and coffee.

Dickens and I walk almost every day, and our favorite destination is the pasture where we feed carrots to Martha and Dylan, the donkeys. When we’re up for a longer walk, we continue to the Olde Mill Inn, where I visit with my friends Libby and Gavin, and Dickens romps with their cat Paddington. Dickens tells me his favorite pastime is diving in the pile of dirty linens with Paddington as the rooms are being changed out.

Did I mention that Dickens talks to me? And I understand him? Odd, I know, but I’ve been able to talk to the animals since I was a child. I also converse with my black cat, Christie—and my friends’ pets. Dickens is a happy go lucky little fellow. His feline sister? She’s sassy and persnickety, but I still love her. I’ve successfully kept my Dr. Dolittle talent to myself—can’t have my friends thinking I’m a crazy woman. Even Henry didn’t know about my strange ability.

Yes, I was living the dream . . . until Dickens and I stumbled across a dead body . . . of a friend

Who knew I had an inner Nancy Drew? Before I knew it, Wendy, Belle and I had embarked on solving a murder mystery. And, believe it or not, we solved it! Even we were surprised.

But that was a one-time thing—not something we planned to ever do again. And we meant it, really . . . until another dead body appeared . . . in our peaceful little village. Everyone thinks I’m the instigator, but honestly, Wendy ‘s hellbent to get involved, at the risk of once again irritating the heck out of Gemma, our local Detective-Sergeant. And Belle? Ever since she got a taste of playing Miss Marple, there’s been no stopping her.

Here we go again . . .

Pumpkins, Paws & Murder is the second book in the “Dickens & Christie” cozy animal mystery series, released March 25, 2020.

A Cotswolds village—a Fall Fête—TWO four-legged sleuths—and a murder!

Do you like heroines who’ve lived a little? Who’ve suffered life’s ups and downs but kept on trucking? Then you’ll love Leta Parker and her new friends in the Cotswolds village of Astonbury.

Though Leta’s still haunted by her tragic loss, moving from Atlanta to the village of Astonbury has given her a new lease on life. Leta’s days are filled with yoga, book club, walks with Dickens, naps with Christie, and outings with friends. Add preparations for the Astonbury Fall Fête—complete with scarecrows, pumpkins, and costumes—and she’s beyond busy.

Things get even busier when a dead body is discovered on the riverbank, and once again, Leta and her sleuthing girlfriends are drawn into a search for a killer—a search that takes them to Dartmouth on the coast of England.

Two whipsmart retirees, one spunky senior citizen, and a feisty dog and cat are on the case!

Who better to unearth clues from their friends in the village? Even Dickens and Christie get in on the act gathering intelligence from their four-legged friends and pointing out the obvious to Leta.

Will touring Agatha Christie’s summer home help them access their inner Miss Marples?

Will Dickens sniff out clues closer to home? Or will Christie the cat outthink them all?

Discover the answers—and a recipe—in Pumpkins, Paws, & Murder, book two in Kathy Manos Penn’s Cozy Animal Mystery Series.

See trailer below.

You can read more about Leta and her friends in Bells, Tails & Murder, the first book in the series. Look for the third book, coming later in 2020.

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Meet the author
Picture Kathy Manos Penn sitting serenely at her desk surrounded by her four-legged office assistants. Happily retired from corporate America, she’d never considered being an author until a friend suggested she write a cozy mystery.

As a child, she took a book everywhere—to family dinners, to doctors’ offices, and of course to bed. Years later, a newspaper article inspired her to put pen to paper and submit her thoughts to the editor. Before she knew it, she was writing weekly columns and blogs—in addition to her demanding day job. Then came a book co-written with her dog. As she says, “Doesn’t everyone do that?”

Now, she’s writing cozy animal mysteries featuring a dog and cat who converse with their owner. If a dog can write a book, surely animals can communicate. Naturally, her office assistants help with the dialogue. And, yes, they’re angling to be listed as co-authors.

Visit her website for information on the Dickens & Christie cozy mystery series—photos, blogs, a map of Astonbury, and more at kathymanospenn.com. To stay up-to-date on book news and releases, sign up for her newsletter.

All comments are welcomed.