Lizzie Turner here and I hear y’all want to know what a day in my life is like. Well, we could start with a typical work day where I go into my job as a reading specialist at the Ashton Corners Elementary School. That’s in Alabama you know, town of the same name. I love my job, partly because it’s so varied. No two days are the same. I could be consulting with a teacher about her class, testing a student who seems to have issues with reading, meeting with students and parents about said issue, or attending a meeting at the school board office. Like I said, this job has a lot of aspects and one day is never like another, mainly because of the people involved.
I could go on talking about my job all day but eyes have been known to glaze over at parties, unless I’m talking to a teacher or such.
In the evening, if it’s a Tuesday I teach a Literacy class and if it’s the third Thursday of the month, I’m attending the monthly meeting of my book club, the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society. I love this group of seven different personalities and also, different reading preferences. You can bet this leads to some lively discussions. But the one thing we all agree on is the need to track down the killer in the unlikely (or not so) event that a murder happens in our small community. After all, we read enough about them to know how the sleuths track down the clues and deal with red herrings.
Of course, there’s usually a pressing reason for us to get involved in an actual murder investigation, much to the chagrin of my boyfriend Mark Dreyfus, who also happens to be the Chief of Police. In the past, my dear friend and host for our meetings, Molly Mathews was a suspect; another member, Sally-Jo Baker almost took the fall for the second murder we tackled, and dear Bob Miller, the retired Chief of Police I might add, was accused of not one but two killings. What’s a loyal book club to do!
We are a community after all, and friends stand up for each other.
But I digress. Murders don’t happen every third Thursday and they certainly aren’t solved in one day.
A typical day also involves, if I’m lucky, some quiet time with Mark who is often brings along his hound dog, Patchett. And that, of course, leads to some major distress for my two Siamese cats, Brie and Edam. They’re my fur babies and bring much joy into my life.
Of course, no day is complete without some reading time, although you should see my TBR pile. You’d think I never read a book at all – it just seems to be getting taller. That’s my obsession, you see. I walk into the local bookstore and stagger out laden with books. Such fun…I’m sure you agree!
You can read more about Lizzie in Book Fair or Foul, the fourth book in the “Ashton Corners Book Club” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is A Killer Read.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on August 18 for the chance to win a print copy of BOOK FAIR OR FOUL. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, unless specified.
About the author
Erika Chase writes the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries. In a parallel life she’s known as Linda Wiken, a former mystery bookstore owner and a short story writer. She is a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies’ Killing Circle. She has been short-listed for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel, and an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada. She admits to a passion for choral singing, chocolate and Siamese cats!
I love this series and can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
This sounds like a winner, I would love a copy of this book.
LOL we have the same obsession. Books, books and more books 🙂
I love to read and would love to read this book
My t-b-r pile is more like the Alps. This series is now on it – I did read the first one.
I love Lizzie and crew! This is a terrific series, set in a charming little Southern town.
another cozy to my WishLlist!!!!
thanx for the giveaway!!!
I love cozies set around books.
I’m late to this series and only started reading it a few weeks ago, but I devoured the first three books and loved them all. Thanks for sharing Lizzie’s day–such a fun post–and for the chance to win.
Yet another series to add to my expanding book list! Thanks for the post!
This is a new to me author and series , can’t wait to start reading !
I’ve read this series and can’t wait for the new book.
Love the series. I like the different ages of the friends in the reading club and the way keep each other in check when a murder occurs.
Sounds like a great new series. Nice to meet Lizzie, the reading specialist.
I love all of the components of this book: book club, cats, small community. I like the Siamese cats’ names, Edam and Brie. I’m sure I’d enjoy reading this cozy.
Lauigl [at] carolina [dot] rr [dot] com
loos great, thank you for the chance to win 🙂
Love this series. Can’t wait to read this new one.
I have not as yet read anything by this author—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this book!
I LOVE the name of the book club.
Like this series
I’ve never read any of the books in this series but have put it on my to be read series. The fact that it has Siamese cats as well as the main character being a teacher makes me want to read it today.
Sounds like a good read.
“Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society” – love it! What a great voice.
Another series to add to the list….. Not sure how I missed this one…
Thanks for the contest. This one looks like a winner!
I like the sound of the book and can’t wait to read it.
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance.
This seems like a fun series.
Sounds great, thank you for the chance to win !!
sounds great!
Love the subject of this book!! It’s so heartbreaking to find high school graduates that are functionally illiterate these days!! I like you find great joy in book stores and leaving with piles of books.
Thanks for introducing this series to me, I hadn’t heard of it and it sounds like one that I will like. Thanks for the chance to win, I’ve got to go add this series to my tbr list now.
Sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win.
I honestly cannot believe that this is the fourth book in the series. I read book one which seems like a month ago, well maybe it was, but I cannot believe there have been two others. I MUST get the other read soon, the first was really good. Thank you for the giveaway Dru.
Cynthia
Sounds perfect for me.
This is definitely going on to TBR pile! Love the sounds of this one and the whole series. Not sure how I missed knowing about it.
This has got to be my FAVORITE book cover, this year! I look forward to reading “Book Fair and Foul”.
I love this series, the characters are fun to read about
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
I truly enjoy this series! So glad of another one although it seems impossible to be up to #4 already; but, I’m not complaining. Thank you for the giveaway.
I love this series and can’t wait to read this book. Thanks Dru for the giveaway.
I would love to win this book. I appreciate the chance to win Thank you for having this giveaway.
I love a book club mystery (and book clubs). Thanks for keeping up the series.
Sounds like a good read. I just ordered the first book.
I love the sound of this one, thanks!!
Sounds like a great mystery and I want to read some in this series. I love that there are cats in the books.
I loved the first two and have the third on its way. I’m sure it and Book Fair and Foul will bring the same feelings out. Got to admit though, I also love the reading lists in the back, always manage to find new books to try to track down. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love cozies set in the deep south—thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds like fun series. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a great read. Have not tried tgis author, but I love to find new authors. Thanks for the giveaway.
contest is closed.