On a normal day, I’d wake up and step onto the deck of my cozy beachfront cottage in Montauk and greet the morning.
On a normal day, I’d take the twenty-seven steps down to the shore and meditate, using the rhythm of the waves as my mantra. If the weather was rough, I’d leave my hearing aids behind and revel in the feel and smell of the briny ocean wind as it lashed my face.
On a normal day, I’d walk along the beach to check for poetry written in the sand by a reclusive author with a tragic past.
On a normal day, I’d make a pot of rocket fuel in my French press, bring the pot and my favorite I-heart-NY mug, along with the East Hampton Journal to my screened porch and scour the ads for estate and garage sales.
On a normal day, I’d peruse my Cottages by the Sea storyboard filled with clippings and diagrams of my current interior design project.
But today was a not-so-normal day.
Today was the not-so-normal day that I went to the Seacliff estate in East Hampton and found socialite and rare antique collector Caroline Spenser, bludgeoned to death.
Today was the not-so-normal day that I found myself seated in an East Hampton patrol car, trying to stifle the gag reflex. Not that I was a stranger to riding in police cars. My father was a retired Detroit PD homicide detective, but I was a stranger to finding murdered corpses.
Today was the not-so-normal day that I glanced at the bumper sticker on the back of my Jeep that read, MONTAUK—THE END, referring to the town’s location on the easternmost tip of Long Island.
Up until this not-so-normal day, I’d thought of Montauk as THE BEGINNING.
But now, I wasn’t so sure.
You can read more about Meg in Better Homes and Corpses, the first book in the NEW “Hamptons Home and Garden” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
About Better Homes and Corpses
After Meg Barrett found her fiancé still had designs on his ex-wife, she decided it was time to refurbish her life. Leaving her glamorous job at a top home and garden magazine, she fled Manhattan for Montauk, only to find decorating can sometimes lead to detecting. . .
In between scouring estate sales for her new interior design business, Cottages by the Sea, Meg visits the swanky East Hampton home of her old college roommate, Jillian Spenser. But instead of seeing how the other half lives—she learns how the other half dies. Jillian’s mother, known as the Queen Mother of the Hamptons, has been murdered. Someone has staged a coup.
When she helps a friend inventory the Spensers’ estate for the insurance company, Meg finds herself right in the thick of things. Cataloging valuable antiques and art loses its charm when Meg discovers that the Spenser family has been hiding dangerous secrets, which may have furnished a murderer with a motive. As Meg gets closer to the truth, the killer will do anything to paint her out of the picture. . .
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on August 12 for the chance to win a print copy of Better Homes and Corpses. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. 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.
Meet the author
Kathleen Bridge started her writing career working at the Michigan State University News in East Lansing, Michigan. She is the author and photographer of an antique reference guide, Lithographed Paper Toys, Books, and Games, and the author of Revenge of the Sports Widows—How to Cope with a Sports Fanatic. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and has taught creative writing classes at the William Cullen Bryant Library in Roslyn, New York. Kathleen is also an antiques dealer in Long Island, New York, and has contributed to magazines, including Country Living magazine.
Visit Kathleen at her www.kathleenbridge.com, on Twitter and on Facebook
Hey Dru, did I ever tell you that Mommy Dearest had a degree in Interior Decorating? Yeap she tried a bit of everything growing up. Toss my hat in the ring Dru, I’d like a shot at winning this book. It looks interesting.
This sounds like an interesting book and I love getting in on the first book of a series.
Oh, yes! I’d love a chance to get a print copy to share with the library where I work. I know I could get so many new fans for this series. I do love designers & their mysteries! Thanks for the chance & for the blurb.
Nope, doesn’t sound like a normal day. Would love to win this, thanks.
This looks very interesting and a bit different. I would love a copy.
This book looks very interesting. I will be adding to my tbr list. Thanks for the giveaway.
Kathleen Bridge is a new author for me, and I am excited about reading the first book in the series. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like a great new series . I would love to win/read it , will be on my TRL
Your review drew me in. If I don’t win the book, I’m definitely buying it!
Cute title and sounds like a good book! You always have great giveaways! Thank you!
I love new series, thanks for the chance to win it 🙂
This sounds like an interesting book. I love getting in on the first book of a series. Thank you for the chance to win it. 😉
Great cover and I love the title. Thanks for the giveaway. Kuzlin at AOL.com
I love the way this books sounds. I love the cover and the title and would love to win this. Thanks for the chance, Dru!
Sounds like a great book. Love to find out about new (to me) authors.
This has all the elements of a winning book and series!:) I can’t wait to read it and learn more about Meg and Montauk. Thanks Dru and Kathleen for the opportunity to win a copy!
Sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds very interesting, would love to win, ty ty
Thanks for this lovely feature and great giveaway.
I have to read this one!
As I always say, “I want this book.” This one sounds especially interesting as it gives me a good mystery, a new character and a chance to learn about a place I’ve never visited.
Sounds like a great read.
I am always looking for new cozy mysteries with interesting settings and a good “hook”! Would love to read this!
Another new to me author!
Sounds good, I love trying first of a series.
I’ve been looking forward to this book. Can’t wait to read it.
You got me at Montauk as my Aunt and Uncle lived there for many years, Then I read the story line and I now need the book.
Looking forward to reading this book, have not read any books by Kathleen Bridge , but this one looks interesting.
Oh, my That certainly must put a damper on your day.
I would hope this would never get to be a “normal” day. Book sounds great!!
I’m not familiar with this author so it’s always fun to find a new one. The title is interesting, although it sounds more like it should be a journal for a mortician. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. robeader53@yahoo.com
This sounds like an interesting new series. It’s on my TBR list.
Would love to read this book
Chuckling at her not so normal day. Would love to win a copy.
Thanks, Dru and Meg/Kathleen! “On a normal day”…not sure I know what that is! 🙂
Sounds like a must read for me!
New author/new series – sounds terrific!
I am always so excited to read books by a new author and this one looks awesome. Love the cute doggie on the cover!!! Thanks for the chance to win! God bless!!!!
I read the first four chapters previewed on Amazon and I’m anxious to read the book. Hope to win a copy.
Sounds like a good read! 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
Love the bookcover. Looks like good cozy mystery.
This sounds like a great read…Montauk – the end, or the beginning? Like that analogy. Also like to watch authors that are an hour’s drive or stone’s throw from where I grew up! All the best to you!!
A great sounding book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I am always excited about a brand new series…this one sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win!
I really like the title, but the plot just grabs me to find out more.
Sounds like a good series.
loving the cover too cute I can’t wait to read this book!
New author to me! Sound great! Thanks for the chance!
This one is a must read for me. Thank you for the chance.
Sounds like a great new series. Those not so normal days are always the most interesting. Thanks for the chance to win!
A new cozy series!! Woohoo!!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!!!
What a cute name for the book! I can’t get enough of these great Cozy Books!
JenniferAnne74 @ aol.com
Love the cover and the title. Thanks for the giveaway. Kuzlin at AOL.com
This looks like a cute new series. Love the cover
Cranberries are very good for you, therefore, this book must be very good for you! I love getting into series right at the beginning. Thanks for the blog review!
I really think this is a great book. It sounds very interesting and I look forward to reading it. If I don’t win, it will be on my “to be read” list
ya got me with the title..i have tears of laughter just reading it.
The more NE writers I read, the more I am intrigued by the areas, none of which I’ve set foot on. I’m on the west coast, however, and I’m sure we have plenty of authors locally covering the subject. I can only think of a couple right off, but I seem to be attracted to the east coast stories. Just finished one about New Hampshire. So, sign me up for the giveaway.
If this is set in New York, I hope it has some cold days described. It’s rather hot right now through most of the country and this might hit the spot 🙂
Contest is closed.
I love going to estate sales and finding new treasures. Sounds like a great new series