Mia sits down for an interesting question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we, the readers, can get to know her better.
What is your full name?
Mia Murphy
How old are you?
Sorry. I’ve driving under a bridge. I can’t hear you. You must have cut out. *crackle crackle* *static static*
What is your profession?
I’m a former pickpocket who recently bought a lakeside marina in a cute little Maine town, but I don’t know anything about boats, so yeah. . .learning curve, anyone? My mom’s an infamous con artist, and I was her protégé until I bailed on her when I was seventeen so I could live a law-abiding life. As it turns out, it’s a little more complicated to leave that life behind than one might think. . .especially when your new pals start getting arrested for murder. Now that I’m in Bass Derby, though, I’m putting down roots. Friends, community, and belonging are all I’ve ever wanted, and now it’s within reach. . .assuming I can keep myself and my new besties out of jail, which is turning out to be trickier than one might thing. How much do I resurrect the old Mia to help my friends?
Do you have a significant other?
Well, my ex-hubs is currently in prison after I ratted him out to the feds and then went under cover for two years against him. When he found out I was spying on him, he tried to kill me, so I’m totally off the dating train from now until forever. Unfortunately, there’s a local cop who is both irritatingly attractive and willing to bond with my cat. He’s testing my single-forever resolve. And then I just found out that my former FBI handler also wants to date me, but is doing the “you’re a key witness so I can’t” thing. What is it with men? The minute you decide that you’re off limits forever, they start crawling around being all tempting with their guns and secrets.
Do you have any children?
I have this massive rescued (aka purloined) cat who assaults police officers on my behalf. He’s the first pet I’ve ever had, and he’s changed my world forever.
Do you have any siblings?
Not that I know if, but since my mom is a famous con artist and I have no idea who my dad is, anything is possible.
Are your parents nearby?
I haven’t seen or heard from my mom since I walked out on her and our criminal life when I was seventeen, but I’m pretty sure that she knows exactly where I am at all times. Someday, I’m going to walk around the corner and she’s going to be there. Or maybe not. She’s tricky like that.
Who is your best friend?
My new pals, Hattie Lawless and Lucy Grande. They’re both a little crazy, but their hearts are the biggest you’ll ever meet. And they accept me for who I am, criminal past and all. What more could a gal ask for?
Do you have any pets?
His name is King Tut and he’s a massive Maine Coon Cat. He worries about my safety and intimidates cranky police chiefs. I appreciate that so much.
What town do you live in and is it small or big?
I just moved to Bass Derby, which is seriously the most adorable little lake town on the entire planet. Except for the murders, of course. But even those can be kinda fun.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I own a dilapidated marina that used to be owned by a criminal who the entire town hated. But I can rehab it, right? No problem.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
Well, I literally arrived in Bass Derby five days ago, and the apartment upstairs needs to be fumigated before I can move in (trust me, it stinks!), so right now I’m sleeping on a pile of life jackets in the marina store. But it’s mine, so I’m a happy girl.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
Anything made by Hattie Lawless, who runs a café in my marina. She was once offered a million dollars for her cinnamon bun recipe (or so she claimed, but no one would dare call Hattie a liar).
Do you have any hobbies?
Avoiding assassins, trying to convince my cat not to kill me in my sleep, and keeping my friends out of prison for murder. Basic stuff, really.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
My new home! Diamond Lake is the best!
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Pickpocketing the phone of my former FBI handler (who I call Griselda) or Devlin Hunt, the irritatingly attractive cop in Bass Derby. These law enforcement types get so prickly when they realize I swiped their phone again. It’s pretty hilarious.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
How the Daughter of a Famous Con Artist Left Crime Behind (or is at least trying really hard to. . .)
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m not a sleuth. I’m a former pickpocket trying to start a law-abiding life, but my friends keep dragging me into murder situations that I’m the one with the skills to fix. But this is my last time. Really it is.
What is a typical day in your life like in general and when you are on a case?
When I’m on a case? Um, I think we need to clear something up, here. Just because I track down murderers doesn’t mean it’s my thing. It’s not. I’m trying to rehab the marina I bought. I have a cat. I avoid assassins from my old life. I hang out with my new besties. And, okay, fine, I sometimes use my dubious childhood skills to help my friends when they get accused of murder. But I’m really just trying to be a normal person for the first time in my life. Unfortunately, it’s turning out to be a little tricker than I expected. . .
Top Notch, A Mia Murphy Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: September 2022
Purchase Link
Top Notch is the unpredictably fun and assassin-worthy whodunit starring the endearing and scrappy Mia Murphy and her purloined cat, back in action after the surprise bestseller Double Twist thrust them into the spotlight.
No one liked celebrity portrait artist and sexy-times rich recluse Rutherford Callahan, but who would want to kill him? Certainly not Hattie Lawless, the blue-haired senior whose massive nude portrait is currently hanging in the dead guy’s studio. . .
But the cops disagree, and so does the evidence.
Mia isn’t about to let her new bestie spend her golden years behind bars, so once again, she must break her law-abiding promise to herself and get back in the game, dusting off long-buried skills from her criminal childhood.
With bodies piling up and threats coming from all directions, Mia and her pals are soon ankle-deep in corpses, diamonds, pickpocketing schemes, celebrity wedding drama, and stolen cinnamon bun recipes.
And when it looks like an enemy from Mia’s past has targeted her, the stakes suddenly become much more personal. Not even her smoldering FBI handler or an irritatingly attractive bodyguard cop can keep Mia safe if she doesn’t play by the rules.
And since Mia and rules don’t go together. . .well. . .things are about to get dangerous. And deadly. And cinnamon-bun delicious.
About the author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Rowe is the author of more than fifty novels. Notably, she is a Vivian® Award nominee, and a RITA® Award winner and a five-time nominee. She loves her puppies, tennis, and being as as sassy and irreverent as her heroines. She’s pretty sure dead bodies are better in fiction than real life, but hey, never say never, right?
All comments are welcomed.