Molly sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we can get to know her better.
What is your full name?
It’s Molly Ludovica Madison. I know—Ludovica isn’t a common middle name. It was my mom’s idea; it means “little fighter” and honors a famous warrior in Italy.
How old are you?
Thirty-seven.
What is your profession?
Dog wrangler—aka dog trainer. I used to be a cop, then a private eye, but life intervened and I had to move on…
Do you have a significant other?
Nine months ago, my husband, Stefano Belotti, was killed by one of my clients. Then three months ago, I became entangled in a murder investigation and met Miguel. He started out by interrogating me but over time we became friends and recently, a whole lot more. The only problem is: Miguel is hiding something. Something big.
What is their name and profession?
Miguel Vasquez. He’s a detective with the Pier Point Police Department.
Do you have any children?
No. Stef and I tried, but it didn’t work out.
Do you have any siblings?
No. My mom—an absolutely amazing woman—was widowed when I was six. So it was just her and me—and my Aunt Lorraine—during my childhood.
Are your parents nearby?
I grew up in Brockton, MA and lived there until my marriage to Stef. After that I still only lived nineteen miles away from my mom. But when my husband was murdered, and my career and reputation ruined, I moved all the way across the country to coastal California.
Who is your best friend?
Murph was my best friend when I lived in Massachusetts and we still talk and text, but since moving to Pier Point, I’ve made some new good friends. I’m probably closest now with J. D., my agoraphobic neighbor across the alley. He feeds me and I try to help him with outdoor excursions. I also spend time with eight-year-old Ava Greenwood, a super-smart whiz kid who needs a little help with her social skills.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
I have a Golden Retriever, Harlow, and recently adopted a 180-pound Saint Berdoodle named Noodle (he came with the name).
What town do you live in?
Pier Point, California—a small beachside town. It’s north of Los Angeles and south of Santa Barbara. I’m still getting used to all the sunshine!
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
The insurance settlement from my husband’s death left me financially comfortable. With that and the sale of our home in Massachusetts, I was able to buy a house near the water.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
The rooftop deck. As a transplant from the east coast, getting to watch the sun set into the water never stops feeling magical.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
I’m a terrible cook and lack the patience or interest in learning how to do it right. Fortunately, my neighbor J. D. is incredible in the kitchen. My current favorite meal is something he calls Skinny Shrimp Bang Bang. I could eat it every night. As for dessert, his apple pie is amazing, too!
Do you have any hobbies?
I love competing in agility with Harlow. Fortunately, she enjoys it as well and has even won a national title. I also love to garden–especially while the dogs nap nearby in the sun.
What music do you listen to?
When I need to perk myself up, I’ll play a mix of Cherry Glazerr, Bruno Mars, Dayglow, and Beyonce.
What is your favorite color?
Steely blue. You know what I mean, right? The gray-blue the ocean turns when the sky is stormy.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
I feel like I’m living in a vacation spot. Beaches, sunshine, and hiking trails—what more could a person want?
Are you a morning or night person?
The dogs insist that I at least pretend to be a morning person. Coffee helps make this possible. (Breakfast is a very important meal for them and they wake up hungry!)
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Drinking high-quality wine with J. D., hiking and playing with the dogs, and hanging out with Ava and Butterscotch, her Basset-Retriever mix.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Doggone Dogged.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur now, but my police and P.I. background—and the data services I still subscribe to—are a big plus. When I’m on a case, Harlow and Noodle have proved to be excellent co-workers.
What is a typical day in your life like?
I get up earlier than I’d like in order to let the dogs out, then assemble their breakfast. I (hopefully) have enough time to mainline some coffee before we head out for our morning walk—which I sometimes convince J. D. to join in on. If I don’t have any client appointments, I may load up the dogs and drive them to Playtime Academy to attend an agility class with Harlow or take part in a scent work class with Noodle. Either way, Dinner is either a nuked burrito or a gourmet meal—if J. D. takes pity on me and invites me over.
Of course, of late, discovering bodies and body parts has made my days less than “typical.”
Playing Dead, A Molly Madison Mystery Book #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: February 2023
Format: Print, Digital, and Audio
Purchase Link
Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of A Deadly Bone to Pick.
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.
Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dog sit a wriggly local French bulldog.
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?
About the author
After losing their home in a California wildfire, Peggy Rothschild and her husband moved to the beach community of Los Osos along the central coast. She has authored two books in the Molly Madison Dog Wrangler mystery series: A Deadly Bone To Pick and Playing Dead. Peggy is a member of Sisters in Crime National, Sisters in Crime Los Angeles, and Mystery Writers of America.
When not at her desk or out walking, you can usually find her in the garden.
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks for introducing us to Molly. Looking forward to reading this.
Thrilled to have Molly highlighted here on Dru’s Book Musings!