Rebecca sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we can learn more about what makes her tick. Let’s see what she has to say.
What is your full name?
I am the widow Becca Parcell. My last name will change when I reach Paris to marry the man I love.
How old are you?
23
What is your profession?
I am one of George Washington’s spies for liberty, though I intend to leave my undercover past behind when I arrive in France.
Do you have a significant other?
Yes.
What is their name and profession?
Daniel Alloway and I fell in love during our first mission for General Washington. Now, Daniel works as a wealthy American merchant’s agent in France.
Do you have any children?
To my sorrow, no. My deceased first husband convinced me that it was all my fault we remained childless.
Do you have any siblings?
No.
Are your parents nearby?
My mother is accompanying me to Paris. My father died a few years ago.
Who is your best friend?
Daniel is my dearest friend. He might occasionally wish to wrap me in cotton wool to keep me safe, but he knows I won’t stand for such nonsense.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
No.
What town do you live in?
I live in Morristown, but I’ll reside just outside of Paris when I reach France. Dr. Benjamin Franklin befriended Daniel and invited us to live with him until the wedding.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I inherited a small farm from my first husband. My home is lovely. It even has glass-paned windows.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
I’m always most at peace outdoors. The apple orchard just behind my house is my favorite spot, especially during the fall.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
With inflation and the war, we all live frugally. That’s why I eat lobsters and oysters as often as possible. They’re so inexpensive! In Paris, I will fall in love with French desserts, especially lemon poppy seed cake.
Do you have any hobbies?
As a child, I thought addition was a game invented just for me. So I suppose you could call mathematics my favorite hobby, and my talent for numbers has helped us uncover Loyalist traitors.
What music do you listen to?
Fiddle music.
What is your favorite color?
Green.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
After two years of traveling to uncover plots against our new nation, home is my favorite vacation spot.
Are you a morning or night person?
I’m a morning person.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Time alone with Daniel. In my 18th century world, it is improper for an unmarried man and a lady to be in each other’s company without a chaperone. But I’ve never claimed to be a lady, and Daniel and I manage to slip away whenever we can.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
The Reluctant Spy
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m a professional sleuth now. I’ve worked with Alexander Hamilton, General Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and, my favorite of all, Martha Washington.
What is a typical day in your life like?
My first few weeks in Paris were spent in dress fittings and decisions about bed linens, handkerchiefs, and curtains—all to build a trousseau for married life. I confess I was bored almost to tears. While murder is always a tragedy, it was a relief when Dr. Franklin called for Daniel and my assistance in finding a killer. Now, my days are much less predictable, though I still begin each morning eating oatmeal with Dr. Franklin in the mansion’s dining room. It’s his favorite breakfast.
The Paris Mistress, A Revolutionary War Mystery Book #3
Genre: Historical Mystery
Release: January 2024
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Summer 1781. Passy, France. George Washington’s two least likely spies for liberty, Rebecca Parcell and Daniel Alloway, are determined to marry and leave their undercover past behind— until a plot to bribe Benjamin Franklin leads to murder.
Becca is eager to reach Paris to marry Daniel, who’s gone ahead to take up a new post there. But their idyllic prenuptial life unravels when they accept an invitation to reside with Dr. Benjamin Franklin, America’s brilliant, enigmatic ambassador to France.
It’s bad enough that someone is stealing Dr. Franklin’s correspondence and sending it to London. But then he receives a mysterious letter offering him a bribe to help England. And when a murdered man is found on the roof of Dr. Franklin’s home outside of Paris, and he calls upon Becca and Daniel his two new houseguests–former spies for George Washington–to investigate. The duo find themselves searching for the murderer through the labyrinth of 18th century Paris, a city brimming with danger, secrets, and the ever-present whispers of revolution.
With time running out, Becca and Daniel must determine whether the killer is a member of Dr. Franklin’s inner circle or a cunning outsider. And as the couple race from the cobblestone streets of Paris to the gilded halls of Versailles, they discover that their own lives are in grave danger and that the stakes for Dr. Franklin and America are even higher than they could have imagined.
Will Becca and Daniel find the killer before the murderer strikes again, and will they ever manage to marry?
About the author
Mally Becker’s Revolutionary War mysteries have been twice-nominated for an Agatha Award. The new installment in her series, THE PARIS MISTRESS, takes place in France, where a plot to bribe Benjamin Franklin leads to murder. She teaches mystery writing at The Writers Circle Workshops, co-hosts a mystery fiction Podcast, and interviews authors online for the Historical Novel Society. A former attorney, Mally and her husband live in Somerset County, New Jersey.
Looking forward to this!
Can’t wait to dig into this series! I’ll be starting with the first one. I’ve ordered it through my library.