River Holloway is the sleuth in the “Seafood Caper” mysteries. One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions. So, let’s get to know River.
What is your full name?
It’s River Holloway.
How old are you?
I’m 32.
What is your profession?
Cooking is my jam. I love to cook and often give away cookies, earning me the nickname of “Cookie Lady.” I own Holloway Catering, and I’ve been in business for nearly ten years.
Do you have a significant other?
I do, though Pete and I certainly had our share of challenges along the way. He’s driven by his career, and for a while, it looked like we wouldn’t be together.
What is their name and profession?
Business turnaround specialist Pete Merrick is my fiancé. After a business deal in California went sideways, he came home wounded in body and spirit. Now he’s on his way to becoming the island’s ice cream mogul.
Do you have any children?
(Sigh). Pete and I want children but so far we haven’t been blessed with any. I came close once, but a killer poisoned me, and I miscarried.
Do you have any siblings?
My brother Doug Holloway lives nearby, and his girlfriend is my best friend. Doug is on the right track now, if I can just get him and Viv Declan cleared of this murder charge.
Are your parents nearby?
My parents are deceased. Dad died years ago, but Mom passed in January of this year. However, Doug and I aren’t alone. I have Pete, and he’s with Viv.
Who is your best friend?
As kids, Viv and I pretended to be Nancy Drew solving mysteries. Then life got complicated, and we drifted apart until adulthood. Circumstances brought us back together and it was as if no time at all had passed. Good friends are like that.
Do you have any pets?
A stray cat recently adopted me. Major loves kitty treats, car rides, and lounging in the sun. In his spare time, he patrols my property and helps keep us safe.
What town do you live in?
I live in coastal Georgia in my childhood home on Shell Island. It’s ten miles long and 1-2 miles across. Sunny, warm days abound here, and all that sunshine makes me happy.
Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Our island has a small town vibe.
Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I live in a two-story Victorian cottage. I own this place free and clear.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
I could literally spend hours in my kitchen each day and often do.
Favorite meal and dessert?
Shrimp, fish, and crab prepared in any way are delicious. I’m especially partial to lemon meringue pie, red velvet cake, molasses cookies, and butter pecan ice cream.
Do you have any hobbies?
I am good at finding things. My hobby expanded to finding whodunnit
What is your favorite vacation spot?
I love going to the beach, digging my toes in the warm sand, filling my lungs with ocean breeze, and basking in the sun.
What music do you listen to?
When I help my friend Rosemarie clean houses, we listen to nineties music. The high energy tunes keep us moving.
Do you have a favorite book?
I’m too busy, but my new resolution is to read more mysteries!
What is your idea of a really fun time?
A home-cooked meal with family and friends.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
*** River’s Way ***
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth, and I work with Deputy Gil Franklin.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Waking up beside the love of my life, cooking, sleuthing, spending time with my cat. I’m a homebody.
Spawning Suspicion is the second book in the “Seafood Caper” cozy mystery series, released November 10, 2020.
The death of island playboy Curtis Marlin doesn’t register on busy caterer River Holloway’s radar. . .that is, until her brother and his girlfriend are arrested for the former athlete’s murder. Certain of the pair’s innocence, the amateur sleuth sets out to investigate. Suspicion on the island spreads like chocolate sauce when River questions the victim’s teammates. The suspects don’t appreciate her stirring up trouble, but she won’t let an election-hungry sheriff make her brother a sacrificial lamb.
But there’s more than murder on River’s to-do list. A missing groom, catered banquets, and River’s own wedding plans keep her hopping like a short order cook. And as the cherry on the sundae, she has a wild kitty to tame. Under mossy oaks and rustling palmettoes, fact and fiction blend in a mouthwatering romp of good eatin’ and yummy recipes.
About the author
Southern author Maggie Toussaint writes cozy and paranormal mysteries, romantic suspense, and dystopian fiction, with twenty fiction novels published. A multi-year finalist for Georgia Author of the Year, she’s won Silver Falchions, the Readers’ Choice, and the EPIC Awards. She’s past president of Mystery Writers of America-Southeast chapter and an officer of LowCountry Sisters In Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where secrets, heritage, and ancient oaks cast long shadows. Visit her at maggietoussaint.com.
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks so much for this character interview, River and Dru. I learned a lot!
thank you
This is a new-to-me series…I will check it out.