It’s 1957 and each day is a new adventure. Diego, my grey and brown tabby cat, wakes me by sitting on my chest and staring at me with round smoky-green eyes. He places both paws on my chin and if I’m slow to stir, he’ll swat my nose. Diego thinks the sun in Santa Bonita rises for him. He knows what he wants, and what he wants is breakfast on time.

I moved to California a year ago from foggy old London. I don’t regret the move, though I do miss my friends and family. My mother and I are particularly close. Ginger Gold, or Lady Gold as she is sometimes called, is somewhat of a legend in London having solved numerous criminal cases out of her office of Lady Gold Investigations. Her boutique dress store Feather & Flair is also a Regent Street legend. My father is the renowned Superintendent Basil Reed of Scotland Yard, since retired. You might say I come by profession honestly. Formerly a lady constable with the Metropolitan police, I now run my own detective agency here in Santa Bonita: Rosa Reed Investigations.

I’ve lived here before. During the war years when I was just a teenager, my parents sent me to stay with my Aunt Louisa Forrester, Grandma Sally Hartigan, and my two younger cousins Clarence and Gloria.

Forrester Mansion is a sprawling mission style edifice overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with lavish gardens, a tennis court and a splendid pool. I initially came here on holiday after a few frightfully trying events in London. I won’t go into detail, but I will say it involved an unsolved murder and my running away from the wedding altar.

Needless to say, the California holiday has now turned into something more.

We get along fairly well at the mansion, although it can be a bit trying sometimes. My American relatives are far less reserved than their English counterparts and though it can be jarring to my British sensibilities, I rather like the personal liberty that comes with it.

Most mornings start with me sitting by the pool or staring out of the window of the morning room drinking my coffee as I watch the boats sail along the sparkling horizon. After breakfast I take Diego to my downtown office and start my working day.

I often work with the local police and in particular one very handsome detective named Miguel Belmonte. He and I have a history. We met near the end of the second World War when I was a senior in high school and he was as soldier stationed nearby. When Aunt Louisa learned of our romance, she, in no uncertain terms, strictly forbade it. Ultimately, it was the end of the war that brought an end to Miguel and me, as I was sent back to England to my parents. London is a very far distance from California, and especially so eleven years ago.

It’s a bit awkward working with Miguel. His smile still tends to send shivers down my spine.

I’ve worked on a few interesting cases since arriving, (I met Elvis Presley!) The one I’ve just wrap involved Stock Car Racing. The winner of the race, a former rum-runner from the days of prohibition, was murdered by an unusual means as he was driving his victory lap! That case ended with hair-raising adventure I would rather not experience again, thank you very much.

The more time that goes on the more I start feeling like a Californian than a Brit. I’ve learned more new slang in the last few months then I could ever have imagined. The first time someone told me to ‘sit on it’, I looked in vain for a chair until Clarence filled me in on the strange meaning of the phrase.

If I don’t have a date, the day usually ends with me sitting on the sofa watching I Love Lucy or Ed Sullivan with Grandma Sally. I particularly like the show Dragnet: The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I snuggle my cat and settle in for another exciting episode.

Murder At The Races by Lee Stauss & Norm Strauss, A Rosa Reed Mystery #6
Genre: Cozy Historical
Release: February 2021
Purchase Link

Rosa Reed attends a charity stock car race in Santa Bonita and expects to have an exhilarating time shared with family and friends. That ends when a driver inexplicably crashes into a guard rail and dies. When local assistant medical examiner, Dr. Larry Rayburn determines the death is suspicious, Rosa once again finds herself working with the handsome Detective Miguel Belmonte in an awkward and uncomfortable alliance to solve the murder.

If you love early rock & roll, poodle skirts, clever who-dun-its, a charming cat and an even more charming detective, you’re going to love this new series!

Meet the Author
Lee Strauss’ writing career was sparked when she became inspired by the bedtime stories she read to her children when they were young. She began reading everything she could on writing and publishing including every single Writer’s Digest Magazine. Then she started writing.

When she’s not writing or reading Strauss likes to cycle, hike and kayak. She loves to travel, to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere. Strauss has four children and two cats. She spends her time between Canada and East Germany with her musician husband.

All comments are welcomed.