Greetings from Sandy Harbor, New York!
It’s summer as I write this note to you and the tourist season is in full swing! I thought that things would calm down after my first several months here, but I’m busier than ever and so is my staff.
Moving to New York and buying the Silver Bullet Diner (circa 1950, Open 24 hours, Air-conditioned, Breakfast Served All Day) from my Aunt Stella Matkowski , who retired to Boca Raton, was a big change for me. Things proved even more difficult when the restaurant inspector turned up dead in my kitchen! My beautiful diner became a ghost town overnight!
With the help of my neighbor, Deputy Sheriff Ty Brisco, a cowboy transplant from Houston, Texas, I got to the bottom of what had happened to the inspector. My friend, Christine Wenger, who loves to write and fancies herself the historian of Sandy Harbor, documented that horrible part of my life in Do or Diner (Obsidian Books, August 2013). She said that fiction was stranger than the truth, so the story just had to be told.
And Chris just finished recording the details of two more murders which occurred in town about twenty years apart in A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER (Obsidian Books, April 2014). The scene I discovered in Cottage Number Eight will be forever etched in my mind. The lovely citizens of Sandy Harbor are starting to wonder about me!
In spite of the bad stuff, I’ve kept busy cooking and playing with recipes at the Silver Bullet, have almost stopped reeling from my divorce (almost!), made life-long friends, never laughed so much, and still find time to polka!
Life is good at the lake. Come visit!
~~ Trixie ~~
You can read more about Trixie in A Second Helping of Murder, the second book in the “Comfort Food” mystery series, published by Obsidian. The first book in the series is Do or Diner. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6pm EST on April 18, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
I have worked in the criminal justice field for more years than I care to remember. It seems like I was forever 
going to school while I was working full time, but in the end, I received a dual master’s degree in Probation and Parole Studies and Sociology from Fordham University. Unfortunately, the knowledge gained from way too many years in night school, didn’t prepare me for what I love to do the most – write! To date, I’ve written nine romances for Harlequin and “almost” three cozy mysteries for Penguin Obsidian Books.
My first cozy mystery, Do or Diner, was released from Obsidian Books in August 2013, and was their first “comfort food” mystery! My second cozy mystery will be called A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER, and was released on April 1, 2014. A third is completed and will be called Diners, Drive-Ins and Death (release date unknown). This trilogy of books all feature the same characters, same small town, and are set around a 1950’s diner.
For fun, I enjoy watching professional bull riding and rodeo with my favorite cowboy, my husband Jim. We put on our cowboy regalia (I look horrible in a cowboy hat!) and have traveled to events in Las Vegas, Florida, Connecticut, and other states.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
I like that this book is centered around food and diners. Thank you for the chance to win
I love comfort food, and love to “collect” diners! HA!
Love the cover! Have many Gond memories of eating in the traditional 50s style diner, so I am looking forward to this book. Kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
I love the cover, too. I liked the cover on my first cozy mystery, too. DO OR DINER. So perfect! Penguin does a great job with their artwork.
Chris
I’m looking forward to reading this series. 🙂
Thanks, Gram! Hope you like it!
Chris, you know I love you and your books. Trixie is a hoot and this series is a delight to read. Keep the fun coming!
Loralee! Good to “see” you! Thanks for the compliments. You are just tooo sweet!
Being a huge Trixie Belden fan, I love the main character’s name!
Okay, Dina….YOU CAUGHT ME!! I was a huge Trixie Belden fan, too. In fact, I have most of the collection!
I have wonderful memories of time spent in dinners. Growing up in NJ, there were tons of them. Looking forward to reading this book:)
They are starting to fade, Debbie, and that breaks my heart!
Looks great! I love how Trixie’s friend Chris is chronicling her adventures! Thanks!
That Trixie is such a whirlwind and just can’t mind her own business. I just can’t keep up with her.
Trixie’s friend Chris
love your books thanks for running the contest I would love to win
This would be great to win!
I haven’t started this series yet, it’s on my lengthy tbr list, but after reading this I think I’ll have to bump it up. Thanks for the chance to win.
I just wish that everyone could win! And yes, Debbie, bump up my books!!
lol
This intrigues me. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’d love to start reading this series! It sounds really good! Thank you!
I love diners, and I think this sounds like a series which would be wonderful – I would love to win.
thank you for the chance to win 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
I love series with these kinds of elements–would love to win this and start a new group of books and author!
I think you should start a new group of books and author, Stephanie!! : )
You can never have too many–I started reading mysteries when I was a kid with Trixie Belden (my favorite), Ginny Gordon, Judy Bolton, Nancy Drew–it’s an addiction I’ve never recovered from.
Ah, comfort food in the diner. Perfect.
I just met some friends at a diner this morning. Nice time!
This sounds like a great book. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks, Mary!
Diners and drive-ins. Remembering the 1950’s in a cozy–what fun!!
Ronna,
Funny you should mention drive-ins. I loved going to them. We’d all pile into the car in our pajamas and eat popcorn all night. What movie?!
Oh, and my next book is called DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DEATH. It’s the continuation, and come out in January, 2015.
Oh I love the sound of this series !!
The cover is great and I sure do love comfort food!!! Thank you for the chance.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Carol,
That’s my puppy (Blondie) on the cover! She’s my two year old golden retriever!
Comfort food and a cozy diner. What could be a better spot for a murder or two.
I love this series. Excited for the new one.
How did I miss this series? Comfort food, yumm….
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
How did you miss it?!! But glad you found it!
Chris
Sounds like a great cozy mystery. Can’t wait to read it
Thanks, Kiki! Let me know what you think!
I am eager to read the latest in this series.
I know of just 2 diners left in the Cincinnati area….gosh…when we were kids and went on road trips with the folks, diners were the best places to stop!
A Texas cowboy in NY?? That sounds like and interesting secondary character.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love little hole-in-the-wall diners, but I’d love to stop by this one via your books. Thanks for the giveaway, Dru and Christine.
I love the cover. It sounds like a very fun read. Thanks for having the giveaway.
I have recently purchased Due or Diner and would like a chance to win the second book. Thank you.
Thanks Christine for interacting with my readers and giving us a glimpse into Trixie’s day.
this sounds like a fun read!
Unfortunately I have not read book one in this series but will be interested in beginning this series as it sounds so good.
So many great books and not enough time but I sure do try.
Cynthia
how did I almost miss this giveaway!?!?!?
thanx for hosting it!!!
Just started the first book. Enjoying it! Would love to win!
Loved the first one!
contest is closed.