February 17, 2018 – mjbreviewers

I’m so excited to be a stop on the blog tour for author Tricia L. Sanders and her new book , Murder Ia A Dirty Business, Book #1 in her Grime Pays series. This is a great debut and I can see this series lasting a long time. I have my review of this book and an interview with Tricia.

Murder is a Dirty Business
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Soul Mate Publishing, LLC (November 15, 2017)
Print Length: 254 pages
ASIN: B076KVQ4WR

Synopsis:

When Cece Cavanaugh’s husband empties their joint bank account, steals her designer luggage, and runs off with a younger woman, Cece must decide whether to ask her manipulative mother-in-law for a handout or get a job. Choosing the easier path, Cece lands a job cleaning a crime scene where a high school coach was murdered. When his wife is implicated—a young woman Cece practically raised—Cece finds herself mopping floors, balancing an empty checkbook, and ferreting out a killer.

Amid all this messy business, Cece bumps heads with a handsome detective. She tries to ignore her growing attraction to the detective, but he gives new meaning to the term “hot flash.”

After she stumbles onto a clue that could vindicate her friend, her elation turns to panic when she haphazardly confronts the killer. Through the danger and romance, Cece discovers self-reliance and inner strength.

And that crime – at least, someone else’s – does pay the bills. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really enjoyed getting to know CeCe and her daughters. I really liked that fact that CeCe was an older woman and that she had a family and all of the responsibilities that go along with being a mom. In most of the cozies I read the protagonist is younger and more carefree, I found this to be refreshing. CeCe is a strong smart woman who finds herself in a situation that she never thought she would find herself. But that does force her to lay down and take it, she figures out a plan and starts taking her life back. I also really enjoyed getting to know Angie, her no-nonsense friend who is a cop. The secondary characters added a lot to the story.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place and listening in on conversations. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider (some of them very close to CeCe) and clues to sift through. I had the killer on my radar but I also had two or three other people on it too.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an east fast read. I really liked that at the beginning of each chapter we were privy to someone’s thoughts. It was a different person each time and I thought it added another level to the story.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This book had everything I look for in a cozy: great characters, humor, romance and a puzzling mystery. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

When did you know that you wanted to be an author?

Always. As I child, I’d re-write the endings of books I’d read. I’d write plays for my dolls to perform (and boy, were they underperformers.) What things, if any, influenced that decision? The very first series I read, The Donna Parker books, by Marcia Martin aka Marcia Levin. The series was seven books. When I finished the seventh book, I waited eagerly for the eighth book, to no avail. I knew I wanted to carry on the Donna Parker legacy. Big dreams! I outgrew Donna, so conceived Cece Cavanaugh instead.

With so many cozies being written today, what makes your books stand out from the crowd?

My protagonist, Cece Cavanaugh, doesn’t have a hobby. She couldn’t knit or crochet if she had to. Her specialty meal is take-out, so she’s not big on recipes. She doesn’t have a pet, not that she doesn’t like pets, she does. Her husband has a mid-life crisis and dumps her with a ton of debt. Her main goal is to get her life back, but in the process, she learns a few lessons about who she is and who she wants to be.

Do you work from an outline or plot or do you just see where the characters take you?

I work from a loose outline, but if my characters wander off track, I’ll follow to see where they lead.

Do you read your reviews?

Yes. Do you respond to them, good or bad? I haven’t so far. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. Regardless, of good or bad, I do use them to make my writing better. Do you do anything special to get those reviews? If someone posts on social media that they liked my book, I will ask them to post a review, but other than ARC reviews, I haven’t specifically done anything out of the ordinary to generate reviews.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Oh, if I could talk to my younger self, I’d slap me silly. I’ve played around at being a writer, but a little voice always told me not to be silly, writing was for professionals. Well, duh. You can’t be a professional, if you don’t put yourself out there.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in someone buying your book(s)?

Definitely. It’s the first thing the reader sees. It’s the “package” of your product. If the cover is boring or uninspiring, what motivation is there for the potential reader to turn the book over and read the back cover or open the book and read the first page? Who designs your book covers? Rae Monet, Inc. designed the cover for Murder is a Dirty Business.

Please give us an insight into your main characters.

Cece Cavanaugh is a woman on a mission to turn her life around. She’s classy and a bit sassy. Since marriage, she’s led a sheltered life, but she has street smarts. She just hasn’t had to use them in a very long time. She also has a desire to right wrongs which tends to get her in trouble.

Detective Case Alder is on a mission to win Cece’s heart, but first he has to keep her from interfering in his investigation. What do you think makes them special? Cece is all of us “women of a certain age.” She has hot flashes, a rebellious teenager, a meddling best friend, and enough angst to be the star in a Made for TV Movie. Her husband checked all the boxes in the marriage department, except one—faithful. It’s not about who he’s done, it’s about who he hasn’t done.

Detective Alder is the man every “woman of a certain age” dreams about. He’s says the right things, most of the time. Chances are he doesn’t leave the toilet seat up or his wet towels on the floor. Best of all, he doesn’t snore (at least when snoozing in a recliner.)

What have you learned about yourselves since becoming an author?

Writing is the easy part. Truly. There is so much more involved. You have to find a publisher, build a social network, and market, market, market. You live your writing life 24/7.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

I don’t have another career, if that’s what you mean, so writing is my only job. I try to write daily, but some days that’s not an option. When those crazy days happen, I try to write a little more the next day to make up.

What do your plans for future projects include?

I’m editing book 2 in the Grime Pays series, which will continue Cece’s story. I have book 3 in rough draft. I also have a women’s fiction travel adventure in rough draft, and an idea for another cozy mystery series.

What do you think the hardest part of writing is?

For me, it’s remaining focused.

My brain is always thinking ahead to the next book or next project, so I have to pull myself back to the present. What is the easiest? Coming up with story ideas. I’ll see a headline in the news and immediately start thinking about how to weave it into a story.

What type of books do you like to read?

I read a wide variety of genres. I love suspense (without the grit and gore), a good mystery, women’s fiction, chick lit, and lately I’ve been reading dystopian. I love a good historical if it has a western bent.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Harper Lee, Harlan Coben, Diane Mott Davidson, Susan Wittag Albert, Shel Silverstein, Mary Kay Andrews, Agatha Christie, John Jakes, Dana Fuller Ross.

What is the one thing you would like your readers to know about you?

I love to hear from you, so connect with me on social media.

Do you have anything specific you would like to say to your readers?

Keep reading!

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Website: www.triciasanders.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortricialsanders

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tricialsanders

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tricialsanders

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Tricia-L.-Sanders/e/B076NXMMFW

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/17257619.Tricia_L_Sanders

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXRJSRSmTjg

Tricia 3RT

Tricia L. Sanders writes about women with class, sass, and a touch of kickass. A former instructional designer and corporate trainer, she traded in curriculum writing for novel writing, because she hates bullet points and loves to make stuff up. And fiction is more fun than training guides and lesson plans.

When she isn’t writing, Tricia is busy crossing dreams off her bucket list. With all 50 states checked, she’s concentrating on foreign interests. She’s an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, so don’t get between her and the television when a game is on. Currently she is working on a mystery series set in the fictional town of Wickford, Missouri. Another project in the works is a women’s fiction road trip adventure.

Her essays have appeared in Sasee, ByLine, The Cuivre River Anthology and Great American Outhouse Stories; The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt. She is a proud member of The Lit Ladies, six women writing their truths into fiction.