Chicks on the Case
@chicksonthecase.bsky.social
Eight cozy mystery authors with a killer sense of humor! Check out our blog at www.chicksonthecase.com. We are: Ellen Byron, Jennifer Chow, Marla Cooper, Vickie Fee, Leslie Karst, Cynthia Kuhn, Lisa Q. Mathews, and Patricia Sargeant.
How's *your* holiday prep going? Chick Lisa talks about her favorite holiday obsession -- er, I mean, decoration, and how her village seems to be missing some villagers.
Cold Case of the Missing Christmas Villagers: 2025 Update
Perched at my kitchen counter with a mug of late morning coffee as I delete endless marketing pleas from every retailer I failed to stroll or scroll past fast enough, I’m in the depths of hol…
chicksonthecase.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
How's *your* holiday prep going? Chick Lisa talks about her favorite holiday obsession -- er, I mean, decoration, and how her village seems to be missing some villagers.
Today on the blog: Guest Chick Melissa Westemeier @mwestemeier.bsky.social talks about settings — and nuns! — in her new release, DROPPED LIKE A BAD HABIT. (Great title, Melissa!)
Guest Chick: Melissa Westemeier
We’re happy to welcome Melissa to the blog! The Abbey and its cozy community is such a great setting! Community Matters in Dropped Like a Bad Habit A favorite cozy mystery trope of mine is a …
chicksonthecase.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Today on the blog: Guest Chick Melissa Westemeier @mwestemeier.bsky.social talks about settings — and nuns! — in her new release, DROPPED LIKE A BAD HABIT. (Great title, Melissa!)
Today on the blog, the funny and fabulous Catriona McPherson talks about the serendipity of travel. Come along for the fun as she introduces book 8 in her Last Ditch Motel series!
Guest Chick: Catriona McPherson
Leslie here, with a very grand welcome to our beloved Catriona McPherson, whose Last Ditch Motel series, set in a fictional–not Davis at all!–Northern California town has tickled this C…
chicksonthecase.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Today on the blog, the funny and fabulous Catriona McPherson talks about the serendipity of travel. Come along for the fun as she introduces book 8 in her Last Ditch Motel series!
Today on the blog, author Cynthia Ellingsen: "People say, Don’t live in the past. I don’t – I like being right here – but at the same time, I do love the freedom to skip back and forth while writing and reading dual timeline novels."
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Guest Chick: Cynthia Ellingsen
Please join us in welcoming Cynthia Ellingsen, bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper and The Lost Letters of Aisling. Her latest book, The Cut of the Moon, is out now! Lately, I’ve spent much…
chicksonthecase.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Today on the blog, author Cynthia Ellingsen: "People say, Don’t live in the past. I don’t – I like being right here – but at the same time, I do love the freedom to skip back and forth while writing and reading dual timeline novels."
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chicksonthecase.com/2025/11/19/g...
What is the best book hardly anybody reads? Today on the blog, author Leslie Karst makes a strong case for more ambitious reading! chicksonthecase.com/2025/11/17/t...
The Best Book Hardly Anyone Reads
There’s a meme going around Facebook these days showing a sign in a bookstore that says “Shoplifters will be forced to read James Joyce’s Ulysses.” I get the joke; really, I do. (Even Louise Penny …
chicksonthecase.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:34 PM
What is the best book hardly anybody reads? Today on the blog, author Leslie Karst makes a strong case for more ambitious reading! chicksonthecase.com/2025/11/17/t...
Have you ever seen a character in a book whose name is suspiciously familiar? Like, pop-star familiar? Today on the blog, Marla Cooper, author of the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries, spills about this seldom-talked-about phenomenon that really should probably have *its* own name.
Isn’t that name already taken?!
When I was writing my first book, Terror in Taffeta, Kelsey’s best friend and wedding photographer sidekick was named Brody. Just Brody. I wrote the entire book without giving him a last name. Even…
chicksonthecase.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Have you ever seen a character in a book whose name is suspiciously familiar? Like, pop-star familiar? Today on the blog, Marla Cooper, author of the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries, spills about this seldom-talked-about phenomenon that really should probably have *its* own name.
Book giveaway!! Stop by Chicks on the Case to win a copy of Mindy's Quigley's latest cozy mystery, AT DEATH'S DOUGH, part of the Deep Dish Mystery Series.
#cozymystery #bookgiveaway #booksky #cozyreads
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#cozymystery #bookgiveaway #booksky #cozyreads
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Guest Chick: Mindy Quigley
How excited are we Chicks to host amazing author and friend Mindy Quigley today? Mindy’s fifth title in the delicious Deep Dish Mystery series, AT DEATH’S DOUGH, has just been published…
chicksonthecase.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Book giveaway!! Stop by Chicks on the Case to win a copy of Mindy's Quigley's latest cozy mystery, AT DEATH'S DOUGH, part of the Deep Dish Mystery Series.
#cozymystery #bookgiveaway #booksky #cozyreads
chicksonthecase.com/2025/10/29/g...
#cozymystery #bookgiveaway #booksky #cozyreads
chicksonthecase.com/2025/10/29/g...
"Where'd you get that yummy carrot cake recipe?"
"Ummmmm.... funny story...."
Would you make a recipe you saw on a headstone? Today on the blog, Chick Ellen Byron talks to Rosie Grant, author of To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes. #amreading #cozymystery #recipes #booksky #cozyrecipes
"Ummmmm.... funny story...."
Would you make a recipe you saw on a headstone? Today on the blog, Chick Ellen Byron talks to Rosie Grant, author of To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes. #amreading #cozymystery #recipes #booksky #cozyrecipes
Recipes From the Grave – Literally.
Hi all, Ellen here! Crescent City Christmas Chaos, my fourth Vintage Cookbook Mystery, launches in a week – 11/4, to be exact – and there’s an important plot point built around pr…
chicksonthecase.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
"Where'd you get that yummy carrot cake recipe?"
"Ummmmm.... funny story...."
Would you make a recipe you saw on a headstone? Today on the blog, Chick Ellen Byron talks to Rosie Grant, author of To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes. #amreading #cozymystery #recipes #booksky #cozyrecipes
"Ummmmm.... funny story...."
Would you make a recipe you saw on a headstone? Today on the blog, Chick Ellen Byron talks to Rosie Grant, author of To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes. #amreading #cozymystery #recipes #booksky #cozyrecipes
Ever have one of those characters who surprise you because they're just so fun to write? We have! The Chicks reveal their favorite characters — today on the blog! #cozymystery #booksky #amreading #amwriting #mysteryreads #cozyreads
Chick Chat: Characters can surprise you!
We Chicks have created – and continue to create – a vast array of characters. We think we know them pretty well. But sometimes a character is more fun to write than we thought they̵…
chicksonthecase.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Ever have one of those characters who surprise you because they're just so fun to write? We have! The Chicks reveal their favorite characters — today on the blog! #cozymystery #booksky #amreading #amwriting #mysteryreads #cozyreads
Today on the blog, romantic suspense author Kathleen Donnelly talks about her work with Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines — and she's giving away a copy of her Harlequin suspense release, COLORADO K-9 RESCUE! Check it out and drop a comment to enter! #bookgiveaway #romsus #harlequin
Guest Chick: Kathleen Donnelly
I recently retired as a K-9 handler. The company I co-owned and worked for, Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines, had friendly dogs (usually Labs) that helped detect and deter drugs, alcohol and gunpo…
chicksonthecase.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Today on the blog, romantic suspense author Kathleen Donnelly talks about her work with Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines — and she's giving away a copy of her Harlequin suspense release, COLORADO K-9 RESCUE! Check it out and drop a comment to enter! #bookgiveaway #romsus #harlequin
Today on the blog, Skye Griffith talks about the American Southwest — plus, she's giving away a copy of BONE HASH to one lucky reader! Come check it out and leave a comment to enter to win. #mysteryreads #booksky #bookgiveaway
Guest Chick: Skye Griffith & #Giveaway
We’re excited to welcome new guest, Skye, to our blog! She sets her Archaeologist Aideen Connor Mysteries in the American Southwest. Just check out the gorgeous photos below! Back Country Adv…
chicksonthecase.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Today on the blog, Skye Griffith talks about the American Southwest — plus, she's giving away a copy of BONE HASH to one lucky reader! Come check it out and leave a comment to enter to win. #mysteryreads #booksky #bookgiveaway
Today on the blog, Lisa reminisces about her favorite go-to Halloween costume. (Hint: it involves a flamingo.) What's yours?
Go As Alice: Ghosts of Halloween Costumes Past
Whether you fill giant bowls with candy in hopes of trick-or-treaters at your door—or hide in your living room with the lights off—you know they’re out there: gleeful, greedy goblins dressed in cos…
chicksonthecase.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Today on the blog, Lisa reminisces about her favorite go-to Halloween costume. (Hint: it involves a flamingo.) What's yours?
That time I blogged about how I love Spooky Season and most of the responses were, "Nah, pass." WHAT?!? Where all all my fall / October / Halloween / Spooky Season lovers out there? WHO WILL DEFEND MY HONOR?!#spookyseason #cozymystery #booksky
🎃 Welcome to Spooky Season
Maybe it’s because I was born in October, but I’ve always had a penchant for all things spooky, paranormal, and slightly macabre. When the weather starts dropping and the pumpkin spice lattes appea…
chicksonthecase.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:09 PM
That time I blogged about how I love Spooky Season and most of the responses were, "Nah, pass." WHAT?!? Where all all my fall / October / Halloween / Spooky Season lovers out there? WHO WILL DEFEND MY HONOR?!#spookyseason #cozymystery #booksky
Today may be the first day of spooky season, but author Laura Jensen Walker is already getting into a whole other holiday spirit! Come join us on the blog at Chicks on the Case to hear about her fabulous new holiday release, All The Christmas Feels!
#cozymystery #holidayreads
#cozymystery #holidayreads
Guest Chick: Laura Jensen Walker
We’re so happy to welcome back Laura Jensen Walker, who will put you in the holiday spirit, even if it’s still September! Thanks so much for having me back on the Chicks, Ellen! “I will…
chicksonthecase.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Today may be the first day of spooky season, but author Laura Jensen Walker is already getting into a whole other holiday spirit! Come join us on the blog at Chicks on the Case to hear about her fabulous new holiday release, All The Christmas Feels!
#cozymystery #holidayreads
#cozymystery #holidayreads
"Hello, my name is Michelle, and I’m addicted to city walking tours—an addiction that recently delivered me into the waiting clutches of a haunted toilet." Come hear the rest of the story from the fabulous Michelle Chouinard, author of the Serial-Killer Guide to SF series!
Guest Chick: Michelle Chouinard
Marla here. I’m thrilled to welcome Michelle Chouinard to the blog today as she celebrates the release of book two in The Serial-Killer Guide to San Francisco series, starring Capri Sanz…
chicksonthecase.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"Hello, my name is Michelle, and I’m addicted to city walking tours—an addiction that recently delivered me into the waiting clutches of a haunted toilet." Come hear the rest of the story from the fabulous Michelle Chouinard, author of the Serial-Killer Guide to SF series!
Book giveaway alert! Today on the blog, thriller author Elle Marr takes us behind the scenes of her new book,THE LIE SHE WEARS — and one lucky reader will win a copy! #mystery #cozymystery #booksky #bookgiveaway
Guest Chick: Elle Marr
Please join us in giving a very warm welcome to today’s guest chick: Elle Marr, author of The Missing Sister, Lies We Bury, Strangers We Know, The Family Bones, The Alone Time, Your Dark Se…
chicksonthecase.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Book giveaway alert! Today on the blog, thriller author Elle Marr takes us behind the scenes of her new book,THE LIE SHE WEARS — and one lucky reader will win a copy! #mystery #cozymystery #booksky #bookgiveaway
Today on the blog, author Deborah Bokur confesses why she got kicked out of Girl Scouts -- and how it helped her become an author! Stop by and say hi and learn more about her dark paradise mysteries!
Guest Chick: Debra Bokur
When I was a kid – a mere second-grader, to be precise — the adults in my life labeled me as “unpredictable.” These things tend to stick, of course, and I’m still teased at family gatherings. You c…
chicksonthecase.com
September 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Today on the blog, author Deborah Bokur confesses why she got kicked out of Girl Scouts -- and how it helped her become an author! Stop by and say hi and learn more about her dark paradise mysteries!
Happy Cozy Mystery Day — AKA Agatha Christie's birthday! Ellen Byron talks about the Queen of Mystery and shares some fun facts about the State of California, the setting of Ellen's own fabulous cozy series, the Golden Motel Mysteries. @ellenbyronla.bsky.social #cozymystery #cozyreads #amreading
Happy Birthday, Dame Agatha – and California!
Happy National Cozy Mystery Day to all who observe – which is a lot of us. September 15th was chosen to honor the genre because it’s the birthday of the legendary mystery author, Agatha…
chicksonthecase.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Happy Cozy Mystery Day — AKA Agatha Christie's birthday! Ellen Byron talks about the Queen of Mystery and shares some fun facts about the State of California, the setting of Ellen's own fabulous cozy series, the Golden Motel Mysteries. @ellenbyronla.bsky.social #cozymystery #cozyreads #amreading
Today on the blog, Patricia Sargeant talks opening lines, dialogue rules, and, how "I was promised chocolate" ended up being the first line of the first book in her Peach Coast Library Mysteries. #cozymystery #booksky #amreading #amwriting #cozyreads Follow her at: @patriciasargeant.bsky.social
Talk to Me
Dialogue can make or break a story. Would you agree? There are so many rules to writing good dialogue. Characters have to sound different enough from each other that readers would know who’s speaki…
chicksonthecase.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Today on the blog, Patricia Sargeant talks opening lines, dialogue rules, and, how "I was promised chocolate" ended up being the first line of the first book in her Peach Coast Library Mysteries. #cozymystery #booksky #amreading #amwriting #cozyreads Follow her at: @patriciasargeant.bsky.social
Today on the blog, Guest chick Susan McCormick talks about mother/son duos and her new book, The Room at the End of the Hall.
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Guest Chick: Susan McCormick
A warm welcome today to Susan McCormick, fab author of the Fog Ladies mystery series. Today she’s talking mothers and sons, the subject of her new suspense book, The Room at the End of the Ha…
chicksonthecase.com
September 5, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Today on the blog, Guest chick Susan McCormick talks about mother/son duos and her new book, The Room at the End of the Hall.
chicksonthecase.com/2025/09/05/g...
chicksonthecase.com/2025/09/05/g...
Book giveaway alert! Come check out Guest Chick Shelly Jones, and enter to win a free book and cute swag! Shelly is the debut author of PLAYER ELIMINATION. Check out her book and comment to win! #mysteryauthor #debutauthor #bookgiveaway #booksky
Guest Chick: Shelly Jones #Giveaway
Today we Chicks are excited to welcome fabulous debut author Shelly Jones and their just-pubbed mystery PLAYER ELIMINATION, set in the world of–board games! Lisa enjoyed meeting Shelly in per…
chicksonthecase.com
September 4, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Book giveaway alert! Come check out Guest Chick Shelly Jones, and enter to win a free book and cute swag! Shelly is the debut author of PLAYER ELIMINATION. Check out her book and comment to win! #mysteryauthor #debutauthor #bookgiveaway #booksky
Pack your bags, the Chicks are headed to New Orleans! Marla Cooper dishes on why she bought a last minute ticket to one of her favorite #mystery conferences. If you're looking for writing community, Bouchercon, Left Coast Crime and Malice are where to find it! #booksky #cozymystery #cozymysteries
The Case of the Last-Minute Conference Attendee
Why I almost skipped the biggest mystery conference in the U.S. — and why I changed my mind. (Spoiler alert: it’s about the community!) Now, who’s with me?
chicksonthecase.com
August 29, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Pack your bags, the Chicks are headed to New Orleans! Marla Cooper dishes on why she bought a last minute ticket to one of her favorite #mystery conferences. If you're looking for writing community, Bouchercon, Left Coast Crime and Malice are where to find it! #booksky #cozymystery #cozymysteries
"When I wrote The Story That Wouldn’t Die, I never imagined it might make my real job awkward. But here we are." Christina Estes shares how her series about a reporter who uncovers secrets tied to City Hall took on new meaning once she started working at... City Hall.
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
Guest Chick: Christina Estes
Today the Chicks are pleased to welcome back Christina Estes, winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in The Southwest for Off the Air. The sequel, The Story That Wouldn’t Die…
chicksonthecase.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:42 PM
"When I wrote The Story That Wouldn’t Die, I never imagined it might make my real job awkward. But here we are." Christina Estes shares how her series about a reporter who uncovers secrets tied to City Hall took on new meaning once she started working at... City Hall.
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
Think being an author is glamorous? Today on the blog, Guest Chick Marie Sutro sets the record straight with lessons in humility provided by the fickle Fates.
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
Guest Chick: Marie Sutro
Before I became an author, I held the common assumption that authors live seriously cool lives. In fact, I felt pretty darn confident they lived glamorous lives. It may be true for some authors. As…
chicksonthecase.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Think being an author is glamorous? Today on the blog, Guest Chick Marie Sutro sets the record straight with lessons in humility provided by the fickle Fates.
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
#mystery #cozymystery #booksky
Come along on a "research" trip as author Ellen Byron takes us straight into the heart of California’s Gold Rush country, complete with gold panning, vintage trains, and the world’s best apple strudel. All inspiration for her Golden Motel Mysteries! #mystery #cozymystery #booksky
The Perks of “Research”
Ah, the upside of writing series set in beautiful location. I thought that today, I’d share a little backstory on what inspired my Golden Motel Mysteries and how it led to two glorious vacati…
chicksonthecase.com
August 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Come along on a "research" trip as author Ellen Byron takes us straight into the heart of California’s Gold Rush country, complete with gold panning, vintage trains, and the world’s best apple strudel. All inspiration for her Golden Motel Mysteries! #mystery #cozymystery #booksky