About Rivers and Creaks
Rivers and Creaks: A Redwoods Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - California
BGM Press (November 30, 2023)
Print length : 227 pages
Digital ASIN : B0CNBGWSCK
A grumpy innkeeper. A dead guest. Can he solve the locked-room mystery before his business crumbles into chaos?
In the heart of Redwoods Country, where even the towering trees whisper secrets, there's an innkeeper who's anything but welcoming. Meet Andy Shirley—a man who's made grumpiness an art form, detesting both guests and life's little inconveniences. Now a dead guest and a killer on the loose threaten not only Andy's solitude but his livelihood.
His cherished wife’s memory keeps him tethered to the small-town bed and breakfast they dreamt of running together. When a guest is found dead in a locked room, can this retired copy editor use his meticulous attention to detail to uncover the truth and save his business?
Fearing this shocking event will deter future guests and buyers, Andy's frustration intensifies as the sheriff shifts his focus to a higher profile case. Yet, amidst this turmoil, Andy’s even more shocked when the most unexpected event happens as he hunts for clues . . . he strikes up an unlikely friendship.
Rivers and Creaks launches the humorous Redwoods Country cozy mystery series. If you like cranky but lovable characters, classic closed-door conundrums, and light-hearted fun, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s laugh-out-loud tale. Imagine "Grumpy Old Men" merged with "Schitt's Creek."
Rivers and Creaks: A Redwoods Country Mystery (#1) Excerpt
From my vantage point standing behind the future bride and groom, I heard Xander when he suggested, “Maybe we should push the wedding out only by a day—to Saturday.”
“But we don’t have the venue. Remember, that’s why we had to take Friday night.” Misty’s head drooped.
“Oh, right,” said Xander. “But if we cut it down to just family and close friends, we could do it here, in the backyard. The food will keep for a day and the flowers should be fine.”
Misty’s eyes brightened as her head swung up to look at him. “Oh, you’re a genius. I never wanted a big wedding. That was all Mom.” She took a deep, settling breath and smiled through her tears. “I’m almost glad we can’t get to our rooms. It wouldn’t feel right to start the festivities today with . . .” She gestured toward the dead body upstairs. “With that.” Grabbing Xander’s hand, she said brightly, “Let’s hurry with those calls. After we get everything sorted, I’d love to go forest bathing.” She closed her eyes and sighed in anticipatory contentment. “I’ve heard that can really help you relax. I so need some tranquility right now.”
Opening her eyes, Misty tugged Xander toward the front door.
The police chief must have been standing on the other side of them since she became visible, shaking her head when the couple walked off, completely oblivious to the rest of us.
“Forest bathing.” I scoffed. “What a bunch of new age crap. Only millennials and Gen Zers would think taking a walk in the woods is some sort of cure-all mindfulness exercise.”
Despite the chaos, the chief’s eyes seemed to twinkle with amusement at my comment.
“What?” I grumbled.
“Mindfulness exercise?” Her eyebrows rose. “Now who’s using psychobabble?”
Deciding to ignore her, I cleared my throat. “Next on their agenda must be harvesting wild mushrooms or baking vegan edibles.” I snorted as I thought of another absurd behavior. “Or eating kale.”
She let me enjoy myself for a moment before her eyes turned serious. “Don’t leave town either.”
About Marc Jedel
Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.
For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. It’s a skill that’s served him well as both an author and marketer. The publication of Marc’s first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations with people than answering, “marketing.”
Like his character, Andy, from the Redwoods Country Mystery series, Marc continues to grow older and would prefer not to run a bed-and-breakfast inn when he retires. Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, he grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.
Author Links- Website and mailing list: www.marcjedel.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author
- BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/marc-jedel?follow=true
- Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/18403497.Marc_Jedel
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjedel/
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
January 5 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
January 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
January 7 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
January 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
January 8 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 9 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 10 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
January 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 11 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
January 11 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
January 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
January 16 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
January 17 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
January 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Thanks for hosting me today. I hope your readers will enjoy Rivers and Creaks. A brand new audiobook version has just been released. During this blog tour, the ebook is on sale for just $0.99 and the audiobook for $4.99 at: https://mybook.to/RiversandCreaks. All my novels, including the Ozarks Lake Mystery series (http://getbook.at/OzarksLake) and Silicon Valley Mystery series (http://getbook.at/SiliconValley) are available free for Kindle Unlimited members.
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