Kelly Brakenhoff's Blog

Read more about Homecoming Homicide through a thoughtful review, a behind-the-scenes guest post about the parrot who stole the show, and an author interview that digs into my writing process and what’s next for Cassandra Sato.

The post Talking Homecoming Homicide: Guest Posts & Review Highlights appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

If you’ve ever lived in a small town or visited one long enough to have someone’s great-aunt judge your life choices, Fixin’ to Die will feel right at home.

The post September Book Club: Fixin’ to Die by Tonya Kappes appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

Welcome back to Cassandra Sato’s Mysteries where history refuses to stay buried and a certain parrot is more trouble than he’s worth. It’s been two years since Cassandra Sato’s last episode, and writing this one felt like both a long-awaited reunion and a return to someplace I’ve never really left.

The post Homecoming Homicide Behind the Scenes appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

Every August, I like to slide something nostalgic into the mix. Something that feels like summer: muddy riverbanks, barefoot mischief, and that magical kind of childhood freedom that seems both charming and a little dangerous in hindsight. 

The post August Book Club: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

The Case at Barton Manor has all the ingredients for a classic cozy mystery: a grand manor house, a murder at a fancy party, and a reluctant sleuth who’s way too good at investigating to stay in mourning forever.

The post July Book Club: The Case at Barton Manor by Emily Quee appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

Cozy mystery with horses, royalty, and a murder at Balmoral Castle. A Corpse at the Castle by R.B. Marshall is a fun series starter worth saddling up for.

The post June Book Club: A Corpse at the Castle by R.B. Marshall appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

When you discover this quote today, I hope it speaks to you, too. "Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away."

The post Some Definite Service appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

Mine solves murders. The other one wants to control your thermostat. A few weeks ago, I noticed something strange. Not ‘anonymous letter slipped under my door’ strange. But strange enough to earn a mental sticky note labeled: suspicious. There was a sudden blip of activity around my Cassandra Sato Mystery series. Nothing huge. Just enough […]

The post Meet the Other Cassandra appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

Hello friends, I didn’t finish a single shiny new series book this month—probably because I’ve spent the first few months of the year juggling seven nonfiction titles, three ongoing mystery series, and surviving my IRL book club choosing Yellowface. So yeah, welcome to The Mixed Bag Edition, a look at what I’ve been reading so far in 2025. Want […]

The post May Book Club: The Mixed Bag Edition appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.

If you’re a Gen Xer like me, imagine The Love Boat meets Murder, She Wrote and Top Chef. For Millennials: picture Doctor Odyssey meets Clue. Set sail with a cruise director who’s just trying to keep things afloat, both literally and figuratively. That’s the vibe of A Cruise for Sous, the second book in M.J. Mac’s Cozy Cocktail Cruise Mystery series.

The post April Book Club: A Cruise for Sous by MJ Mac appeared first on Emerald Prairie Press.