Cozy Mysteries discussion

Hardly seems like 2014 yet, but here goes our first featured author for the new year.


Barbara Ross
Her official website: http://www.maineclambakemysteries.com

From her GR's author profile: Barbara Ross' novel Clammed Up, first in a new series of Maine Clambake Mysteries, was published by Kensington in September 2013. Barbara and her husband own the former Seafarer Inn at the head of the harbor in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. From her perch on the Seafarer's wide front porch, Barbara's had a chance to observe the quirks of life in a small resort town, along with the stunning harbor views. Barbara and Bill no longer run the inn as a Bed & Breakfast. Barbara is notoriously not a morning person. They considered a Bed-and-Get-Your-Own-Damn-Breakfast, but there didn't seem to be much of a market.

Barbara is the 2013 co-chair of The New England Crime Bake. She is a co-editor/co-publisher at Level Best Books, which produces an award-winning anthology of crime and mystery stories by New England authors every November. Barbara also blogs with a wonderful group of Maine mystery authors at Maine Crime Writers.

Barbara's first mystery novel, The Death of an Ambitious Woman, was published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage in August, 2010. In her former life, Barbara was a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of two successful start-ups in educational technology. When they aren't in Boothbay, she and her husband live in Somerville, MA.

A Maine Clambake Mystery series

#1 Clammed Up

#2 Boiled Over (Expected publication May 6, 2014)

#3 Musseled Out (Being Written)

Other Works:


The Death of an Ambitious Woman

Thin Ice: Crime Stories by New England Writers

Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm

Best New England Crime Stories 2013: Blood Moon

Best New England Crime Stories 2014: Stone Cold

Great! I have Clammed Up somewhere on my shelf and will hunt it down. I'm excited to find a new author.

Read Clammed up when it first came out. Absolutely loved it. I love cozy mysteries that show what its like to live in a town where everyone knows everbody

I just got the book as a gift from a friend, so thought I'd look up the author to feature. Looking forward to reading it. The next in the series is coming out in 2014 sometime.

Great, Briansgirl Clammed Up is in my TBR, so I'll go directly to it. Thank you

Had this one coming up soon anyway, so I can read along with everyone.

I picked this up at a UBS just before Christmas so it's at the top of a TBR stack. Others here recommended it. Looking forward to reading it this month.

Hi All

I'm Barbara Ross, author of Clammed Up. I'm excited to be your first featured author of the New Year.

I'm happy to pop in and answer any questions. And of course, I'm interested in your reactions.

The second book in the series, Boiled Over, comes out May 6, 2014. Right now, I'm hard at work on the third one, Musseled Out.

Happy New Year!

Barb

Welcome Barb and thanks for joining us. You've already answered my first question, so I will update the top post with the upcoming release date for the next book.

I'm glad so many are excited to read this month's featured author since she doesn't have as many books to choose from. Since we went last month with a real (old) classic, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I thought something new would be a nice change.

Looking forward to reading Clammed Up - I love cozies set in Maine since I have been vacationing in Boothbay Harbor my entire life.

I have this in the TBR pile, so will read it this month.

I read Clammed Up when it first came out and liked it very much.

I just purchased the Kindle edition of Clammed Up. Can't wait to read it.

Just got my copy 1.99 on amazon for kindle version. Can't wait!

Looked great...so I just purchased on my daughter's Kindle, I will put it next in the TBR list.

Katherine-

My Busman's Harbor in Clammed Up is a highly fictionalized version of Boothbay Harbor--but I think you'll recognize it. The owners of the Cabbage Island Clambakes answered lots of questions for me about their operation.

Barb

Hi

Clammed Up is $1.99 for Kindle now. Not sure how long it will last. Amazon's pricing algorithm is mysterious.

It's also $1.99 on Kobo. That sale was supposed to end yesterday, but it's still up at that price. Again, mysterious.

Barb

Thanks for letting us know it's on sale Barbara. Always helps. :)

I bought Clammed Up for my Kindle yesterday and started reading it today. I'm really enjoying it.

Got started on it last night. I'm enjoying it so far!

I am waiting too, mine is on hold, but perhaps this will be the push I need to actually get a (gasp!) electronic reader.....

Looking forward to reading Clammed Up soon. I visited Portland, Maine recently and loved it so much I'm planning a return trip in the spring.

I just finished it. I loved it....I thought it was a great cozy. The characters were real with just enough flaws to make them believable, the story was interesting and the details of Maine were just how I remembered it from the summer I sent there as a young teenager. It was a quick, easy and enjoyable read...just what I am looking for in a cozy.

Old Sir Arthur is still sitting on my shelf because Clammed Up somehow got pushed to the top. Wonder how that happened! Anyway, I just finished Barbara's super-fun cozy and will not be happy until I have a clam/lobster dinner real soon. I loved the characters and hope that some of them return in the sequel. I've been to Maine once, don't really remember where exactly, but did love the scenery and quaint towns. Now I'll have to make a return trip, this time scheduling a clam bake into my plans. I thought the story was wonderful - didn't guess the murderer, as I usually don't, and felt a part of the book and people in the town. The recipes especially sound yummy. I want to make the mac and cheese and add the lobster. Don't know why I hadn't ever thought of that before. And the blueberry grunt is making my mouth water. So, for me, Barbara's book is a winner and will anxiously be waiting for Boiled Over. Thanks, Barbara for letting Goodreads discover you!!!

I also finished Clammed Up and really enjoyed it! I've never been to Maine in person, but feel like I know it a little now.

I also just finished Clammed Up and loved it! Have never been to Maine. DH was born in Kittery and MIL still has family in the North Berwick area.

Thank you all so much! I can't tell you what it means to a relatively new author with a first-in-series book!

You're welcome Barbara. :)

Finished this last night, loved it. I've pre-ordered the new one. Barbara had me guessing, had no clue who the murderer was and loved the recipes in the back! Awesome!

I've finished it the day before yesterday. It was very slow in the beginning (I would have left it if the author wasn't the featured one), but it improved a lot around the middle and I'm going to go on with the series (I've included the next one in my TBB).

Just finished Clammed Up. It was EXCELLENT!! I had my doubts about a cozy that is over 300 pages long, figuring the author needed a better editor. Delighted to be wrong. The story is engaging; there is a new revelation in nearly every chapter; the MC is strong and vulnerable in a believable way. There were a number of suspects each with plausible motives. Then a twist at the end. This is a 5 star read.

I am so excited! My copy of Clammed Up came in todays mail. I will be starting it tonight or tomorrow.

I don't think I have read any of Barbara Ross books. I will look into this series.

Glad everyone is enjoying our featured author this month.

I finishedClammed Uplast night. It took me a few chapters to get the flow, but then I just couldn't stop reading. OK Barbara, when is the next installment due out?

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was very well written, it kept me up way to late because I had to finish it. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters
were great and the plot was interesting. I am looking forward to the next one.

I hesitated to read this one because the cover reminded me of another book set in Maine that I hated. This one was really good and I was glad I read it. I love that the characters acted like real people and were not quirky. I also enjoyed the mystery and did not figure it out early. Will put the next one on my to read list for sure.

I liked this one, the mystery was intriguing, the setting detailed and a bit different. I will be interested to see what comes next!

Really enjoyed the book. Looking forward to #2!

I have this book checked out from the library right now! I joined the group in December, or maybe November, but haven't had time to particpate yet. Hopefully I can soon, but maybe I'll be late reading this one - beginning of February, perhaps?

I'm working on this book, about 270 pages in. It is making me really hungry, since I'm out in the midwest I guess I will just have to go to Red Lobster. :)

I really like the setting, I've been reading another series set in Maine this month, Murder on the Rocks, and it's making me want to go back to Maine. I was there for just a couple of days a few years ago.

This is a very fun cozy. The only thing is the main cop, Binder, is really getting on my nerves. I guess you have to have a tough cop to create tension in the story, but I wish he would let the business open again! Agh, the tension.

I still haven't had a chance to start Ross' book (will have to renew from the library!), but I added that other book to my tbr list, Melissa. I live in Maine, and reading books set here tickle my fancy :-)

Well I finished the book. It was good. I didn't guess the killer. I will be reading the next one!

I just finished 'Clammed Up'. Loved it very, very much! Many plot twists, tension and I never, ever guessed the killer! Every time I thought I had it figured out, there was a twist which made my idea go down the drain! Can't wait to read the next installment!

I think you all are my good luck charms! Found out tonight Clammed Up has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Mystery.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You all discovered me first!

Barbara wrote: "I think you all are my good luck charms! Found out tonight Clammed Up has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Mystery.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You all discovered me f..."

Nice! Congrats and good luck ^5

Barbara wrote: "I think you all are my good luck charms! Found out tonight Clammed Up has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Mystery.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You all discovered me f..."

This is great news for all of us, Barbara. But now it means that you'll have to write more, write faster, and love to write more than ever. Goodreads is lucky to have found you. It's kind of like having a first child - you'll always be extra special to us.

Barbara wrote: "I think you all are my good luck charms! Found out tonight Clammed Up has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Mystery.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You all discovered me f..."

Congratulations on the nomination and good luck!!

Barbara wrote: "I think you all are my good luck charms! Found out tonight Clammed Up has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Mystery.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You all discovered me f..."

Congratulations!!! Way to go Barbara!