My third book is out!
DIAMOND IN THE RUFF, is the first in my new cozy mystery series. It was daunting breaking into a new genre but I’m excited to say that the reviews have been great. This series is very near to my heart. In my first series, THE PROBATION CASE FILE MYSTERIES, my main character is a probation officer, which was my profession for most of my working life. My new series has three elements that are from my life.
First, the dogs in the book are my former pets. Anyone who has had multiple pets knows how different they all are. Noah was my heart dog. The one I can’t get over. He was with me when I made major changes in my life and sometimes it felt like it was just the two of us against the world. It’s been almost three years since his passing, and I miss him every day.
Maya was my favorite mistake. For some reason, my then teenage daughter and I felt the need to add to our family. We adopted Maya from a shelter after her former owner gave her up because she was too much to handle. Maya stole our hearts and most of our belongings, at least the ones she didn’t destroy. She was a total miscreant and lived to the ripe old age of nineteen-and-a-half. It was with heavy hearts that we let her go last summer.
The second and third element go together. My main character, Charlie Calderbank, is in the police academy when she receives a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. With this, she can no longer become a cop. Unlike Charlie, I did successfully complete the police academy and had a brief stint as a police officer before resigning because of an unforeseen move for my then husband’s career. I also received a diagnosis of RA, so I know what Charlie is up against. I incorporate those elements in the series.
The reviews:
A tail-wagging whodunit with bite—and a whole lot of heart.
A small-town mystery + a mischievous dog + a hint of romance = the coziest whodunit 💕🔍
Diamond in the Ruff by Cindy Goyette is a fun, entertaining, and witty start to a new cozy mystery series that’s barking up all the right trees. The adorable dogs on the cover, along with the ‘Wiggle Butt Manor’ series name, are what initially drew me to read Diamond in the Ruff, but it’s the characters (the ones with four legs as much as the ones with two) and the smart plotting that kept me invested. The author excels at misdirection when it comes to keeping the culprit(s) a surprise, but I also enjoyed the story even apart from the mystery. This is definitely a series I want to follow, and I will be watching for news of book two!
With a series title of the Wiggle Butt Manor Mysteries, I was expecting a cutesy cozy mystery. I was wrong. I got a mature cozy mystery with realistic modern-day themes. Don’t get me wrong, I love cute mysteries, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth found in the first Wiggle Butt Manor Mystery. Medical concerns, teenage pregnancy, and abusive home life are some of the serious issues found here, all treated with dignity and respect. There’s also a ton of humor, a smidge of romance, and adorable dogs. I love how spry Maya is for her age and how her incorrigibility leads to several clues that help solve the mystery.
There are more, but you get the drift. People love dogs! I am currently working on book 2 in the series and am honored to keep Noah and Maya alive on the page.
EARLY TERMINATION, the second book in my Probation Case Files Mysteries, has almost been out for six months. It’s also doing well. Book 3 in the series is ready to submit to my editor in July.