No sooner had I finished the (ick) pass pages (I still prefer "galley proofs") for Chapter & Hearse, when I get a note from my editor with the back cover copy for A Crafty Killing. (Did I tell you they'd changed the title of the first Victoria Square book? I'm getting used to it. Nuff said.)
Here's what I've been saying about the book:
Young widow Katie Bonner discovers the body of Ezra Hilton, who ran the local artisan cooperative like his own fiefdom. Katie has little reason to mourn Ezra, who convinced her late husband to invest in the Artisans’ Alley before he was killed. Ezra's will makes Katie the controlling partner in the enterprise--much to the chagrin of his nephew, who comes to town hell-bent on collecting money as quickly as possible...and barely arrives before one of the vendors also ends up dead. The entire co-op is in a disgruntled uproar, and it seems like the detective in charge of the investigation does everything except investigate the murder. Everyone from the village’s lawyer to the quilt shop owner had motive to want Ezra dead, and it’s up to Katie to find out who’s responsible before more of her vendors die.
Here's what the Berkley Marketing Department came up with:
The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found lying at the bottom of a staircase, bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. A collection of booths for artisans and craft sellers in a renovated applesauce factory building, Artisans Alley is the main attraction in the quaint Victoria Square shopping area. But business under Ezra had been faltering—enough to provoke someone to murder?
Katie has had more than her share of death—her late husband (and Ezra’s former partner) Chad died in a car accident six months ago. But as she digs deeper into Ezra’s murder, her husband’s death starts to look suspicious. While the cops are proceeding by the book, Katie is investigating by the booths—for the answer to the killer’s identity lies in the hidden secrets of Artisans Alley itself.
Which do you like more?
Even better -- I'm supposed to see the cover either today or early next week. I'll share as soon as they let me!
Gotta admit ... the Marketing's blurb has more punch & that is what you want to pull in readers. It's more intriguing to know Artisan's Alley is in a renovated applesauce factory & her hubby's death is now questionable and increases her need to find the killer(s?).
ReplyDeleteBy the way ... the whole concept sounds great. Now I have yet another mystery series to read! Ya-HOO! Keep 'em coming, kiddo!
I do like that her husband's death might be implicated in these recent murders.
ReplyDelete