Jacque Rosman, author of Murder Off U Street, the latest novel in the Academic Mom mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Jacque.

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

MURDER OFF U STREET is the second installment in the Academic Mom Mysteries series, following the debut novel MURDER IN GEORGETOWN. The series is planned as a five-book collection

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from?

The idea originated years ago while working in a police department as a counselor for Victim Services, where I witnessed how certain victims could be easily overlooked or dismissed by law enforcement.

Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story? If so, what prompted you to write about it?

A couple of subjects weave throughout the book. The central one stems from my police department experience—how certain victims can be dismissed by law enforcement. Another explores work-life balance, particularly how mothers, even those with careers, shoulder countless caretaking responsibilities. I wanted to create a character who breaks free from this routine by engaging in something as thrilling as solving mysteries.

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?

My main character serves as one of my alter egos😊, sharing many similarities with my real life. Like her, I’m a social work professor with two children—a son and daughter—living in Northern Virginia. The key difference, of course, is that I’m not an amateur sleuth.

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?

While I have intimate knowledge of Northern Virginia, having lived in both Alexandria and Arlington over the last 20 years, I haven’t lived or worked in DC where much of the series is set. However, I frequently visit the city for cultural events and dining out, and when our children were young, we were there almost every weekend, taking advantage of the various amusements for kids.

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?

Medical research is essential for crafting authentic mysteries, allowing me to accurately portray how a victim might die. Though these are traditional mysteries, I deliberately maintain a restrained approach when it comes to graphic details—you won’t find excessive gore in my pages.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about the book?

You won’t see the ending coming! This mystery is crafted primarily for women readers who will relate to a protagonist balancing multiple roles in her life.

Thank you for answering my questions, Jacque, and good luck with Murder Off U Street, the latest book in the Academic Mom mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Jacqu Rosman by visiting the author’s Facebook, Goodreads and LinkedIn pages.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon US   Apple Books   Barnes & Noble   Google Play   Kobo Books

About Jacque Rosman: When Jacque Rosman (Jacqueline Corcoran) isn’t crafting whodunits, romances, or textbooks, she’s navigating her own commute through four states to her professor job, dealing with her rescue chihuahua’s separation anxiety, and embracing, like her amateur sleuth, the beautiful chaos of family life with her husband and two children outside Washington D.C. MURDER IN GEORGETOWN and MURDER OFF U STREET kicks off the Academic Mom Mysteries, bringing readers a relatable humorous heroine who solves crimes between grading papers and making dinner.