Jeanne Quigley, author of The Holiday Photo Murder, a Robyn Cavanagh mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to share with us a bit about writing her first Christmas-themed mystery.

Welcome, Jeanne. I’ll turn the floor over to you –

I had a fantastic time writing my first Christmas-themed mystery, The Holiday Photo Murder. We all have our holiday traditions—decorating the tree, lighting the menorah, cooking special meals and baking once-a-year treats—that we look forward to celebrating every December. I included some of these customs in the story for readers’ enjoyment and the benefit of my sleuth, Robyn Cavanagh. Because in The Holiday Photo Murder, the clues to solve the murder are found among the cookies and candies, the Christmas trees and wreathes, and the glittering decorations hung with care. Robyn, however, has work to do before she can hang her own stocking on Christmas Eve.

The story begins with a staple of the season: a holiday party. Held annually by publisher Natalie Hoffmann at her estate, Bookends, the gathering of community leaders, publishing executives, and Natalie’s friends is an elegant affair, not a raucous shindig with everyone wearing antler headbands and singing “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” Robyn, a portrait photographer, is hired to create a portfolio of party images, starting with reception line photos of Natalie with each guest. Robyn arrives at Bookends excited for the opportunity to make a good impression. She succeeds, until Natalie’s longtime companion, influential real estate developer Russell Nowak, is found dead on the back lawn. Nowak was assaulted with the iron poker from the fire pit.

Robyn’s photography job comes to a sudden end, and she immediately switches into sleuth mode to figure out whose Christmas present should be wrapped in an arrest warrant. Though the case dampens her holiday spirit, Robyn grabs moments to enjoy the season as she investigates Russell’s death. Selecting a Christmas tree is a favorite tradition for many, including Robyn, who accompanies her friend Will Vonderlin to local farm Linden Acres to select a tree for his home. Time spent with Will turns into an opportunity for Robyn to chat with a married couple who were at Natalie’s party. Searching for clues while debating the merits of a Norway spruce versus a Douglas fir is unconventional, but when there’s a murder to solve, Robyn takes advantage of every opportunity to play detective.

Robyn built her photography business on a house of Christmas cards. It’s a strong foundation, and she adds to it with a session with a party guest. This job, though, has greater significance than the typical sessions Robyn has with families in matching Christmas sweaters or pajamas. Impressing the client—a famous author—with a gorgeous portfolio of photos would be a boon for Robyn’s career. The author also may be a source of useful information for Robyn’s investigation. So while she’s snapping photos in the author’s living room, Robyn asks discreet questions about the woman’s party observations. She needs to be careful, however; the woman is conducting her own research on the murder case. Is this simple writer’s curiosity, or is the author, who is accustomed to seeing her name on best-seller lists, trying to figure out where she lands on Robyn’s roster of suspects? Has this woman been naughty or nice?

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without plenty of treats to indulge the sweet tooth. Robyn partakes of both while making her rounds. She happily samples fresh-baked Christmas cookies during a visit to George Moody, a central figure in the case. Later, Robyn pops in at the Candy Gal to talk with owner Alana Karras. The shop is a visual and olfactory feast of sweets wrapped in shiny holiday packages. Robyn appreciates the gift to her senses, but treasures the nugget of information Alana shares on the suspicion-raising conversation she had with several guests at Natalie’s party. In a second visit to the Candy Gal, Robyn gathers a potential break-in-the-case morsel when she falls into conversation by the display of chocolate Santas. Oh, the mighty power of chocolate…

Have you heard of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian tradition celebrated on Christmas Eve with various fish and seafood dishes? The Irish-American Cavanaghs have adapted the tradition into a Feast of the Seven Potatoes. Christmas Eve is delightfully wacky in their home, with everything from a bowl of potato chips to a platter of twice-baked spuds with all the toppings. There are also threats of boxed mash potatoes making an appearance and perhaps a German dish prepared by Will. It’s fun, it’s family, it’s the perfect addition to my first Christmas cozy mystery.

I’m sorry the book can’t play Christmas tunes, fill your home with the aroma of baking cookies and the fragrance of fresh-cut evergreens, offer the flavor of peppermint sticks, or twinkle with multi-colored lights. The Holiday Photo Murder does hold many delights of the season, however, and I hope you enjoy reading the latest Robyn Cavanagh mystery as much as I took pleasure in writing the story. Happy holidays to you all!

Thank you for sharing this with us, Jeanne, and good luck with The Holiday Photo Murder, the latest book in the Robyn Cavanagh mystery series. Readers can learn more about Jeanne Quigley by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook and Instagram pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

 Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Kobo   Apple 

About Jeanne Quigley: Jeanne is the author of the Veronica Walsh Mysteries and the Robyn Cavanagh Mysteries. Unlike her fictional sleuths, she has never been a soap opera star, accountant, or professional photographer, but she has worked in the music industry, for an educational publisher, and in a county agency. She lives in New York’s historic Hudson Valley.