Hello and Welcome All!

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Mona Marple author of A Whale of a Crime
Hi Mona, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Who inspired you to become a writer?

Gosh, that’s a hard question! Like asking me to choose a favorite pet or book!

As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and so I guess that came from a mix of my love of reading and growing up with a mum who was always reading. I always thought books were magical and fun, and I wanted to spend more time with them however possible!

Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I have too many to name, but I love them all for the same reason – because they all transport me away from the humdrum reality of life (or, occasionally, the hardships of life).

I enjoy reading all kinds of books apart from sci fi and horror, and some of my favorite authors are Matilda Swift, Lynn Morrison and Helen Golden.

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?

I love writing dialogue. I really enjoy letting my characters talk and getting to know their voices and the little idiosyncrasies that we all have.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I always have an outline. I’m not saying I follow it… but I can’t write without having made one or I’d just write myself into a corner!

Tell us a few Fun Facts about A Whale of a Crime.

A Whale of a Crime is set in the real village of Flamborough, which is in Yorkshire, England. It’s a stunning place that is nestled on the clifftops and which features dramatic scenery and a huge array of wildlife. It’s a place where my family have been enjoying holidays for years, so bringing the place to the page has been really special.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

There are two main characters – Ryan and his feisty gran, Iris. The book begins with Ryan returning home to Flamborough after a decade away. He has had his heart broken, and he believes that there is more to that loss… that’s the overarching mystery of the series.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I really enjoyed creating the chat room sections. I love reading epistolary novels, which include things other than just the novel format – eMails, letters, text messages, etc. I haven’t really seen that done in cozy mysteries before so it was a bit of a gamble but I had such a clear vision of Ryan sitting and watching the chat room conversations about his late husband, that I had to include them.

Readers should read this book… so they can get to know the beauty of Flamborough, the friendly and tough people who live there, and the mysteries hiding among the cliffs!

Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

A Whale of a Crime

(A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE COAST, ENGLAND
Independently Published (April 30, 2025)
Print length : 254 Pages

After ten years away, Ryan Kennedy never planned on returning to Flamborough—the tiny Yorkshire village he once called home. But when his fiercely independent gran, Iris, needs him, he finds himself back behind the counter at her chaotic seaside bookshop, wrestling with jammed tills, nosy villagers, and the memories he’s spent years trying to forget.

What Ryan doesn’t expect is to be swept straight into the heart of a murder investigation.

When a mysterious boat appears on the beach and a body turns up at the exclusive Whale Watch Weekend picnic, all eyes turn to the cliffs—and to the secrets the village has been keeping. As Ryan and Iris dig into the tangled history of the victim, long-buried truths begin to surface, not just about the case… but about the night Ryan’s own husband died.

With the tide cutting them off, a killer on the loose, and a very observant dog named Bracken by their side, Ryan and Iris must work fast—because in Flamborough, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the sea has a habit of washing everything to shore.

For fans of twisty village whodunits, seaside charm, and heartfelt mysteries with a slow-burning emotional pull, A Whale of a Crime is the unforgettable first instalment in a brand-new series.

AMAZON

“He hadn’t expected it to feel like this—like being punched in the gut and wrapped in a warm blanket all at once.”

“Welcome home, little brother.”

“Because I very much doubt Vic decided to bash his own head in with a decorative whale.”

“You could dress a Flamborough lad in all the fancy clothes you liked, but the salt air would always find a way in.”

“They were trapped until morning. Six suspects, one murder weapon, and Iris’ grandson caught in the middle of it all.”

Mona Marple writes charming cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty whodunits, and settings you’ll wish you could visit—especially if you love a bit of seasonal sparkle. Best known for her beloved Candy Cane Hollow series, Mona creates worlds where murder meets mistletoe and sleuthing pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. When she’s not writing, Mona can be found walking her Labradoodle, Coco, plotting her next murder (on the page, of course), or hosting reader parties in her cozy online community.

Author Links
Amazon * Goodreads * Website * Facebook * Facebook Group * Instagram