Murder, Mystery & Mothers

by Fran Heap
(A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery, #1)
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:
“You’d better leave town or else”.

After a devastating betrayal mystery writer Tammy Rumbelow flees LA for a charming blue cottage in Willowcroft, Michigan. But when a yellowed letter in the attic reveals an unsolved 70-year-old locked room murder in her living room, her peace is shattered.

Determined to start fresh, Tammy enlists the help of a ragtag group of locals:

Bookstore owner Olivia Huddlestone offers a sanctuary for clandestine conversations and genealogical sleuthing among her shelves.

Eccentric Mrs. Hazel Temperance mines her knitting circle for gossip.

Retired detective “Wally” has contacts at the sheriff’s department.

Tech whiz kid Xander Simmons hasn’t met a computer he didn’t like—or a website he can’t hack.

And a stray cat with a nose for clues…

As threatening letters appear and break-ins escalate around town, Tammy must prove to herself—and her inner critic—that she’s capable of solving a murder, or will that be two?

Perfect for fans of multi-generational mysteries filled with quirky characters like Only Murders in the Building and crime-solving writers like Castle.

Purchase:
Amazon

Tammy burst into the bookstore, the bell above the door clattering. Lockie darted in behind her, almost tripping her in his haste. She caught sight of Olivia and Mrs. Temperance huddled by the counter, their conversation dying midsentence. She ignored their startled expressions as she thrust the envelope forward.

“You won’t believe what I found in the attic!”

“Tammy, dear, what is it?” asked Mrs. Temperance.

For a moment, she hesitated, her fingers inching toward her pocket. Were they trustworthy? What if they dismissed her or—worse—used her story as gossip? Olivia’s kind expression nudged her resolve. My first test. And I’m going to ace it. She passed it over.

Olivia opened the envelope and read it aloud. She looked at Tammy with wide eyes.

“How extraordinary.” She handed it to Mrs. Temperance, who scrutinized it, lips pursed.

“Well, I never…” She met Tammy’s gaze. “This raises some troubling questions.”

“Right.” Tammy slumped against the counter. “It’s so mysterious. It threatened someone living in my cottage. We have to find out who they were and why they did it.”

Mrs. Temperance ran her fingers along the letter’s edges. “This is quite intriguing. Willowcroft has its fair share of secrets, but this…” She paused, tapping her chin. “I can’t imagine what it refers to.”

“Then we must investigate!” said Olivia. “If something sinister happened here in the past, we need to uncover it. This is our next mystery to solve, Mrs. Temperance!”

“It certainly is.”

Tammy’s heart skipped for joy at the prospect of joining forces to unravel the mystery. “What do you mean by your next mystery?”

Olivia glanced at the older woman with a big grin. “We solved a mystery last week. Willowcroft’s Great Bear Caper! We had three bear visits, including one on Mrs. Temperance’s porch and one that broke through my store’s window.”

Tammy gasped. “Are we safe in town? I didn’t factor bears into my plan.”

“Don’t worry, dear,” Mrs. Temperance reassured her. “In all my seventy-plus years, we’ve never had bear trouble—until last week. But black bears are harmless.”

Phew. “How did you solve the mystery?”

“Well,” said Olivia, “Mrs. Temperance, with her knowledge of honey terroir, traced the honey back to the Bradley Berry Farm store. I caught Nick Bradley on my CCTV and he confessed to luring the bears with honey and berries.” She pulled a newspaper from under the counter. “You can read about it here.”

Tammy looked at the front-page headline: “The Great Willowcroft Bear Caper” and the paper’s date. “This happened just before I arrived!”

“Yes. And it sparked our desire to solve more mysteries,” Mrs. Temperance said, turning to Olivia, who nodded in agreement.

“Wow. I thought my week was adventurous with a night at a haunted hotel,” Tammy said. “But bears? You win.”

Olivia’s eyes lit up. “Haunted hotel? Oh, do tell!”

“I will, but not right now. All I can think about is this letter…and now bears.” She grimaced.

Skeletons, Secrets & Speakeasies
Book 2

Some legacies are lost to time. Others are waiting to be found.

Tammy Rumbelow never imagined her fresh start in small-town Michigan would lead her into decades-old mysteries. But beneath the cozy book readings and bakery scents, Willowcroft hides the tangled roots of betrayal, buried truths, and a heist that was never meant to be uncovered.

With the help of her cat and a mismatched team of amateur sleuths—including a bookseller and genealogist, a tech-savvy teen, a sharp-eyed retiree, and a former sheriff—Tammy stumbles upon a hidden past woven through dusty tunnels, long-lost letters, and the fading whispers of women history tried to forget.

Together, they’ll piece together a mystery that spans generations—one that may rewrite everything the town thought it knew.

Warm, witty, and heartfelt, this cozy mystery is a love letter to found family, second chances, and the stories waiting to be told—if only someone is brave enough to dig deep. Scroll up and get your copy today!

*****

Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins
Book 3

They wore masks long before Halloween.

The pumpkins are carved. The town is decorated. The annual Jack-o’-Lantern Walk is set to begin in Willowcroft.

When true crime podcaster Rowe Harvey rolls in for the Tunnel Museum opening, she’s not just chasing a story—she’s digging up a legacy of lies. But before she can hit publish, Rowe is found dead after the town’s Halloween festivities, and the small town’s secrets start unraveling faster than a cheap costume.

Tammy Rumbelow never planned to become a sleuth. But with her cat Lockie at her heels and a group of amateur sleuths by her side, she’s drawn into a web of old grudges, hidden identities, and whispers that echo through the town’s Prohibition tunnels.

Everyone has something to hide. The question is—who was pretending to be a friend… and who was pretending not to be a killer?

Warm, witty, and full of twists, Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins is a cozy mystery that proves in a town full of secrets, the truth wears many faces.

*****

Bears, Berries & Beginnings
Prequel

Bears belong in the woods, not licking windows and breaking into stores. But the bears of Willowcroft, Michigan, didn’t get the memo.

Hazel Temperance, a retired teacher known for her British-inspired afternoon teas and colorful shawls, thought her biggest concern would be perfecting her blueberry scones for the Willow-Crafters knitting circle. But when furry visitors start appearing at windows around town, life takes a surprising turn.

As the bear incidents escalate from curious visits to property damage—and mysterious photos land on doorsteps—Hazel swaps her knitting needles for sleuthing skills. Together with a retired detective, the local bookstore owner, and a tech-savvy teenager, they follow a trail of honey and blueberries sweeter than her baked treats.

Can Hazel and her eclectic detective squad unmask the bear whisperer before someone gets seriously hurt? Maybe a stray cat holds the key… and what of the rumored newcomer to town?

Grab a warm blanket and witness how a group of unlikely sleuths comes together while solving a bear-y puzzling case!

Perfect for fans of cozy small-town mysteries where knitting, amateur sleuthing, and wildlife mishaps collide, Bears, Berries & Beginnings is the prequel to a delightful series where community, camaraderie, and a knack for unraveling the unexpected take center stage.

 

I am based in Melbourne, Australia but have lived in London, Copenhagen and New Jersey. I’ve been to 61 countries but want to visit over 190.

I’m a poor excuse of a redhead who loves ancient ruins and drains, hates dusting, revels in going behind the scenes, can’t smile in photos and detests selfie sticks (though I now own one).

I have a penchant for collecting quirky data and my favourite saying is: curiosity killed the cat, but information brought him back.

I have wanted to be a writer since I was nine but also had aspirations of being a famous actress, an astronaut, owning a department store and opening up a youth hostel. I became a career Nanny and Neonatal Nurse instead.

Now I am an author of cozy mystery novels (and travel books).

Author Links:
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