Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Born and Bred Texan Review

 


2022 closes with the publication of the 9th book in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series: Born and Bred Texan by Jinx Schwartz.


Ms Schwartz poses the question: can we ever truly return home? And she answers the question by giving us the delightful story of Blue Bonet.


Blue returns home to Magnolia Bluff, after an absence of many years, to take possession of the home and land left to her by her grandmother.


A widow, who’s not sure what she wants to do with her life now that she’s single and back home, Blue sets out to first modernize the old house and rejuvenate the surrounding land.


One day, while out exploring the back forty, she discovers a body in an old shack. Then it’s determined the man was murdered. And after that, bones begin popping out of the ground due to a freeze.


All of the above is going on while Blue is attempting to make a new life for herself in Magnolia Bluff, and getting re-acquainted with old friends.


Ms Schwartz’s style is as easygoing as small town life and is laced with plenty of humor and a bit of suspense.


If you’re a fan of happy endings, then Born and Bred Texan is definitely for you.


The book is available from Amazon. As is the entire Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series.




Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles at Amazon.


Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!


CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles 2022

 Nine authors. Nine books. One town. Magnolia Bluff, Texas.


What an amazing year this has been for the Underground Authors. There were times when I didn’t think we’d do it. Working with 9 creatives is a challenge. But we did it, and that makes me feel very good. We successfully published this multi-author crime fiction series over the course of 9 consecutive months.





And now Book 9 is live! Born and Bred Texan by Jinx Schwartz.


I’m a bit behind on my reading, but a review will be up soon. In the meantime, here is the blurb to wet your whistle:


Blue Bonet, widowed and in mourning, returns to Magnolia Bluff in her home state of Texas. Her grandmother had bequeathed an old lake house to her, and she cherishes childhood memories there. She arrives at the lake and finds the house she remembers as being grand, is now in disrepair.


She tackles the repairs, and is determined to make a new life for herself. It seems like an uphill battle.


A rollercoaster of ups and down conspire to destroy her dream, and she begins to wonder if you really can’t go home again.


That is a good question: can you ever truly go home? I’ve pondered that question myself, and am looking forward to finding out what Blue has to say about it.


Pick up your copy on Amazon!




Here are the first 8 books in the series. They are available on Amazon.


Death Wears a Crimson Hat by CW Hawes

Secrets, gossip, and a murder that could reveal all.


Eulogy in Black and White by Caleb Pirtle III

Death stalks Magnolia Bluff every May 23rd. When will it end?


The Great Peanut Butter Conspiracy by Cindy Davis

Can lyrics from Jimmy Buffet songs help a ghost find justice?


You Won’t Know How… Or When by James R. Callan

Will the confessional give a killer license to kill?


The Flower Enigma by Breakfield & Burkey

What happens when death interrupts the ideal vacation?


The Shine from a Girl in the Lake by Richard Schwindt

A serial killer’s at work. But can a clinical psychologist stop him?


The Dewey Decimal Dilemma by Linda Pirtle

How are poodles, ghosts, drugs, and Ponzi schemes connected with a serial killer — and can he be stopped?


Justice by Kelly Marshall

Is justice possible for one dead Mexican child, a victim of sex trafficking?



Nine marvelous books. Enjoy them today!

Get them from Amazon!


Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!



CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Christmas with the Wrights: What the Readers Say

 


The stories in Christmas with the Wrights started out as gifts to my mailing list. If you want to get in on the fun, click or tap on this link: https://BookHip.com/BMNGDTB


When you do, the link will take you to BookFunnel, where you’ll get a free copy of Vampire House and Other Early Cases of Justinia Wright, PI (a $3.99 value), and join my mailing list. I’d love to see you at the party!


I’ll admit short stories are a hard sell for indie authors. And I don’t know why. They’re perfect for the person on the go.


Our schedules are busy. A short story can fill those odd moments of the day: waiting at the doctor’s office, commuting to work, lunch or coffee breaks. Or any other time when you are in between things.


I love short stories. A well-crafted short can be as satisfying an experience as a novel — only you get that experience of satisfaction faster. And more of them.


Christmas with the Wrights sees Tina and Harry dealing with 3 very different cases.


There’s Cordell Oscar Hellman, a conservative political pundit, who’s recreational morphine use has come to the attention of a vicious blackmailer.


Mrs. Solberg’s dope of a husband is being hoodwinked by the office minx and the Missus doesn’t like that one bit. But what can Tina do about it? She’ll have to get very creative.


Finally, there’s Emil Papenfuss. He’s homeless and a millionaire. Only he doesn’t know he’s millionaire. But Tina has to find him first before she can deliver the good news.


Three cases. Three chances to do a good deed. And with the inducement of three big, fat fees, and Harry’s help, Tina delivers the goods. But not without difficulty. A lot of difficulty.


So what do the readers say about all this? Let’s take a look.


If you like a story with fascinating characters and a good plot, as well as clever dialogue, check this one out.


That is a very satisfying review for an author to receive. Especially since it comes from another writer: Maryann Miller.


Here’s another review:


CW Hawes has done such a marvelous job of creating Justinia & Harry Wright, brother-and-sister sleuth team, that I keep coming back for more. I had just finished reading a story by this author when this Christmas book caught my eye. The characters were still in my head, and I decided to see what good deeds (hopefully) they might be up to during the Christmas season.


This book was as delightful as it promised to be … with three feel-good stories driven by Hawes’s exceptional characters of whom I’ve grown quite fond. The stories were great fun – the last one being my favorite.


Although this book offers Christmas cheer, it’s a great read for any time of the year, and again … just like the other books in this wonderful series.


Such a delightful review.


Fellow mystery writer, Joe Congel had this to say:


I have enjoyed CW Hawes’ Justinia Wright series for a long time, and this short story collection has arrived just in time for the holiday season. If you’ve followed the progression of the series, you’ll be delighted to know that the three stories in this volume have all the fun, mystery, and mayhem that you love in the full-length books. And if you’re new to the world of Minneapolis’ top private sleuth and her equally talented brother, Harry, then you are in for a real treat!


The stories are told through the eyes of Harry, which lends a bit of the whimsical to the narrative as Harry pulls no punches regarding his sister’s down falls as well as why she is the best PI for any client looking for justice in a cruel world. You can feel the love, trust, and admiration between the two characters as Hawes has done a superb job allowing the dialog to show the reader the tight, though somewhat flawed relationship between a brother and sister.


Hawes is a master of his craft, and these three tales pack a lot of surprise and intrigue inside each crisply written mystery. One of the things I like best about this collection is that even though the common thread throughout the book is that it’s the holiday season, these are not stories about Christmas mysteries, but rather good old fashion mysteries that happen to take place during Christmas time. It’s a wonderful blending of a magical time of year and the realization that mystery, bad decisions, and crime do not take a break during the holidays.


Do yourself a favor, and pour a cup of eggnog (spiked if you prefer), get cozy in front of the fireplace, and enjoy some of the best storytelling you’ll find between the pages of a book.


Now that is high praise, indeed — especially coming from a peer, who is no slouch when it comes to spinning an engaging yarn.


Richard Schwindt, another writer, who I think is one of the best storytellers writing today, wrote:


Christmas with the Wrights is the mature Hawes at the top of his form.


Now that comment is the best award I could have ever won.


Enjoy some Christmas cheer. Christmas with the Wrights is available from Amazon and is only 99¢. Which makes it the perfect stocking stuffer for that mystery reader on your list. As well as for yourself!


Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!



CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Christmas with the Wrights




It is no secret that Tina and Harry Wright are my favorite fictional children.


They first appeared in my life way back in 1982. It took 32 years for them to find their way out into the world.


Doing so first in Festival of Death, and then in Trio in Death-Sharp Minor.


To date, there are 22 investigative adventures featuring Tina and Harry. Over half of my total published output. Yes, indeed, my favorite children.


Christmas with the Wrights, which I published last year, is a collection of 2 novelettes and a short story, which I originally gave to my mailing list as Christmas presents.


The stories are delightful and suspense-filled tales that intertwine a good mystery with a bit of holiday cheer.


The book is only 99¢, which is a good deal for the the holidays. The perfect stocking stuffer. The book is available at Amazon.


Even more than the royalties, actually much more than the royalties, I love to get positive feedback from my readers. That can be in the form of reviews, emails, tweets, or Facebook posts.


That feedback lets me know I’m achieving my goal of giving good-value entertainment, making the reader’s life just a little bit better.


GP Gadbois posted the following review on Amazon:


CW Hawes captivated my attention with realistic plots. From the process in which Tina and Harry Wright choose a case right up until it’s solved. Every detail matters. The interaction between brother and sister, and all the other characters is also delightful. A great read.


Bri had this to say:


I enjoyed all three stories which were told by Harry, Justinia’s brother. His storytelling, the characters, and the jumbles they get themselves into made for a few laughs. 


I love these characters. The author has done a great job of bringing them to life in the stories, along with the setting. I felt the cold. The second story had me wondering how in the world Justinia was going to solve the case. 


The stories are quick, enjoyable reads. I highly recommend sitting down with Justinia and Harry at the little mansion on West Franklin in the Minneapple while she has a cigar and a glass of Madeira, and he plays online chess, and they work through the case and a bit of sibling rivalry. Justinia keeps secrets. :)


I laughed when I read the next review by night owl, but also felt good because they had a satisfying experience reading a short-form mystery.


I didn’t think he could do it.


When I heard this was an anthology of Justinia Wright stories, I didn’t believe the author could pull off the feat. After all, the other stories were full-length books. To take detective plots and fit them into a smaller format... I was wrong.

Nuff said?


Want some feel-good holiday cheer? Need a stocking stuffer for the mystery reader in your life? You can get it — for only 99¢ on Amazon.


Christmas with the Wrights. Not like any Christmas you’ve ever experienced.


Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!



CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes