A Whale of a Murder

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About A Whale of a Murder

Title: A Whale of a Murder

Written by: Valerie Taylor

Publisher: Aspetuck Publishing

Pub Day: April 23, 2024

Find it: Amazon and Goodreads

While sea breezes fill the air in this peaceful and historic whaling town, Venus is counting on Fourth of July weekend festivities to propel her to a position on the Town Committee. After years of living in the shadow of her late husband, Venus will be the center of attention: starting with her fiftieth birthday celebration and ending as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

Faster than a cookie crumbles, her dream collapses on the morning of her party when she trips over orange platform shoes in the gardens of the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum and breaks her thumb. When the shoes are attached to the body of the manager of the museum’s gift shop, Venus becomes both a suspect and a sleuth in Chatham Crossing’s first murder in decades.

Given this unexpected turn of events, will Venus ever sing and dance at her birthday party, or will her fractured thumb end up in handcuffs?

About The Author

Valerie Taylor is the award-winning author of the romantic comedy trilogy: What’s Not SAID, What’s Not TRUE, and What’s Not LOST. Encouraged by her readers, she has now created a new cozy mystery series, spinning one of the secondary characters in What’s Not LOST into the role of amateur sleuth in A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery.

When she’s not writing or reading, Valerie enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator. She now resides in Shelton, CT, returning there after enjoying some of the best years of her life in Boston and Seattle. Valerie Taylor is a member of the Westport Writer’s Workshop, the Independent Book Publisher’s Association, the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association, the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Sisters in Crime.

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Praise for A Whale of a Murder

“A delightful mystery that has an idyllic setting, humorous dialogue, and plenty of surprises!”

“The formatting has a unique structure … that helps to further the mystery.”

“The very definition of a cozy mystery … a fun, frothy story.”

“The romance within the story … adds to the depth and color of the novel.” – Readers’ Favorite 5-star reviews

“Endearing characters and a fast-moving, witty plot make this an enjoyable read.” – Melissa Norton Carro, author of Mt. Moriah’s Wake

“Perfect to read on the beach in summer or by the fireplace in winter, or actually anytime…” – Deborah K. Shepherd, author of So Happy Together

My Thoughts

A perfect cozy mystery with a murder, a birthday party, and all kinds of crazy. Venus is the owner of the Oldies & Goodies music store and she’s celebrating her 50th birthday! At the venue, Venus stumbles (literally) over a dead body, and soon a valuable item is discovered missing. The guest list of memorable characters now becomes the suspect list and Venus is at the top.

Not one to sit on her thumb (pun intended), she and her sister begin investigating. The Fourth of July festivities aren’t the only thing causing a bang. This was a fun read, one that held my attention while staying light. Recommended.