Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower is another winner. She combines an eccentric senior citizen with a tree climbing cat, a private investigator, and an Army veteran that make for a fun-loving yet captivating mystery.
The story begins by introducing Darby Piper and her older friend and mentor, Samantha Porter, partners in the Two Girls Detective Agency in Herrington, N.Y. After Samantha tells Darby she is considering selling the agency and accepting an offer to be head of security at Lake Waters Retreat, a luxury resort, she is killed. Her car is forced off the road, with Darby becoming a prime suspect. Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew, who returns to town. Tate is a world traveler and a veteran whose military past is also something of a mystery. To make matter worse, Darby’s former boyfriend, police detective Austin Caster suspects that Darby might be a prime person of interest. Although Tate and Darby are suspicious of each other they agree to work together to find Samantha’s killer. Racing against time, they must find the killer before Darby is arrested.
Mixed with humor, suspense, and a gripping story, this is a home run. Readers will have to wait possibly a whole year before the next installment, but thankfully they can read Flower’s other series coming out soon. Since this novel is part of Hallmark publishing, people can hope that it will be picked up by the Hallmark Channel.
Elise Cooper: Why write for Hallmark?
Amanda Flower: They approached my agent because they were expanding their cozy mysteries. I was her main cozy client, so she pitched me to them. They were looking for a sweet version of the TV show, “Moonlighting,” with a male and female private investigators and a humorous mystery. I remember seeing it as a child because my mom liked it and watched it a lot. To refresh my memory I went on You-tube and watched the old shows.
EC: Did you write Darby different than your other series characters?
AF: Darby is a professional so I did not have to think of a scenario of why the average candy maker or match-maker would be snooping around. This makes it easier even if this story is in the cozy lane.
EC: In all of your books you have a great interaction between the characters?
AF: The banter in all my books is very similar. It is one of my favorite things to write. Those who I am close to do see how I tease. I think it is an attractive quality to be able to come up with a quick come back. My fiancé has a great wit and does it better than me.
EC: How would you describe Darby?
AF: Tough, petite, loyal, driven, goal-oriented, and distrustful. She questions everyone and everything, since she has been a PI for over ten years.
EC: How would you describe Tate?
AF: Fun-loving, straight-forward, athletic, confident, relaxed, and has his own coping mechanism. He has a cool guy veneer. Because he has seen some pretty hard things in his past he puts on a façade. If the series continues people will see a lot more of his past as he comes to grips with it.
EC: In the book you have qualities and interests of the characters. Is any of that you?
AF: I do not climb trees like Darby. She runs three miles every day and I do it every week. I do eat what Darby eats, orange scones and chocolate milk. I definitely have a sweet tooth.
EC: Can you give a heads up about your next book?
AF: It will come out in December and is titled, Courting Can Be Killer, the second in the Amish Matchmaker series. The plot has a fire at an Amish flea market, and someone dies. I will also have a novella coming out, Candy Lane Crime. It is a sweet Christmas story.
EC: THANK YOU!!
