Muddled Matrimonial Murder, (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series) by Kim Davis
Book & Author Info + Character Interview + Giveaway & Author Pet Corner!
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Muddled Matrimonial Murder
With only two weeks left to finalize the nuptial ceremony and reception for her best friend, Brad, and a Thanksgiving feast to plan, Emory Martinez has enough to keep her busy. But when Emory and Brad stumble across the body of his former stalker, with a wedding gift marble muddler lying next to the body, it soon becomes apparent someone is intent on framing the groom before vows can be exchanged.
How did the victim locate Brad and how did she end up murdered at the scene of the impending nuptials? Was someone so desperate to stop the wedding that they’d resort to murder? Or was she killed for revenge? As the countdown to the wedding speeds by, it’ll take Emory and her family and friends to pull together to pick through the muddled clues to clear the groom’s name.
Includes recipes.
Muddled Matrimonial Murder (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – California
Cinnamon & Sugar Press (June 13, 2023)
Number of Pages: approx. 300
Digital ASIN : B0C1THMWZJ
To purchase Muddled Matrimonial Murder, click on the following link: Amazon
Interview with Emory Martinez, Lead Character of Muddled Matrimonial Murder
Tell us about your best friend Brad, who figures prominently in your latest outing:
Brad and I met in high school and instantly became best friends. We were—and probably still are—a bit geeky. What started our bond is both of our dads had abandoned us when we were young and our teen angst gave us a deeper connection and understanding of each other.
Unfortunately, my mother didn’t care for Brad, so once he moved to San Francisco for college, she destroyed any letters he sent me. I’m embarrassed to say that I’d become infatuated with a local policeman, and didn’t try to keep in touch with Brad either. It took ten years after graduation for us to connect again, right as my marriage to that policeman imploded.
After college, Brad became a successful video game developer and moved his business back to Orange County, California to be closer to his family and reconnect with me. Brad also met a wonderful man, Detective Gabe O’Neill, and my first introduction to him was when he had to investigate a murder that happened during a Halloween party I was hosting. Things got a bit rocky between us when he arrested me. Flash forward a couple of years and Brad and Gabe are now looking forward to their nuptials… that is if we can prove they didn’t murder a stalker from Brad’s past.
When you aren’t solving crimes, you’re baking cupcakes. Tell us about your catering career:
My sister owns a catering company, Pacific Palates Catering and when my then police officer husband worked graveyard and weekend shifts, I’d help her out by making desserts and cupcakes. While I’m an accountant by trade, I’d always dreamed of being a full-time baker and opening a cupcake bakery. But then my marriage ended and I was left with a massive pile of debts, on top of losing my accounting job, and my home.
Fortunately, my mother pulled some strings and found me a job and a new place to live, cooking for and looking after octogenarian, Tillie Skyler. It was Tillie who suggested I start a cupcake catering company since I couldn’t, and still can’t, afford a storefront. Word of mouth has spread and I’m kept quite busy baking cupcakes and delivering now. What I like about it, instead of owning a bakery, is that it gives me flexibility to investigate crimes and do some snooping instead of being stuck at work, or feel guilting about making an employee work long hours while I’m chasing killers.
We’ve met you in a few other titles, what have you learned about sleuthing that you didn’t know in the beginning?
When I got involved in the first murder I came across—the victim was my ex-best friend and there were several witnesses to a brawl we’d had—I was tentative and shy about asking questions. I had doubts about my ability and intelligence to figure out who really killed her. I had a serious lack of self-confidence going on, thanks to the subtle and not-so-subtle emotional abuse my ex-husband had put me through.
I’ve found that most people like to talk, especially if you come bearing a box of cupcakes or cookies. Plus, my close group of friends and family are ready to pitch in with the investigations so I don’t have to feel like I have to go it alone. There’s a lot of comfort knowing they all have my back.
What would you like us to know about your author?
Well… I don’t know if I should dish on her too much. Who knows what she might put me through in the future! She’s kind of a lazy writer, to be honest, and needs extra motivation to get the words down. It’s humorous watching her decide drawers need cleaned out and organized on the days she’d planned on writing. Or, somehow, there are several loads of laundry that needs to be done even though it’s not laundry day. What motivates her, you might ask? Chocolate is her favorite daytime motivator, and if she’s had a truly productive day and manages to write several chapters (which can take her 8+ hours), she’ll reward herself with some champagne. She always has an excuse of why the cork needs to be popped to celebrate the smallest of achievements! And a tip for those of you who are champagne drinkers: Trader Joe’s makes a delicious half bottle of champagne that’s not terribly expensive for those motivating occasions.
What are you up to next?
My author has been craving some chocolate and is eyeing a chocolate-themed Valentine’s mystery. I can tell because of all the Pinterest recipes she’s been browsing through. Who knows what antics Tillie and I will be getting into since my author never plots anything out ahead of time. It’s always a surprise to us, as well as to her, what happens on the pages. However, I’m a bit jealous she’s been spending time with other characters recently, writing a new book that doesn’t include me, so I’m not sure when it’ll be my turn again.
What advice do you have for characters when their authors aren’t listening to them?
Haunt their dreams and interrupt their sleep!
Anything else you’d like us to know?
I appreciate the opportunity to share some insights into my author’s life! Thanks for stopping by and letting me chat with you!
Author Pet Corner
Here are photos of Piper and Missy, both who appear on my covers. Piper is my granddaughters’ dog.
Back when I began writing the first book, Sprinkles of Suspicion, my then 11-year-old granddaughter begged for me to use Piper as the dog in the story.
My amazing cover designer, Karen Phillips, was able to use a photo of Piper.
A few years later, I adopted Missy, a mini Goldendoodle. Naturally she had to share the cover with Piper and appear on the pages.
The funny thing is, when they first appeared together on Frosted Yuletide Murder, Missy was much smaller than Piper, so the size difference is fairly accurate.
Now that Missy is two years old, she practically towers over Piper. But to make things less complicated, I decided to leave the original dog photos as is for all the covers and to keep them consistent.
Kim Davis, author of Muddled Matrimonial Murder
Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband.
When she’s not chasing her puppy or spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats.
She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, the Cupcake Catering Mystery series, and the Aromatherapy Mystery series.
She also has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines.
Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
To learn more about Kim, click on any of the following links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, BookBub, Pinterest.
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Visit all the Stops on the Tour!
June 12 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
June 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 12 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT
June 13 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 13 – Indie Author Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 13 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 14 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 14 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
June 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 15 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
June 15 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
June 16 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
June 16 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
June 18 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
June 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.
Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator
Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery
The Foundation of Plot, a Wait, Wait, Don’t Query (Yet!) guidebook.
Thanks so much for hosting Emory today, Elena! She had a blast dishing on me 🙂 And I appreciate the opportunity to share my new release with your readers!
So great to have Emory visit! Congratulations on your latest release.