A Field Guide To Murder by Michelle L. Cullen
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!
Don’t miss any ITW Debut Author interviews! Click the link here.
A Field Guide to Murder
A cranky widower and his spirited caregiver team up to solve his neighbor’s murder in this charming and original mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson.
Once a globe-trotting anthropologist, Harry Lancaster is now certain that all his grand adventures are behind him. Recently widowed and suffering from a fractured hip, Harry spends his days and nights behind a pair of binoculars, nose-deep in his neighbors’ affairs. His millennial caregiver, Emma, is determined to get him out of his armchair and back into the world.
Fate intervenes when Harry’s mysterious neighbor, Sue, phones, pleading for help. But instead of rescuing her, Harry and Emma find Sue dead: poisoned, days after a break-in at Sue’s house. Harry resolves to find out what happened, and Emma insists on going along for the ride. Together, they discover motives and suspects abound in Harry’s quaint condominium community—putting them both in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded killer.
Readers of Kristen Perrin and Deanna Raybourn will be charmed by this quirky, cross-generational murder mystery.
To purchase a copy of A Field Guide to Murder, click the following link to access all your favorite outlets! Penguin Random House.
A Field Guide to Murder Author Interview
A Field Guide to Murder is a terrific title. The novel promises a cranky widower and his spirited caretaker team to solve a murder. How did you come up with the characters and concept for your debut cozy?
My mom resisted the idea of downsizing to a condominium for years, stating that she valued her privacy and didn’t want other people sticking their noses in her business. So imagine my surprise when I went to visit her after she moved into a patio home community and she happened to see someone outside walking their dog, then proceeded to run from window to window to confirm the identity of both the person and the dog.
With that, the idea for Harry was born, which I then wed with my background as an anthropologist. My other main character, Emma, is reminiscent of my early days, when I struggled to find my own path.
A Field Guide to Murder centers on Harry Lancaster, who shares a career and education with you. What similarities and differences are there for you and Harry in your experiences?
While Harry and I both have PhDs and have worked as anthropologists on aid projects around the world, Harry’s linguistic skills fully eclipse mine. He speaks eight languages fluently. I speak two, and the second is rusty and at times mangled. I envy his linguistic abilities!
Some of the situations he recalls in the book, however, are based on my experiences during my travels and the emotions certain places evoked. They say to write what you know, and I took that advice to heart.
A Field Guide to Murder is called witty, charming, and delightful. What drew you to writing a cozy for your debut novel?
When I started writing A Field Guide to Murder, my goal was to write a book that readers would want to hug at its end. I wanted to provide a lighthearted escape that would make readers miss the main characters, feel a sense of belonging, and grow curious about different perspectives.
What has been the biggest surprise for you, leading up to the launch of your debut, A Field Guide to Murder?
The number of times that I’ve had to edit—and the number of times that I’ve found mistakes despite all those edits—has really surprised me. Even after numerous passes from numerous people, I’ve found mistakes.
What has not surprised me is the support I’ve received from the mystery writing community: from fellow authors encouraging me when things seemed bleak, to giving much-needed advice, to providing book blurbs, to helping promote my book and book events. For it all, I am grateful!
You are a daredevil! Tell us about one of your most exciting adventures!
One of my most memorable days was spent hiking up an active volcano in Guatemala.
At the time, bandit attacks were frequent on tourist groups, so our three guides were armed with AK-47s. The hike was steep and long, and while I watched the scenery as we climbed, my focus was on getting to the top in anticipation of the amazing views. But once we summitted, the volcano was spewing smoke, obscuring everything around us, and wild dogs were everywhere so it was impossible to eat the lunch I had packed.
While disappointing, I learned an important lesson: enjoy the views along the way, because the destination may not be what you think it is.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the process of completing copy edits for the next Harry and Emma novel, A Field Guide to Death and Deceit, which is set to publish on September 15, 2026. And as soon as those edits are in, I’ll begin drafting book three in hopes of another dose of murder and mayhem to add to this series.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
The best advice I received was to go to writing conferences and join writers’ groups, like Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Writing can be a lonely journey, and it is certainly a complicated one. Yet, it is made much easier and more enjoyable when you’re able to connect with other people who also love to put pen to page, hone their craft, and, of course, read.
Lastly, I include Author Pet Corner on posts. If you have any animals in your life, I’d love to include them … Which brings us to the the first Author Non-Pet Corner!
While I don’t have any pets, I was on a walk with a friend the day before Thanksgiving last year when two large dogs playing rough kneecapped me, flipping me and fracturing my tibia plateau—making reality start to follow fiction.
My main character, Harry, fractures his hip and needs a caregiver to get by, after which a neighborhood murder ensues. While I haven’t needed a caregiver, I have relied upon help from family and friends to get by.
Thankfully, I’m nearly back to using two feet, and all my neighbors are alive and well.
A Field Guide to Murder Author Michelle L. Cullen
Michelle L. Cullen has lived and traveled all over the world: from working as a (decent if powered by enough espresso) bilingual secretary in Paris to backpacking around Europe, Central America, and Southern Africa, to helping to rebuild communities after war throughout Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. She studied anthropology at Melbourne University in Australia and sociology at the London School of Economics in England.
She currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where she’s busy doing yoga, playing outside, or plotting murder. She’s a proud member of SinC, ITW, MWA, and The Authors Guild.
To learn more about Michelle, click any of the following links: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Website.
Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
Header image from Pixabay.
