Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mysteries
by Chris Abernathy
About CSI: Cat Sleuth Investigation
CSI: Cat Sleuth Investigation: A Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery
by Chris Abernathy
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Florida
Wright on the Mark, LLC (June 20, 2023)
Paperback : 170 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8398356731
Digital ASIN : B0C4M4RYFM
A cat who thinks he’s a detective. A group of amateur female sleuths in a quiet beach town. A dead man. It’s a recipe for fun – unless you’re the local police chief.
There are worse ways to go than sitting on a beach chair in Paradise Cove with a refreshing drink in your hand. But who wanted the victim dead? Detective Whiskers will need all his new friends to solve the case, but do they even want to talk to him after solving his first murder has gone to his head?
Sheila’s grandson comes to visit Paradise Cove and love is in the air, along with too much body spray, when young Freddy meets Susi the housecleaner. He might regret staying in town, though, when the murder investigation turns in his direction.
The Paradise Cove Murder Society and Detective Whiskers are on the case … and getting in Chief Anderson’s way again.
If you love humorous cozy mysteries where pets take the lead and eccentric friends come together to solve crimes with just the right amount of suspense then the Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series is exactly what you’re looking for. Buy CSI: Cat Sleuth Investigation now and find out why the only thing better than a K-9 cop is a feline detective!
About Miami Mice
Miami Mice: A Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery
by Chris Abernathy
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Florida
Wright on the Mark, LLC. (July 18, 2023)
Paperback : 202 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8852554123
Digital ASIN : B0C52LVYQG
A cat who thinks he’s a detective. Some amateur female sleuths. A fisherman hooks a dead body in the water.
A pair of stowaway mice find themselves stranded at Sheila Mason’s cottage when the boat they are on sinks. They may be forced to go into the Whiskers Protection Program once it is discovered that the boat was carrying a shipment of illegal drugs. Can Detective Whiskers keep his witnesses safe and stop a dangerous cartel from destroying life in Paradise Cove?
Sheila and her friends in the Paradise Cove Murder Society are also busy investigating a suspicious stranger who showed up in town at the same time. Is he responsible for the body discovered on the beach?
If you love humorous cozy mysteries where pets take the lead and eccentric friends come together to solve crimes with just the right amount of suspense then the Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series is exactly what you’re looking for. Buy Miami Mice now and find out why the only thing better than a K-9 cop is a feline detective!
About Purrder, She Wrote
Purrder, She Wrote: A Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Florida
Wright on the Mark, LLC (September 12, 2023)
Print length : ~204 pages
Digital ASIN : B0CBT5V6ZZ
GoodReads Link – Coming Soon
Who would be crazy enough to commit murder while surrounded by dozens of crime mystery writers?
The evidence clearly points to one suspect. The problem is, there’s no way they could have done it.
Our cat detective and the Paradise Cove Mystery Society face an old foe in the fourth installment of the Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series. The stakes have never been higher and the mystery has never been stranger.
If you love humorous cozy mysteries where pets take the lead and eccentric friends come together to solve crimes with just the right amount of suspense then the Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series is exactly what you’re looking for. Buy Purrder, She Wrote now and find out why the only thing better than a K-9 cop is a feline detective!
About Chris Abernathy
Chris Abernathy has narrated more than 200 audiobooks and now he is writing his own stories. He has been a storyteller his entire life — around campfires at a summer camp as a counselor, on the radio for more than 30 years, as an actor with background roles on major motion pictures and TV series, as a producer of short films for social media and more. Chris is married with two sons and lives on the Gulf Coast in Alabama. He is a dual national with citizenship in the US and UK and visits family in the Scottish Highlands as often as possible.
INTERVIEW
Name: Chris Abernathy
State and City or Country and City where you live:
Alabama, Spanish Fort
How long have you been published? What titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher? Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.
I published my first book in 2016 but that was just a short non-fiction book. In 2022 I released a couple of books under a pen name (Chris Wright). The Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series is my first series in the Cozy Mystery genre and book one was released in May of this year.
Tell us a little bit about your books — if you write a series, any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress. If you have an upcoming release, please specify the release date.
By the time this interview is published I will have released my fourth book in this series, Purrder, She Wrote (Sep 12). Book 5 is scheduled for release October 31st. The series is about a cat and his human who move to the beach and start a new chapter in their lives. Whiskers had been helping Sheila’s detective husband with his cases (he even has a small police badge on his collar) and now he’s investigating on his own. Sheila is also investigating with the help of her new friends who call themselves the Paradise Cove Murder Society.
Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?
My goal as a writer is simply to bring my stories to life and bring a little joy into the lives of readers. I hope that I can sell enough books to focus on the writing full time and get as many books as possible to as many readers as possible. I don’t want to be retired but I do want the freedom to work from wherever my wife and I choose to be and writing allows me to do that.
What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?
The readers I have in mind are people who want to believe there is lots of good in the world. It may seem strange since each of my books begins with someone getting murdered but it provides an opportunity for the characters to help each other. I try to provide inspiration for anyone who feels like they are trapped by their daily lives. There is good around you and good within you and it’s never too late to explore new adventures.
What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?
You don’t need anyone else’s approval. Today, anyone who is willing to sit down and write a story can publish it. Finding your readers is usually the hardest part so keep in mind who you think your readers might be and explore how you will reach them while you are creating your books so that you can make sure your story will match your marketing. Then just write it and get it out there.
What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?
My biggest struggle was just convincing myself that my dream was attainable. I had lots of people depending on me and felt that I had to stay focused on work that was more traditional. When I spent a weeklong vacation writing and loved doing it I knew that I needed to pursue it and make it happen.
Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?
Not really. I’m in a few groups on Facebook but the only one I’m really active in is 20BooksTo50K which is more about the business end of writing. I’ll be moderating a panel at their conference in Las Vegas in November.
What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?
I love traveling and soccer. Earlier this year I got to combine the two by taking my son to the Scottish Cup Final in Glasgow. That was an amazing experience! We recently bought a boat and have enjoyed cruising around the Gulf Coast and finding beaches that we can enjoy all to ourselves.
What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?
The toughest challenge is avoiding distractions. My wife has an office job and it’s very tempting to ask me to do anything that needs be done at the house since I’m here all the time. I do take care of a lot of chores (she still does plenty as well) but I have to make sure I set aside plenty of time for writing and all the other things required to get books into readers’ hands.
The best thing about writing is the freedom to create whatever I want. If I think the world needs more love and kindness, I can write characters who are loving and kind. The thing I like least about being an author is the self doubt. I’ve gotten great reviews on my books but I still find myself wondering if anybody really wants to read what I write.
What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?
Cozy mysteries are great because they make you laugh. And, believe me, if you’re laughing when you read it, I was laughing when I wrote it. We all need more laughter in our lives.
Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?
Preview of Purrder, She Wrote
Chapter One
“After I killed him, I encased his body in bronze and displayed it as a statue outside his favorite football team’s stadium.”
The young man speaking in the crowded lobby of the Parrot Eyes Inn wore a self-congratulatory smile to match his flashy clothes and seemed briefly lost in his imagination.
His audience was an attractive young woman and a senior gentleman wearing an old fishing hat like the one made famous by Ernest Hemingway. They laughed, drawing looks from a few individuals pulling suitcases. Paradise Cove hadn’t had this many visitors since the summer beach season ended several weeks before.
“And you, Isabella?”
The man who had made the confession clasped his hands to his chest and waited eagerly for an answer.
“My first?”
“Yes.”
“I pushed him off the roof of an abandoned warehouse then put a parachute on his body and rolled it out of an airplane over Yellowstone. Some hikers saw the body fall so it was discovered quickly, but by the time they realized he had died elsewhere, the crime scene was cleaned up.”
The gentleman in the hat let out an appreciative “oooooh” as the younger man typed a note into his phone.
Isabella pointed a finger at the phone. “Don’t copycat me, Max, or you’ll be my next!”
My fur bristled at the term “copycat.” As if cats were prone to copying what humans do. Ridiculous. We couldn’t care less what humans do other than feed us and clean our litter boxes, unless it’s our job to care. Which in my case, it is. I’m a detective. Detective Whiskers.
The inaccurate and inconsiderate word, of course, wasn’t my main concern. First and foremost was the casual discussion of killing people.
As a cat, I was used to hearing humans confess things that they wouldn’t normally say in front of strangers. It was one of my greatest advantages as a detective, along with my feline sense of smell and being so close to clues on the ground. Clues that taller detectives often overlooked. But I had never overheard such casual talk about murders. If I had the ability to talk to humans, I would have made a quick exit and returned with Chief Anderson. Instead, I turned away to hide the police badge dangling from my collar. A floor-to-ceiling mirror allowed me to watch from behind a plastic palm tree as the older man glanced around conspiratorially. He spoke in a soft voice with a distinguished English accent.
“My first victim … “
Isabella interrupted. “Was shot with a poison dart from a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans. I remember that one!”
The man shook his head. “That’s what everybody _thinks_ but it wasn’t my first.” He leaned in and softened his voice even more, pulling his hat an inch lower and squinting his eyes. “The poor man was killed at high noon in a gun duel with an alien pretending to be a cowboy.”
Max stepped backward and stared. The woman grimaced.
“And now you know why I changed my name to Victor Bloodworth – so no one unfortunate enough to read that book would know that I wrote it!”
Victor tipped his hat and made his exit, walking into the hallway past a sign that read “Welcome Murder Mystery Writers.” He turned back to his laughing audience and added, “Should you ever stumble upon one of the very few copies in existence, I’ll gladly pay you £50,000 and open my oldest bottle of Scotch while we burn it!”
The black and white fur on my back, which had been standing straight up, fell back into place. I breathed out a long sigh. For one of very few times in my life, I appreciated my inability to speak to humans. And I was extremely grateful that Kojak, my K-9 officer friend, wasn’t nearby. He would have never stopped teasing me. I shamefully walked away from the mirror so that I could no longer see my badge reflecting at me and zig-zagged my way between legs to check on my human, Sheila, who was standing behind the long, wooden reception desk.
Evelyn, the elderly owner of the Inn, came out of her office holding a screwdriver. “I’ll be right back, Sheila. Thanks again for getting everybody checked in. You’re the best friend in the whole world!” She rushed toward the elevator where a man was growing agitated as he repeatedly pressed the UP button. “Kevin! Put those bags down and help me get the elevator working again.”
I had to dodge quickly as a familiar figure placed a set of luggage where I had been standing by the desk. A few guests had gathered behind the button-pusher. They looked at each other warily and walked to the stairwell. One severely obese man in a bright Hawaiian shirt spoke loudly. “You won’t catch me getting on that thing!”
“That’s a relief,” a man still waiting at the elevator joked, drawing laughter from most of the group.
As Kevin reached the elevator I spotted a bulge at the bottom of his pants leg near his left ankle — low and hardly noticeable for people, but right at eye level for a cat. It surprised me that Evelyn had agreed to let him stay with her during his house arrest. Having him interact with guests may have been an even bigger mistake. Even if he behaved perfectly, at least one observant human was bound to see what I had seen and the gossip would start.
“Isabella Nightshade! You’ve got some nerve showing up here.”
In the center of the lobby, a conservatively-dressed woman held her nose high in the air and averted her gaze as she passed Isabella and Max. Max called out in defense of his companion.
“You’re just jealous, Buffy! Maybe one day your rich daddy will buy you a best-seller.”
Isabella, smiling and relaxed moments ago, had begun shaking. She covered her face with her hands.
“Hey, don’t let them get to you,” Max told her. “Winning is winning. I don’t even care if the rumors are true. You hit #1 on the Times, and that advance you got paid for your next book? Boom! You can laugh all the way to the bank.”
Isabella pulled mascara-covered hands away from her face and glared at Max.
“C’mon,” he continued. “You’re making the most of your new fame and fortune, aren’t you? From what I see, you’ve hired a personal trainer. That tight skirt is looking good on you. It would look even better on my … “
The whole lobby heard Isabella’s hand slap against Max’s cheek. Most gawked as she walked off in a huff. Max stared at her skirt and smirked.
Victor Bloodworth, oblivious to the drama or refusing to acknowledge it, passed Isabella heading in the opposite direction. He had re-entered the lobby and walked purposefully to the reception desk where Sheila was helping someone check in.
Victor moved beside the other guest, tipping his hat, and interrupted as politely as possible. “Excuse me. May I have a word?”
Apologizing to the woman checking in, Sheila allowed Victor to lead her down the desk to a quiet corner.
I was curious so I padded across the stained and worn carpet floor. I know. Curiosity killed the cat. But you can’t exactly be a world-class detective without it, can you?
“I don’t want to cause this hotel any more problems than it already has, but an extremely important item has gone missing and I need it back. Urgently.”
“But you just checked in. Are you sure it’s at the Inn?”
Victor took a deep breath before replying slowly to make himself very clear. “I am not one to throw out idle accusations. My bags were taken to my room and when I opened them, a vital item was missing. If it is not returned to me by 10:00 tonight then I will be forced to go to the police which, I suspect, will put an end to the limited freedom being enjoyed by the man wearing an ankle monitor. Yes, I noticed it when he walked away with my bags. Please don’t make me regret my hasty decision to avoid causing a scene. The proprietor of this once-beautiful Inn seems like a lovely woman. She also bears a strong resemblance to the man in question. While it is honorable that she is giving her son a second chance, let us hope that he, also, can find some honor within himself before it is too late.”
With that, Victor smiled and tipped his hat again to the waiting guest as he walked back toward the hallway.
As a detective, I was impressed by his observational skills and powers of deduction. It made me want to read his books. Preferably on an electronic device. Turning pages with furry paws isn’t easy and Sheila gets upset when I use my claws to punch holes in the paper. But we cats are a skeptical bunch and I did not share Victor’s optimism that Kevin might discover some personal code of honor. He had passed up too many opportunities before.
Sheila rushed back behind the reception desk, apologizing to the woman waiting there. Her face had drained of color as she glanced at Evelyn and Kevin.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?
I hope that readers feel free to reach out through my website or social media and tell me what they enjoy about my books. We all find things we don’t like and that’s fine.But when we find something we like it’s important to tell someone – hey, I like that. That’s how they know to give us more of it. I try to remember to do that in all of my relationships and it can be just as powerful in the relationship between readers and writers.
Please list your social media links, website, blog, etc.
My website is www.AuthorChrisAbernathy.com
I am most active on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorchrisabernathy
Author Links
Webpage – http://authorchrisabernathy.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorchrisabernathy/
Amazon author profile – https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chris-Abernathy/author/B07YLJPKNQ
Newsletter signup – https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/a7s6c0
Purchase Link – Amazon
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
September 12 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
September 12 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
September 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
September 13 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
September 14 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 14 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
September 15 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW
September 15 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 15 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
September 16 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
September 16 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
September 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 17 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
September 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 18 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
September 19 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW
September 20 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 20 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
September 22 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
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*Note: This book was an advanced reader’s copy from Net Galley. It will be published on October 17, 2023, and is available for pre-order on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Unmaking-June-Farrow-Novel-ebook/dp/B0BP67CX8Y
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Ruff Drafts 