Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery
by Gerri Lewis
About Grave Words
Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
Publication date : June 10, 2025
Print length : 336 pages
Hardcover ISBN-13 : 979-8892421133
Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8892422482
Kindle ASIN : B0DGPF9R8P
Audiobook ASIN B0F97G3PP3
Winter Snow has had it! With her business in a death drought, her best friend Scoop implicated in a string of arsons, and an obituary listing Winter herself as deceased, her life is heating up. But just as she’s trying to cool things down, she receives her newest assignment: an obituary for Chester, a homeless man found in a burning building.
Promising the local funeral home manager that she will have the obituary by the deadline, Winter is stonewalled at every turn, failing to discover Chester’s last name, or where he came from. When it is discovered that Chester was murdered and that the fire was set to cover it up, all fingers immediately point to Scoop. Not only is Scoop a person of interest in the arsons, he was also the last person to see Chester alive.
As more nails are pounded into Scoop’s coffin, Winter’s uncle Richard hopes to help by inviting the notorious town gossips, The Nosy Parkers, to a neighborhood food fest. Unfortunately, the breadcrumbs they toss set murder in motion.
More determined than ever, Winter must figure out the twists and turns of the case to clear Scoop’s name, putting her on a deadly deadline to solve the murder and avoid meeting the same grave consequences.
AUTHOR GUEST POST
BOOK CLUB DIARIES
BY GERRI LEWIS
There are twenty-two people I do not want to read my books. They belong to a library group in my hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut called “Murder by the Book. ” For one hour a month, this book club discusses mysteries and thrillers. I am a member as a participant only. Unless specifically asked, I don’t offer my “author” point of view, and I definitely don’t offer up my books to read.
A pretty young librarian named Kelly-Ann starts each session with solid reviews from places like Library Journal, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and Goodreads. She then dives into the writer’s background—why that topic, genre, what else have they written? This is my favorite part of the discussion because it often evokes that aha moment where we understand the book and the author better.
After her overview, by a show of hands we’re asked who liked the story. And that’s where my nightmares start. Usually, but not always, most enjoy the book. But that doesn’t keep them from shredding, tearing and dissecting every single plot twist, red herring or character trait. Destination mysteries get particularly critical scrutiny in this well-travelled crowd. I don’t think we’ve read a mystery set in one location that someone in the room hasn’t either lived in or visited.
And don’t get me started on clues. I don’t know how she does it, but one woman I’ll call Jane is particularly keen when it comes to solving the crime. Jane picks up every tiny hint, can immediately identify the red herrings and always guesses the murderer. The rest of us miss a lot and when she points things out, we are suddenly outraged.
Not fair, cry out some of the members. The clues were stuck in like an afterthought.
I’ve been a guest speaker at a lot of book clubs. When sitting face to face, members are rarely critical, and I’ve been spoiled with easy process-related questions. That is until a recent Zoom. The mid-western group let me know up front, they only read the first book in a series. They had their own Jane, who rarely missed a clue and almost always knew who-done-it. My stomach was doing backflips as they discussed The Last Word as if I wasn’t there.
Fortunately, their comments were mostly kind. Even Jane hadn’t figured out the twist that came at the end and while they picked on some of my characters, they also decided to break their fast rule of reading only one in a series. Their only complaint—my fictional town sounded a little too good to be true. Before I could jump in, one member piped up that she had researched it and yes, Ridgefield was in fact a real town in Connecticut. Now they all want to visit.
When I critique, I tend to think of being face to face with the author. And, I almost always find something to like in every book because I know how hard it is to write one. All parts of the mystery must fall into place gradually so that the ending makes sense. The characters have to stay—in character. And scoring a book deal these days feels like winning the lottery for someone breaking in. So yes, I almost always find something positive about every book I read.
However, put me in the room with my fellow Murder by the Book members and I find myself nodding my head up and down like a bobble doll—suddenly baring my fangs as I tear into the flesh of the who-done-it. Who gets away with killing the main character? Why set the book in Paris and not even mention the Eiffel Tower or any of the sights that make the city special. Who drowns their ex because he wants you to give him royalties on a book you haven’t even written yet?
At home I write down what I learn from my book club in hopes of making my own mysteries better—and then I pray that none of the twenty-two members decide to Murder My Book!
BOOK CLUB TAKEAWAYS:
- Pay close attention to the bad guys: In my book Grave Words, one reader said I introduced the arsonist at the very end and that wasn’t fair. Not true. The arsonist was introduced several times early in the book and was talked about a lot more. Jane probably would have gotten that. However, most of our book club is probably like my reader so I have a note to self: Make sure the bad guys show up obviously and early.
- Make sure your clues belong in the narrative. Don’t just drop them in like mustard on a white tablecloth.
- Put on your armor. Not everyone is going to like your book. I had a very prolific and successful writer tell me recently to never, ever read reviews. Why? You can only please some of the readers some of the time.
About Gerri Lewis
GERRI LEWIS is the author of The Last Word (2024) and Grave Words (June 10, 2025), the first two books in her Deadly Deadlines Mystery series published by Crooked Lane Books. Set in her Hallmark-worthy hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut, this cozy mystery is about obituary writer Winter Snow, who solves murders along with a cast of lovable characters. During her career as an award-winning reporter, columnist, and feature writer, Gerri has become a go-to person in her community for obituaries. When she is not helping her protagonist solve mysteries, she writes magazine features and is the Public Information Officer for the Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management. She lives with her husband in Ridgefield, Connecticut, the picture-perfect setting for her books.
Author Links
Website: https://gerrilewis.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerri.lewis.author/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerrilewisauthor/
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse – Kobo – Apple –
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