Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Death at Fair Havens by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Death at Fair Havens
by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi
Death at Fair Havens
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Massachusetts
Brain Mill Press (April 26, 2022)
Paperback : 318 pages
Wanda Duff is an unconventional New England clergywoman, addicted to chicken wings, high-octane ice cream, and saying yes to anyone in need of a prayer, even the folks her town might think don’t deserve one.
When parishioner Niels Pond dies unexpectedly at the Fair Havens assisted living facility, Wanda’s duty to minister to his family is beset by her suspicions about the circumstances of his abrupt passing. Wanda finds an unexpected co-detective in high school vice principal Prudence Rye, who fled town on graduation night a decade ago and returned only recently.
Rye puts her job on the line to investigate the mourning Ponds with the surprisingly edgy Wanda. As they expose difficult family truths and uncover a dangerous conspiracy operating out of Fair Havens, Rye and Wanda discover curiosity has an unanticipated cost.
Comfortably gossipy, with a fresh take on the characters and ethos cozy mystery fans will love, Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi’s Death at Fair Havens launches a series that celebrates intergenerational women’s friendship and the power of inclusion, curiosity, and love.
“Here’s small town life portrayed with humor and affection, peopled with quirky characters you’ll care about.”
—James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards
Guest Post: A Day in the Life – Wanda Duff and Prudence Rye
I roll over and sit straight up, startling my dog Wink from what was probably a very satisfying dream chasing rabbits. I’d forgotten the alarm on my phone, set to play Dolly’s 9-5. I’d also forgotten that I turned it to the level someone like me (Wanda Duff, pastor, activist, and hearing aid cover fashionista, at your service) can hear it.
I don’t usually need “a Dolly”. I’m a morning person, and if I’m not awake by 5, it’s because there’s been a pastoral emergency and I’m still up. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen often, but two nights ago, my friend Luke Fairchild called to say he was picking up a body, and could I please come sit with the family?
I said, “yes.” Did it matter that I had just gotten back from a bad date? No (and only partially because Luke is funny and charming and easy on the eyes – a definite step up from my usual dinner companions). All that matters is that I offer a little comfort when some family’s life is falling apart.
What? Did you hear that undignified snort? That’s my friend Rye (well, Vice Principal Prudence Rye is what is says on her office door, but no one calls her Prudence, or Pru, or Priddy…at least not more than once). She’s the person I set an alarm for this morning.
Remember the body? He was the father of one of her students, and the girl has gone AWOL. I was the last one to see Leslie Pond that night, in her dad’s room at Fair Havens. Rye is tasked with handling the Pond family (Principal Mendoza has an Olympic medal in speed-delegating). Of course, neither of us expected the family to have three mothers to contend with…
It’s a lot on too little sleep. That’s why Rye and I are heading to Harvey’s, the local bakery, before school. Nothing like a pastry rush with a side of caffeine to jumpstart this investigation.
Oh, sorry – Rye says this is definitely not an investigation (did I mention her father’s the former sheriff?), and that we are just doing our due diligence, a professional duty, as it were. “Are you….” yes, she sure is. She’s laughing at the word “duty.” That woman spends too much time with sophomores.
If you’ll excuse me, Wink has found his leash and is reminding me that dog walks wait for nothing – not dawn, not even a possible murder.
About the Authors
After teaching and working in early education for a decade, Maria Mankin has published six books with Pilgrim Press and has contributed to several anthologies. She is also a co-author of Circ, a mystery set in Skegness England, published by Pigeon Park Press, and Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality. She is a regular contributor to Living Psalms, a collection in which the Psalms are reinterpreted in poetry and art as a reflection of God’s work of justice and compassion. She is currently working on a book of poetry and the third novel in the Rev and Rye Cozy Mysteries.
After trouping the country in the 70s as assistant manager of theatrical tours for choreographer Agnes de Mille, The National Theatre of Great Britain, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Black Broadway production of ‘Guys and Dolls,’ Maren Tirabassi changed careers, to the surprise of everyone, to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and later Harvard Divinity School. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she served as a bi-vocational pastor to seven churches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire while developing her writing career. Maren is the author of twenty-two books, fiction, non-fiction and poetry, the majority published by The Pilgrim Press.
A former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, NH, and LAMDA Prize nominee for Transgendering Faith, Identity, Sexuality and Spirituality she currently facilitates programs for the NH Humanities Council with New Americans and people with cognitive difference and leads poetry and memoir workshops in prisons, recovery groups, churches and synagogues, hospice and survivor groups. She blogs at gi**************@wo*******.com.
With frequent writing collaborator, Maria Mankin, she is currently editing Death in the Woods, the sequel to Death at Fair Havens, as well as plotting the third novel.
Author Links
Website https://callingallcharacters.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/revandrye
Twitter https://twitter.com/marenandmankin
Purchase Links
Brian Mill Press – Powell’s – Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Indiebound – Indigo
Enter the giveaway
Death at Fair Havens TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 21 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
June 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy -AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 22 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
June 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 23 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 23 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
June 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
June 24 – Readeropolis – GUEST POST
June 25 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 26 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
June 26 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
June 27 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
June 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 28 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 29 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST
June 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
June 30 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Thanks, Christy, for hosting us today. I have been wandering around your blog and enjoying so many of the other posts. You are a gracious host and I now have a book list as long as my arm and some completely new-to-me authors. Hoping I can encourage some of our fans to wander your way.
You’re welcome! Thank you very much! I hope you enjoy some new books that you found here!
Sounds like a great cozy.
Thanks for sharing!
Death at Fair Havens by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi sounds like a fun and entertaining cozy mystery series with lots of interesting characters.