A Deadly Combo by Karen A. Phillips | Character Guest Post

Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Deadly Combo by Karen A. Phillips. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

A Deadly Combo

by Karen A. Phillips

A Deadly Combo: A Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery
Traditional/Cozy Blend
1st in Series
Setting – California
River Rock Press (March 1, 2023)
Number of Pages: 270

What do boxing and vintage trailers have in common? Rocky Nelson.

Meet Raquel Nelson (AKA Rocky), a retired single woman with an attitude. In Rocky’s opinion, independent ruffians, relentless heat, wildfires, and unhealthy AQI are all part of living in the Sierra Foothills of California.

Sisters Rocky and Bridget are enjoying each other’s company at a vintage trailerfest until they stumble over a corpse. The dead guy is none other than the local trailer restorer and Bridget was overheard threatening to kill him. Mounting evidence leads police to focus on Bridget as a person of interest. Desperate to prove her sister innocent of murder, Rocky dons her own deerstalker cap and goes sleuthing. Rocky knows a little about the job requirements, having caught her sister’s last husband in an illicit affair. Detective Thompson is on the case and isn’t happy about Rocky poking around, and lets her know in no uncertain terms. But Rocky is tenacious if not stubborn. Combined with a 78-year-old father who insists on assisting, Rocky uses her courage and skills from boxing lessons to protect her family and keep from becoming the killer’s next victim.

This is the first book in The Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery Series – a perfect series for lovers of small town mysteries with a cozy-noir feel featuring boxing and an amateur sleuth who will stop at nothing to save the lives of those she loves.

Character Guest Post: DETECTIVE THOMPSON from A DEADLY COMBO by Karen A Phillips

Detective Thompson here with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, California. I’ve been asked to talk about my role in the mystery novel A DEADLY COMBO. I’ve never done this sort of thing before, so bear with me. Piece of cake. Right?

When I got the call about a possible homicide at the Golden Hills Winery trailerfest event, I admit I was curious and a bit apprehensive. Old emotions resurfaced. Helen and I had talked about owning a vintage trailer, but since my wife passed away from cancer, that dream died with her. Besides, I’d heard owning one of those tin cans is a major money suck. Considering my salary, that’s one investment I can’t afford. I’ve been at my job for a long time. Management keeps asking if I’ll be retiring soon. But I don’t have any hobbies. I’d rather keep working.

That summer was a scorcher. My partner and I showed up at the crime scene in our usual attire—dress shirts and a tie. Short sleeves in hot weather. We liked to look professional, to command respect. The body was inside a long green trailer—a Westwood, I found out. Too big for my taste.

Wouldn’t want to tow that beast anywhere. The vic was laying in a puddle of brown liquid. Exposed electrical wires snaked from the body, outside to an outlet. Didn’t take a genius to see what happened.

The body was already starting to smell. Flies buzzed my face. I craved a cigarette. Instead, I popped a fresh Cinna-Pix in my mouth and took photos with my phone. Then I wrote what I observed in my notebook. I could feel the old excitement brewing in my belly. The thrill of the hunt. I stepped away from the corpse and looked around, wondering if the perp was there watching me. I’m coming after you, whoever you are.

Just then, a woman shows up. She was bent over, about to pick up a gold drink cup—you know, the shiny metallic kind? I told her not to touch it and she almost jumped out of her skin. It was all I could do to keep a straight face. I could feel my lip twitching. I’ve been told by my poker buddies it’s my tell. Anyway, that gold cup was evidence. She had a bit of an attitude. Feisty. Or maybe she was nervous. She kinda reminded me of Helen. Helen wouldn’t back down in a fight. But unlike Helen, this woman was brunette and trim. Athletic for her age. I figured she musta been ten years younger than me. So maybe fifty-ish? Turns out her name was Raquel Nelson. Her twin sister, Bridget, had found the body.

A Deadly Combo is Book One in the Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery series. Book Two will be released in 2024.

About Karen A. Phillips

Author Karen A. Phillips lives in Northern California and writes humorous, fun, action-packed mysteries. She has several short stories published in various anthologies. Her characters are engaging and fearless. “A Deadly Combo” is her first full-length novel. In real life, Karen takes boxing lessons but would hesitate if she had to punch anyone in the face. Let’s face it. Karen wouldn’t last one round in the ring.

Author Links

Website: https://karenaphillips.com/ Facebook: KarenAPhillips/Author      Instagram: kannphillips   Twittter: @phillips_writes

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo 

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A Deadly Combo TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 1 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 1 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 2 – Mythical Books – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 2 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 3 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

March 3 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 7 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT  

March 7 – ebook addicts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 8 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

March 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 9 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

March 10 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW

March 10 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

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