Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Death By Betrayal: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery by Abigail Keam. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Death By Betrayal: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery by Abigail Keam
Death By Betrayal: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery
Cozy Mystery
20th in Series
Setting – Horse Capital of the World – Lexington, KY
Publisher : Worker Bee Press (June 24, 2024)
Number of Pages 270 (Print)
Betrayal – The act of thwarting a person’s trust, revealing information in violation of confidence, or failing to honor a promise.
Josiah knows all about betrayal. In the glamorous Bluegrass world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred horse farms, betrayals never die—never remain hidden. The dark and bloody land called Kentucky eventually gives up its secrets from its dark, loamy soil, laying them bare for all to see.
The day starts out innocently with Josiah visiting Hunter, her boyfriend, and his new farm assistant, Palley. The young man tells Josiah of his desire to enter the demolition derby at the county fair. Ever since Palley received his driver’s license, he has been waiting to compete, but he needs an old beater of a car to enter.
Josiah tells Palley he is welcome to use an old jalopy that’s been gathering dust in an unused barn on her property. Josiah and an excited Palley travel to her shed. Pulling off an old tarp, they examine the car until they find—you guessed it—a body in the back. Whose body is it? How did it get there? Josiah is on the trail of murder again. In the mysterious Bluegrass, there’s justice, and then there is Josiah’s justice!
Interview with Author Abigail Keam
Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello Miss Christy and fellow readers! I am an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author who writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern female beekeeper turned amateur sleuth living in the glamorous world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms. I refer to these stories as mysteries with a shot of bourbon.
How long have you been writing?
Fifteen years. It has had its ups-and-downs.
Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose the cozy mystery genre?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a writer. In the second grade I wrote Bobby Bobo Got Baptized At The Big Bone Baptist Church. I got an A+ and the teacher called my mother wanting her to encourage me to write more. Later I would rewrite this story from an adult perspective as I now understood the nuances. It’s an autobiographical short story.
Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now?
I read all genres. I love history and bios. I just like learning. I want to learn something new every day—new words, new facts, new ideas—anything.
Do you have a favorite place to write?
My office after everyone has gone to sleep.
What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)?
I am ashamed to say my desk is very messy—lots of paper with scribbles and ideas. After each book, I try to clean my desk, but it’s hopeless.
What is the first book you remember reading as a child? What was one of your favorite books you read as a child?
My mother purchased a subscription. Each month I would receive a new mystery in the mail—The Happy Hollisters. I loved those books and kept many of them. They are safe in my closet.
Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?
I like the feel of a book in my hand, but I understand why readers love audio and ebooks. It’s less stuff to dust.
If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
Oh gosh! This is a tough one. I guess Hawaii or Italy. Why not?
What or who has influenced you the most as a writer?
Edgar Allan Poe, Willa Cather, Flannery O’Connor, Agatha Christie, James M. Cain, and Dashiell Hammett
Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing? Do you belong to any writing groups?
A writer needs to make friends with other authors in their genre. However, I never go to anyone except my editor for my writing needs. Either people like my work or they don’t. I try to write the best to my ability and continue to develop my skill set.
Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?
I am working on my 1930s Mona Moon Mystery—Murder Under A Cold Moon.
Mona Moon and her new husband, Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth are on their honeymoon at last. They are invited to a weekend party by an old friend of Robert’s family—Lady Eustacia. Mona and Robert arrive in a substantial downpour to find several other couples awaiting the appearance of their hostess. When Lady Eustacia fails to come downstairs, Mona and Robert search the manor house only to find her bedridden, drugged, and in serious need of a doctor. It is then they discover the telephone wires have been cut and none of the cars are able to drive into town due to the storm. Mona and Robert believe the invitation was a ruse, but for what purpose? And how do they help Lady Eustacia?
Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!
My pleasure, Miss Christy!
About Abigail Keam
Abigail Keam is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author who writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern female beekeeper turned amateur sleuth living in the glamorous world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms.
Tagline – Mystery With A Shot Of Bourbon!
Tagline – There’s justice, and then there is Josiah’s justice!
Besides loving history, Kentucky bourbon and chocolate, Abigail loves honeybees and for many years made her living by selling honey at a farmers’ market like her protagonist, Josiah Reynolds. She is an award-winning beekeeper who has won many honey awards at the Kentucky State Fair including the Barbara Horn Award, which is given to beekeepers who rate a perfect 100 in a honey competition.
Miss Abigail has taken her knowledge of beekeeping to create a fictional beekeeping protagonist, Josiah Reynolds, who solves murder mysteries in the Bluegrass. While Miss Abigail’s novels are for enjoyment, she discusses the importance of a local sustainable food economy and land management for honeybees and other creatures.
She currently lives on the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters. She still has honeybees.
Author Social Media Links
Official Site www.abigailkeam.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/author.abigailkeam/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abigailkeamauthor/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/abigailkeam/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Abigail-Keam/e/B0045PEGUQ
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailkeam
AWARDS
2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee
2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee
2017 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Design
2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking
2019 Top 10 Mystery Novels from Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A Blue Moon2
2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery
2019 Top 10 Mystery Novels from Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A Blue Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery
2020 Imadjinn Award for Best Mystery – Death By Stalking: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery
2022 Finalist in Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A Full Moon
2022 Finalist the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A New Moon
2022 Death By Chance: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Cozy Mystery
2022 Top Ten Mystery Novel by Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A Bridal Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery
2022 Top Ten Mystery Novel by Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A British Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery
Purchase Links – Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Google iBooks
Enter the Giveaway
Death by Betrayal TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 24 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
June 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 25 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
June 25 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
June 26 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
June 26 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 27 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 28 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
June 30 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW
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Love the cover and it sounds like a fun and exciting read.
Thank you, Miss Anita. All art covers are original and done by Cricket Press. A sketch is done first and upon my approval, the color is put in. I like them too.
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading.
Thank you, Miss Rita.
This looks like a great read. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.
Thank you so much for commenting.
Would really enjoy reading. Adding to my TBR list.
Thank you so much for the giveaway!
Sounds amazing
cute