Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Moved to Murder: A Vivien Brandt Mystery by Gianetta Murray. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Moved to Murder: A Vivien Brandt Mystery by Gianetta Murray
Moved to Murder: A Vivien Brandt Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – South Yorkshire, England
Publisher : Troubador Publishing Ltd (June 5, 2024)
Print length : 266 pages
Vivien Brandt (forty-something editor, librarian, and future interior designer extraordinaire) has spent decades dreaming about a life in England, and thanks to her marriage to second husband Geoffrey, her dreams are finally coming true. She and her cat Sydney (who is considerably less excited about leaving the warmth of California) are the newest inhabitants of a cosy South Yorkshire village.
But as Vivien meets the locals – including the vicar, a charismatic politician, and a pair of troubled teenagers – she finds she still has a lot to learn about her new home. Especially after she discovers a body in it.
Now she must work with her neighbor Hayley and a somewhat mistrustful police inspector to uncover the village’s secrets and find a killer. Preferably, before the killer finds her.
Because it seems when the chips (crisps?) are down, the only common language between America and Britain… is murder.
Character Guest Post
An Interview with Vivien Brandt
The following is an interview of the main character in Moved to Murder, conducted by the author. (Note: this doesn’t mean the latter knew the answers ahead of time, as will become obvious.)
Question: “Vivien, you moved to England, giving up a lucrative career in Silicon Valley, to live with a man you’d only actually seen in person for a number of weeks. Are you crazy?”
Answer: “Well, Netta, my philosophy is never say never. Would I know if madness was encroaching? Maybe, maybe not. But I did know that there was something missing from my life in California, and when I look into the gorgeous blue eyes of my now-husband Geoffrey, it seems like I’ve found it.”
Q: So you moved for love, for a man.
A: I moved for me. That’s how a Power Chick would look at it.
Q: A Power Chick? What is that?
A: A woman who knows and acts on what she needs, realising her own wholeness will make the world a better place. That’s what I strive to be. Although that seems a bit too long for a slogan. Maybe something like ‘A Better Me for a Better You’.
Q: And how does your life reflect this goal?
A: I have to say, it doesn’t always. My first marriage wasn’t, let’s say, optimal. And my career was mostly just a way to earn money to travel, which is something I love to do. But as I’ve gotten older, I’m more aware of the things that make me happy, and I’m willing to make some sacrifices to achieve them. Although my Siamese cat Sydney might disagree. I think he’s a bit miffed his sacrifice wasn’t considered when I deprived him of all that California sunshine.
Q: Please tell Sydney we feel his pain. So what does make you happy these days?
A: As I mentioned, Geoffrey is a big tick in that box. Hmm, that makes him sound like a bug, but you know what I mean. I’m also living in England, the country of my dreams, after years of watching Masterpiece Theater and reading everything Dickens ever wrote.
Q: Is England living up to your expectations?
A: It’s absolutely beautiful, when it’s not raining. And I’m delighted plumbing has improved since the Victorian era, although maybe not as much as you might think.
Q: And the people?
A: They are…reserved. But I’m sure I will fit in eventually. And in many ways, it’s quite nice not to have all that emotion flying around all the time. More peaceful.
Q: At least you speak the same language.
A: You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But cookies are biscuits, suspenders are braces, pants are trousers, and don’t get me started on tea! It can be just tea, tea with lots of cakes and sandwiches, or dinner, depending on the context, which often remains a complete mystery to me. I live in constant dread of showing up at someone’s house at the wrong time for the wrong meal. Still, I’ve watched a lot of British shows, so I’m working hard to incorporate the lingo into my everyday speech. After all, I’m not just here for a jolly ‘oliday, eh guv?
Q: Ahem. Right. Um, have you made many friends, then?
A: Some. There’s an absolutely wonderful couple across the cul-de-sac from us, Hayley and Will. She’s a doll, and we’ve discovered a lot of common interests, including getting maximum enjoyment from watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns. She’s deaf (Hayley, not Buffy), but she’s a whiz at reading lips. Her husband is lovely, he’s a builder, and an artist when it comes to woodworking. There’s also a nice family up the street: he’s in politics; quite a bigwig, I believe. And the village minister is adorable. The house next to us is empty at the moment, not sure what’s going on there.
Q: Has anything surprised you about your new home?
A: Our house came with a conservatory, and I wasn’t that jazzed about it. I mean, if you want to enjoy the outdoors, why not just go there? But I think I’m starting to understand why that might not be desirable. Oh, and evidently the village has a coven. Didn’t expect that.
Q: Do you miss anything back in California?
A: Of course. Like Sydney, there’s the sunshine, although I console myself I’ve lowered the odds of skin cancer by moving here. And my parents are there, although I talk to them and my sister every week thanks to the glories of the internet. I can’t imagine what it must have been like when people relied on communication via letters that took weeks or months to arrive. Oh, and I have the fiercest cravings for Jack in the Box tacos on occasion. And Mexican food.
Q: But overall, you’re satisfied with your decision to move to England?
A: Very. Not everyone gets a chance to totally change their lives when approaching fifty, or finds love again. Plus, I’m studying for a fabulous new career in interior design. I have more friends to make, European travel to look forward to and, contrary to what popular fiction would have you believe about cozy English villages, I haven’t come across a single body!
Q: I’m sure we all hope it stays that way, Vivien. Last question: As your creator, how much do you think we have in common?
A: Well, I don’t want to be rude, but not a lot. I mean, our hair color is similar, at the moment at least, but I do seem to be younger, fitter, more intelligent, and as for your husband –
Author: Yes! Okay, I think that’s quite enough for now. Thank you for talking to us.
Vivien: My pleasure. Cheerio!
About Gianetta Murray
Like her protagonist, Gianetta is California-raised and moved to England twenty years ago after marrying her British husband. She has worked as a technical writer, knowledge manager, and librarian in both countries and is currently owned by two cats who are unimpressed by her accomplishments but willing to tolerate her in return for food.
Author Links: Website – https://gianettamurray.com, gianettamurray | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Purchase Links – US Link: Moved to Murder UK link: Moved to Murder
Enter the Giveaway
Moved to Murder TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 16 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
July 16 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
July 17 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
July 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
July 18 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
July 19 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
July 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
July 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
July 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
July 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 21 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 22 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
July 22 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
July 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 24 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
July 24 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
July 25 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
July 25 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here
Leave a Reply