Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle: Ariadne Winter Mystery by Ellen Butler. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle: Ariadne Winter Mystery
by Ellen Butler
Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle: Ariadne Winter Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Ireland, near the Cliffs of Moher
Publisher : Power to the Pen
Publication date : October 1, 2025
Print length : 312 pages
From Paris runways to country manors, danger is always in fashion.
When intrepid journalist Ariadne Winter leaves behind the glittering cafés and haute couture of 1958 Paris for the misty hills of rural Ireland, she expects champagne toasts and countryside charm at her cousin’s engagement celebration. But amidst party prep excitement the festive mood at Ballyford Manor is shattered when a body is discovered among the ruins of the ancient castle grounds.
The local inspector suspects an accident—but Ariadne knows better.
Armed with her sharp wit and a reporter’s determination, Ariadne peels back the polished façade of the O’Connell family, uncovering simmering tensions and long-held grudges that refuse to stay buried. As she navigates a world of crumbling aristocracy, whispered scandals, and dark family legacies, Ariadne realizes someone will do anything to keep the past hidden — even if it means making her the next victim.
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Jacqueline Winspear, this stylish, atmospheric mystery captures the glamour and shadows of 1950s Ireland, blending intrigue, secrets, and a sleuth you won’t forget.
Interview with Ellen Butler
Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello! I am Ellen Butler, and I write the Ariadne Winter mysteries, and the Karina Cardinal mysteries. When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, working on home decorating projects, and attending car shows. I have a passion for classic cars, especially the bright colors of the 1950s vehicles replete with fins and bulbous lights.
How long have you been writing?
Technically, I’ve been writing since elementary school, but I didn’t begin writing novels until about a dozen years ago. My first book was published in 2014, and Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle will be book number 15.
Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose the cozy mystery genre?
No, I didn’t always want to be an author. It’s more of a second career. Initially, I began writing romantic suspense. I shifted into the mystery genre, when I realized I enjoyed writing the suspense more than the romance.
Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now?
I enjoy traditional mysteries, action and adventure, women’s fiction, historical fiction, and romance. I recently finished The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood.
Do you have a favorite place to write?
In general, I write in my home office. However, my laptop provides flexibility, and I’ve written in coffee shops, in the car while waiting for my son’s practice to end, and at the auto shop.
What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)?
On my desk, I have a spiral notebook with my handwritten outline, research notes, and character attributes for my current WIP. There is also a Suffolk Author Festival coaster, a box of paperclips, mouse and pad, lamp, and label maker.
What is the first book you remember reading as a child? What was one of your favorite books you read as a child?
One of the first books I remember reading on my own was Harold and the Purple Crayon—which had some of my own purple crayon drawings in it. My favorite book was What do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry.
Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?
I prefer paperback books over hardbacks because they are lighter weight. However, when I travel, I generally take my e-reader for the convenience of having many books to choose from in a compact tablet.
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?
Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle takes place in Ireland, and was inspired from a 2023 vacation. I loved the country so much, I would happily spend a year there writing a modern day mystery.
Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing? Do you belong to any writing groups?
Yes, I belong to a critique group. We write in a variety of genres, and we are all supportive of each other.
Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?
I am working on a dual timeline novel. Set against the backdrop of 1938 Austria during the Anschluss and 2009 New England, the story follows Gia Barbaro, a divorced single mother who lost her job at Merrill Lynch during the 2008 mortgage crisis. As she struggles to rebuild her life, she unexpectedly inherits her grandfather’s rundown estate. While sorting through the house, Gia uncovers a trunk containing five priceless artworks, potentially worth millions. But with no documentation to verify their authenticity or provenance, her excitement turns to suspicion. As she digs deeper more questions than answers surface, and she begins to speculate whether her grandfather was the man she thought she knew.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!
Thank you for having me!
About Ellen Butler
Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Publishers Weekly called the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism.” Butler also writes the Ariadne Winter historical mysteries as well as historical spy fiction. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: a Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, Indie Reader Discovery Award, and a Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal. The second book in the duology, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, is inspired by true events, and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction.
Author Links
Website ~ www.EllenButler.net
Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/EllenButlerBooks
Instagram~ https://www.instagram.com/ebutlerbooks/
Bookbub~ https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-butler
Goodreads ~ www.goodreads.com/EllenButlerBooks
Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N Kobo Apple
Enter the Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card & Signed Copy of Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle.
https://kingsumo.com/g/mpjyvlm/25-amazon-gift-card-signed-book
Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
October 20 – Christa Reads and Writes -REVIEW
October 21 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
October 21 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
October 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 24 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
October 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 29 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 30 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 31 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 1 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
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