Murder by the Millions (A Literary Dining Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber | Author Interview

Christy Maurer

1 month ago

Murder by the Millions (A Literary Dining Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber | Author Interview

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Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Murder by the Millions (A Literary Dining Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

Murder by the Millions (A Literary Dining Mystery)

by Daryl Wood Gerber

Murder by the Millions (A Literary Dining Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

In a beautiful mountain community near Asheville, North Carolina, caterer and personal chef Allie Catt serves up mouthwatering, literary-themed dinner parties inspired by her clients’ favorite books. Her next event is sure to be a roaring success—if a murderer isn’t a killjoy . . .

If it were true that the best thing a girl can be in this world is a fool, then Allie Catt would be out of luck. Fortunately, Allie’s business is a smashing success. And following her Pride and Prejudice event, grander plans await . . .

Feast for the Eyes bookstore manager and Allie’s best friend, Tegan, is hosting a book club soiree and wants it to be a glittering affair based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic Jazz Age-set novel, The Great Gatsby. Soon, Art Deco table settings and visions of flappers are dancing the Charleston in their heads. Even Tegan’s prickly sister, Vanna, is on board. And surely, Allie’s tuxedo cat, Darcy, thinks it’s the cat’s meow.
Amid the planning, charismatic developer Jason Gardner arrives in town to buy some historic buildings on Main Street. He, too, has plans: to create a modern mall. Allie is more than concerned. She even wants to protest. But when Jason invites her to cater a lavish party, she finds him surprisingly likable. Then she’s summoned to his estate for a meeting—and finds him dead.

Once again Allie’s landed in the middle of a crime scene. Worse, one of her earrings is later discovered near the body. And when police learn she was upset about the mall, she’s suspect #1. Allie’s blossoming sleuthing skills once cleared Tegan’s name, but can she save herself—before a killer writes her a not-so-great Gatsbyesque ending . . .

Author Interview

Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I started out as an actress before becoming an author. While acting, I decided to take screenwriting classes, which helped me understand the structure and pace of a story. When my husband needed to move across country for his career, I told him I could write any place, and I decided that I would focus on writing novels—in particular suspense and mystery, the genres I enjoy the most.

How long have you been writing?

I started screenwriting in 1995. I started novel writing in 1997. My first book was published 2010. You need a very strong will to continue to write when your first or second novels are rejected. Luckily, I won most persevering in high school.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose the cozy mystery genre?

My first stab at becoming a writer was when I was 10, and I wrote the beginning of a Nancy Drew-style novel. I didn’t complete it. And then in 7th grade, my teacher told me I wasn’t a writer…and I believed him. Dumb me! I put down my pen. I’m so glad I picked it back up. The first novel I completed was a suspense novel. I wrote 3 or 4 suspense novels before turning to cozy mysteries, at the suggestion of my good friend and critique partner, Krista Davis. When I was chosen to write the Cheese Shop Mysteries (as a work-for-hire, ergo the pseudonym Avery Aames), I fell in love with the genre. The rest is history.

Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now?

I read cozies and suspense novels and thrillers. I’ll read an occasional romance but nothing steamy. LOL I’m reading Death and Fromage, a fun romp of a mystery set in France written by Englishman Ian Moore. He happens to be a comic, so his writing is tongue-in-cheek funny. Next up is Lisa Black’s Not Who We Expected, a suspense.

Do you have a favorite place to write?

I write in my office, but I’ve been known to write in bed, in my kitchen, outside on the patio, and at just about any coffee shop. I write best when away from distractions.

What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)?

Right now there’s a map of Carmel-by-the-Sea because I’m working on the third novel in the Aroma Wellness Mysteries. There’s also a coaster with the words: “Living each day as if it were our only day makes for a total life lived at full potential.” ~ Lloyd John Ogilvie

What is the first book you remember reading as a child? What was one of your favorite books you read as a child?

The first book I remember LOVING as a child was A Wrinkle in Time. After that I discovered Nancy Drew and read every book in the series . . . in a week! I was NOT enamored with Dick and Jane books. Way too boring.

Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?

I like all three. Audiobooks for when I drive. Physical books if the lighting is good. E-books because I can fix the font size. 😊

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?

Lake Tahoe, not even a question. I love the lake, the air, the aroma of pine trees.

What or who has influenced you the most as a writer?

Krista Davis, honestly. When she nudged me in the direction of cozies mysteries, it changed my course. We were in a critique group, and all of us in the group started out as suspense authors. Then we all became cozy mysteries authors and are all published. A few left the group, and the group expanded. And that group is still a blast. We’re all friends!

Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing? Do you belong to any writing groups?

Yep, the above group. The Plothatchers. Krista Davis, Janet Bolin (Ginger Bolton), Peg Cochran (Margaret Loudon), Kaye George (Janet Cantrell), Marilyn Levinson (Allison Brook), and Janet Koch (Laura Alden, Laurie Cass). As you can see many of us have written under other names. After choosing my own name (following the Cheese Shop Mysteries), all my books are written by Daryl Wood Gerber . . . which is what my husband called me. 😊

Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?

I’m doing the final edit on the second in the Aroma Wellness Mysteries, Murder in a Lavender Daze, and I’m in the midst of writing the first draft for the third in the series, Premeditation for Murder. They’re set in Carmel-by-the-Sea. In Lavender, with its soothing décor and tempting treatments, customers are flocking to Aroma Wellness for more than just facials and massages. Lately, Emma has been booking private events, from spa parties to bridal showers, and birthdays. Next on her calendar is something really unique: A “Happily Divorced” party. In Premeditation the spa is partnering up with the library (run by Emma’s grandmother) to raise money for literacy, and famous local authors are joining in the fun.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!

You bet. Nice questions!

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, as well as the Cheese Shop Mysteries written under the name Avery Aames. She also writes standalone suspense novels and the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense. Prior to her career as a novelist, she was an actress with roles in television shows including “Murder, She Wrote,” and she wrote for the popular TV sitcom “Out of this World.” Originally from the Bay Area, she now lives in Southern California, where she likes to cook, garden, and spend time with her frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky.

Author Links

WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com

FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber

BOOKBUB: https://bookbub.com/authors/daryl-wood-gerber

YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/woodgerb1

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/darylwoodgerber

GOODREADS: https://goodreads.com/darylwoodgerber

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@daryl_wood_gerber

AMAZON: https://bit.ly/Daryl_Wood_Gerber_page

NEWSLETTER: https://darylwoodgerber.com/contact-media/

Purchase Links

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