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The Story Comes First
Switched at Death follows a local baker and cat daycare owner who becomes involved in the investigation surrounding the town’s beloved mayor, who collapsed and died at the town’s tree lighting ceremony. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Since Switched at Death is the second book in the Venus Bixby Mystery series, I needed to tap a character from the first book (A Whale of a Murder) as the next victim. Who better to kill off than the beloved long-time mayor of charming Chatham Crossing? His death during the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting creates instant chaos and a falling-out between his wife and Venus Bixby, who are best friends and business partners. Can their relationship and joy in the town be restored by Christmas?
Were there any characters that you especially enjoyed writing for?
Actually … Venus Bixby made her literary debut as a minor character in What’s Not Lost, the last book in my romantic comedy trilogy. I loved her so much, I decided to give her own cozy mystery series. Even though her niece, Lexi Moore, had a major role in that romcom, I didn’t bring her into the cozy series until Switched at Death, which takes place a good ten years earlier than What’s Not Lost. So, I faced a dilemma. How do I roll back the ages of two characters and move them into a totally different storyline? Venus was kind of easy, as she’s a mature sleuth, kind of set in her ways. But in Switched at Death, Lexi is a teenager. As the youngest character in the mystery, Lexi brought not only a fresh perspective to the story, but also contemporary cultural references and dialogue only fit for a teen. I loved the challenge, but having a pre-teen granddaughter certainly helped!
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
Story comes first. If there’s no story, there can be no plot twists. The story needs characters that drive the plot, and a cozy mystery especially needs a world readers will want to settle into and come back to in future books. For me, I might have a major plot twist in mind when I start writing, but I try to keep an open mind for whatever path the characters take me. I tend to ask them “What if …” Their answers almost always surprise me and add more colorful twists than had I plotted them out initially. In fact, half way through writing the manuscript of Switched at Death, I switched the villain. In doing so, I needed to do some minor edits on the earlier pages, but the twist made for a much more delightful crime.
What is the next book that you’re working on and when can your fans expect it out?
The next installment of the Venus Bixby Mystery series is definitely a work-in-progress. If all goes well, it’ll follow in the footsteps of the first two books and publish in the month of April next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Thanksgiving weekend always marks the start of Christmas festivities in Chatham Crossing. But, this year, when the annual tree lighting ends in flames, this charming and usually joyful town finds little to celebrate.
After the town’s long-time, beloved mayor, collapses and dies at the scene of the tree lighting, nearly a week passes before details as to what actually caused his heart attack begin to emerge.
Preoccupied with the recent opening of her kitty daycare service, Venus Bixby thinks twice before getting involved in the investigation. But once her popular cookie bakery is linked to the mayor’s death, she has no choice.
As clues begin to surface, Venus grapples with the possibility that someone she cares about may be responsible for the mayor’s death.
Will Venus’s clever sleuthing be enough to save Christmas for this charming seaside town?
Includes cookie recipes and a playlist!
In the second installment of this cozy mystery with a romantic twist, Valerie Taylor brings back scrappy sleuth Venus Bixby and her mischief-maker twin sister. Switched at Death is as strikingly entertaining as A Whale of a Murder, with a holiday theme to enjoy all year long. Order Switched at Death today!
Switched at Death: A Venus Bixby Mystery
This book is like if Murder, She Wrote had a baby with Gilmore Girls and then let a cat run the town council. It’s a cozy mystery set in this quirky New England town called Chatham Crossing, where everyone knows everyone… or thinks they do. The story kicks off with the sudden death of the mayor—right at the town’s holiday tree lighting, no less—and from there, Venus Bixby gets tangled up in a web of secrets, politics, and small-town pettiness. Oh, and there’s definitely murder afoot.
I’m a sucker for cats and chaos, so when Venus opens her kitty daycare and adoption center (adorably named Cats & Their Cradle), I was in. The whole scene of her prepping for the grand opening while juggling relationships, rivalries, and her very active imagination had me both rooting for her and laughing. And her cats, Sonny and Cher, are icons.
The writing is super fun—Valerie Taylor has this cheeky, breezy style that makes even the gossip feel juicy instead of mean. Venus’s “friendship” with Carole (the mayor’s wife and her cookie shop partner) is messy. Like, Real Housewives messy. Carole throwing that dinner party where she low-key hijacks the night just to boost her own political ambitions was cringe. I wanted to fling a cookie at her. Poor Venus thinks the dinner’s to celebrate her new business, and instead she ends up sidelined while Carole plays power games and drops some seriously shady digs about the Sabinas.
But what really grabbed me were the emotional undercurrents. Venus misses her late husband, she’s trying to figure out what love looks like with Budd (her delightfully flirty and surprisingly deep boyfriend), and she’s constantly trying to prove herself in a town that still clings to its old boys’ club.
Switched at Death totally worked for me. It’s a little sassy, a little sentimental, and full of sneaky surprises. If you love small-town drama, strong female leads, and cats, this one’s for you. Highly recommend for cat moms, cozy mystery fans, and anyone who enjoys watching people stir the pot.
Pages: 293 | ASIN : B0DYVVGFL7
A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery
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In A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery, author Valerie Taylor crafts an intriguing narrative set in the historically rich, small town of Chatham Crossing. The story begins with Venus Bixby celebrating her fiftieth birthday, a milestone symbolizing her growing stature within the community. As she prepares for her role as Grand Marshal in the Fourth of July parade, her aspirations to join the Town’s Committee seem within reach. However, the town’s tranquil atmosphere is shattered by its first murder in decades, an event that unexpectedly entangles Venus in a web of mystery.
Venus’ journey into this mystery begins with a seemingly innocuous stumble over a pair of orange platform heels, leading to a fractured thumb. These heels, however, are a crucial link to the deceased Maggie McGee, a recent addition to Chatham Crossing and manager of the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum gift shop. Venus’ accidental involvement places her as the prime suspect, propelling her into an urgent quest to clear her name in a story that expertly weaves music, murder, and enigma.
Taylor’s novel excels in exploring the town’s musical and whaling heritage and, more notably, in its portrayal of complex interpersonal relationships, including the nuanced bond between Venus and her twin sister. The setting, a close-knit town where everyone is familiar with each other, effectively heightens the tension as Venus faces the unsettling reality that the perpetrator may be among her circle of friends. The characters, each with their own motives and opportunities to target Maggie McGee and implicate Venus, add depth and suspense to the narrative. The book’s pace is well-calibrated, unfolding a mystery that seems to unravel itself, keeping readers engaged in the characters’ journey to the truth. The story is enriched by cleverly placed clues, interwoven with historical elements and a secondary plotline involving another murder and a robbery, adding complexity to the tale.
While the novel is a standout choice for fans of cozy mysteries, its blend of quaint charm and suspense makes it an enjoyable read for a broader audience. Taylor’s A Whale of a Murder presents a compelling mystery that balances intrigue with the inviting warmth of a small-town setting.
Pages: 358 | ASIN : B0CWPGFM1C
What’s Not Lost
What’s Not Lost by Valerie Taylor is a heartwarming story about new beginnings. When Kassie O’Callaghan’s abusive ex-husband passes away, she puts the past to rest and gets ready to finally move on to the next chapter of her life. However, as she plans to start a new life, shattering, life-altering news is shared about Kassie, her ex-husband, and events of the past, which can impact Kassie’s ability to move on successfully. As family drama escalates, Kassie wonders if her chance for a new life with her fiancé may be derailed.
This romantic drama is filled with turmoil, heartache, and moments of nail-biting suspense. As Kassie tries to unravel the layers of drama around her, she must decide how to proceed with her upcoming marriage. Will she be happy with her fiancé, welcomed into his family, or will the impact of constant drama destroy any chance she has at a decent life? It’s a story about the complexities of life, with colorful characters and no shortage of excitement.
Taylor does a great job of developing the characters’ personalities, from Kassie’s indecisive, pushover ways and her failed attempts to become more confident to Chris’ habitual cheating and Lexi’s carelessness, creating a page-turning story. As Kassie weighs her options and how her life will be affected by getting entangled in the lives of everyone involved, she must decide if her engagement with Chris is worth the trouble or if she should break it off. While no decision is ideal, the storyline winds through several relationships, focusing on the portrayal of romance and the difficulties that follow.
What’s Not Lost by Valerie Taylor is a story about the ugly side of romance, and new love, when honesty isn’t valued, and tragedy follows. I found this book entertaining, dramatic, and the characters interesting. It’s a well-developed story and is a great option for fans of the romance and drama genre.
Pages: 321 | ASIN : B0BNLQS1DQ
What’s Not True
In midst of a divorce from Mike, Kassie O’Callaghan reunites with her ex-lover Chris as they run away to Paris. But unfortunately, their plans are derailed repeatedly. First from her marketing career at Calibri marketing group, when she is offered a new position at her company’s Paris office. Second a sudden heart attack that drags her back home to Boston. While in Boston, Kassie has to deal with Mike’s fiancee, Karen, as she attempts to steal the rights to the business Kassie and Mike forged together. Things get more complicated during the legal battle between Kassie and Karen when DNA tests reveal shocking news that could change everything. What’s Not True; A Novel is a sequel to Valerie Taylor’s What’s Not Said.
When reading the novel, a reader might be caught off guard as the story picks up directly after What’s Not Said. However, after the first couple of chapters, the characters and their story become more apparent. Although not a required read, What’s Not Said offers much insight into the characters’ dynamics.
The reader is quickly sucked into a complicated love web. Author Valerie Taylor does a fantastic job with her character building. Each of her characters is endearing in their own way, despite their flaws. For example, although Mike’s character is questionable, the reader is still found rooting for him and his desires. Kassie struggles with finding her footing as a professional and in her romantic life. The situations Kassie ends up in are great catalysts for her character’s growth.
The book has a satisfying ending where many family secrets finally come to light, giving many characters clarity on their past. Readers will not feel like they are left hanging with questions and will actually find peace on many subjects that come in in the course of this entertaining novel.
What’s Not True is a heartwarming story that would make a great beach read, filled with plot twists and interesting characters. This captivating and romantic story that is anything but predictable.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B08QZ8KR4Y
What’s Not Said
![What's Not Said: A Novel by [Valerie Taylor]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41zWy7B+HqL.jpg)
What’s Not Said is a witty and entertaining rom-com written by Valerie Taylor. The narrative follows Kassie in the midst of concocting a plan to divorce her intolerable and emotionally abusive husband, Mike, which is suddenly halted by the revelation of Mike’s chronic kidney disease. The novel opens from Kassie’s point of view, in which the reader learns about all the hardships that Kassie had to endure under Mike’s hand; manipulation, lies, infidelity- the list is endless. Mike is painted as an archetypal storybook villain. But the plot thickens further when we are introduced to Mike’s point of view, and learn all the intricacies of the pair’s turbulent marriage. In this story, there seems to be no innocent party.
The main character Kassie is revealed to have a lot of dark secrets of her own, and at times this makes it harder to empathize with her. But Kassie is written with such humor and wit that it makes her so undeniably charming. So, while I found myself ultimately rooting for Kassie and her happiness, all the layers and intricacies of her situation make it very challenging to form the simplistic “A is the hero, B is the villain” perspective that most books typically command. This was intriguing, as it made the narrative more complex and urged me to continue reading to learn the entire context of the situation. Due to this, the story was gripping. Furthermore, there were so many twists and turns in the story, conflicts mimicking that of a soap opera. While some twists were a little predictable, several truly shocking ones kept me on the edge of my seat. The book only has a few characters, as the narrative events are centered heavily on Kassie and Mike’s relationship dynamics. Due to this, all the characters were explored fully, making the story feel more realistic and engaging. Taylor’s writing explored the characters and their perspectives deeply, so the narrative was richer and more interesting overall.
I loved the witty and vibrant writing style, and the characters were riveting overall. There was no end of surprises and layers to the story, keeping the reader on their toes at all times. I would love to read more of Taylor’s work in the future.
Pages: 317 | ASIN: B083BHW277
LITERARY TITAN 