Murder at the Zoo
Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock, & Me Mystery Series
Book One
by Marcia Rosen
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GENRE: Mystery
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BOOK BLURB:
A
body is tossed into the lion’s habitat at the zoo where Miranda Scott is the
senior vet. She and Detective Bryan Anderson join forces to unravel that
mystery and several more murders. A fan since childhood of Agatha Christie,
Raymond Chandler, and Sherlock Holmes they seem to live in her head frequently
telling her what to do…and not do. Murders, family, deceit, revenge and a
gangster father and godfather often get in the way of a fine romance between
Miranda and the Detective.
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EXCERPT TWO:
Bryan
whispered to Isabella, walked out, and came back in with the most special gift
of all. Handing Miranda the leash to an Australian Shepherd puppy he said,
“Your new watch dog.” And giving her a big kiss, he whispered, “You know, I
love you.”
The
detective and the veterinarian were too busy to deal with the “I love you”
issue for now but. . . eventually.
Of
course, the voices had to have their say.
“Yes,
you can trust him.” Agatha was such a romantic.
“Well,
we agree!” chimed in Sherlock and Raymond.
“What
are you going to name her?”
With
a mischievous grin Miranda said, “Agatha.”
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GUEST POST:
The idea of famous voices speaking to the main character makes
the story unusual and interesting:
Here’s an article about it. With more information you might like to use:
HEARING VOICES OF PAST FAMOUS DETECTIVES…
…THEIR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE ON MYSTERY WRITERS
“the stuff that dreams are made of…”
With
that famous line at the end of The Maltese Falcon, Bogey exposed a world to
noir films and fictional detective stories. The gumshoes of the past, along
with their dames and hoodlums, entranced America with the shadowy and dark side
of humanity. Many mystery writers, including myself, have been impacted and
influenced by these past crime-solvers. They knew a thing or two about
dreams…and murder. We have long admired them. But why?
The
old-fashioned private detective with hardboiled ways has been around since the
1920s. We have loved the sinister and menacing plots, behaviors of beautiful,
deadly women, and the sexy gumshoes featured in dozens of films for generations
following The Maltese Falcon, which opened in 1941.
There
are many reasons for loving these detective stories: We become armchair
detectives sharing in the suspense with a bit of vicarious pleasure. Our
imagination wants to find the killer before the detective, and we are
arrogantly thrilled when we do. And we love the romances we know can only end
badly. Perhaps that’s just human nature.
Edgar
Allan Poe unlocked the door to detective fiction when he wrote the first modern
detective story in1841, Murders in the Rue Morgue; and it was Arthur Conan
Doyle who swung the door wide open writing 50 books featuring the Consulting
Detective, Sherlock Holmes and his cohort, Dr. Watson. Versions of Sherlock Holmes
have been seen on screen over 250 times, some in old black and white films
featuring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce who were marvelous. Later, a couple of
my favorites include Jeremy Brett as Holmes and the recent, modern version with
Benedict Cumberbatch.
Doyle’s
first, Study in Scarlet was released in 1887 and since then, the number of
books published as detective fiction has grown to huge numbers. Crime is the
number one genre people read. Dozens of published authors have created stories
hearing the voices of past famous detectives. Television mystery shows such as
Perry Mason, Columbo, Magnum and Murder She Wrote, are just a few of mystery
lovers’ favorites.
I
love Dashiell Hammond who continued writing film noir, and The Thin Man turned
into six films. Less dark and menacing, it was the charm of the characters, the
dialogue, and the overall experience of feeling they were— for a brief time—
part of your life. There was romance, love, crazy characters, and the very
charming stars.
And,
of course, there is Agatha Christie who has written 66 novels and there are
many movies of her stories. Two her famous crime-solvers revered by so many
mystery readers are the strange looking and intense thinking Hercule Poirot.
Also loved is the sweet acting ways of Miss Marple finding clues, enjoying a
bit of gossip and, in the process, uncovering secret plots swirling around her.
We
mystery lovers have also long been thrilled by the darker and deeper writings
of Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep, Murder My Sweet, and Double Indemnity,
claiming women were definitely not to be trusted. The men could not be trusted
either. Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, played by Bogart in The Big Sleep, with his
classic style of tough guy, along with Mitchum and Powell and others who were
cynical and moody. I mean, really! Who needs a moody, gruffy guy, except in
these crime novels!
Still,
I am a dreamer of sorts. I hear their voices and they have made an impact on my
writing. Many mystery stories do have stuff that dreams are made of, they
became film noir, and I, like others have sat thrilled watching the old black
and white films with Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, Nick and Nora Charles, who I
adore, and, of course, Sherlock Holmes.
Their
voices often play in my head as I sit down to write my mystery books. But I
also love puzzles and fitting the pieces together to find the whole. I find
going to the source of a problem leads me to a space where I can create my own
mystery characters and stories.
Still,
I keep wondering why do we enjoy the detective genre so much? Why do we so
enjoy murder mysteries? I believe in part it’s a glimpse into that darker side
of humanity. We seem to be fascinated by behaviors that stir our curiosity and
allow us to think, to solve the puzzles of who did such awful acts and why. The
stories and characters are filled with suspense and incredibly intriguing to
me. I like the way they challenge my thinking and they inspire me as an author
of murder mysteries.
Many
of us mystery writers have the ambition and desire to create thrilling crime
fiction with clever detectives. In cozies, like I write, the amateur sleuth
finds the murders have many twists and turns; there are a few foreshadowing
comments; and there are several red herrings to distract readers. The amateur
sleuth sifts through clues, tossing the useless information out. The hunt is on
to find the truth . . . for the reader and for me.
I am
very much influenced by the voices of famous mystery writers. Perhaps you are
too!
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AUTHOR BIO:
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen), award winning author of
eleven books including The Senior Sleuths
and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series
and The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus
(Menus by her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business
Therapist and award winning My Memoir
Workbook. For 25 years she was owner of a successful national
marketing and public relations agency, Marcia has frequently been a speaker
and/or program moderator at organization meetings and conferences, bookstores,
libraries and Zoom Programs. Topics she has taught and presented over the past
twenty years include: Encouraging the Writer Within You, Marketing for Authors,
Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery, Writing Your Memoir and recently “Anatomy of
Writing A Murder.” Many articles on
these topics have been published on mystery reader blogs and in newsletters and
magazines including “Mystery Scene Magazine” and “Mystery Reader International
Journal.”
She
is a member of Sisters in Crime National and New Mexico (Croak & Dagger),
Southwest Writers, New Mexico Book Association, Women Writing the West, Public
Safety Writer’s Association, and National Association of Independent Writers
and Editors—for which she is also a board member. www.MarciaRosen.com
“Marcia Rosen's new book is hard to put down! The
characters are engaging and you enjoy getting to know them as you read this
mystery. I enjoyed discovering the world and people in Murder at the Zoo and
can't wait to read more from this author!”
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CONNECT WITH MARCIA:
Website:
https://www.MarciaRosen.com
Website:
https://www.theseniorsleuths.com
Email:
MarciaGRosen@gmail.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MarciaGRosen
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/WriterMysteries
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/marciaglendarosen
Goodreads Author Page – Marcia Rosen:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6153937.Marcia_Rosen
Goodreads Author Page – M. Glenda Rosen:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15028242.M_Glenda_Rosen
Goodreads Book Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61312281-murder-at-the-zoo
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PRE-ORDER BOOK BUY LINKS:
**Murder at the Zoo will be released for sale on March 14th,
2023**
Amazon US Kindle eBook:
https://amzn.to/3ymNXU2
Amazon US Paperback:
https://amzn.to/3ZwAu84
Amazon CA Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-Agatha-Raymond-Sherlock-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BNNYB5X6
Amazon CA Paperback:
https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-Agatha-Raymond-Sherlock-Mystery/dp/1951122496
Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-zoo-m-glenda-rosen/1141672342?ean=9781951122560
Barnes and Noble Paperback:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-zoo-m-glenda-rosen/1141672342?ean=9781951122492
Kobo US eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-at-the-zoo
Kobo CA eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/murder-at-the-zoo
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Marcia will be
awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a
randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.
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