A Deathly Displayby Kirsten Weiss
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GENRE: Cozy Mystery
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BOOK BLURB:
A killer stalks her sister.
A mysterious painting holds the key.
Can Maddie unravel the mystery before Melanie meets a deadly fate?
When Maddie and Herb attend a curation class at the upscale Domus Vinea museum, the mood turns darker than a gothic portrait after Maddie’s opera-singing sister, Melanie, discovers the museum director’s body. Now, with a cunning killer targeting Melanie next, Maddie must act fast.
Racing against time, Maddie and friends investigate a gallery of suspects, including a dashing vintner with a haunted painting that may hide a deadly secret. If Maddie can’t crack the case, and fast, her sister’s life could end in one fatal stroke.
A Deathly Display, the latest in the Paranormal Museum series, blends quirky sleuthing, small-town chills, and paranormal thrills with a dash of humor. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries!
Grab A Deathly Display and start reading this hilarious whodunit!
For readers who crave a cozy mystery about a woman finding belonging through small-town wine-country sleuthing and the gentle absurdity of everyday hauntings. Perfect if you like breezy pacing, light supernatural quirks, and warm humor over gritty tension—think vintage charm, quirky neighbors, and just-enough chills to keep pages turning without losing sleep. Book 11 in the series.
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EXCERPT TWO:
There are a few things in life you can be sure of. Death. Taxes. And divas being divas.
“Why?” Melanie sobbed. “Why is this happening to meeeee?”
I jogged to the fallen man and knelt beside him in the courtyard. Pressing a finger to his neck, I tried to find a pulse.
“Another body,” my sister hiccupped. “Why here?”
I sat back on my heel. The dead man faced the pristine marble fountain. And he was definitely dead. Though his skin was still warm, his eyes stared, as blank as the nearby statue of Hermes.
Yanking my phone from the rear pocket of my khakis, I called 9-1-1. The scent of orange blossoms billowed in the warm night air, but now the odor seemed sickening.
My mother appeared at my side. “Oh, my God. That’s—” She gripped my shoulder, her nails digging in. Just as suddenly, she released me and edged the toe of her low camel-colored shoes away from the pooling blood.
“I just f-found him there.” Melanie pointed.
“And it’s a terrible shock,” my mother said in a low voice. “Now, we need to pull ourselves together.” She looped one arm around Melanie’s hourglass waist.
“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”
“Murder, I think,” I said. “My sister found a dead man. His head is—” I swallowed and looked away. “There’s a lot of blood. We’re at the Domus Vinea Museum, in the smaller courtyard.”
“Are you in danger?” the operator asked.
“No. There’s a reception going on here. There are lots of people...” I glanced toward the opening to the courtyard. Guests had begun to gather, staring, in its arched entrance.
“Why does this always happen?” Melanie wailed. “First Sicily and now this. Am I cursed?”
“No, no,” my mother murmured, touching the squash blossom necklace beneath the collar of her denim shirt. “It’s just bad luck.”
“Help is on the way,” the dispatcher said. “Is the man you found breathing?”
“No. He’s dead.” I knew dead, and I knew what came after for the people left behind.
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GUEST POST:
Five Reasons You Should Read A Deathly Display: The Latest Cozy Mystery in My Paranormal Museum Series
If you're a cozy mystery lover like me, you know that sinking into a book with clever puzzles, charming settings, and just the right touch of intrigue is pure bliss. That's why I'm happy to share my newest release, A Deathly Display—book 11 in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum cozy mystery series. Maddie Kosloski is back, juggling cursed artifacts, small-town secrets, and a murder that's anything but picture-perfect. Here are five reasons this cozy mystery will hook you from page one.
1.) An Art-World Setting That's Pure Cozy Mystery Magic
Cozy mysteries shine when the backdrop feels like a character itself, and A Deathly Display takes that to the next level with a glamorous museum inspired by The Getty in California. Picture elegant travertine halls, sprawling gardens, and panoramic views twisted into a fictional venue where high-society meets homicide. Maddie enrolls in a curation class there, hoping to polish her skills for her quirky San Benedetto Paranormal Museum, but ends up curating clues to a killer instead.
Fun fact: The "haunted" painting in the story's subplot is based on real tales of cursed artworks.
2.) Light Paranormal Twists That Keep the Cozy Mystery Tension Simmering
What sets my series apart in the cozy mystery genre is the subtle paranormal flavor—never over-the-top, always leaving room for doubt. In A Deathly Display, a vintner's painting is possibly haunted, with a figure that seems to shift when no one's looking. Is it a curse, or clever trickery?
Fun behind-the-scenes detail: I researched museum ghost stories for authenticity, like whispers in empty rooms or lights flickering near certain displays. Readers love this in cozy mysteries because it adds a delicious shiver without tipping into horror. No talking animals or spells here—just that "maybe magic" ambiguity that makes every clue pop.
3.) A Relatable Heroine and Character Growth That Hits Home
At the heart of any successful cozy mystery is a protagonist you want to befriend, and Maddie Kosloski is that gal. In her thirties, back in her hometown after a career detour, she's rebuilding her life one exhibit at a time—feeling overshadowed by her super-successful siblings, just like Central California's wine country (inspired by underrated Lodi) gets eclipsed by Napa.
Behind the scenes: Maddie's arc draws from real women I've known—smart, stubborn, and quietly fierce. Cozy mystery fans connect with Maddie's growth because it's authentic—no superheroes, just everyday resilience. This book shows her evolving confidence. Fun fact: Her "curation class" was loosely based on an online museum curation course I took, where I learned how to build suspense through maze-like layouts (dim halls for tension, bright exits for relief).
4.) A Clever, Fair-Play Puzzle That's Cozy Mystery Perfection
Cozy mysteries thrive on brain-teasing whodunits, and A Deathly Display serves up a doozy: a body discovered at a swanky event, with motives tangled in family and professional feuds and hidden provenances. Red herrings abound, but every clue is fair, leading to that satisfying reveal.
5.) Slow-Burn Romance and Community Bonds That Warm Every Cozy Mystery Page
No cozy mystery is complete without heartfelt connections, and A Deathly Display delivers with Maddie's evolving love life and tight-knit circle. She's got options—Mason the charming biker, Detective Slate the steady cop—and now a third contender who might be the charm. They keep it professional and slow, building tension across books without overshadowing the mystery. Plus, her meddlesome mom and her diva sister provide that family warmth cozy mystery readers adore.
Behind the scenes: I love writing these bonds because they're inspired by real-life relationships—loyal, messy, and ultimately uplifting. In this cozy mystery, connections help Maddie untangle the plot, reminding us that solving crimes (and life) is better together. If you're hooked on cozy mysteries with romance that's sweet but not sappy, this book will leave you smiling. Grab it now—your TBR pile (and heart) will thank you!
There you have it—five rock-solid reasons A Deathly Display is your next cozy mystery obsession. With its art-infused intrigue, paranormal whispers, relatable sleuthing, clever plot, and warm bonds, it's everything we love about the genre. Available in ebook and paperback—perfect for curling up with tea (or wine).
What's your top reason for loving a cozy mystery? The setting, the puzzle, or the people? Drop a comment—I read every one and might feature your ideas in future posts.
Happy reading,
Kirsten Weiss
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AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:
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Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries, and now a Tarot guidebook that’s a work of experimental fiction. Her heroes and heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.
Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
You can find Kirsten at KirstenWeiss.com
You can find the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum on X at: x.com/SBPM_Museum
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