Guest Post

Guest Chick: Dianne Freeman

We are delighted to welcome Dianne Freeman, author of the award-winning Countess of Harleigh Mystery series! A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder is out this week, and Dianne will give away one hardcover copy to a lucky commenter.

I Wrote a What?

There was never any question that when I wrote a novel, it would be historical fiction. I love history. There’s something magical about taking a trip to the past to mingle with people from a bygone era. What did they believe? What did they care about? How did they live? I should be clear that this trip takes place only in my head and I travel via books and old newspapers. I don’t have any actual magical powers, darn it.

It was also a given that I’d write mystery. I love following the clues and cracking the case. Crime novels are like a social commentary about a particular time and place. What could make a person feel so cornered that murder, a bad idea under any circumstances, seems to be the only escape?

What I didn’t know about my novel, was that I’d written a cozy, probably because I’d never heard the term before. When my agent mentioned it, I just agreed. Who was I to question her? She was an experienced agent and I was a brand-new author. I didn’t want her to think I was a complete idiot. As soon as the conversation was over, I Googled “cozy mystery.” Here’s what I learned:

“The detectives in a cozy are nearly always amateurs, and are frequently women.“

So far, so good. My protagonist is Frances, Countess of Harleigh. She’s an American heiress and widow to the philandering Earl of Harleigh. Though she can run a large household staff, the only kind of training she’s had was in the social graces. She’s amusing at parties, can whip up a seating chart or flower arrangement in no time, and has a finely tuned ear for gossip. Amateur status—check.

“The crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.”

No one would call London a small town, even in 1899, but the upper echelon of society at that time was definitely a socially intimate community. Each member had to know one another’s business or risk hosting a dinner party with a husband and wife, and one of their lovers. That could be uncomfortable.

“Sex and violence are downplayed, or treated humorously.”

I’ve been known to have nightmares after reading violent or psychological thrillers, so writing details of violence would keep me up all night wondering, what’s that noise? In my books, violence takes place off the page. As for sex, my characters are very discreet.

All in all, this makes the cozy my favorite kind of mystery so I’m glad to hear that’s what I wrote. One element Google didn’t mention, but I learned later, was that the victim and the villain know each other. The victim could be murdered by a colleague, someone he thought was a friend, or worse, a family member, which puts a completely different slant on the term “cozy” doesn’t it? I’d better not consider that too closely or cozies may have me losing sleep too.

Chicks and readers, what are your favorite types of mysteries? Do they keep you up at night or help you to rest easy?

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. She is an Agatha Award and Lefty Award winner, as well as a finalist for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America.

She spent thirty years working in corporate accounting and finance and now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona.

Visit her at www.DiFreeman.com.

 

 

 

About A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder

Though American by birth, Frances Wynn, the now-widowed Countess of Harleigh, has adapted admirably to the quirks and traditions of the British aristocracy. On August twelfth each year, otherwise known as the Glorious Twelfth, most members of the upper class retire to their country estates for grouse-shooting season. Frances has little interest in hunting—for birds or a second husband—and is expecting to spend a quiet few months in London with her almost-engaged sister, Lily, until the throng returns.

Instead, she’s immersed in a shocking mystery when a friend, Mary Archer, is found murdered. Frances had hoped Mary might make a suitable bride for her cousin, Charles, but their courtship recently fizzled out. Unfortunately, this puts Charles in the spotlight—along with dozens of others. It seems Mary had countless notes hidden in her home, detailing the private indiscretions of society’s elite. Frances can hardly believe that the genteel and genial Mary was a blackmailer, yet why else would she horde such juicy tidbits?

Aided by her gallant friend and neighbor, George Hazelton, Frances begins assisting the police in this highly sensitive case, learning more about her peers than she ever wished to know. Too many suspects may be worse than none at all—but even more worrying is that the number of victims is increasing too. And unless Frances takes care, she’ll soon find herself among them . . .

 

53 thoughts on “Guest Chick: Dianne Freeman”

  2. So fun! I love historical fiction and a good mystery.

    My absolute favorite are “locked room” style mysteries where I know the villain is one of a certain subset of people… but I always still manage to be surprised by the outcome!

    Best wishes and congratulation on the new book

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    1. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series. I really enjoyed the first one.

      It has everything. History, mystery, humor and characters that are likable – both smart and discreet.

      Congratulations on winning the Agatha award!

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  3. I love mysteries where the reader gets thrown into a new and different culture or subculture, and that are not too dark or creepy. Yours sounds perfect! So looking forward to reading it! And thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today!

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  4. Congrats on your new release! I prefer cozy mysteries as well. I do also read heavier mysteries, but I don’t particularly enjoy graphic, violent details that I could just as easily find by turning on the news. I read to escape.

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  5. I love all kinds of mysteries, and more and more I find myself turning to cozy mysteries because they are truly enjoyable reads, a nice escape, and don’t keep me up at night. I love mysteries set in the British Isles, and A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder sounds like a perfect read for me!

    Congratulations, Diane, on the release of your new book, and thanks for stopping by Chicks on the Case ~

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  6. So glad you’re visiting us, Dianne! I have a particular fondness for historical cozies, so I can’t wait to read your book. But in additional to cozies, I like traditional mysteries – Louise Penny, Jacqueline Winspear, who writes in the past but I wouldn’t call her books cozies – and domestic suspense, Hallie Ephron being a favorite.

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  8. I love cozy murder mysteries, and I love the Regency/Victorian period! When I read a Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, it was like both of my loves had merged together! I am SOOO excited to read A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder!

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  9. Dianne, so happy to have you hanging out with the Chicks today! Loved your debut and look forward to reading the new book! Mysteries only keep me awake nights because I have to read “just one more page”!

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  10. Dianne, Your series is full of everything I love, too. A time period steeped in endless intricacies and delicious scandals, plus a plucky heroine sleuth? Irresistible–and the perfect cozy world! Can’t wait to read your second book. Thanks for visiting Chicks today–next time we will offer fancy little sandwiches.

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  12. Diane, thank you so much for visiting us and congratulations on the new book!! I love every kind of crime fiction, from cozies to thrillers–which gives me a lot of reading ground to cover! Very much looking forward to reading Gossip and Murder. It sounds like everything I love!

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  15. This looks interesting! My favorite type of mystery is one that keeps me up because I can’t wait to crack the case. Not one that keeps me up because of violence or something that makes me uneasy. I like getting stumped at the end! It’s fun to suspect everyone as you’re reading and then start narrowing it down.

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  16. Looks like an amazing book Dianne, I’d love to have a chance to win it and read the whole book.
    Thanks Kathleen Valenti to posting this to read.

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  22. This series sounds right up my alley. You are a new-to-me author, now on my TBR! I like almost all genres, including the creepy ones. I try to switch up what I’m reading though so I’m not reading the same type story twice in a row. Cozy mysteries have a special place in my heart. They are fun and often funny but with enough danger and clues to keep me guessing. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  23. Thanks to everyone who visited my post and thanks to the Chicks for hosting me! The winner of the hardcover copy of A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder is…….Fran Vella! Congratulations, Fran! Please email me at diannefreemanwrites@gmail.com and provide a mailing address, and I will get your book right out to you!

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    1. Thank you so much Dianne! I’m looking forward to reading this series. Glad you were able to join the Chicks today. They are all fabulous authors!

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