Welcome to Wednesday! Patricia here and it’s my very great pleasure to welcome Ashley-Ruth Bernier to the blog. Ashley-Ruth is an award-winning crime fiction author and a super-fun human. She’s also a very generous human. Ashley-Ruth is offering one prize each to two commenters. One commenter will receive a copy of her upcoming release, THE BUSH TEA MURDER. Another commenter will receive a copy of MALICE DOMESTIC’S MYSTERY MOST HUMOROUS anthology, which includes Ashley-Ruth’s Agatha and Derringer Award-nominated “Six-Armed Robbery.” Ashley-Ruth, welcome to Chicks on the Case! Take it away!
Thanks for having me on Chicks on the Case this week! It’s a blog I’ve always admired, and I’m thrilled to be an invited guest. If you’ve read my bio, you’ve probably learned that I’m an elementary school teacher and a mom of five! Because of this, I’m often asked if the stories I write are for kids. Read on below to learn more…
I write for adult audiences, even though I spend my day surrounded by children. No—actually, let me rephrase: I write for adult audiences BECAUSE I spend my day surrounded by children. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy teaching my first graders about letter sounds and telling time, and hearing their enthusiastic chatter about loose teeth and Bluey. It’s a change from the conversations at home with my own children, which range from baby babble to incessant video game references to the latest drama, literal and figurative, in the high school theater classes. As much as I love being immersed in the worlds of my students and children, I sometimes need an escape, which is exactly what my mystery and crime writing provides. Honestly, the best therapy after a long day at school and home is the opportunity to write stories in which my characters can speak and behave like adults and deal with crimes like the grown-ups they are.
When the MYSTERY MOST HUMOROUS anthology call came out from Malice Domestic, I initially shrugged it off. I thought it would be too hard to write something funny. Eventually, I came up with an idea I thought was hilarious: a group of robbers who used terrifying Caribbean wildlife, like roaches, iguanas, grasshoppers, and frogs, as their weapons of choice. As I thought more about the story, I realized that these robbers weren’t adults—they had to be kids. Who else would come up with a plan so ridiculous and yet so perfectly simple at the same time? There was just one small problem, though. I hadn’t written from the perspective of a 12-year-old since I actually WAS a 12-year-old myself. How could I make sure to get the voice right but still make the story appealing to adults?
Luckily, this is where my home, professional, and writing life collided to make an end product I was pleased with. By leaning on my experiences as a parent and teacher, I was able to get into my narrator’s head, and the story felt authentic and flowed from there. Although there is one salty word included, I’m pleased to say “Six-Armed Robbery” is a story that both adult and young readers can enjoy! I’m even more pleased that the story is a finalist for an Agatha Award this year. Registered attendees of this year’s Malice Domestic conference can vote, but anyone can read all the finalist stories on the Malice Domestic website.
Readers, who are some of your favorite young narrators in crime fiction (or whatever fiction you enjoy the most)? Answer below for a chance to win either a copy of MALICE DOMESTIC’S MYSTERY MOST HUMOROUS anthology, where this story first appeared, or an ARC of my debut novel, THE BUSH TEA MURDER, which releases on April 21st! If you enjoy stories steeped in Caribbean culture and mayhem under the sun, either of these are a great fit! I’ll start: one of my favorites is Flavia deLuce from Alan Bradley’s novel THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Culinary journalist Naomi Sinclair is cooking up a maelstrom of trouble upon her return to the blue waters of her native Saint Thomas.
A new cozy mystery set in the US Virgin Islands, this charming amateur sleuth will enrapture readers of Joanne Fluke and Carrie Doyle.
Food journalist Naomi Sinclair doesn’t expect a side of murder with her passion fruit juice. But when her return to Saint Thomas heralds a series of troubling cases, ranging from petty theft to cold-blooded murder, that threaten her tight-knit community, that is exactly the kind of unsavory treat she must sink her teeth into.
Luckily for her neighbors, Naomi is as adept at solving puzzles as rolling johnnycake dough—a good thing, since her island community, though small, keeps serving up plenty of trouble. With the help of her friends and her crush, Mateo, Naomi must navigate the tumultuous turquoise waters of life in the Caribbean, all as her beloved father battles an illness that keeps tugging her back to her island amid her rising career stateside.
Rich with mouthwatering recipes, lush landscapes, and a hefty dose of fun under the sun, The Bush Tea Murder has all the ingredients to make up the perfect beach read.
ABOUT ASHLEY-RUTH BERNIER
Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier’s work has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2023, and other esteemed anthologies. Originally from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ashley-Ruth writes mysteries highlighting the vibrant culture of her home. Ashley-Ruth is a 2022 winner of NCWN’s Jacobs-Jones award, a 2023 SMFS Derringer finalist, a Killer Nashville Claymore finalist, a 2024 recipient of MWA’s Barbara Neely grant for Black mystery writers, and a 2026 Agatha Award nominee. THE BUSH TEA MURDER is her first novel-length work. She lives with her husband, five kids, and a clingy dog and cat, and teaches first grade in Apex, North Carolina.
Website: www.ashleyruthbernier.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armbernier
Threads: ARMBernier
Bluesky: @ARMBernier.bsky.social
Facebook: Ashley-Ruth Moolenaar Bernier
Chicks on the Case 
Ashley-Ruth, thank you so much for visiting with us today and sharing with us the origin story for “Six-Armed Robbery.” I had the honor of reading an advance copy of THE BUSH TEA MURDER and loved it! Congratulations and very best wishes for continued success!
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Thank you so much for inviting me, Patricia—this has been such a blast! And thank you SO MUCH for reading The Bush Tea Murder…I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
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Congratulations Ashley-Ruth! Both stories sound like good fun, and I’m always eager to read stories that take place in the Caribbean. I’d love to visit St. Thomas.
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Thank you so much, Mary! I certainly had fun writing them! You’d love a vacation to St. Thomas, believe me!
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Welcome Ashley-Ruth. I was lucky to read an early copy THE BUSH TEA MURDER and enjoyed it. Congrats on your upcoming book release.
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Thank you so much for everything you’ve done, Dru Ann…it means so much to me!
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Congratulations, Ashley-Ruth! I saw St. Thomas – at a distance – when I worked in St. Croix back in 1995-96. Beautiful place.
Favorite youthful narrator? Hmm. I’m not sure it fits, but I loved the voice in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books.
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Oooh, Percy is a favorite at our house, too. My kids loved the books, and one was in the Percy Jackson musical at his high school! You worked in St. Croix after Hurricane Marilyn? Thanks for doing that! You’ll have to revisit the VI sometime to see how much has changed! St. Croix is the spot for foodies, for SURE! Everything is delicious!
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Yep, that is exactly when I was there. Three months in Puerto Rico, 3 in St. Croix. Beautiful place – even if it was a little trashed in the hurricane.
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Congratulations,Ashley-Ruth! And thank you for being a teacher. Our children’s future is brighter because of folks like you. Cheers!
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Thank you so much! I’m popping in to read comments while my students are at music class. Sometimes we need encouragement like this—thanks again!
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Congratulations on your new book and your creative coping mechanism! We readers who benefit appreciate your dedication to both teaching and writing!
Here’s to some older youthful sleuths, like Harriet the Spy and Encyclopedia Brown. Their observation skills and creativity were inspiring and are to this day.
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Encyclopedia Brown was one of my favorites growing up! Sadly, that was how I learned I’d never make it as a sleuth…I missed so many of the clues he noticed! However, I got around that little problem by writing my own mysteries!
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I never solved any Encyclopedia Brown puzzles that I can remember, sigh. #fail
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Nor did I, but he still was fun to read!
Win for us since you became a writer of mysteries!!
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+1 for Encyclopedia Brown!
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Teachers are heroes! I just wanted to say that first. Congrats on all your mystery accomplishments. To answer your question, I don’t remember if it’s in first person but one of my favorite childhood books was KNIGHT’S CASTLE by Edward Eager. I still have my copy of it!
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I agree 1,000 percent!
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Thank you, Ellen! There are days where I feel harangued than heroic, for sure….which is when the writing feels like a therapeutic escape. Knight’s Castle is one I’m unfamiliar with, but I’ll be eagerly looking it up! I still have a lot of my childhood favorites, too. Many of them look a LOT worse for the wear after going through a couple of hurricanes back in the day!
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So glad you’re here, Ashley-Ruth! Congrats on your nominated story & your upcoming book!! Not sure who my favorite young protagonist would be besides Encyclopedia (see above comment), but I did enjoy the Anne of Green Gables series.
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Thank you so much, Jennifer! I really liked Anne of Green Gables as well! I like how the series took us from her bring a girl to being a fully grown woman and mom…and then gave us a whole story about her daughter!
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Nancy Drew was my favorite sleuth. She was popular “back in the day” and the books are still around today.
I’m excited for your new book release next Tuesday!
Congratulations on the latest addition to your family!
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Thank you so much, Ms. Hammers! We miss seeing you around at MPE. As I’m sure you saw in the library, Nancy Drew and her friends are definitely still making their rounds. I still have a bunch of the “Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew” series that’s geared for 7-8 year olds in my classroom.
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Thanks so much for visiting today, Ashley-Ruth! I’ll be at Malice next week and look forward to meeting you. Congratulations on your nomination!
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Looking forward to it, Marla! Malice is such a special event. This will be my 4th time attending, and I couldn’t be more excited! Thank you for reading my post today.
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Welcome, Ashley-Ruth! I’m so glad to hear you teach kids to tell time, as I recently heard that lots of children no longer learn to read old-style clocks. Oy.
I so love the idea for your story, and congrats on the Agatha nom–hurrah!
Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks, and I hope to see you at Malice!
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Haha, Leslie, every year that math unit on reading analog clocks feels more and more obsolete…but the kids always feel so grown-up after learning it, and believe it or not, it has a tie-in with fractions too (half-and quarter- hour)! Big congratulations on your Agatha nomination as well! Your book sounds like a lot of fun! See you next week at Malice!
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Amanda Flower had a YA series as does Raquel Reyes. I don’t remember if they are in the first person. I love Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan’s other series.
Since I love Death in Paradise, I assume that I would like your book. Thanks for the chance.
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Death in Paradise is definitely a fun series…I enjoy watching it with my mom, who still goes back and forth between here and St. Thomas! I hope my book will also create those sunny-yet-mysterious vibes for you. Thank you for stopping by today!
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Ashley-Ruth, we Chicks are all so delighted that you are our guest today! I absolutely loved Six-Armed Robbery–huge congrats on your nomination!!! And I can’t wait to read The Bush Tea Murder, which is already on my TBR. RE: Teen narrators in crime fiction, Susie Salmon in The Lovely Bones left a haunting and indelible impression on my psyche. For better or for worse, sigh.
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Thank you so much for your kind words about the story, Lisa!!! I’m so glad you liked it. I read The Lovely Bones when I was still in high school or college…maybe I can’t remember my exact age, but I certainly remember the chills I had when I finished reading the book. I absolutely agree about the impact of that particular narrator and story.
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Good to have you here. I love St. Thomas for a setting. I went there for my honeymoon and fell in love with it. The people were so friendly, and the food was so tasty. When I think of young sleuths I always think of Nancy Drew. She is the one who hooked me on mysteries growing up. I remember wanting to be her because I thought she was so cool.
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Oh wow! I’m so glad you had a lovely honeymoon on our beautiful island…and yes, the food in St. Thomas is fantastic! And I agree—I think we all wanted to be Nancy Drew growing up!
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Thank you so much to everyone for stopping by today and leaving a comment on my post—and an even bigger thank you to my hosts for having me here at Chicks on the Case! I’ll be picking winners later tonight!
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