Welcome to Mystery Month!

You’ll notice that the words on the photo are different from the title of this post. That is because when I use those words in a post, all the social media channels block the post because their bots think it is promoting… crime.

So let’s call it mystery month! and have we got some mysteries for you!

HARD-BOILED AND LOADED WITH SIN (A NOIR ANTHOLOGY) features 18 hard-hitting tales by today’s top indie writers. Edited and featuring an introduction by Dianne Pearce, this must-read collection includes the following tales…

PRIDE GOETH BEFORE by SUZANNE MATTABONI
THE THIRD REFILL by ALBERT TUCHER
ELEGY IN A CITY CHURCHYARD by WILLIAM F. CRANDELL
THE LISSOME LIQUIDATOR by JAMES DONZELLA
LEAVING by ALBERTO AMBARD
GET ON HOME by DENA LINN
A DARK PLACE by QUINTIN PETERSON
ALPHABETIC KARMA by SCOTT ARCHER JONES
CHUMP CHANGE by SUSAN WALSH
HER EYES WERE OPEN by BENJAMIN FINE
THE LADY WITH EMERALD GREEN EYES by JAMES DONZELLA
PEARL OF GREAT PRICE by PHIL GIUNTA
PROFIT AND LOSS by DIANNA SINOVIC
ANGEL DELORME AND THE CRAIGFLOWER BUS by MITCHELL TOEWS
TRACKER OF LOST SOULS by ROBERT POPE
DIG TWO GRAVES by ANDREW R. MIKOS
ROCK BOTTOM by QUINTIN PETERSON
THE BULLET TRAIN by R. DAVID FULCHER

If you think you know noir, think again!

Delve into the world of cozy mysteries with Just a Housecleaner, where Amy Willard weaves a captivating tale centered around a strong female protagonist and the bonds of friendship shattered by an unexpected tragedy.

Follow Patsy Taylor as she navigates the intricate web of grief and detective work in the wake of the sudden death of her dear and recently reacquainted friend, Veronica. 

With Patsy’s background in law enforcement, her sleuthing skills come to the forefront as she uncovers threats lurking within Veronica’s estate from unlikely sources. Along the way, a colorful cast of characters is introduced, each adding layers to the mystery surrounding Veronica’s demise.

As romance, grief, and intrigue intersect, Patsy embarks on a journey of self-discovery, unraveling truths that not only shed light on Ronnie’s death but also on her own heart. With touches of humor sprinkled amidst tense moments, Willard keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Join Patsy as she transitions from housekeeper to investigator, determined to safeguard Ronnie’s legacy from falling into the wrong hands. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, Just a Housecleaner is a compelling read that skillfully blends suspense, humor, and heart. Dive in and uncover the secrets lurking within its pages!

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, a thrilling crime anthology featuring work by twenty-three unique voices. This volume contains the following original works, among many others::
Puzzle Box No. 1 by Heidi J. Hewett
Reflections of Miss Ava by Phyllis Humby
Detective Show #2647 by Monte A. Anderson
Acts of Magic by David Yurkovich
Mark Twain’s Unscheduled Trip to Shanghai by Dianne Pearce
A Murder in Manila by Jonathan Ochoco
Sleep To See Tomorrow’s Memories of Yesterday by Robert Lewis Heron
The Case of the Mislaid Eggs by Patsy Pratt-Herzog
In Death, She Speaks the Truth by Liliana Widocks
Isla de Corazón Piedra by Michael Sarabia
The Discovered Country by Tom Barlow
Insomnia by Sharon Berg
The Infiltrator by Paulene Turner
My Illness Looks Like Darkness by Wendel Young

And our newest mystery treat:

“…a throwback to a time before graphic violence and hardcore police procedurals became the norm…Elliott crafts a pleasantly twisty mystery populated by rich characters… an intriguing tale that is sure to delight old-fashioned mystery lovers. A satisfying cozy mystery with just a hint of the supernatural.”
KIRKUS

A Witch Awakens is a ‘Fire Circle Mystery’ steeped in an Appalachian backdrop and traditions. It delivers a punch with the hard-hitting story of Cece Chagall, who moves back to her hometown of Eureka Grove in search of peace, only to herself involved in a murder…Readers seeking vivid, engrossing stories that weave supernatural overtones into issues of murder, discovery, and transformation will relish the combination of realistic characterization and community awakening that make A Witch Awakens a vibrant, thoroughly immersive experience.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

In the debut novel of the Fire Circle Mystery series, author Ellis Elliott blends elements of the supernatural into the cozy mystery genre resulting in an exciting reading experience. Readers meet Tennessee “Cece” Chagall, who returns to her hometown of Eureka Grove, Tennessee, after leaving New York. She resumes life as a dance instructor at her grandmother’s studio and reconnects with her old friend Bess. But her peaceful routine is shattered when a beloved local figure is murdered. Cece’s synesthesia—referred to as her “peculiars” by Aunt Granny Hazel—begins revealing clues that seem to guide her toward the truth. As she grapples with the strange sensory experiences that point her to the murder weapon, she leans on her eccentric aunt and the supportive women of the “fire circle” for insight. Blending small-town charm, quirky characters, and a classic whodunit feel, this mystery pays homage to traditional detective tales, steering clear of graphic content and gritty crime tropes.

So celebrate (Mystery) month by reading a great book!

WELCOME TO CRIME MONTH

June is “Crime Month,” and we want to hear from you! What’s your favorite mystery novel of all time?

Aside from the books we’ve published here, mine just might be A LITTLE YELLOW DOG.

Leave a comment with your favorite below, and one lucky respondent will get a print copy of the Hawkshaw Press book of their choice! (Winner chosen and notified July 1st!)

JUST A HOUSECLEANER OUT NOW!

ON AUDIBLE

IN PAPERBACK

MIDWEST REVIEW OF BOOKS SAYS:

Cozy mystery fans that choose JUST A HOUSECLEANER [will follow] Patsy Taylor’s dual foray into grief and detective work.

Romance, grief, and mystery coalesce in a satisfying manner as Patsy pulls on threads of truth that lead to better understanding her own heart.

HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING DETECTIVE PATSY?

Kindle Vella is a format where an author can serialize a novel. JUST A HOUSECLEANER is Amy Willard’s novel about a housecleaner named Patsy who solves a crime.

Anyone in the USA (currently it is only offered stateside) can read Amy’s book on Kindle Vella. And the first three episodes are free.

The final episode posts 8/28, so start reading now!

The paperback version releases next year.

And find out all about Amy here.

HAWKSHAW PRESS IS PROUD TO PRESENT MAIDSKILL MYSTERIES

We are so pleased to launch the first book in the Maidskill Mystery Series, JUST A HOUSECLEANER, a cozy series by Amy Willard:

When Patsy finds her friend and client, Ronnie, has passed away in her living room, Patsy’s only thought is how to take care of Ronnie’s dog and estate. But someone in Ronnie’s life has other ideas. Can Patsy, still grieving the loss of her friend, help save her friend’s estate?

View the official book trailer:

The paperback is coming in the fall, but you can start reading the book right now, FREE, on Kindle Vella!

AND HAVE YOU MET AMY???

Amy is a lifelong entrepreneur who currently runs her own housecleaning business, FOR REALS! And is starting down the cosy mystery path with JUST A HOUSECLEANER, her first book, but the second one is almost done!

See an interview with Amy too!

PATSY’S TOPPED 100!

People are loving Amy’s story of a housecleaner turned detective! She has over 100 likes in less than a month!

You can check her out too! The first three reads are always free!

Is Patsy just a housecleaner? What do you think?

CLICK and help get her to 200 likes!

WANNA CLEAN UP CRIME? HOW ABOUT JUST CLEANING UP IN GENERAL?

Amy Willard is not just an author, she’s also a housecleaner.

Catch her latest video on housecleaning!

Wow! Amazing Amy! Entrepreneurs make the best authors!

Being an author means being a hard-working entrepreneur, so people like Amy come to it naturally, and meet so many possible suspects in their every day lives!

Catch Amy’s mystery, right now, on Kindle Vella. New episodes drop each week, and the paperback comes out this fall. As always, the first three episodes are free to read!

It’s a cosy mystery with great reviews!

HAWKSHAW PRESS IS PROUD TO PRESENT MAIDSKILL MYSTERIES

We are so pleased to launch the first book in the Maidskill Mystery Series, JUST A HOUSECLEANER, a cozy series by Amy Willard:

When Patsy finds her friend and client, Ronnie, has passed away in her living room, Patsy’s only thought is how to take care of Ronnie’s dog and estate. But someone in Ronnie’s life has other ideas. Can Patsy, still grieving the loss of her friend, help save her friend’s estate?

View the official book trailer:

The paperback is coming in the fall, but you can start reading the book right now, FREE, on Kindle Vella!

AND HAVE YOU MET AMY???

Amy is a lifelong entrepreneur who currently runs her own housecleaning business, FOR REALS! And is starting down the cosy mystery path with JUST A HOUSECLEANER, her first book, but the second one is almost done!

See an interview with Amy too!

WHAT IF A HOUSECLEANER IN REAL LIFE WROTE A MYSTERY ABOUT A HOUSECLEANER SOLVING CRIMES?

What if that was exactly what was happening?

Amy is reaching for her dream.

Have you ever wanted to quit your day job and be a writer?

Why not follow Amy? You can find out all about how she is doing it: making the writing dream happen for herself, one chapter at a time. Will she reach her goal in the end?

You can sample her book for free, if you live in the USA, by licking the link:

Sample of JUST A HOUSECLEANER