A Whale of a Murder

Taylor’s debut cozy hits all the beloved genre touchstones. There’s an offstage murder in a small town, baking, cats, a small business…cozy indeed! But the author adds a little spiciness to the relationships, making the book ideal for fans of the subgenre and those who love Taylor’s romantic-comedy What’s Not trilogy. The action takes place in Chatham Crossing, Massachusetts, where the self-proclaimed first lady is…well, that’s the subject of a friendly rivalry. Carole Duffy, the mayor’s wife, seems to have the most legal claim to the title. But if vivacity crowns the winner, the title would go to Venus Bixby, owner of a local vintage record and bake shop, Oldies and Goodies (home to cats Sonny and Cher and to Carole’s delicious cookies). Everyone who’s anyone is ready for Venus’s 50th birthday bash at the town’s big attraction, the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum, but the festivities grind to a halt when Venus falls over a distinct pair of orange platform shoes in the garden, shoes that are being worn by the dead owner of the museum’s gift shop. The sleuthing is on, with Venus, friends, and rivals excelling at small-town bitchiness even as suspects are ticked off the list. Watch for this fun first in a series, which comes with recipes and a playlist.