Do you love a good Cozy Mystery? Do you lose yourself for hours following along with the not-too-dangerous but nail-biting action nonetheless? Your imagination races along at a fast pace following the adventures of an amateur sleuth… someone almost like yourself, if you had the nerve, that is… You eat up the sprinklings of romance and enjoy a few laughs along your armchair journey.
Just imagine the twists and turns of fate the characters in these Cozy Mysteries have gotten into! The clues are almost always red herrings. Got you that time!
Moving is Murder featured in a Musings by Trina blog post
Autumn Abundance – a recipe, planting for spring and a little musing about “MOVING IS MURDER”
Then, when you’ve exhausted the story, ridden the waves of wonder, discovered the who-done-it, and understood the reasons for a few quirky bits…, you reluctantly put the book down. You were captivated by the imaginary journey and happy for the ride, but you were glad it was someone else and not you.
Are you satisfied? Or are you eager for the next book by your favorite Cozy Mystery author? How do they think all this up anyway?
That is how I feel about Joan Havelange’s Cozy Mysteries. And here she is. She has done it again! Now, why didn’t I think up this title and story? “MOVING IS MURDER.” Yes, we all know that moving is murder; each time, we determine is the last time we will ever move again.
Yes, the question we all get to ask ourselves from time to time is, “How well do you know your neighbors?”
A New Book Launch by Joan Havelange
The Séance Murders
Saskatchewan (Canadian Historical Mysteries) Kindle Edition.
An Historical Mystery set in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan.
In 1908, Regina, Saskatchewan, the railroad hub of the prairies, was booming. The foxtrot was the latest craze hitting the dance halls, and silent movies were all the rage. But Myrtle Vanhoff was intrigued by the newest fad, Séances.
Myrtle is tired of the constraints put on her by her father, Reginald Vanhoff, a lumber baron, and her mother, Amelia. Her mother is determined to make her and her daughter’s mark on Regina’s burgeoning social scene. But Myrtle has other ideas.
On a lark, the rebellious young woman convinces her twin brother, Leopold, to attend Madame Scarlatta’s notorious séances. They find more than restless spirits. Someone murders a bereaved patron while everyone at the table is holding hands. Myrtle and Leopold are determined to find out who and how.
A Regina police sergeant is appalled at Myrtle’s unladylike interest in the murders. But Jonathan Chapman of the Royal North-West Mounted Police is intrigued. Jonathan joins Myrtle and Leopold in their search for the murderer. When Myrtle gets too close to the truth, the murderer targets her as the next victim.
“MOVING IS MURDER” by JOAN HAVELANGE
Find more books by Joan Havelange.
Murder, Exit Stage Right -Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventure
Quite the characters! Mabel and Violet enthrall and amuse readers through their Excellent Adventures in five best-selling Cozy Mysteries, a series by Joan Havelange.
Joan has enjoyed being both a Director and an Actor in Little Theatre productions for fifteen years. “I find writing is a lot like directing, except all my characters show up on time and always know their lines. But, sometimes, they go off in a direction that even surprises me!”
During the course of five books so far, protagonists Mabel and Violet take readers on a journey around the world, solving mysteries along the way. Joan has traveled to forty different countries, so it is no wonder she can use so many exciting places as a backdrop for “Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures. “Travel allows me to take my ladies’ adventures further afield.”
Congratulations! Joan Havelange has won the BWL Publishing Award for Best Selling Author for two years running, in 2021 and 2022.
Joan Havelange’s Series, “Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures.” are listed below, beginning with her latest.
Book 5
Murder, Exit Stage Right
Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures
“Mabel Havelock makes her debut on stage at a drama festival. Sabotage and a close brush with death convince her not all drama takes place on stage. But why sabotage a drama festival? And who has anything to gain from the death of her fellow actor?”
Joan Havelange
A collection of amateur actors with big egos land in Mabel Havelock’s hometown. All the drama does not take place on the stage at the Glenhaven Drama Festival.
Mabel Havelock’s acting debut is not the only thing on her mind. Mysterious accidents and sabotage are plaguing the festival. Mabel and her best friend, Violet Ficher, are determined to ferret out the culprit. The problem is why? Who has anything to gain? And why did Sherman have to die?
“I’ve been railroaded into acting. The role I’m playing is the role of Jeeves, the butler. I know, weird, right? More about that later. The Glenhaven Players is the little theatre group from my hometown. And our drama club is hosting a one-act drama festival. Violet Ficher, my best friend, and I volunteered to help. Violet is looking after props and doing the makeup. I am, or I was, doing the prompting. And let me tell you, these actors can use all the prompting help they can get. Particularly the lead int eh play, Jolene, who, in my opintion, is miscast. She is Helen, our director’s granddaughter. Anyway, back to the reason for my acting debut…”
Mabel Havelock —protagonist in Murder Exit Stage Right.
Book 4
The Suspects
Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures
“In ‘The Suspects.’ My ladies take a bus tour of the Nordic countries. The tour director meets an untimely death. There is a busload of suspects, but unfortunately, Mabel, my protagonist, is the main suspect. How can she prove her innocence in a foreign country where she doesn’t speak the language?”
Joan Havelange
Mable Havelock and Violet Ficher are on a scenic bus tour of the Nordic capital cities of Europe and Russia. The tour culminates in Moscow. The tour director is murdered, and there is a busload of suspects to choose from. A flirtatious woman and her jealous husband. A professor of Nordic History who is ill-informed. Two world travelers who describe themselves as gypsies and a mysterious man who is hiding something. The tour director’s assistant and bus driver both have an axe to grind against the tour director, Hilda Karlson.
The adventure never stops. There are smugglers, thieves, and a case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately, the prime suspect is Mabel. The women will have to use all their skills and ingenuity to solve the murder in Moscow to prove to the Russian police that Mabel is innocent.
Book 3
The Trouble with Funerals
Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures
“My ladies return to their little country town, where they find Mabel’s mother suspects her best friend has been murdered. Mabel must solve this motiveless murder and find the killer before the killer finds her mother.”
Joan Havelange
The trouble with funerals is there are too many of them! Mabel’s mother is convinced there is something nefarious going on at the senior’s condo ‘Gravenhurst Manor.’ She convinces her daughter to look into the death of her best friend, Mini, who died under suspicious circumstances. If there is a cold, calculating murderer at work, Mabel must find the killer before it’s too late. Her mother could be next. But what is the motive? Why would anyone want to kill a senior? The main suspect has a perfect alibi, namely Mabel.
“Just finished your book, The Trouble with Funerals. What an awesome book. I’d read a few chapters earlier in the week, then finished it last night. I was on the balcony for two hours and came inside when it started getting dark. But I couldn’t put it down and finished it before bed.”
From a fan.
Mabel’s usually reliable sidekick, Violet, can no longer be counted on. Violet may have gotten herself involved with a con man. Against the backdrop of the peaceful little town of Glenhaven, Mabel’s challenge is to solve the motiveless murders and save Violet from herself.
Book 2
Death and Denial
Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures
“The second book in the series, ‘Death and Denial’ is set in Egypt. In the middle of the Nile River, a passenger disappears. And Mabel must use all her wits and ingenuity to solve the murder in the locked cabin.”
Joan Havelange
Mabel Havelock gets more than she bargains for on her way to visit Egypt and its ancient past. She stumbles upon a murder plot. The mystery takes on an added twist as she cruises down the Nile. Inspired by Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. Mabel is determined to solve the mysteries.
Unfortunately, Mabel does not possess Hercule Poirot’s finesse. But with the help of her reluctant friend, Violet Ficher, and a quirky Egyptian room steward. Mabel untangles the web of lies and deceit.
Joan Havelange has a large following and was happy to be invited by the Library Board to read Death and Denial for Canada Reads.
Book 1
Wayward Shot
Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures
“I’m also an avid golfer. “Wayward Shot.’ My first cozy mystery reflects that. Mabel shanks her drive, and her golf ball ends up in the middle of a dead man’s forehead. Mabel and her best friend Violet decide to investigate. And nothing stops these intrepid detectives. Not the RCMP, a stampede of cattle, or even shots fired at them in the dark. They have an uncanny ability to find trouble and dead bodies.”
Joan Havelange
When Mabel slices her golf ball into the town cemetery, she and her best friend Violet think the worst that could happen would be a lost ball. That is until they discover a dead body, and it isn’t six feet under. Mabel’s golf ball lies in the middle of his forehead. It’s murder!
The ladies take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of the dead body in the graveyard. Using the information gleaned from Coffee Row, a collection of eccentric townspeople, they investigate golfers and relatives of the deceased. Their investigation frustrates a newly appointed RCMP officer, who does his best to stop their interference.
Nothing stops the intrepid detectives. Not the RCMP, a stampede of cattle, or even shots fired at them in the dark. They have an uncanny ability to find trouble and dead bodies. Almost getting themselves killed before solving the murders.
A Few Lines from the book “Wayward Shot.”
Mabel has shanked her golf ball. It lands over a stone fence in a nearby cemetery. Mabel and her best friend Violet enter the graveyard to find the lost ball.
About Joan Havelange
Joan is a Canadian Author who lives near Russell, Manitoba. She began writing Romance novels in her twenties and has never looked back. Most recently, Joan has been working on her Cozy Mysteries. Joan has traveled extensively and is an avid golfer. She has three grown children.
You can connect with Joan at these links.
BWL Publishers Inc. Publisher of Joan Havelange books.
Books2Read
https://books2read.com/Murder-Exit-Stage-Right
Joan Havelange’s Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/mabelmysteries
You can also find other books by Joan Havelange by searching on Amazon.
Please note: The author of this post has received no financial remuneration for mentions of creative people, books, products, places, or businesses mentioned in this post.
Love Joan’s books! Easy reading with all the little things that count! Great writer!
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Wonderful article!