Local authors Roz Weedman and Susan Todd have done it again. Book Two of the Frankenmuth Murder Mystery Series, Poppy and Mary Ellen All Fed Up was released early last week.
In Book Two, many of our favorite characters return, but it is Poppy and Mary Ellen themselves, Frankenmuth’s favorite amateur sleuths, who win us over and afford readers a glimpse into their endearing friendship. And while there is a fair share of mayhem, murder, and mystery involved, it is the endearing friendship of this detective duo that will stick with readers long after the book ends.
“Part of the attraction of a cozy mystery is they’re almost always in a series,” says Roz. “You get to know the characters.” Co-author, Susan agrees, and adds, “The joy of doing a series is broadening our characters, making them more dynamic.”
Roz and Susan confirmed that main characters Mary Ellen and Poppy were indeed inspired by and loosely based on the authors themselves. As a result, readers don’t just get to know the characters, we get to know the authors themselves, a perk which is undoubtedly a privilege of reading the work of local authors in a small town.
Poppy and Mary Ellen All Fed Up is a soft serve into the world of cozy mysteries, providing readers with a seamless and pleasant transition into the story. The book picks up roughly one year after the closing events of Book One. Questionable parking, shocking caffeine consumption, and a one-of-a-kind Mah Jongg collector’s set become clues in solving another pair of unlikely murders in the tourist town of Frankenmuth, Michigan.
And of course, for those of us who live here, Poppy and Mary Ellen All Fed Up is an extension of home as we can easily identify and relate to local landmarks in the book. Tiffany’s is touted for their delicious pizza, the Kaffee Haus is notorious for their creamy cappuccinos, Prost is Poppy and Mary Ellen’s go-to for classy charcuterie boards, and Charlin’s Book Nook is the perfect place for Poppy to search for another Louise Penny book.
In terms of the authors’ writing process, Roz and Susan split the work and come together to edit. Susan excels with chapters about relationships, family, family history, and scenes involving shorter dialogue, whereas Roz specializes in smooth prose, research-based chapters, and scenes with plenty of action. “If it’s a chapter where we anticipate chaos,” says Roz, “that’s me.” This dynamic author duo seems to work almost as well as Poppy and Mary Ellen themselves.
While Poppy and Mary Ellen All Fed Up is the second book in the Frankenmuth Murder Mystery series, both Roz and Susan agree that there will always be more stories to tell.
“Stories are endless,” says Roz. “There’s no limitation to how many stories there will be.”
Roz and Susan were delighted to confirm that book three is officially underway. “We’re only doing it because it’s fun,” says Susan. And from the sound of it, there’s plenty more fun to be had.
For people who want to read more cozy mysteries, Roz and Susan suggest reading Anthony Horowitz, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, M. C. Beaton, Carolyn Haines, Nancy Martin, or Janet Evanovich.
The official Poppy and Mary Ellen All Fed Up Launch Party will take place on Monday, November 18 from 4-7pm at the Bavarian Inn Lodge. Patrons will have the opportunity to buy the book, get it signed, and hear from the authors themselves.
For those wishing to dive in and read more about Poppy and Mary Ellen now, Book Two of the Frankenmuth Murder Mystery Series is available for purchase on Amazon and Kindle, and will soon be available at the Wickson Library.
At the close of Book Two, Poppy turns to Mary Ellen and says, “I used to think there was never drama in Frankenmuth. Now I’m wondering if we are attracting it.” As our favorite sleuths exchange uneasy looks, we must wonder, are Poppy and Mary Ellen magnets for murder or are they always in the right place at the right time? Guess we’ll have to wait and find out!
In the meantime, support your local authors by buying their work, and leaving an Amazon, Kindle, or Goodreads review. Happy reading!
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