If you’ve lived in New England for more than five minutes, you already know the weather has absolutely no interest in consistency.
A few days ago, I was bundled up in a sweatshirt, drinking hot chocolate, and seriously considering whether it was cold enough to light the wood stove again.
Fast forward forty-eight hours and suddenly I’m outside in shorts and a T-shirt, wondering why I’m sweating while carrying groceries.
Honestly, New England weather feels a little like writing a mystery series. You think you know where things are headed…and then everything changes without any warning.
Which got me thinking about my current writing projects.
Two books in my new Cooking Club Mystery series are set in winter—one at Christmas and one during Valentine’s week—which means I’ve spent months writing snowstorms, cozy scarves, warm cafés, holiday desserts, twinkle lights, and enough hot chocolate to keep my characters caffeinated until spring.
And now?
I think I’m ready for summer.
Specifically…a Fourth of July mystery.
Because really, what could possibly go wrong in a small town filled with fireworks, cookouts, tourists, parade floats, sparklers, watermelon, and people pretending they’re “just helping” organize a festival?
Absolutely everything! Which sounds perfect.
I’m already imagining Tango barking at fireworks, Ivy and Nadine trying to run some sort of questionable patriotic-themed contest, and Milly attempting to solve a murder while someone burns the hot dogs.
(Don’t worry, you’ll meet all these characters in September, but they’ve been part of my life—and telling me what to do—since last year!)
There’s something fun about shifting seasons in a cozy mystery series. Every season brings its own atmosphere, traditions, foods, and trouble. Winter mysteries feel intimate and cozy. Summer mysteries feel lively and chaotic in the best possible way.
Now I’m curious…
What’s YOUR favorite season for reading mysteries?
❄️ Snowy winter nights
🌸 Rainy spring afternoons
☀️ Summer by the lake or beach
🍂 Cozy autumn evenings
And yes…there’s a very good chance I’ll still reach for hot chocolate in July. New England has trained me well.
Happy sleuthing,
💙 Emmie and Tango
A note from a Small-Town Detective Dog (from the Cooking Club Murder Mysteries)
Hello, friends.
Detective Tango here with an important seasonal observation: Humans in New England are very confusing.
One day they’re wrapped in blankets drinking hot chocolate by the fire. The next day they’re wearing shorts and declaring it’s “summer” while still keeping an ice scraper in the car.
Personally, I prefer consistency.
A sunny patch on the floor. A reliable snack schedule. Suspicious squirrels following predictable routines.
But lately even I can’t keep up.
The good news is that warmer weather means more walks, open windows, interesting smells drifting through town, and people dropping food at outdoor cookouts. (I’m very observant about these things.)
The bad news?
Fireworks season is coming.
Now, as a professional detective dog, I believe in bravery. I investigate mysterious noises, strange footprints, suspicious delivery trucks, and unattended sandwich plates with great courage.
But fireworks?
Absolutely not.
My official Detective Advice of the Week is this:
If the sky starts exploding, locate your favorite human immediately and demand snacks until the danger passes.
Preferably cheese.
Stay alert out there.
—Detective Tango 🐾
P.S. If you want to check out all of Emmie’s books, click here. Most are FREE if you have kindle unlimited. The only thing better than free are sweet potato treats.
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