In the I Read/I Wrote series, authors introduce a book they loved–in the genre in which they write–and share one of their own books.
GENRE: Humorous/Cozy Mysteries
I READ: Class Reunions Are Murder by Libby Klein
I loved Libby Klein’s funny mystery, Class Reunions Are Murder. The main character is Poppy McAllister, “newly widowed and stuck in a middle-aged funk.” She gets an invitation to her 25th high school reunion. She has no intention of attending, but thinks it’s a good excuse to go see her delightful Aunt Ginny. But Poppy gets a weird letter from the mean girl who made her life miserable all through high school, personally asking her to attend. Weirder still is when the mean girl winds up dead in front of Poppy’s old locker. Poppy really should have stayed away from that reunion.
I’m a sucker for funny books and Klein had me laughing all the way through. Funny phrases, funny situations, funny characters … it’s the complete package. This is the first in the series and I can’t wait to read the rest!
I WROTE: Fiction Can Be Murder
Fiction Can Be Murder, the first book in my Mystery Writer’s Mysteries, was published in April 2018. At least two more are scheduled, Foul Play on Words in April 2019, and Metaphor for Murder in April 2020.
In Fiction Can Be Murder, Mystery author Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo thinks the twisty plots and peculiar murders in her books are only the products of her imagination — until her agent is found dead exactly as described in Charlee’s new, unpublished manuscript. Suspicion now swirls around her and her critique group, making her confidence drop as severely and unexpectedly as her royalty payments.
The police care more about Charlee’s feeble alibi and financial problems than they do her panicky claims of innocence. To clear her name and revive her career, she must figure out which of her friends is a murderer. Easier said than done, even for an author who’s skilled at creating tidy endings for her mysteries. And as her sleuthing grows dangerous, Charlee’s imagination starts working overtime. Is she being targeted too?
Becky Clark is the seventh of eight kids, which explains both her insatiable need for attention and her atrocious table manners. She likes to read funny books so it felt natural to write them too. She surrounds herself with quirky people and pets who end up as characters in her books. Readers say her books are “fast and thoroughly entertaining” with “witty humor and tight writing” and “humor laced with engaging characters” so you should “grab a cocktail and enjoy the ride.” They also say “Warning: You will laugh out loud. I’m not kidding,” and “If you like Janet Evanovich, you will like Becky Clark.” For more information visit BeckyClarkBooks.com.
Cynthia Kuhn 
Thank you for this great post, Becky! Love both of the books (and series) here–you are both supremely talented in the humor department. Question for you: does the humor come out organically when you’re writing, as part of voice or situation, or is there an amount of planning involved?
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Thank you so much for the Spotlight and the amazing review! As someone who has also read Fiction Can be Murder I know Becky Clark has quite a funny bone herself. I’m honored to be in such great company! And what a fantastic blog Cynthia Kuhn!
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Thanks so much, Libby! Very happy you stopped by!
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I didn’t know humor and mystery could be blended together so nicely. Both these books sound like great reads.
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Ms. Clark, that is why I don’t go to reunions! Of course I want to read your book, what could be better than laughing over dead bodies? I’d really rather have lunch with you, you sound hilarious. Thanks for sharing with us and introducing your series, can’t wait to get ahold of it. Congratulations on your success!
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I can’t wait to read your series! I think the plot sounds ingenious, adding new layers to the puzzle of the mystery. Thank you for the post Becky!
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Cynthia … I do plan and outline my novels, but not necessarily the humor. Funny dialogue, funny descriptions, funny moments … those just happen. That said, in my outlining phase, I do try to think “what will make this funny/funnier?” Certain settings are funnier than others: hot yoga rooms, kindergarten classrooms, mud spas. Certain characters are funnier than others: foul-mouthed grannies, dogs, people with explosive diarrhea. You find funny characters, settings, and situations and the humor seems to flow easier.
Libby … everything you write is fun to read!
Thanks, Claudia! You can find them both at your local library. But if they don’t carry them, just ask them to order copies. They will!
Thank you, Stephanie, you are obviously a very intelligent and discerning person.
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Thanks, Kayla! I hope you love mine AND Libby’s!
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I absolutely love dark humor, and mysteries, so your book sounds right up my alley. I’m adding it to my “to read” list for over winter break!
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That’s great to hear, Whitney! But I must say I am jealous of this “winter break” of which you speak. Time to read? Whatever you want? Just for fun??
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