Read Something Deadly on Desert Drive, the new humorous #mystery by Kris Bock @Kris_Bock #RLFblog

Something Shady at Sunshine Haven opened Kris Bock’s Accidental Detective series and introduced former war correspondent Kate Tessler, a witty journalist who solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. In Something Deadly on Desert Drive, Kate and her quirky gang of sidekicks have new problems to solve.

Kris, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Something Deadly on Desert Drive.

Something Deadly on Desert Drive by Kris Bock

Genre: humorous mystery

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

After an injury disrupts her journalism career, Kate Tessler has to start over at 50, figuring out how to get work, make friends, and live in the heart of her loving but interfering family.

Now Kate’s father and his coffee group are worried. Their friend Larry married a younger woman who claims he has dementia and won’t let anyone see him. They think his wife and her lazy adult children are keeping him isolated so they can steal his money.

They’re determined to save Larry, and they need Kate’s help to prove what’s happening.

Before they can dig out the truth, a murder raises the stakes, and Kate’s father is among the suspects. To save him and Larry, she must reveal the real murderer – but her investigation could put all their lives at risk.

Why did you write this book?

As I faced fifty, I wanted to create a mystery lead dealing with some of the same issues: aging parents, concerns about financing retirement someday, and a body that doesn’t recover like it once did. I also wanted to give Kate a reason to be adventurous and fearless, thus the background as a war correspondent.

I live in New Mexico, which I love, but I set the series in a fictional city within the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. The large senior population in Arizona attracts scams and abuse—such as arguments over inheritance, or even murders to get that inheritance sooner. Is that what’s happening here? Kate has to find out.

How are readers responding to a fifty-year-old heroine amateur detective?

Early response has been fantastic! Something Shady at Sunshine Haven made Barnes & Noble’s list of “Handpicked Favorites You’ll Love” and was the Albuquerque Journal’s “Book of the Week.” Reviews have been equally enthusiastic:

“I couldn’t put it down. I loved her smart world traveler, foreign war correspondent heroine. I loved reading a story where the heroine is so fascinating, as fascinating to me as the mystery. This promises to be an exciting series and I can’t wait for the next!” – Jane Porter on BookBub

“Kris Bock is my new favorite cozy mystery writer. I loved this book so much! I so related to Kate and her struggles to get back to her regular life. Can’t wait for the next book in this series!” – Geri Krotow on BookBub

What is your favorite genre to read?

In the last couple of years, I’ve been reading a lot of paranormal historical romance, by authors such as KJ Charles, Jordan Hawk, and Allie Therin. I tend to not want to read in the genre I’m writing. I think it’s easier to read for pleasure, without analyzing the book, if it’s something I have no plans to write myself.

What books will we see from you in coming months?

In the Accidental Detective series, Something Shady at Sunshine Haven is already out and Something Deadly on Desert Drive comes out June 21! They’re followed by Someone Cruel in Coyote Creek on September 29, with more to follow in 2023.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m two books in to a five-book series about billionaire cowboys – ranching brothers who win a huge lottery and have to adjust to the positive and negative ways that changes their lives. Book one is a Christmas story scheduled for release November 8, available for preorder now.

I’m also writing a series with my brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. These are prequel novels set when the movie characters are teenagers. We follow the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Two books have been published, and the third is written but we don’t have a release date set yet. Sign up for our romantic comedy newsletter to get a free short story or find book 1 at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.