Welcome to Where Everybody Knows Your… Alibi— where we get to know the fictional towns we’d happily move to… if they didn’t have such a suspicious body count (but does that really matter?).
My guest this month, the absolutely lovely Kara Lacey, pens the Camera Club Mysteries, set in the oh-so-cozy Stonebridge, Vermont. Just the name evokes visions of colorful leaves, maple syrup, and comfy sweaters! You almost forget about the occasional body possibly stashed under those autumnal leaves.
Kara’s love for photography shines through in her books as Bobbie Brooks and her Stonebridge camera crew do their best to capture the murderer. (Get it… capture? I know… I’m really reaching for that pun.) You can see Kara’s gorgeous photos she shares on Facebook, Instagram, and Substack, and she is also a founding member of Murder, They Write on Facebook.
Let’s chat with the talented Kara Lacey about the charming village of Stonebridge, nestled in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
I’m in love with your little village! Where would I go if I wanted to spend the day doing my favorite things- reading a good book and eating?
When the weather is good, there’s nothing quite like settling on a park bench right in the middle of the village green. Oak and maple trees provide shade if needed, and except for the sound of birds in the trees and a few passing cars on Main Street, everything is peaceful. There are no takeout restaurants in town, but for light fare such as a muffin or pastry, The Rosebud Café is right across the street and serves the best coffee drinks in town. For something a little heartier, The Stonebridge Village Market has a deli counter that can whip up a sandwich to satisfy anyone’s taste buds.
That sounds delightful! What smells, sounds, or sights instantly tell you that this place is home?
Oh my goodness, if you’ve ever driven into Vermont, you know the feeling. It’s best described as AHHHH. The mountain air is cool, clean, and fresh. The scents of balsam, fir, and pine fill the air, inviting you to slow down and just breathe. Sounds? Peaceful. Listen closely, and you’ll hear the rat-a-tat of woodpeckers, birdsong in the forest, and the wind rustling the leaves. Bobbie enjoys wrapping herself in a down blanket and sitting on her front porch in the morning before the village comes to life. After growing up in the city, she has made this one of her favorite ahhh rituals.
I can feel my blood pressure going down already.
What’s a small daily ritual that says, “This is life in Stonebridge”?
For Bobbie, her life in Stonebridge wouldn’t feel complete without stopping at The Rosebud Café for a cup of coffee. It doesn’t hurt that she lives right next door – and happens to be coffee-machine-challenged – but it’s the chance to chat with the owner, her best friend Rose, that leads her there. The ritual helps her feel like she belongs.
What’s the most beloved comfort food in town – and who makes it best?
Life in Vermont is rugged, so the food is all about comfort. Alicia Crowley is known for her baked macaroni and cheese—a dish she makes with several varieties of cheese, including her own goat cheese. It’s the most requested dish at potluck dinners. Rivaling that is the Mad Crow Tavern’s warm, creamy Cheddar-Ale Soup. And if you’re noticing a cheesy trend here, you’re not wrong. Vermont is a proud dairy state, and cheese is the most comforting of comfort foods.
You had me at “cheese!”
Where’s the one place that everyone ends up hanging out?
Like most Vermont villages, Stonebridge’s heart is its country market. With few grocery or big-box stores nearby, residents need a place to buy everything from food and bakery items to soap and shampoo, winter gear, hardware, and even fishing bait. Centrally located in the village, the Stonebridge Village Market is a warm and inviting space where residents tend to linger. There’s a motto among Vermont country stores: If they don’t carry it, it’s probably not a necessity.
I tend to agree.
Who unofficially runs the town, and do they know it?
That would be the Crowleys – Nate and Alicia. Nate was born and raised on the Crowley family dairy farm. Now an attorney, he’s respected and trusted in the community and is often called upon to lend his expertise. Bobbie’s sister, Alicia, married into the Crowley legacy with its expectation of community involvement. As the owner of the Stonebridge Village Market (the village’s unofficial gathering place), as well as converting the dairy farm to raise goats, she has her finger on the pulse of all things happening in town.
Despite having leading roles in nearly everything that happens in Stonebridge, neither Nate nor Alicia would think they run the village. They’re natural leaders, which also means being a team player. There’s a strong sense of community in Vermont villages, and they consider themselves part of the whole.
We need more people like the Crowleys!
Is there someone who always finds themselves in the middle of the town’s shenanigans?
That would probably be Bobbie, along with her sidekick, Rose. Eager to become part of the community, Bobbie can’t help herself. After starting the photography club, the Stonebridge Keep It Snappy Shutter Club, not to mention all the murders that seem to keep happening, Bobbie finds herself involved in just about everything. Some might say she is nosy (ahem). But Bobbie doesn’t do it all alone. Always up for an adventure, Rose is ready to join in whatever Bobbie throws her way.
First of all, fantastic name for the club… Second, she’s not nosy; she’s curious (Team Bobbie!).
So who would absolutely notice if something – or someone – was out of place?
Ah, that would be Lester Miller, Bobbie’s next-door neighbor. Lester is a lifelong resident of Stonebridge and a descendant of one of the village’s founding families. His family goes back many generations – a requirement to be considered a woodchuck (yes, that’s a term of honor). Elderly and crotchety, Lester can most often be found napping on his porch recliner. Don’t let him fool you, though. He sees everything, and despite his crusty demeanor, he has a heart of gold.
You gotta love Lester.
Now, what annual event brings out the best in everyone?
Winters in Vermont are long and cold, and while Stonebridgians don’t let that keep them shut in, there’s a quietness to the season that isn’t broken until late spring when the farmer’s market opens. Marking the unofficial start of summer and hopefully warmer weather (not a given), the farmer’s market brings the village to life. Residents and tourists gather on the village green to wander the market stalls, catch up on the latest news, and purchase fresh produce and artisan crafts. It’s all about coming together as a community.
And finally, what would locals say is the best thing about living in Stonebridge, Vermont?
It’s all about the community spirit. Festivals bring residents together to celebrate, but day-to-day life in a rural village can be hard. In Stonebridge, neighbors help neighbors, always willing to set their own hardships aside to take care of someone in need.
Community spirit and neighbors helping neighbors… that’s what it’s all about.
Thank you, Kara, for sharing about life in the village of Stonebridge, Vermont.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA by Kara Lacey
A Camera Club Mystery #1
Blue skies and wildflowers signal the start of summer in southern Vermont, and the Stonebridge Keep it Snappy Camera Club lenses are zoomed in on…murder.
It’s been more than a year since the sudden death of her husband, and photographer Bobbie Brooks wants nothing more than to escape her grief. Fleeing her life in the city, she seeks a fresh start in the serenity of the Green Mountains. But Bobbie’s new beginning comes to a halt when she finds a member of her camera club dead beneath the village’s idyllic covered bridge. Tragic accident or something sinister? With a keen photographer’s eye, Bobbie suspects murder.
As if transitioning to small-town life wasn’t challenging enough, Bobbie’s missing scarf is found at the murder scene, making her the primary focus. Scorned by local gossips, she enlists the help of her camera club and shifts her lens from photographer to amateur sleuth. Using photos found on the victim’s camera, they waste no time setting out to catch the killer—and discover no shortage of suspects. Secrets, lies, and blackmail…Danger abounds as they close in on the killer.
Her camera holds the answers… But can she develop the clues in time to stop the killer?
Mystery Cozy [ Level Best Books, On Sale: September 24, 2024, e-Book, / ]
Buy CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Kara Lacey
Kara Lacey is the author of the Camera Club Mysteries. Along with her husband, she lives in a tiny village nestled in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont—the inspiration for her novels. Kara is a photography enthusiast who also enjoys hiking, skiing, and getting cozy with a good book. When she’s not at her laptop creating havoc for her characters, you can find her rambling through the forest with her husband and spirited Labrador retriever, camera in hand.
Kara is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime-New England, and Mystery Writers of America. She is also a co-Member at Large for Vermont SinC NE writers.
AMAZON
About Annie McEwen
Annie McEwen writes the Northwoods Mysteries, inspired by the pine forests and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin, where she spent childhood vacations and still visits family today.
A former farm kid, Annie now lives in rural Indiana with her husband. Their children and two young grandsons live nearby, making grandparenting her favorite role. Their home also includes four fur babies—two of whom appear in her books.
When she isn’t writing, Annie enjoys trash-to-treasure projects, gardening, working as a radiological technologist, and connecting with readers and fellow authors.
No Comments
Comments are closed.