Book Title: DEATH IN THE DARK WOODS Character Name: Morgan Carter   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My childhood was quite unique beginning from the moment of my birth. My parents were not only wealthy, but they were also avid cryptozoologists who traveled the world in search of cryptids, creatures believed to exist despite no proof of same. I was born aboard a boat in Loch Ness when my parents were on a hunting expedition for Nessie. That’s how I got my name because Morgan means water born. Hunting for cryptids was definitely a family affair for us. My childhood was spent traveling the world with my parents, and I followed in their footsteps and took things up a notch by earning degrees in biology and zoology with minors in mysticism and religions. Sadly, both of my parents are gone now, murdered two years ago when we were on a search for the Jersey Devil. I miss them terribly.   What is your greatest talent? I have a keen eye for things that are unique, weird, unusual, and desirable. I own a store called Odds and Ends that sells oddities along with mystery fiction, making this…

For more of Debbie Wiley’s articles and Fresh Fiction reviews, you can visit here. *** Everyone knows I love cozy mysteries, but I also love mysteries and thrillers with a mental health component. After all, my life’s work is devoted to working with children and families grappling with social and emotional needs and mental health is a major aspect of that. COVID-19 brought to the forefront the desperate need for both more mental health services as well as improved accessibility and availability to services in the United States. Hopefully, this need won’t be ignored once “normal” resumes as COVID-19 merely exacerbated a need that already existed. One trend I’ve been thrilled to see in the book publishing industry is increased attention to mental health issues and I’d like to highlight just a few books recently that have included mental health as part of the storyline in some capacity. The Helping Hands series by Annelise Ryan is quickly becoming one of my favorites as it features a social worker as the heroine. In NIGHT SHIFT, it’s only Hildy Schneider’s second official night on her new grant-funded side job riding alongside the local police officers with her canine therapy dog, Roscoe when trouble strikes….

by Senior Reviewer Debbie Wiley With the long days of quarantine both behind and still in front of us, if you’re like me you’re tired of hearing nothing in the news but gloom and doom. Luckily for us as readers, we have a great selection of cozy mysteries to curl up with and take our minds off seeing only the people we’ve been quarantined with. So, sit back, pretend it’s a cold day inside by the fire where staying inside is fun, and let’s look at a couple great books to choose from! Amanda Flower is one of my go-to cozy mystery authors and what could be better than a novella including an appearance by Jethro, the support pig? In BOTCHED BUTTERSCOTCH, a Mother’s Day fundraiser goes awry and now Bailey King is determined to uncover a thief. Amanda Flower offers up just the kind of heartwarming mystery we need, as BOTCHED BUTTERSCOTCH showcases Abigail’s Farm, a program opening up in the Amish community to help women recovering from substance abuse. We have a lot of fun bantering the wedding that isn’t even an engagement yet and yes, we have a great Jethro scene!  SIX CLOVES UNDER by Gin Jones features…