Leaving behind a failed career as a magazine editor and an embarrassing stint on a reality baking show, newly divorced lifestyle entrepreneur Hope Early thought things were finally on the upswing–until she comes face-to-face with a murderer . . .

Hope’s schedule is already jam packed with recipe testing and shameless plugs for her food blog as she rushes off to attend a spring garden tour in the charming town of Jefferson, Connecticut. Unfortunately, it isn’t the perfectly arranged potted plants that grab her attention– it’s the bloody body of reviled real estate agent Peaches McCoy . . .

One of the tour guests committed murder, and all eyes are on Hope’s younger sister, Claire Dixon–who, at best, saw Peaches as a professional rival. And suspicions really heat up when another murder occurs the following night. Now, with two messy murders shaking Jefferson and all evidence pointing to Claire, Hope must set aside her burgeoning brand to prove her sister’s innocence. But the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she gets to a killer intent on making sure her life goes permanently out of style . . .

Debra Sennefelder's Biography

Debra Sennefelder, author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Womens Fiction Writers Association and Romance Writers of America.

Interview with Debra Sennefelder

Please describe what the book is about.

Former reality TV star Hope Early thought her biggest problem was driving traffic to her food blog, but discovering two dead bodies and clearing her sister of their murders have Hope trading her Google analytics for amateur sleuthing. When there’s an attempt on her own life, Hope has no choice but to uncover the murderer before she becomes the next corpse du jour.

Where did you get the idea?

I was between manuscripts, at the time I was writing a romantic suspense series and I thought about trying to write a cozy again (I’d written one years ago) and thought it would be fun to make the amateur sleuth a food blogger, since I’d been one previously and culinary mysteries were hot. Then the story started to come together over a few weeks and I wrote the first three chapters and sent them off to my critique partner and she loved the pages so I continued.

Are your character based on real people, or do they come from your imaginations?

My characters are not based on real people, but I would say that some of the characters have personality traits or quirks from real people I’ve met.

Can you share your writing routine?

Writing is the top priority of any working day and once that’s done I’ll focus on other tasks such as writing blog posts, promotion or anything else that pops up such as copy edits for another book or page proofs to read for a manuscript just months from being published. Writing full-time sometimes means that I’m working on weekends and holidays. And when I’m writing a first draft I often work beyond the regular work week. I’m finding that each stage of the writing process is handled differently. First drafts are fast and furious and intense while second and third drafts are slower and take longer. I also have to schedule time to develop and test recipes for the books so it’s not unusual to find me baking in the afternoon and me saying “I’m working”.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a full-time writer now because I was laid off in early 2017. I live with my family in a quaint Cape Cod house in a beautiful Connecticut town. We have two adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy. I joke that my new co-workers sleep on the job a lot.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to cook and bake, of course! I also love to exercise (yes, really) and I enjoy a good shopping expedition. In the evenings I love to read and work on a cross-stitch project.

What are you working on right now?

I’ve just turned in the Murder Wears a Little Black Dress, the first book in the Resale Boutique Mystery series to my editor and I’m now writing the third book in the Food Blogger Mystery series and outlining the second book in the Resale Boutique Mystery Series.

The book you’re currently reading.

I am currently reading Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins.

What is your favorite recipe from The Uninvited Corpse?

That’s easy! Hope’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. An extra scoop of dough in the center of the cookie makes for the most heavenly cookie. Definitely can’t stop at one. Or two. Or three.