Today's spotlight is on author
Mary Marks
Mary Marks grew up in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. She became an award winning quilter after retiring from an administrative job at UCLA. Her first quilting mystery, Forget Me Knot, was a finalist in the 2011 Malice Domestic competition.
"I always heard that the best stories come from writing what you know, so Martha Rose is loosely modeled after me: a divorced, overweight Jewish quilter of a certain age who lives in the San Fernando Valley." The smart but impulsive Martha Rose is aided and abetted by her best friends Lucy and Birdie and a cast of quirky characters.
The author is an unrepentant Hidden Object game player and Sudoku addict. "Solving puzzles, finding patterns, piecing things together--that's what quilters and mystery writers do all the time," says the author.
"I always heard that the best stories come from writing what you know, so Martha Rose is loosely modeled after me: a divorced, overweight Jewish quilter of a certain age who lives in the San Fernando Valley." The smart but impulsive Martha Rose is aided and abetted by her best friends Lucy and Birdie and a cast of quirky characters.
The author is an unrepentant Hidden Object game player and Sudoku addict. "Solving puzzles, finding patterns, piecing things together--that's what quilters and mystery writers do all the time," says the author.
FORGET ME KNOT
Book 1 in the Quilting Mystery series
Martha and her besties Lucy and Birdie are set to expand their Quilty Tuesdays by inviting newcomer Claire Terry into their group. Though at forty Claire's a tad younger than their average age, her crafty reputation could perk up their patchwork proceedings, especially as they prepare for the fancy quilt show coming to town. But when they arrive at Claire's home and find her dead inside the front door, and her exquisite, prize-winning quilts soon missing, Martha is not one to leave a mystery unravelled. Especially if she wants to stop a killer from establishing a deadly pattern..
What readers and reviews had to say about
FORGET ME KNOT
Five star rating from Lori Caswell / Dollycas
"I can’t believe this is the author’s first cozy, she has nailed it
perfectly."
"This is a perfectly plotted and paced story with some very surprising twists
that have stuck with me well beyond the final page."
Five stars from Tina Diamond / A Cozy Girl Reads
"Forget Me knot was a amazing first in a series, there were so many twists and
turns"
"It comforted me and made me wish I could snuggle up with a quilt while
reading."
KNOT IN MY BACKYARD
Book 2 in the Quilting Mystery series
Baseball may be America’s official favorite pastime, but for Martha Rose and her friends, quilting is far more fun…and a lot less dangerous.
A diamond brocade pattern is more quilter Martha Rose’s style than a baseball diamond—especially when it comes to the new eyesore of a stadium ruining her lovely San Fernando Valley neighborhood. Martha doesn’t know a bunt from a bundt cake, but when she stumbles upon the battered body of baseball coach Dax Martin, she doesn’t need a scorecard to know it’s foul play. LAPD homicide detective Arlo Beavers is convinced one of her neighbors is responsible. But Martha and her fellow quilters Lucy and Birdie soon discover a whole field of suspects who might have wanted to take the coach out of the game permanently…
What readers and reviews had to say about
KNOT IN MY BACKYARD
Five stars from Shelleyg / Shelley's Book Case
"I couldn't put this book down once I started."
"It is sure to keep you interested and trying to figure out who the killer is. A fantastic read..."
Rochelle Staab, author of the Mind for Murder mysteries
“What’s knot to love? Mary Marks has crafted another winner stitched together with humor and heart—Martha Rose is one gutsy lady.”
GONE BUT KNOT FORGOTTEN
Book 3 in the Quilting Mystery series
Sorting through the estate of a wealthy recluse may sound like a fascinating task, but when the skeletons in the closets turn out to be real, Martha and her quilting pals wish they'd stuck to basting and batting. . .
Martha Rose is stunned when she hears that her best friend from high school has passed away. Her shock doubles when she learns that Harriet Oliver made her the executor of her estate. But when investigators determine that Harriet was murdered, Martha recruits her fellow quilters to help find the culprit. She's mastered the art of piecing together blocks to create intricate quilts, but piecing together her friend's murder will prove far more challenging. . .
Martha Rose is stunned when she hears that her best friend from high school has passed away. Her shock doubles when she learns that Harriet Oliver made her the executor of her estate. But when investigators determine that Harriet was murdered, Martha recruits her fellow quilters to help find the culprit. She's mastered the art of piecing together blocks to create intricate quilts, but piecing together her friend's murder will prove far more challenging. . .
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Pre-order now for the August 25, 2015 release
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Happy Saturday, Lisa! I read book 1, have book 2 (in the ever-growing TBR) and didn't know about book 3, in August, until you just told me!
ReplyDeleteLOl Pat, it is my mission to keep you informed!
DeleteHoly Moly! Mary Marks is a new author to me, but the reviews are talking to me, insisting I track down these books and start reading! Have a Sensational Saturday, Lisa! ����������
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy I could introduce Mary to you, Ruth. Have a great day!
DeleteSounds like my kind of books!
ReplyDeleteHow can one Mary go wrong with the other?
DeleteI love the idea that this series is written with older characters since I am one of those older "characters" myself. I already have book 1 in my to be read pile and now book two is needed. Good thing book 3 is not out until August to give me the chance to get these first two read. Thank you for the reminder of this author and her books, Lisa. You do a great job with your blog and keep me up to date with my books, so thank you.
ReplyDeleteCynthia
Hi Cynthia. I remember reading Nancy Drew as a girl and wanting to be as old as Nancy. Then I entered a regency romance period and wanted to be the heroine's age. LOL Not when I read a book and the lead character is in her 40s I wonder why someone of that age is being used instead of a younger woman, and the have to remind myself I am now 48 and older than a lot of the characters I read about. LOL When did that happen?
Delete