C.B. Wilson – Ladies of Mystery

The Land of Aloha

By C.B. Wilson

Aloha! From savoring high tea at the Moana Surf to relaxing on Turtle Beach near Haleiwa, Hawaii has always been my happy place. In fact, I am lucky to admit that my family lives on Oahu and I do get to “go home to Hawaii” for the holidays.

The island’s concept of Ohana (meaning family) inspired my newest novel, Puppied to Death. In this ninth installment of the Barkview Mysteries, protagonist Cat Wright Hawl travels from Barkview, America’s dog-friendliest city, to Hawaii. There, she must protect her half-sister from a murderer while reconciling with her late father’s absence and navigating her complex relationship with her mother. Oh, and as the title suggests, there are puppies!

No Hawaiian adventure is complete without immersing oneself in the island’s distinctive culture. When the mystery’s clues revolve around a traditional Chinese Mahjong game, Cat finds herself depending on the dubious detective abilities of the Miss Marple Mahjong Mamas and their distinctive perspective on Chinese immigration. (Take a peek at the below clue. Can you solve the puzzle?)

Yes, I do play Mahjong. Creating the clues required a deep dive into Mahjong’s history and the true meaning of the tiles. I have a new appreciation for winds and dragons.

When I wrote Puppied to Death, I wanted the story to be more than a fun visit to Hawaii. My consultations with Chinatown’s TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioners gave me a wonderful insight into the value of lā’au lapa’au (herbal remedies) that I use today. A word of advice when meeting the practitioner for the first time: don’t ask them what Hawaiian plants can kill someone. I swear a Chinatown police officer followed me the entire day.

I also spent time at the Hamilton Library located at the University of Hawaii Manoa. The information in the China Collection is fantastic. It has inspired me to write another Chinese history-based novel. (More to come on that.) While digging through immigration documents and diaries, I learned that the challenges faced by early 20th-century female immigrants parallelled many struggles of contemporary women raising children, genuinely adding a timelessness to Cat’s underlying problem and the conflict between her and the all-knowing Chinese matriarch in the story.

When a tea sommelier is found murdered, an ancient Chinese secret dating back to the Qiang Dynasty falls under threat, and a French Bulldog, a Beagle, and a cat hold the answer to the mystery; only one intrepid sleuth has the ability to cut through the confusion and capture the true culprit.

I hope you enjoy your island journey. For those returning, prepare for a nostalgic trip to your beloved landmarks across Waikiki, Chinatown, and the North Shore. For first-time visitors, a heartfelt Aloha e komo mai—welcome to paradise.

A Murder, an Ancient Secret, and a Puppy You Can’t Help but Love

A desperate call from her sister sends investigative reporter Cat Hawl on a rescue mission to Hawaii. But when she arrives, it’s more than she bargained for. Not only is a tea sommelier found dead, but a mischievous puppy has turned the crime scene into a dog’s breakfast. And to top it off, Cat’s sister, Lani, has gone missing. Is she a witness or on the run?

Join Cat on her quirky, whirlwind adventure, where a trail of tea leaves leads her through a mystery that’s as puzzling as a puppy’s antics. Cozy mystery lovers will find themselves charmed and intrigued at every twist and turn!

Universal link: https://mybook.to/PuppiedtoDeath

Award-winning author C.B. Wilson’s love of writing was spurred by an early childhood encounter with a Nancy Drew book where she wrote what she felt was a better ending.

An animal lover, the Barkview Mysteries combine C. B.’s love of mysteries and dogs. The current 10 book series follows Cat Wright, a feline-loving, former investigative reporter’s, journey to find the right dog for her. C.B.’s motivation to grow this popular series is a result of her belief that every animal deserves a forever home. You will likely find adoptable dogs at her appearances.

Join C.B. in Barkview and help Cat decide if there is a perfect dog for our resident cat lover.

Social Media:

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Research

A doggone nightmare or puppy love?

Research is a crucial part of writing for many writers. Some love it, while others hate it. Some writers enjoy it so much they go down that rabbit hole and never get around to writing the story. Others dread it, afraid facts will irrevocably change the story. I fall somewhere in between. Research inspires me. In my latest book, Labradored to Death, Barkview Mysteries book 8, not only did the focus of my book change but a spin-off series was born. You see, I fell in love. (Don’t tell my husband.)

I must admit that I’ve never been a big baseball fan. Sure, I enjoy a sunny afternoon at the ballpark once in a while, but the 7^th inning stretch was my cue to scado. Then I met baseball’s bat dogs! These dogs are the new bat boys and work in about ten minor league baseball stadiums. Ripken, Finn, Rookie, Brooks, Turbo, and Miss Lou Lou Gehrig, to name a few. These dogs are amazingly well-trained athletes. I know. I had the pleasure of spending a game on the baseball field with Ripken, the Durham Bulls’ bat dog.

I confess I am starstruck by the black Labrador Retriever. Here’s what happened: It was the bottom of the second. Score 0-0. No hits. Durham Bulls are at bat. The batter hits a double. The crowd cheers. Ripken runs past home plate and down the first base line to retrieve the hitter’s discarded bat. The ENTIRE stadium comes to its feet, chanting, “Ripken, Ripken!”

The dog didn’t even take a bow. He glanced up at the crowd, bobbed his head (Yes, he did), and returned the bat to the dugout. It was exciting. I was ready for more. Unfortunately, the Bulls weren’t a hitting machine that night. However, they did win 3-2. The real surprise came after the Lab left the field. I figured it was time for a well-earned treat. Not a chance. Ripken barely made it off the grass before fans surrounded him. (Brought a whole new meaning to paw-o-graphs.) Is it any wonder the dog’s a fan favorite? With 500,000 social media followers, Ripken, the bat dog, is Durham’s dog.

Talk about a game-changer. Ripken’s story needed to be told. I started by going back to school—puppy school, to be exact—and learning what it took to train these special bat dogs. Black and yellow Labs, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds all make popular candidates. The first skill a bat dog must have is the desire to retrieve.

I won’t get into how to train a dog to retrieve. If the skill is natural, that’s the easy part. To be a bat dog, not only does the dog need to learn to fetch the bat, but he also needs to learn NOT to return with anything except the bat, which is problematic. Who knew the baseball diamond had so many distractions? A successful bat dog must ignore everything from shin guards and baseballs to unwanted food items. The dog must retrieve JUST the bat. Every time. Without fail. Did I tell you the bat likely has sticky pine tar on the handle? (ICK! I don’t even want to know what that tastes like.) Wait a minute. The dog must also remain laser-focused while 20,000+ people call out his name.

Have all the above bases been covered? (Pun intended!) Now, get ready for ambassador duty. That’s right. Bat dogs are required to sit for selfies, pets, hugs, and baseball cards while being mobbed by hundreds of fans coming at them from every angle. To say this job isn’t for every dog is an understatement.

It takes a special dog—a one-in-a-million star. So, why are these dogs ONLY used in the minor leagues? They are all fan favorites. With millions of social media followers, why is Major League Baseball dissing these talented athletes? It looks like a serious case of dog-crimination. I hope Major League Baseball does some research and comes to the same conclusion about the bat dogs’ contributions. Please encourage them by joining me in signing a petition that I will send to Ron Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, to encourage them to include these pups in major league play. You can find the petition on my website at www.cbwilsonauthor.com.

:Labradored to Death

A daring heist, an epic fire, and a dog who holds all the cards.

Has America’s pastime gone to the dogs? Bat boys replaced by bat dogs! Cat Hawl, KDOG’s editor-in-chief, has a bone to pick with professional baseball. When a million-dollar baseball card is stolen and a celebrity bat dog’s collar is discovered at the crime scene, she learns exactly how high the stakes are.

Barkview’s iconic candy company, Canine Caramel, teeters on bankruptcy while stolen sports memorabilia flood the market and sabotage strikes the baseball museum. The evidence neatly leads to the missing baseball card. Or is it just a diabolical misdirection?

With the town full of die-hard baseball fans, Cat and the fearless bat dog must uncover a conspiracy before the seventh-inning stretch.

QUOTE:

***** Its quirky humor and intelligent banter give it the feel of a Nancy Drew and Miss Marple murder mystery hybrid with an even more exciting conclusion. Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers’ Favorite

BUY LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWPYZH9D

The award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Barkview Mysteries series, C.B. Wilson’s love of writing was spurred by an early childhood encounter with a Nancy Drew book where she precociously wrote what she felt was a better ending. After studying at the Gemology Institute of America, she developed a passion for researching lost, stolen and missing diamonds–the big kind. Her fascination with dogs and their passionate owners inspired Barkview, California, the dog friendliest city in America.

C.B. lives in Peoria, AZ with her husband. She is an avid pickleball player who enjoys traveling to play tournaments. She admits to chocoholic tendencies and laughing out loud at dog comics.