Good Morning, Booklovers!
Please join me in welcoming Kelly Brakenhoff to a Coffee Chat Book Spotlight featuring her cozy mystery, Death 101: Extra Credit. (Check out Kelly's interview on my mystery blog at the bottom of this post.)
What may I get you to drink, Kelly?
KB: I drink Yorkshire tea instead of coffee. My morning writing group includes a couple of British friends who recommended their local tea. I like the Yorkshire blend because it’s more mild than Irish Breakfast tea, my previous favorite.
Ally: While we're waiting for the magic pot to do its thing, let’s go ahead and take a look at your book.
Please join me in welcoming Kelly Brakenhoff to a Coffee Chat Book Spotlight featuring her cozy mystery, Death 101: Extra Credit. (Check out Kelly's interview on my mystery blog at the bottom of this post.)
What may I get you to drink, Kelly?
KB: I drink Yorkshire tea instead of coffee. My morning writing group includes a couple of British friends who recommended their local tea. I like the Yorkshire blend because it’s more mild than Irish Breakfast tea, my previous favorite.
Ally: While we're waiting for the magic pot to do its thing, let’s go ahead and take a look at your book.
Death 101: Extra Credit (A Cassandra Sato Mystery Book4)
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Failure is not an option.
At Morton College, learning comes with a hefty price. The search committee tasked with hiring a new president is on the brink of chaos. A student production of The Three Musketeers devolves into a bloody sword fight. Join Cassandra Sato and the students in a Death 101 course as they put their detective skills to the test. Unraveling the tangled web of secrets and lies, they must act quickly as the college's very future hangs in the balance.
Buy links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/194943755-death-101
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/death-101-extra-credit-a-cassandra-sato-mystery-book-4-by-kelly-brakenhoff
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBNDYGVH
EXCERPT OF Death 101: Extra Credit
Cassandra Sato took a deep breath and surveyed the scene in front of her. Her parents were outside her house chatting away with the neighbor man across the street. The way they gestured to a large magnolia tree full of pink blooms, she guessed they were comparing gardening patterns in Nebraska to theirs at home in Hawaii.
Her bungalow style home looked similar to the others on her quiet street. Two stories, detached one-car garage, small backyard, landscaped front yard with well-tended flower beds. The small town of Carson fit the Midwestern stereotype in almost every way.
Cassandra’s dad wasn’t a big talker, but her mother could strike up a conversation with anyone, willing or not, and Cassandra lost count during her childhood at how many times she’d been embarrassed by her mother's outgoing personality.
Meanwhile, her West Highland Terrier dog, Murphy, was wagging his tail excitedly at the sight of her next door neighbor’s poop scooping service truck. Murphy begged to go outside, so Cassandra took him to the backyard where he ran straight to the college-aged worker who methodically walked the yard carrying a hoe-like device and a customized scoop.
The young man crouched down next to the fence where Murphy was bouncing and barking excitedly and pulled a treat from his pocket, which Murphy eagerly gobbled up.
As the man went about his job, Cassandra said, “My dog seems to recognize your truck.”
“Yeah, he’s run outside the past few times after I pulled up. What’s his name?” He came back to the fence and held his palm low while the dog sniffed his hand.
“Murphy,” said Cassandra. “Usually he comes to the office with me at Morton College, but I’ve been off work recently.”
“I’m Nate Parker, a sophomore at the college.” He poked a finger through the chain links and scratched behind Murphy’s ear.
His kindness and thoughtfulness impressed her, despite not being his customer. “Let me know if you ever need a reference for your next job. You seem to take customer service seriously.”
Medium height and average build, Nate’s hoodie was pulled up over his hair, so she could only see his friendly face. He shrugged. “I’m good with dogs. My boss lets me fit my hours in around my other commitments, and the money helps me with rent and stuff.”
“Well, thank you for being so nice to Murphy. He can be fickle about who he likes.” Mostly, Murphy was touchy around her. She’d adopted him only a few months earlier, but they were still adjusting to each other.
Cassandra watched as Nate finished his job and drove away, a pang of guilt washing over her. She hadn’t taken the time to get to know all her neighbors, much less the friendly young man who had been feeding her dog treats. At the same time, she felt impatient to get back to work, obsessed with climbing the academic ladder at Morton College and using her current position as Vice President of Student Affairs as a stepping stone to something bigger.
Her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Hey honey girl, you been staring into da sky for five minutes already. What happen?” To local Carson residents, her parents had an accent from being born and raised on Oahu, the descendants of Japanese immigrants. People called it Pidgin English or Creole, but to Cassandra it just sounded like home.
She could switch comfortably between island style casual language and formal academic discourse with ease, depending on the situation. Cassandra shook her head, trying to clear her mind. “Eh, sorry, Mom. I was just thinking about work.”
“Again?” her mother sighed. “You always thinkin’ about work. You need relax more.”
“I have been enjoying myself,” Cassandra protested. “I took time off to spend with you and Dad.”
Cassandra Sato took a deep breath and surveyed the scene in front of her. Her parents were outside her house chatting away with the neighbor man across the street. The way they gestured to a large magnolia tree full of pink blooms, she guessed they were comparing gardening patterns in Nebraska to theirs at home in Hawaii.
Her bungalow style home looked similar to the others on her quiet street. Two stories, detached one-car garage, small backyard, landscaped front yard with well-tended flower beds. The small town of Carson fit the Midwestern stereotype in almost every way.
Cassandra’s dad wasn’t a big talker, but her mother could strike up a conversation with anyone, willing or not, and Cassandra lost count during her childhood at how many times she’d been embarrassed by her mother's outgoing personality.
Meanwhile, her West Highland Terrier dog, Murphy, was wagging his tail excitedly at the sight of her next door neighbor’s poop scooping service truck. Murphy begged to go outside, so Cassandra took him to the backyard where he ran straight to the college-aged worker who methodically walked the yard carrying a hoe-like device and a customized scoop.
The young man crouched down next to the fence where Murphy was bouncing and barking excitedly and pulled a treat from his pocket, which Murphy eagerly gobbled up.
As the man went about his job, Cassandra said, “My dog seems to recognize your truck.”
“Yeah, he’s run outside the past few times after I pulled up. What’s his name?” He came back to the fence and held his palm low while the dog sniffed his hand.
“Murphy,” said Cassandra. “Usually he comes to the office with me at Morton College, but I’ve been off work recently.”
“I’m Nate Parker, a sophomore at the college.” He poked a finger through the chain links and scratched behind Murphy’s ear.
His kindness and thoughtfulness impressed her, despite not being his customer. “Let me know if you ever need a reference for your next job. You seem to take customer service seriously.”
Medium height and average build, Nate’s hoodie was pulled up over his hair, so she could only see his friendly face. He shrugged. “I’m good with dogs. My boss lets me fit my hours in around my other commitments, and the money helps me with rent and stuff.”
“Well, thank you for being so nice to Murphy. He can be fickle about who he likes.” Mostly, Murphy was touchy around her. She’d adopted him only a few months earlier, but they were still adjusting to each other.
Cassandra watched as Nate finished his job and drove away, a pang of guilt washing over her. She hadn’t taken the time to get to know all her neighbors, much less the friendly young man who had been feeding her dog treats. At the same time, she felt impatient to get back to work, obsessed with climbing the academic ladder at Morton College and using her current position as Vice President of Student Affairs as a stepping stone to something bigger.
Her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Hey honey girl, you been staring into da sky for five minutes already. What happen?” To local Carson residents, her parents had an accent from being born and raised on Oahu, the descendants of Japanese immigrants. People called it Pidgin English or Creole, but to Cassandra it just sounded like home.
She could switch comfortably between island style casual language and formal academic discourse with ease, depending on the situation. Cassandra shook her head, trying to clear her mind. “Eh, sorry, Mom. I was just thinking about work.”
“Again?” her mother sighed. “You always thinkin’ about work. You need relax more.”
“I have been enjoying myself,” Cassandra protested. “I took time off to spend with you and Dad.”
About the Author:
Kelly Brakenhoff is an author of ten books and an ASL interpreter. She divides her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and picture books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
Parents, kids, and teachers love the children's books and activity books because they teach American Sign Language using fun stories. And if you like a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, you'll enjoy the Cassandra Sato Mystery series.
The mother of four young adults and a hunting dog, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio. “I just started learning how to play pickleball. I’m not good at tennis or ping pong, so we’ll see how this goes.”
Author Contacts:
Email: kelly@kellybrakenhoff.com
Website: https://kellybrakenhoff.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kellybrakenhoffauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inBrakenVille
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly_inbrakenville/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kellybrakenhoff
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellybrakauthor
Kelly Brakenhoff is an author of ten books and an ASL interpreter. She divides her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and picture books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
Parents, kids, and teachers love the children's books and activity books because they teach American Sign Language using fun stories. And if you like a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, you'll enjoy the Cassandra Sato Mystery series.
The mother of four young adults and a hunting dog, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio. “I just started learning how to play pickleball. I’m not good at tennis or ping pong, so we’ll see how this goes.”
Author Contacts:
Email: kelly@kellybrakenhoff.com
Website: https://kellybrakenhoff.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kellybrakenhoffauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inBrakenVille
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly_inbrakenville/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kellybrakenhoff
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellybrakauthor
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