2025 Fall/Winter book recommendations from your faithful reviewer and Poisoned Pen Bookstore bookseller, John Charles, and from New York Times bestsellers Jayne Ann Krentz and Christina Dodd. Think gift books for your mom, your best friends, everyone on your holiday list! MURDER AT DONWELL ABBEY by Vanessa Kelly https://store.poisonedpen.com/item/N72jacmRMGB1TATUzwq0dg THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE by… Read More

Jayne Ann Krentz and I zoomed with bookseller and reviewer John Charles. Because he’s a reviewer, he gets to read the books early and here are his recommendations for your summer pleasure. It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle On June 25, 6pm, Jayne will be signing It Takes a Psychic, at HPB in Bellevue… Read More

Me to author-friend Connie Brockway, “Movers come on Tuesday for the furniture going to California. The Husband flies down on Wednesday while I get my hair done. Thursday I fly in the afternoon and we get the third bed delivered. :cue the suspense music: Will it be the right one at last?” And…here’s a photo… Read More

The California move, the bed part Continued from part 1 I searched for bed frames online and, as happens, The Husband and could not agree. :sigh: Finally I found a Shaker style which I knew he’d like and ordered it. We managed to have it delivered on one of the days we were in California… Read More

The Husband and I flew to N. California for five days of wine tasting, eating and much, much walking (because of the eating) and as we were flying back, I took these photos of Mt. Rainier and, as the sun set, Seattle with Mt. Rainer in the background. I know—that mountain looks fake, doesn’t it?… Read More

Winter: Holidays, too much food, family and friends, snow (depends on where you live!) fallen leaves to crunch under your feet, and most important — Christmas and winter holiday books! Those really warm fuzzy stories of families who get along…or don’t and murder each other. 😁 🎄 We’re not talking real life (I hope!) We’re… Read More

“I hated this book because it is all about sex, sex, sex. The story gets lost in the descriptive sex pages which are numerous.”—Christina Dodd’s favorite 1 star Amazon review ever (for SCENT OF DARKNESS) I know what you’re thinking; did Christina pay someone to write a review using the word “sex” four times? No,… Read More

In writing POINT LAST SEEN, I returned to my roots. This is the dedication… “To my mother, Virginia Dodd, who read to me, listened to me, laughed at my corny jokes and believed I could do whatever I set my mind to. I miss our travels together, the sound of your voice, your gentle hands, your… Read More

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER begins, “The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s… Read More

The best writing advice I give is very succinct. Put your butt into the chair and write. There’s no substitute for experience. But since I’m seldom without something to say (ask my husband), I wrote up a random series of: CHRISTINA DODD’S WRITING TIPS About Characters: Plot is important. Characters are more important. Readers must… Read More