Can you believe the 4th of July is this Friday? Wasn’t it just the other day we were counting down the days until Christmas, and now summer is here and we’re into July?
A BBQ is in my future this weekend as I’m hoping to spend it with family. Regardless of whether you’re planning a cookout, fireworks, or simply spending time with a good book, I hope your weekend includes a little bit of mystery—of the cozy variety, of course—and a whole lot of fun.
In honor of all things Fourth of July, I’ve rounded up some festive reading picks, writing inspiration, and a fun printable to get your July sleuthing off to a sparkling start.
So grab a glass of lemonade and let’s celebrate the red, white, and... clue.
📚 Cozy Picks: 6 Patriotic & Picnic-Worthy Reads
Here are six ideas for your summer TBR, each with a hint of celebration and a dash of danger:
Murder is No Picnic (A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery) by Amy Pershing.
When a celebrity chef is found dead, Samantha Barnes, the “Cape Cod Foodie,” finds her search for the world’s best blueberry buckle turning into a search for a killer.
Fourth of July Forgery (Holiday Cozy Mystery) by Tonya Kappes.
Fireworks aren’t the only things causing sparks this Fourth of July in Holiday Junction! Prepare to be immersed in a mystery that’s more intricate than a firework’s design.
Oh Say, Can You Fudge (A Candy-coated Mystery) by Nancy Coco.
Allie McMurphy is busy making yummy fudge for the summer holiday--until murder gives her something else to chew on. . .Red, White, And Boom
Special Note to my readers in the Midwest: The story takes place on Mackinac Island.
Gone with the Whisker (A Bookmobile Cat Mystery) by Laurie Cass.
A friendly feline and a feisty librarian merrily roll along in the newest Bookmobile Cat mystery...until murder stops them in their tracks!
Another story set in Michigan.
Murderous 4th of July: A Cookie’s Creamery Mystery by Kathleen Suzette.
Maddie and her BFF Chloe are just trying to enjoy the 4th of July holiday, but there’s more than fireworks going off on the beach.
Fireworks, Forensics and Felonies (The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles Book 7) by Colleen Mooney.
It was the perfect date night… …until they saw their friend’s house explode. Was it an accident with the July 4th fireworks?
✍️ Writer’s Corner: Plotting a Holiday Mystery
Have you ever thought about writing a mystery (or any genre, for that matter) centered around a holiday? Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day are all perfect summertime settings.
🎇 They are the perfect setting for some good old-fashioned conflict: family get-togethers (always a good venue for conflict), the dueling personalities in charge of the town’s annual festival or fireworks show, the resurfacing of a scandal when someone returns to town over the holidays and starts asking too many questions.
🎪 Choosing a gathering place is easy-peasy - the town square, the riverwalk, and the park, not to mention parades, art and craft shows, and festivals, all make wonderful settings for a crime scene.
🍉 Strong motives: Start with a few people, add hometown celebrations and family gatherings, and a dose of rising temperatures, and you set the stage for competition, jealousy, and grudges that are as old as the hills.
Quick prompt:
Someone used the covering of the fireworks display to carry out a murder. Who had a motive? Who disappeared while everyone was watching the show?
🧨Download: July 4th Cozy Story Spark Generator. Print and exercise your creative juices! Perfect for journaling or starting the next scene in your book or short story.
📌 WRITING TIP: Keep Track Like a Pro
Do you ever find yourself struggling to remember how you spelled your MC's last name or where they work? By creating a style sheet to keep track of names, unique spellings, and your preferred formats for times and dates, you can maintain consistency throughout your manuscript from the very first page to the last.
Simply create a document or spreadsheet with headings for Proper Nouns, Spelling Clarification, and Abbreviations, as well as another for Special Formatting. Here is an abbreviated sample of the Style Sheet for my first book, The Peculiar Case of the Petersburg Professor:
You can also organize your lists by categories such as Characters, Locations, and Guidelines, and add additional entries as you write or edit.
Pro Tip: Include character ages, birthdays, and major plot points—especially important if you plan on writing sequels. Click here for more info on style sheets.
📰 In other news -
A few snaps from the mystery bingo event Kate Michaelson and I did at Finch & Fern Book Co., in Sylvania, OH.
Yours truly, very seriously, calling out bingo words (hehe) Thanks Kate, for the pic.
Kate Michaelson with her mystery, Hidden Rooms. (Such a good read, I might add.)
Bingo, Scavenger hunt, prizes, books = Mystery Bingo Event (Another shout-out to photographer Kate)
I should have taken more pics, but, as usual, I got so involved with the event that I forgot. Oh, well, I’ll try to do better next time. But the important thing is we all had fun, and Kate remembered to take pics!
📚 Reading Progress
I just finished Agatha Christie’s Murder at the Vicarage. It’s the first novel in the Miss Marple cozy mystery series, written by Christie in 1930. Having lived for many years in a parsonage, it brought back many memories, although thankfully, none regarding murder.
The plot moves along nicely, albeit a bit slowly at the beginning, but once the murder occurs, the pacing picks up. The characters—the vicar and his young wife, the hated victim, the town gossips, and those in the community hiding their own secrets—are all well-developed.
It’s a fun, easy read, and, like all cozy mysteries, will not leave you scared when you turn off the lights.
I’m currently finishing Hidden Rooms, and then it’s on to Jenna Bennett’s Peril in Piccadilly.
Recipes for a Cozy 4th of July Weekend:
Cheeseburger Bowls
German Potato Salad (no mayo)
4th of July Mix
Strawberry Shortcake with Blueberries
Making progress on Book 4 in the Michelle Kilpatrick Mystery series. Sometimes it feels like a slow go, but I guess that’s to be expected when I’m working on four writing projects at the same time. I’ve never been great at doing one thing at a time, so why start now? hehe
Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Stay safe and have fun!
And, as always, happy reading!
Sharon Kay
Author of The Michelle Kilpatrick Mysteries
p.s. Don’t forget, I am an Amazon affiliate, which means when you make a purchase from any of my links to Amazon products, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.