Mysteryrat's Closet

 

Book 2 in the Tower District Mystery Series,  One of You is out!  Order here: Signed Copies are available at the Book Barn in Clovis, CA Universal Link to purchase your copy of One of You on Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble.com: books2read.com/u/m0eWAy    Roxi Carlucci’s new life in Fresno, CA is starting to come together. She has a new podcast, works as a part-time P.I. with her cousin Stephen Carlucci, and is helping local bookstore owner Clark Halliwell put on the first-ever Tower Halloween Mysteryfest! To top it all off, her favorite author, the Queen of Cozy Mysteries, Marilyn Bradford, will be there! The brutal summer heat is gone and has been replaced by the dense tule fog—perfect for Halloween! While Roxi misses her life as a children’s author living on the California Coast, she is beginning to feel at home in the Tower District—the cultural oasis of Fresno—where she lives with her cousin Stephen, her pet rat Merlin, a Pit Bull named Watson, and a black cat named Dan. She just wishes everyone would stop calling her the “Jessica Fletcher” of the Tower District! Even if there will be murders on the page at Mysteryfest, there’s no way there will be another real murder like when she first arrived! But when one of the authors is found dead, she fears she jinxed herself! The Carlucci’s are hired to find the killer before they strike again! Will Mysteryfest turn into a murder fest? How is the local gossip website back, and what does it know about the death of Roxi’s parents?  Listen to the prologue and first chapter of One of You on Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast:      I will be at the Capital Crimes Sisters In Crime Table from 1-4 on that day.     Highlights from my blog tour:  If you have ever wondered how my Tower District Mystery series came to be, be sure to check this guest post on the Boys' Mom Reads! blog.   Blog post by my main character Roxi on how she doesn't want to be called Jessica Fletcher, over on Christy's Cozy Corners! Up on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book a post  about the important role that entertainment has played in my life and in my books.   Check out my event page for other past & future events and guest posts. Reviews for One of You: One of You (A Tower District Mystery) by Lorie Lewis Ham Rating: 5 stars: One of You is the 2nd book in A Tower District Mystery series and it was even better than the first book! Short Sweet And Cozy, Holly Pirtle With a few Halloween tricks One of You is a Halloween treat with a solid mystery showcasing friendship in a unique California enclave.  -- Katreader, Goodreads D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review- Lorie Lewis Ham excels in crafting a cozy mystery that brings to life not just Roxi’s personality and family relationships, but the Fresno community. Her injection of whodunit tips, attention to shifting writer’s relationships (both psychological and political), and especially her ability to build tension based upon not just evolving revelations, but astute methods of connecting the dots, gives readers a satisfying, thoroughly engrossing experience. Libraries (and readers) seeking cozy mysteries that layer events with action and inspections that prompt readers to think about many possible outcomes will find One of You an outstanding series of twists and turns. It will keep readers delighted with the plot, characters, and especially the strongly realistic setting of Fresno’s Tower District. Sarah Can't Stop Reading: This was such a great read for so many reasons! First, the mystery itself was well thought out and plotted. I loved following along as Roxi and her PI cousin Stephen investigated the murder, especially as they found themselves uncovering all sorts of information that led to many twists and turns. I had my guesses, but was never sure until the end, which, as someone who reads a lot of mysteries, I love it when I’m stumped!  Review of One of You from mystery author Kim Davis: ONE OF YOU is the second book in the Tower District Mysteries by Lorie Lewis Ham. The setting is the artsy Tower District in the large city of Fresno, during Halloween festivities, and the author effectively captures the essence of the spooky season. As the protagonist, Roxi Carlucci, and her friends prepare for the Tower Halloween Mysteryfest, the feeling of a small-town community is forefront. I greatly enjoyed the close comradery Roxi has with her cousin (who is also her roommate and works together as private investigators), as well as local business owners and friends. There’s a nice banter that brings the characters and their personalities to life and makes you want to hang out with them. There are a lot of characters to keep track of because of the Mysteryfest, and early on it slowed me down a bit. But, as the book progressed, each character’s value became apparent, and I became invested in what happened. With the Mysteryfest the focal point of the book, there are many people to consider as a suspect when the Queen of Cozy Mystery is murdered at the local bookshop. Roxi is meticulous in tracking down clues, and with her job as a private investigator, she’s more thorough than the average amateur sleuth. Yet she still works together with her cousin and her friends and doesn’t go it alone, which adds to the appeal. Ms. Ham weaves in several twists and turns—I wasn’t even sure if the victim was the intended target—and kept me on my toes as clues were uncovered. Amongst the investigating, the community Halloween and Mysteryfest events continued as secrets were revealed…and boy were there secrets! I found myself reading faster and faster as the story headed toward the conclusion. This is a strong addition to the series and gives the reader a taste of the Tower District while celebrating Halloween! Review by Kathleen Costa on Goodreads: Lorie Lewis Ham has invited us back to the now fog shrouded Fresno in California’s Central Valley in her newest book, “One of You,” as the community celebrates Halloween with Mysteryfest. Along with artistic and seasonal activities and a theater production of Poe’s “Murder in the Rue Morgue” to keep tourists and residents engaged, an eclectic group of authors arrive for a meet and greet and book signings. But, murder? Roxi Carlucci, Ham’s delightful young “snoop,” lover of Sherlock mysteries, King Arthur’s Excalibur, and four-legged creatures like Merlin the rat, joins Stephen, her PI cousin, to look into the shocking crime. Together they uncover personal connections, professional jealousies, and secrets and rumors courtesy of a reemerged local “gossip” monger on social media. This creates a plethora of suspects requiring close scrutiny. But, the investigation is not without its missteps, misdirection, and mistakes that includes some personal peril. From an ecelectic cast first introduced in book one, “One of Us,” to the artistic hub known as the Tower District, the story has a true air of realism bringing the reader a familiar small town vibe, more professional investigative methods, recognizable multi-generational personalities, and reasonable actions and reactions to keep one interested to the last page. Ignore the urge to leap forward to learn the killer’s identity, the journey is exciting all by itself. This second installment has it all from entertaining personalities to an intriguing murder mystery. But, Lorie Lewis Ham also includes some fascinating quirks from Roxi’s replica sword and little menagerie to theater/movie-themed mugs and Stephen’s t-shirt collection. Mental health issues are included, but treated with respect. Romance? Well, there are inklings, but nothing overt … it’s all endearing friendships. No recipes included, but lots of visits to coffee shops, cafes, and of course, pizza delivery for the busy detectives. I highly recommend this standalone book, but do not overlook book one! A woman starting over. A gossip website. A handsome playwright with a dark side. A director with an explosive temper. And a murder without a motive. It’s a mystery set in the historic Tower District—Fresno's dining, arts, and entertainment hub. One of Us is available on Amazon. Barnes and Noble.com And on Kobo You can also purchase it at Clovis Book Barn, in Clovis, CA (they have signed copies) You can follow me on Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram! Purchase One of Us merchandise on RedBubble.  Praise for One of Us Lorie Lewis Ham hits one out of the park with her first book in the new Tower District Mysteries series.  Literary Liz I just love Roxi, her cousin Stephen, and the setting of the book in the Tower District. I'm already looking forward to Roxi's next adventure. Cleo Coyle, author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries  Well-written, Ham walks you through the twists, turns, and surprises that face Roxi and Stephen as they work with the local police to solve the murder. ~Christa Reads and Writes I loved how the author maintained a consistent focus on the plot. After a brief introduction to the protagonist, the plot starts to move and never stops until the end. ~Mysteries with Character An utter delight, ONE OF US captures a unique neighborhood and introduces us to interesting well developed characters while providing an eminently intelligent and enjoyable mystery. ~Cozy Up With Kathy More praise for One Of Us- An entertaining mystery with a unique setting—the Tower District in Fresno. And an adorable pet named Merlin. He's a rat. Trust me on this -- you'll love clever Merlin.     -- Elaine Viets, author of the Angela Richman, Death Investigator mysteries In her new novel Lorie Lewis Ham brings the Tower District of Fresno charmingly alive.  Seeking a new life in a new town, Roxi Carlucci immediately gets involved in local amateur theatre and pet rescue activities and her cousin’s private investigator business. Before long she stumbles over a dead body at rehearsal. I loved the charming, quirky, instantly endearing Roxi with her love of all things King Arthur and Sherlock Holmes, her pet rat Merlin, her intense curiosity about everything and her eagerness to plunge into her new life. That plus the Mafia family she’s trying to disassociate from, the circle of new friends, and a fast-paced mystery makes One of Us a treat for mystery readers and a fab start to a promising new series. Vicki Delany/Eva Gates, One Woman Crime Wave, 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for Contributions to Canadian Crime Writing  In this mystery, One of Us, the Tower District of Fresno is as important as the characters. A close-knit community, with ties to the theater and arts, it add layers of originality and depth to the plot. When a member of a theater group is murdered, Roxi Carlucci, newly arrived to the area, is immediately drawn in to the investigation. Roxi, along with all the other characters in this new mystery, is well drawn with a unique personality. Because of the location, and the interesting characters who inhabit the neighborhood, this is a great start to a promising mystery series. --Marilyn Meredith, author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries.

Welcome to my closet, so to speak, where I "unpack" my writing for you. I have been writing mysteries since I was a teenager and I have published 7 of them. Four of those 7 featured gospel singing amateur sleuth Alexandra Walters. Most of them are now out of print. For the past 14 years I have been focusing my attention on my online magazine Kings River Life, and more recently also our sister site KRL News & Reviews. Since May of 2018 a lot of my attention is also going to our mystery podcast, Mysteryrat's Maze, which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors.

After many years, I finally released a brand new mystery in 2021, One of Us, which debuted a brand new series, featuring podcaster and part time P.I. Roxi Carlucci (If you read my other books-she is the cousin of Stephen Carlucci). And now I am releasing the second book in the series, One of You. The books are based in Fresno, CA, and more specifically in my favorite part of that town called The Tower District. The photo in the background of this website is a photo I took of the Tower Theatre in the Tower District!
 

Happy reading,

Your Mysteryrat Lorie!