One of my favorite parts of being an author is introducing readers to new stories—and new friends.
Today, I’m delighted to welcome fellow author Katherine Fletcher to the blog. Katherine writes the kind of mysteries many of us grew up loving: clever puzzles, memorable characters, and small-town settings where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Her debut novel, Lakeside Murder, is planned for release this September, and today she’s sharing a little about what inspired her to start writing cozy mysteries.
I’ll let Katherine take it from here.
Why I Write Cozy Mysteries
By Katherine Fletcher
Thank you, Sylvia, for inviting me to visit your blog!
Since this is my first time meeting many of you, I thought I’d introduce myself by answering a simple question:
Why mysteries?
I’ve loved mysteries for as long as I can remember.
Like many readers, I never missed an episode of Murder, She Wrote. There was something comforting about Cabot Cove. A small town where everyone knew everyone else, familiar faces appeared week after week, and Jessica Fletcher always managed to uncover the truth. I also enjoyed Matlock. While it leaned more toward courtroom drama, I appreciated its clever mysteries and memorable characters.
When I eventually picked up the Murder, She Wrote novels, I discovered the Jessica on the page felt just a little different from Angela Lansbury’s wonderful portrayal. The stories were familiar, but I found myself imagining Jessica a bit younger and seeing the character through a slightly different lens. It reminded me how books allow every reader to picture a character in their own way.
Another author who greatly influenced me was Mary Higgins Clark. I read nearly all of her novels. I admired the way she built suspense, introduced ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, and kept me turning pages until the very end.
When I finally decided to write mysteries myself, I realized I didn’t want to choose between those influences.
I wanted the warmth of a small town. I wanted recurring characters who felt like old friends. I wanted mysteries that challenged the reader without relying on graphic violence. But I also wanted layered clues, satisfying twists, and the quiet suspense I loved in Mary Higgins Clark’s novels.
That’s how the Thursday Book Club Mysteries came to life.
Instead of one amateur sleuth, I gave Kettle Creek four.
Dot notices the things other people overlook. Margaret follows the money. Beverly knows the town, and its people, better than anyone. June can disappear into historical records until she uncovers the one clue everyone else missed.
They’re not detectives.
They’re simply four women who care deeply about their community… and who aren’t afraid to ask questions when something doesn’t add up.
If I had to describe the series in one sentence, I’d say it’s a little bit Murder, She Wrote, a touch of Mary Higgins Clark, and a book club that can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
I hope you’ll enjoy meeting the Thursday Book Club when Lakeside Murder arrives this September. Until then, you’re invited to visit Kettle Creek through my free prequel novella, The Missing Letter. I can’t wait to share this journey with you.
Happy reading!
About Katherine Fletcher
Katherine Fletcher writes clean, character-driven cozy mysteries featuring clever puzzles, enduring friendships, and charming small-town settings. Her Thursday Book Club Mysteries follow four women whose love of books often leads them into mysteries they never expected to solve.