“Off the Page” with Helen Morrisey by The Wren (Sarah E. Burr)

 

A Note from Sarah Burr: Today, I’m passing the blogging baton to Winnie Lark, the protagonist of my Book Blogger Mysteries series. Winnie is the mastermind behind What Spine is Yours, a renowned literary website often compared to Metacritic, but with a bookish twist. Operating under the pseudonym 'The Wren,' Winnie keeps her identity a secret while delivering engaging content to her readers. Her specialty? Interviewing authors through their characters. That’s precisely what’s on the agenda for today’s feature—enjoy!

Greetings, bookish friends! It’s your friendly, neighborhood book blogger, The Wren, here to introduce another captivating sleuth you won't want to miss: Helen Morrisey from the Chesapeake Bay Mysteries.

Helen, thank you so much for coming “off the page” with me. You’ve built a glowing reputation in the Maryland Realtor community. How did you first get interested in real estate? How did you then get started selling homes?

I entered the business in my hometown of Port Anne about twenty-five years ago after finishing my master's. I missed the mix of people, the shopkeepers, local crabbers, and new faces moving in. I missed sailing on the Chesapeake, spotting Bald Eagles and Blue Herons. So, I’m not sure if my Realtor reputation is glowing. Over the past few years, I’ve become mixed up in murder a little too frequently for some of my clients. In fact, in my latest mystery-solving quest, Villain in the Vineyard, my reputation takes a huge nosedive. Someone becomes intent upon ruining my reputation. They’ve taken to defacing clients’ houses using the words, “Your agent is a crook!” Now I find myself determined to solve a client’s murder while trying to salvage my livelihood.

Holy bookmarks, no wonder you’re getting involved in this case! I can’t wait to see who’s behind the vandalism. A disgruntled customer, perhaps? You deal with clients all day, every day, and I imagine some of them can be very opinionated. What’s your secret to dealing with people who try your patience?

LOL. I’m not sure if there’s a secret. I tend to speak up when I should be biting my tongue. Most clients are great to work with, and I enjoy helping them get through a complicated process without them suffering multiple meltdowns along the way. We often become good friends. But there are those, like the insufferable Mr. Rickel in Murder in the Master. I was counting the hours until his house settlement, so I could delete his name from my cell phone!

Oh, I remember Mr. Rickel from Book One—he’s quite the “character.” Other than Mr. Rickel, it’s great that you’ve become a confidante for your clients. Being patient is also an excellent skill for an amateur sleuth to have. How did you first decide to get involved in crime-solving, and how did you pick the literary sleuths included in your “Detection Club”?

Since I was in high school, I was often the person who jumped into the fray when another student was bullied. I’ve also been an avid mystery reader since Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. They probably gave me a false sense of confidence that I could defend the innocent. When a friend of mine was accused of killing a local builder, she begged me to help. I’m in a profession where I know a lot about people’s private lives. Their finances, their habits, their personal relationships, good and bad. Sometimes those bits and pieces can lead to solving a crime.

When my husband, Andy, died in an accident, my family’s life was shattered.  I needed to find my new path. I decided some of my favorite women sleuths could give me great advice. When I began solving cases, they became the perfect partners in a kind of Detection Club. They bring their special talents to my investigations.

Nancy Drew is my youngest member. She’s physically fit and totally unintimidated by her elders’ desire to keep her out of police business. On the opposite end, the elderly Jane Marple is wise. She’s my quiet observer. Jessica Fletcher is a smart businesswoman. She could make a great Realtor. She’s methodical and logical. She also likes to laugh. Then there’s Nora Charles, of the famous duo Nick and Nora of the 1930s. She’s got that high-society cache I sometimes emulate to unearth clues. Agatha Raisin was always a favorite detective of mine. She’s a sharp-tongued, gutsy woman living in the Cotswolds of England. She’s my age and no expert in male relationships. Unlike me, she likes to show off her legs in very high heels, which tend to impede her investigations.

What a fabulous group of kick-butt women to have in your corner! And with you at the helm, I’m sure all your investigations go swimmingly without any snafus, right, Helen? 😉

Unlike some amateur sleuths in the cozy mystery genre, you have a great working relationship with the lead investigator on the cases you get involved with. What makes Detective Joe McAlister so special? Why do you think he’s so open to your help?

Joe joined the county sheriff’s department after years heading a big city homicide division. He’s tough. We started off a bit adversarial. He slowly came around as he realized I wasn’t just a busybody. I could give him the inside scoop on local personalities. We work together fairly well, although we have our testy moments. Joe once told me that I find dead bodies like cats find mice. Given that I like cats, I decided to take his sarcasm as a compliment.

As you should!

You’ve mentioned your home of Port Anne. It sounds like a lovely place to visit, and it’s home to some unique and charming individuals. Who are some folks you recommend visitors get to know? Who should we steer clear of?

I can’t help being partial to my twins. They're in their early thirties and determined to talk me out of tracking down killers. Lizzie is as smart as she is theatrical, very stylish, and a great cook. Something I’ll never be. Bring me Sauvignon Blanc and Twizzlers. She’s got a bit of Nora Charles in her. Shawn, a district attorney, is always warning me, “You can’t fix everything, Mom.” Another habit I’m unlikely to break. He’s eager to keep my sleuthing tendencies out of his current romantic relationships. When I call a meeting to discuss a case, they’re my home team. My Assistant Extraordinaire is Tammi. She’s a combination of General Patreus and Mother Teresa, keeping our business humming. She’s also my best friend. As for those to steer clear of? You’ll just have to catch up on my crime-solving to find out.  I’m not about to spoil your fun. 

Sounds like you’ve got a great crew to help navigate the treacherous seas of your investigations! Other than having a solid support team, what advice do you have for newbie amateur sleuths?

I’ll pass on the sage advice of Jane Marple. She warned me that murder should never be taken lightly. She’s right. But solving mysteries is always exciting and a habit I’m not likely to break.

Wiser words were never spoken! Crime-solving is first and foremost about getting justice for victims, and it sounds like you have no plans to stop your pursuits, Helen. Thank you again for taking the time out of your Realtor life and coming “off the page” with me. Readers can look forward to your latest adventure, Villain in the Vineyard, available at your favorite bookish retailer on April 15, 2025.

To stay connected with Helen’s author, Judy L. Murray, head to her website: https://www.judylmurraymysteries.com.

Learn more about The Wren, Winnie, and the Book Blogger Mysteries at www.saraheburr.com.