What Nancy Drew Taught Caitlin Clark by Judy L Murray

I admit, I am obsessed with Nancy Drew. Then again, I’m obsessed with most famous women sleuths, from young to old. Trixie Belden, Jane Marple, Nora Charles, Jessica Fletcher, Agatha Raisin, Precious Ramotswe - you name them and I’m likely a huge fan.

Then there’s Caitlin Clark, the record-breaking sports phenom. Caitlin is described as a singular force in women’s college basketball like no other. The final game, between South Carolina's Gamecocks and the University of Iowa's Hawkeyes, peaked at a whopping 24 million viewers combined on ESPN and ABC, making it the first time in history that a women's final in any sport draw a larger TV audience than the men's, according to ESPN. Her talent, drive, and focus have brought women’s basketball into the hearts and minds of many, even those who before Caitlin had little interest in women’s sports.

Remind you of another female phenom? Nancy Drew was introduced in April 1930, an extremely tough time for our country and the world. The Secret of the Old Clock, Nancy’s first case, was on the New York Times Best Seller list for almost two years. It was unprecedented, especially for a sixteen-year-old female character only ten years after women won the right to vote. Four more of her adventures were released that same year. To date, 175 mysteries, over 80 million copies, have been sold. The world embraced Nancy Drew and the concept that women could be smart, seek adventure, and persevere under pressure. She encouraged a love of reading when a generation was swamped by sadness, shoes lined with cardboard, and absent fathers.

In the midst of the Great Depression when books were a luxury, soup kitchens were common, and families often divided to find jobs, people scrounged up the money to purchase Nancy’s adventures. Nancy Drew became a popular role model impacting generations to come, including young women like Caitlin Clark. I remember in the 1960’s, my fervent hope was to talk my father into buying me her latest adventure. He’d take me to the local pharmacist on Sunday afternoons where I’d spin the display wheel of books with longing eyes.

So, what does the icon Nancy Drew teach Caitlin Clark and any young woman who wants to excel in sports, art, science, or raising strong and stable children?

Caitlin Clark Instagram

1.     Self-discipline. Nancy is prepared. She’s aware of her surroundings. She doesn’t sleep in. She keeps an overnight bag for emergencies in her trunk. When she’s on the case, she’s tireless.

2.      Determination. Nancy is not side-tracked by naysayers who attempt to discourage her or Friday night partiers. She stands up for herself even in the face of criticism, determined to excel, to build on her own talents. She’s indefatigable.

3.     Courage – Nancy is fearless. Nancy searches in musty basements, spooky attics, caves, and under crumbling walls. She travels the world outside her safe Midwestern community. Nothing holds her back from fulfilling what she believes is her destiny.

4.     Respect with self-respect. She’s a young woman who respects her seniors but never caves. She’s committed to her objective. She’s not intimidated. She believes in herself.

5.     Can work under pressure. She taps Morse Code while tied to a chair. To think is to act.

6.     She values loyalty to family and friends. Nancy’s acquaintances often face difficult odds, but they know they can depend on her. She steps forward to seek justice and close the case, time after time.

Nancy Drew and Caitlin Clark are exceptional at their craft. They inspire. They leave me with much to emulate.

Who provides you with inspiration when you stare at a blank page, feel the self-doubt of a muddling middle, or face a fourth revision? Try to picture Nancy and Caitlin. Nancy would be on the case, chin up and flashlight in hand. Caitlin would stand mid-court, call up her confidence, and take that three-point shot. 

An Interview With Judy L. Murray

by Grace Topping

 

 

For many authors, it takes years to hone their craft before they get that first book published. Judy L. Murray was one of them, and her perseverance paid off. The first book in her Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series, Murder in the Master, received numerous accolades, including being a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel 2021. The third book in her series, Peril in the Pool House, was released in September. It was a pleasure talking to Judy about her writing journey.

 

 

Peril in the Pool House

Book 3 in the Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series

 

Real estate rule #3: It's the rare buyer who wants to buy a haunted house.

A grand opening for Captain's Watch Bed & Breakfast on the outskirts of the little Chesapeake Bay town of Port Anne is creating quite a stir. Real estate agent Helen Morrisey sold the neglected Victorian to state senator candidate Eliot Davies and his wife, Alison. Despite rumors of ghostly images, they've toiled for months to bring the painted lady back to its prime. Now, the couple is ready to celebrate and the whole town is invited.

A piercing scream cuts through the chatter as their party winds down. Helen bolts toward the pool house with her on-again, off-again love interest, Detective Joe McAlister, steps behind. A hysterical Alison is standing over the motionless body of one of their guests. A nine-inch pair of antique fishing shears juts from the woman's back.

Helen takes in the shocked expressions of guests gathered at the pool edge. Why would someone want this woman dead? Has the tale of a ghost roaming Captain's Watch returned to haunt Eliot and Alison? Getting involved in another local murder investigation could be the kiss of death for her relationship with Joe. Yet, she knows a murder in her friends B & B might cut their future to ribbons. Is it time to consult the expertise of her infamous Detection Club sleuths? Or should she look the other way before her own reputation is bloodied?

                                                                                                            www.amazon.com

 

 

Welcome, Judy, to Writers Who Kill.

 

What inspired you to make Helen Morrisey, the main character in your Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series, a real estate agent?

 

Deciding Helen’s career was very easy. I was a real estate broker, managing offices, running marketing departments, and training agents for one of the largest companies in the country since my twenties. I knew real estate sales was a believable career for an amateur sleuth. Agents meet with all types of people in a wide range of situations from creepy dirt floor basements to over-the-top luxury waterfront mansions. Readers enjoy learning about real-life events and Helen’s business from the inside out. They often tell me Helen is ‘real.’ Helen did not inherit a B&B, a bookshop, or a café, not that she would have minded. She’s a get-up-in-the morning, down a coffee, bolt for her first appointment kind of woman. 

 

The main characters in cozy mysteries are often single women without children. You’ve made Helen a widow with two grown children. What does her marital status and having children add to your stories?

Priority one, I wanted her mystery solving to prove that life doesn’t end at fifty. When my husband read the first book and realized Helen was a widow, he said, “What? I’m dead?” We laughed. Helen hates to cook but loves to eat. She depends on a microwave, granola, and Sauvignon Blanc. She’s addicted to eating Twizzlers. You’ll find them in her desk drawer, her work tote, and her glove compartment. Helen is an avid fixer upper, not just with houses, but with people’s problems. She’s a good observer of people, like Jane Marple, which comes in handy. Family is important to Helen, but she struggles to bite her tongue and not intrude in her children’s decisions. She tends to put her foot in her mouth, much like me.

How did you come up with Helen’s Detection Club concept? 

 

I read a fascinating article about Agatha Christie and the Detection Club she and other writers formed in 1930. My mind clicked and I decided Helen needed her own Detection Club of famous women sleuths to help her seek justice. Her cohorts, Nancy Drew, Jessica Fletcher, Agatha Raisin, Nora Charles, and Jane Marple, each give her advice. Helen’sbookcases are chock full of their cases. As Jane Marple says, “It’s important that wickedness shouldn’t triumph.” 

 

Helen is slowly warming to the attentions of Detective Joe McAlister. What makes her reluctant to become more seriously involved with him?

 

Helen is long on loyalty and short on romance, a very slow mover. She worked hard keeping her family together after her husband died, and she’s not at all sure she wants to disrupt her life now. It’s something a lot of women struggle with later in life. She likes to push Joe’s buttons and their zingers back and forth make for interesting conversations. Her children tell her she’s lucky Joe is so patient. Will that change? Hmmm, have to think about that.

 

Helen is a keen sailor and takes her boat out onto the Chesapeake Bay, often traveling alone. Do you sail, and, if so, do you ever sail solo? 

 

My husband and I have sailed most of our lives in every size boat possible. In 2007, we moved from a huge old Victorian in a Philadelphia suburb after years of restoring it and bought a much smaller house at the top of the Chesapeake. Like Helen, I do live on a cliff in the woods. Once we moved to the bay, we bought a larger, sleep-aboard boat. I am a fairly good sailor, although not nearly as good as Helen. I wouldn’t sail by myself, although I admire women who do.

 

Your first book, Murder in the Master, garnered multiple awards and nominations, including becoming a finalist for an Agatha award. Did winning such accolades for your first book put pressure on you when writing your subsequent books?

 

I think every author worries that their next book will be enjoyed as much as the last. I’ve been very fortunate that my series has won a number of awards. I walk the floors at night, worrying that my plot is intricate, the characters relatable, and my readers are kept guessing. So far, I’ve managed to pull that off, but not without a lot of gnashing of teeth. I can only hope I can keep it up. I’m hard on myself. I have fans that have turned into friends, and I want them to be excited about each new mystery.

 

I’ve listened to the audiobook versions of the books in your series and enjoyed them immensely. How did the audiobooks come about? Were you involved in the process, selecting the narrator, etc.?

 

Blackstone Publishing offered a three audio book contract. I was thrilled, particularly since Killer in the Kitchen and Peril in the Pool House were not even finished. I appreciated their confidence in the storyline. They chose the narrator, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, who has produced a plethora of well-known books. I held my breath during my first listen. I definitely had my own thoughts about Helen Morrisey’s ‘voice.’ Some fans ask if I would consider narrating to which I utter a loud ‘no.’ I cringe when I hear my voice in a video with my grandson. I’m sure I would have done a terrible job, and I am a great believer in recognizing other people’s talents. 

 

You waited until you retired to write your first mystery. And why mysteries? 

 

Actually, I started writing Murder in the Master in 2010, long before I retired. I commuted for twelve more years, four hours a day. In 2016, I decided I had to strap myself to a chair every night to get this first book finished and in query condition. So, most nights, after a late dinner, I headed upstairs and worked on chapter after chapter until midnight. It’s another reason why I like Helen so much. I wanted my heroine to reflect all those women who manage to chase their dreams while juggling work and family. In 2020, I signed with a literary agent and then my publisher. I took that as a sign to start writing full-time. Why mysteries? As Helen would say, “You can never read too many mysteries. That’s not possible!”

 

Now with three books in your series, how do you balance writing the fourth and doing promotion for the others? Do you enjoy doing promotion? 

 

Marketing and book signings are fairly easy for me because I spent so many years speaking in front of large groups and organizing events. I love building relationships with bookstores and meeting readers in person. For me, balancing my time between writing and marketing is a challenge. I never really feel like I’m focused on the right thing, no matter how I spend the day. Guilt is definitely my middle name. 

 

You are a board member of the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime, overseeing new members. What prompted you to get involved and take on this role?

 

About two years ago, a few board members asked if I would act as Newbies Liaison. Giving back to organizations that help you is so important. I did not know about Sisters in Crime until after my initial book contract. The talented and generous writers we meet, and the sharing of information is a big boost for any writer. I’m happy to help, although there are others on these boards that provide much more than I do. I’m just a small part of helping newer members take advantage of everything we offer.

 

What’s next for Helen and for you?

 

Helen and I are embarking on book four. I like to start with the title and initial back cover blurb. It helps point me in the right direction, story-wise. Reviews from readers that care about my characters encourage me every day. I’m always being asked, “What will happen with Helen and Joe?” I’m also mulling over another series idea. One step at a time.

 

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since you started writing? 

 

My formal training was newspaper journalism. Knowing how to interview, accept feedback, and revise is so useful. I struggle with outlines and am much more of a scene-by-scene pantser. I also would never have guessed how many revisions lie between first ideas and final manuscripts. Incorporating Helen’s Detection Club is one example. It’s a lesson in listening to my instincts and perseverance.

 

Thank you, Judy.

 

Thank you, Grace, for your kind invitation to Writers Who Kill. If anyone would like to reach me, they are welcome to email at judylmurray@gmail.com If they would like to receive my bi-monthly newsletter, they can sign up at judylmurraymysteries.com.

All the best, Judy.

 

 

 

 

An Interview with the 2022 Agatha Nominated Authors for Best First Novel and Best Short Story

 by Paula Gail Benson

Do you feel the excitement mounting? Can you believe that after a two year absence, traditional mystery lovers from around the world will be gathering this coming weekend in Bethesda, Maryland, for Malice Domestic?

 

For many of us, it will be homecoming, reunion, and party central all wrapped up in one!

 

Please enjoy some of the fellowship by meeting or becoming reacquainted through this interview with the 2022 Agatha nominees for Best First Novel and Best Short Story. If you haven’t already found their work, I’m certain you’ll want to add it to your to-be-read list. You can begin by clicking the links to read the nominated short stories!

 

Congratulations to all the nominees and thank you for spending time with us at Writers Who Kill!

 

Best Short Story
“A Family Matter” by Barb Goffman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine Jan/Feb 2021)
“A Tale of Two Sisters” by Barb Goffman in Murder on the Beach (Destination Murders)
“Doc’s at Midnight” by Richie Narvaez in Midnight Hour (Crooked Lane Books)
“The Locked Room Library” by Gigi Pandian (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine July/Aug 2021)
“Bay of Reckoning” by Shawn Reilly Simmons in Murder on the Beach (Destination Murders)

 

How important is setting in a short story? 

 

Barb Goffman

Barb:

Setting is a key ingredient in the stew that is a short story. Ideally, setting shouldn’t only show where the story takes place but it should enable the reader to better understand the story’s characters as it moves the plot forward.

To illustrate, in my story “A Tale of Two Sisters,” the story takes place at a fancy beach resort a couple of miles from a state park. I made use of that setting to move the plot forward in humorous ways. A storm comes up off the beach, blowing sand onto maid of honor Robin. A dog escapes from its owners at the state park and crashes the wedding, giving Robin more headaches. The hotel has deserted stairwells and a rectangular-shaped ballroom, both of which play a role in the story too. Without this particular setting, the plot would have unfolded differently, and without those plot events, Robin wouldn’t have suffered as she did and then, in the end, she wouldn’t have come to a particular realization. So, the setting was vital.

Setting is also vital in “A Family Matter.” If Doris had lived in a different neighborhood, one with less exacting standards, she might not have cared (as much) that the new neighbors moved in with chickens. She might not have bothered to tell her new neighbor that a clothesline was a no-no and that children don’t do yardwork, not in The Glen. Of course, Doris wouldn’t have lived in such an easy-going neighborhood. Her personality drove where she lived, which in turn drove the plot and allowed Doris to come alive off the page.

Richie Narvaez

Richie:

Setting gives you the four walls, floor, and ceiling of a story. But besides the physical dimensions, which give you verisimilitude, along with weather, infrastructure, travel snags, a setting can carry with it history, which adds another kind of dimension.

In “Doc’s at Midnight,” most of the story takes place in the Lincoln Center area of Manhattan, which had been a poorer neighborhood that the city tore down to make room for this playland for the rich. The story concerns two people who meet each other again after decades—after the lead character has served time for killing the other’s first love—and that setting adds subtext to the character’s personal history as well as to where they are in life now.

Gigi:

It depends on the story, but in “The Locked Room Library,” the setting of the library is key. The library devoted to classic mysteries is housed in an old Victorian home, and the architectural details, such as a bricked-up “door to nowhere,” allow for plenty of whimsy and misdirection. I loved the setting of the story so much that it made its way into my latest novel, Under Lock & Skeleton Key. (And yes, I wish this library existed in real life, but sadly it’s fictional.)

 

Shawn:

To me, this all depends on the story and the project I’m working on. In the case of my story “Bay of Reckoning,” the setting was part of the theme of the anthology (Murder on the Beach), so it was a big factor. While writing this story, the setting did help me visualize the plot and characters before I began to write. I’m a total beach person, having grown up in Ft. Lauderdale, and now as an adult, spending several weeks every summer with my family in Ocean City, Maryland. Naturally, I drew on my love of the beach for inspiration for the story, which is set in a fictional town on the Chesapeake Bay. The main conflict revolves around two families who have always had a rivalry regarding the recipe for a seafood seasoning...if you’re a Marylander, you know how important seafood seasoning is during crab season! So yes, the setting was key to this story in particular. But I have written stories where it was less important or not important at all, so it really does depend on the project. 

 

What is your primary consideration when editing a short story? 

 

Barb:

I don’t have a primary consideration. Before I send a story out, I work hard to make sure it works in all respects. The plot should be consistent, intriguing, and entertaining. The characters should come alive off the page. The writing should be clear and vivid and as free from errors as I can make it. All these things go hand in hand in creating a solid story.

 

Gigi Pandian

Richie:

Does it hang together as a tale? Are the plot, the characters, the setting consistent and logical? What could make it more interesting? Is it too late to add a twist? All this before diving in to see if the sentences work and if I really need that comma.

With my story, since it uses known characters from an old movie in a new context, I had to make sure there were some callbacks to their West Side Story origins, but I also didn’t want to overdo it. The story had to stand on its own.

Gigi:

How much can I cut but still tell the story I want to tell in a satisfying way? That doesn’t mean cutting out unique details, but rather taking a red pen to anything not adding to the atmosphere or plot.

 

Shawn:

I’m always on the lookout for extra words, unnecessary “filler” phrases, or dialogue tags that add to the word count but not necessarily to the enjoyment of the reader. Short fiction is not the place to luxuriate in description, it’s a place to keep your writing lean and tight. The focus for me is making each word of a short story as impactful as possible.

Shawn Reilly Simmons

 

Best First Novel
The Turncoat’s Widow by Mally Becker (Level Best Books)
A Dead Man’s Eyes by Lori Duffy Foster (Level Best Books)
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Berkley)
Murder in the Master by Judy L. Murray (Level Best Books)
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes (Crooked Lane Books)

 

Who is your protagonist?

 

Mally Becker

Mally:

Of course you’ve heard the rumors about Rebecca Parcell. Everyone has. Not a word is true, I assure you.

Recently widowed, Becca is too busy struggling to maintain her farm to give a fig who wins the War for Independence. But rumors are spreading that she’s a Loyalist sympathizer who betrayed her husband to the British – quite a tidy way to end her disastrous marriage, the villagers whisper.

Everyone in Morristown knows that her husband was a Patriot. But “everyone” is wrong, and George Washington – who spent the winter there – can prove it. When a mob gathers to drive Becca from her home, Washington makes her an offer she can’t refuse. He’ll save her farm if she uncovers the secrets her husband left behind. That’s how she finds herself on an espionage mission through British-held New York City on the trail of villains who threaten the new nation.

Lori Duffy Foster

Lori:

The protagonist of A Dead Man’s Eyes is Lisa Jamison, a single mom who got pregnant at fifteen and is now a reporter at a well-respected newspaper. She has not seen the father of her daughter in sixteen years, not since the night she witnessed a fatal game of Russian roulette and landed in foster care. Lisa was still pregnant then, so her ex-boyfriend never saw his daughter. Now, he is back in her life as a murder victim.

 

Mia:

The protagonist for Arsenic and Adobo (the first book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series) is Lila Macapagal, a 25-year-old Filipino American woman from a (fictional) small Midwestern town just outside of Chicago. Her life is in a bit of upheaval at the moment, and she’s returned home to regroup and also help save her family’s failing restaurant.

 

Judy:

Helen Morrisey is quick-witted and determined. She’s a real estate agent who needs to make a living and, like most of us, finds life complicated. She’s a terrible sleeper. She’s stubborn, a keen observer of people, hates to cook but loves to eat, often Twizzlers from the back of her desk drawer. A recent widow, Helen isn’t sure how to navigate romance. She doesn’t even know if she wants to. She struggles to bite her tongue and not intrude on her children’s decisions. She tends to put her foot in her mouth but is willing to laugh about it. She hates taking orders and believes in defending the underdog. Living alone on a Chesapeake Bay cliff, Helen is a Nancy Drew grown-up, good at assessing personalities and furrowing out clues.

Judy L. Murray

 

Raquel:

The protagonist of the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series is Miriam Quiñones, a Cuban-American food anthropologist turned cooking show star.

 

What makes that character such a good sleuth?

 

Mally:

It’s certainly not her skill with a needle or with the banter that passes for conversation in society. Becca is more comfortable with a bow and arrow than with an embroidery needle, and she finds mathematics easier to understand than people. She readily admits that she’s too stubborn, argumentative, and curious to be considered anyone’s model of a fine 18^th century lady.

You shrug: “What else do you expect of a young woman raised in the northwest forests of the New Jersey Colony?” Perhaps her skill with numbers comes as a surprise. But after her mother’s death, a family friend taught her addition and subtraction. Becca thought for the longest time that mathematics was a game invented solely to entertain her. She still does mathematics in her head to calm herself when stressed.

Becca’s qualities of physical courage, curiosity, logical thought, and her skills in mathematics make her a great sleuth.

Lori:

Lisa is smart and savvy, but she is also driven by a need to understand people, to dig to the core of their motivations. No story is ever just a story. She is relentless. Some of that motivation comes from her own life. She ran away from home at fifteen and her drug-addicted parents never tried to find her. They didn’t even fight for her when she was handed over to social services and she hasn’t seen them since. She tries not to think about it, but the question is always there: Why?

 

Mia P. Manansala

Mia:

She’s got the tenacity (and stubbornness) of youth plus an amazing support network: on every case, she knows she can rely on her nosy godmothers (who know everything about everyone), her nurse cousin, her ride-or-die best friend, and her best friend’s older brother, who happens to be a lawyer (and potential love interest). She’s also a fantastic baker, which is a worthy skill here in the Midwest.

 

Judy:

If you were in trouble, you would want Helen Morrisey on your side. An obsessed mystery lover, Helen quickly realizes solving a murder mystery in real life is a lot more dangerous than reading about one. She decides to create her own Detection Club of famous women, each bringing different talents to her crime solving. Enter wily Jane Marple, methodical Jessica Fletcher, social Nora Charles, wise-mouthed Agatha Raisin, and fearless Nancy Drew. Helen isn’t easily deterred when law enforcement questions her unusual methods. She’s focused on helping the underdog and catching the killer.

 

Raquel:

She isn’t that good of a sleuth. 😊 She is often in the wrong place at the right time. But her degrees and doctoral training give her a questioning mind and investigative skills that she puts into use.

Raquel V. Reyes

 

BIOS:

Barb Goffman, a short story author and a freelance crime-fiction editor, has won the Agatha Award twice and has also taken home the Macavity, Silver Falchion, and 2020 Readers Award given by Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. She’s been a finalist for major crime-writing awards thirty-five times for her stories, including sixteen Agatha Award nominations (a category record), and multiple nominations for the Anthony, Macavity, and Derringer awards. www.barbgoffman.com.

Richie Narvaez is the award-winning author of the collection Roachkiller and Other Stories, the gentrification thriller Hipster Death Rattle, and the historical YA mystery Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco. His latest book is the collection Noiryorican. https://www.richienarvaez.com/

Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling mystery author, breast cancer survivor, and locked-room mystery enthusiast. Gigi is a co-founder of Crime Writers of Color, and she writes the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries, Accidental Alchemist mysteries, and Secret Staircase Mysteries, beginning with Under Lock & Skeleton Key—which came out in March 2022. https://www.gigipandian.com/

​Shawn Reilly Simmons is the author of seven novels in the Red Carpet Catering mystery series featuring Penelope Sutherland, chef-owner of a movie set catering company. She’s also written several short stories which have been published in various anthologies. Shawn serves on the Board of Malice Domestic and is co-owner/publisher/editor at Level Best Books.  https://www.shawnreillysimmons.com/

Mally Becker combines her love of history and crime fiction in mysteries that feature strong, independent heroines. In addition to being nominated for a 2022 Agatha Award, The Turncoat’s Widow has also been named a Mystery & Mayhem finalist in the Chanticleer International Book Awards. The next book in her series will be published in June 2022 by Level Best Books.

https://www.mallybecker.com/

 

Lori Duffy Foster

Lori Duffy Foster is a former crime reporter who writes fiction and nonfiction from the hills of Northern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and four children. She was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, where a part of her heart remains.

https://loriduffyfoster.com/

 

​Mia P. Manansala is a writer and book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture. https://www.miapmanansala.com/

Judy L. Murray is a real estate broker with a not-so-secret passion for deals, divas, and danger. Her passion for mysteries began with smart girls like Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, grew deeper with not-to-be-ignored women like Miss Marple and Nora Charles, and finally evolved into her own gutsy heroine - Helen Morrisey. https://www.judymurraymysteries.com/

Raquel V. Reyes writes stories with Latina characters. Her Cuban-American heritage, Miami, and the Caribbean feature prominently in her work. Raquel is a co-chair for SleuthFest. https://rvreyes.com/