by: Kim Davis
Series: Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Harbor Lane Books
After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern California hometown to start over as she opens her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. A tourist destination, Oak Creek Valley, seems the perfect place to put the past behind her, but it seems no one will let her forget. When she finds the man who threatened to drive her out of business murdered in her shop, Carissa becomes the primary suspect, especially when her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, most townspeople assume she’s guilty.
Refusing to run again, Carissa knows she must prove her innocence to save her shop and save her father’s career when the investigating detective turns his focus on her. With suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it’s up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it’s too late.
Includes essential oil and reflexology tips.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today, Kim! You might be sorry you asked such a simple question… I could say I’m fine and thanks for asking. But, if you really want to know the truth, I’m feeling pretty awful. I thought I was on top of the world when I woke up this morning. I couldn’t wait to get to my Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and work on getting ready for the grand opening. Of course, between you and me, I’d planned on taking an early break to visit the patisserie for some coffee and an ooey-gooey triple chocolate roll. But when I unlocked the door to my shop, well, I’m just surprised I wasn’t led away in handcuffs… again.
Oh no! That sounds horrible. Let’s talk about something good. Please introduce yourself to readers.
I’m Carissa Carmichael and I’m twenty-seven years old. I’m an aromatherapist and a reflexologist. Before I moved back home to Oak Creek Valley several months ago, I lived in San Francisco for many years. That’s where I met my mentor, Mari, who taught me the art of both practices. I worked at her shop for a few years until my boyfriend set me up with my own practice. That was a disaster, let me tell you! It was after that debacle I slunk back home.
It’s just been lately, since I decided to open up my shop, that I’ve gotten back into aromatherapy and reflexology. Mari has even convinced me to invest in a still and start distilling my own essential oils and making blends. I’ve been enjoying meeting with local farmers and sourcing the organic ingredients for my products.
One of my favorite things to do in my downtime is reading cozy mysteries, curled up in an oversized cushy armchair, wrapped in my grandmother’s afghan. Since I’ve been back home, I’ve been more or less a recluse, and reading is a good way to stay entertained and stay hidden away. Would you want to go out and about after having your perp walk splashed all over the national news? Yeah, me either, which is why I have an overflowing stack of books to read.
I’m so sorry. Can you please tell us about some people we’ll meet in your story?
I was SO lucky that once I decided to invest in and open Aromatherapy Apothecary, my mentor, Mari Kemp, (who’d retired after I left San Francisco), moved to Oak Creek Valley to help me out. Not only is she my mentor, but she’s also been a wonderful friend, watching over me, bailing me out of jail, holding my hand while I called my dad to tell him I’d been arrested… you know, that kind of friend!
Jasper is the owner of the Jean Luc Patisserie, located a few doors down from my shop. He makes the most amazing triple chocolate rolls and I have a hard time not drooling, just thinking about them. Jasper, around my age, is also quite handsome and charming. He genuinely cares about the people who frequent his establishment, which is probably why it’s so successful.
How do you envision a detective named Harvey Miller? When my dad—who’s the chief of police in our town—told me a Detective Harvey Miller would question me about the body I found in my shop, I immediately thought he’d be nearing retirement age. I was certain he’d have a balding head, gray hair, ruddy complexion, and wearing baggy clothes and a trench coat. I couldn’t have been more wrong, let me tell you! He’s maybe in his early thirties, and could have been a model, he’s that handsome. Unfortunately, as I found out after our first interview, his personality leaves a lot to be desired. Not only that, he actually thinks I’m guilty of murdering a man! Can you imagine? He’s not giving me the benefit of innocent until proven guilty. Instead, he’s forced my dad to leave the investigation alone—conflict of interest and all that—and is doing everything he can to make the facts fit that I’m guilty.
Tell me about a defining moment in your life.
That would be when I met Mari Kemp at a health and beauty convention in San Francisco. After my mother’s death when I was nineteen, I dropped out of college and drifted from temp job to temp job. I wasn’t even making enough money to support myself—thank goodness for a generous grandmother! I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I just drifted. Then I met Mari. She immediately hired me for her aromatherapy shop and taught me everything she knew.
What’s your most prized possession?
That would be my home, which I inherited from my cherished grandmother. It’s an old adobe farmhouse in the middle of four acres of an avocado orchard. True, it’s a bit isolated, but until the trouble with the murder happened, it’s been a peaceful retreat. And did I mention the avocados? Yum! I eat them at almost every meal.
Why do you feel the need to put on your sleuthing hat and investigate murders?
Never in a million years did I think I’d have to put on a sleuthing hat! My dad’s the chief of police and I trust him implicitly to solve any crimes that come to our small town. But since he had to recuse himself because of our familial relationship, and since that, Detective Harvey Miller has decided I’m guilty no matter what the facts say, I don’t have a choice. One perp walk in a lifetime is more than enough, thank you very much.
What can readers expect from Essentials of Murder?
I hope that in addition to a murder mystery to solve, readers get the feeling of community and finding your place within that community. I’ve also woven in a lot of aromatherapy tips and reflexology, to make the theme of the book authentic and to give readers an opportunity to try at home.
Carissa, thank you so much for your time.
Purchase Essentials of Murder from:
(Affiliated Links Used)
Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats to share.
Places to find Kim Davis:
You can follow the Essentials of Murder Blog Tour here.
This sounds like a good story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by today, Marcy, and good luck in the contest!
DeleteThank you for being part of the blog tour for "Essentials of Murder" by Kim Davis.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading the interview with Carrisa. Can't wait for the opportunity to read this book on my TBR list.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thank you for stopping by and reading about Carissa today, Kay! And good luck in the contest too!
DeleteThanks so much for hosting me on your blog today, Kim! It was so fun writing from the perspective of Carissa and get the opportunity to introduce some of my characters to your readers!
ReplyDelete