Research like a detective by Donalee Moulton

 

Hung Out To Die- A Riel Brava Mystery, by donalee Moulton — Books We Love Publishing Inc.

In historical settings, investigators often have limitations modern detectives don’t—and this goes well beyond technology. Everything from restricted travel, class barriers, rigid gender roles. These limitations can be opportunities to connect with your reader. Lean into them; they nudge creativity and add tension. 

 

The sleuth’s personality and background should also reflect the era while also offering traits—curiosity, stubbornness, empathy—that transcend time. 

 

Research like a detective, not an archivist  

If your detective needs to walk down a street in 1912 Montreal, you should know what that street smelled like, whether cobblestones rattled under carriage wheels, and how likely your character was to meet someone selling newspapers on the corner. 

 

Sources for rich and authentic detail include: 

• Newspapers and periodicals from the time (full of language, concerns, and advertisements) 

• Diaries and letters for personal perspectives (where possible) 

• Historical maps for accurate geography 

• Material culture research—what fabrics, foods, and objects were common 

 

The goal is to take readers into this world by recreating it for them without overwhelming them with facts that will weigh your story down and bore readers. Instead, let historical details work like seasoning—enhancing the flavour without overpowering the dish. 

 

Layer in historical conflict 

The best historical mysteries don’t just place a modern crime in an old-fashioned setting—they weave the mystery into the fabric of the time. A theft in 1920 might be tied to Prohibition smuggling. A murder in 16th-century Spain could intersect with religious persecution. These historical tensions add stakes and make the story more than a puzzle; they transform it into a lens through which readers experience the era. 

 

Make dialogue a cornerstone 

Language is one of the quickest ways to immerse readers in the past, but it’s also a common pitfall. Too much archaic phrasing can make dialogue stiff and hard to follow, while overly modern speech breaks the illusion. 

 

The key is selective authenticity: 

• Use period-appropriate vocabulary for objects, occupations, and social customs. 

• Avoid slang that didn’t exist yet (dictionaries can help here). 

• Keep sentence structure readable for modern audiences. 

 

Keep pacing tight 

While the past moved at a different pace, your plot shouldn’t drag. Balance richly detailed scenes with moments of action and revelation. In historical mysteries, tension often comes from the slow build—delays in communication, the time it takes to travel, the risk of misinformation spreading—but every delay should raise stakes, not stall the plot. 

 

End on a deeper note 

When the mystery is solved, consider how this crime fits the morality of the era. Would a killer from a higher social class face justice? Would certain motives be more understandable—or unforgivable—back then? The ending of a historical mystery should leave readers feeling they’ve solved more than a crime, but that they’ve understood something about the world that once was. 

Tis the season by donalee Moulton

The holidays are around the corner. Despite the constant rushing, the jam-packed schedule, and the endless traffic, this is a time to celebrate the warmth and wonder of our lives. I’d like to share with you an excerpt from my new book Melt.  It captures the peace and joy my three main characters find at this miraculous time of year.

ORDER HERE

Twas the day before Christmas

By three o’clock on the 24^th everyone descends at Charlene’s. Lexie drops by to walk Madoff. Woo Woo has holiday pajamas for her friends—a Christmas Eve tradition. Terrell comes by with gifts. Boone is right behind him. Benjamin shows up about 20 minutes later. (Terrell texted him.)

Just as the group is trying to decide what to eat for supper, the doorbell rings. It’s Beast and his grandmother. (Benjamin texted them.) They’ve brought Stephanie, Luke, Brandon, and Mirabelle with them. Charlene wonders if she should move to a bigger house.

“We wanted to say thank you.” This is from the mother and the grandmother in the room. It’s echoed by Luke and Mirabelle. (Brandon is too cool for unbridled emotion.)

Almost everyone in the room waves away the thank you. “We didn’t do anything.” “This was you.” “You made your own way.” Boone says, “You’re welcome.”

Amid the laughter the doorbell rings. It’s pizza. Twelve pies from Kimolos with garlic fingers, Greek salad, and fruit pizza for dessert. “From dad,” says Mirabelle. (She texted her father.)

The group is starting to wind down. Benjamin is walking the dog. Boone is washing dishes. Lexie is drying them. Woo Woo is putting leftover bags together for everyone.

Terrell is clearing the last remnants from the table. Luke comes over to help. It’s not really why he comes over. “Everything okay?” Luke is not asking about the table.

“Everything is okay—for you and your family. Pappas has some decisions to make. As do you, I would guess.”

“I’ve made it. I don’t have the original anymore.”

“Who does?” This is not Terrell. This is Mirabelle. She has come up behind them. They jump.

“Scared the crap out of me.” Luke is watching his language. He leans in for a kiss. Mirabelle leans away.

“You have to stop treating me like a kid.” She turns to Terrell. “You both have to stop treating me like a kid.”

“Fair enough,” says Terrell. He hopes this ends the conversation. It doesn’t.

“I know what my father does for a living. I know what my brothers do. You can stop protecting me.”

“I will never stop protecting you,” Luke says. And everything is right with the world.

From the doorway to the kitchen, Woo Woo watches the hug that turns into a group hug. She texts Pappas. “It’s time.”

    

 

BWL Publishing New Releases December2025

 

https://www.bookswelove.com/shop/p/tread-on-kings

                    

     1402: After leaving war-torn Wales, Sir Harry Percy, Hotspur, faces fresh threats at home. King Henry IV again fails to fund defense needs and the Scots invade. Nonetheless, at Homildon Hill, Harry triumphs and the Scots lose nearly all their army to death or capture, including their wounded leader, Douglas. Yet, in London, Henry berates Harry for not relinquishing the prisoners: Violating chivalric-military ethics, Henry wants the captives’ ransoms for himself. When Harry objects, Henry tries to stab him, labeling him a traitor.

Back in Northumberland, Harry and Douglas become friends and create a plan for peace on the northern border, while increasing England’s territory. Supported by his sweetheart, Ciarry, and others, from all social ranks, Harry also renews calls for royal reform. Fuming, Henry schemes to destroy him, as Harry ponders troubling questions:

EDITORIAL REVIEW by Victoria Chatham

To Tread on Kings – Book III in the Epic of Hotspur trilogy by Liz Sevchuk-Armstrong

In this final book of Armstrong’s Hotspur trilogy, the pace established in the previous two volumes remains relentless. Sir Harry Percy’s doubts about the actions – or lack thereof – of King Henry IV grow increasingly intense with each erratic decision or breach of trust by the monarch. As king, Henry demonstrates that he is as unscrupulous and selfish as his cousin, King Richard II, and the man whose throne he seized.

While Richard was never a skilled politician, Henry had the ability to win people over, including the Percy family. However, after Henry became king, many of the issues evident during Richard’s reign surfaced again in Henry’s rule, to the point that Harry could no longer trust or support him.

Still a man of honour, Harry tries his best to avoid battle with Henry at Shrewsbury, but once again, the king proves his treachery. This was the first battle fought on English soil where the renowned longbowmen faced each other, and Armstrong’s battle scenes clearly depict the blood, brutality, and bravery of war.

There is no secret that Harry loses his life at Shrewsbury, but what follows reveals how deeply Henry hated and feared the one man who was bold enough in his convictions to challenge him. Armstrong has crafted another outstanding retelling of a part of English history to conclude the story of Hotspur.

Is the king above the law?

Does a knight owe fealty to a ruler, or to the realm itself?

And should he be faithful to the Crown if it means he must be unfaithful to his conscience?

Answering them might change destiny—and cost Harry his life…     

   

                                    https://www.bookswelove.com/shop/p/recipe-for-love  

Scarlett Collins has a rule: never mix business with pleasure. As an ambitious event planner, she has her sights set on a promotion—and the grand opening of Scottsdale’s hottest new spot, the Eclipse Lounge, could be her ticket. Keeping her focus on success should be simple…if only the lounge’s irresistible manager wasn’t so distracting.

Dante Rivera has a reputation for being a playboy, but now everything is on the line. If he can turn the Eclipse Lounge into a success within a year, his father will finally back him in opening a restaurant of his own. The last thing he needs is to fall for the woman determined to keep him at arm’s length.

Yet Scarlett and Dante’s undeniable chemistry burns hotter than either of them planned. When Scarlett begins to believe love might be worth the risk, a woman from Dante’s past arrives with a shocking claim—one that shatters Scarlett’s trust and threatens everything.

Dante knows the truth, but can he prove it before Scarlett walks away forever?

Editorial Review 5 Stars, Nancy M. Bell

Ms Petrone has crafted a lovely romantic tale flavoured with the rich scents of fine dining unlaid with just enough confusion and angst to season the mix. You'll enjoy every sensory moment of Recipe for Love. Nancy M Bell

https://www.bookswelove.com/shop/p/links-the-witchs-prophecy

Four teens. One cursed town. And a time portal straight to 1689—where witchcraft isn’t a secret, it’s a death sentence! Marcus Ballantyne the rebel with a sharp tongue, Chad Zuzansky the tech wizard, Jillian Marshall the beauty with the brains, and Peyton Sansavong the rich girl with an attitude, are four modern day teens who are dragged into a world of witches, whisperings and curses. Each must overcome their own personal demons by travelling back to history’s darkest hour, for the sake of their futures. Guided by their enigmatic teacher, Ms. Imogene Pratt, the teens must learn to better understand themselves and each other in order to confront the evil that lurks in Salem—and survive. As they embark on this spellbinding journey, the lessons they learn will be etched forever on the bones of time.

https://www.bookswelove.com/shop/p/barclay-bear

Barclay Bear was a content young grizzly bear playing in the forest where he lived with his mother and father. He became fascinated by the other forest animals playing a curious game using sticks and blades on their feet that they called ‘hockey,’ and soon tried it himself. As he got better, the other animals invited him to play with them, which led to his invitation to play in the ‘Reindeer Games’ hockey tournament. But there was a dilemma – could he join the Forest Rangers team or did he have to hibernate for the winter?

           

A Handsome Man and a Fast Horse by Eden Monro

 

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEdenMonroe/

https://edenmonroeauthor.com

https://books2read.com/Tomorrow-at-Daybreak

In Tomorrow at Daybreak , the breeder of fine horses, Pate Kavenagh, has a keen eye for good horseflesh. He’s also a natural-born horse trader, shrewd and patient, and that’s how Jacko, a superb black gelding, comes into his ownership.

Pate and Jacko’s time together is relatively short but far from uneventful, and the speed of that gelding is the stuff of legends.

“You’re right, he’s quite a boy!” agreed Pate about Dinah’s praise of Jacko. “He can run like the wind, maybe faster…”

Like Jacko, in real life some horses are literally born to run, to race, and it’s a matter of opinion in racing circles who is the best racehorse of all time. It depends on who is being asked of course, but one horse stands alone for many in that regard and that is Secretariat, or Big Red as he was affectionately called.

Says Britanica.com:  “Secretariat, (foaled 1970), American racehorse (Thoroughbred) who is widely considered the greatest horse of the second half of the 20th century. A record-breaking money winner, in 1973 he became the ninth winner of the U.S. Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes). In his short, brilliant 16-month career, he came in first 16 times, second three times, and third once, winning a total of $1,316,808. At Belmont he won by an unprecedented 31 lengths and established the dirt-track record for a 1 ½ -mile race of 2:24.

According to Britanica.com Secretariat was “one of the fastest horses ever timed and had a brilliant career on the track. He was a big horse who remarkably never seemed to tire, and that mystery of his incredible stamina was solved when he was euthanized in 1989 because of laminitis — ‘a painful degenerative disease involving an animal’s hooves,’ and treatment failed. His death made headlines because the ‘necropsy revealed that his heart was twice the size of a typical horse. Some speculated this allowed for his incredible speed. Unlike most horses—which are buried with only their head, hooves, and heart—Secretariat was interred whole.’”

Secretariat’s astonishing dirt-track records remain intact – no horse has ever beaten them.

His regular jockey was Ron Turcotte, riding the big horse in 18 of Secretariat’s 21 starts — including all of his major wins. (Ron himself participated in 20,281 races.)

There are several statutes of the great Secretariat in the US, as well as two in Canada  — one dedicated specifically to Ron Turcotte, immortalized in bronze with Secretariat. It stands in his hometown of Grand Falls (he was born in the village of Drummond), New Brunswick, Canada, actually just three hours away from where I live. It goes without saying that we are proud of this accomplished native son, and it seems only fitting that Ron will forever sit atop Secretariat as they cross the finish line (at the Belmont Stakes).

Sadly though, Ron’s racing days were over in June of 1978 when an accident just out of the starting gate at Belmont Park put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, paralyzed from the waist down. After recovery from his severe injuries (he was thrown head first onto the track) he became a tireless advocate on behalf of injured jockeys, including for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) as well as for others who had suffered spinal cord injuries.

Ron Turcotte is recognized internationally as one of the greatest figures in horse racing history with more than 3,000 wins, as well as for his unwavering devotion to the sport. He lived to be eighty-four, passing away on August 22, 2025 and was properly feted by his fellow New Brunswickers before being carried to his final resting place.

Like any sport, legends are created, and while thoroughbred racing is perhaps the most well-known form of horseracing in North America, harness racing, often considered to be descended from ancient chariot racing, still maintains a dedicated fan base. Britanica.com explains harness racing as the “sport of driving at speed a Standardbred horse pulling a light two-wheeled vehicle called a sulky...”

Also britanica.com says about Standardbreds: “Standardbred, breed of horse developed in the United States in the 19^th century and used primarily for harness racing,”

My great uncle, the late Walter Akerley, was a champion harness racer, and incredibly only quit the sport at the age of eighty-five. On that occasion, once the day’s racing was over, with finishes of firsts, seconds and thirds, he sold his horse and equipment, silks and all, right on the spot. His reason? There was a change of guard in the US Trotting Association that formerly guided harness racing in New Brunswick (the Maritime Provinces), and Walter didn’t like the choice of new president. And so he walked away, but his heart remained with the sport.

I should also note that in addition to being eighty-five years of age at the time of retirement (Walter lived to be 106 ½), he had accomplished his amazing career at the track with only one leg. He had lost a limb to gangrene as a boy after stepping on a rusty horseshoe nail, and wore a prosthesis for nearly a hundred years!

Walter was an amazing man and a great horseman who also made his mark in his younger days in rural New Brunswick ice racing. When the river froze over for the winter, the weekly races were a popular draw. He said the horses wore rubber shoes for that type of event back in the day, although now they wear specifically designed metal shoes with more sophisticated safety features.

There’s just something about a fast horse that stirs the blood of competitiveness. The stakes are usually high, but so is the glory of standing in the winner’s circle.

Like Jacko in Tomorrow at Daybreak, I prefer black horses, but as with Secretariat and also in the cover image for Tomorrow at Daybreak, a chestnut horse is also a beautiful animal. The chestnut coat colour (where only red pigment is present) is common in almost every horse breed and comes in shades of light chestnut, golden chestnut (sorrel), dark chestnut and liver chestnut. Secretariat was described by sports writer (the late) William Nack as a “bright red chestnut.” In other words if a chestnut horse were human it would be a redhead.

The picture below is of Aries, a four-way cross of Arabian, Quarter Horse, Morgan and Paint. He belonged to late horseman Michael Smith who also loved chestnut horses.

 

 

 

In Tomorrow at Daybreak the very handsome Pate liked nothing better than to have a fast horse under him. He also appreciated his horse’s speed when it hurried him to the meadow at daybreak to meet Dinah…

“She tied her chestnut gelding beside Pate’s horse, both horses with plenty of leeway to nibble the luscious grass that grew in abundance at their feet. The chestnut didn’t appear to have been hurried, so she had obviously taken the time to enjoy her ride. That’s what riding in the early morning was all about, drinking in the sweet fresh air and the beauty of the forest path by which she’d come.

Dinah was flushed, her temper bubbling just below the surface and her heightened colour made her all the more appealing. This was a lot of woman standing here, and she had ridden all the way out from town at an ungodly hour to be with him. And instead of being flattered, he’d all but held her in contempt.

He reached out his arms to her. ‘I’m sorry, Dinah. I was wrong with some of the things I said. I guess you can’t know everything about a person in an hour or two, or expect to. I apologize.’

In an instant her gorgeous smile was back, the tempest subsided. “Apology accepted. Now let’s not be so darned serious. I came to be with you, Pate.” She looked around, then pointed to a spot in the meadow where the wildflowers parted. “That’s a good spot there. Come on,” she said taking his hand. “I want to lie with you. Right here, right now. I can’t bear to wait another minute.”