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Thursday, October 15, 2026
Volume 11, Issue 3
🍂 FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Happy Thursday, my wonderful mystery lovers!
We've made it to the last regular edition of The Sunset Chronicles for the week, and I thought we'd do something a little different today. We're leaving the shores of Sunset Cove and traveling all the way to Ireland, where a charming little village, an old family mystery, and a suspicious death are waiting for us.
And yes, I realize we're in the middle of October and today's featured mystery takes place around St. Patrick's Day. But a good murder mystery doesn't need to wait for the appropriate holiday, does it?
Besides, with its misty coastline, old village secrets, and a pub filled with people who know considerably more than they're willing to admit, I think today's feature fits our October reading mood rather nicely.
Back here in Sunset Cove, the fall decorations are looking wonderful, the decorating contest entries continue to arrive, and I've been thinking it's about time we shared another cozy recipe.
So today, I've got a delicious fall drink you can make at home while you settle in with your next mystery.
We've also got plenty of book mentions and free-book promotions to keep those TBR piles growing.
Let's open today's edition!
☕ FROM ELLY'S KITCHEN
SUNSET COVE'S COZY MAPLE APPLE CIDER LATTE
There's something about October that makes me want a warm drink in my hands, a comfortable chair, and absolutely nowhere I need to be.
And since the mornings are getting a little cooler around Sunset Cove, I thought I'd share a fall drink that combines two of my favorite autumn flavors: apple cider and maple.
This one is wonderfully cozy, easy to make, and perfect for sipping while you try to figure out who committed the murder in your latest book.
Makes: 1 generous serving
Prep time: About 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
½ cup apple cider
½ cup milk (or your favorite milk alternative)
1 shot espresso or ¼ cup strongly brewed coffee
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, or to taste
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
A tiny pinch of nutmeg
Whipped cream, optional
Cinnamon stick or a light dusting of cinnamon for garnish
DIRECTIONS
- Warm the cider. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the apple cider, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir gently until warmed through, but don't let it boil.
- Prepare your coffee. Brew one shot of espresso or a small serving of strong coffee and pour it into your favorite mug.
- Heat and froth the milk. Warm the milk separately and froth it using a handheld frother, whisk, or French press. If you don't have any of those, simply whisk it vigorously until a little foam forms.
- Bring it all together. Pour the warm spiced cider into your coffee, then slowly add the steamed milk. Spoon any remaining foam over the top.
- Make it cozy. Add a little whipped cream if you'd like, sprinkle with cinnamon, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Elly's Tip: If you prefer a sweeter drink, add a touch more maple syrup. And if coffee isn't your thing, leave out the espresso and enjoy it as a creamy spiced apple cider instead!
Now all you need is a blanket and a mystery.
Preferably one where the killer isn't hiding in the kitchen.
🐾 PERRY'S PAW PRINTS
"I noticed you were making something in the kitchen."
Yes, Perry. A maple apple cider latte.
"And yet I received nothing."
It's a coffee drink. Cats can't have coffee.
"Then why was I summoned to supervise?"
You weren't summoned.
"I heard stirring."
That's not an invitation.
"In this household, all kitchen activity is subject to inspection."
Well, you can inspect from the doorway.
"Unacceptable. I shall be filing a complaint."
With whom?
"The editor."
Perry, I am the editor.
"Then this organization has a serious conflict of interest."
And on that note, we're moving along.
🔦 TODAY'S MYSTERY SPOTLIGHT
IRISH PUB OWNER FOUND DEAD—FAMILY SECRETS THREATEN TO UNRAVEL AN ENTIRE VILLAGE!
Featured Mystery: Mystery at the Stag & Shamrock
A St. Patrick's Day Cozy Mystery with a Dash of Romance
By Paisley MacDonald
Erin Callahan traveled to Ireland hoping to reconnect with her grandmother's past.
She certainly didn't expect to inherit a murder investigation.
She certainly didn't expect to inherit a murder investigation.
When Irish-American genealogist Erin arrives in the picturesque cliffside village of Portbradden, she's carrying a locked tin box filled with her grandmother Bridie's old letters and a lifetime of unanswered questions.
The village seems like something straight out of a postcard. Narrow lanes decorated with festive bunting, sea mist rolling in from the coast, fresh soda bread, and the welcoming Stag & Shamrock pub, where beloved owner Séamus Doyle seems to remember everything about everyone.
Unfortunately, Séamus may have remembered a little too much.
Following a heated argument during the village's St. Patrick's Day céilí, Séamus is discovered dead the next morning. And Erin soon realizes there's considerably more to this mystery than a disagreement at the local pub.
Missing notebooks, an old deed nobody wants to discuss, and secrets buried in parish records begin pointing toward a decades-old deception involving land, money, and a fraudulent document dating back to 1891.
With the help of a thoughtful marine archaeologist, Erin must untangle generations of village loyalties, financial betrayals, and family secrets before the truth claims another life.
Because in Portbradden, the past doesn't stay buried.
It waits.
If you enjoy atmospheric Irish settings, small-village mysteries, family history, and a little slow-burning romance alongside your murder investigation, this one might be worth adding to your reading list!
THE OCTOBER READING LIST KEEPS GROWING!
THE CASE FILES KEEP ARRIVING
Our Irish adventure isn't the only mystery making headlines today!
I've got more wonderful books from fellow authors to share, and October seems to be bringing out some especially interesting stories. Whether you enjoy atmospheric mysteries, quirky small towns, clever amateur sleuths, or the occasional unusual twist, there's always something new to discover.
I've been enjoying all these fall-inspired covers and spooky little settings lately. There's just something about a mystery on a cool autumn evening that makes you want to forget the world outside and read one more chapter.
Or five.
Take a look through today's selections and see what catches your eye!
📚 COMMUNITY BOOK EXCHANGE
FREE BOOKS FOR YOUR WEEKEND READING!
And because no Thursday edition would be complete without a few more books to investigate, I've got another collection of free-book promotions waiting for you!
If you're looking for something new to read this weekend, these promos are a wonderful place to discover authors, explore different mystery series, and find a few new favorites.
Browse the selections, investigate the covers, and grab the ones that interest you while they're available.
🗞️ NEWS FROM ELLY'S DESK
THE FALL & HALLOWEEN DECORATING CONTEST CONTINUES!
Before we wrap up the week, I have to mention our decorating contest again because you readers have been absolutely wonderful!
The pictures are still coming in, and I've been carefully saving and organizing the entries so we can choose our winner at the end of October.
Some of you have created beautiful fall displays, while others have embraced every spooky decoration imaginable. And I love seeing both!
Remember, your decorations don't have to be Halloween-themed. Cozy autumn porches, pumpkins, wreaths, fall arrangements, and indoor seasonal displays are all welcome.
If you haven't entered yet, send a picture by replying to this newsletter or emailing helloelly@mycozymurdermysteries.com.
Our winner will receive a free digital copy of Elly Grey's next Sunset Cove mystery after Slim Chance With a Killer, an exclusive Perry Mason Halloween bookmark, and their winning photo featured in The Sunset Chronicles.
Perry continues to take his judging responsibilities very seriously.
I've caught him staring at the computer screen several times.
Although I'm fairly certain one of those times he was watching a bird outside the window.
🗞️ THE WEEKEND EDITION IS CLOSED…
Well, friends, that's another week in the Sunset Cove newsroom!
We've traveled to Ireland for a murder investigation, added a few more mysteries to our reading lists, shared a delicious autumn drink, and checked in on our decorating contest.
I'd say that's a pretty productive Thursday!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with good books, cozy moments, and perhaps a warm mug of maple apple cider latte.
And if you're part of our Slim Chance With a Killer ARC team, keep an eye on your inbox for today's separate delivery instructions. I can't wait to hear what you think of Rosalind and Perry's newest investigation!
Until next week, stay cozy, keep reading, and remember...
In a small town, everyone knows your business. In a mystery, someone knows considerably more than they're telling.
Happy Reading!
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