Tag Archives: #sistersincrime

Home Sweet Homicide – but please don’t try this in your own home

In August, at Calgary’s annual When Words Collide Festival for writers and readers I sat on a panel titled Home Sweet Homicide: the multitude of ways victims die at or near their homes. The moderator asked us panelists to describe the various methods we’d used in our mystery novels and why we’d chosen those approaches. 

I talked about my Paula Savard Mystery Series set in Calgary. Paula, my sleuth, is an insurance adjuster whose work gets her involved in crimes. In books # 2 and 3 of the series, Paula investigates a building fire and a hit-and-run collision near a victim’s home. She comes to suspect both apparent accidents were coverups for murder. Book # 4 begins with Paula investigating a theft from a bicycle store during the COVID-19 pandemic. A murder takes place in the adjacent furniture store, which has closed for the pandemic and become the home of a squatter. The victim is bashed on the head with a weapon of opportunity: a candlestick from the store’s dining room display. 

Home Sweet Homicide panel at WWC 2025

The panel’s most engaging questions related to the allure of poisons and medications thanks to our expert panelist, Lee-Anne Hancock, a retired nurse who worked at the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre. Lee-Anne told us about ordinary plants and medicines that can kill if used incorrectly — or correctly from a killer’s perspective. She noted that poisoning has been called the female murderer’s method of choice, perhaps because it is less messy and violent and doesn’t require physical strength.

As a mystery writer, I’m intrigued by the medicinal method that can easily be disguised as an accident. In two of my short stories, someone kills a relative by administering an overdose of their prescribed medicine. Even if suspicions arise and victims are autopsied, it would be normal for traces of their own medicines to show up in their bloodstreams. 

In my novel, A Killer Whisky, set in 1918 Calgary, a man dies in his living room after drinking a glass of whisky. His symptoms are consistent with the “Spanish Flu” that has struck the city and the attending doctor diagnoses the flu as the cause of death. But the man’s neighbour, who is the doctor’s receptionist, suspects someone laced the whisky with a poison or a medicine that reacted with the alcohol to produce a toxic brew. She convinces a sympathetic police detective to investigate.       

The Home Sweet Homicide panel took a light hearted approach that entertained the audience at the end of a busy festival day. Afterward, I pondered why I’ve tended to kill off my novel victims in their homes or on nearby streets rather than farther away. I came up with three thoughts. 

1. My killers and victims always know each other, which is most common with real life murders, and relatives and friends often hang out together at or near their homes.  

2. Homes are, by definition, private rather than public. There will likely be fewer potential witnesses to a crime and perhaps no witnesses. Any friends or relatives present might lie or conceal information to protect themselves, someone else, or the victim.  

3. Home is supposed to be our safe place. A home break-in feels like a violation, and a killing in our home or neighbourhood threatens our sense of security.  

Book Launch Plans

I’ve picked the date and venue for the official launch of my new novel, A Killer Whisky. Tuesday, March 25th, in the Treehouse at cSPACE, Marda Loop. The Treehouse is a whimsical name for the 4th floor meeting room in Calgary’s creative arts incubator. I held my last book launch there and the views are especially beautiful at sunset. Thanks to the spring forward to daylight savings time, we’ll be there again for sunset and twilight for A Killer Whisky’s launch. 

The launch program will be similar to the ones at my last few book launches, with a twist. I’ll do a PowerPoint presentation showing photographs related to my novel’s time frame and setting locations. Some will be pictures of Calgary circa 1918; others will be photos I’ve recently taken of 100-plus-year-old buildings featured in the story.

It’s customary at book launches to serve wine and light refreshments. Since “whisky” is in my novel’s title and plays a large role in the story, a twist to the beverage service will be whisky instead of wine. Attendees can try a “wee dram” or a signature whisky cocktail. One of my tasks for the next month will be to develop cocktails named for my novel’s characters. It’s a tough job, but I’m up for the challenge. 

This book I found in my basement will be a good place to start

Another task will be to continue to work on online promotion to promote the book launch. If you missed Shaun’s interview with me, check out her blog post: http://shaunhunter.ca/writing-the-city/2025/1/4/susan-calders-calgary-history-mystery

On Feb 22, 10 am PT, everyone’s invited to my online conversation with two other authors from Sisters in Crime Canada West. It’s a free event, but you need to register here (scroll down to Between the Covers https://sinc-cw.ca/upcoming-events/

The week before my Calgary book launch, I’ll get to practice my PowerPoint presentation at the Pincher Creek Library in Southern Alberta. https://pinchercreeklibrary.ca/. I’ve titled this talk “War, Pandemic, & Prohibition: how historic events inspired my novel.” Unfortunately, the library doesn’t allow liquor service, so this event will reflect the novel’s Prohibition theme. 

Cheers! I hope to raise a glass with some of you at these events.

My book launch is planned

In today’s post on the BWL Author Blog,https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/ I continue discussing my plans for my book launch and other promotion. In the post, there’s a glitch with the link to my February 22nd “Between the Covers” online conversation and reading. Here’s the correct link to register for this event: https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C0uxgJr6SNatYBJVxTGltQ Hope it works!

Two Events

I’m excited about two upcoming events. Next week I’ll be on a panel at Bouchercon, San Diego, with four talented writers. It promises to be informative and fun. https://www.bouchercon.com/

On Sept 21st Owl’s Nest Bookstore will host the book launch party for my new novel, Spring Into Danger. The event will take place at cSpace Marda Loop, 1721 29th Avenue SW, 4th floor Treehouse. Scroll down Owl’s Nest’s Event page for details. Owl’s Nest Bookstore (owlsnestbooks.com)