Leslie Keller Books

Here's a few new mysteries which were published in September. I'm including the book descriptions for easy reference.  If you click on either of these links they will take to you Amazon and you can find the books from there. A Western Star (A Longmire Mystery) by Craig Johnson Sheriff Walt Longmire is enjoying a celebratory beer after a weapons certification at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy when a younger sheriff confronts him with a photograph of twenty-five armed men standing in front of a Challenger steam locomotive. It takes him back to when, fresh from the battlefields of Vietnam, then-deputy Walt accompanied his mentor Lucian to the annual Wyoming Sheriff's Association junket held on the excursion train known as the Western Star, which ran the length of Wyoming from Cheyenne to Evanston and back. Armed with his trusty Colt .45 and a paperback of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express , the young Walt was ill-prepared for the machinations of twent

When presented with the following scenario I had to create a super short story.  Here's what developed. After arriving at your favorite lunch destination and eating your favorite meal, your waitress rushes to your table. She looks panicked. She grabs you and looks into your eyes, but doesn't say anything. finally she turns toward the wait staff, who are gathered just outside the kitchen and... "Someone call 911," she shrieked. I glanced nervously at the other diners. Why was the server causing such a scene? I never complained about my food, even when my order was wrong and the chef put tomatoes on my sandwich. I dislike tomatoes. They make the bread mushy and invariably I get a tiny little seed stuck in my teeth that no one bothers to tell me about. The couple at the table to my right jumped up and ran for the door. The man seated on my left sat, mouth agape food dribbling down his chin. The child who had screeched through my entire meal was finally silent.

Each month I try to lighten the mood with a few oddball or crazy criminals. These have been compiled from Associated Press and other sources as noted. In 2014,  a clothing and jewelry boutique in southern Illinois realized that some of its stock was missing, including a colorful, leopard-print dress. The store's co-owners turned to Facebook for help, posting about the stolen items. A keen-eyed Facebook friend noticed that a woman had been posting photos of herself wearing the distinct dress on her  own  page. The amateur detective made the connection and helped police identify the woman who was arrested on misdemeanor retail theft charges. In May 2015, two burglars in Chickasha kicked in the back door of their neighbors home and stole almost $4,000 worth of goods. Only one problem, they forgot to empty the oil out of the deep fryer they stole. The thieves left a trail of grease from the burglarized home all the way to their home across the street. When officers arrived and noti

As a writer, there are many places my characters live, work and play. Occasionally I need inspiration in the form of photos. It's not unusual for me to snap a photo of a place I'm passing or to jot a quick note if I see someone I might use as a character. If I'm dining out I might check out the restaurant layout and try to get a peek at the kitchen. Unique street names, businesses or old buildings may wind up in a future manuscript. To that end, here's a few pictures I found that I use for the Jayne Stanford mysteries. This is what I picture Jayne's apartment to look like, except hers is not nearly so tidy. Jayne's living room/kitchen Jayne's patio - where she and Jonas try to enjoy a glass of wine on their first real date The outside of her building Happy Trails, Leslie Visit my website Twitter       Instagram       Facebook       Menu for Murder       Cocktails at Sunset

What is a cowboy?  They are portrayed in books and movies as manly men. They are overflowing with testosterone and able to leap tall buildings with a single bound.  Well, that might be Superman but many of us still think of them as super heroes.  One dictionary defines a cowboy as "a man, typically one on horseback, who herds and tends cattle, especially in the western US and as represented in westerns and novels".  Cowboys in literature remain popular in the romance genre. I can think of few women who wouldn't be tantalized by a man riding to her rescue on a white horse. But the origins of cowboys really started in Mexico. According to the American Cowboy (americancowboy.com), the Vaquero (Spanish for cow) influenced what most of us in the U.S. consider to be the origin of the cowboy.  Horses were imported from Spain in the early 1500's to Mexico and natives were taught to ride and manage cattle. Cattle ranching spread from Mexico into the Southwest of what is

I never review the same restaurant twice so this is an exception. A friend of mine wanted to go on a Friday night to The Vig, McDowell Mountain location. With no reservations we met up at 5 pm.  Be forewarned that even in the intense summer heat this place was packed.  A large number of (crazy) people were actually sitting outside! We waited over an hour for an inside seat as one of my party refused to sit under the misting system. Not because it would mess her hair but she is sure it loaded with germs, a possibility I had never considered but now, after some research, I will definitely adhere to the no mister policy. This time I ordered something different - the Black & Blu burger with fries. I left the onions off but thoroughly savored the crisp bacon, creamy blue cheese, whiskey bbq sauce and arugula on a brioche bun.  The fries were skinny and perfectly cooked.  My friends split the chicken wings and each got tacos and my other friend got the Steak and Fries which was marin

I avoided reading this series for years, despite the many recommendations of friends. I usually avoid science fiction, especially time travel/romance/science fiction crammed into one. To add to my dilemma, I had just completed reading a 900+ page biography on Lyndon B. Johnson.  Tackling another long read wasn't on my immediate to do list. So what finally changed my mind?  I heard the author speak at an Arizona writer's conference. She was self-deprecating and funny. I decided at that moment to give her 800+ first book a glance. It's not a fast read but I was definitely drawn in and mesmerized by the characters. There are a few spoilers in this review so be alerted in advance. Set in the 1940's and 1740's we meet Claire, married to Frank who visits Scotland with her historian husband.  She says, "They were garrulous and gossipy, and their solid, print-clad presences filled the shops with a cozy warmth; a buttress against the cold mist of the morning outdo

You can't turn on the television, listen to the radio to view any social media without something about the situation between the United States and Russia.  To do my part as a conscientious citizen, I'm including several Russian variety drink recipes. If we can't stop the news, we can at least make it more tolerable to hear. These are all very simple recipes with limited ingredients required.  Black Russian 1 1/2 oz. Vodka (preferably Russian) 1/2 oz. Coffee liqueur Pour vodka and liqueur into an old fashioned glass filled with ice. Stir well White Russian 1 1/2 oz. Vodka (preferably Russian) 1/2 oz. Coffee liqueur 1/2 oz. cream - You can use half and half or heavy/whipping cream Combine all ingredients in a shaker, half filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into an old fashioned glass filled with ice. Red Russian 1 oz. Strawberry liqueur 1 oz. Vodka (preferably Russian) 1/2 oz. cream - You can use half and half or heavy/whipping cream Combine all ingre