The Dead Body Problem

Plus, death in the stacks, a book from my friend, and divorced birds

There’s a joke all crime writers josh about: “If the FBI ever takes a look at my browser history, I’m toast.” We’ve done waaaay too many searches for various iterations of “how to get away with murder,” like “Can you kill a person with a needle?” (yes) and “Could it be a cactus needle?” (no), and of course, “Where’s the best place to hide a body?”

No surprise – it was this last question that got me in trouble. Not with the FBI, with Facebook. Seems they are worried about my expert ability to hide dead bodies. I explained that “Best Places to Hide the Body” is a joke, but Meta and I don’t share the same sense of humor. I was reinstated, albeit with a black mark on my reputation.

But that’s not the end of the story. You know how some desktops change wallpaper photos daily? Well, Microsoft started tempting me. Seriously. My desktop photos started getting less scenic and more…mysteriously perfect for hiding dead bodies. Think I’m kidding? Check out these two:

So, I hope you get to see this post. I thought about renaming it “The Dad Body Problem” just to sneak past the sensors, but that’s an entirely different subject (plus I actually don’t mind a dad bod).

I also have good news! Sherwood STAR Society will produce my new farce, Have Yourself a Murder-y Little Christmas this upcoming holiday season! More details to come, but if you’re around Portland, OR in December, and want some ridiculous holiday-themed fun with a great body-hiding twist, I hope you’ll put the show on your calendar. And thanks again to the Tesla City Stories players for helping it get off the ground last year at the 2024 Fertile Ground Festival!

And now, on to the bodies, plus more fun stuff !

Best Places to Hide the Body

In the Stacks!

John Kohlepp should have known better than to accompany his mystery writer friend to the library for some “research…”

Trivia Quiz

In which of the following movies is a dead body integral to the plot?

1. The Dead

2. Little Miss Sunshine

3. The Departed

4. There Will Be Blood

5. The Trouble with Harry

6. Weekend at Bernie’s

(Trivia answers at the end of the newsletter)

A New Book from My Friend

From my friend and fellow former Henery Press author Nancy G. West comes a intergenerational thriller, Risky Pursuit. High school senior Decker Savage, convinced the man with his mother is key to the disintegration of his family, follows him through dark streets, to the wrong side of the law, into unexpected relationships, and into danger that tests his courage and threatens everyone he loves. Read it today!

Random Stuff That Makes Me Laugh

From a subreddit called, “r/Divorced Birds,” for “pictures of fabulous fowl who look like serial monogamists.” (BTW, if you know of any slightly silly subreddits or social media groups, I’d love to know about them!)

For More Stuff That Will MaKe You Laugh…

Check out my Agatha-nominated Ivy Meadows mysteries!

Or learn more (and get my books) at my website!

Trivia Quiz Answers

A dead body is a major plot device in 2. Little Miss Sunshine, 5. The Trouble with Harry, and 6. Weekend at Bernie’s—and they’re all comedies. (See, Meta, dead bodies can be funny!)