The Golden Hour Murder: A Robyn Cavanagh Mystery
by Jeanne Quigley
About The Golden Hour
The Golden Hour Murder: A Robyn Cavanagh Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting - New York
Independently Published
(February 11, 2025)
Print length : 271 pages
Digital ASIN : B0DNXTBRNQ
It’s October and Mother Nature has painted photographer Robyn Cavanagh’s suburban New York hometown in rich colors of red, orange, and gold. Autumn has provided many scenic locales to shoot, but Robyn is happily preoccupied with one particular landscape. She’s landed the biggest job of her flourishing career: a contract to photograph the lush Linden Acres farm.
Her work begins with sunshine-filled days of apple and pumpkin picking and starry nights featuring a spectacular display of glowing jack-o’-lanterns. The merry mood darkens after Robyn discovers the body of Doug Paxton, the estranged husband of a member of the Linden clan.
Robyn can’t look through her camera’s viewfinder without picturing Doug’s body in the Linden pumpkin patch. Along with her friend Will Vonderlin, she plays detective to solve Doug’s murder. Will the killer be caught before the apples and pumpkins are turned into Thanksgiving pies, or will Robyn lose her best client and watch her career fade along with the autumn colors?
Character Interview:
What words or phrases do they overuse?
“We put the amateur in amateur sleuth.” My friend Will
Vonderlin and I often say that to each other as we stumble through solving
mysteries. We tend to form wild theories—Will more than I, but don’t tell him I
said that—as we search for clues and discuss what we’ve learned.We don’t
pretend to be geniuses or know-it-alls. We don’t take ourselves seriously, but
we are earnest about helping the police find criminals.
Do they have a catchphrase?
“Smile for the camera!” “Say cheese!” I’ll use these
phrases and off-the-cuff lines when I’m photographing an individual or family.
I know some photographers make funny, even off-color, remarks to their clients
to relax them, but I’m still building my photography business and haven’t had
many repeat customers yet to feel comfortable doing that. Though there are some
remarks I won’t make. You know, remarks of a personal nature.
Fortunately, I don’t need these clichés for my latest
job. I just started photographing Linden Acres, a local farm run by the Linden
family. The orchards, crops, and fields don’t need encouragement from me to
look pretty for the camera. They’re ready to go and just waiting for me to snap
their photo.
Are they more optimistic or
pessimistic?
I’m definitely an optimist. I have to admit, though, that
I’ve grown pessimistic over the last few months with the deaths of two clients.
They were murdered. I’ve seen the dark side of human nature and learned
personal details I have no right to knowabout friends and acquaintances. But
I’ve also seen how tragedy reveals the goodness in people, and my optimistic
attitude is always restored when a killer is caught.
Are they introverted or extroverted?
I’m an introvert. That suits me as a self-employed
accountant who works from home. Photography, the second career I’ve been
pursuing for a few years, has helped me get out of my shell, but it also fits my
quiet, reserved nature. I get to hide behind the camera. No attention on me,
everything is focused—pardon the pun—on the people in front of the camera.
Taking portraits gets me out of my house and interacting with people in a more
personal way than discussion of itemized deductions, cash flow, and accounts
receivables does. I treasure the bonds I form while helping people mark their
special occasions of graduations, births, engagements, and anniversaries.
I hate to say it, but being an amateur sleuth has pushed
me to be more outgoing and involved in my hometown of Garland, NY. Though
prying into a person’s business is not something I enjoy, I’ve had to question
people to solve a case. While investigating the latest murder—Linden son-in-law
Doug Paxton was killed on the farm—I’ve talked with everyone at Linden Acres,
plus made two visits to a local winery and had conversations at our business
association’s cocktail hour that were more substantial than the usual “small
talk.”
One good thing about being an introvert: all the
information I learn about people’s private lives is safe with me. I’m very good
at keeping secrets.
Do they ever put on airs?
Absolutely not! My mother would call me out if I acted the
snob. I’d be grounded, even though I’m in my forties and live several blocks
from my parents’ house.
What bad habits do they have?
I have no control over this, but lately I’ve been finding
dead bodies. I found soon-to-be bride Brooke Gibson in a backyard shed, and,
most recently, I discovered Doug Paxton outside a barn at Linden Acres. Both
were the victims of foul play.
This has led to another bad habit, which I mentioned
earlier: I conduct my own murder investigations. I’d rather not, but what can I
do?I’m involved, whether I want to be or not. I cared about Brooke and Doug. I
know their families. I want justice, and since I’min the position to help the
police, I’m obligated to give that assistance.
What makes them laugh out loud?
My dad, Ed, is a riot. He has a quirky opinion on every
topic, including the robot that roams the local supermarket’s aisles looking
for spills and items on the floor. Dad’s retired and likes to “help” me with my
investigations. He’d love to go undercoverand pretend to be a health inspector
so he can snoop around Linden Acres. I’ve told Dad to shelve that idea, but I’d
love to be present during that “inspection.” Talk about laugh out loud.
How do they display affection?
I love a warm hug. From my parents, siblings, friends, and
my sweet dog.
If they could change one thing about
themselves, what would it be?
I’d stop finding dead bodies. I’m busy with my
photography and accounting work. I don’t need another job as an amateur
detective.
What is their obsession?
Taking the perfect photograph! Thank goodness for digital
cameras. I can take hundreds of photos, immediately delete the shots I don’t
like, and store the rest on a memory card. I can’t imagine having to carry
around rolls of film and then having to develop all of them.
Now I have a second obsession related to my bad habit of
finding bodies and investigating murders: I’m obsessed with finding the killers.Is
there a support group for this? A self-help book I can read to cure myself of
this obsession?
What are their pet peeves?
Clients who don’t smile for the camera. Or worse, make a
goofy face to intentionally ruin the shot.If I wasn’t a professional and
diligent about giving my clients perfect photos, I’d give those folks red eyes
or cut half their body out of the photo.
What are their idiosyncrasies?
Is discussing a murder case with your dog weird? Yogi is
a great listener. He pays attention when I tell him about the clues I’ve found.
He never answers or gives advice—he is a dog!— but talking out loud helps me
sort through all the information I’ve gathered. So what if my colliehappens to
be sitting at my feet, gazing at me with adoration?
This was fun!
Thank you!
About Jeanne Quigley
Jeanne Quigley is the author of the Veronica Walsh Mysteries and the Robyn Cavanagh Mysteries. Unlike her fictional sleuths, she has never been a soap opera star, accountant, or professional photographer, but she has worked in the music industry, for an educational publisher, and in a county agency. She lives in New York’s historic Hudson Valley.
Website www.jeannequigley.wordpress.com
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