Books for 2023 and 2024

I have three mystery novels that will be published in 2023 and 2024. The first two are the second and third books in the Ominpodge Trilogy, Last Gasp Motel and A Mystery Yarn.

Last Gasp Motel - When one of the residents of an aging motel shows up dead in the swimming pool, the quirky older characters living there must rally to find the murderer before the city replaces their home with a shopping mall.

A Mystery Yarn - Pru Pendergast becomes entangled in more than yarn when her obnoxious landlord shows up dead in her driftwood creations shop. Pru must escape attacks on her own life and the threat of being arrested while trying to solve the crime and catch the eye of her new sort of boyfriend.

 

The next book is Murder in the Museo Kircheriano. Strange circumstances surrounding a dead body found in Father Athanasius Kircher’s museum in Rome in1656 lead to a web of intrigue involving a mysterious nephews circle. Using his eclectic and eccentric skills, Father Kircher along with his assistant, Filippo, and new convert Queen Christina of Sweden must use all their resources to solve the murder.

Contract for Historical Mystery Novel

I’m pleased to announce that I’ve signed a contract with Mystic Publishers for my historical mystery novel, Murder in the Museo Kircheriano (working title).

 Strange circumstances surrounding a dead body found in Father Athanasius Kircher’s museum of unusual artifacts in Rome in 1656 lead to a web of intrigue involving a mysterious nephews circle. Using his eclectic and eccentric skills, Athanasius Kircher, known as “the last man to know everything,” teams up with Queen Christina of Sweden, one of the most powerful women in Europe, to solve the mysterious death.

Tenth Anniversary of Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder

Today is the tenth anniversary of the release of the fourth book in my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder. Cantankerous octogenarian Paul Jacobson becomes involved in a series of crimes while struggling with the problems of his short-term memory loss. On an Alaskan cruise, he must deal with mayhem, missing people and murder and use all his geezer resources to solve a case of international intrigue.

What others say about Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder: 

“Befeler's fourth series entry is enjoyable for the scenery, the observations about cruise ship operations, and the Agatha Christie-like summation.”—Library Journal

“The murder keeps you guessing, and the subject of memory loss is sensitively treated.”—Kirkus Review 

“Lively fourth mystery featuring octogenarian Paul Jacobson. The story’s endearing zaniness keeps boredom at bay.”—Publishers Weekly

“Take a geezer on an Alaskan honeymoon cruise, stir in a few dead bodies, sprinkle with icebergs, and you have the makings for a fabulous mystery romp in Mike Befeler's Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder. Laugh out loud funny with quirky characters galore.”—Joan Johnston New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author

Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder was a finalist for The Lefty Award for best humorous mystery of 2012.

Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder is available in print, e-book and audio book editions: 

Print: Amazon.com: Cruising in Your Eighties is Murder (4) (Paul Jacobson Geezer-Lit Mystery): 9781893035874: Befeler, Mike: Books

e-book: Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder (Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series Book 4) - Kindle edition by Befeler, Mike. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

e-book box set first four books of Paul Jacobson series: Box Set: Retirement Homes Are Murder, Living with Your Kids Is Murder, Senior Moments Are Murder, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder (Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series Book 1) - Kindle edition by Befeler, Mike. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. 

Audio book: Amazon.com: Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder: Paul Jacobson Geezer Lit Mystery, 4 (Audible Audio Edition): Mike Befeler, Jerry Sciarrio, Books in Motion: Audible Books & Originals

Christmas story for the whole family: The Jolly Effect

This is a reminder about my daughter's Christmas book, The Jolly Effect.

‘Twas twenty days before Christmas, when all through the house everything was stirring, including a computer mouse. Even though nobody was home!

Something jolly and magical is causing Christmas decorations to spring to life. Which is nothing unusual for them until they discover a decoration from another holiday. Suddenly, everything is in question. What exactly is it that powers the decorations to awaken? Do they themselves have this power? Can they even stay awake until Christmas? Will the crotchety old nutcracker ruin the fun? Will Ugly Sweater ever stop singing her holiday opera?

This book is a whimsical journey into the heart, soul and magic of that elusive holiday spirit. Get ready to share the Jolly Effect.

The Jolly Effect is available in a print edition https://amzn.to/33npmQ0 and an e-book edition https://amzn.to/3meWmBt. For more information go to https://lbefeler9.wixsite.com/author

About the Author:

When not putting up or taking down holiday decorations with her son, Laura Befeler can be found dreaming up new book ideas and working at one ad agency or another. Originally from Boulder, CO, she misses the chance to wake up to a white Christmas. She now lives in a festive little house in Southern California, which currently has decorations up from two holidays ago.

About the Illustrators:

Asher and Kasey Befeler were both born and raised in Iowa, where Christmas is at least cold, if not white. Kasey works as a graphic artist and Asher has been a natural artist for as long as his aunt can remember. In addition to drawing, Asher loves fishing (and going on family trips to Southern California). He is currently in the 10^th grade.

Kids and Jokes

I have several books and a calendar with a joke-a-day with what I call dumb dad jokes. These are jokes we dads tell to our kids and grandkids to make them groan. Recently, our seven-year-old grandson picked up the calendar and started reading the jokes to us. This is an extension of my last post that he has begun reading things to us. In addition to the reading, he has a good sense of humor and gets most of the jokes.

Young Readers

Our seven-year-old grandson has become excited about reading. We’ve read to him for years, but now he is reading his favorite books to me. He’s currently reading Dogman books that have humorous names of classic books such as Fetch 22, Brawl of the Wild and Mothering Heights. These are kids’ graphic novels with lots of humor. Not only is he reading, but he is reading with expression appropriate for what the characters are saying. I can identify. I was a reluctant reader as a boy. One day I was messing around in the school library, and the librarian asked what I was interested in. I replied, “Baseball.” She led me to a section with baseball stories, and I got hooked on reading.