Mindy Quigley

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  • Canal boat documentaries and rabies infections have more in common than you might think

    For about a decade, I’ve suffered from persistent, sometimes-debilitating insomnia. After many years of strategies, drugs, tinctures, doctors, therapists, etc., I have found a method that (mostly) works to help me sleep. Each night, I’ll read for a bit, then recline on my couch, cuddle up with my dog, put a boring British docuseries on extremely low volume in an otherwise dark room, and watch it until I fall asleep. Then, at some point during the night, I stumble into my bedroom and continue to sleep for whatever hours remain.

    Before you start sending me your recipe for homemade sleepytime tea or evangelizing about CBD oil or telling me screens/blue light are disruptive to sleep, allow me to save you the trouble. I’ve tried ALL. THE. THINGS. For me, the bit of nonfiction reading + boring British TV + cozy dog system works as well or better than cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep medications, hypnosis, meditation, strict sleep hygiene, or any of the myriad other remedies I’ve experimented with.

    I prefer to read nonfiction before bed, since even cozy fiction tends to engage my writer brain and ramp up my imagination (and my anxiety, if the main character is imperiled).

    Here’s where we get to the rabies and canal boats.

    One night, I picked up the book I’d been reading—Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus, which I will grant you, may not be a common choice for a relaxing bedtime read. I personally enjoy knowing that the subtypes of rabies are called “paralytic” and “furious,” due to the predominant symptoms they produce, and that we all owe a debt of gratitude to Louis Pasteur. Seriously, raise a glass of bacteria-free milk to that guy. What a mensch.

    But back to the blog post. The section I read that night discussed rabies subplots in Charlotte Brontë’s novels, wherein the disease serves as a metaphor for various human anxieties about the natural and social worlds. I dimly registered the footnotes, which contained a quote from a woman named Ann Dinsdale, the principal curator of the Brontë Parsonage, former residence of the famous sisters and their less-famous brother.

    I closed the rabies book and flipped on one of my favorite fall-asleep docuseries: the program Great Canal Journeys, in which a pair of adorable elderly British thespians (you’ll recognize them if you’ve watched as much Britbox as I have) tootle around Europe’s canal system in a narrowboat, having extremely low-stakes adventures.

    In one such episode, hosts Prunella and Tim visit Haworth, a quaint hilltop village in Yorkshire. There, they tour the Brontë Parsonage. Low and freaking behold: they are given a personal tour by none other than Ann Dinsdale.

    Twice in the space of an hour, I encountered the curator of a small English house museum—while I was at home in Virginia and decidedly NOT doing any Brontë-related research whatsoever.

    The next time a reader complains that a coincidence in one of my books is unrealistic, I will point them to this blog post, or to one I wrote years ago about LBJ’s dog meeting Colonel Sanders.

    Full disclosure: I don’t like any of the Brontë’s books, not Jane Eyre, not Wuthering Heights, not the other one that the other sister whose name I can never remember wrote. (Even fuller disclosure: I never read that one by the other sister). However, the Ann Dinsdale Singularity struck me as so delightfully uncanny that I immediately dashed off an email to the museum telling them all about it.

    Here’s their reply:

    Good morning Mindy,

    Thank you for your email and for sharing this anecdote. Our senior curator Ann Dinsdale is often involved with many projects at once, and it’s wonderful to hear how you encountered her work twice in one hour! 

    We look forward to welcoming you to the Brontë Parsonage Museum in the future.

    So, dear reader, I took them at their word. My husband and I made a special detour to Haworth when we were in the area.

    Sadly, Ann Dinsdale wasn’t there the day we visited, but we did get to see a handwritten manuscript of Wuthering Heights. The original manuscript’s disappearance is shrouded in mystery, but in 2017 the museum launched a project to have visitors copy out the entire book, one line at a time.

    The first entry– “I have just returned from a visit to my landlord” — was written by… Ann Dinsdale.

  • Sneak Preview: At Death’s Dough Audiobook

    At Death’s Dough is the only installment of the Deep Dish Mysteries that doesn’t take place entirely in the present day.

    The book includes a brief prologue that sweeps readers back 100 years, to the time when the mob held sway in the Windy City and Prohibition was in full swing.

    I’m so excited that the audiobook is finally in production — now more readers will be able to catch up on the series in their chosen medium. The book will be out later this summer, but my fabulous narrator, Holly Adams, shared this exclusive sample to wet your whistle.

    The long-ago mystery revealed in the prologue comes to the fore later in the book, so listen carefully for clues!

  • Cold Cases, Hot Cocoa: Five Great Cozy Mysteries with Historical Crimes

    This post is reprinted with permission from Chicks on the Case, October 29, 2025

    At Death’s Dough, the fifth installment in my Deep Dish Mystery series, was inspired by the long, cold winters of my Chicago childhood—and by one of the biggest unsolved heists in U.S. history.

    My sister put me on to the story of the Rondout Train Robbery after seeing an article commemorating it in her local paper. We were both struck that the largest train robbery in U.S. history happened not in the Wild West—but just north of Chicago in the 1920s. Millions in loot vanished, mob ties helped the robbers evade justice, and the truth remains a mystery. What better set-up for my clever, pizza-slinging sleuth and her detective boyfriend—who happens to be the great-grandson of Al Capone?

    If you’re like me and love a mystery where the past refuses to stay buried, here are five more fabulous cozies (and cozy-adjacent mysteries) that mix history, humor, and heart.

    1. How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristin Perrin
    Wealthy widow Frances Adams has spent sixty years preparing for her own murder—and when she’s finally found dead, her great-niece Annie has to solve it. Set in an English village full of eccentric characters and long-dormant secrets, this witty debut is a perfect pick for readers who like their tea hot and their corpses cold.

    2. Mischief Nights Are Murder by Libby Klein
    Halloween hijinks and historical secrets collide when gluten-free baker Poppy McAllister’s B&B becomes the center of a deadly prank gone wrong. Add in a paranormal researcher, a pet psychic, a century-old diary with Prohibition ties, and Klein’s signature laugh-out-loud wit and you’ve got the ultimate cozy comfort read—assuming you can read while snort-laughing.

    3. More Than Sorrow by Vicki Delany
    This beautifully atmospheric mystery from Canadian mystery-writing powerhouse Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates) intertwines the story of a modern war correspondent recovering from trauma with the stories of 18th-century Loyalist settlers. It’s a timely reminder that the past is never really past.

    4. Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins
    A genealogist with a love of tacos and a nose for trouble discovers a murder from the 19th century—and accidentally ignites a modern political scandal. Perkins’s genealogical  series is clever, funny, and full of Texas twang. It’s proof that some families have actual skeletons in the closet.

    5. The Study of Secrets by Cynthia Kuhn
    English professor Lila Maclean’s sabbatical turns sinister when a Victorian mansion, a missing manuscript, and a small-town legend converge to spell murder. Smart and funny, this book showcases the talents of its Agatha Award-winning creator.

    Whether you’re chasing gangsters across a frozen lake or uncovering secrets in a dusty archive, these mysteries will keep you turning pages long after your cocoa goes cold. Hope you’ll check out these great reads and pick up At Death’s Dough—out now anywhere books are sold!

  • Cozy Companions: Six Furry Sidekicks Who Kick Butt

    Excerpted from Criminal Element, Sept. 19, 2025

    No cozy mystery would be complete without a trusty companion or two. Sometimes these come in the form of a team of quirky relatives, like the Calendar Crew of meddling aunties in Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries or even a supernatural frenemy, as in Olivia Blacke’s Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries.

    In my Deep Dish series, though, the key role of sounding board/emotional supporter/cuddler-in-chief belongs to Butterball, an orange tabby with the heart of a lion and the stomach of a chonk-monster. While Butterball isn’t exactly Sherlock Holmes (he is, after all, just a cat), he has a way of revealing clues that my human sleuth, Delilah O’Leary, might otherwise overlook.

    In my latest book, At Death’s Dough, the roles are reversed—this time it’s Butterball who lands in hot water, and it’s Delilah’s turn to rescue him. Writing the story got me thinking about just how much pets bring to a cozy mystery.

    Furry (and scaly and feathered) companions have become fixtures in cozy mysteries not just because they’re cute, but because they serve important narrative and dramatic functions. They provide a wholesome counterbalance to the violence at the heart of these stories. They can also ground the sleuth in everyday life, showing a softer, more vulnerable side of a character like Delilah, whose personality can be prickly. Their instincts, antics, and sheer existence can move the plot forward in organic ways. At the same time, they reinforce one of the central pillars of the cozy mystery genre: even in the dark shadow of crime, comfort is close at hand.

    Butterball isn’t the only four-legged sidekick kicking butt in the world of cozies. From loyal hounds to opinionated cats, these companions prove that crime-solving can be more fun with a furry gumshoe (gum-paw?) on the case.

    Here are six of my favorite books with animal sidekicks…

    READ MY LIST IN CRIMINAL ELEMENT MAGAZINE

  • Most Likely to Succeed… in Murder

    With the launch of my latest Deep Dish Mystery, Sleep in Heavenly Pizza, I’ve been getting ready to trot out Ye Olde Dog and Pony Show once again. I’ve observed previously that being a professional writer is essentially running a small business. Things like creating social media content, preparing for events, doing my taxes, and tending to relationships with booksellers, editors, bloggers, and readers—are necessary parts of the job. A lot of writers especially hate the task of pimping a new release, figuring out ways to get it on readers’ radar screens without looking like a shameless huckster.

    I get it. For some writers, doing publicity smacks of lacking writerly integrity. Surely, James Joyce would never do an Instagram reel where he pretended to be several different varieties of cheese??? For many others, promoting your work feels too much like promoting yourself, which can be a terrifying prospect. Writers are often sensitive, introspective, and introverted, qualities that are at odds with the demands of publicity.

    Can I tell you something?

    <<looks from side to side>>

    <<lowers voice>>

    I actually like doing publicity.

    Yes, sometimes promotion feels like time stolen from the actual writing. But mostly, I regard it as a welcome break, a chance to build my creative muscles in a different way. Plus, as my sisters will surely aver, I’ve always been an attention-hogging ham (aka middle child) and almost nothing embarrasses me. Thus, I will gladly enlist every resource at my disposal in the service of getting the word out. Puppies, adorable children–it’s all fair game.

    All this is to say that I was delighted to appear recently on the Midwest Writers Room podcast for an episode of Chapter Break and do funny character voices. I hope you enjoy it!

    I also had the pleasure of being featured on Fresh Fiction’s “Character Most Likely To…” segment.

    Here’s a little taste of that. You can click the link above to read more.

    Most likely to be an agent of chaos?

    Butterball the cat! This chonky orange mischief-maker is a staple in every book. Whether he’s knocking over crucial evidence in SIX FEET DEEP DISH or unexpectedly leading the way to a clue in ASHES TO ASHES, CRUST TO CRUST, Butterball’s accidental heroism is legendary. Just don’t be fooled—his real priorities are snacks and snuggles, solving murders is just a side gig.

    Thanks for reading. Now it’s time for me to harness the dogs and ponies (and adorable children), because we’ve got more shillin’ to do!

  • Feral cats, kosher wine, and other terrifying topics

    Feral cats, kosher wine, and other terrifying topics

    I was interviewed a few weeks ago for writer Tara Laskowski’s blog. In addition to being quick-witted and kind-hearted, Tara is also a master of twisty suspense.  Her novels include The Weekend Retreat and The Mother Next Door,  which the NYT Book Review called a “polished and entertaining read.” As it happens, Tara herself is also polished and entertaining. She’s won the Agatha Award, the Macavity Award, and the Anthony Award and has been a finalist for a butt-ton of other fancy awards. 

    And now, on to the interview!

    Tara: What is your greatest fear as a writer?

    Me: Where to start? That everyone will hate my books. That I’ll become mentally or physically ill and not be able to meet my deadline. That I’ll forget how to write. That I’ll write something that pisses people off and then they’ll hate me. That I’ll be a failure and have wasted my life pursuing this dream. That I’ll be a success and not know how to handle it. That the mild arthritis in my fingers will become debilitating and I won’t be able to type my books. That my poor eyesight will become even worse and I won’t be able to see the computer screen. That I’ll make a stupid mistake in a book and no one at the press will catch it and it’ll go to print that way and everyone will think I’m dumb and careless. That my writing peers will hate my books. That readers will hate my books. That my family will hate my books. That I’ll die alone and stray cats will gnaw at my decaying corpse for weeks before someone calls the cops about a suspicious stench and they come and shovel what remains of me into a five-gallon bucket. Wait, what was the question again? 

    Tara: What’s your favorite horror movie or television series?

    Me: When I was younger, I was obsessed with Dark Shadows. Maybe that’s more of a gothic romance than a pure horror show, though? Anyway it’s got sexy vampires and a governess-wealthy dude romance à la Jane Eyre, and a dual timeline sitch that’s akin to Outlander. BUT DID I MENTION THE SEXY VAMPIRES?

    To find out my plans for world domination and learn why I’m careful what I say into a mirror, read the rest of the interview on Tara Laskowski’s “What Scares You” blog!

    What Scares You, Mindy Quigley?

  • Hooray! It’s time for my semi-annual existential crisis!

    Hooray! It’s time for my semi-annual existential crisis!

    If you write for a traditional publisher, you get paid twice a year. That payment covers a period that’s up to twelve months prior to the date of the check. The sales are lumped together in various line items, some illuminating (e.g. Canadian e-book sales), some… less so (I’m looking at you “Additional Earnings” line item).

    So yeah, you may be wondering what LSD-dosing psychopath invented such an arcane business model. And you may find yourself asking why any self-respecting literary artiste such as moi would put herself through it all. Maybe for the fame and fortune?

    BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! <<wipes tears>> BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

    Yeah, no.

    Overall, there’s almost no way to track whether a specific promotion/appearance/snippet of media coverage had a measurable effect on sales.*

    *Unless you obsessively track your Amazon rankings and Nielsen Bookscan numbers and try to extrapolate your weekly sales numbers from there. Which I for sure don’t do on a regular basis. ‘Cuz that would be batshit crazy. <<deletes browser history>> 😬

    I, like most of my writerly brethren, have zero job security and little understanding of how to make this modestly-profitable hobby/poorly-remunerated career work for me. I end up saying “yes” to almost every marketing opportunity, constantly afraid that I’m not doing enough, that my next project will implode like a billionaires’ submarine. Thus, over the past few years, I’ve found myself running on a relentless hamster wheel of social media posts, guest blogs, newsletter articles, giveaways, and appearances, trying to find success. I live in fear that the Spigot of Modest Recognition could, without warning, stop dribbling out the little droplets of validation that sustain me.

    And that’s because I’m lucky enough to be afforded those opportunities. I have a series of mass market paperbacks with a Big Five publisher. They sell, if not like hotcakes, at least like very warm cakes. I’m well aware that not every writer is so fortunate. So I also get to feel guilty for being ungrateful! Yay! The shame cherry on my fear sundae!

    For several years, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, trying to justify this career choice. And, inevitably, I have a mini-existential crisis whenever a new book comes out or a major deadline looms or my royalty check comes in lower than I expected it to. I’ve been living in a constant state of low-grade existential panic.

    A few things have happened over the past couple months that caused me to start to recalibrate. My beloved grandmother, the bedrock of our family, died. My entire nuclear family got sick, some of us more than once. My aunt was struck by a car and nearly killed on the front steps of the post office. (Yes, you read that right. A car went out of control and up a flight of stairs.) I’m realizing that all the career-related, mini existential crises were just a prelude to the real deal.

    It got me asking myself why I do this writing thing. Here’s what I came up with:

    A “pizza” the gift box my friend Desiree sent to me.

    This little pizza friend was part of a cheer-up gift box my friend Desiree Di Fabio sent to me recently. Desiree and I, along with fellow mystery writer Korina Moss, bonded over cheese fondue during last year’s Mechanicsburg Mystery Book Fete. I’d never met Desiree before that event, but we had an instant connection. That happens a lot in the mystery writing world. You’ve spent your whole life searching and suddenly HERE ARE YOUR PEOPLE.

    Maybe in school, you were the only weird kid reading a book during outdoor recess. Maybe, while your high school classmates were out doing whatever normal high schoolers do (drugs, probably? IDK), you were that nerdy teenager the public librarians all knew by name. Maybe you were that oddball who spent decades wondering if other people thought about death as much as you do. Welcome, my friend. The world of crime fiction is your happy place.

    My life is infinitely richer because I have written and published my books and stories. The community of readers and writers I am a part of is wonderful. Telling stories is a joy and a privilege. Through this work, I learn so much about myself and what it means to be human. Also, I FREAKING LOVE WORDS. They are so powerful.

    I’m still in the midst of a pretty rough season of life. But when I look at this fuzzy little pizza, I’m reminded of the joys of my life as a writer. Joys that cannot be quantified on any bestseller list or with a six-figure check. Pleasures that defy external metrics. When it comes to a full creative life and sustaining personal relationships, I am very rich indeed.

  • I, for sure, never made a chinchilla live in a Barbie camper van.

    Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by CanvasRebel Magazine. Read below for my take on Eighties parenting, Norman Lear, and writing lessons learned (and unlearned)….

    CR: Mindy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

    MQ: My childhood spanned the 80s and 90s, when benign neglect was the dominant parenting style. My mom and dad didn’t micromanage my schoolwork or bog me down with organized extra-curriculars. For a good portion of my childhood, they probably didn’t even know where I was.*

    That parenting style freed me to read and watch TV for countless hours every day, unfettered by parental expectations. The fact that they worked the kinds of jobs people without college degrees tend to work—secretary, restaurant server, auto parts store manager, etc.—was also a blessing. When it came time for me to get a job, I chose work that interested me, with no fear that my parents would judge my choices and no expectation of making giant sums of money.

    *Definitely not climbing into that broken storm drain by Jenny’s house! Nor “borrowing” Christine’s brother’s chinchilla and trying to make it live in a Barbie camper van! Those things for sure didn’t happen.

    Read the rest of the interview on the CanvasRebel website…

  • AND THEY ALL DIED HAPPILY EVER AFTER: COZIES, GRIMDARKS, AND MODERN MORALITY

    Those familiar with Game of Thrones will recognize the hallmarks of “grimdark” storytelling. In a grimdark world, morals are flexible. Dark aesthetics and gritty details dominate. Today’s hero could be tomorrow’s villain, if external circumstances change. Given the headlines of the past few years, the moral uncertainty of such stories has a “ripped from the headlines” feel that seems appropriate for our chaotic era.

    On their face, grimdarks are everything cozy mysteries are not. Grimdarks are gritty and explicit where cozies are saccharine and romanticized. Cozies are fluffy and escapist. Grimdarks are meaty, heavy, real.

    But the more time I spend reading and writing cozies, the more I think of them as tools for confronting, and reckoning with, the same (un)ethical landscapes as grimdarks. Even as I type this, I can hear the distant sizzle of frying synapses as readers try to suss out what a cozy mystery stalwart like bakery owner Hannah Swensen has in common with #teamgrimdark soldier of fortune Jamie Lannister, other than perhaps Nordic good looks and an intense love for their sisters.

    Hear me out.

    READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT CRIMEREADS…