I am on my first edit of The Luxembourg Saga. It’s Jill’s second mystery and it has blown her off her feet. At the ripe age of 67, she comes to Luxembourg to relax. It’s known as a boring city and that’s exactly what she’s after. Needless to say, it’s not what she’ll get. But before you can hop in and find out more about the mystery, let’s meet Jill. A small teaser; she falls in love with Luxembourg, a city is as quirky and underrated as she is.
Accidental sleuth…
Jill’s world came tumbling down about three years ago when she lost her job as a journalist. The interviewee for her in-depth Redemption series was murdered. This happened in Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland, that seemingly calm, stunning province in the north of the Netherlands. After working day and night to get the best stories for the local newspaper, she found herself thrown to the side like a bag of rubbish.
Partner of Jim Jensen
Jim Jensen was not so unhappy. Jill’s partner was waiting for something to bring her back to earth. “You need to get your priorities straight!” was his favourite exclamation when she yet again became unbalanced. He has always worried about her workaholic streak. Jill loved her work so much, she took the dark side for granted. Too much alcohol to drown in, and not enough space for her mental well-being, would bring her down one day. When her world collapsed, Jim was the steady hand that helped her pick up the pieces.
And help is what Jill needed. After being laid off because of her own involvement with the victim, she then became the primary suspect. But with the help of Jim and a few other good friends, she solved the case. It took all this time. Afterwards, she decided to enjoy her well-earned retirement, and plan weddings for fun, starting with that of their close friends Mitch and Wesley. But first, a short trip to Luxembourg to recover.
Lover of night walks
After being thrown back to her own devices so brutally, Jill had discovered night walks and the joy of being sober. She often takes to the streets of Leeuwarden around three in the morning. For safety she has her short knitting needles tucked in her sleeve, her keys between her knuckles and Jim on speed dial. Oh yeah, and some pepper spray in reach. But overall, the night is calm. Cool air, the leaves rustling softly in the wind, swans and geese chattering by in the fall and the spring. In the dark, all these elements help her clearly see the good things in her life. And back home, after crawling back into bed next to Jim, her sleep is deeper and longer.
Knitter of socks
Knitting has helped balance Jill as well. Going round and round on her emerging socks calms her nerves. It wasn’t until after she’d been fired that she took part in a 30-day low-carb challenge. After the month, she welcomed back the chocolate and bread, but somehow the ‘no alcohol’ resonated with her, so instead of a glass of white, she’s now mostly seen with her circular needles in hand. And a little something on the side, of course.
Animal lover
Funny enough, Jill & Jim have Tux, a tuxedo cat who looks like our Max. But not only that. It doesn’t take long for Jill to adopt a black-and-white dog in Luxembourg City. He is not exactly a stray, but you’ll have to wait till publication day to find out how he comes to be Jill’s.
Animals became important to Jill when she was a child. Especially cats comforted her when the adults around her didn’t care.
All this is Jill, and she is even more. I can’t wait to share her adventures with you. What do you think makes a good, cosy sleuth, does Jill fit the bill?
If in the meantime, you’d like to sample my cat fiction, you can:
- buy My name is Wilma from your favourite online store
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