Notes From the Cave
The Official Blog of Amateur Sleuth Mystery Author A. D. Hay.
An exclusive look at her behind-the-scenes misadventures of Author A. D. Hay.
Behind the Scenes: The Candidate (A Rookie Reporter Murder Mystery Novella)
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I realised the first book in my new Rookie Reporter mystery series. And I thought I would share a little of the behind the scenes or the making of the novella that as a reader you never get to see unless I take you along with me. In this blog post, I’m going to answer a few questions about The Candidate and the Rookie Reporter series.
Read Chapter One of My Next Murder Mystery Novella
After publishing the last blog post where I shared the opening scene of The Candidate, I felt a little mean. So, I decided to share the next chapter in the murder mystery novella, with you. As you might have guessed, the candidate is the first novella in a new series called the “Rookie Reporter Mysteries”, featuring James Lalonde.
Read the Opening Scene of My Next Murder Mystery Novella for Free
Just like Missing and Duplicity, I’ve decided to share the opening scenes from my new first-in-series murder mystery novella, The Candidate, with you. As you might have guessed, the candidate is the first novella in a new series called the “Rookie Reporter Mysteries”, featuring James Lalonde.
007, A Giant Female Amateur Sleuths Book Haul
As you can guess by the spoiler-y title, I will share with you an embarrassingly long and overdue female amateur sleuth book haul. On a surprising note, I have managed to stop myself from reading these books. As always, I will endeavour to be as spoiler-free as possible.
006, The Book Buying Tag
As you can tell by the super spoiler-y title of this video, I’ll be doing the Book Buying Tag created by Megan Olivier. Click the link on my blog to watch the original version of the tag on YouTube. Even though this is quite an old tag that was created back in 2013, I loved it so much that I clearly couldn’t resist filming it. And, there was one question that I struggled to answer. But, that’s was of no surprise to me.
Using Foreign Languages in Fiction and A Tour of my Animal Crossing Island | BTS Writing Vlog 022
Goals, for me at least, are constantly moving and adjusted to my ever-changing needs as a writer. And that’s where I started off this behind the scenes writing vlog. Just like all the others, I fell off the wagon, got back on, and went on to achieve a little bit of success.
Writing Distractions, A Book Cover Reveal, and Getting Vaccinated | BTS Writing Vlog 021
On Tuesday, I started the writing vlog off strong by setting a goal to reach the midpoint of the novella by the end of the week. Well, as you know, this is me setting a goal, and I got distracted by a few other important bright, shiny and new distractions. However, despite all of the distractions, I did make some progress, and as you’re aware, some progress is better than no progress.
A Folio Society Unboxing and Writing the First Book in a New Amateur Sleuth Mystery Series | BTS Writing Vlog 020
Hello, Booklovers! As suggested by the title, in this weekly writing vlog I'm going to take you along with me as I write The Candidate which is the first book in the Rookie Reporter amateur sleuth mystery series. If you want to know more about the series then...
A Writer Writes: I’m Writing a New Amateur Sleuth Mystery Series
Hello, Book Lovers! I hope you are all well and are staying safe. I have some exciting news to share with you. In between book launches of my James Lalonde mystery series, I've decided to write a series of twelve short stories featuring James...
I’m Back, About Me and Welcome to My YouTube Channel
Hello, Book Lovers! I hope you are all well and are staying safe. It’s been a year since I last shared a video on this channel. During the last twelve months, I’ve found it difficult to create content for this channel because of the lockdown. Now that...
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hello!
A.D. Hay is a passionate bibliophile and can usually be found reading a book, and that book will most likely be a murder mystery. Amelia is the author of The Lawn, Suspicion, and Duplicity—the first three books in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery Series and The Locked Room. The Candidate is the first book in the Rookie Reporter Mystery series.
My Books
A Body is on the Lawn, and a Killer is on the Loose
When Will Thatcher doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde must attend afternoon tea at the Carmichael Estate. The pleasant gathering ends abruptly when a body is discovered on the front lawn with strange markings on its neck, and a priceless Van Gogh is missing from the wall.
Can James figure out who the thief and murderer are before he or Alistair is next?
A Murdered Judge. A Dark Secret Silenced.
Rookie reporter James Lalonde finally gets his first story – a simple interview with soon-to-be magistrate Albert Harrington. But when he arrives, he finds blood, an empty safe, and no body. With Detective Khan suspecting him of murder, James must clear his name and solve the case before losing his story.
£2.49
A Lavish Wedding. One Dead Bride. A Tangled Web of Deception.
James Lalonde thought being a groomsman at his ex-girlfriend’s wedding would be the most awkward part of his weekend. He was wrong. After the bride’s body is found floating in the château lake, he becomes the prime suspect, and awkward becomes deadly.
Can James clear his name before the killer strikes again?
£3.99
Excalibur is Missing. A Killer is on the Loose. One Reporter is Determined to Uncover the Truth.
When James Lalonde’s girlfriend leaves him, he’s forced to cover her story about the local museum’s latest acquisition—the legendary sword Excalibur. But when he arrives, Excalibur is missing and there’s a dead body at the crime scene. Can James clear his name and find the real killer?
£2.49 £0.00
A Murdered Professor. A Priceless Manuscript Stolen.
James Lalonde’s university reunion takes a deadly turn when a hooded figure murders a professor and steals a priceless mediaeval manuscript, moments after James discovers a secret code within its pages.
With his passport confiscated and everyone hiding secrets, can James find the killer before they strike again?
£3.99
One Locked Room. A Dead Body. Five Suspects
It’s the opening of Clovervale Hall, an exquisite bed-and-breakfast in England. James Lalonde has an all-expenses-paid trip. But there’s one thing he didn’t count on—a killer roaming the halls. Soon, James discovers everyone has secrets worth killing for.
Can James solve the murder before the bodies start to pile up?
£2.49
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