Comments and Awards for The Backyard Model Mysteries
~A witty former fashion model turned accidental sleuth ...~Lisa Lickel, editor, Creative Wisconsin Magazine
~Word play on every page and jokes about Wisconsin customs ... ~Christine DeSmet, award-winning author & scriptwriter
~Rarely are cozy mysteries this much fun to read! ~Laurie Sheer, writing mentor, media goddess
~Model Suspect, Book One in The Backyard Model Mysteries earned an Eric Hoffer category honor, an RWA Excellence in Mystery, a Royal Dragonfly, a Southwest Writer's Award, and was named a Top 100 Notable Indie by Shelf Unbound magazine

In Model Wave, Mel Tower travels Up North for a vacation and a date with a handsome sheriff. But when a boat owner is found dead on "No Bullship," his new pontoon, Mel's plans for relaxation and romance are sunk faster than a popped beach ball. Mel must become an amateur sleuth because she fears a friend is being set up for the murder.

Meanwhile, the Northwoods is hosting “The Deliveree,” a summer competition for delivery drivers, knights of the road. Mel attends wacky games such as boxing (with actual boxes) and skiing on cardboard skis while pursuing the killer. Mel discovers the victim’s ex-wife had no alibi—even though the name of her pontoon is My Alibi!

This is the book for readers who enjoy beach reads, funny cozy mysteries, and quirky characters. They're Midwest fun and intrigue are served with a brandy old-fashioned and a side of cheese curds. Similar series to The Backyard Model Mysteries are Jeff Nania's Spider Lake Mysteries and Annelise Ryan's Monster Hunter series.

These stories are comic cozy mysteries with no foul language, sex, or graphic violence.

Coming in October 2024, Model Ghost, Book Three in The Backyard Model Mysteries: A fashion designer chokes to death on a fried cheese curd, and Mel’s cousin is accused of the murder. Mel must work with rivals from her fashion modeling past to solve the crime in this spooky fall mystery.