By Diane Bator
In June of 2023, I moved from Ontario to Alberta after a breakup. The kids were on their own and I felt adrift. Despite having a job I enjoyed, a publisher I wrote for, and many mystery novels published, I needed a fresh start and to be closer to family.
I packed my car, drove across Canada with two cats who weren’t thrilled to be crammed into carriers for five days straight, and ended up near Calgary. I’d already decided to take a month off before trying to find work. Somewhere in the move and settling, I began to listen to Jimmy Buffett music constantly.
Then, I discovered a small publisher who produced cozy mystery anthologies every 2-3 months. My first story for A Beach of a Crime was called On Beach Time. The combination of the topic (A Beach of a Crime) and Jimmy Buffett music swept me up in a whole new character – Dash Allman. All I needed to know at first was that she was a quirky Private Investigator who lived on the beach and loved Jimmy. It was the most fun I’ve had writing in years!
Her first story took three days to write by hand. The more I’ve dug into her as a character, the more her backstory has come out. Over the next year, I wrote six more stories featuring Dash and her mentor, Alex Carson, as well as a few boyfriends who come and go in her life. She seems to be drawn to strong men in law enforcement that she works cases with.
After writing so many fun stories featuring Dash, I decided not to expand them into novels for fear I’d lose the momentum that her stories bring. Instead, I put the six I’d written, plus an all new one into a collection: Dash Allman, PI, Volume 1. Since there’s a Volume 1, you must know there will eventually be a Volume 2! It’s currently in the planning phase for 2026, and I already have two new stories with one more coming out with Aconite Café in February 2025.
I was totally thrilled when Dash Allman, PI, Volume 1 won a Finalist Award for Cozy Mystery in the Global Book Awards this past December. After being a mystery writer for so many years, it’s nice to get the recognition I’d never had before. Hopefully, Dash will be my partner in crime for many more mysteries!
You met me, so let me introduce Dash…
Meet Dashiell Allman—Dash for short. She loves long walks on the beach, Jimmy Buffet, Breakfast Dogs from Ricardo’s Food Truck, and a good mystery, which is why she became a Private Investigator and lives in a cottage on the beach. Join Dash as she tackles jewel thieves, killers, a runaway llama, a cat lady, boyfriends, and many more!
Once Upon a Crime
New
Introducing Dashiell (Dash) Allman, twelve-year-old troublemaker and budding detective, who is determined to solve the mystery of her neighbor’s missing jewelry.
On Beach Time
From: A Beach of a Crime, Aconite Café, July 2023
Dashiell Allman—Dash for short—loves long walks on the beach, Jimmy Buffett, and a good mystery, which is why she became a Private Investigator. When her latest client, Phil Turner, turns up dead in a botched robbery, Dash races against time and the police to catch his killer.
Son of a Witch
From: A Witch of a Scoundrel, Aconite Café, October 2023
Broken bones and stolen skateboards have become Dash Allman’s nemeses. When the police ask for her unofficial help in catching thieves at the skate park, she’s up for the challenge. As soon as she figures out which witch is which.
Visions of Gumdrop
From: A Prob-llama of a Holiday, Aconite Café, December 2023
A run in with a llama on the beach leaves Dash Allman shaken and draws her into a whole new mystery! When a goat goes missing from a petting zoo at the Christmas Market and other items are stolen, she begins to dig into the crime – Gumdrop, the drama llama as a sidekick. As soon as Dash can figure out how to get Gumdrop to stop spitting at her and fainting!
The Cat Lady’s Secret
From: A Hiss-teria of Killers, Aconite Café, April 2024
Dash Allman wakes up to a black cat and a tarot card on her bed and her bathroom window smashed. Her next-door neighbor is missing leaving a pool of blood next to her fortune telling table, about 50 cats, and a huge secret!
Joker’s Wild
New
A body on a parade float during the Joker’s Day Parade brings festivities to a halt and introduces Dash to a new crime fighting partner, Crash, a precocious ten-year-old boy. While she prefers to work alone, Crash is in a prime position to help her sort out a series of murders, including that of Crash’s grandfather – and Dash’s father if they don’t catch the killer quickly!
Gone to the Dolls
From: A Hobby in Foul Play, Aconite Café, August 2024
Dash gets caught up in a ring of the scariest people yet – Dollhouse Fanatics! When a new client reports her prize-winning dollhouse was stolen and supplies Dash with a list of suspects and cold, hard cash – Dash takes the case. Then one of the suspects is murdered and Dash realizes she needs to solve the mystery before her remaining suspects all turn on each other.
Dash Allman, PI, Volume 1 by Diane Bator
Seven quirky mystery stories in one great collection!
Meet Dashiell Allman—Dash for short. She loves long walks on the beach, Jimmy Buffet, and a good mystery, which is why she became a Private Investigator and lives in a cottage on the beach.
Join Dash as she tackles jewel thieves, killers, a runaway llama, a cat lady, boyfriends, and many more!
Publisher : Escape With a Writer (November 22, 2024)
Paperback : 213 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8341039148
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