Rick Atwood from the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mysteries says, “This may seem pretty crazy, but in my latest case, I actually turned to my 13-year-old daughter, Alex, for help. She was—much to my chagrin—friends with one of our suspects, and so I figured she had inside information about the case. It turned out I was right, just not in a way any of us expected.

Marla Vail, amateur sleuth of the Bad Hair Day Mysteries, says, “I work closely with my husband, Detective Dalton Vail. If he’s not available, I have several friends who can help. They’re all great listeners and have accompanied me on my escapades. Tally is my best friend. We’ve known each other for years. Then there’s Robyn, my salon receptionist, and Susan, a neighbor who’s an editorial consultant for a women’s magazine.”

Sarah Blair, amateur sleuth of the Sarah Blair Mysteries, says, “Although the cases I’ve cracked have involved different family members and friends, I find that talking to my Siamese cat RahRah is the means by which I am able to clarify a lot of my thoughts. RahRah doesn’t talk or anything like that, but he’s a solid means of support and love for me—a person who never would have thought I’d be a cat person.”

Miranda Trent, amateur sleuth of the Paint & Shine Mysteries, says, “I own a cultural tourist business I established in Eastern Kentucky. I have a number of friends and family I can call on for help with investigation problems. My first stop for advice is my next-door neighbor. Austin Morgan is a life-long local Forest Ranger who knows the hills and hollers of the Daniel Boone National Forest like the back of his hand. It doesn’t hurt that he’s quite handsome as well as helpful.”

This is Nina Fleet from the Georgia B&B Mysteries. My go-to person when I’m stumped tracking down a murderer is my part-time lodger and best frenemy, Harry Westcott. Sure, he can be a bit self-centered at times–most actors are!–but he’s a great out-of-the-box thinker. Besides which, despite our regular disputes I know deep down that Harry always has my back

Tabby Winslow, amateur sleuth of the Valona Jones (aka Maggie Toussaint) A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries, says, “I turn to the person I’ve trusted most of my life, my fraternal twin sister Sage. We know each other inside and out. Being fraternal twins means we look different and we think differently. Even so, the bond between us is very tight. Our skills and personalities mesh well. For instance, Sage is more brash and in your face while I am generally tactful and think before I speak. There’s need for both aspects in a case.”

Anastasia Pollack, reluctant amateur sleuth of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, says, “Along with my BFF, food editor Cloris McWerther, my soulmate, photojournalist (and possible spy) Zachary Barnes, has aided me in figuring out whodunit. Zack has the kind of connections that add credence to my theory he’s really a spy, no matter how often he claims otherwise. There’s also Manifesto, my communist mother-in-law’s French bulldog. He’s now switched camps and answer to Leonard. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Finally, there’s Ralph, the Shakespeare-quoting parrot I inherited. Both he and Leonard have come to my rescue on more than one occasion.”