No Products in the Cart
At ReaderCrate, one of my favorite things is introducing readers to the authors behind the cozy mysteries we love. Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with Michelle P.W. (Michelle Parisa-Wasik), author of The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive, which was featured in our February ReaderCrate theme: Sweet Clues & Cheesy Alibis.
Michelle writes clever mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty plots, and charming small-town settings. Her stories take place in the fictional town of Redemption, Wisconsin, a place filled with secrets, history, and a touch of mystery of its own.
During our live author chat, Michelle shared the story behind her writing journey, her cozy mystery series, and the inspiration behind Redemption itself. You can watch replay here
Michelle’s path to becoming a novelist actually started very early. She taught herself to read at just three years old because she wanted to write fiction so badly.
For many years, however, writing novels was something she planned to do “someday.” Instead, she built a successful career as a copywriter and marketing expert, which is how our paths first crossed through the E-Women Network many years ago.
But life has a way of redirecting us.
After a difficult period when Michelle’s mother became seriously ill, she made a promise to herself while sitting beside her in the ICU: she would no longer let her books remain unwritten.
That moment became the catalyst for finally bringing her fiction to life.
Today Michelle writes full time and has created several series of mysteries set in the world of Redemption.
The book featured in ReaderCrate, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive, is the first book in Michelle’s Redemption Detective Agency series.
The story follows Emily, a highly organized professional whose life suddenly implodes. She loses her job, her fiancé, and her home all at once, forcing her to move to Redemption, Wisconsin to live with her eccentric Aunt Tildy.
Tildy, along with several of her friends, has started a rather unconventional detective agency. It’s not exactly a polished professional operation — more of a hobby business — but together they begin solving local mysteries.
The series blends:
humor
found family
small-town charm
twisty mysteries
Michelle describes it as having a similar feel to Only Murders in the Building, where a younger sleuth teams up with older amateur detectives.
One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation was hearing about the inspiration for Redemption.
The town itself is fictional, but it is based partly on Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where Michelle currently lives, and partly on the real town of Black River Falls.
Black River Falls has a strange historical period in the late 1800s when an unusual number of tragic and bizarre events occurred over several years — fires, deaths, and violent incidents that gave the town a reputation for being haunted or cursed.
Michelle incorporated this eerie historical inspiration into Redemption’s backstory.
In the fictional version, a mysterious event in 1888 caused every adult in town to disappear during a brutal winter storm, leaving only the children behind. No one ever discovered what happened.
That strange event casts a shadow over Redemption and gives the town its mysterious atmosphere.
Michelle shared that some of her most beloved characters almost seemed to write themselves.
One of them is Charlie Kingsley, the star of her other cozy mystery series. Charlie originally appeared as a minor character in an earlier thriller, but she refused to stay in the background.
Michelle found herself constantly drawn back to the character until Charlie eventually became the center of her own cozy mystery series.
Similarly, when Michelle began writing the Redemption Detective Agency books, the character of Emily appeared as the perfect counterpart to Aunt Tildy’s chaos.
Emily is structured, organized, and detail-oriented — the exact opposite of Tildy’s free-spirited approach to life. Watching those two personalities collide creates much of the humor in the series.
During our conversation, we talked about why cozy mysteries are having such a big moment right now.
Michelle believes it comes down to something simple: comfort.
Cozy mysteries often feature:
close-knit communities
found families
warm friendships
familiar routines like coffee, tea, or baking
puzzles readers can solve alongside the characters
In a world that often feels unpredictable, cozy mysteries offer a safe and comforting escape.
Readers know the story will be engaging and clever without becoming dark or disturbing.
One particularly fun element Michelle introduced with this series is interactive mystery games.
Readers can actually receive detective case files inspired by the Redemption Detective Agency stories. These mystery kits include clues and evidence that allow readers to solve the case themselves before revealing the answer online.
It’s a creative way to invite readers to become detectives alongside the characters.
Michelle has big plans for the Redemption Detective Agency series.
She currently plans six books, with upcoming titles including:
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Dog Walker
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost
The Mysterious Case of the Missing House
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Grave
Each mystery will stand on its own, while the character relationships continue to evolve across the series.
She is also continuing her Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, which feature more intricate puzzle-style mysteries similar to classic Agatha Christie stories.
Michelle now lives on a lake in Wisconsin, surrounded by beautiful hiking trails and parks.
The area’s natural beauty — along with its intriguing local history — provides endless inspiration for the fictional town of Redemption.
Her characters even share some of those interests. For example, Charlie Kingsley grows herbs and flowers in her garden to make her own tea blends.
Readers who want to learn more about Michelle’s books, bonus stories, or mystery games can visit her website:
mpwnovels.com
There readers can:
join her email list
access exclusive bonus scenes
explore her cozy mystery series
purchase interactive mystery games
At ReaderCrate, our goal is to help readers discover wonderful authors like Michelle P.W.
Each ReaderCrate includes:
📚 Cozy mystery books
🎁 fun themed gifts and reader goodies
🕯️ cozy treats and surprises
💌 special extras from authors
Our February crate, Sweet Clues & Cheesy Alibis, was such a fun celebration of mystery and comfort reading.
And if you missed it, our next crate theme is Grounds for Suspicion, filled with twisty clues and clever mysteries.
If you love small-town mysteries, quirky detectives, and clever puzzles, Michelle P.W.’s books are a perfect cozy read.
Happy reading—and happy sleuthing.
Alyssa Granlund
Founder of ReaderCrate
