Detective Parrott Mystery Series by Saralyn Richard
My introduction to Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania, was at a weekend retreat in one of the country mansions there. I was invited to a birthday party for one of the elite one-percenters who owned a gentleman’s farm. The thirteen guests were treated to three days of luxurious meals and accommodations, fit for royalty. That Saturday night we enjoyed a gourmet nine-course meal with wine pairings for each course. It was over the top, but tasteful at the same time. The conversation was intelligent and witty, and everyone had a wonderful time, especially the birthday celebrant, who beamed at his friends and family members the entire time.
After the elaborate dinner on Saturday night, our bellies and spirits equally full, we sat around near the fireplace in the den and talked about many things. The gathering reminded me of an Agatha Christie locked room mystery, where someone died, and the rest of the guests were suspects. I was struck by the idea that this would be the last place you’d expect a murder to occur. I turned to the person next to me and said, “This would be the perfect setting for a murder mystery.”
From that moment on, I wanted to write about these rich and powerful people, this setting, and the elements of social class that distinguish the ultra-wealthy from those who serve them. That was the beginning of MURDER IN THE ONE PERCENT.
Since that time, I’ve traveled all over the country, talking about Brandywine Valley. The Detective Parrott mystery series has become popular, and it’s grown from a single mystery to four, the latest of which is being released January 5, 2024, MURDER OUTSIDE THE BOX. In each of the books, Detective Parrott learns and grows, while his cases intertwine with his real life.
The series, along with two standalone novels set in less opulent environments, has won numerous awards, favorable reviews, and loyal fans. I’ve conducted extensive research on various aspects of the Brandywine community, and I’ve acquired many first-hand sources who are happy to fill me in on details about the topography, history, architecture, artistry, equestrian activities, artistic endeavors, gardens, museums, shopping areas, bank barns, funeral customs, wildlife conservancy, and other aspects of the community.
The area has turned out to be a second home for me and a favorite escape for my readers. I love the less posh settings of my other books, too, but that long-ago birthday celebration in Brandywine Valley has turned out to be a seminal event in my writing life, and my fascination with the Brandywine culture continues to grow.
Do you have a favorite setting, either fictional or real, that holds you with its magic? Tell me about it!
IT’S A MATTER OF BIRTH AND DEATH.
The serene Brandywine Valley wakes up to an intoxicating double shock: a baby abandoned on the porch of a caretaker’s cottage, and a young post-partum woman lying dead on the estate of a billionaire scotch whiskey magnate. Detective Parrott’s instincts tell him the two crimes are connected, but the evidence points him in directions that are both baffling and personal. Parrott searches for answers in high and low places, including his own office. As he races to find the truth about the baby’s origin and best placement, he untangles chilling murder clues that implicate people who harbor secrets that even their positions of power and trust can’t protect. Once again, Parrott may have to risk his reputation—and even his life—to uncover the real story.
A compulsive and compelling police procedural with relatable characters who remain in your heart. If you like detectives from Louisa Scarr, Clare Mackintosh, and Michael Connelly, you’ll love Detective Oliver Parrott. Purchase at your favorite bookstore or here.
Saralyn, I have not yet read this latest Detective Parrott, but I will be because I too have become a loyal fan.
I’d told my husband that you wrote the Brandywine descriptions so well that I knew you had very good knowledge of that area and it’s wealthy inhabitants. Keep writing!
Thanks so much, Kathryn. You and Bob must also visit Brandywine. There is a lot to do, and it’s all uniquely quaint and wholesome and fun.
It’s amazing how a single activity can spur an entire series. … One that you write so well.
So true, Debra. A chain of events, and pretty soon history is made! Thanks for reading and commenting. I value your opinion so highly.
I’m really enjoying Murder Outside the Box, Saralyn (almost half-way through). It’s always interesting to see how an experience can spark a writer’s imagination. Brandywine seems like a great place to do research!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Gay. It’s true that a great idea can come spontaneously and serendipitously from a single event. And the rest is history!
Saralyn, I lived not too far from Brandywine years ago and loved visiting the area. Best of luck with your new book! I’ve always set my books in places I love, mostly in and around Philadelphia and New York City and throughout New Jersey. When I visited Barcelona years ago, I knew I had to find a reason to send my sleuth there and wrote Mosaic Mayhem, one of the Anastasia Pollack novellas.