Darcy Burke is the USA Today-bestselling author of captivating, compelling historical mystery and romance as well as small-town contemporary romance. Her new Regency whodunit series Only Murders in the Square, kicks off with In the Midnight Hour where a murder, a mysterious widow, and a dangerous alliance collide.
Burke wrote her first book at age 11: a happily-ever-after about a magic-addicted swan, complete with very poor illustrations. A native Oregonian and dual American-British citizen, she lives on the edge of wine country with her husband, their two children, and a lively household of cats. When not writing, she might be found folding laundry, enjoying family game night, or dreaming of Denmark and the UK.
We spoke with the author about the inspiration behind Only Murders in the Square, her evolving mystery-writing process, and the advice that shaped her path as an author
This is the first book in a new series called Only Murders in the Square. How would you pitch this series to readers? What can they expect from this book and future installments?
This is a Regency mystery with a very slow burn romance between the heir to an earldom and a widow who solve murders that happen only in their cozy London square. This first book is an introduction to Pemberton Square and its inhabitants. The hero is the brother of a hero in one of my romance novels, A Secret Surrender, so readers who enjoyed that book and have been looking for North’s story will be glad to see that he not only gets a book—he gets an entire series! North has many layers, and we begin to peel them back in this first book. The heroine, Lady Hypatia, also has layers, or perhaps secrets, and In the Midnight Hour teases each character’s complexity. Readers can also expect Hypatia’s sidekick, Quill, a black cat who likes to stick his nose into things.
How did you first come up with the idea for this series? Did it start with the setting, the characters, or the plot?
I wanted to set a series in a London square. It was originally going to be a holiday romance series, but I’d started writing Raven & Wren (my Victorian mystery series), and I found myself thinking of mysteries. That led me to decide there could be a murder in the square and a couple of the residents could solve it. I’d long been mulling North’s story since his twin, Harry, had already appeared as a hero in a Regency romantic suspense. Harry is a Bow Street Runner, so it seemed like a murder solved by his twin brother could be fun. I love writing Raven & Wren, which has the same protagonists in every book, and I wanted to do that again. Then I got to thinking that they could just solve murders that only happened in the square, like the show Only Murders in the Building, which I love. I pitched the idea to some author pals, and everyone demanded I write it immediately, so here it is.
Your books have long featured intrepid women who push against society’s expectations. What did you want the mysterious widow in In the Midnight Hour to be able to do that a more conventional Regency heroine couldn’t?
Hypatia is a widow for a variety of reasons, but probably mostly because a widow could move about far more easily than an unmarried miss or even a spinster. That doesn’t mean she can act with impunity because people can be very judgy! However, Hypatia has been through Some Things, and she wants to live the life she chooses. That doesn't mean she isn’t aware of how others perceive her behavior. It’s a bit of a tightrope but, like many of my heroines, she's intrepid.
Secrets, scandal, and murder await.
Dive into Darcy's new cozy mystery series with In the Midnight Hour.
You've moved from writing primarily historical romance into historical mystery with Raven & Wren and now Only Murders in the Square. What have mysteries unlocked for you creatively that romance alone didn’t?
My first romance series, Secrets & Scandals, has a bit of suspense woven in. There are kidnappings, fleeing from villains (and the law!), and even a villain who becomes a hero. My second series, Legendary Rogues, are action-adventure treasure hunt romance with a great deal of suspense and mystery. I guess I’ve actually been trying to write mysteries for a long time! After sixty or so romances, I was eager to try something a little bit different.
I don’t really know what mysteries have changed for me creatively, but I certainly approach them differently. They're still very much character driven. I've always particularly loved secondary characters. Both of my mystery series have plenty of those who recur. I outline my books generally before I start and then more specifically as I write. The easiest way to explain it is that I do it in batches as I work toward turning points in the book. The turning points for a mystery are different than for a romance, and I've found after writing seven mysteries that more specific plotting greatly helps the process go more smoothly. I spend much more time thinking through scenes before I draft them.
The process of writing a mystery as a whole takes me more time than writing a romance, but I suspect part of that is the fact I’ve written over 60 romances and just the seven mysteries! I’m always looking to improve my process and hone my craft. I’m incredibly grateful to be able to continue doing that.
What does your writing day look like? Any rituals or practices that have become important to your creative process?
My writing day seems to be an ever-evolving situation, but that's probably due to working from home and whatever's happening at any given time, particularly since we have seven cats (not on purpose, but here we are, and we love them all dearly). I like to write first thing, even if it’s only for a short while because I’m then far more likely to get back to writing after completing whatever interrupted me. Days where I can’t start with writing can be difficult when I’m on deadline. The most important part of my writing space is my chair. I don’t write at my desk due to neck issues (perhaps brought on by writing in my comfy chair, but let’s not discuss that!), so the chair is where the magic happens. I often have one cat, Banana, sitting on the arm to my left. To my right is my giant green water bottle. Have to stay hydrated!
What makes a great mystery protagonist? Do you have a favorite one from other books, film, or TV?
There are so many things that make a great mystery protagonist! They usually have a very interesting (and often traumatic) backstory and have a unique way of approaching crime-solving. I have so many favorites—Sherlock Holmes of course (I do love Benedict Cumberbatch’s version!), Poirot, Sebastian St. Cyr, Veronica Speedwell, and Miss Scarlet (on television). My newest favorite is the show Bookish (on PBS here in the U.S.). Book has an interesting and mysterious backstory, and the characters are well-drawn and engaging.
To me, a great mystery is as much about the people as it is the mystery.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a fellow writer, and what advice would you give to a fellow author looking to create something special?
Probably the best advice I’ve ever gotten is when an author friend I’d known for several years had gone from traditional publishing to independent publishing (this was back in 2012). She encouraged me to self-publish my first three books after my agent was unable to find a home for them (we came very close several times). That set me on my current path, and I’m so grateful! To create something special, you need to feel passionately about it. For that something special to find a readership, you must be aware of the current market. I’m not saying someone has to write to the market…not entirely, anyway. Find a way to write what you love that also has a place in the current market.
What would you tell another author who is considering working with IngramSpark?
I’ve been fortunate enough to work directly with IngramSpark as an indie author and now through my publisher, Oliver Heber Books. IngramSpark has been a wonderful partner with OHB (and with me!).
What are you working on and looking forward to right now?
I’m currently writing the next Raven & Wren book, and it’s a bit different from anything I’ve written in the series yet. It’s been a fun challenge! After that, I’ll be back to romance, to the Rogue Rules series, and I’m excited to dive into a secret identity story. Those are my absolute favorite! As of this writing, I’m looking forward to several weekends of travel for concerts and weddings, culminating in a writing retreat with one of my author besties. Should be an excellent conclusion to summer!
