Kathryn Crabtree
Author
Celebrating women of a certain age — invisible to many, who use deductive reasoning to solve mysteries. The bad guys never see them coming.
The Mystery of the Smoldering Mattress
Nancy Drouillard, a retired lawyer, had hoped that a position as a guardian ad litem attorney, providing a voice for those who are unable to represent themselves, would reignite her passion for her profession. She lost her husband two years ago and was ready to re-engage in life again. However, the law firm attorney she spoke with rejected her application as if her “used by date” had expired.
She is frustrated and angry when she arrives at her 55+ community to find her friend, Hilda, dead. The death-at-home detective, Nancy’s former son-in-law, said it appears that smoke inhalation was the cause. Nancy is skeptical, Hilda never smoked in her condo, let alone in her bed. How could she be found on her scorched mattress topper? Who would want Hilda dead?
Would Hilda’s daughter know something about her death? Was the large sum of money missing from Hilda’s account a clue? Would the man who threatened Nancy know why Hilda died? Could it be murder? Would finding answers to these questions and justice for Hilda restore Nancy’s sense of purpose? Reflecting on her childhood role model, Nancy Drew, she decides to investigate herself.
After all, she was named after the girl detective. Armed with a lifetime of reading Nancy Drew mysteries and her own ingenuity and deductive reasoning, intrepid Nancy Drouillard was determined to solve this mystery.
Kathryn Crabtree Bio
Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, Kathyrn Crabtree wanted two things: to write and to be Nancy Drew, a fearless, curious, and smart girl detective. While Nancy Drew’s family supported her independence and sleuthing skills, Crabtree’s parents discouraged her from a writing career, convincing her to focus on something more practical.
As a result, Crabtree pursued nursing while authoring a humor column for a local newspaper and articles for nursing journals. Nancy Drew’s problem-solving skills continued to inspire Crabtree, who started a nurse aide training center, which evolved into a Homecare Agency that she operated for 20 years before moving to Portland, Oregon. Her Doctorate in Nursing Education degree provided Crabtree the opportunity to teach nursing students at a local university.
Retired from teaching, Crabtree writes human interest pieces for her neighborhood paper while devising adventures for her Nancy Drew-inspired amateur sleuth, Nancy Drouillard, Crabtree’s older and wiser investigator.
The Mystery of the Smoldering Mattress is the first in a series of Nancy Drouillard Mysteries where a woman of a certain age, often invisible to many, finds it as an advantage. The bad guys never see her coming.
Casper, the friendly doodle, is joining me in my writing adventures. Her biggest asset is her ability to listen, cocking her head at my discussions related to motive, means, and opportunity.
Newsletter
Follow us in our Newsletter as we help Nancy Drouillard use her wits to unravel her mysteries. Sometimes, Casper and I share our take on the mysteries of life, too.
Author -Kathryn Crabtree 