TG Wolff – TG Wolff

Book Review: The Weight of Regret

May 20, 2026TG Wolff

The Weight of Regret is a PI Mystery. Against his better judgement, Steve Rockfish attends his 40^th high school reunion. But the past holds more bad memories than good, more adversaries than friends, and more regrets than delights. Somewhere deep within the folds of time, a murderer lurks and the blast from the past is painted blood red. Now on the case, Rockfish hunts for a killer, while the killer hunts for Rockfish.

Bottom line: The Weight of Regret is for you if you like stories of unforeseen consequences

An excerpt of the scene that opens it up is available on Mysteries to Die For at https://m2d4podcast.com/toe-tags-2/

Some time ago, I had a conversation with David Housewright (Mac McKenzie series) about mysteries as literature that documents the modern experience. Having gone back and recently read “The Maltese Falcon”, “Kiss Me, Deadly” and others from the first half of the 20^th century, there is no doubt that well crafted mysteries tell the stories of day-to-day habits, technology, and political climates without talking directly about any of these. The Weight of Regret, as well as the others in this series, does exactly that.

On the surface, we have a good, old fashioned murder mystery with a financial scam side story. Beneath, though, are modern themes of elder fraud, mental health, and the unintended consequences of trying to be one of the crowd. It is especially poignant reading it in May, which is mental health month where one of the priorities is destigmatizing a common affliction.

Steve Rockfish and his partner Jawnie McGee are joined by retired Baltimore police captain Dan Decker to investigate a vicious murder during Steve’s high school reunion, the phishing scheme that left a little old lady $30k poorer, and consulting on security readiness for a high tech company. The addition of a third partner, and thus third storyteller, adds bulk and depth to the story, expanding the dynamic from the prior books.

My favorite aspect of The Weight of Regret is the pacing. The different storytellers, multiply storylines, and depth to which the characters are invested combined to make this a page turner.

Series lovers, this one is ready for you. The Weight of Regret is the 4^th and final book in the Rockfish and McGee series. I have read most of them and do recommend beginning with book one. The cases are separate, but the character origins are such a large part of the magic of the series that to miss a little is to miss a lot.

Legal Mysteries that Lead with Heart

April 22, 2026TG Wolff

Today is a quiet celebration of over 9 months of work. GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION, the 2nd book in the Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries, released today from Tule Publishing. The reviews on Book 1 MURDER ON SITE have validated by storytelling style – mysteries that focus on the solving backed by often funny, sometimes challenging drama that is our lives. I was skeptical when my publisher wanted to position these stories as legal mysteries. Yes, one of my lead characters is a lawyer. Yes, the mysteries connect to a legal theme. But, they do not involve courtrooms. There are no arguement. And, importantly, they have a different feel than most “legal” stories. That worried me.

It turns out, that “different” is what readers like most. Below are some excerpts of reviews for MURDER ON SITE…

‘Murder on Site reminded me exactly why I love TG Wolff’s writing. She gives you a smart, twisty whodunit wrapped in sharp banter, political pressure, and family chaos, and somehow still makes room for laugh out loud moments when you need them most.’ – Hott Books | https://pictbooks.tours/jpXAIekY

‘What an absolute delight it is to read Murder on Site, the series starter of the Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries. Perfect pacing, memorable characters, and liberal doses of danger and deception — and humor — will keep readers thoroughly entertained and engaged. Highly recommend.’ – Hall Ways Blog | https://pictbooks.tours/QvKQWdrj

‘Great characters and an intriguing murder mystery land this book on my list of top books of the year! While the subject, a tragic murder, is serious, the author works quite a bit of humor into the story through dialogue. I happily read this book in one sitting, riveted by its pages.’ – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read | https://pictbooks.tours/cc6fvey9

When writing stories, I get so caught up in my imagination that I’m never certain how they will resonate with readers. I want them to have as much fun reading them as I did crafting it. I know not everyone will … but some will. And that’s enough.

And the cover art is amazing. I see posters in my future 🙂

Read on!

STCKY: Hypothermia

April 20, 2026TG Wolff

With the days finally getting longer, it may seem to be the wrong time to think about freezing to death … but I’m getting ready to kill someone (fictionally speaking) for Mysteries to Die For and my weapon of choice is cold. So join me for a writerly dive into research on hypothermia.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hypothermia occurs when body temperatures drop from our 98.6 to below 95 degrees F. Yep, only 3 degrees separate us from popsicles.

Design flaw??

At the lower temperature, we aren’t quite freezer ready, but we are at a point where we lose heat faster than we can generate it. Our bodies can’t work right, especially important parts like our hearts and lungs. The colder we get, the more we have symptoms like:

Shivering – A GOOD THING. THIS IS TRYING TO WARM US
Slow, shallow breathing.
Weak pulse.
Clumsiness or lack of coordination.
Slurred speech or mumbling.
Drowsiness or very low energy.
Confusion or memory loss.
Loss of consciousness.

In 2023, over 1,000 people died from hypothermia, according to the CDC. The majority of deaths occurred in December, January, February, and March. But there were cold related deaths reported in all months. Hypothermia can happen in temperatures well above freezing, especially if you are wet like from rain, sweat, or falling in a lake. Afterall, we aren’t otters with there famously dense fur that keeps then roasty toasty.

Alcohol adds an interesting wrinkle. While it gives us a warm feeling inside, it is causing blood vessels to expand. As a result, the surface of the skin loses heat more rapidly. Alcohol also reduces the body’s natural shivering response, one of the defense mechanisms built in to warm us back up.

So even though temperatures are warming, pay attention for those clues that say you’re getting too cold. Because hypothermia is something absolutely out to kill you.

Stay warm 🙂 But not too warm. That can kill you too. 😦

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352682

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7406a6.htm

Book Review: The Chocolatier’s Curse

March 8, 2026TG Wolff

The Chocolatier’s Curse by Christopher Seto is a PI mystery.

Criminology grad student Theo Chan needs a summer job. He answers a posting from the offices of Primrose Ghaust-Lee and Philip Teebin, he gets more than he could imagine when the private investigators accept a job to investigate the strange happenings at Clumindell Chocolate and Confectionery Company. Years ago, a maintenance worker died—whether it was an accident or suicide is still debated. Since her death, the Clumindell’s mascot clown has been sighted on the campus, which are then followed by injuries to an employee. Now Theo is helping Primrose and Teebin unmask a clown who may also be a killer.

Bottom line: The Chocolatier’s Curse is for you if you like murder mysteries with imaginative, fantastical characters and setting.

The story of The Chocolatier’s Curse is the imaginative premise. A little bit Willy Wonka, a sprinkling of Psych and you have the investigation of Clumindell Chocolate and Confectionery Company. The story is told by Theo Chan, hired to act as an assistant to the elderly detectives. He is the straight man who always feels one step behind his eccentric employers and is figuring out the mystery along with us. Primrose Ghaust-Lee has advanced macular degeneration. While her mind is sharp, her sight is poor. Philip Teebin is a ball of chaotic energy who excels at endearing himself to the people he wants information from. This is a highly intelligent and entertaining detective trio.

The case is initiated by Gillian Clumindell, who is dying from a heart condition. Before he heads to the big candy shop in the sky, he wants an answer to the “haunting” of his chocolate company by their clown mascot and the consequent injuries to employees. Ian Clumindell is Gillian’s grumpy older brother and business partner who does not want anything investigated. Each employee of the chocolate company and person in the town of Blue Frog, PA are quirky and individual.

Theo is our narrator, and he is reliable; we do know everything he knows. There are times when Primrose or Phillip do not share knowledge with Theo, which makes this a follow-along mystery for us readers (and for Theo too.) The logic of the overall story holds up after all the threads are unraveled. For a light-hearted and, at times, playful mystery, it is not simple.

This is Christopher Seto’s debut novel. It is an excellent first book with well developed characters, well timed humor, well-constructed mystery, and plenty to smile about. This is the first case for the offices Ghaust-Lee and Teebin. Their second case, The Vanishing Stone, comes to TBR piles on April 8.

Book Review: Zigzag Girl

February 28, 2026February 26, 2026TG Wolff

Zigzag Girl is mystery suspense.

It’s opening night for Magician Lucy Moon and her partners Van and Stormie, who are as close as sisters. Amid the bright lights and sparkle of illusion, murder lurks. Performing the sawing a woman illusion, Lucy lifts the lid to enter, when she finds the space is already taken. Her best friend, a black rose, a prop that has killed before—no, Lucy is not going to leave this one to the cops.

Bottom line: Zigzag Girl is for you if you like your illusions, suspense, mystery twisted together with a sprinkling of Irish magic.

Listen to the first chapter and full review on Mysteries to Die For Toe Tag

The strength of Zigzag Girl is the storytelling. From the first pages, Lucy Moon captures us with the depth of her personality, skills, and charm. She leads us through the active investigation into the death of her best friend and fellow magician and through a 1940s cold case that was closed with the wrong man being blamed. The interwoven elements of illusion, Irish magic, mystery, and suspense make this genre crosser nearly impossible to put down.

Usually, I would give more of a synopsis here, but back-of-the-book summary is intentionally scant. I see why. This is a book best experienced for yourself.

Zigzag girl will most appeal to readers who enjoy crossing genres. It is not pure mystery although there are mystery elements. It is not pure suspense, although it is suspenseful. It is not pure thriller, although the set up is thrilling.

My only criticism is a reflection on me as a reader. The story does go back and forth in time, which always is challenging for me to put events in order they happened. There were parts where I had to put my faith in Setton that the characters and actions were knitted together.

Zigzag Girl was highly entertaining and the pages flew by. The book releases March 3^rd and absolutely belongs on pre-order and TBR stacks.

The Zigzag Girl was released from Black Spring Crim and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.

About Ruth Knafo Setton

Born in Morocco and raised in the Lehigh Valley, Ruth Knafo Setton is the author of the novel, The Road to Fez (Counterpoint Press). Her honors include awards and fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, PEN, CineStory, Nimrod, Cutthroat, Writer’s Digest, and residencies at Hedgebrook, Yaddo, MacDowell, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She is a multi-genre author whose fiction, creative nonfiction, screenplays, and poetry have won many awards and appeared in journals and anthologies. A former Fiction Editor of Arts & Letters, she has taught Creative Writing and Multicultural Literature at Lehigh University and on Semester at Sea.

RuthSetton.com

Book Review: Bait the Devil

February 26, 2026TG Wolff

Bait the Devilis a PI Thriller.

Dot Ybarra and T.J. Roman earned their reputations for playing hard on the battlefield. Their special skills translated well to bounty hunting and private investigating. Those skills will be needed as a simple favor to investigate a fellow veteran who no-showed a court date turns into a wasp’s nest of violent human traffickers. The only way to solve this problem is to bait the devil out of hell.

Bottom line: Bait the Devil is for you if you like fast-paced, physical thrills with a gripping plot that pulls you in and keeps you.

The strength of the story is found in the lead character, Dot Ybarra. She is a physically fit, mentally strong lead who does things her own way. She takes command of this story and drives it to its end. I liked and respected Dot in the hero role.

The supporting cast are good compliments to Dot. T.J. Roman is her equally and could carry a book himself. Yet having two strong characters are partners doesn’t cause a problem—they chose to go the same way. Dot’s lawyer cousin and her ranching family provide the stability and resources Dot needs to get the job done.

The plot was well developed. It’s not giving away spoilers to say the bad guys are human traffickers (it says it on the back cover), because it’s impossible to guess how Dot and T.J. get from a missing veteran to human behavior at its worse. You keep turning the pages, cheering the pair on.

The logic of this one holds up well. For Dot and T.J., it’s a linear story, discovering and then following the trail of breadcrumbs. The bad guys logic holds too. And when their paths cross, worlds truly collide.

Bait the Devil will be a favorite for lovers of hard-core thrillers and gun toting PI detectives. This is the 2^nd book in the Bounty of Shadows series—I did not read the first. From what I surmise, Book 1 was an origin story for the partners. References were explained well enough that I felt in the know. Starting with Book 1: RIDE A DARK TRAIL, is a nice-to-have, in my opinion, but not a requirement. You can jump in right here.

MEET Winter Austin

A lifelong Mid-West gal with strong ties to the agriculture world, Winter grew up listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around a table or a campfire. As a published author, she learned her glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller writer. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers.

When she’s not slaving away at the computer, you can find Winter supporting her daughter in cattle shows, seeing her three sons off into the wide-wide world, loving on her fur babies, prodding her teacher husband, and nagging at her flock of hens to stay in the coop or the dogs will get them.

AuthorWinterAustin.com

27th Letter of the Alphabet

January 31, 2026TG Wolff

My wandering mind recently wondered…how many words were in the English language. The answer, like so many, is … it depends. If you count every technical and archaic word, the number is around 600,000 according to co-pilot. The number in use is more like 200,000-300,000 with individuals using about 10% of that. (I’m pretty sure I don’t know 20,000 words, but we’ll go with it). So then I asked, “Hey AI, using 200,000 as the number of commonly used words in modern English, how many words could be added if a 27-letter alphabet was used?”

Now, I’m not buying either answer literally. BUT, adding a 27th letter opens up mind blowing possibilities. Maybe it can solve problems like having too many to’s. It makes you think.

Book Review: The Case of the Body on the Orient Express

January 28, 2026TG Wolff

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is an amateur detective mystery.

Paris 1928. Eliza Baker, the secretary to the secretary of the Detection Club, finds herself on the fabulous Orient Express en route to Istabul and a writer’s conference. With her is her boss, Dorothy L. Sayers, and fellow Detection Club founding member Agatha Christie. Fellow passengers include acquaintances of Dorothy’s, one of whom dies in the elegant dining car. Reunited with Theo Sharp, Eliza investigates the case that threatens to embroil her employer in accusations, scandal, and charges of murder.

Bottom line: The Case of the Body on the Orient Express is for you if you like the style of the golden-age of mysteries with your favorite authors as featured characters.

One of the many strengths of THE CASE OF THE BODY ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is the way in which Oliver crafts full, multi-dimensional characters of Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. History often simplifies the complexity of real personalities, boiling people down to one or two trait—he was gruff, she was talkative. Oliver did not take short cuts, going far beyond simple paper cut-outs to delight us with warm, intelligent, and flawed characters. From heartache to shame, from amusement to joy, Christie’s and Sayers’ far from perfect lives make them eminently relatable.

In the Author’s Note, Oliver gives us a peak into her research at the Wade Center at Wheaton College where Dorothy L. Sayer’s archives are held. Beyond the obvious effort Oliver put into her research, her real achievement is how she was able to digest the information and, like silk, weave it into a fabric that is strong and yet delicate.

While I obviously do love the characters of Sayer and Christie, Eliza is the star of this show. At 29, she is unfashionably single and under employed. She has extra ordinary skills from her work during the war and a brief stint with Scotland Yard. She is smart and courageous, which are sometimes at odds as she will charge into situations less than fully prepared. Eliza is a fun detective to watch—while you may not know what she’ll do next, you can be sure it will not be what’s expected of her.

Theo Sharp is the son of an earl, trying to decide what his life will be. In this book, he and his friend Eric Blair, who will become the famed writer George Orwell, are working odd jobs through France, experiencing the life of the working poor, when they take positions are stewards on the Orient Express. Theo, already besotted with Eliza, becomes her side kick and confident. With his position, he gives Eliza easier access to the various cars and cabins than she would otherwise have. There is an attraction between the two that has the otherwise sharp and capable characters fumbling in the dark without a clue.

The portrayal of travel on the train is worth the read alone. The description of the décor and the dress are a step back in time. I found the peaks into the working sections of the train, such as the kitchen and dining cars, particularly interesting for their novelty.

Without giving spoilers, the logic of the mysteries … was complicated. Some elements were fully resolved and stood the test of “looking for the back.” Other elements were not fully contained within the book, hopefully setting up for a satisfying Book 3, but leaving me wanting a bit more.

This is the second book in the Detection Club Mystery. While the mystery itself is independent, in my opinion, it is best to start with Book 1 “The Case of the Christie Conspiracy” for Eliza and the Detection Club’s origin.

WMW: Seasonally Toxic Fish

January 17, 2026TG Wolff

You know how you’ll be somewhere listening and your wandering mind wanders until everything sounds like blah blah blah—then something sneaks in that rips your attention from wander to wonder?

That was me, on a tour in the beautiful setting of Roatan Island, Honduras. The sights out the windows distracted me until I was only half listing to our guide. “Biggest industries blah blah blah fishing blah blah blah seasonally toxic fish—”

My wandering mind wondered … exactly how does this work …

As many fishermen, fish connoisseurs, and people who live in affect areas know (but this land-based city girl did not) seasonal toxicity has nothing to do with fish conspiracies and flip calendars. Many species of fish are poisonous only during certain times of year. These times may coincide with our calendars but reflect temporary changes affecting the production or accumulation of toxins within the fish.

Why do good fish go toxic? Consumption of toxic algal blooms. Increases in water temperature. Reproductive cycles (talk about PMSing). Geographic location influences.

My wandering mind went down a fascinating and terrifying rabbit hole. Not-so-fun facts from Your Fish Guide.com…

The toxin in Puffer Fish, tetrodotoxin, is a neurotoxin 1,200x more potent than cyanide
Ciguatera poisoning from reef fish affects an estimated 50,000 people annually
Stone Fish are the most venomous with a deadly neurotoxin in the spines

Nature once again rates as TOTALLY FASCINATING. I just may have found the weapon to use in my short story for Mysteries to Die For. Was it murder … or just bad timing …mwahhhh.

To learn more about normally and seasonally toxic fish, check out the two resources that preoccupied me for a good hour: Your Fish Guide.com and the Food Safety Institute

#WanderingMindsWonder

*AI was used in the creation of this image.

Book Review: The Rodeo Cowboy’s Redemption

January 14, 2026TG Wolff

The Rodeo Cowboy’s Redemption is a sweet romance. Rhett Foster has been a rodeo cowboy most of his life. His recent retirement, prompted by needing to care of his recovering father, isn’t a comfortable glove to wear. Especially when he is pining for the untouchable—his best friend’s sister. Nora Miles wants something more out of life than a career on her family’s ranch. Now that a certain cowboy’s come back to town, she can get out of it fast enough. Because the more she’s around him, the more tempted she is to give him another chance … and her heart just might not survive that.

Bottom line: The Rodeo Cowboy’s Redemption is for you if you like sweet romances with heroes you can cheer for.

This is the third story in Jacobs’ Miles of Montana series. Nora Miles, the middle child, has watched her older and younger brothers pair off but has no illusions Fate will be as kind to her. She hadn’t always thought so. Just last year, her life long friendship with Rhett Foster sparked—which he squelched by ghosting her. Focusing now on her career, she wants to move to Boseman and get back into the design work that was were passion in college. All she has to do is win a magazine contest for her lodge renovation project. How hard could that be?

Jacobs excels at creating warm, welcoming spaces and inviting the reader in. In this series, it’s the Flying J ranch in Marietta, Montana and four generations of Miles’s. Grandparents Eli and Sunnike, parents Teddy and Daisy, children Sam, Nora, and Jaxon, and grandchild Madison are the perfectly nosy, messy, and loving family we all want to be a part of.

In Nora and Rhett, we have two capable and successful people who are adorably incompetent at connecting with the one person that matters most—the other person. Rhett is trapped behind the 10-ft thick wall of “best friend’s sister”, not realizing there’s a door in the wall. Nora is wrapped in the heartache of being ghosted, she doesn’t tug the conversation string that could free her. This friends-to-lovers story is funny and charming.

This romance is in the sweet range, at two chili peppers. All of the fun happens behind closed doors or under covers, but there’s plenty of romance and heave petting to spark the imagination.

This is the 3^rd book of the series. While the story is stand-alone, the characters are not. To maximize your reading pleasure, I recommend you start with Book 1: Choosing the Montana Cowboy (Sam’s story), and then Book 2: The Cowboy’s Christmas Truce (Jaxon’s story).

I read an ARC. This cowboy is releasing Feb 24 and is available on pre-order. Books 1 and 2 are currently available.

Happy reading, sweethearts.