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Kathleen is the author of the Brenna Wickham Haunted Mystery series, contemporary murder mysteries with a paranormal twist and a hint of romantic suspense.
Kathleen was born in a small town in Iowa from a long line of stubborn Swedes. Her maternal grandfather was the pastor of a small rural church built by Swedish immigrants. When Kathleen was five years old, her family moved to Seattle and settled in a suburb just north of town.
Kathleen met the love of her life in high school. They married and built a house on acreage in a rural community east of Seattle near the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. There, they raised three beautiful, talented daughters, as well as a passel of animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, goats, and horses.
She has had varied work experience, from insurance claims assistant to school bus driver. She likes to sew quilts and make beaded jewelry. A true denizen of the Pacific Northwest, Kathleen loves deep blue water, tall green trees, and the Seattle Seahawks. On nice days, she can often be found with her husband on their boat cruising the San Juan Islands.
An avid book lover since childhood, she has read all manner of books, including every animal story ever written, a wide range of classics, plus science fiction and fantasy. But it was the enduring works of the great Gothic romantic suspense novelists that finally convinced her that those were the kinds of books she wanted to write.
Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite
Families and Felons by Kathleen J Easley begins when the main character Brenna is given an old rotary dial telephone. She sees it as just an interesting antique but it takes on a more sinister role when it rings. The indistinct voice at the other end appears to be the voice of her friend’s recently departed father. His death was said to be an accident while fishing in his canoe on the lake. But this does not make sense, and Brenna receives further proof it was murder after she attends a séance. Several suspicious candidates might fit the bill for the crime, but how can she prove who murdered him? This book is one in the Brenna Wickham Haunted Mystery series featuring Brenna, and, as in earlier stories, her ability to connect with the supernatural is the focal point.
Families and Felons by Kathleen J Easley is a light and easy read in the cozy mystery genre. It flows seamlessly, keeps the reader guessing, and the characters are easy to connect with. I liked Brenna, the heroine, who acted sensibly while thinking out of the box. The heroine can connect with ghosts, yet is aware that this may well encourage other people to think she is crazy. Her explanations for circumventing the many questions she gets asked about her knowledge of the murder are quite clever. She manages to reply without mentioning the supernatural. There is very little violence, and no swearing; just a good, clean read. I enjoyed this book which is well deserving of five stars!
