Susan Bernhardt

Susan's town in northern Wisconsin was an inspiration for the quaint setting of her Kay Driscoll novels. Like Kay Driscoll in her cozy mysteries, Susan is a retired nurse who volunteers at her local free clinic. She also writes the Irina Curtius mysteries. She lives with her husband, William, and has two sons, Peter and David.

An avid reader of mysteries, she is a member of Sisters in Crime, Inc. and the Wisconsin Writers Association.

Her published works include: A Manhattan Murder Mystery (An Irina Curtius Mystery), Dress to Kill (An Irina Curtius Mystery), The Ginseng Conspiracy (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 1), Murder Under the Tree (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 2), Murder by Fireworks (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 3), Paradise Can Be Murder (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 4), Murder Misunderstood (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 5). "October 31st", "Midsummer", and "John and Madeline."

When not writing, Susan loves to travel, bicycle, kayak, and create culinary magic in her kitchen. She works in stained-glass, daydreams in her organic garden, stays up late reading mysteries, and eats lots of chocolate.

The Kay Driscoll Mysteries - Cozies For All Seasons

"As a rule, Cozies revolve around multiple murders in a small community, a likable amateur sleuth, and often food. In the Kay Driscoll series, Bernhardt fulfills our cozy expectations and adds a few refreshing touches. The murders in the fictionalized community of Sudbury Falls multiply at an alarming rate. Kay Driscoll as the sleuth is immensely appealing because, like every character in Bernhardt's book, she's multi-dimensional. She's sweet, tough, vulnerable and reckless in her sense of justice. When Kay's husband begs her to walk away from the investigation because her life is in danger, indomitable Kay refuses to stop. She continues her pursuit of the truth and we root for her every inch of the way, holding our breath whenever she puts herself in harm's way.

With support from two of her friends (Elizabeth, a liberated woman who's never met a man she didn't like, and Deirdre, the quintessential spiritualist concerned with good karma and a balanced environment with the help of feng shui), Kay throws herself wholeheartedly into uncovering the truth, using Sweet Marissa's Patisserie as headquarters for their crime-solving efforts. As the investigation gets under way, Kay and friends encounter a city-wide corruption involving some of the best families in town as well as government officials.

By featuring Sweet Marissa's Patisserie as Kay's crime-solving headquarters, Bernhardt does more than continue a tradition of presenting some of the action in a cozy around the consumption of food. She turns the locale in its mouth-watering splendor into another character in the story. Bernhardt shows great expertise not only in her characterizations and descriptions but also in maintaining tension in dialogues and keeping the tension strong from one scene to the next.

Bernhardt has mastered the art of the cozy, providing plenty of red herrings and plot twists to keep our interest throughout. For this reader, a refreshing and most welcome touch was Bernhardt's use of art and music in the narrative. During a visit Kay pays to a local museum, the author's adroit pen turns us into museum goers looking over Kay's shoulders as she views the works of the masters. With equal expertise, Bernhardt drops us into the audience when Kay attends a music gig by her husband's band; the music resonates through and off the pages.

With such a successful foray into the genre, one can only expect many more Kay Driscoll adventures by Susan Bernhardt in the future. Bravo, Bernhardt. Long live cozies!"

- lmpartin

The Irina Curtius Mysteries -

"Life in Manhattan comes alive for the mature adults in this cozy mystery. With carefully crafted characters and setting, we immerse ourselves in the life of a retired ballet dancer turned teacher. Her world is turned upside down by the return of an old love and the death of a friend. Challenged to see justice done, she takes on the role of sleuth in this clever and satisfying read." - Ellis Nelson, Author

"I love the “cozy feel” of the worlds Susan Bernhardt creates. She welcomes you into the story with a refined finesse only a talented writer can conjure, and doesn’t let you leave until all the pieces of the mystery fit together. Her characters come to life and the plot line is intriguing." - Jo-Ann Carson, Author

"While reading this book, I felt like I was watching a classic murder mystery movie. It reminded of the classic Alfred Hitchcock movies that I always love watching. All of the plot lines are expertly woven together and so detailed that it is hard to catch your breath when reading this book." - Mary Brown, MJB Reviewers

"Susan deftly weaves her suspenseful story within the confines of the Brownstone, giving the reader a deliciously voyeuristic peek into the lives of its tenants." - Margaret Mendel, Kings River Life Magazine

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"The Irina Curtius Mysteries are like a love letter to this great city and it's obvious that the author respects New Yorkers and how we live here." - Sharon A. Katz, Sleuth Cafe