The Bookshop Detectives by Gareth & Louise Ward

Step into the charming world of The Bookshop Detective with Chelle and Leanne as they chat with authors (and real-life couple) Louise and Gareth Ward — owners of Wardini Books in New Zealand and the creative minds behind the Tea and Cake and Death series. Blending their backgrounds as former UK police officers with their love of storytelling, they've created a cozy crime world where mystery meets heart, humour, and a touch of small-town chaos.

In this episode, they share the real-life inspiration behind their beloved characters Garth, Eloise, and Stevie the dog, how their bookshop community became part of their fictional world, and what it's really like to write crime fiction with your spouse.

You'll hear:

• How policing inspired their approach to plotting, clues, and keeping readers guessing

• The origins of their real-life Battle of the Book Clubs (and how it became a key scene in the books)

• Why cozy crime strikes the perfect balance between danger and delight

• What it's like to co-write a novel — chapter by chapter — without losing your marriage (or your sense of humour)

• The joy and chaos of running an independent bookshop that feels like family

Discussion prompt:
If you could set a cozy crime story anywhere, where would it be — and who would your unlikely detective be? Tell us on Instagram or in the book club!