• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • If You Like…
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • New & Coming
Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

I’m Thrilled to Share this Historical Mystery and Its Brilliant Author

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

Mystery lovers will want to grab this mystery by debut fiction (but not nonfiction!) author, Patricia Raybon. Riveting! via @chautonahavig

Weaving a cold case, the KKK, and a love of Sherlock Holmes in 1920s Denver, Patricia Raybon has burst onto the Christian fiction scene to rave reviews and accolades.

We chat about how bestselling author, Patricia Raybon, got started in writing fiction after seven devotional books. Patricia shares her favorite mystery authors after discussing how life influences story and how story instructs about life.

Patricia Raybon

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

I’m Thrilled to Share this Historical Mystery and Its Brilliant Author

Nothing delights me more than a good mystery–one that keeps me on my toes and especially one that teaches me something.  Well, even before I begin this one, I’ve learned something from Patricia Raybon.  Who could have imagined that 1/3 of the men in 1920s Denver were members of the KKK?

Ugh.

Former faculty at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Patricia Raybon is the perfect person to write about a young Black theologian at a small college in 1920s Chicago. Add to that her personal love of Sherlock Holmes and other classic and Golden Age mysteries, and how could Patricia not have written a brilliant book?

I was thrilled to discover that this is not just a stand-alone mystery but a (so far… crossing fingers and sending up prayers) three-book series. THREE Books!  (I’m begging Tyndale for five. Just sayin’…)

Furthermore, it’s available on audio. For those who are picky about their narrators, keep listening past the opening of the sample. Trust me. It gets better. That’s how I’m reading it.  Squee!

Patricia Raybon has also written an article on content in fiction such as language and smut.  Much like the one I wrote a while back.

Patricia Raybon All that Is SecretAll That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon

From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle confronting the hidden secrets of class, race, family, and love.

Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father’s murder?

In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain—a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college—receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.

For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee’s heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.

With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver’s powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim too.

You can find out more about Patricia on her WEBSITE.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!

 

Share
Pin
Post
Email
Share
Pin
Post
Email

Filed Under: Because Fiction Podcast

Previous Post: « What Does My Dream Island Vacation Have to Do with a New Book?
Next Post: What Happens When You Mix Fascinating History & Mystery? Great Books! »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
byChautona Havig

A chilling read from Chris Underwood… literally. What happens if you’re in the Midwest in winter and the power goes out? Listen in as I chat with Chris Underwood about his Cold Winter series.

Content warning: While these books do have characters who are Christians and live their faith, the first book (not sure about the rest) does include a few instances of foul language in the first few chapters. I’m switching from audio to print to finish.

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Talking about all the research he did for this series was a blast. I loved hearing about his travels with the crew and the prepper side–everything.

The Cold Winter Grid-Down Series by Chris Underwood

The Cold Winter Series begins with a power grid failure at Niagara Falls three days before Christmas, as a snowstorm approaches.

Welcome to The Cold Winter. It follows a group of families in Central Ohio who want to help stranded motorists who end up on their porch. Even when doing the right thing doesn’t work out, they keep on trying. There is a sense of morality and faith as the emergency continues to worsen.

In the second book, they learn that the power outage is an attack on the nation, and join a civilian minuteman militia to fight back.

The third book of the series ramps up the action and features the first major battles of the minutemen militia. Since modern machinery cannot be trusted, vintage military equipment is utilized by the militia, such as a Huey Helicopter and a WWII Landing Ship, the LST-325.

This ship is an actual floating museum on the Ohio River and is used by this militia to go upstream to rescue a VIP and bring him to safety. River locks are liberated from the enemy, and a dramatic battle is staged on Wheeling Island, where the landing ship performs much as it did on D-Day in Normandy: Landing aground with troops and equipment pouring out the front for battle!

The fourth installment of the series introduces more vintage equipment, including a Cobra Attack Helicopter and a P-47 Thunderbolt, to fight modern naval ships in an effort to liberate the Niagara Falls power station from the enemy.

Even the WWII Destroyer, USS The Sullivans, in its current engineless state at the Buffalo Naval Museum, is somehow used in the battle! It’s an epic showdown of antique airpower against modern naval might!

Learn more on Chris’s WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • YouTube
  • and more!
Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
June 20, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 552: A Chat with Laura Ashwood
June 17, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 551: A Chat wth Kayla E. Green
June 15, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 550: A Chat with Joan Lovestrand Farley
June 13, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 549: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
June 8, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 548: A Chat with Sarah Heatwole
June 6, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 547: A Chat with Terri McAdoo
June 1, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 546: A Chat with Chuck Richardson
May 30, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 545: A Chat with Gina Holder
May 25, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 544: A Chat with Nicholas Teeguarden
May 23, 2026
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Featured Books

Take Cover

Take Cover

CrossWords

CrossWords

Be My Inspiration

Be My Inspiration

Upcoming Posts

Sorry - nothing planned yet!

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • So, There Was That Time I Forgot What I Knew…
  • “Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say” Ain’t No Lie
  • Why Romance Is a Hairy Proposition (or is that proposal?)

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
Yeah. It's a thing. Which is weird because I rarel Yeah. It's a thing. Which is weird because I rarely call a book by its title.  Past Forward is "Willow." Ready or Not (and the rest) are all "Aggie" (I add 1, 2, 3, 4 etc). None So Blind is "Ella."
The New Cheltenham books are all whatever word changes that year.  So I'll talk about "Stars" or "Ghosts" or "Bells." But if I don't have a title I could put on the cover of the book (even if it changes--rarely but it happens--) I can't even write the first sentence.  It's dericulous.  Um... Ridiculous. Same smell.
Grammar wise, I'd say it's my stupid habit of not bothering to add question marks at the ends of questions.  My poor editors.  I THINK it's because I get interrupted in the middle of the sentence, come back, and forget it was supposed to be a question.  Dont' quote (or question) me on that, though.
If you have a question you want me to answer, leave it in the comments OR... zip me an email at chautona@chautona.com.  I'll try to work them in (and will probably combine those that are really similar.
#AuthorLife
#WriterLife
#AuthorsOfInstagram
#CharacterDevelopment
#AmWriting
Reposted from @janelleleonard.author It's time for Reposted from @janelleleonard.author It's time for another WhiteCrown cover reveal!!! The Promise of a Princess, the third and final book in the Royals of Andelar series by Joy Crain, releases November 2026 and is available for preorder now. 
*
Princess Genevieve’s life seems like a dream. She has a loving family, a devoted fiancé, and a future set in stone. But beneath the perfection lies a secret she has guarded for years, one that could shatter everything if it were ever revealed. When an ancient doctrine resurfaces and threatens the very foundation of the monarchy, Genevieve is forced to face a choice that will cost her more than she ever imagined.

DePeaux men love for life. They only ever give their heart away once. Julian knows his father’s oft-quoted words to be true, because his heart belongs to a woman too. A woman who long ago stole his heart, captured beneath the oak tree as they painted and grew up together. But he can never have her. Because another man’s ring lies on her finger.

With time running out and the truth impossible to ignore, Genevieve and Julian are drawn together in ways that challenge everything they have ever believed. In a world bound by tradition and expectation, they must decide if love is worth the risk of losing their future, their duty, and each other.

Preorder your copy today!

#thepromiseofaprincess #joycrainauthor #theroyalsofandelar #coverreveal #whitecrownpublishing
Love flawed characters, redemption, and free books Love flawed characters, redemption, and free books? Well... gotcha covered. Through June 18th, anyway. OR, read Not a Word "free" on Kindle Unlimited anytime (but now's a great time. Just sayin'). One of my favorite books, I LOVED this story so much.
#ChristFic
#KindleFree
#KindleUnlimited
https://amzn.to/44cIwqC (#affiliatelink)
First time in my life I can say that I'm excited f First time in my life I can say that I'm excited for McDonald's. 
#AmHungry
#Ribete
I have a theory and would love to test it. If you' I have a theory and would love to test it. If you'd be willing to help, I'd so appreciate it. So... Which of my characters (you can do more than one if you like, I'm just trying to get a feel for things) is your favorite... and why?
#AmWriting
#ChristFic
#AuthorLife
Reposted from @catheswanson Charlea Evans thought Reposted from @catheswanson Charlea Evans thought she had finally put her unconventional past behind her.

Now a widow with a college-age daughter and a promising new career within reach, she's worked hard to build a respectable life far removed from Serenity Hill—the quirky former commune where her free-spirited mother still lives. But when a devastating house fire destroys her home and everything she owns, Charlea finds herself with nowhere else to turn.

Reluctantly, she returns to the farm she thought she'd escaped forever, trading independence for her childhood bedroom, milking goats, tending chickens, and counting the days until she can afford a place of her own. Then an accident lands her mother in the hospital, leaving Charlea responsible for managing the property and overseeing an ambitious new venture.
Her mother and daughter have plans of their own. Big plans. Plans to transform Serenity Hill into a seasonal market and destination for workshops, events, and community gatherings. Helping bring the vision to life is Drew Wallace—the man who stole her heart on a single unforgettable date fifteen years ago.

As she works to keep the project moving forward, Charlea finds herself confronting old hurts, long-held assumptions, and the family history she's spent years trying to leave behind. With old dreams awakening and new possibilities taking root, she begins to wonder if Serenity Hill holds the answers she's been searching for. She must decide whether she's willing to risk her heart again—and whether the future she carefully planned can compete with the one God may have been preparing for her all along.

Coming home is the last thing Charlea wants—but it may be the beginning of everything she's been searching for.

Something New is the first book in the Serenity Hill series.
Having a great time at out writing retreat. My Ju Having a great time at out writing retreat.  My June bingo board had "write outside" on it, sooo... another spot filled.
#AmWriting
#WritingRetreat
#LadiesOfTheLake
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!