Friends who Sleuth Together, stay together ––and play to win
Amy Sparks
Owner of the Cardboard Cottage and Tiddlywinks Players Club, Amy’s a board game expert with a sharp eye and a stubborn streak. She’s the glue of the group—especially when murder lands right on their doorstep.
Zelda Carlisle
Zelda owns Zsa Zsa Galore Décor, where glam meets game. She’s got a passion for fashion—mostly shoes. Girls just want to have a good time. And men? They keep getting in the way.
Rian O'Deis
She’s two steps ahead and five steps sideways. First to dive into danger, last to ask permission. Rian O'Deis (say Ryan O-Day) runs The Pot Shed—and it’s probably illegal.
Genna Gregory
She may serve her sweet tea with a smile, but there’s steel beneath those pearls. Arkansas born and bred, Genna keeps the group grounded—until she doesn’t.
Bluff springs, ark
Tucked into the Ozark Mountains, Bluff Springs is part tourist town, part time capsule, and 100% gossip-fueled. Here's what happens when murder collides with Main Street, and locals know your secrets before you do. Quaint by design. Dangerous by default.
why readers love jane elzey's cozy mysteries
"Perfect Cozy Read!"
"Rock-solid friendship"
"Rock-solid friendship"
"Witty, with an edge. Think Evanovich with a southern drawl. Follow this author, because you'll want to read the next book as soon as it comes out."
"Rock-solid friendship"
"Rock-solid friendship"
"Rock-solid friendship"
"Oh yes, these are ladies I would invite over to binge-watch Schitts Creek while guzzling wine and eating Thai takeout. Elzey pens smooth, witty dialogue with a deeper message of female friendship."
"A captivating story"
"Rock-solid friendship"
"A captivating story"
"All the fun and comforting elements of a cozy mystery series, but it quickly became more than that. How far you would go to protect the ones you love? A gripping, thought provoking read."
Start your friendship with the Cardboard Cottage Sleuths
Dying for Dominoes
Four friends play to win—and a husband dies trying.
Amy Sparks just wanted a good game of dominoes. But when one friend jokes about killing husband number four… and he turns up dead, the game night turns criminal. Was it a big bluff—or murder-by-strategy?
The perfect first move in a fierce, funny mystery series about loyalty, secrets, and sisterhood.
Dice on a Deadly Sea
A cruise, a birthday, and one very inconvenient corpse.
To celebrate the big Five-O, the sleuths sail to the Galápagos Islands. But when a husband winds up dead on deck, their tropical getaway becomes a murder investigation—with cocktails and a mud spa.
Turns out hiding a body isn’t the hard part—it’s keeping secrets from your best friends.
Poison Parcheesi & Wine
Secrets swirl in Arkansas wine country… and so does another dead husband.
The friends hit the road for politics, puzzles, and a wine stomp. But when murder crashes the party, they’re forced to uncork a tricky plot—one that could put them on the wrong side of the politician's ballot.
When friendship and crime mix, things get messy.
Killer Croquet
Castles, croquet, and a wedding with a body count.
The friends win a trip to Ireland—and find themselves in the middle of a murder at a fairytale wedding. Croquet turns cutthroat, and only the Garda can help clear their names for murderous game on the Emerald Isle.
Turns out friendship and felonies travel well.
Ouija & Haints
A ghost walk, a fundraiser, and a murder from 1924—naturally, the friends are involved.
During a cemetery fundraiser, the Cardboard Cottage friends step into history, playing women from the past. But when an antique necklace falls into Amy’s hands, she unlocks a century-old cold case… and a very modern danger.
Will friendship and murder prove timeless?
Runner-Up, 2025 San Francisco Book Festival – General Fiction
