Claire Winfield

Author of the Willowmist Mystery Series

Old deeds, new lies, and a lakeside murder

DEBUT NOVEL COMING SOON!

Book cover of A Deed Most Foul a cozy murder mystery book by author Claire Winfield

She has no alibi...
But she does have a nose for trouble.

When a writer turns up dead in her family’s lakeside cabin, Nora Blake, a local museum curator, and her best friend, Betsy Parker, a disguise-loving mom of two, must uncover the truth, along with a golden retriever with impeccable timing, before the killer commits another deed most foul.

"She was definitely not investigating this. She wasn't a child anymore.She was just making a list. Of questions. In a notebook. Which was obviously not the same thing."

What Readers Are Saying

"Nora's hyperosmia is a brilliant and original twist on the amateur sleuth trope. Instead of just seeing the clues, I felt like I was experiencing Nora's world through her nose. The description of the scents in the cabin created immediate tension and dread. While the murder provided the central conflict, it was Nora's journey of discovering herself and reconnecting with Willowmist that kept me reading. However, the heart and soul of the story was the friendship between Nora and Betsy. I felt their history. Betsy's flamboyant "investigative ensembles" and fearless enthusiasm were the perfect balance to Nora's methodical analytical approach. Their banter and unwavering support for each other provided so much warmth and humor, making the darker moments manageable."

about the author

Claire Winfield grew up spending summers at her family's rural northern Wisconsin lake cabin, reading Nancy Drew until the covers fell off and roping her cousins into solving mysteries she improvised by firelight with virtually no adult supervision.She's been chasing that feeling ever since.

Author Claire Winfield most known for her Willowmist Mystery series

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Willowmist Mysteries Community Recipe Book
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Arquill Folio LLC © 2026

Claire Winfield

Author of the Willowmist Mystery Series

Old deeds, new lies, and a lakeside murder

A Deed Most Foul book cover written by author Claire Winfield

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a writer turns up dead in her family’s lakeside cabin, Nora Blake, a local museum curator, and her best friend, Betsy Parker, a disguise-loving mom of two, must uncover the truth, along with a golden retriever with impeccable timing, before the killer strikes again.To make matters worse, Nora’s fingerprints are all over the scene, her alibi is thin, and a former high school rival places her near the cabin at exactly the wrong time.But the more questions they ask, the more Willowmist’s quaint lakeside charm gives way to old grudges, buried secrets, and a scheme someone will kill to protect.Set in a Northwoods lake town where gossip is currency and the Rum Runner’s Regatta is just days away, A Deed Most Foul is the first book in the Willowmist Mystery series, perfect for readers who love amateur sleuth duos, clever plotting, and a community worth fighting for.

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Willowmist Mysteries Community Recipe Book
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Arquill Folio LLC © 2026

Claire Winfield

Author of the Willowmist Mystery Series

Old deeds, new lies, and a lakeside murder

About the Author

Claire Winfield grew up spending summers at her family's rural northern Wisconsin lake cabin, reading Nancy Drew until the covers fell off and roping her cousins into solving mysteries she improvised by firelight with virtually no adult supervision. She has been chasing that feeling ever since.When the former Chicago attorney is not crafting plot twists or digging into little-known but fascinating Wisconsin history, Claire takes lakeside strolls with her golden retriever Cooper 2.0 while sipping iced vanilla lattes even in below-zero weather because some habits defy all logic and good sense.If you love a good murder mystery featuring smart women sleuths, Midwest charm, and the kind of banter only two people who have known each other since first grade can pull off, you are going to enjoy her clever whodunits where every clue in this character-driven murder mystery is hidden in plain sight.Start with the first book in the series - A Deed Most Foul. Claire loves connecting with her readers. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter and receive a free Willowmist Community Recipe Book.

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author Claire Winfield with golden retriever illustration

Arquill Folio LLC © 2026

Claire Winfield

Author of the Willowmist Mystery Series

Old deeds, new lies, and a lakeside murder

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Arquill Folio LLC © 2026

Claire Winfield

Author of the Willowmist Mystery Series

Old deeds, new lies, and a lakeside murder

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Willowmist Mysteries Community Recipe Book
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Arquill Folio LLC © 2026

Claire Winfield

Author of the Willowmist Mystery Series

Old deeds, new lies, and a lakeside murder

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