LAURA LIPPMAN talks to Paul Burke about her new cosy crime novel, Murder Takes a Vacation, Mrs. Blossom, why this was the hardest book to write, Mick Herron, TV writing with Megan Abbott and getting to live a fantasy life. MURDER TAKES A VACATION Meet Mrs Blossom. . .A widow who has never left the US.A grandmother with a knack for blending in.A lottery winner with an unexpected fortune.Determined to finally see the world, she's starting with a cruise along the Seine.Just twenty-four hours into Mrs Blossom's trip, however, a man is dead, a precious artefact is missing, and a mysterious stranger is claiming her life is in danger. Surrounded by luxury food, quaint towns and people with staggeringly high net worth, she has no idea who she can trust.But maybe blending into the background has its perks - whoever is responsible will never see this most unlikely of detectives coming. Laura Lippman: Since her debut in 1997, New York Times bestseller Laura Lippman has been recognized as one of the most gifted and versatile crime novelists working today. Her series novels, stand-alones and short stories have all won major awards, including the Edgar and the Anthony, and her work is published in more than 20 countries. A former Baltimore Sun journalist, she has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, O, The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Glamour and Longreads. "Simply one of our best novelists, period," the Washington Post said upon the publication of the ground-breaking What the Dead Know. She lives in Baltimore and New Orleans with her family. Recommends: Mark Billingham What the Night Brings, Peacemaker (TV) Produced by Junkyarddog Paul Burke is editor of Aspects of Crime, a regular contributor to crime fiction magazines and websites and is a CWA Gold Dagger judge. his first book The Encyclopia of Spy Fiction will be published in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices