Gold-Plated Homicide: A Review, Giveaway, and Guest Post by Ellen Byron
In June 2023, author Ellen Byron embarked on a research trip to Gold Rush Country, California, for her novel "Solid Gold Murder". This journey served as the inspiration for the setting of the fictional town of Foundgold, the backdrop for the Golden Motel Mystery series.
Foundgold, a town steeped in gold rush history, competes with its neighbouring town, Goldgone. The town's vibrant characters, including local PR expert Verity Donner Gillespie, add colour to the series. The story unfolds around the Golden Motel, co-owned by Dee and her ex-husband Jeff. The motel, nicknamed the Murder Motel due to its history of murders, is at the heart of the novel's action.
During her trip, Byron visited various sluices for gold panning, learning about the process from self-proclaimed prospectors like Randy at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. She also saw the Fricot Gold Nugget, the second largest nugget ever found in the United States, at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum.
The town of Foundgold comes alive in the story, with real activities such as gold panning (initially for fool's gold) and the impact of weather events stirring gold nearer the surface. The lively and dynamic environment of the series is a testament to the authenticity of Byron's research.
The novel's plot thickens as Dee investigates the mysterious death of Sylvan Burr, a visitor to the town. Sylvan brings his own entourage and has ties to the area, but his claims are met with skepticism. Dee must navigate her dad's extended visit, Verity's sneaky ways, and Elmira's anger over town secrets, all while dealing with the chaos of the motel and the constant influx of visitors.
The massive rain and floods in the area have made it easier for anyone to pan for gold. The strong currents from the heavy rains have cleared out debris in waterways, making it easier to find gold nuggets. Even the Sugar Pine sluice mixes real gold with fool's gold to give miners a chance to see real gold.
Byron immersed herself in California's gold mining history, joining the Gold Prospectors of America for a year. She also visited Ironstone Vineyard to see the world's largest gold leaf specimen. The authors' research trip provided a wealth of information on the setting, gold panning culture, and the atmosphere of towns still shaped by their gold rush heritage.
In addition to the mystery, the novel includes three road trip tips and a recipe for Nutty Almond Date Bars. The novel is the second installment in the Golden Motel Mystery series, following the success of the first book. Sandra Murphy, editor for an upcoming anthology called Yeet Me in St Louis, is set to release the next instalment of the series.
In the continuation of the Golden Motel Mystery series, lifestyle pieces such as road trip tips and food-and-drink recipes are interwoven with the mystery. The home-and-garden setting of Foundgold, a town rich in gold rush history, offers a vivid background to the series. As readers delve into books like the second installment, "Solid Gold Murder", they are transported into a world filled with entertainment and intrigue.
