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Tina deBellegarde

"Intelligent, touching, wise and evocative - fans of Louise Penny will adore this!

WINTER WITNESS is a wonderful book."

 Hank Phillippi Ryan ~ USA Today Bestselling author of

THE FIRST TO LIE 

Agatha and Anthony Award Winner

 

Agatha Nominated Author of the
BATAVIA-ON-HUDSON Mysteries
Winter Witness 

Dead Man's Leap
Autumn Embers
 

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DERRINGER

NOMINEE 

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Now Available in Harlequin Editions by HarperCollins
 

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ORDER NOW!
BOOK 3 IN THE 
BATAVIA-ON-HUDSON SERIES

AUTUMN EMBERS

Bianca St. Denis travels to Kyoto to return a priceless artifact recovered in Batavia-on-Hudson during last summer's flood. It's late October, and the city of 2,000 shrines is in full autumn splendor. While she's in Japan's ancient capital, Bianca visits with her son, a student at Kyoto University. Ian shows her the sights and introduces her to his circle of friends-his chosen family.

 

On the night of her welcome party, Bianca thinks she witnesses a struggle in the garden, perhaps even a murder. When the police investigate and find no body, she is stumped, yet alarm bells won't stop ringing. She knows she's witnessed something.

 

When a dead body surfaces and suspicion falls on her son, Bianca's maternal instincts spring to action to protect Ian and clear his name. Meanwhile, things in Batavia-on-Hudson are tense. Sheriff Mike Riley is losing his re-election while tackling devastating news about his dead partner and wavering about his troubled marriage.

 

Autumn Embers explores the malleable nature of our identities and reminds us that chosen families can be stronger than we think, and that true friendship can bridge any distance.

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Praise for AUTUMN EMBERS

"A beautiful novel that seamlessly embraces past and present, east and west, mystery and resolution, all the contradictions that make us human. This is the rare book that leaves its reader feeling balanced and whole."

~ Carol Goodman, two-time winner of the Mary Higgins Clark prize and author of Return to Wyldecliff Heights

 

"A wonderfully constructed organic mystery, Autumn Embers moves back and forth from two charming locales-Bianca St. Denis's home in Batavia-on-Hudson, a village in Upstate New York, and Kyoto, the home of her son, Ian. Bianca travels to Kyoto to return an ancient Japanese artifact, only to find herself embroiled in a murder investigation that implicates Ian. Meanwhile, in Batavia-on-Hudson, a potential romantic interest, Sheriff Mike Riley, is fighting to keep his job while facing questions about his former NYPD partner's untimely death. Although more than an ocean apart, both Bianca and Mike lean on each other in solving their respective mysteries. Author Tina deBellegarde expertly captures the details of two very disparate worlds, reminding us that at the heart of these experiences is our shared humanity. I've become a new fan!"

~ Naomi Hirahara, Edgar Award-winning author of the Mas Arai mystery series and the Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning Clark and Division

 

"Get ready for another thrilling ride with Tina deBellegarde's mystery series, this time in our own Kyoto backyard."

~ Amy Chavez, Author of The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter

 

"Fans of Louise Penny and Crazy Rich Asians will adore Autumn Embers, the third installment of the acclaimed Batavia-on-Hudson series. Heartful and human, an intriguing mystery, and filled to the brim with rich descriptions, this love letter to Japan is Tina de Bellegarde at her finest."

~ Jen Collin Moore, Author of the captivating Roman Holiday Mysteries

 

"This is a scrumptious book. We expect a well-written, twisty plot, interesting, relatable characters, as well as a setting that charms from Tina de Bellegarde. In Autumn Embers, she delivers on all counts. But for me, the star of the show is Kyoto. As we work our way through this highly satisfying novel, rich in detail, we can taste the delectable Japanese noodles, smell the heady aroma of the brewing tea at the tea ceremony, and feel the fire at the festivals. The author's love for Kyoto comes through, and lucky readers can't help but share in the feeling. Autumn Embers will have you reaching for your passport and booking a ticket to 'the land of the rising sun.'"

~ Carol Pouliot, Author of the Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries

 

"Step into the world of Bianca St. Denis, small town librarian and amateur sleuth, as she arrives in Kyoto, Japan to visit her son. Like a richly woven tapestry, this immersive tale has it all: insights into Japanese culture, traditions and delicacies, as well as memorable characters, an intriguing mystery and... murder. With vivid descriptions and an unhurried writing style, Autumn Embers is thoroughly engrossing!"

~ Lida Sideris, Author of the Southern California Mysteries

ORDER NOW!
BOOK 2 
IN THE BATAVIA-ON-HUDSON SERIES

DEAD MAN'S LEAP

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DEAD MAN’S LEAP revisits Bianca St. Denis in Batavia-on-Hudson, New York

Rushing waters…dead bodies…secrets…

As Bianca St. Denis and her neighbors scour their attics for donations to the charity rummage sale, they unearth secrets as well as prized possessions. Leonard Marshall’s historic inn hosts the sale each year, but it is his basement that houses the key to his past. When an enigmatic antiques dealer arrives in town, he upends Leonard’s carefully reconstructed life with an impossible choice that harkens back to the past.

Meanwhile, when a storm forces the villagers of Batavia-on-Hudson to seek shelter, the river rises and so do tempers. Close quarters fuel simmering disputes, and Sheriff Mike Riley has his work cut out for him. When the floods wash up a corpse, Bianca once again finds herself teaming up with Sheriff Riley to solve a mystery. Are they investigating an accidental drowning or something more nefarious?  

Dead Man’s Leap explores the burden of secrets, the relief of renunciation, and the danger of believing we can outpace our past.

 

Flash Fiction

PRAISE FOR DEAD MAN'S LEAP

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WINTER WITNESS
IS NOMINATED FOR AN
AGATHA AWARD!

 

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PRAISE FOR WINTER WITNESS

“…an evocative debut mystery so lush you’ll believe you’re strolling the streets of Batavia-on-Hudson, battling the brutal winter’s chill, even inhaling the aroma of the town bakery’s wares. …we gain an outsider’s perspective on the quirks and secrets of a village rife with history and deception, as well as a glimpse into her own loss and heartbreak.” - Annette Dashofy, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Agatha-nominated Zoe Chambers Mysteries

“Winter Witness is far more than a simple cozy mystery; it is also a sensitive and nuanced examination of the nature of compassion, loss, and community.” -  Erica Obey, author of The Curse of the Braddock Brides and The Horseman’s Word

“Richly atmospheric, Winter Witness reminds us of the high cost of family secrets - and the even higher cost of those secrets being revealed.” - Liz Milliron, author of The Laurel Highlands Mysteries and The Home Front Mysteries

“…a sly and subtle mystery, full of nuanced observations of life in a small town… a masterful understanding of grief, of feeling stuck and lost in life, and the price of keeping secrets. You’ll want the next installment.” - Gabriel Valjan, Agatha and Anthony-nominated author of The Naming Game.

“The story grabbed me right at the beginning and kept me turning the pages all the way through to a satisfying conclusion. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series.” − Carol Pouliot, Author of The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries.

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Order Your Signed Copy at Oblong Books

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Artwork by Sachi Mulkey

When a beloved nun is murdered in a sleepy Catskill Mountain town, a grieving young widow finds herself at the center of the turmoil. Bianca St. Denis is searching for a job and seeking acceptance in her new home of Batavia-on-Hudson. Agatha Miller, the nun’s closest friend and the ailing local historian everyone loves to hate, shares her painful personal history and long-buried village secrets with Bianca. Armed with this knowledge, Bianca unravels the mysteries surrounding the death while dealing with the suspicions of her eccentric neighbors.

However, Bianca’s meddling complicates the sheriff’s investigation as well as his marriage. Can Sheriff Mike Riley escape his painful past in a town where murder and infighting over a new casino vie for his attention?

Danger stalks Bianca as she gets closer to the truth. Can the sheriff solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? Can the town heal its wounds once the truth has been uncovered?

"Tokyo Stranger" will be released April 20, 2021

Join Me for the Virtual Launch Event

rescheduled to Wednesday, May 5th 7pm ET 

- Click here to let us know you'll be there!

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HOME

Shorts

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"Zen and the Art of Italian Cooking"
in
Writers in Kyoto Anthology #6:

The Future of Kyoto
Mystery Most Traditional Cover Agatha nominee story A Good Judge of Character .JPG

AGATHA AWARD FINALIST

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"A Good Judge of Character"
in Malice Domestic's Mystery Most Traditional
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"Sound Travels"
in
Writers in Kyoto Anthology #5:

The Nature of Kyoto
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"The Longest Night"
in
Bouchercon Anthology 2024: Tales of Music, Murder and Mayhem 

Anthony Award Winner for Best Anthology 2025
“Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Novels: Defying a Sub-Genre Label”
in
Writing the Cozy Mystery: Authors’ Perspectives on their Craft 

Agatha Award Winner for Best Non-Fiction 2025 Anthony Award Finalist
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DERRINGER

NOMINEE

"Tokyo Stranger"

in

Mystery Writers of America Presents

When A Stranger Comes To Town

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"His Brother's Keeper"

in Masthead:

Best New England Crime Stories

Flash Fiction

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"Lost in America" tied for first place in the Retreat West November 2019 Microfiction Competition 

Image by Calum Lewis

"Let Them Eat Cake" won the weekly microfiction contest at Ad Hoc Fiction

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"St. Michael's Day" published online at Reflex Press

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"Sound Travels" won the USA prize in the Writers in Kyoto Competition

Bio

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Photo by Alessandro de Bellegarde
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Tina deBellegarde is a two-time Agatha Award nominee for her Batavia-on-Hudson Mysteries. Autumn Embers, the most recent addition to the series, takes place in Kyoto. Her short stories have been nominated for an Agatha Award and a Derringer Award. Tina co-chairs the Murderous March virtual writers conference. She enjoys reviewing Japanese fiction for Books on Asia, and is the Membership Coordinator of Writers in Kyoto

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Tina lives and writes in Catskill, New York with her husband Denis, and their cat Shelby. When she isn’t writing she is helping Denis tend their beehives, harvest shiitakes from their mushroom logs, or tend their vegetable garden. She makes lampworked glass beads and contributes to her husband’s jewelry designs. For Tina, baking and cooking are meditations that allow her to plan her writing. She travels to Kyoto, Japan regularly to visit with her son Alessandro, who has lived there for many years running his media production company.

 

Tina most recently worked at the Catskill Public Library. She is a former middle school teacher, paralegal, and exporter.

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Stay tuned for the release of subsequent volumes of the Batavia-on-Hudson series. Check back for news about her short stories and flash fiction. 

Bio
News and Events

News & Events

Come join me at these events!

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MURDEROUS MARCH
2022
IS HERE!

Join the Upper Hudson Sisters in Crime on March 4 & 5, 2022 for our 6th annual conference!

Look for me on the Amateur Sleuth panel!

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I will be attending Malice Domestic's Virtual
More Than Malice Conference from July 14-17, 2021.  
I am eligible for an Agatha Award this year!!
Ballots are out now! Voting is open from July 6 to July 13.

Catch me at the Speed Dating event as well.
Registration is still open!
Check out the amazing collection of featured authors.
It all starts with a conversation with Louise Penny!
With many great panels to follow!
Registration makes you eligible for a ballot
to vote in this year's Agatha Awards.

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A great mystery series is about more than a puzzling crime. It’s the sleuths and their sidekicks who make us fall in love with a book. Join me, Jen Collins Moore, Carol Pouliot, and Lida Sideris for a free, interactive conversation about our detectives and their sidekicks. Sign up for one, sign up for several. We can’t wait to talk with you!

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Mystery Loves Company
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
7 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. Central
Register Now

Mendham Borough Library
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
7 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. Central
Register Now

​

Chicago Public Library
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
7:30 p.m. Eastern / 6:30 p.m. Central
Register Now

 

Mysterious Galaxy

Saturday, December 5, 2020

5 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Central

Register Now

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Book Carnival

Sunday, December 6, 2020

7 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. Central

Click here for Zoom Link of the Event

Mystery Lovers Bookshop

Saturday, December 12, 2020

1:00 Eastern 

Register Now

Chaucer's Books, Santa Barbara, CA

Thursday, January 14, 2021

8 pm Eastern/5 pm PT 

Zoom link here. Did you miss this fabulous program? You can watch it right here!

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Santa Monica Library
Sunday, January 23, 2021

3 p.m. Eastern /2 p.m. Central
Join Now


Starr Library,

Rhinebeck, NY
Sunday, January 30, 2021
2 p.m. Eastern /1 p.m. Central
Register Now

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Mavens of Mayhem,

Albany NY

Saturday, April 17, 2021

11 a.m. Eastern 

Register Now

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Rochester Public Library,

Rochester, NY

Thursday, May 20, 2021

12:00 p.m. Eastern

Register Now

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JOIN ME AT
Murderous March
March 19 & 20, 2021

Look for me at the Authors' Cocktail Party and the Short Story Panel

REGISTER NOW

Contact

I'd love to hear from you!

Contact me at tinadebellegarde@gmail.com

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