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Today on Salty Inspirations, please welcome back author Carmela Dutra! Carmela first visited the blog with her debut novel, A Murder Most Fowl, and today she’s back to talk about the second book in the series, Hot Wings and Homicide. In this guest post, Carmela shares how years of reading mysteries, and trying to solve them before the final reveal, helped shape the way she approaches suspense, clues, and twists in her own writing.
How Being a Mystery Reader Made Me a Better Mystery Writer
by Carmela Dutra
I’ve always been that reader.
The one who’s analyzing every detail, side-eyeing every character, and mentally building a case before the main character even realizes there’s a mystery to solve. I’m constantly asking: Who has motive? Who had the opportunity? What feels off?
I don’t just read mysteries, I study them.
The same goes for TV shows. I’ve spent years pausing episodes (much to the annoyance of anyone watching with me) to point out suspicious behavior or predict what’s coming next. Sometimes I’m right. Sometimes I’m wildly wrong. But either way, I’m paying attention.
And that habit of breaking things down, of noticing how other writers and creators build suspense, plant clues, and deliver reveals, ended up shaping how I write my own mysteries.
Because one of my favorite things about writing mysteries is the delicate balance between giving readers enough information and not giving too much away.
This can be a challenge because readers are smart. They’re paying attention, picking up on clues, noticing details, and trying to solve the puzzle right alongside the main character. And as a writer, that means you have to play fair while still surprising them.
It’s a bit of a tightrope, if I’m honest.
When I was working on Hot Wings and Homicide, I kept coming back to one question: how do I make the solution feel both unexpected and inevitable?
One word: layering.
Clues are there from the very beginning, but they’re surrounded by distractions. Not random distractions, but intentional ones. Details that matter, but don’t seem important at first. Conversations that feel casual but carry weight. Moments that only click into place once you know what you’re looking for.
It’s the same thing I notice when I’m reading or watching a mystery. Those little breadcrumbs that don’t stand out until suddenly, they do. And then there are red herrings. I love a good red herring. The key is to make them believable. They can’t feel like tricks. They have to feel like real possibilities—real people with real motives—even if they’re not the ones responsible in the end.
Because nothing pulls a reader out of a story faster than feeling like they’ve been misled unfairly. As a reader, I’ve felt that frustration. So, as a writer, I work hard to avoid it. I never want the reveal to feel like it came out of nowhere. Instead, I want readers to reach that final moment and think, “Wait… that makes sense. How did I miss that?”
That’s the sweet spot.
It’s also why I pay so much attention to character. The mystery isn’t just about what happened, it’s about why. And when motivations feel real and grounded, the twists land in a much more satisfying way.
Of course, there’s also a bit of instinct involved. A sense of when to hold back and when to reveal just enough to keep things moving. And maybe a little bit of mischief.
Because part of the fun of writing mysteries is knowing that somewhere out there, a reader is absolutely convinced they’ve figured everything out… only to turn the page and realize there’s still more to uncover.
If I’m honest, that’s my favorite part. When a reader reaches out and tells me they were certain it was one person, only to discover it was someone they had completely dismissed.
That moment is why I write mysteries.
Question for readers: Do you enjoy figuring out the mystery early, or do you prefer to be completely surprised at the end?
Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery) by Carmela DutraAbout Hot Wings and Homicide
Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – San Francisco, California
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
Publication date : May 12, 2026
Print length : 320 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-13 : 979-8892424417
Paperback
ISBN-13 : 979-8892424424
Digital
ISBN-13 : 979-8892424431
Audiobook
ASIN : B0FY43Z1DC
Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd are on the chopping block in the follow-up to A Murder Most Fowl, where a perfect recipe for murder is stirred up.
Business at Kluckin’ Good is smoking hot. To keep momentum going, Beth and her twin brother, Seth, just scored a prime spot at the Flavors of the Bay Food Festival. For three and a half days, food lovers will flock to the Bay Area’s biggest culinary event to enjoy gourmet food trucks, cook-offs, and live music, but this recipe for success is also the perfect setup for murder.
When the infamous food critic Brad Dawson—also Beth’s ex—turns up dead, the only clue at the scene of the crime is a Kluckin’ Good tumbler mug. The timing couldn’t be worse. Beth and Brad were seen in a heated altercation, and days prior, witnesses saw Seth punch Brad. Suspicion naturally falls on the twins. With the cops hot on their trail, Beth will have to avoid the flames to clear their names and save her food truck’s reputation.
But the chickens are out of the coop, and as Beth digs into Brad’s final hours, she will uncover rivalries, grudges, and a different side of Brad she never knew. If she doesn’t crack the case soon, she might be the next one to get cooked. Best of cluck!
A mouthwatering mystery for fans of Joanne Fluke that will leave you peckish for more.
About Carmela Dutra
Carmela Dutra is a writer from the San Francisco Bay Area who loves food trucks, family, and cozy mysteries. She is the author of the Food Truck Mysteries, including A Murder Most Fowl and Hot Wings and Homicide. Her series has been praised by Kirkus Reviews, which called her debut “a serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments,” and by Library Journal, which noted that Hot Wings and Homicide “is perfect for foodies.” Criminal Element highlighted the “juicy reasoning behind the sabotage that was almost as shocking as the murder itself,” and New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams described the books as “the perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun.” Carmela has also been featured in CrimeReads Magazine.
A lover of humor, quirky characters, and all things geeky, Carmela spends her days sketching, sipping far too much coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She lives with her husband and two dinosaur-obsessed sons, drawing inspiration from rainy afternoons, bustling farmers’ markets, and the unexpected moments that make life memorable.
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A big thank you to Carmela Dutra for stopping by Salty Inspirations today to share a little behind-the-scenes insight into writing mysteries and balancing clues with surprises. If Hot Wings and Homicide sounds like your kind of cozy mystery, be sure to add it to your TBR! While you’re here, don’t forget to browse around the blog for more author spotlights, book features, and cozy mystery fun.
As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations! —Michelle❤️
Thank you so much for having me back on your blog. I’ve loved visiting again.
So glad to have you back on Salty Inspirations! It’s always a pleasure hosting you. Thank you again for joining me and sharing your work with my readers. – Michelle❤️