The Grundy County Herald’s own award-winning feature writer Beth Riner has her second humorous Southern mystery, “A Deadly Development,” coming out later this month.

“I’m so excited for it to finally come out,” Riner said.

“A Deadly Development,” the much-anticipated sequel to her highly-rated debut novel, “Odd Job Annie,” continues the laugh-out-loud adventures of 60-something Annie Cooper, who’s living her best retirement life in Monteagle. When Annie discovers the body of a sleazy real estate developer, she and her partner-incrime – her neighbor and best friend Dickie – once again combine forces to figure out whodunit.

Her first book has a five-star rating on Amazon with close to 80 reviews and is a 2025 Mystery & Mayhem finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards.

Acclaimed mystery writer Steven Womack gave it glowing marks. “Beth Riner’s debut novel “Odd Job Annie” is an absolute delight. By turns spicy, saucy, hilarious and even a bit randy at times, Riner’s protagonist Annie Cooper proves that retirement-age women can still have adventures, solve crimes and live life to the fullest. And Riner’s voice is an exciting new entry into the cozy mystery scene. I can’t wait to read Annie’s next adventure.”

Riner retired from a 23-year career teaching English in Rutherford County before moving to Monteagle almost three years ago. Instead of taking odd jobs to get out into the community like her main character Annie, Riner began writing feature stories for the local papers, first for The Sewanee Mountain Messenger and then, your source for local news, The Grundy County Herald. During her time with The Herald, she has garnered state recognition for her feature articles.

“I rediscovered my passion for writing,” said Riner, who studied journalism at Tennessee Tech and actually started out as a newspaper reporter for The Manchester Times back in the early ‘80s. “I’d forgotten how much I loved it.”

Her features focus on the people of Grundy County and the South Cumberland Plateau. “Everyone I meet has a story,” she said. “It’s a privilege for me to tell their stories. Never in a million years did I dream I would win Tennessee Press Association Awards in my 60s. It’s still a little surreal.”

Her interviews with local authors Michelle Scissom and Joe Nunley inspired her to resume writing fiction.

“I’ve loved reading and books all my life, and I think I always knew I had books in me,” she said. “When I moved here, I got busy writing for the papers and local nonprofits and started meeting all these creative, talented folks who encouraged me to pursue my writing dream. There’s something in the air on this mountain that just brings out the creativity in people.”

Often, the people she interviews end up becoming friends. One is Neicy Bonner, who owned The Depot Café in Monteagle for many years.

“Neicy, who actually let me use her famous pecan pie recipe in the book, insisted on bringing pies to the launch,” Riner said. “I’m just incredibly touched that she would do that for me. I’m gonna make a blackberry cobbler or two for the launch myself, but I am nowhere near the baker that Neicy is.”

Another Monteagle friend, Greta Weidenhamer, also shared her recipe for corn dip in the book while Dianna Tipton contributed the blackberry cobbler recipe featured in the first book. “Including recipes is often a characteristic of a cozy mystery novel,” Riner explained. “I like to call my books not-socozy mysteries because Annie has a little bit of a mouth on her. I consider Annie a real person, and real people occasionally cuss. I’ve only had a couple of people complain about the language, and my publisher, Golden Bridges Publishing based out of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, actually compiled those complaints into a funny video and posted it on Facebook and Instagram. I love my publishers. They get Annie. They get me.”

Riner also likes the fact that her main character is in her 60s and living a full life. “You won’t find Annie sitting in a rocking chair crocheting, not that there’s a dang thing wrong with crocheting,” she said. “When I started writing, I didn’t want to write about a 20-something- year-old. I wanted to write about a woman my age who’s fun and living her best life. Annie’s even dipping her toe into the dating pool. Dating in your 60s is quite the adventure.”

One of the things that’s surprised Riner the most about the first book is how many men have told her they enjoyed it. “Both books are pretty funny,” she said. “I wrote them as mysteries, but they’re doing really well in humorous fiction and small town and rural fiction. Who would have thought it? I’ll take it, though.”

Another amusing fact about the new book revolves around the word “skeevy.”

“A friend of mine who prides himself on his vocabulary did not think “skeevy” was a word,” she said with a laugh. “Well, it is, and I used it in the book a dozen times just to mess with him. I’m petty that way.”

She’s already completed the third in the series. There’s an excerpt from it at the end of the newest book. She’ll have copies of both books available at the May 2 book launch.

“Another friend of mine, Stephen Hutchins, was kind enough to let me hold the book launch at his new gallery, Sounding Stone,” Riner added. “He’s got an amazing exhibition there right now that I am excited for folks to get to see when they come for my signing. He and Christi Teasley put it together, and I got chills when she first told me its name.”

To Tell a Yarn: Stories in Fiber and Cloth, which runs through May 16, features the work of seven regional fiber artists who use textiles to tell and retell stories – stories about memory, repair, and connection. Through quilting, weaving, stitching, and mixed-media textile work, the artists use traditional crafts to explore urgent questions of contemporary life.

“It’s just perfect,” Riner said. “This is a killer exhibition, pun very much intended. I spin yarns with words, and these artists spin their magic with fiber art. There’s even a book made of fabric, and some of the most stunning quilts I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s an incredible display, and I am so lucky to get to share the space with them for a few hours.”

Riner’s books are available in both paperback or Kindle format on Amazon and all other online book retailers. “A Deadly Development” offi cially releases April 28 but may be preordered now. She’s glad to speak at book clubs, libraries, or other book-related events. For more information, visit www.bethriner. com or find her on Facebook.