Korsmeyer Fiction

Fiction by Carolyn Korsmeyer

Riddle of Spirit and Bone ( Regal House, 2025)

This dual timeline story begins with the discovery of a human skeleton buried beneath a city sidewalk. This historical narrative features the spiritualist movement of the nineteenth century, three suddenly homeless women, and their dubious quest for a message from beyond the grave.

Forthcoming from Regal House Press in February, 2025.

Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women

Edited by Carolyn Korsmeyer, Christy Matheson, Elaine Schroller, Kay Smith-Blum, and Kimberly Sullivan.
Twenty-three stories set in different times and places depicting ordinary women who meet life's challenges with determination and wit.

"An outstanding collection that showcases ordinary women's extraordinary experiences, struggles, and victories,: --The Prairies Book Review.

Related media:
My story in this collection, "The Messenger," is discussed in an interview with Patty Warren here.
Teri Brown's podcast, "Authors on Air," features the editors and can be heard here and here.
Maggie Smith's "Hear Us Roar" podcast can be found here.

Little Follies: A Mystery at the Millennium

A visit to Krakow intended to test a new relationship turns out to be fraught with danger when two Americans encounter a man pursuing a dark ambition in the waning months of 1999. Theft, murder, and magic propel the plot, which reaches a climax at the turn of the millennium, when relationships are realigned and follies laid bare.

"This magical eastern European crime caper is filled with crackling romantic suspense, priceless artifacts, stoic philosophy and a truly stunning character arc." –BestThrillers.com

"A skilled and riveting read from start to finish, "Little Follies: A Mystery at the Millennium" showcases author Carolyn Korsmeyer's genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that will have special appeal for readers with an interest in international crime thrillers. . . "Little Follies: A Mystery at the Millennium" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections." --Midwest Book Review.

Little Follies is available from Black Rose Writing, and from amazon, as well as other outlets.

Related Media

CrimeReads published my essay, "On Metaphysics and Murder," about other philosophers who have written murder mysteries. Read it here.
The Rap Sheet published my blog on the background to this novel which can be read here.
A blog on Lesa's Book Critiques is here. And a podcast for Author Express can be heard here.
My interview on The Story Blender can be accessed here.

Charlotte's Story

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy engage in a famously tangled romance, but Elizabeth’s friend, Charlotte Lucas, also strives for happiness and a husband. Being neither pretty nor rich, Charlotte accepts the proposal of the loquacious William Collins, reckoning that his tedious conversation is a small price to pay for the prosperous home and family she hopes to gain. However, trouble brews within the first months of marriage, for they are not nearly as good a match as she hoped, and she is upset and angered by his presumptuous tendency to interfere with her friendships. In this story, Charlotte gives her own account of how she tackles the tribulations of her relationships, including a daring solution to a potential calamity.

"Charlotte’s moral dilemmas, sensible outlook, and loving heart illuminate this delightful novel. Highly recommended.” --Historical Novel Society Review
“I loved this addition to Austen’s books. . .and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants more of these characters who were so wonderfully invented by Austen.” --BookLoons

Charlotte's Story is available from amazon. (This novel was originally published in 2021 by TouchPoint Press; the text of the second edition is identical to the first.)

Related media:

My blog post about writing historical fiction can be read here.
An interview on Hasty Booklist appears here. A guest blog on a baking project is here.
An interview with Joy Held, Books by my Friends, appears here.
An interview with Barry Eva is here. (Click on August, 2022.)
A reading from this novel can be heard at Yvonne Battle-Felton's "Bookable Space" podcast here and also here.

"A Murder, A Mystery, and a Marriage"

In 2001 I entered and won a writing contest for completing an unpublished story by Mark Twain.
My winning entry is available as a pdf by clicking here.