Mystery Woman Leads to Book Series

WASHINGTON - Dec. 8, 2019 - PRLog -- Sometimes people aren't as they seem.  Especially a sweet old lady with a pleasant smile and a delicate voice.  That's what author Allen Boyer learned when he met an older woman at a family event years ago.  Her name was Charlotte Bouton and, while he didn't know it at the time, Charlotte would inspire Boyer to create a beloved fictional character for his Dupree Sisters Mystery series.
   "When I first met Charlotte, she was this sweet elderly lady who lived in Cape May, New Jersey," Boyer recalled.  "We had a great conversation.  I learned she spent many years living in Washington D.C. and worked in the House of Representatives when she was a young woman."
   During her time working in the House of Representatives, Charlotte revealed her brushes with historical figures. The time she gave Representative John Kennedy an aspirin for a splitting headache. The time Al Gore Sr. burst into her office passing out cigars to celebrate the birth of Al Gore Jr. The time Lyndon Johnson gave her a wink when passing her in the hallway.
   "All of a sudden this sweet lady I met became this person with an interesting political past," Boyer recalled.  "When she'd tell her Kennedy story about giving him an aspirin, she'd always have a big grin on her face.  When we'd talk politics, she had strong opinions about candidates and her beliefs.  It was interesting to see her transform during conversations from a sweet lady to a tough political person.  That's when I knew I had a good character for a story."
   The fictional incarnation of Charlotte Bouton is now Charlotte Dupree, one half of the two main characters in the Dupree Sisters Mystery Series.  Set in Washington D.C. the series describes the sisters as "two of Washington's oldest socialites" who use their social connections to solve murder mysteries.
   "There are so many books out there featuring characters who use superhuman instincts or high tech gadgets to resolve mysteries," Boyer explained.  "I thought it would be interesting to have these two older characters who gather facts through conversation and good listening.  Their talent lies in knowing the right people to talk to and the right questions to ask to solve a mystery."
   Corpse at the National Gallery is the third book in the Dupree Sisters series. The new book takes place at the National Portrait Gallery.  It involves a dead body and an accusation of murder that interrupts the National Portrait Gallery's annual gala.  Corpse at the National Gallery is published by Cozy Cat Press and is available on Amazon in both ebook format ($2.99) and in print ($14.95). Check out the publisher's website at: http://www.cozycatpress.com.