The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club by Bill Cusano

THE OLD CRANBERRY LADIES GARDEN CLUB

by Bill Cusano

June 1 – July 10, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

THE GHOST AND THE KEY

With a pitchfork through the man’s groin and another through his chest, it is clear that someone had murdered Chester H. Cranberry. It’s not something that could have happened accidentally. But that was 192 years ago. As Mildred Cranberry, the current family matriarch, puts it, “We have two women, two keys, two pitchforks, and one dead two-timing man.” Who in their right mind would want to dig up that cold case and try to solve it? It’s not like the murderer could be prosecuted in 2024, right? But what if a key piece of evidence can be dug up (literally)? And what if a descendant of Chester’s illegitimate child can get her hands on it? Mildred will need more than the Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club members to solve this bizarre case. The spiritual support she needs may not be what she expects when the ghost of Elcira Cranberry, the widow murderess herself, arrives to do what? Tell the truth or protect her reputation?

The Ladies Garden Club of Old Cranberry, Connecticut, has a 200-year history that has remained shrouded in secrecy for so long, it has been lost to history, until now. Elcira Cranberry and freedwoman Deborah Townsend knew the men of the town would have no interest in a garden club, so it was the perfect cover for their secret organization. Now, nearly two centuries later, the current members have no idea what those ladies were up to in the early 1800s, right here in Connecticut. But the secret will soon be out.

THE WIDOW MURDERESS

Connecticut, 1833. A year after Chester Cranberry’s unsolved murder, the town that he founded continues to suspect that his wife, Elcira, ended his life. With insufficient evidence to bring her to trial, and little effort to find another suspect, the town gossip labels her “The Widow Murderess.” But Elcira has seven children to feed, ranging in age from three to nine, and her nanny, Deborah, a freed slave, is pregnant with her husband’s illegitimate child.

All eyes are on these two women, expecting them to fail to keep the farm and the family together. When the general store cuts off Elcira’s credit and refuses to sell anything her farm produces, the alliance between Elcira and Deborah grows stronger, and the women set out to do something unthinkable, something that can cause one to be whipped and the other thrown in jail. They opened their home to runaway slaves seeking freedom along a secret route north. Behind the facade of a ladies’ garden club, the women run a clandestine school, teaching the formerly enslaved and runaways to read and write-a dangerous act that could destroy everything she’s built.

When a mysterious murder during a violent storm brings old secrets to light, the truth about Chester’s death threatens to surface. With the town’s suspicions mounting and powerful enemies closing in, Elcira must decide how much she’s willing to risk to protect those she loves and maintain the underground railroad that runs through her land.

A gripping historical novel about courage, family, and the price of freedom in pre-Civil War New England, The Widow Murderess explores how one woman’s determination to survive becomes a beacon of hope for those seeking liberty.

THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

The last time the crows circled the old farmhouse, her husband Chester was found dead and the town named her a murderess. Thirty years later, the truth she buried with him is stirring again, the country is splitting in two, and the family she fought so hard to hold together is being pulled apart by a war that hasn’t yet been declared.

Her grandson Auggie wants to fight for the Union. His mother, born to a Virginia plantation family, will do anything to drag him south instead. Millie — the rector’s daughter with golden hair and a satchel full of letters — waits at home for a boy who may never come back. And in the chapel behind the lilacs, Elcira and the women of her garden club continue the work no one is supposed to know about: sheltering freedom seekers as slave catchers tighten their grip on the Connecticut coast.

Then a telegram arrives. And another. And the war everyone said would never come has come for the Cranberry’s all at once.

Perfect for readers of Kristin Hannah, Marie Benedict, Paulette Jiles, and Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain — a story about what families inherit, what they hide, and what they’re willing to risk when the country they believed in begins to come apart.

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery
Published by: 4610 Publishing
Series: The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club

Author Bio:

Bill Cusano is an author, a retired deacon in the Episcopal Church and a believer that it is the process rather than the outcomes that matter most in our lives. Retired from the corporate world and an eight-year stint running a non-profit feeding program, Bill attacks every project as a ministry, giving it his full commitment. Needing to readjust to life after losing the love of his life to leukemia in April of 2024, Bill returned to writing full-time, resulting in The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club series, the motivation and inspiration for which came from his wife’s voracious appetite for reading historical fiction. While this is Bill’s debut novel, he has always been a writer, publishing short stories and poems early on, and then beginning a daily spiritual blog in 2008. You can follow Bill’s Reflections From The Garden Bench along with other writings on his Substack account.

Catch Up With Bill Cusano:

BillCusano.com
Bill’s Substack
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads – @billcusano
Instagram – @billcusano
X – @CusanoBill
Facebook – @bill.cusano

Tour Participant Reviews:

‘The Ghost and the Key is filled with historical facts, ghosts, a missing key, and a two-hundred-year-old mystery to solve. The author does a great job describing the scenes and clues. I look forward to reading the next books in this series.’
~ Novels Alive Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘An enjoyable beginning to a mystery series with the Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club at the center. With a garden club that is more than it seems, helpful spirits, a touch of romance, and a mystery from the past that threatens to change the present it is a story that lingers.’
~ Marbooks88 Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘I loved the characters in this book… so relatable and the realism of these characters, while you are reading this book you feel everything that they feel. the paranormal aspect is interesting and makes the story that much more entertaining! … thrilling, interesting, and just some great writing that is funny at times but can also be serious at other times.’
~ Country Mamas With Kids Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘It was a real pleasure to read The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and The Key by Bill Cusano. It is a brilliantly written detective novel, which combines historical elements, family stories, and the supernatural world into one intriguing plot line.’
~ Sudeshna Blogs Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘For fans of cozy mysteries with unique and engaging characters, The Ghost and the Key will certainly fit the bill… this was an enjoyable mystery from beginning to end.’
~ The Book Connection Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘This was an incredible cozy historical mystery. This book seamlessly weaves the past and the present like a warm blanket. Filled with humor, banter, history and a bit of paranormal, this one checks all the boxes. Highly enjoyable and engaging.’
~ ScottLovelace.books Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘The Ghost and the Key is a spirited modern day story that combines mystery, history and the paranormal. Bill Cusano’s story is both witty and eerie. The story has a small town feel with colorful characters. But the author breaks the cozy mystery mold. He has created a unique story that weaves the modern day characters unearthing the mystery, with their discovery of the true facts behind the original Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club which wasn’t always what it purported to be.’
~ Storybook Lady Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘Murder by pitchfork, 192-year-old cold cases, and a ghost who refuses to mind her own business? Sign me up! I was completely charmed by this book. The absolute perfect cozy mystery for your weekend reading list.’
~ The Page Ladies Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘A real page turner. I just loved everything about the story. And I can’t wait to read the next book.’
~ elaine_sapp65 Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘This read was like everything bagel seasoning: a mix of current day, historical setting of the current setting, a little paranormal, a little romance, a little of everything in a good way!’
~ meloplanner Review of THE GHOST AND THE KEY

‘The story is filled with characters who are so well written, that you care what happens to them and they stay with you long after you put the book down. I tore through this page turner and as soon as I read the last page, I happily turned to the sequel, The Sparrow and The Crow.’
~ Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘Come for the garden club, stay for the murder mystery, family drama, and Underground Railroad intrigue! this historical fiction novel blends mystery, suspense, and powerful themes of courage and resilience into a story that kept me turning the pages. The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Widow Murderess is a fascinating and entertaining read.’
~ The Page Ladies Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘I loved this one as much as the first. I can not wait to share the 3rd book thoughts.’
~ Country Mamas With Kids Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘For the second book in Bill Cusano’s The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club series, readers travel back to the 1800s, to see how Elicra, Deborah, and their family are faring a year after Chester Cranberry’s horrific murder.’
~ The Book Connection Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘The amount of research done for this series is incredible. From the Underground Railroad to dealing with local politics, and a mysterious death. This was a very enjoyable and fast paced story. Hold on tight, this is a great read.’
~ ScottLovelace.books Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘This books is greatly descriptive, I felt like I was sitting with the characters watching everything unfold. ‘
~ meloplanner Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘Gripping historical novel- so good grabbed me from the beginning. Honestly didn’t want this one to end. A fabulous book. This has been one of my favorite reads this year.’
~ elaine_sapp65 Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘This series is deeply set in the pre-Civil War atmosphere of Connecticut. The strength of Cusano’s writing is his captivating descriptions and attention to cultural detail. I felt like I was in the midst of what was happening.’
~ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘There was the feeling of good versus evil, but also of caring amidst some of the chaos. There are injuries, injustices, crimes, and mysteries to be solved. There is closure, and I look forward to seeing where the next book takes us.’
~ Novels Alive Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘This is a family saga set just before the Civil War and includes mystery and questions about who shares the beliefs of the family and who can be trusted. The characters are interesting and I like the bonds and loyalty of the Cranberry family which is not limited to blood.’
~ Marbooks88 Review of THE WIDOW MURDERESS

‘The characters are interesting and I like the bonds and loyalty of the Cranberry family which is not limited to blood. I liked learning the story of the next generation of Cranberry’s. I enjoyed and recommend this is a family saga set as the Civil War begins and families are divided by beliefs.’
~ Marbooks88 Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘This book was such an emotional ending to the series. I loved the ending but I was also deep in a box of tissues as I finished. This was a great historical fiction series mixed with mystery, politics of the time frames, and also much more with the War coming up soon in history.’
~ Country Mamas With Kids Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘Multiple point of views add to the depth, debate and complexity of this multi generational story. I look forward to more of this series. ‘
~ ScottLovelace.books Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘Cusano’s writing is filled with descriptive detail and transports the reader to 1861 on the eve of the Civil War. Bill Cusano’s characters come to life. The story took me from tears to page turning action. My only complaint in this series is that now I have to wait for the next book.’
~ Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘This series has been a deep immersion in the years before the Civil War, exploring life for a very strong woman as she keeps her Connecticut farm going while raising her family and facing opposition.’
~ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘The Sparrow and the Crow is a multigenerational historical novel with strong characters and many secrets.’
~ Novels Alive Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘This book, wow, absolutely phenomenal. I will say I have loved every book in the series and I simply can’t wait for the next one to release.’
~ elaine_sapp65 Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘If your favorite kind of drama happens over garden gates instead of palace walls, this is one you’ll want to add to your TBR! It has that cozy, character-driven atmosphere that makes you want to settle in with a warm drink and keep reading just one more chapter!’
~ The Page Ladies Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

‘This book is steeped in bravery and treachery in equal measure. All the books have had strong character development with several having a redemption by the end of this book. There was intrigue mixed in this historical novel… that kept me turning the pages to the end.’
~ meloplanner Review of THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

Tour Host Info:

Book Formats: ePub, Print
Hosting Options: Review, Interview, Guest Post, Showcase
Giveaway: There will be a tour-wide PICT Giveaway
More: According to the author The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club is considered to be G-level content or less. Readers may still encounter potentially sensitive material. If you have specific trigger or content concerns, please contact Partners in Crime Tours directly for more detailed information.