Picture a storyteller who trades environmental reports for tales of murder and gemstones by night—meet Catherine Dilts! This American cozy mystery author weaves small-town intrigue with Western charm in her beloved Rock Shop Mystery series. From her roots in rural Oklahoma to her Colorado mountain home, Dilts crafts stories that sparkle like the geodes she writes about, blending amateur sleuthing with geological flair.
With short stories gracing Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and a day job as an environmental regulatory specialist, Dilts balances two worlds, dreaming of full-time writing. Her mysteries, free of gore but packed with suspense, have hooked readers who crave a cozy escape. Ready to uncover the brilliance of this hidden gem in the mystery world? Let’s dive in!
The Making of Catherine Dilts
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Catherine Dilts spent her childhood devouring books like Walter Farley’s Black Stallion series and cowboy tales, planting seeds for her Western-inspired mysteries. Summers in rural South Dakota, surrounded by mountains and cowgirls, shaped her love for rugged landscapes. After moving to Colorado, she caught 'mountain fever' and embraced the West, later channeling these experiences into her writing.
Dilts didn’t start as a writer. By day, she worked as an environmental regulatory specialist, ensuring global compliance for hazardous substances. But a midlife epiphany during graduate school sparked her dedication to fiction. With newfound discipline, she sold her first short story to Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine in 2013, kickstarting her literary journey.
Catherine Dilts’s Unforgettable Stories
Dilts’s Rock Shop Mystery series, starting with Stone Cold Dead (2013), follows Morgan Iverson, a widowed amateur sleuth running a rock shop in Colorado’s Golden Springs. Morgan’s knack for geology and curiosity unravel mysteries, like a decades-old murder in Stone Cold Case. Stone Cold Blooded adds shooting-range drama, blending small-town quirks with suspense.
Beyond the series, Dilts’s standalone Survive or Die (2019) is a cozy thriller set at a chaotic corporate retreat, where team-building turns deadly. Her Rose Creek Mystery series, launched with The Body in the Cattails (2023), shifts to Oklahoma’s Ozark foothills, drawing on her roots. Known for cozy mysteries with no graphic violence, Dilts’s stories weave environmental themes, factory life, and Western settings, inspired by her career and hobbies like hiking and fishing.
Her short stories, often published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, reflect her factory days, with tales of monotonous jobs turned murderous. Dilts also contributes to multi-author series like Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library, showcasing her versatility in the cozy genre.
Why Catherine Dilts Matters
Catherine Dilts brings a fresh voice to cozy mysteries, blending geological intrigue with relatable, flawed sleuths. Her environmental expertise adds authenticity, subtly weaving eco-conscious themes into plots without preaching. For fans, her stories offer a comforting escape where justice prevails, reflecting her belief in writing the novels she loves to read.
Though not a household name, Dilts’s growing fanbase and prolific output signal a bright future. Her shift to full-time writing in 2023, after retiring from her environmental career, promises more mysteries. She’s a testament to chasing dreams later in life, inspiring aspiring authors to persevere.
- Born: Oklahoma, USA
- Key Works: Rock Shop Mystery series, Survive or Die, Rose Creek Mystery series
- Notable Outlet: Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
- Hobbies: Hiking, fishing, trail running
Snag Stone Cold Dead or dive into Dilts’s Rose Creek Mystery series for a cozy, suspenseful ride through the West!