Fantasy mysteries are having a moment—and this week we're digging into exactly what makes the combo work. Janet welcomes author and small press publisher Leah R. Cutter (Knotted Road Press, Mystery, Crime and Mayhem magazine) for a deep dive into blending magic and murder.

Topics covered include:

• Does a fantasy mystery need a murder? (Spoiler: not always—missing heirs, stolen artifacts, and RPG-style investigation threads all count)
• Favorite fantasy mystery reads, from The Tainted Cup to genre-blending urban fantasy classics
• Writing mysteries as a "gardener" vs. an "architect"—how discovery writers can still nail a satisfying whodunit
• Villains, three-act structure, and why your mushy middle might just need more bad guy
• How different fantasy settings (second-world, urban, secret-world) change your toolkit for clues and investigation
• Playing fair with readers: red herrings, "pink herrings," misdirection, and the recency-primacy effect
• Balancing fantasy and mystery in equal measure—and what happens when a book leans too far one way
• Cozy vs. non-cozy: where the line actually falls, and why cozy mysteries run on curiosity instead of tension
• Sellable word counts for fantasy mystery novels, novellas, and short fiction

Plus, a first look at Leah's upcoming Kickstarter, Death by Brisket—a paranormal cozy mystery following a barbecue competition team solving supernatural crimes on the road.

Whether you're plotting a novel, running a mystery-driven RPG campaign, or just love a good genre mashup, this episode is packed with practical tools for weaving magic and mystery together.

www.worldanvil.com www.leahcutter.com