Discover the world of D.S. Cross mysteries
Welcome to the captivating world of D.S. Cross Mysteries. Learn about the author, the inspiration behind the stories, and what makes these cozy mysteries a delightful escape.
My journey to cozy mysteries
I’ve been writing since 2020—mostly non-fiction and children’s books, which means I can explain life lessons and make a duck wear pants. Eventually, I decided it was time to write something for the grown-ups. But not the blood-spattered, sleep-with-the-lights-on kind. I like my mysteries the way I like my coffee: cozy, comforting, and only slightly dangerous if you spill them. So I wandered into the world of Cozy Mysteries. That’s where Beth Monroe walked in—followed by her dog Daisy, who immediately took over the place like she owned it. One curious woman, one opinionated dog, and suddenly I had a story that refused to stop. Turns out once Beth and Daisy showed up, they weren’t leaving until I wrote them a whole series, which I'm working on.
Life's rich tapestry: inspirations behind the stories
Between being a father of ten and a grandfather of forty-five, I’ve logged more hours reading bedtime stories than most librarians. That’s actually what pushed me into writing children’s books in the first place. When you’ve got that many little ones asking for “just one more,” you eventually start making up your own. And eventually you start thinking, “I could write one of these… probably before someone spills their juice again." Before writing, though, I spent ten years in the U.S. Navy and traveled around the world three times. I’ve seen places, people, and situations that most folks only catch glimpses of in documentaries. A lot of those experiences sneak into my books, sometimes as settings, sometimes as characters, sometimes as the odd detail that makes readers wonder, “How does he know that? And then there’s my time as a police officer and my lifelong addiction to mysteries. That combination pretty much guaranteed I’d end up writing whodunits.
The comforting thrill of a cozy mystery
My mysteries are definitely cozy, but they’re not the kind where nothing ever happens. I like to think of them as “comfort-food mysteries with a little kick.” You get the small-town charm, the humor, the lovable characters, and the dog who steals every heart — but you also get real puzzles, real stakes, and just enough tension to keep readers turning pages long past bedtime. Because of my background — Navy life, world travel, police work, and a lifetime of people-watching — there’s always an undercurrent of authenticity beneath the cozy surface. The danger stays off-screen, the gore stays out of the room, and the focus stays on clever clues, quirky personalities, and that satisfying moment when everything finally clicks. So the feel of my mysteries? Cozy at heart, curious by nature, and just suspenseful enough to make readers say, “Okay… one more chapter.
More than just a story: an experience
What I hope readers take away from my books is simple: I want them to have fun getting lost in the twists and turns. I want them guessing, second-guessing, and then realizing they were wrong the whole time — in the best possible way. My goal is to give readers that cozy, page-turning experience where the world fades out, the clues pull them in, and they suddenly notice it’s way past the time they meant to stop reading. And when they reach the last page, I want them to feel that little spark of excitement — the one that makes them say, “Alright… when’s the next one?” If they’re eager to spend more time with my characters, my settings, and my mysteries, then I’ve done my job.