Meet the characters from The Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery Series

The characters in The Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery Series are all “quirky” in their own way. If you read my blog or follow me on social media, you know my 2nd book in the series releases Feb. 25, 2025, so it’s past time to introduce you to these characters!

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The main characters are Peg Howard and her mother-in-law Hazel, with Shortie Jackson and Marcus Sharp playing starring roles.

Peg Howard

Peg Howard – Married to Zack when she was 22, but he died 13 years later. She’s now 48, a recent empty nester, and she’s a famous mom blogger (Mamma Birds). She starts The Empty Nester Birding Group to meet others in her situation and to make friends.

Hazel Howard

Hazel Howard – Peg’s mother-in-law who moved into Peg’s in Birds Alive! along with her Weimaraner, Charlie Brown (CB), and Roscoe the parakeet. She and Peg have become friends, and Hazel is very excited to solve mysteries.

Shortie Jackson

Shortie (Winston) Jackson – original member of the birding group, Shortie is retired Navy military police (MP), he’s divorced, and he has a daughter, Kimberly, who is 24. Shortie and Peg are … dating??

Marcus Sharp

Marcus Sharp – Pensacola police detective who meets Peg in book #1, Birds Alive! Sparks fly, and Peg can’t decide if she wants to walk closer to them or run away.

Lauree Richardson

Lauree Richardson – Peg’s next-door neighbor, Mamma Birds’ social media manager, and Peg’s BFF. Married to John, they had their twins later in life – Suzie & Stevie.

Owen Walters

Owen Walters – an original birding group member and a retired history professor from UWF. Hazel has a crush on him.

Estelle Keaton

Estelle Keaton – Roger Keaton, Pensacola’s notorious bad guy, is married to Estelle, who ends up being more important than anyone knew. Keep an eye on Estelle!

Dr. Harry Morrison

Dr. Harry Morrison – Harry is in book #2 Where’s the Quetzal? He has his PhD in wildlife with a specialty in ornithology. He works at The Bird Rescue and Care Center studying and helping quetzals reproduce.

More about Where’s the Quetzal?

How bad can a birder be?

Peg Howard has planned the perfect baby shower for her oldest daughter. But the return of Estelle and Roger Keaton disrupts her peace, reigniting old mysteries.

A chance discovery of a centuries-old shipwreck sets off a chain of events, thrusting Peg and her friends into a perilous game of deception. As they unravel the mysteries surrounding a rare quetzal bird, they uncover a plot that threatens their very lives.

With Detective Marcus Sharp and her mother-in-law Hazel by her side, Peg races against time to solve the mystery. But as she digs deeper, she realizes that some truths are better left buried.

In a tale full of twists and turns, Peg confronts her deepest fears, facing an adversary more cunning and unexpected than anyone anticipated. Join Peg and her friends on a journey through intrigue and peril, where bonds of friendship and family may be their only salvation. Will they uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will the past come back to haunt them all?

Read Research for Where’s the Quetzal? and then follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with news about my book and any special offers! Be sure you grab your FREE 10-step checklist to plan your novel when you subscribe!

Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)