AT THE STAIRCASE. Chippewa Valley author, Mary Pierce, has published the fifth Mackenzie Prentice mystery novel, “Old Habits.” In this book, Mackenzie will solve the murder of Sister Mary Agnes, while she herself is disguised as a nun. (Photo via Unsplash)
Mackenzie Prentice – perhaps a familiar name to local readers – will once again be at the center of a new mystery. “Old Habits,” the fifth installment of Eau Claire-based author Mary Pierce’s ongoing series, will delve into Mackenzie’s past, introduce a touch of romance, and explore the revelations which come from examining one’s former patterns.
The Mackenzie Prentice series, as Pierce described best in her latest Substack story, are light-hearted mysteries which are “not exactly ‘cozy’ with the tea and crumpets crowd, but not ‘thrillers’ either.” Many details throughout each novel are left to the reader’s imagination, and the same will be true for “Old Habits,” Pierce wrote.
“Old Habits” — and other adventures in Pierce’s mystery series — take place in Three Rivers, a location that may or may not draw heavily from various places and spaces within the Chippewa Valley.
“It’s a Wisconsin town, so it feels very much like Eau Claire — it’s just smaller scale because that makes (the story) a little more intimate,” Pierce said.
Book cover for “Old Habits,” by Mary Pierce.
Pierce vividly describes the moment the first line of “Old Habits” came to her; she looked down at her daily crossword puzzle and suddenly saw Sister Mary Agnes in the corner of the paper. The line reads, “Sister Mary Agnes fell down the Bell Tower stairs, and until the bells rang on Sunday morning, no one knew what happened to her.”
Not only does this novel dive deep into the twists and turns of a timeless mystery series, “Old Habits” will also reveal the importance of Mackenzie’s relationships, Pierce said.
Mackenzie (or “Mack,” as Pierce often calls her) will navigate the relationships across three generations of women in her family, including her grandmother’s third husband, Nathan. Along with close friends Tansy and Jade — and romantic interests Nick and Vince — Mack continues to face challenging truths concerning those closest to her.
Mack’s narratives are often influenced by Pierce’s personal history — like with Three Rivers and Eau Claire — and her relationships with family and friends. Readers can expect “Old Habits” to offer deeper insights into its characters, Pierce herself, and even their own understanding of the world around them.
As Pierce noted, she has an incredible amount of fun writing Mackenzie’s story, and the enjoyment doesn’t end there.
“I can’t wait to start the next book when I finish one; I have 20 in mind so I’m just going to keep on going as long as I can,” Pierce said.
“Old Habits” by Mary Pierce will be available to purchase online via Amazon (and soon in-person at The Local Store in downtown Eau Claire) on Sept. 5.