Cool Change by Kevin Zelenka ~ Spotlight

Posted July 22, 2026 by karenbaron in Blog Tour, Spotlight / 1 Comment

Cool Change

Series: Originally Pressed Mysteries #1

Author: Kevin Zelenka

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Setting: Minnesota

Release Date: June 1, 2026, by Windbreak Press

Pages: 249

Summary:

After ten years as a Military Police investigator, Tony DeLucca thought coming home would mean peace and quiet. He was wrong.

Days after returning, Tony finds himself at the center of a murder investigation—not as an investigator, but as the last hope for his new landlord’s son. When local musician Derek Paulson is found dead and Ryan White is arrested for the crime, Tony can’t shake the feeling that the wrong man is behind bars.

What starts as a favor to a desperate father quickly unravels into something darker. Gambling debts, a missing guitarist with a violent past, and someone who seems just a little too helpful all point to secrets worth killing for.

With Ryan’s preliminary hearing looming and the deputy chief determined to shut him down, Tony must navigate a tangled web of lies, grudges, and secrets. The evidence points one way, but his instincts say another. Trusting the wrong one could cost an innocent man his freedom.

A small-town mystery where solving a murder becomes more than a case—it’s the beginning of everything Tony didn’t know he was looking for.

Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | Storygraph | Amazon

Excerpt

The Flat Rock Police Department occupied a single-story brick building on Third Street, sharing a parking lot with the fire department and city hall. I’d been here once before, five months ago, and I hadn’t exactly made friends with everyone in the department during that visit.

Deputy Chief Greg Ortworth’s face confirmed that the moment I walked through the front door.

“Well, well,” he said from behind the reception desk, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. “Tony DeLucca. Back to play detective again?”

I kept my expression neutral. “I’m here to see Ryan White. His father asked me to visit.”

“Did he, now?” Greg made no move to check any paperwork or buzz me through. “Last time you were sniffing around this department, we had a real mess on our hands. Stolen property, corruption charges, and people losing their jobs. You’ve got a real habit of stirring up trouble.”

“I have a habit of finding the truth,” I said evenly. “There’s a difference.”

“Is there?” He stood up, walking around the desk to face me directly. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’re just a guy who got lucky once and thinks that makes him some kind of detective.”

“I’m just here to talk to Ryan.”

“This is straightforward. We’ve got our guy. He had motive, opportunity, and a timeline that doesn’t add up. Open and shut.”

“Then you won’t mind if I talk to him.”

“Actually, I do mind. Civilians don’t get to waltz into my jail and interrogate suspects just because they feel like playing cop.”

The door to the back office opened, and Police Chief Kent Larson stepped into the reception area. He took one look at Greg and me facing off and let out a long sigh.

“What’s going on out here?”

“Just explaining to Mr. DeLucca that we don’t need his help on the Ryan White case,” Greg said.

Kent’s expression didn’t change, but I saw something flicker in his eyes. “Mason called me this morning. He said Tony would be coming by to see his son, with my permission.”

“Chief, I don’t think—”

“I don’t care what you think, Greg.” Kent’s voice was quiet but firm. “Mr. White has a right to have someone check on his boy. And while Tony’s methods might have been a bit unorthodox, he did find answers last time when we needed them.”

Greg’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t like last time. We’ve got real evidence here.”

“Then, Tony seeing Ryan shouldn’t be a problem, should it?” Kent turned to me. “Ten minutes. That’s all you get. And if I find out you’re interfering with our investigation, Mason’s approval or not, you’re done. Clear?”

“Crystal.”

About the Author

Kevin Zelenka is an avid reader, amateur chef, and expert procrastinator. A former parenting writer and editor, he’s had an unfinished manuscript (or three) rattling around in his head for decades. Originally from Minnesota, he eventually escaped the cold and settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he lives with his wife and their twin sons. Cool Change is Book 1 in the Originally Pressed Series.

Tour Organized by:

To find all the tour information, click the banner at the top of the page.

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Thank you for dropping by! So, what do you think of Cool Change by Kevin Zelenka? Check out the other stops and enter the awesome giveaway if you have time.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon affiliate, meaning that if you click the link and purchase something, this blog gets a tiny percentage back. Mainly, this helps with the cost of the website and a few giveaways.