Feathered Quill Book Reviews

 #Authorinterview with Behcet Kaya

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Alma Boucher is talking with Behcet Kaya, author of Murder at Tutley Brewery: A Jack Ludefance Novel.

FQ: What inspired the striking opening scene of Murder at Tutley Brewery?

KAYA: Two overpowering thoughts come to mind. The first inspiration was a smell rather than an actual image. I used to work in the small town of Van Nuys, California where an Anheuser Busch facility was located. There was an overwhelming smell of fermenting beer permeating the entire area; a smell I have never forgotten. The second inspiration came due to my desire to explore the fascinating history of German beer. I discovered just how fierce the competition between breweries is and how many feuds are still ongoing. Combining those two thoughts led to the opening chapter.

FQ: Jack Ludefance is a calm and methodical investigator. What shaped his personality and investigative style?

KAYA: In a number of ways, I have based the Jack Ludefance character on my own. To a certain extent, his personal development has followed my own growth as I have matured. Certainly far from perfect, but working towards who I would like to be.

FQ: The Wein family is central to the novel’s tension. They are all very secretive. How did you build them like that?

KAYA: In researching the history of the German beer industry, it became apparent that most of the prominent families all held secrets. That became the starting point.

FQ: Wilhelmina Wein has many secrets from her past. How did you decide how much to tell us about her history and when to tell us?

KAYA: With the issue of Wilhelmina and Wolfram’s forbidden relationship, the topic needed to be thoughtfully introduced and expanded upon. The reality is that sexual relationships between siblings are more common than many people realize, though they remain underreported due to societal stigma and secrecy. The careful use of foreshadowing, give hints or clues about events that will happen later in a story, helped to build suspense and prepared the reader for future developments.

FQ: The novel is about secrets and how they affect families over time. Did you plan to write about that from the start, or did it just happen as you wrote?

KAYA: Every writer has their own unique strategies to build a storyline. (That is unless they use a pre-programmed outline in which they simply supply the answers, or enlist the help of AI to write the story, both of which I do not consider writing, but rather a form of cheating both themselves and their readers.) My stories have always seemed to write themselves. I start with an idea, then both my wife and I conduct extensive research, then discuss. From those often times intense discussions, the storyline begins to flow in my head. Once it starts, I cannot stop until the novel is completed.

FQ: What do you hope readers take away from the story beyond solving the mystery?

KAYA: Each of my novels have touched on a current societal issue, in this case the issue of sibling sexual relationships. In this story, my emphasis was on the consequences of revealing long held secrets of that relationship. Was it worth it?

FQ: How do you maintain suspense and pacing in a more methodical, investigative narrative?

KAYA: Again it is the use of foreshadowing, which is a very delicate balance. The entire structure depends on feather light balance.

FQ: Did you face any challenges while writing this book?

KAYA: Yes, I did. Two issues surfaced. First, I wanted to research the beer industry here in the U.S., but it wasn’t enough to base a story on. So, I went back to where beer actually comes from. “Beer’s origins can be traced back over 6,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia, where fermented grain drinks were made by accident. These early brews spread across Europe, and by the Middle Ages, monastic breweries in Southern Germany, especially Bavaria, became central to beer production. Monks perfected brewing techniques, developed distinct styles, and made beer a staple of German culture. A turning point came in 1516 with the Renheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law), enacted by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria. This law mandated that beer be made only from water, barley, and hops.” (Copilot research from various sources).

The second issue was the forbidden topic of sibling sexual relationships and the stigma of revealing them. I struggled with how much to reveal on a topic that most people are not even aware of.

FQ: Tutley feels like a character in itself. How did you develop the setting and its influence on the story?

KAYA: The Town of Tutley is based, in part, on the small rural town of Tifton, Georgia. The descriptions of the town and surrounding areas are entirely fictional.

FQ: Are you currently working on another installment in the series?

KAYA: The next Jack Ludefance novel will be titled The Silencer. In fact, I have already written several chapters. The first chapter is included in the current novel Murder at Tutley Brewery. The story revolves around the frequently featured character of the gangster named Perrera.

For more information about Murder at Tutley Brewery, please see this press release.