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Killing Spring by Anita Klumpers is set in the charming fictional town of Portia, Illinois over the span of a long weekend. According to the author, Portia is based on the actual town of Galena. After her first visit there, she knew she wanted to incorporate it into her next novel. 

Named for the mineral galena, the town was a draw for thousands in the 1800s. Its streets are still lined with 19th-century buildings, well preserved. The town also has ties to President Ulysses S. Grant. Flanked by a bluff, the main thoroughfare is curved, so coming around the bend incites anticipation as to what might come next—very fitting for a mystery. 

According to the 2020 census, the population was just over 3000. Learn more about Galena here.  

My first visit to Galena was in November 2024. I was already in the Christmas spirit; strolling the downtown shops boosted it even more. I bought a nostalgic hot chocolate tin sign and a gingerbread figure to enhance my Christmas decor. 

In November, the weather was brisk and I bundled up, seeking warmth in each shop. However, Anita’s story takes place in spring. Though Portia is based on Galena, looks like Galena, and is delightful like Galena, it’s not the same place. Galena itself is referenced as a nearby town.

The novel has ties to Anita’s first novel, Winter Watch, set up north in Barley, Wisconsin. That was my introduction to Anita’s books.

Anita Klumpers’ genre is primarily romantic suspense usually set in Wisconsin. Her novels include Winter Watch, Hounded, and Christmas Passed. Her title Buttonholed is a jump into contemporary romance—the first of her books without a murder and set in Tennessee. It was featured on my Journey to Imagination blog in 2020.

A Murder of Crows and The Lady with the Alligator Case take us back to the realm of romantic suspense. 

Blurb

Claudia Alexander arrives in quaint Portia, Illinois, for a peaceful getaway, dreaming of wedding plans and spring’s gentle warmth. But when cantankerous Korean War veteran Harvey Kaluza vanishes after a cryptic chat in a cozy coffee shop, her vacation spirals into suspense.

Ransom notes, a chilling skeleton in a forgotten basement, and whispers of dark dealings pull Claudia into a web of small-town secrets—testing her budding faith and newfound bonds. Teaming with quirky housekeeper Madge, clumsy seminary student Jed, and indomitable Heloise, Claudia navigates loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of redemption.

Amid intergenerational friendships and a tender romance, she confronts moral choices that echo her own scars— both seen and unseen. Will her courage and quiet providence reveal the truth before danger claims another life?

Killing Spring is a clean, faith-forward cozy mystery brimming with small-town heart, honorable journeys, and hopeful grace. No graphic violence or profanity—guaranteed satisfying ending. Perfect for fans of Jan Karon’s Mitford series, Debbie Macomber, and Lorna Seilstad.

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My thoughts

There are several draws to this story. First, the setting resembles Galena, Illinois. Secondly, the unique and quirky characters surround the protagonist, Claudia. And third, the author’s wit and style never disappoints. 

Plus, there’s the mystery of what happened to old-timer Harvey Kaluza. Not to mention two bodies showing up quite unexpectedly. 

Claudia and Ezra were engaged in a previous novel, Winter Watch. They visit Portia for the weekend while Ezra is attending a limnology conference. Yes, limnology! I’d never heard of it. It has to do with the study of aquatic ecosystems such as lakes, rivers, and streams. Meanwhile, Claudia freely roams the streets of Portia, meets Harvey in a coffee shop, and then finds herself embroiled in a search to find him. 

That leads her from one person to another. Soon, she’s practically friends with everyone in Portia. Except the police and a few shady characters she has to watch out for. 

One of those newfound “friends” is Madge, a college student who works at the hotel where Claudia stays. Madge is a hoot—most of the time. Except when she’s in a bad mood. She has a tough exterior, but for good reason. 

There’s also Jed, a good-guy hunk but forever fumbling through life with his clumsiness. Lyle, Madge’s grandfather, lives in style up on the hill and is engaged to Heloise. Moose and Melody run one of the shops. Steve runs the coffee shop.

Each character is distinct and full-fledged with a unique voice. Gerta the pet rabbit makes several appearances as well.

However, Claudia’s empathy, compassion, and curiosity don’t always serve her well. For as many times as she helps the cause, she also prompts a setback or gets herself into a pickle.

Since I don’t generally read mysteries, sometimes I don’t follow each clue or remember every necessary detail. That’s on me, not the author. I think I had the right to be angry at a few of the characters at certain parts of the story—assuming I was understanding things correctly.

Just when I thought things were winding down, they ramped back up. The mystery continues . . . but eventually comes to a satisfying conclusion. And a wish to spend another day in Galena. 

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Join me for some Q & A with author Anita Klumpers.

Questions about Killing Spring

What was your inspiration for writing Killing Spring? What’s your personal connection to the story and/or setting?

Anita: It took only one trip to Galena, Illinois and I was hooked on the place. That March 2012 was glorious! The earliest spring I ever remember. We stayed at the DeSoto House, a hotel with lots of history, we walked up and down the town’s hills, ate at restaurants, and drank at coffee shops. 

When we left, I wanted to turn right around and go back. Instead, I decided to write about it. I relocated it up the Mississippi River a bit, renamed it Portia, stuck in a couple of my favorite people from my first book, and thirteen short years later, Killing Spring was born.

Galena is a darling town! No wonder you want to use it for a story setting. How well did you know your key characters at the beginning of the novel, or did you get to know them as you wrote? 

Anita: I knew Claudia Alexander and Ezra Prosper pretty well since I wrote their story in my first book, Winter Watch. Madge and Jed are two secondary characters, and I knew both of them from the first line I wrote about them. 

My old folks (I can call them that now that I am one of them) developed as they reacted to the events and each other. I love all of them! 

Quite remarkable that you knew Madge and Jed so well after writing one line! They must be vivid characters. How did they and the others evolve as you continued writing? 

Anita: Every person in the book grew in complexity as the situations they faced grew more tangled. Or maybe they just revealed what was already part of each one’s character.

Hard to tell, right? Which character presented the biggest challenge and why? 

Anita: Madge. She is blunt to the point of rudeness. What she thinks is what comes out of her mouth. She has a sharp tongue and sharper mind. But if she is honest about the faults of others, she is also honest about her own. I hope readers end up liking her as much as I do, in spite of her constant efforts to be unlikeable.

Those cranky ones are sometimes irresistible. Did the plot stick to a pre-determined plan or did it evolve? 

Anita: Ha! Even “evolved” is too structured a word for the plot. It bounced, it backtracked, it skidded to a few stops before leaping into a black hole and dragging me with it. Thankfully, the black hole had a narrow exit door that we popped through.

I got whiplash just reading that explanation! What was the biggest challenge of writing this story?

Anita: Keeping the plot straight! Tying all the fluttering loose ends together, 

And honestly, saying goodbye to the characters at the end.

Aww… nice to know they’ll be missed. Maybe you’ll write about them again sometime. Was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

Anita: I had to name-drop Elihu Washburne. I have a very proper historical crush on him. He was an abolitionist, supporter of Lincoln, congressman, and Minister to France. There, he defended foreign nationals stuck in the country during the Franco-Prussian War and its fallout. He advocated for dividing up plantations after the Civil War to compensate freed slaves. And he was a pretty attractive guy.

Sounds like a good guy to know! What research rabbit hole did you fall into, and what fascinating detail made it onto the page? 

Anita: I fell down a rabbit hole with Netherlands Dwarf Rabbits! Gerta, the Netherlands Dwarf, only shows up for a few paragraphs, totally not commensurate with the hours I spent reading up on the critters, and melting over their adorableness.

Love that your rabbit hole was rabbits! Sounds like you couldn’t resist a cute little bunny. If a reader could underline only one passage, which would you choose—and why?

Anita: “Many heroes have fatal flaws. And some of the most tolerant, accepting people wouldn’t lift a finger to help out a fellow human if it posed any danger to themselves. Mankind is such a complex mess, aren’t we?”

Several of my characters are flawed, complex messes of hurts and failures. But so many of them are heroes. Some in dramatic ways and some by just trying to do the right thing. When we realize that “hero” potentiality in others and ourselves, we might cover flaws with more grace.

That is a great quote, and so true. Such irony! How does this book connect to your previous work—or signal a new direction for you?

Anita: It literally connects with my first novel, Winter Watch. Killing Spring takes place the month after the events in Winter Watch. Instead of setting this story in Barley, Wisconsin, though, I convinced Claudia and Ezra to spend a few days in Portia, Illinois.

AKA Galena. That’s a first for you—an Illinois setting. If you could live in one of the story worlds you’ve created, which one would you choose and why? 

Anita: While I love Barley, Wisconsin, I wish it was possible to live in Lowellton, Tennesee. That’s where my novel Buttonholed is set. I adore that town and the entire Jessup Family.

Buttonholed is such a fun story! I can see why you’d want to live in Lowellton with the Jessups as neighbors. Not to mention, it’s a lot warmer in Tennessee than in Wisconsin. 

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Back to Laura . . . On a similar note . . . 

If you like dual timeline fiction about family dynamics in a small town Midwest (Wisconsin) setting, try The Broken Weathervane (launched September 2). Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden. The timeline alternates between 2015 and the 1950s. Check out the reviews and book trailer here.

If you like historical fiction, you might enjoy A Hundred Magical Reasons (launched January 2025). This story spotlights L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, his friendship with a young girl, and his impact through the decades. Set in Holland, Michigan, this dual timeline novel alternates between 1980 and the early 1900s. Read more and watch the book trailer here. 

If you like Southern fiction and small town/rural stories about family dynamics and secrets, you might enjoy my novel All That Is Hidden. Set near North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1968, the story spotlights the bond of family and the connections of a tight-knit community. Northern exploitation threatens as a father’s hidden past catches up to him and tests family ties. Learn more and watch the trailer here.

All That Is Hidden is now an audiobook! 

I invite you to join my monthly newsletter for writing updates, freebies, and giveaways. Sign up and I’ll send you a prequel and 7 Oz-inspired recipes: StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com  

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Anita Klumpers bio:

Anita Klumpers lives in South Central Wisconsin with her husband and shrimpy dog Trudy. She dreams of the day she’ll be able to knit a pair of socks, grow fruits and vegetables instead of weeds and clover, run in a 5K and sew like a fiend. Since she has just reached Medicare age, she better get moving on the above ambitions. In the meantime she enjoys way too much coffee, a passel of grandchildren, a never-shrinking stack of books to be read, great friends, and the exhilarating knowledge that every day she is growing in grace and nurture of her Lord Jesus Christ. Follow her blog here.

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Join me next time for a visit with author Heather Greer.

Meanwhile, have you read Killing Spring of any of Anita’s novels or other small town settings in Wisconsin or Illinois? 

Answer in the comments below for a chance to win your choice of an ebook or a paperback—USA only.

Ever reading,

Laura

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and receive the 7 free Oz-inspired recipes: StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com