by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Transforming muddy wet beets and the unfulfilled promise of a saltwater pool into mystery novels that dare the reader to laugh out loud takes a gifted writer who knows how to take her craft seriously, but has a sense of humor about forgiving life. Meet Beth Riner, author of the character driven mystery series, “Odd Job Annie.” Readers of Riner’s novels tag along with Annie Cooper who like Riner is living her best retirement life in Monteagle. A former English teacher turned journalist, Riner writes feature stories for the Grundy County Herald, and occasionally the Messenger, as well, and does a lot of volunteering. Riner modeled Annie Cooper, the series’ thesis character, on herself. Like Riner, ever-busy Annie frequently finds herself in quirky circumstances when out and about town doing odd jobs. Packing wet muddy beets sets the stage for lots of laughs in the title book of the series, “Odd Job Annie.” But taking on the challenge of the second book titled, “A Deadly Development,” Riner realized she had a problem. “In the first book I fell in love with the victim. I couldn’t kill the victim off. But when I started writing the second one, I thought, it’s a mystery. I’m going to have to kill somebody.” Fate delivered into her life a developer who promised a saltwater pool and never delivered. Riner took the bait and ran with it. Set for release April 28, “A Deadly Development” pivots on Annie discovering the body of a disreputable real estate developer no one loves.

Laughing at her temerity, Riner confessed, “It was very therapeutic. I’m what Stephen King call a ‘pantser,’ somebody who writes by the seat of their pants as opposed to a plotter who meticulously plots everything out before they write. I know who the killer is and I have a list of suspects, and when I start writing, it just kind of flows.”

The strategy serves her well. “Odd Job Annie” has a five-star rating on Amazon with close to 80 reviews and was a 2025 Mystery & Mayhem finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Also celebrated as a journalist, Riner received two Tennessee Press Awards in 2025: business feature writing, second in the state, and general feature writing, fourth in the state.

Riner taught high school English for 23 years, but writing was always her first love. “If you were an English major, you love words,” she insisted acknowledging her passion. In “A Deadly Development,” Riner makes profligate use of the word “skeevy” taunting a friend who insisted “skeevy” was not a word. “I used it a dozen times just to mess with him,” she joked. Interestingly, the only critical reviews of “Odd Job Annie” upbraided her for using not-so-polite language. “Annie has a bit of a mouth on her,” Riner said. One reader counted 45 uses of the ‘f-word.’ Riner’s publisher Golden Bridges Publishing compiled the language objections into a funny video and posted it on Facebook and Instagram.

Riner calls her books “uncozy mysteries,” differing from the cozy mystery genre, with prudent verging on prudish language and serious verging on somber takes on life. Riner’s book are funny. “Annie is always getting into scrapes,” Riner observed. “Her odd jobs put her in hysterical situations.” Learning how popular Odd Job Annie was with male readers surprised Riner. “I think the humor is why men like it,” she speculated.

In book three, “A Killer Romance,” three love interests infect Annie’s not-so-cozy retirement: a handsome baker neighbor, an ornery country sheriff, and a mysterious air force colonel. “I don’t know if she’s going to end up with any of them. I kind of like the idea of Cinderella has a fling and lives happily ever after single,” Riner speculated.

For a 60-something retiree, being pursued by paramours is an unexpected treat. Likewise, mystery writer Riner finds herself a bit awed by the success of “Odd Job Annie” and the impatient readers eager for release of her second book. Meet the charmer at a launch party from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, May 2, at Sounding Stone Gallery in Monteagle. Coincidentally, Sounding Stone will be hosting the exhibit, “To Tell a Yarn: Stories in Fiber and Cloth,” featuring the work of seven regional fiber artists who use textiles to tell and re-tell stories. Thrilled by the synchronicity, Riner said, “It’s a win-win!” So are the doppelgangers Beth Riner and Odd Job Annie.

Riner’s books are available in both paperback or Kindle format on Amazon and all other online book retailers. “A Deadly Development,” officially scheduled for release April 28, may be preordered now.