Character Coffee Chat with Jorja Matthews

Welcome to the first Character Coffee Chat post!

Readers immerse themselves in books they enjoy, especially when they can relate to the characters as if they are real people. Friends you can turn to, family you spend special moments with and even those characters you love to hate. My Character Coffee Chats will offer a little extra time with some of the characters readers have enjoyed meeting or getting to know in the Jorja Matthews mystery series. A note for anyone who hasn’t yet read the series:

BE MINDFUL: some coffee chats might offer spoilers!

For those who have kept up with the series since the beginning, here’s your chance to spend extra time with each character, gain insight about recent events in the novels and learn more details about their backstory.

Now, it’s time to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Today’s first coffee chat will begin with Jorja Matthews, the protagonist in the Jorja Matthews mystery series. If you’ve followed her since the beginning, you’re aware her life took on a sudden change after the death of her Aunt Gloria, when she inherited Hillcrest (the family home) and decided to move to the small town of Tenino where she opened a bookstore and coffee shop, and also became a license private investigator.

Let’s begin with Jorja telling us a little about herself and what she does…

Hi, I’m Jorja Matthews, and I run Books ‘N Brew, the local bookstore and coffee shop in the small town of Tenino with my best friend, Taylor Bishop. Opps! I mean, Taylor Rhoades. She just recently got married and I not used to her new name! Anyway, we run the bookstore together and I also work as a private investigator on the side. I work for local attorneys and help assist in criminal cases, but I also take cases sometimes from regular people who just need help with a situation.

Do you enjoy certain cases more than others?

Well, they all have their own pros and cons, of course. Someone off the street who asks me to work on what they believe is a ‘case’ might not understand what I can and can’t do, or what I will or won’t do. Attorneys know what they’re doing, from a legal standpoint, especially when it comes to what they should expect of me.

Can you describe one of your most interesting cases?

I’d rather not give specifics, but I can give a broad breakdown of some of the types of cases I’ve worked on that have been interesting. Let’s see…my first case, even before I obtained my PI license, was when I searched for the missing mother of a young high school student who asked for my help. She’d been told her mother had abandoned her when she was little, and after her father died she decided to try to find her mother. That investigation ended in a way I did not expect! That case, in particular, is also what prompted me to get my PI license so I could officially work as a PI.

Since then, I’ve worked on all sorts of cases. Some examples include a case where there were questions about whether the victim committed suicide or was murdered, an attack on one of my own relatives, domestic violence, a missing brother, thefts at a funeral home, a neighbor dispute—which turned out badly, I’m sad to say. I even inadvertently assisted in finding a missing child, if you can believe it. I’ve also worked on cases involving poisoning, rape, insurance fraud, and of, course, murder. Oh, and I also worked on a cold-case murder, which no one knew had even been a murder until the body turned up.

What’s your background to allow you to manage these types of cases?

I went to school for a legal assistant degree and then worked as a legal assistant at a couple of firms down in Vancouver. I’d been at my last firm for six years before they had to let me go because they were cutting costs to avoid having to close their office completely. A lot of my experience and knowledge was gained while working on cases for the attorneys, beyond just legal assistant type work, and I believe that helped me when the first case just sort of dropped into my lap. After that, I took the required training needed and obtained my PI license and I’ve enjoyed helping people, plus it helps me make extra money if the bookstore isn’t bringing in a whole lot.

So you were living in Vancouver until recently?

I actually grew up in Tenino before moving down to Vancouver for college and then I stayed for work. Moving back to Tenino was due to an unexpected turn of events when, about a year ago, my aunt died and left me Hillcrest, our family home. I had just lost my job and many businesses weren’t hiring at the time, so I decided to move back to the house, especially when I found out my aunt had set up an account to help pay for the cost of running the home.

Then I found out there was a building for lease where I could open my dream business, a bookstore and coffee shop. I begged Taylor to move up here with me and she didn’t even hesitate. She moved in with me and we’ve been running the store together ever since. Of course, now that she’s married, she’s moved out. That’s something new I’m getting used to, not having her around as much, and the fact that she’s married.

Tell us about your family.

Oh, well, that’s tricky. When I moved into Hillcrest, my family included my aunt Gloria who had just passed, and my mom and dad, who are retired and live up in Edmonds. Then, my life became a Lifetime movie, basically, when I learned about a deep, dark secret my parents had been keeping from me all my life.

I probably shouldn’t spoil the fun by giving up all the details for anyone who isn’t yet in the know, but I will say my life changed drastically when I realized the truth about my birth, my parents and also the surprise in learning I had more family out there. And all this started because my dog, Piper, decided to dig a hole in my rose garden! It’ll be difficult to keep the details from popping up in future conversations, but let’s just say all that I thought I knew was turned upside for quite some time.

Do you enjoy living in a small town?

Yes…but as with anything there are pros and cons. The small-town vibe is something you either love or you hate. I love it. Although it was strange at first, coming back and making contact again with people I grew up with, went to high school with and even dated previously. We’re forming new adult relationships but it’s different when you have history with people from when you were younger. It’s easy to just slip into an adult version of the middle school or high school relationships, which may or may not be healthy!

And from a PI standpoint, small towns are great when I might need information about someone. It literally seems like everyone knows what everyone else is doing, or has done. But that’s also a downside, especially if you’re a private person. The secrets surrounding my birth and my family aren’t something we’ve made all that public, but I’d bet quite a few know the truth anyway and just don’t say anything. Of course, that’s not always the case, which was certainly true when one of my investigations revealed the deadly dark interior of a local everyone thought they could trust. That case was difficult, in so many ways, and especially when I was attacked because of it.

Having been attacked didn’t make you want to quit working on cases?

No. I’m too stubborn. I don’t really enjoy conflict, but if I think someone is lying or there’s a puzzle piece that doesn’t fit right, I’m going to try to figure out why that person is lying or what puzzle piece I need to look for to make a case make sense.

When I was attacked, it was because I had done my job in helping someone who desperately wanted answers. The fact that I was able to give that to her outweighs what happened to me. Now, I won’t lie. I didn’t sleep very well for some time afterwards and then when he broke out of prison and came back for me and my family, I’d never been so scared. I almost lost a newly found family member because of that situation, but thankfully it all worked out. What happened is a part of me and I have my moments, and some sleepless nights still, but I think I’ve dealt with it pretty well. My mom might not agree, but, well, she’s my mom.

We’ve hit the end of the allotted time for our coffee chat, so let’s end with two simple questions to learn just a little bit more about you. What’s something you enjoy and what’s something you dislike?

I’ll start with what I dislike first, because that one’s easy. I dislike when someone describes me as a redhead. My hair is auburn and I realize the term ‘redhead’ is everyone’s go-to word, but my hair isn’t red. I know it’s silly, but…it’s just something I’ve always been annoyed by.

Anyway, what I enjoy is spending time with my dog, Piper. I rescued her when I lived in Vancouver and I just adore her. I enjoy taking walks with her or just letting her hang out with me in the Jeep when I’m driving around. One time when she was with me, she actually found the body of someone who had been at my store only days before! But I won’t get into those details… Besides, that’s another case—another story.

Yes, and time is limited, so we’ll have to end the conversation here. Jorja may come back another time, but it could be awhile so if you have a question specifically for her, please note it down in the comments and she’ll reply to the best of her ability.

I hope you enjoyed this Character Coffee Chat and that you’ll check back next month for the next chat with another character from the Jorja Matthew mystery series!