Kathleen Kaska’s mystery, “Murder at the Arlington,” won the 2008 Salvo Press Mystery Novel Award and has just been released.

The novel is the first in her new “hotel” murder-mystery series. The story, set in 1952 when gangsterdom and gambling were prevalent, centers around the historic Arlington Hotel, but also includes some of Hot Springs’ institutions: Buckstaff Bath House, Oaklawn Race Track, Coy’s Restaurant, the infamous Ohio Club.

Kaska wrote the book while living on the island. “My writers’ group was very supportive and gave me valuable feedback every step of the way,” Kaska said in a press release. “Because of their help and encouragement, I dedicated the book to them.”

Kaska’s publishing credits include three mystery-trivia books: “What’s Your Agatha Christie I.Q.?,” “The Alfred Hitchcock Triviography and Quiz Book,” and “The Sherlock Holmes Triviography and Quiz Book.”

These trivia books contain the works of the three masters of mystery and suspense, as well as behind-the-scene tidbits about the writers.

She is a regular contributor to Texas Highways magazine. Her articles have also appeared in Cape Cod Life, Home Cooking, and Marco Polo magazines. From 1997 to 2002, she was a staff writer for AustinFit magazine.

While living in Friday Harbor, several of Kaska’s one-act plays were produced at the San Juan Community Theatre. She has won awards for her story stories, including first place in a Writer’s League of Texas Short Story contest and an honorable mention in Writer’s Digest magazine’s annual contest for the feature article category.

“Murder at the Arlington” is now available at Harbor Books.