Mystery Reads

Featured Book: The Disappearance of Emily by Elizabeth Pantley

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A magic mirror. An enchanted world. A mysterious missing mother. A suspicious package. An unexplained death. A community of strange, quirky people. A sassy cat and a hilarious, bumbling, and perpetually annoyed witch. Hayden finds herself surrounded with support as she solves the mystery of the death and learns shocking secrets about herself.

Hayden’s life was normal until she fell through a mirror and was thrust into an alternate, magical place. Destiny Falls is not on any map and is home to a family she never knew she had. The town is enchanted and charming, and the amazing mansion she lives in changes to meet the needs of the people who live there, including her! Every day she discovers a new enchantment.

But something is amiss. Hayden gets an ominous warning from a strange woman, who promises to tell her the town secrets and give her a package – if she’ll meet her at the mysterious ferry that lacks a published destination. The ferry visit is cancelled, but the package is delivered. Once it arrives, someone turns up dead. Then the suspicious episodes start, too many to call them coincidences. She and her family are targeted and in danger.

Who or what is causing the chaos? All signs point to the mysterious disappearance of her mother – way back when Hayden was just two days old. Can she identify and eliminate the threat before another person in her life is stolen away? Can she learn more about the secrets kept for her lifetime? With the help of her sassy sidekick cat, and a host of new family and friends, Hayden finds herself surrounded with support as she solves the mystery of the death and learns shocking secrets about herself.

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Frayed Ends by Sally J. Ling

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Frayed Ends by Sally J. Ling

Leaving her hectic job as a news producer in Washington, D.C., was never part of Randi Brooks’ plan, but when she learns of her parents’ tragic deaths, she has no choice but to rush home to Boca Raton, Florida. When she finds out their deaths weren’t accidental, things take a turn toward the dangerous. Toss in a fire and theft at the family-owned fabric store and upholstery shop and an unscrupulous real estate developer willing to do whatever it takes to get her property, and things become deadly.

To complicate matters more, a mysterious but handsome man living in the guest house and an attractive cop harboring a high school crush are both vying for Randi’s affection.

While Randi struggles to make some difficult decisions regarding her parents’ business, her job in D.C., and her conflicting feelings toward both men, the three of them must find out who murdered Randi’s parents before the killer strikes again.

Featured Book: Late for Love by MK Scott

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The senior sleuths love a good laugh, but this conundrum is no laughing matter. A missing journalist, an African Grey parrot, and a possible mob connection sound like the beginning of a bad joke. Unfortunately, there is no punchline and no one, aside from the seniors, who would dare to take the case on.

Will their first chance to handle a case on their own prove to be way too much for them to handle, and more importantly, could this first be their last?

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A Bark in the Night by MK Scott

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A Bark in the Night by MK Scott

Out of control preschoolers and their demanding parents has Nala turning private investigator over summer break. Her agency motto is discreet inquiries, which means nothing to her wanna be action star father or her competitive mother who are determined to help.

A hunky veteran turned cop, a helpful neighbor, and a rescue dog that talks only makes things interesting. Nala might even start to enjoy the job if whoever is trying to kill her would just give it a break.

Featured Book: Petectives: Christmas Party by Robert J. Smith

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Christmastime is here and cat detectives Yoshi and Gatsby are back in this holiday whodunnit! Someone not filled with the holiday spirit is trying to kill an obnoxious dog and the Petectives are on the case. While conducting their latest investigation, Gatsby’s also planning a Christmas Eve blowout for the neighborhood animals. Yoshi is dead set against the party but he may be able to use the festivities to unmask a would be killer and teach Gatsby what Christmas is all about. Throw in a canine love triangle and a cute orphan kitten and you’ve got the recipe for one riveting Yuletide affair. The Petectives are throwing a Christmas party and you don’t want to miss it!

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Once Upon a Trailer Park by Maggie Pill

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A new series that’s suspenseful, hilarious, and focused on mature spouses with loving (but sometimes contentious) relationships.
*Once Upon a Trailer Park* begins with a murder on the streets of the Beautiful Bird RV Park in Palm Hill, Florida. As residents learn bits and pieces about the crime (some true, some less so), they form and reform theories of the killer’s identity. It’s the park weirdo. It’s the ex-wife. It’s the victim’s employer.
Residents want to find out the truth, some due to friendship, some from fear, some to protect themselves. It soon becomes clear that asking too many questions leads to danger. In fact, it could spell disaster.

Targeted Age Group:: Adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
My Sleuth Sisters Mysteries are very popular, but after seven books, I was looking for something new and fun. People in the RV park we winter in suggested a book about "us," and I'd been wanting to do something with husbands and wives. Like the sisters in my Sleuth Sisters series, the couples in this book love each other but don't always see the world in the same way. That makes for irritation…and humor.

Featured Book: Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

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When her sister dies, Atlanta copywriter Maggie Newberry flies to the south of France to find the little niece that no one in the family even knew existed. Along the way, she finds handsome sexy Frenchman Laurent Dernier to help with the search. Meanwhile, her sister’s murderer sets his sights on the little girl—and Maggie.

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Featured Book: Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

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Maggie Newberry is an advertising copywriter who’s fast on her feet and a little stunned to realize that she’s over 30 and still hasn’t found true love. When her long missing sister ends up dead, Maggie flies to the south of France to find the little niece that no one in the family even knew existed. Along the way, she finds handsome, sexy Frenchman Laurent Dernier to help search for the girl. Meanwhile, her sister’s murderer sets his sights on the little girl—and Maggie.

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Petectives: Under FIre by Robert J. Smith

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It’s the 4th of July and the Petectives are feeling the heat! In the midst of a sweltering heat wave, feline detectives Yoshi and Gatsby get word that an old enemy is back and running a protection racket in their neighborhood. When an attack lands Gatsby’s girlfriend in the veterinary hospital, he gets hot under the collar but it may take Yoshi’s cool logic to shut down a gang of animal criminals and clear a dog from a horrible accusation. The Petectives are back and there’s going to be fireworks!

Targeted Age Group:: All Ages

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I got tired of all of the books featuring cats helping human detectives. Its high time that cats get their paws dirty and do their own detective work!

Summer of the Missing Muse by Beatrice Fishback

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Daisy McFarland is at it again. As a cozy crime writer, she wants nothing more than to create the next Christie series that will skyrocket up the New York Times bestseller list. But her muse is stuck in neutral as she painfully tries to conjure up the perfect murder mystery.

Stuck in a rut, the retired American schoolteacher, now residing in the quaint British village of Worlingburgh, decides to add some real-life exposure to stoke the embers of her waning creativity. Her quest leads her to respond to an advert for volunteer companionship at the regional residential home. Much to her surprise, the decision opens her up to a world of lively folk who enjoy a good natter and offer unexpected inspiration.

What Daisy doesn’t anticipate is two deaths that occur in the sleepy village and the direct connection they have with those in the residential accommodations. When Detective Superintendent Sam Decker is called upon to assist with the case, Daisy has further opportunities to spend time with the attractive detective. Where do the two go from here, and will Daisy ever finish her cozy?

Targeted Age Group:: 14-105

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Having attended a writer's conference in England, the setting was the perfect place for the mystery muse to strike. So both Summer of the Missing Muse and Winter Writerland came from the conference experience and people that attended became characters in the stories.