cozy mystery

Featured Book: MURDER IN THE VALLEYS by Pippa McCathie

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Just 0.99 for a limited time (until 1st October). Available FREE with PRIME.com!

Ex-superintendent Fabia Havard is struggling with civilian life when a local girl is found dead.

Out walking near the rain-swelled river running past her small Welsh town, she comes across the body of Amber Morgan. Fabia’s police training tells her instantly that the death is the result of foul play. But no longer in the force, all she can do is call it in.

Yet she has mixed feelings when she discovers it is her former colleague, Matt Lambert, newly promoted to chief inspector, who will head the investigation into the girl’s death.

Despite this, having known the victim, and bored with her new job as an illustrator, Fabia can’t help probing into the murder. However, her inquiries further upset the quiet of the town. Not least her neighbour, busybody Rhona Griffiths, who was seen arguing with the victim the day before her death.

Fabia’s activity bothers Matt Lambert but time and time again Fabia’s instincts are proved right. He can’t help leaning on her in order to progress the investigation but that will also involve confronting why she left the force years ago.

Can they put their differences aside and work together to bring the perpetrator to justice despite Fabia’s painful past being brought up again? Or will Fabia’s moonlighting get her into further danger?

MURDER IN THE VALLEYS is set in the fictional town of Pontygwyn in the Welsh valleys under the shadow of the Black Mountains. It will appeal to readers who like traditional whodunnits, those who like the landscape, atmosphere and people of South Wales, and everyone who likes a good read that keeps you turning the page.

MURDER IN THE VALLEYS is FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback and audiobook.

If you enjoy MURDER IN THE VALLEYS, you’ll love the other books in the series. The full list is as follows:

1. MURDER IN THE VALLEYS
2. MURDER AT THE OLD ABBEY
3. MURDER BY THE RIVER USK
4. MURDER IN A WELSH TOWN

All FREE with Kindle Unlimited and in paperback.

Buy MURDER IN THE VALLEYS Here

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Prestige, Privilege & Murder by Christa Nardi

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A divorce decree is made null and void by murder.

Stacie Maroni, HR specialist and trauma counselor, isn’t prepared for the murder of her estranged husband. His death and custody of their Maltese, Jasper, barely sink in and someone is after her. Her in-laws and her husband’s law firm strive to keep up the pretense that all is above reproach and idyllic.

As she goes through her husband’s effects, Stacie discovers possible motives for his murder. Unfortunately, neither she nor the police know why someone is after her. Whatever the true motive may be, it soon becomes clear that Stacie might be the next victim.

Can she sort it out with Jasper by her side? Mystery with a side of romance and new beginnings.

Targeted Age Group:: Adults

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I enjoy reading mysteries and writing mysteries. This book (and series) resonates with my work as a mental health professional as well as life changes like divorce or death of a loved one.

Black Jade – A Daiyu Wu Mystery by Gloria Oliver

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Could an old-fashioned ballgown be used to commit murder?

Daiyu Wu is aware that fear of the Yellow Terror has made her nationality a rare breed in the Lone Star State. Being Chinese and blind makes her doubly unique in 1930 Dallas. Despite these impediments, anyone who dismisses her for either fact does so at their peril.

One day, at her family-owned laundry business, Dai detects the scent of burned garlic. With the help of her companion, Jacques, the source is soon discovered. It is a green ballgown. The gown has money pinned inside it to pay for the cleaning, but oddly, it came with no address label to identify its owner. Her extensive knowledge leads Dai to believe someone has committed murder using arsenic. The perpetrator is trying to use White Laundry to hide the evidence. But no mention of foul play turns up in the newspapers, and there’s not enough proof to convince the police there’s been a crime.

Her curiosity and intellect stimulated like never before; Dai ignores the possible consequences and sets out to solve the mystery with the help of her canine companion, Prince Razor, and her confidant, Jacques Haskins. It’s either that or let the killer get away with it — assuming a spoiled popinjay, his jealous self-appointed girlfriend, and Dai’s overprotective parents don’t get in her way.

A Daiyu Wu Mystery – Book 1

Targeted Age Group:: 14+

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
As an author, all my novels up to date have been standalone's. I figured it was about time I tried my hand at a series. 😛 This is also my first stab at a cozy historical mystery. Several of my favorite authors not only wrote fantasy and science fiction but also mysteries. Several of my fantasy and ya fantasy novels already had mystery elements, so I decided to branch out. History is fascinating and a cozy would be a great way to explore some of it. 🙂

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 detective 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: Zombies For Everyone: A Jenna Sutton Supernatural Cozy Mystery – Book 1 by Kimberly Wylie

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Jenna Sutton is nothing like the iconic vampire slayer of TV fame.

She’s the antithesis of a cheerleader. She’s not peppy. And she sucks at gymnastics. She has nothing in common with the fictional Buffy, other than being blonde and in high school…

Oh, and occasionally she kills vampires for a living as well as other things that go bump in the night

Following an attack on an English teacher at a nearby school, it becomes clear this wasn’t an ordinary coyote bite. The gray-green Lichtenberg-like webbing of streaks making their way up Ms. Pruett’s arm can mean only one thing—zombies.

But this isn’t a normal zombie attack. The victims seem to be hand-picked.

Can Jenna complete her investigation without the school administrators figuring out she’s actually a high school student from another school? Will Jenna be able to find out who’s behind these attacks before a full-scale zombie outbreak overtakes the town? And, perhaps most importantly…

Why did her best friend kiss her after all of these years?

Buy Zombies For Everyone: A Jenna Sutton Supernatural Cozy Mystery – Book 1 Here

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Featured Book: Black Jade – A Daiyu Wu Mystery by Gloria Oliver

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Could an old-fashioned ballgown be used to commit murder?

A Daiyu Wu Mystery – Book 1

Buy Black Jade – A Daiyu Wu Mystery Here

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Miss Riddell and the Heiress by P.C. James

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Miss Riddell and the Heiress by P.C. James

A lost fortune. A desperate hunt for answers. Can a persistent investigator unearth the truth and save a life?

Sydney, Australia, 1977. Miss Riddell just survived a mind-numbing audit. So when she’s approached by an Australian woman seeking to prove she’s entitled to inherit an affluent English estate, the amateur sleuth is tickled by the chance to crack an easy case. But when she heads to England and discovers the aristocratic claim has no substance, she didn’t expect her dissatisfied client to follow… or the danger she would attract.

Helping the Aussie further her cause, Miss Riddell believes there’s nothing left to uncover until she saves the woman from a hit and run. And with her keen eye spotting threats lurking in the shadows, the talented accountant is determined to expose a secret worthy of murder…

Can Miss Riddell unravel a sinister scheme before someone’s greed sends the poor soul to her grave?

Miss Riddell and the Heiress is the intriguing fourth book in the Miss Riddell Cozy Mystery series. If you like whip-smart heroines, compelling clues, and sensational twists, then you’ll love P.C. James’ captivating tale.

Featured Book: Escape to Osprey Cove by Luisa Marietta Gold

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The mystery begins with an unusual find in the secret compartment of Doug’s new Corvette, changing his and Catherine’s life forever. Doug’s mysterious behavior afterward forces Catherine to escape to The Osprey Cove Lodge, where she finds something even more valuable. The series is uniquely written, spanning seven geographic locations, from the scenic Canadian region of the Rideau Lakes to the beautiful shores of the Caribbean. An exciting web of mystery develops as the characters’ lives intertwine. The description of the lodge is so inviting that you will want to pack your bags and head there.

Buy Escape to Osprey Cove Here

In The Beginning, There Was a Murder by P.C. James

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In The Beginning, There Was a Murder by P.C. James

A secret liaison. A violent murder. Can one woman solve the crime without joining the body count?
Northern England, 1953. Pauline Riddell has grand ambitions for her future at the armament factory. So, when her closest workmate reveals a salacious affair with a married man, Pauline refuses to risk her career by listening to the scandal. But she’s shaken to her core when the police arrive with news of her best friend’s homicide.
Desperate for justice, Pauline’s insistent poking into the investigation only makes her the prime suspect. And now to clear her name, she must unravel a web of deadly clues entangling her in a sinister plot.
Can Pauline catch the killer before they strike again?

The Concrete Vineyard by Cam Lang

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Why would anyone want to murder the most respected senior citizen, Niagara-on-the-Lake has ever had?

Retired history professor Edward Mitchell was surely not long for the grave, so why would someone risk life in prison to kill him? Picking up the clues is the reluctant Homicide Chief Detective, Bryan Dee. Thinking he might be out of his depth he is happy to enlist the aid of his friend, Kris Gage. But when Dee reads the deceased’s last entry in his diary, ‘time to take care of K. Gage,’ he becomes torn between investigation and friendship.

As an urban planner, Gage understands real estate and the bureaucracy of planning. Following the money, he soon finds himself in the middle of corrupt developers who seek to take all the charm out of the area. Over two hundred years after the War of 1812, is Niagara-on-the-Lake, once again, on-the-Take?

The Concrete Vineyard is an intriguing and unique whodunit. Packing an intellectual punch, this smart murder/mystery will have you guessing and gripped! If you like great characters, clever plots and intelligent storytelling, then you’ll love this creative and thought-provoking novel.

Buy The Concrete Vineyard today for a thoroughly enjoyable read!

Targeted Age Group:: Adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Although everyone has a planning opinion (there’s a joke about this in the novel), urban planning can be a pretty boring subject. With the exception of an accounting summary, nothing will put you to sleep faster than skimming through a technical planning report. Ironically, planning benefits from visioning, creativity and innovation, however, the political and administrative structures in which planners often operate stifles the very traits we need them to exhibit. I wanted to write a novel that would help educate people about planning and urban design but allow them to experience it in a fun way. Nobody, including myself, likes reading planning reports – but people do love a good murder. Canada 150 provided the perfect moment in time to write this ‘murder history’.