Book picks similar to
Deadly Judgment (Detective Sarah Spillman Mystery Series Book 5) by Renee Pawlish
sarah-spillman
ku
mysteries
series-detective-sarah-spillman
All Your Fault
N.J. Moss - 2021
Can you ever forgive yourself?Some secrets are better off buried…With Grace’s son starting reception, it is the ideal time to apply for a new job. And when the perfect job lands in her lap, she can’t believe her luck.But soon the idyllic opportunity becomes a living nightmare, and she is catapulted back to a childhood tragedy; the day her little sister was killed in a hit-and-run.When Grace suspects she is being followed, she struggles to keep herself together for her family’s sake.Unable to sleep, she starts to wonder if she is losing her mind? Is she going mad, inheriting the schizophrenia from her grandmother that has become a macabre family myth?The perfect job is becoming the perfect nightmare, and Grace is running out of places to hide.
Winning
Alafair Burke - 2010
A female officer who is attacked in the line of duty must protect her own husband from his worst impulses in this short story, first published in The Blue Religion (Michael Connelly, ed.) and recognized as one of 2009's Best American Mystery Stories (Jeffery Deaver, ed.).
Murder in the City (Country Girl in the Big City Cozy Mystery Book 1)
Susan Harper - 2021
It’s no mystery that there’s gonna be trouble. Especially for the criminals.A cozy mystery from International Bestselling Author Susan HarperBonnie Boone is headed to the big city to live with her childhood best friend, Katie Lou. . . and her goat. Some of the neighbors are less than thrilled to be sharing the apartment building with a goat. When one of those neighbors falls to his death, the girls find themselves at the top of the suspect list. Can the girls solve the murder mystery, clear their names, and keep Sylvester the goat out of trouble?Murder in the City is the first story in the Country Girl in the Big City Cozy Mystery series. If you like fast-paced mysteries with interesting characters, troublesome pets, and unexpected twists, you’re going to love the Country Girl in the Big City Cozy Mystery series.Download Murder in the City and see how a couple country girls, and a goat, get by in the big city!Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Nichelle Clarke Crime Thriller Series, Books 4-6: Box Set: Devil in the Deadline / Cover Shot / Lethal Lifestyles
LynDee Walker - 2018
DEVIL IN THE DEADLINEA human sacrifice unlocks a chilling mystery, and leads Nichelle Clarke into a world of unimaginable danger."...You won't be able to read fast enough..."When Richmond Police find a young woman's bloody remains spread across a candle-lit altar in an abandoned power plant on the banks of the James River, they give crime reporter Nichelle Clarke an all-access pass in exchange for her help.But the information Nichelle gets from the victim's friends only draws her deeper into the mystery. Where did Jasmine come from? How did she end up on the streets of Shockoe Bottom? And why doesn't she have any dental records?The answer trail stops at the front doors of a sprawling compound in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, where Nichelle finds a secretive cult leader and his devoted following. It is a world where lies becomes truth, and money is the true idol. Money some people would do anything to keep collecting...Even if it means murdering a nosy reporter.----------------------------COVER SHOTCryptic online messages and a murder in a swanky condo complex don't strike crime reporter Nichelle Clarke as related--until a gunman sends a hospital into chaos."...if you're a fan of mystery, you simply must read this series..."When a body is discovered in a high-rise in Richmond, Virginia, crime reporter Nichelle Clarke races to the scene. The victim is a brilliant doctor with an unusual past. But before Nichelle can decide what to make of the murder, the local police radio is filled with a dreaded distress call.There is an active shooter at a nearby hospital.The gunman has taken hostages on a patient floor, and gives the police a single demand.He wants to speak with Nichelle.In person.----------------------------LETHAL LIFESTYLESThe groom is the prime suspect in a murder at his own rehearsal dinner. Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke doesn't believe he's the killer-but now it's up to her to find out who is.When Nichelle Clarke is invited to be the maid of honor in her friends' Virginia Vineyard wedding, she looks forward to the celebration.
Jack Daniels Series - Three Thriller Novels (Rum Runner #9, Last Call #10, White Russian #11)
J.A. Konrath - 2018
She has since retired from the Chicago Police Department in order to raise her toddler daughter.But old grudges never die. They fester until the right opportunity comes along.While on vacation in the Wisconsin north woods, Jack learns--too late--that her old adversary is out of prison. He has revenge on his mind. And he's bringing an army with him.Outnumbered, outgunned, and cut off from the outside world, Jack Daniels is about to learn the meaning of last stand.L A S T C A L LThis is where it all ends. An epic showdown in the desert, where good and evil will clash one last time.His name is Luther Kite, and his specialty is murdering people in ways too horrible to imagine. He's gone south, where he's found a new, spectacular way to kill. And if you have enough money, you can bet on who dies first.Legendary Chicago cop Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels has retired. She's no longer chasing bad guys, content to stay out of the public eye and raise her new daughter. But when her daughter's father, Phin Troutt, is kidnapped, she's forced to strap on her gun one last time.Since being separated from his psychotic soulmate, the prolific serial killer known as Donaldson has been desperately searching for her. Now he thinks he's found out where his beloved, insane Lucy has been hiding. He's going to find her, no matter how many people die in the process.All three will converge in the same place. La Juntita, Mexico. Where a bloodthirsty cartel is enslaving people and forcing them to fight to the death in insane, gladiator-style games.Join Jack and Phin, Donaldson and Lucy, and Luther, for the very last act in their twisted, perverse saga.Along for the ride are Jack's friends; Harry and Herb, as well as a mob enforcer named Tequila, and a covert operative named Chandler.There will be blood. And death. So much death...W H I T E R U S S I A NJust when you get out...Former Chicago cop Jack Daniels thought she'd left her former life behind. She'd traded her badge for a toddler, and her lifelong pursuit of heinous serial killers for a boring house in the suburbs....they pull you back in.Then Jack sees some pictures. Pictures of men who were supposed to be dead. And once again, against the fierce insistence of her husband, Phineas Troutt, Jack reluctantly straps on her gun and goes hunting. Hunting for the worst of the worst.This leads to a trek across the Great Plains, searching for a modern slavery ring, on a collision course with three of the most horrible villains Jack has ever faced.But Jack, and her irritating buddy Harry McGlade, will face them, and much more. Because they're prepared to go to hell and back to rescue an old friend.The trick will be getting back in one piece. And--spoiler alert--they don't.About JA KonrathJA Konrath is the author of twelve novels in the Jack Daniels thriller series.
Quiet Evil: A Promise McNeal Mystery (Promise McNeal Mysteries Book 5)
Morgan James - 2017
When the magician’s assistant is murdered in a dilapidated tram car, the dramatic, Czech trapeze artist, Ruta, draws Promise into the mystery with a strange Tarot Card deck---which she insists she’s held for Promise since 1939---and a bizarre story of the magician Reznik and the Old Towne Clock in Prague. Promise’s husband, Perry County Sheriff Daniel Allen, is determined to go with the facts of the case, but when they meet the other members of Jest’s circus family, Daniel realizes no one is who they seem, and the facts are masked in past violence and lies. Though, as the murder goes unsolved, Promise is haunted by nightmares and struggles with an elusive illness, she and Daniel are determined to bring the murderer to justice. Fact by fact, they narrow the field of suspects until another death at the academy forces them to reconsider Ruta’s wild stories and think like the killer, if they are to catch him before he disappears for good.
Which Pie Goes with Murder?
Ruth Baker - 2021
A name that people would associate with excellence, creativity and fun. She thought she had found her calling in the big city and was on her way to becoming aworld-renowned food blogger...Until she got some tragic news that pulled her back to her small town.Can she still make a name for herself in a small town and survive the the suffocating attention of the citizens of Ivy Creek who think she's too big for her britches?Discover how Lucy navigates her way through a rollercoaster of emotions as she tries to resolve a murder mystery that has her as the prime suspect.She thought running a bakery would be a piece of cake, but she's in for a mighty shock as her fiercest competitior is found dead... in her backyard!Will she acquit her heself in the court of public opinion or become the killer's next victim?Book 1 in the Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery series! Perfect for a lunchtime read. If you want to enjoy a quick light-hearted read, with an amateur female sleuth, mouth-watering culinary desserts and a gripping murder mystery, then you'll love Lucy Hale and all the quirky characters in Ivy Creek.No cliffhanger, swearing or graphic scenes!Treat yourself or a loved one to a copy of Which Pie Goes with Murder to discover how events unfold in this cozy murder mystery
Mistletoe Malarkey
Stella Bixby - 2021
They practically live together. Now, Shayla's meeting his family for Christmas.In Ireland. Seamus is a park ranger, shares an apartment with three other guys, and drives a beat up pickup truck. How would Shayla have known he was practically Irish royalty? When they arrive at the airport and are bombarded by camera flashes, Shayla's insecurities move closer and closer to the surface. An old girlfriend, a creepy uncle, and an entire town are on hand for a getting-to-know-you dinner party. Everything is going well until someone ends up dead.The guarda want Shayla to stay out of it. She may be a police officer in the United States, but she has no jurisdiction in Ireland. Too bad, she can't seem to keep from stumbling onto clues everywhere she goes. Cozy up with this fun Christmas mystery this holiday season.
The Lady of Dark Lake: A Witch Cozy Mystery
Raven Snow - 2018
Her most recent was leaving home because her parents wouldn’t let her keep a cat. It’s not long before she leaves the city of Atlanta behind only to find herself stranded in the small, mysterious town of Dark Lake. Dark Lake has a lot of secrets, secrets Lady doesn’t want to get herself involved in. She wants nothing more than to get on the next bus out of town, but Dark Lake seems to have other plans. Soon, Lady finds herself mixed up in a possible murder. There was a body found in the eponymous lake of Dark Lake, and she was the one that reported it. Between a grim mystery, a landlady who calls herself a witch, and her tabby cat, Lion, starting to talk to her in her dreams… Lady’s life is taking a downright bizarre turn. First Volume of the Dark Lake Chronicles Series. Approx. 51,000 words in length. It is a standalone (reading prior or future volumes not required to enjoy the book, no cliffhanger).
The Wrong Twin
Lorna Dounaeva - 2021
Mel just needs some space so she can recover from a painful separation and get ready to begin a new phase in her life. But something isn’t right… The twins have always been close, but Abbie seems like a different person. She used to be outgoing and gregarious, now she’s sullen and hostile. Even worse, a sinister man Mel has never seen before is following her. She doesn’t know what he wants, but she’s pretty sure it’s nothing good. And Mel is right to be worried. As she is inexorably pulled into a vortex of unimaginable terror, she discovers the horrifying truth about Abbie’s secret life… And the terrible price that has to be paid – by the wrong twin.
Highlander’s Wrath: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance (Highlands' Deadly Sins Book 5)
Adamina Young - 2021
Protecting Harper
Olivia Michaels - 2021
A former teammate gives Flint a new lease on life when he offers Flint a job in Colorado with Watchdog Protectors, a security company with its own secrets. Flint has the chance to meet and learn from Tex Keegan for a week while the computer genius and his wife Melody are visiting—Tex for work and Melody for a much-deserved vacation. Flint is no stranger to Colorado. It’s where he met, loved, and lost the woman of his dreams ten years ago.
Harper Marling knows she’s a dead woman walking. Her charming narcissist ex-husband has done his best to ruin her life from the minute she reached for freedom. Now, she’s on the cusp of taking down the powerful multi-millionaire and reclaiming her life, if she can keep her plans a secret. Blackballed from her job as a medical researcher, Harper’s just taken a temporary job with Watchdog Protectors when she runs into the man who broke her heart a decade ago. Harper isn't sure if she’s ready to love again, but Flint gives her a reason to try as he stirs a slumbering passion deep inside her.
James isn't done trying to destroy Harper. If he can't have her, no one can, let alone a retired SEAL-turned-bodyguard. Can Harper trust Flint, Tex, and Watchdog Protectors to have her six? Or will James’ deadly game of cat-and-mouse end Harper’s life—in service to a darker purpose?
Protecting Harper is the first book in the Watchdog Protectors Series which branches off from the Watchdog Security Series by Olivia Michaels. Each book can be read as a standalone with an HEA but they do have reoccurring characters.
A Scrying Shame
Donna White Glaser - 2015
It’s good money, which she could use, and death doesn’t hold a lot of mystery for her.Or so she thinks.Arie isn’t on the job long before discovering she’s been “gifted” with a new psychic talent—the ability to scry. Whether she wants to or not, Arie can read the memories of the dead in their blood.When she is assigned to clean the crime scene of Marissa Mason, the socialite author of the best-selling gold-diggers' bible, Arie finds herself haunted by blood visions day and night, and to her shock discovers an unexpected family connection to the victim. With her brother suffering the unwanted attention of the police as the primary suspect, can Arie face her fear of the blood visions long enough to follow the trail of clues left in the murdered woman's memories and find the real culprit?
Guilty Drive
Hayley Ford - 2021
Sometimes they never get over it, destined to be alone for the rest of their lives. And no matter how hard they try, they can’t be happy, because the guilt is enough to kill them too.When my husband dies in a freak boating accident, I’m barely able to function, let alone pick up the pieces of my shattered life. Yes, we had our problems, but I never wanted him to die. My friends tell me it’s time for me to move on and when I finally try to put the past behind me, it comes back to me, shattering everything I thought I knew about my past, my husband and my future.Somebody is lying and will do anything to stop me from finding the truth. But I have to know. Did my husband really die in the waters of Broken Sound?
A Drizzle of Murder
Constance Barker - 2019
The guy moving her bakery items, not so much. He's a grump and rattles Coco to the core. So when he ends up dead inside her new digs, Coco finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation. Masie and Scooter work with Coco at the bakery. Scooter has a way with cakes, but is he any good at solving crimes? Masie can make a mean crumpet, but her sleuth solving skills are still questionable. Stella and Vivian are seniors, but you know the old saying, 60 is the new 40, and these gals are spry as Spring chickens. Their counterparts, Red and Henry, may not keep up with them, but they're not over the hill just yet. Unfortunately, one of them is suspected of murder. Logan, the handsome police detective, is on the case. But can he keep his personal feelings separate? Can Coco and her madcap friends discover the culprit before he strikes again? And will the handsome police detective create some heat for the gals? ***Find out in the first book in the Mad Batter Mystery Bakery Series***