Negative Exposure


Lisa B. Thomas - 2017
    INSTEAD SHE GETS A CAT. After losing her fiancé, friends, and job, Wendy Fairmont moves back to her hometown to lick her wounds and start over. But when she discovers the man next door may have been murdered, she’s sucked into an investigation that isn’t making her too popular with the new neighbors. Soon she encounters a former classmate who’s transformed from nearly invisible to totally irresistible, making it difficult to stay focused on setting up her new photography business. Not only that, but her old school nemesis is now married to the small town’s sheriff, and she’s determined to make Wendy’s life miserable. All this, as well as a stray cat channeling the spirit of her grandmother, makes Wendy’s fresh start more like a dead end. Will she be able to return to her former life, or will old demons resurface to destroy her future? Negative Exposure is the first book in the Killer Shots Mysteries. Part Gilmore Girls and part Nancy Drew, this series has plenty of snarky humor, quirky characters and intriguing mystery to keep readers coming back for more.

The Missing Pom Mystery


Donna Doyle - 2021
    She’s ready for a change, and when she finds an opening at the Curly Bay Pet Hotel and Rescue, it seems like the perfect fit. Until a prize winning Pom disappears on the very first day and Courtney is in the firing line!The finger is pointed at her, and she has to get to the bottom of the case before her life is turned upside down once again.Join Courtney Cain in her very first Curly Bay Animal Rescue Cozy Mystery and meet a host of quirky, lovable characters, both furry and otherwise!

Mango Cake and Murder


Christy Murphy - 2016
    One of them can't cook, they're short a catering van, and the guest of honor at their first party is murdered.That would be bad enough, but then, Christy's cousin, Celia, becomes the prime suspect.Solving a murder is no easy task, but when drunken death threats, a dashing detective, and terrifying taxidermy are added into the mix, the case becomes almost impossible to crack. Who knew a small town like Fletcher Canyon could be filled with so much craziness? Will the disaster-prone duo find the real killer before Celia's reputation is destroyed, or will Celia end up in prison for murder? Find out in this quick comedy cozy!This novella is the first book in the Mom and Christy's Cozy Mysteries series, and is a complete mystery that you can read in an hour or two. It does NOT contain strong language or graphic violence. But it does contain a cute cat!

Murder on Lot B


London Lovett - 2019
    The land of movie stars and perpetual sunshine has a stylish new force to be reckoned with— Poppy Starfire, Private Investigator . Poppy recently moved out on her own and is eager for a taste of independence and to prove to her retired Uncle Sherman that she is capable of running the Starfire Detective Agency. Her brother Jasper has also joined the agency. Poppy prides herself on being a skilled investigator but so far the cases have been scarce and to say the least uninspiring. But that all changes when Anna Colton walks through the door. Anna’s brother Roger, a famous stuntman for the local movie studio has died in a well publicized accidental fall. Only Anna’s not convinced it was an accident. It’s up to Poppy and Jasper to peel away the layers and uncover the truth. Who killed Roger ‘Rowdy’ James? Transport yourself back to the golden age of Hollywood in book 1 of London Lovett's brand new historical Starfire Cozy Mystery series.

Killer Apple Pie


Carolyn Q. Hunter - 2017
    HUNTER!!!Bertha Hannah’s two passions in life are books and piping hot homemade pies, and when an opportunity arises for her to open her own pie and book shop, she jumps in headfirst, only to find that preparing to open her own shop isn’t exactly a piece of cake.In the midst of getting organized and putting the pieces in place for her grand opening, tragedy strikes, far too close for comfort. All the while mourning the untimely death of an old friend, Bertha finds herself having to deal with pompous detectives, money-grubbing investors and unruly customers, which truly threatens to upset her apple cart.Will she be able to unravel the mystery which has presented itself at the worst of times? Or, will her dream business be finished before it even starts?

Jellies, Jams, and Bodies


Donna Walo Clancy - 2016
    Small shops line Main Street, the hub of the town. The residents all know each other and each other’s business. Tourist season brings the place to life, when the locals are outnumbered by visitors, fifty to one. It has been a safe, quiet place to live, until now. There hasn’t been a murder in Whipper Will Junction for over forty years. Now, bodies are popping up everywhere. To make matters worse, Richard Wells, the beloved elder of the town has disappeared. Who or what is causing the upheaval in the quiet town of Whipper Will Junction? While opening her new shop, Jellies, Jams, and Weddings, on Main Street, Tabitha Moon is thrust into her first, real life mystery to solve. Will she be able to find the murderer and rescue Mr. Wells in time? Teaming up with her best friend, Jenny Jones, and her new love interest, Greg Stone, they work together to make Whipper Will Junction the safe place it used to be. With its cast of loveable locals like Gladys Twittle, The Town Mouth, and Sheriff Puckett, you will fall in love with Whipper Will Junction and its people. Come visit. WHERE THE GOSSIP IS PLENTIFUL; AND SO ARE THE BODIES.

Throw a Monkey Wrench


Karen Chester - 2016
    She’s hired to throw a housewarming party for the brash and arrogant Tony Barnet, who’s eager to impress the big end of town. But when the party ends in disaster, Tony is quick to blame Emma, and the subsequent rumors spell doom for Emma’s business. Thank goodness she still has the job of planning Sean and Madison’s wedding. Sean, one of the notorious McCluskey clan, is about to marry Madison, the beautiful daughter of the rich and powerful Whites. But when Tony Barnet is killed, the police swiftly arrest Sean McCluskey. Though the evidence is damning, Emma is convinced her friend is innocent. With Sean facing prison, the wedding in jeopardy, and her fledgling business in danger of tanking, Emma must unravel the mystery and expose the real killer before it’s too late. The Emma Cassidy Mystery series: Book 1: Throw a Monkey Wrench Book 2: Pushed to the Limit Book 3: Murder Most Likely (coming in 2016)

Murder Mystery Book Club


Danielle Collins - 2021
    One of her favorite things to do is read murder mystery novels. She even has a murder mystery book club. When a dead body is found near the bed and breakfast, Eva has a real murder mystery on her hands. Can she help solve the mystery, even if it implicates one of her esteemed guests and ruffles the feathers of the local police department, or will her book smarts be the end of her?

A Pinch of Sea Salt and a Dash of Murder


Phoebe T. Eggli - 2015
    Part of her starting over meant opening her own bakery – Kill Devil Delicacies - that specialized in artisan breads. Already successful after a few short years, she looked forward to a number of things namely: her nephew, Logan, visiting for the summer and competing in the Outer Banks Regional Bake-Off for the chance to appear on a nationally televised cooking show. Although still mourning her husband, Melissa finally felt like life was getting back to some sense of normalcy. Her life in Kill Devil Hills was satisfying and peaceful…at least until she opened the bakery door on an early summer morning to discover a mystery that would rock the quaint seaside town to its core! Also available in Spanish under the title: "Una Pizca de Sal de Mar Y un Poco De Masacre!"

Killer Cleavers & Cupcakes


Mel McCoy - 2020
    One luxury cruise ship heading to the Bahamas. And an elusive killer running amok with a penchant for cleavers.After overstuffing her husband with a button-bursting amount of cookies and cakes, Ruth Shores—charmed mother, grandmother, wife, and retired pastry chef—decides to take a dream job in the kitchen of the brand-new, luxury cruise ship, Splendor of the Seas. Luggage rolling behind her, she sets out on her first day, and it's everything she imagined. That is, until she runs into the rudest, most inconsiderate person she’s ever crossed paths with: Loretta Moran.That’s okay—Ruth refuses to allow a stranger to ruin her idyllic new life. But when a body is found in the kitchen, both women become prime suspects in a murder investigation. Compelled to prove their innocence, Ruth and Loretta must work together, all while desperately covering up a mouse running loose in the dining room. Can they set their differences aside to unveil the real killer before they both lose their jobs—or worse, their lives?Pranks. Scandals. Cover-ups. All wrapped up in this fun and quirky cozy mystery!Killer Cleavers and Cupcakes is the first book in this nutty, lighthearted Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series. So, get nestled in a cozy chair, pour your favorite beverage, and get ready for an exciting Bahamas escapade aboard the Splendor of the Seas!

Spells and Spooks


K.E. O'Connor - 2020
    Where nothing is quite what it seems.I’m back in the last place I want to be. A place where my magic went rogue, and people died. Witch Haven should be a haven, but I messed that up big time.I have no friends to help me. No family left. And not even a witch’s familiar to keep me on the right path.Magic used to flow through me, but now I’m a lone witch, drained of power and hoping I can sneak into Witch Haven, clear up the mess my stepmom left behind, and get out alive.If the villagers find out I’m here, I’ll be hunted down. If the Magic Council catch me using anything more powerful than a light spell, I’ll go back to jail. And if my guilt doesn’t choke me, the gnomes will.So yeah. Home sweet home never felt so unwelcoming.***Welcome to a new cozy witch paranormal mystery series, full of magic and puzzles to solve. Meet failed witch, Indigo Ash, as she struggles to get over her past and stay alive, along with a cast of quirky, fun characters who will entertain you throughout this book.Books in this series:Spells and SpooksHexes and HauntsCurses and Corpses

Skeleton in a Dead Space


Judy Alter - 2011
    A nicely done debut by an author to watch.—Susan Wittig Albert, author of the China Bayles mysteriesKelly O’Connell never thought real estate was a dangerous profession, until she stumbled over a skeleton in a dead space in an early-twentieth-century Craftsman house she was transforming into a coveted modern home in an older urban neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas.From that moment, she runs into teen-age gang members, a manipulative ex-husband, a needy and single pregnant friend, a cold-blooded murderer, and a policeman who wants to be more than her protector. As free-spirited as the chocolate-peanut-jalapeño candy she craves, Kelly barges through life trying to keep from angering her policeman-boyfriend, protect her two young daughters, pacify her worried mother a thousand miles away, and keep her real estate business afloat. Too often she puts herself in danger, and sometimes it’s the girls, not Mike, who come to Kelly’s rescue.

Murder Under Construction


Maddie Cochere - 2014
    She wants two things in life - a new career as a private investigator, and to lose the sixty pounds she packed on after her divorce.When she crashes her bike in a construction site, she lands on a girl with a large knife in her chest. Jo enlists her sister, Pepper, and their journalist friend, Jackie, to help solve the dead girl's murder. Things become creepy for Jo when the murdered girl appears in her dreams to offer unusual clues to her death.Murder Under Construction is a humorous mystery with Jo's family adding to the antics of the three women. Mama caterwauls, Jackie's two children offer sleuthing assistance, and her brother, Hank, laughs at all of them from the sidelines. Murder Under Construction is light, easy-breezy reading from Maddie Cochere.

Narcissist in the Daffodils


Kristy E. Carter - 2018
    The last thing Leo Solomon wants to do after returning to his hometown is arrest the woman he loves or her cousin, but all the evidence keeps pointing to it being an inside job. Why would anyone commit a crime and then phone 911? Why is everyone so interested in the missing black book last seen in the victim's possession? Rumors swirl as everyone in town decides to weigh in on who they think killed Elizabeth and why. Penelope refuses to sit by and let the people she loves or her family business be put through the mud to protect a killer. Can Penelope and Leo get to the bottom of the crime before anyone else gets hurt?

Peril in Paxton Park


J.A. Whiting - 2017
    A. Whiting. After surviving a terrible car crash in Boston, twenty-eight-year old Shelly Taylor accepts a part-time job as a baker at a mountain resort in western Massachusetts. While on a hike one morning, she and a new friend make a terrible discovery that pulls them into peril and death. Will Shelly's new ability help the police solve the crimes or will another murder be committed in Paxton Park? This story has some mild paranormal elements.