Book picks similar to
Twelve's Drummer Dying by Gemma Halliday


mystery
short-story
hollywood-headlines
cozy-mystery

Treasure Borrowed and Blue


S.W. Hubbard - 2018
    She knows first-hand that funerals are family events that bring out the worst in people.Now Audrey is just six weeks away from a joyful family event--her wedding. The band has been hired, the invitations mailed.Wedded bliss is right around the corner.Then a thief strikes and destroys Audrey's happiness. As she narrows the list of possible culprits,her suspicion falls on the family she's about to join.Will catching the thief ruin Audrey's shot at the ideal family she's always dreamed of?When the crime is solved with one final twist, Audrey learns a lesson about the bonds that tie families together and the expectations that can drive them apart.A note from the author: In the chronology of Audrey's life, this short mystery novella fits between the events in This Bitter Treasure (which ended with Audrey's engagement) and Treasure in Exile (which begins with Audrey already married).Loyal readers let me know that they wanted to see Audrey's wedding. So I wrote Treasure Borrowed and Blue because I want to keep my readers happy! Nothing ever goes quite as planned for our Audrey, so the tale of her wedding takes quite a few twists and turns (but no murders!).

The Long, Wrong Trailer


Karen Musser Nortman - 2014
    But the used trailer they purchase from a shady dealer and their first weekend of camping on Halloween bring them more adventure than they bargained for.

Invitation to Murder


Beth Prentice - 2016
     When Alexandra Anderson is invited to a work place reunion at the television station where she formerly worked, she's excited to catch up with old friends. And the theme of the reunion is a Murder Mystery Party, so that should be fun, right? Wrong! Alexandra's first horror is coming face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend and his brand new, gorgeous wife. Second, the party happens to coincide with one of the worst storms of the season, knocking out utility lines and cell service. And when her less-than-beloved ex-boss becomes the Murder Party's fake victim, Alexandra and her "team" are tasked with solving the fake murder before anyone else. The only bright spot? The sexy cameraman on Alex's team with the sparkling blue eyes and soft, full lips. But what starts out as a game becomes all too real when Alexandra stumbles upon the actual dead body of her ex’s new wife. Did someone take the game too seriously? Is there a real murderer among the party-goers? Can following the clues to a fake murder help Alex solve a real one? Trapped by the storm, with "players" disappearing and time running out, Alex finds herself in the middle of a deadly game of cat and mouse... where not everyone will make it out alive! "If you're looking for a great way to spend a lazy day of summer or a wonderful reason to snuggle up with your fur baby, this is a great read." —Night Owl Reviews Books by Beth Prentice: Killer Unleashed Invitation to Murder

Dough Knot Murder: A Christmas Short Story


CeeCee James - 2019
    What should be all sugar cookies and hot cocoa takes a drastic turn when one of the guests turns up cold—as in stone cold dead. With no help in sight, the two hope to find the killer before anyone else gets iced out. Including them. "I love the Baker Street Series!" "Good mix of characters to keep you turning pages & looking forward to next." "Reward yourself by making some of the recipes included!!!" Previously published as part of the boxed set titled Six Merry Little Murders. This short story has been newly edited with and expanded. 
Be sure to read through the end to catch a few special recipes including Cecelia’s Christmas morning bread, a little something from Oscar, and my own secret Chicken Pot Pie! Plus a note from me! This story is special to me (I share a bit more about that at the end), and I hope you love this grumpy, darling man as much as I do! It turns out, the world would be a better place with a few more Oscars and Cecelias. Other books in the series include- Cherry Pie or Die Cookies and Scream Creme Brulée To Slay Drizzle of Death Slash in the Pan Terror on Top A clean, cozy read. No graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

Lupine Lies


Karen MacInerney - 2020
    You won't be able to put this seaside cozy mystery story down!

Four Killing Birds


Leslie Langtry - 2013
    It’s the granddaddy of all hits—to be carried out on Christmas Eve, no less. Missi knows she has only one chance at success, so she enlists the help of her cousins Gin, Dakota, and Coney. Together the Bombay cousins come out of retirement to stamp out the world’s most evil cabal. Armed with four enormous, prehistoric-looking birds and Missi’s quirky inventions, will these Bombays succeed before their window of opportunity closes for good?

The Dangers of Candy Canes


Laura Levine - 2007
    Now it’s up to Jaine Austen to sift through a long list of scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stockings to expose a murder..

Savannah Martin Mysteries Boxed Set 4-6


Jenna Bennett - 2014
    But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball - and bad in bed to boot - Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... CLOSE TO HOME - book #4 Savannah's late. The kind of late that comes with midnight feedings and the pitter-patter of little feet. And while it's a circumstance that should make everyone happy - now she can finally settle down and marry Todd Satterfield, the way everyone's been hoping and praying! - it isn't Todd's baby. And Rafe, whose baby it is, didn't sign on for fatherhood. Add in the murder of Savannah's sister-in-law Sheila, the trial of Sheila's friend Marley, and the disappearance of Rafe's twelve year old son David - the kid he never knew he had! - and things get complicated fast. And there is worse to come: When Rafe comes back to Nashville to help look for David, and learns that Savannah's pregnant, things do not work out the way Savannah had hoped. In the end, she's left with nothing she wanted and a whole lot of trouble she didn't, and for once, Rafe's not there to save the day. A DONE DEAL - book #5 Silver bells, silver bells... It's Christmas time in Nashville, and all Savannah wants to unwrap on Christmas morning is Rafe Collier. Unfortunately, things don't look so good. He's back in town, but not alone: on his arm is a stunning brunette, just the kind of woman Savannah always suspected was his type. When Alexandra Puckett asks her help in figuring out a way to stop Maybelle Driscoll from marrying Alex's father Steven, Savannah jumps on the chance. It'll give her something to think about other than Rafe and the mysterious Carmen, and anyway, she doesn't like Maybelle much herself. Between investigating Maybelle's past, helping her clients Aislynn and Kylie buy a house, and stalking Carmen and Rafe, Savannah soon has her hands full. And that's before someone starts gunning for her. Suddenly it's not a question of unwrapping anything on Christmas morning anymore; it's a question of whether she'll even survive to see another Christmas. CHANGE OF HEART - book #6 It’s late February, just two months after Savannah Martin and Rafael Collier finally worked things out between them, and Rafe is already sneaking out of bed in the wee hours. Catching fellow realtor Tim Briggs rinsing blood from his hands in the office sink makes for a welcome distraction, and when Tim disappears just as one of his clients is found dead in a nearby park, Savannah throws herself into the investigation with abandon. But even the murder mystery taking place right under her nose can’t completely distract her from worrying about personal problems. Has Rafe changed his mind about their relationship, or is something else going on? And what are the chances of Savannah coming out of this latest debacle with her life – and her heart – intact? *** Contains an excerpt of Savannah Martin Mystery #7, Kickout Clause ***

Mistletoe & Murder


Abby L. Vandiver - 2018
    Mistletoe & Murder is a festive boxed set of six (6) cozy Christmas mysteries—five (5) short stories and one (1) full-length novel. A limited edition of fun, holiday-themed whodunnits written by WSJ, USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors. C’mon, cuddle up with a mug of hot chocolate and a book of stories that you won’t want to put down. It’ll put you in the mood for everyone's favorite time of the year. Authors in Mistletoe & Murder Boxed Set Abby L. Vandiver Sonia Parin Kathryn Dionne Constance Barker Ani Gonzalez Zanna Mackenzie

Cats, Cakes and Clues


Kennedy Chase - 2016
    Her first case is to discover why a mysterious object was left behind at a jewelry store break-in. But when it turns into a murder case, Harley will need all her skills to find the killer and uncover the secret of the artifact. With the help of her new friends, an inquisitive cat, and two dashing men, Harley faces a race against the clock to catch a murderer.MURDER ON THE PAGE - Harley Hill Mysteries, Vol.2When Harley and her partner Cordelia are tasked to find a rare diary belonging to Queen Elizabeth’s closet confident, John Dee, they think it will be a routine case. But before they start their investigation into this ‘Doomsday Diary’ they discover a murder!A MYSTIC MURDER - Witches of Hemlock Cove, Vol.1Grace Angelo, born and bred in the small coastal town of Hemlock Cove is a retired detective… and a witch. She works with her two elder sisters at their old guesthouse converted into a bakery — until the body of the local bar owner is discovered inside their oven. Faced with mounting bills and no way to fulfill the contract for a huge banquet, Grace has her work cut out for her.

A Chihuahua in Every Stocking


Waverly Curtis - 2014
    Geri Sullivan and Pepe—her talking Chihuahua—vow to rescue this bonita canine named Chiquita. But tracking the pooch’s scent through a Pacific Northwest winter wonderland isn’t easy, especially when the trail leads to an elf who’s been mortally mauled! Geri and Pepe must save little Sophie’s Christmas and find this muy naughty dognapper . . . and stir up a little Christmas magic along the way! Praise for the Barking Detective Mysteries “Pepe is a delight!” —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)“Move over, Scooby-Doo, there’s a new dog in town!” —Jennie Bentley“A fun twist on the typical P.I. partnership.” —Simon Wood15,500 Words

The Gentleman Dressed in Newspaper: A Short Story


Agatha Christie - 2013
    One cryptic ad reads, “Three hearts … 12 tricks … Ace of Spades … finesse the King.” Tommy is certain it is a secret message indicating a crime about to be committed.

Spirit Matters


Patrice Greenwood - 2017
     While trying to support her grieving Goth office manager, Ellen ponders the mysterious flashes of light she saw in another part of Santa Fe, wondering if they are related to Captain Dusenberry, the tearoom's resident ghost. She asks for help from the local spirit-tour guide, Willow Lane, who takes curiosity about the captain's unsolved murder to a new level, where Ellen finds herself exploring the very meaning of spirit. Will a séance in the tearoom finally provide the answers to her questions? (This is a novella, a short companion story to the Wisteria Tearoom Mysteries series. It is recommended that you read A Masquerade of Muertos before reading this story.)

The Collected Short Stories


Dana Stabenow - 2013
    This genre-spanning collection of 16 short stories features familiar characters like Kate and Jim, Liam and Wy, and Bill and Moses, but also ranges farther afield than many readers will expect, leaping from modern-day Anchorage to 22nd-century Mars to the fantasy kingdom of Mnemosynea. Remarkably disparate, but indisputably Stabenow, whose fertile imagination is anything but predictable.Titles in this collection: "Nooses Give," "Conspiracy," "Under the Influence," "Wreck Rights," "Cherchez la Femme," "Siren Song," "The Eyak Interpreter," "Any Taint of Vice," "On the Evidence," "Missing, Presumed…," "The Perfect Gift," "Gold Fever," "Cheechako," "No Place Like Home," "Justice is a Two-edged Sword," and "A Woman’s Work."

Cozy Christmas Shorts


Gemma HallidayJanel Gradowski - 2016
    **The authors are donating a portion of proceeds from this collection to Toys for Tots!** This LIMITED TIME collection includes the holiday short stories from some of our most popular series: Baby It's Cold Outside (Tahoe Tessie Mysteries) by Gemma Halliday & T. Sue VerSteeg Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas (Greatest Hits Mysteries) by Leslie Langtry Sleighed at Castle Rock (Amelia Grace Rock 'n' Roll Mysteries) by Anne Marie Stoddard The Blonde Before Christmas (Barb Jackson Mysteries) by Anna Snow Rosolio Red (Franki Amato Mysteries) by Traci Andrighetti Christmas Al Dente (Southern Pasta Shop Mysteries) by Jennifer L. Hart Ornamental Danger (Working Stiff Mysteries) by Kerri Nelson Christmas Canapés & Sabotage (Culinary Competition Mysteries) by Janel Gradowski A (Gingerbread) Diorama of Death (Helen Binney Mysteries) by Gin Jones Motion for Mistletoe (Jamie Winters Mysteries) by Kelly Rey Christmas, Spies & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries) by Jennifer Fischetto