Book picks similar to
A Well-Kept Family Secret by Marja McGraw
mystery
cozy-mysteries
mystery-cozy
1-a-freebies
Scoop Away
S.Y. Robins - 2015
Everything is riding on the Cow & Moon launch going as planned. With all of Amber's life savings poured into the business she has no plan B. When, on the day of the official launch, a women drops dead in the middle of store, Amber is not only in danger of losing her business - she is a prime suspect. Taking matters into her own hands, Amber decides to investigate the case herself. She needs to clear her own name, and she needs to save the business she has worked so hard to start. When she meets Ryan, the cute barista/manager of a competitor's store, Amber really has to put her instincts to the test. Could Ryan be the one to blame, or is Amber not seeing what is right in front of her nose?
No Game For a Dame
M. Ruth Myers - 2011
Moving through streets where people line up at soup kitchens, Maggie draws information from sources others overlook: The waitress at the dime store lunch counter where she has breakfast; a ragged newsboy; the other career girls at her rooming house. Her digging gets her chloroformed and left in a ditch behind the wheel of her DeSoto. She makes her way to an upscale bordello and gets tea – and information – from the madam herself. A gunman puts a bullet through Maggie’s hat. Her shutterbug pal on the evening paper warns her off. A new cop whose presence unsettles her thinks she’s crooked. Before she finds all the answers she needs, she faces a half-crazed man with a gun, and a far more lethal point-blank killer. If you like Robert B. Parker's hard boiled Spencer series and strong women sleuths, don't miss this one-of-a-kind Ohio detective from a time in United States history when dames wore hats -- but seldom a Smith & Wesson.
THE COMPLETE MONICA NOBLE MURDER MYSTERIES three utterly gripping cozy mysteries box set (Cozy crime and suspense mystery box sets)
Faith Martin - 2021
What You See
Ann Mullen - 2003
At thirty-one, Jesse Watson had reached an impasse in her life. It was time for a change. Her job was unfulfilling and her love life was non-existent. Something had to give. Heeding her parents’ advice, she quit her job, gave up her apartment and moved with them to the mountains of Virginia. Her intentions were to find a job and eventually get a place of her own. All that changed the day she went to work for Billy Blackhawk, private eye and Cherokee Indian. Her secretarial skills could not prepare her for what she was about to encounter and her safe and secure life would never be the same.While in search for a missing girl, a quiet, rural country life with its beautiful mountain scenery quickly becomes a place of danger, murder and mayhem. Jesse faces the wrath of a disturbed, dysfunctional family determined to save themselves at all cost, even to the point of turning on each other. Soon it becomes a race for time as Jesse realizes the life she saves might well be her own. What you see just may kill you.
The Avid Angler: The Hot Dog Detective (A Denver Detective Cozy Mystery)
Mathiya Adams - 2014
After a couple of years on the streets, MacFarland is getting back on his feet by operating a small hot dog cart. He doesn’t make much money, gives a lot of his product to his former homeless friends, and studies language CDs in his spare time. He's put his detective days behind him, and he's happy that way. But then MarFarland is approached by a high-priced lawyer to help prove a woman innocent. A fishing buff has been found murdered and the wife is the prime suspect. With the evidence stacked against her, and someone destroying evidence, can MacFarland find the real killer and free the innocent woman? This is a cozy mystery with amateur sleuth. This is a 70,000 words novel. About Mathiya Adams: Hello from Denver, Colorado! I am the author of The Hot Dog Detective series. As a consultant and corporate trainer, I've traveled and lived in California, Texas, New Jersey, India, the Philippines, Mexico, and Scotland, and too many other places to name. After having circled the globe numerous times, I've settled down in the Denver. Just as Denver is the gateway to the Rockies, I intend that The Hot Dog Detective stories will take place all over the Front Range and throughout Colorado.
Death by Pink Flamingo
Elisabeth Crabtree - 2014
Everyone in Hatter’s Cove is talking about her. They’re convinced she knocked off her sweet and kindly old uncle for her inheritance and if that weren’t bad enough, one person seems determined to make her pay for her supposed crime. Sylvia Sutton, her business partner and the other co-owner of the hotel, will stop at nothing to prove Anna’s guilt. Despite Anna’s love and affection for her Uncle Max, Sylvia’s convinced that Anna is a cold blooded murderer and has made it quite clear to anyone that will listen that she will put Anna behind bars if it’s the last thing she does. So, when Anna stumbles upon Sylvia’s dead body in the middle of the night and accidentally puts her fingerprints all over the murder weapon, there seems to be only one logical thing to do . . . bury the body and pretend she didn’t see anything. At least, that’s what her ex-boyfriend thinks. The same ex she’s loved since grade school. The same ex who left without saying good bye nine years ago. The same ex who suddenly reappeared that day. And the same ex who seems awfully anxious to get rid of the body.
Death by Dancing: a 1930s Cozy Murder Mystery (A Higgins & Hawke Mystery Book 4)
Lee Strauss - 2021
Haley Higgins is surprised to discover the deceased is the widow of a man whose body still lay in the cold cabinets of her morgue. She has reasons to believe the man’s death wasn’t natural, and now, with his wife having succumbed to the same symptoms, her convictions of foul play are stronger than ever.With the help of investigative reporter Samantha Hawke, Haley works to determine which contestants in the dancing contest had means, motive, and opportunity. And most of all, how to keep the killer from striking again.
Potions and Predicaments
Morgan Vale - 2020
The arrogant new girl Starla has it out for her and her mom’s more interested in her (lack of) love life. Things go from bad to worse when Kat finds her shop ransacked and rarest items stolen.Oh, and one more thing: Starla turns up dead.Suddenly the prime suspect in a murder investigation, will Kat and her magic be enough to clear her name? Or will she have to enlist the town’s most notorious (and handsome) informant to uncover the truth?Joined by her bubbly best friend Pepper and her familiar Albus, she'll have to use every trick and tincture at her disposal. There’s a killer on the loose, and she might be next.If you like humorous paranormal cozy mysteries full of snarky cats and sassy witches, then you’ll devour Potions and Predicaments, the first full-length novel in a fun new series. These are clean reads with no swearing, gore, or adult situations, so curl up and enjoy!
FOOD TRUCK MYSTERIES: Books 6-10 (A Cozy Mystery Bundle)
Chloe Kendrick - 2016
A THIEF OF ANY MAN Maeve Kinkaid, owner of the food truck Dogs on the Roll, prides herself on her financial management skills, until she realizes that someone is pilfering small amounts from the register. As she begins to take steps to stop the thefts, she learns of a larger plot that could put her business in jeopardy. But when murder enters the picture, she worries she could lose more than just her money... JUSTICE IS SERVED When food truck owner Maeve Kinkaid is asked to be in her friend Gina’s wedding, she expects to come in taffeta, not in her truck...but she winds up catering the event with the help of her Basque boyfriend, Land Mendoza. One of the guests dies with a hot dog in his pocket and Maeve has to solve the crime before the police try to link the unsavory murder to her catering firm. A GRAVE CONCERN When some of the homeless men near Government Square are not what they seem to be, food truck owner Maeve Kinkaid is driven to find out what’s going on. Her investigation takes her into the odd world of Capital City’s art district and the potentially dangerous world of the local political scene. Maeve and Land mingle with the rich, but they quickly learn that money doesn’t solve all problems…especially not the violent kinds. FIVE WILL GET YOU TWENTY Life is good for food truck owner Maeve Kinkaid. She’s engaged, making good money, and buying a third truck. When Maeve decides to park her latest food truck next to those of mogul Ryan Pohler, odd things begin to happen. The pranks are minor at first, but as they escalate in frequency and severity, Maeve begins to wonder if Pohler is behind the attacks. Of course, Maeve can’t leave something like this alone and investigates the incidents. Even with everything she’s whipped up in the past, she isn’t prepared for what she’ll find. DEADLY BELOVED Food truck operator Maeve Kinkaid has her hands full preparing for her wedding, but she thinks she has everything under control…until she meets a woman who claims to be her fiancé wife. As if that doesn’t complicate things enough, Maeve gets caught up in an deadly espionage plot and is forced to solve puzzles that will save lives, including her fiancé’s. Does she have a quick enough wit to stop an assassination and still say, “I do?”
A Blooms, Bones and Stones Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Books 1 to 6
Olivia Swift
In ‘The Secret of Chestnut Hall’ meet garden restorer Jasmine Summer as she and her friends unravel the secret behind a mysterious find in the gardens of Chestnut Hall. The following books feature her interesting and very different friends. This collection of cozy mysteries includes books one to six in the Blooms, Bones, and Stones series. If you like cozy mysteries with interesting characters, unexpected turns, magical moments and sweet romances, then this is the Cozy Mystery series for you! FREE on Kindle Unlimited Included Books Each book in the series is a stand-alone story, but your enjoyment of each story will be increased if you read them all. The Secret of Chestnut Hall - Jasmine (Jazz) Summer takes on a contract to restore an intriguing old garden for her client Evan Sutherland. Evan, a famous mountaineer, is trying to leave behind a shattered life and an ex-wife that almost ruined him. Chestnut Hall, Evan’s house and garden, has a mysterious past that intrigues the pair, but leads them into situations that they would never have dreamed about …and into unforeseen dangers. The Secret of the Jewel Shop - What do lavender, stones, and spirits have in common? You’ll need to read this love story within a love story to find out! Carly James dream of opening a jewelry shop is fast becoming a reality. The building’s history intrigues Carly, especially when she senses a spirit presence. Dex arrives on the scene for his brother Evan’s wedding. He’s recently been through a rough patch, however he’s starting fresh. Dex agrees to temporarily help Carly out in the store. He’s logical and serious by nature and skeptical about her crystal readings. Can two opposites really attract or will a schoolboy stalker cause a tragedy? Almost Picture Perfect - Miller Hollenbeck hates her job. In her spare time, she loves to upcycle furniture. Miller Hollenbeck dropped the screw she was about to tighten with her electric drill and it slipped to the floor. The door dropped away from her hand and fell over onto her shoulder. She swore loudly and expressively and pushed the door to one side as she retrieved the escapee screw. Meet Jules Callander, a successful photographer who is impressed with Miller’s work. What can happen when two redheads collide? The Secret of the Quilt - When Kim Summers begins to restore an ancient quilt; strange things start to happen. Kim’s dream is to turn her little garden shop into a large garden center, complete with a crafting and quilter’s area. With help from her long-time friend, Rob Manners, it’s quickly becoming a reality. Rob has carried a torch for Kim since he was ten years old. Is Kim brave enough to risk losing her best friend for love? Rob is not about to give up when Kim needs him the most. As they unravel the secrets of the quilt, with the help of their friends, perhaps there will be a message for Kim and Rob. The Secret of the Pendant - When Corby Santana receives an unexpected inheritance from her great uncle, she learns that he has left her a house along with a very unique turquoise and silver pendant. For Corby, it seems like a piece of good news, but she's not sure, especially when the will states she needs to wear the pendant when she visits the house. What secrets do the house and the pendant hold in store for Corby and her friends? The Secret of the Stones - Katarina Jones’ sensible exterior and strong practical streak often masks her real feelings.
Mixing Up Murder
Emmie Lyn - 2019
Hi, I’m Dani Mackenzie and I’m the unfortunate soul who owns said diner. Looks like business is going to be slow for a little while as the whole town scrambles to find whodunnit. At first I just needed something to keep me busy while on my forced vacation, but now as the clues stack up, I’m caught in the middle of this crazy mixed-up murder. And I’ll do anything to get to the bottom of what really happened and why it happened in my kitchen. Too bad the only known witness to the crime is the victim’s terrier, Pip, and no one believes she bludgeoned her owner to death. But if not her… then who? And, perhaps more importantly, who’s next?
The Curse: A Cozy Mystery From the 1920s
Alice Simpson - 2018
Jane grapples with a vandalized shop, a kidnapping, a creepy doll with seemingly supernatural powers, and a stolen diamond necklace. What do all these have in common? It's up to Jane to find out. About the Jane Carter Historical Cozy Mystery Series: This quirky historical cozy mystery series is set in the fictional American city of Greenville during the 1920s, and features Jane Carter, a young widow who returns home to live with her father after the tragic death of her journalist husband. Jane’s father owns a local newspaper, and wants Jane to take it over someday, but Jane is adamant that she has no desire to be a reporter. Instead, she turns her talent for writing to concocting melodramatic romances for fly-by-night rags who almost never pay on time. This work pays so poorly that Jane supplements her income by becoming an agony aunt, soliciting letters from the lovelorn through advertisements in the back of women’s weekly magazines. Jane dispenses advice to all and sundry, but her personal life is in shambles. Jane claims that she's holding out for a millionaire before she marries again, but the only man who makes her heart beat faster is Jack, a reporter on her father's staff. Not only has Jane vowed she will never be a newspaper man herself, she's doubly insistent on never again marrying one. While trying to turn out enough column inches of overwrought romantic bilge to keep her old car on the road, and herself in shoes, Jane runs into the most extraordinary circumstances. In Jane's madcap world, it's a constant round of kidnappings, curses, stolen jewels, counterfeit paintings, and hidden stashes of gold. There's plenty of crime to go around, but nary a murder. Accompanying Jane on her adventures is her best friend, Florence. Jane and Flo may get into one perilous situation after another, but they are never damsels in distress, because, as Jane puts it, "A real lady always carries her own pocket knife." Neither Jane nor Flo think it beneath them to slip a cosh into their handbag, either, should the situation call for it. All this getting into harm's way alarms the Carter's housekeeper, Mrs. Timms. Mrs. Timms believes it's her mission in life to turn motherless Jane into a proper lady, but seeing as Jane has just turned twenty-four, Mrs. Timms considerable efforts appear to have been in vain. However, the housekeeper won't give up trying, just as Jane won't give up on seeing Mrs. Timms and her father center-aisling it to the alter and saying, "I do." If you like light-hearted historical mysteries with quirky characters and a bit of zany humor, this may be the series for you! These are murderless mysteries. Despite a constant crime wave, there seem to be no murders in the city of Greenville. There may be plenty of peril in the form of kidnappings, heists, and the occasional assault, but nobody ever dies, and justice is always served. There’s plenty of romance, but sex is strictly behind closed doors. Suitable for readers looking for a "clean" mystery novel. This series may be of interest to fans of: Lee Strauss (Ginger Gold Mysteries), Jaqueline Winspear (Masie Dobbs Mysteries), Patricia Wentworth (Miss Silver Mysteries), Jessica Ellicot (Berl and Edwina Mysteries Series), Clara Benson, L. B. Hathaway (Posie Parker Mysteries), Leighann Dobbs (Hazel Martin Mysteries), T. E. Kinsey (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries), Margarete Addison (Rose Simpson Mysteries), Emily Organ (Penny Green Mysteries), and the Phryne Fisher Mystery Series.
A Case of Murder by Monte Carlo
Becki Willis - 2019
She may be petite, but she’ll take on anyone who threatens her patients’ safety and well-being. That feisty protectiveness creates problems when a hit and run victim lands in the ER and Police Detective Cade Resnick arrives to investigate. There’s no denying the sparks between these two, but their professions put them at odds. As Cade zeroes in on his suspect, Laurel won’t make it easy for him, not while the suspect is under her care. More than once, these two clash when Cade’s quest for justice collides with Laurel’s concern for her patients. Come along on the start of a new series and meet the staff and professionals who give Texas General Hospital its heart. There’s never a dull moment in the ER, or in the lively college town of College Station, Texas! From the best-selling author of The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series, Mirrors Don't Lie Series, and The Spirits of Texas Cozy Mysteries, enjoy a fresh approach to quick cozy reads, some dedicated to mystery, some to romance. Welcome to Texas General Cozy Cases!
Escape From Danger (Escape from Reality Cozy Mystery, #1)
Courtney McFarlin - 2020
She never thought she’d discover something shocking about her own past. She never dreamed she’d have an opportunity to fall in love. She never expected she’d soon be fighting for her life after getting too close to the truth.After the unexpected death of her father, Shay moves back home and discovers her father left her a legacy to live out her dreams. Her new business is set to open in just a few weeks, and she needs to figure out why there’s a dead guy in one of the newest escape rooms. Join Shay as she reconnects with her best friends from childhood, tries to solve a murder, and locks horns with the attractive detective assigned to the case. Sparks fly and danger lurks where Shay least expects it.
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.)