Book picks similar to
Throw the Bouquet by M. Scott Swanson


fiction
women-s-sleuth
psychic-paranormal
wanted-books

Murder By Design: ...a young girl dreams of topping haute couture!


Mary Jane Forbes - 2011
    Lack of money is a high hurdle. Living with her grandfather, and working as a casino barmaid, she saves her tips to take classes in Seattle. With her eye to one day having her own clothing label, the redhead, keeps her eye on the prize, leaving men smitten with her beauty in her wake—a preacher, an American Indian law student, and a NY fashion designer. It isn’t until a newspaper reporter appears on her door step that she pauses to take a second look. But reporter Skip Hunter has no time for women. He is driven to become a N.Y. Times best-selling mystery writer using his reporting of crime on the streets of Seattle as fodder. Will the New York designer who borrows Gillianne’s sketches end her dream? Will a heist of a billion dollars worth of gold bullion give the reporter his big break? Will the intersection of their lives drive the pair into each other’s arms? Or, will their life plans, force them apart?

Murder around the Bend


John C. Dalglish - 2019
    From the author of THE CITY MURDERS, THE DETECTIVE JASON STRONG MYSTERIES, and MISSING CHLOE, comes a new series.STONE COUNTY JUSTICE*************A body is reported lying on an isolated country road.The Stone County Sheriff's Department sends out its newest homicide investigator - Dan Cutter.Cutter discovers a baffling scene that leaves him with few clues and no obvious motive.Experienced at working murder cases, Cutter finds himself with a different problem - he's in unfamiliar territory.Stone County isn't the big city he came from, and finding the killer will test him in ways he never expected.Can he adapt and solve this complicated case of a MURDER AROUND THE BEND? ****************PRE-ORDER NOW AND SAVE MONEY PLUS GET A BONUS SHORT STORY.

Descent


Celina Grace - 2017
     A tragic accident? A suicide? Or murder? Kate has enough to contend with when it comes to the recent recruitment of DCI Nicola Weaver who seems determined to prove Kate wrong. But is this a crime and if it is, what does it mean for Kate and her colleagues? Descent is a new novella in the bestselling Kate Redman Mysteries series, by crime writer Celina Grace, author of Hushabye and Pulse. Praise for Celina Grace from Amazon and Goodreads reviewers: "The gradual crescendo of action and pace remorselessly increases..." "Love Kate. She is human, does not always make good choices just like us." “At last, a mystery that delivers…I found this novel superb because I got all I needed to know and none of what I didn’t.” “…a gripping detective story but the main character engages you, and as well as wanting to know how the mystery turns out you want to learn more about her too.” “…amazing book, read it front to back in one visit, couldn`t help myself…” “…the most enjoyable Kindle book I have so far read since the 'low cost electronic revolution' which has been sweeping my reading habits for the last couple of years! Thoroughly recommended.” “This was my introduction to the author, and I'm so glad I discovered the book. Well-written and a real page turner.” “I was awake till the early hours to finish it !! I really enjoyed it and the characters in it so I'm pleased I also have the sequel downloaded to read at some point. I know it should be great.” “Attention to detail and great character building coupled with a mystery that keeps you guessing are all the ingredients that make me keep reading till the early hours of the morning.” "Celina Grace has done it again, she compels you from page to page and chapter to chapter, a great, riveting read..." "I found it difficult to put down and was completely distracted from all the other things I should have been doing with my time." "This is a great series that I couldn't put down and grabbed the next book right away at 1 a.m. to keep reading."

The Summer of 66


Dan Wheatcroft - 2020
    Seconded to a Home Office Statistical Unit, for what he considers a minor violation of trust, Detective Constable John Gallagher is not well pleased. He knows nothing of statistics but the summer of 1966 reveals he doesn't have to.

The Later Cases: Three Gripping Private Detective Mysteries From The Roberts and Bradley Crime Series


Solomon Carter - 2020
    

Before the Unit: The Recruiting of Kevin Banks


Anne Fox - 2020
    Kevin Banks has his dream job: protecting the President of the United States. But the president believes there is something greater that he can do. Find out how Kevin joined the unit and became "Spud."

IMPOSITION: Detectives hunt a serial killer in this gripping mystery (The DI Gardener crime fiction series Book 5)


Ray Clark - 2020
    

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

Chocolate Centered Cozy Mysteries


Cindy Bell - 2017
     Book 1: The Sweet Smell of Murder Ally Sweet is happy to be returning for a short break to the small town where she grew up. She is planning on using the time off to get over her messy divorce and she is looking forward to spending time with her much-loved grandmother and relaxing making chocolates and anything chocolaty. But then… the delivery driver for her grandmother’s chocolate shop is found murdered. The detectives investigating the crime have a prime suspect, Ally’s high school sweetheart, Brent. Ally believes that Brent would never murder anyone, so with the help of her trusted feline friend, Peaches, she tries to uncover the truth. The search for the killer leads Ally straight into the line of danger. Will she be able find the murderer before she becomes a victim herself? Triple Chocolate Muffin Recipe Included! Book 2: A Deadly Delicious Delivery Ally Sweet is settling into life in Blue River. She loves spending time with her grandmother and making delicious chocolate creations. But then someone is poisoned by the chocolates from ‘Charlotte’s Chocolate Heaven’ and all the evidence points to Ally and Charlotte. Detective Luke Elm is on the case, but with her grandmother’s business on the line and their freedom at stake Ally feels she has no choice but to try and find out the truth. Ally and Charlotte, with some help from Peaches and Arnold, do some digging to try and uncover the murderer. With the suspects piling up it is a race against the clock to discover who the murderer is so the chocolate shop doesn’t remain shut and Ally and Charlotte don’t land up behind bars. Will Ally and Charlotte be able to find the killer before they go to jail? Or worse get murdered themselves? Will hunky Detective Luke arrest Ally? Or will they develop a new romance? Decadent Chocolate Cake Recipe Included! Book 3: A Bitter Sweet Murder Ally Sweet is excited to be staying the night at a new luxury hotel for free because ‘Charlotte’s Chocolate Heaven’ is negotiating a lucrative deal for the hotel’s bed turndown service, where a chocolate will be placed on each guest’s pillow every night. But then Ally stumbles across a dead body. It looks like she is being framed and when hunky Detective Luke Elm is inadvertently implicated in the murder, Ally does everything she can to find the killer. With a little help from her grandmother, feline friend, pot-bellied pig and some chocolate creations, Ally sifts through the suspects to uncover the truth. Will Ally’s snooping make the shop lose the deal? Will Ally find the murderer and clear her and Luke’s names before there is another victim? Chocolate Cupcakes with Whipped Ganache Frosting Recipe Included! Book 4: A Treacherous Tasty Trail Ally and Charlotte Sweet are running a booth for ‘Charlotte’s Chocolate Heaven’ at a local farmer’s market. Their primary concerns are selling cookies and keeping their cat, Peaches, and pot-bellied pig, Arnold, under control at the market. But then the son of a prominent and influential farmer is found dead and an old acquaintance of Ally’s is suspected of the murder. Ally’s investigative nature takes over and she goes on a search to find the killer.

Seven Lives to Kill


K.M. Waller - 2020
    But when her eccentric Aunt Ginger passes away, she leaves Loretta her prized cat sanctuary. Her aunt's dying wish is that the seven remaining felines are allowed to live out the rest of their days in comfort on the little farm.Recently widowed and ready for a change, Loretta relocates to the town of Saint Wales, Florida to honor her aunt's wishes thinking how hard can it be to look after a few cats.Only, the neighbors aren't exactly hospitable and several have been trying to shut down the sanctuary for years. Worse, someone is out to sabotage the farm by any possible means putting the cats and Loretta in danger. Not only that, a close friend of her aunt's doesn't believe Aunt Ginger died of natural causes.Can Loretta settle into her new role as cat mom and protector while fending off the cat haters and a possible murderer?

Crime Fiction: Private Eye Thriller


B.A. Savage - 2016
    When he finds, Coleman's dead he may be pursuing the wrong suspect. Shallow Grave When Stone is hired to pick up a jar of face cream from a Frenchman named Lorenzo Carlos, he thinks it's going to be a quick one thousand bucks, but faith has its own plans. Stone's life is threatened by a cosmetic company owner that has a soft voice but an itchy trigger finger, leading to an explosion that rocks the foundation of the case. All this for a jar of face cream? There's something wrong in Central City, and it's Stone’s job to find out the truth. Wishful Thinking When a carnival employee hires Randall Stone to investigate his girlfriend, a girl is murdered in a fire accidentally blowing a secret wide open. Cold Fury When Stone meets a beautiful woman in the Lake View Bar, she shows him a clipping out of the Personal columns of the newspaper. An attorney wanted to know the whereabouts of Mary Patton, wife of the late, Ben Patton, who died seven years ago in the Philippine Islands. Mr. Patton left a legacy of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for his wife. She hired Stone to claim her inheritance and he meet a man with his code of vigilante justice and Randall Stone’s on the top of his list.Die to Be Rich When Stone's hired to pick up an envelope for Mellissa, it's supposed to be a simple case, but nothing is as it seems when you’re a private eye. On the way back from the pickup, Stone is covered by two thugs that use him as a punching bag. Now Stone carries out his own brand of justice on the streets of Central City. You’re Going to Die Mr. Stone When a Puerto Rican man walks into Stone’s office and tells him; he’s going to die Stone’s asked to deliver a letter to the man who’s trying to kill the Puerto Rican. A guy just released from prison named Tony Ramirez. And when two men are murdered, Stone tries to find the link between the dead men and lottery racket in the Northpark area. It’s Called Murder Scott Braga has one wish, to talk to his son before he leaves Central City and has 12 hours before he goes. He hires Randall Stone to find his son on Fifth Street one of the most dangerous areas in town. When a murder happens, Stone tries to identify the real culprit. Sweet Letters of Death When a man hoping to find a companion or even a soul mate gets taken for a considerable amount of money through a mail order bride he hires Randall Stone to get his money back. Stone races to expose them before it happens to someone else. Tales of: Detective, Police Detective, Police, Murder, Investigation, Death, Violence, Blood, Shootout, Police Officer, Shot to Death, Corpse, Revenge, Fight, Gun, Murder Investigation, Gunfight, Husband Wife Relationship, Fistfight Neo Noir, Interrogation, Police Investigation, Deception Blood Splatter, Gangst

Falling into Magic


Elizabeth PantleyElizabeth Pantley - 2020
    A portal to an enchanted land. A mysterious family she never knew she had. Hayden's life is upended with the wonder of Destiny Falls. But it is tainted by the danger that brought her here and that threatens her newfound family. Can Hayden and her sassy sidekick remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical new life in this captivating world? …When Hayden was a child, she lost her cat. Adults told her the cat ran away, but she knew the truth. The mirror had taken her. She knew because the mirror gave her a glimpse of an alternate world and had nearly pulled her in, so she was certain the cat had suffered that fate.Twenty years later, Hayden discovers the secret of the mirror when she is thrust into it. She learns of an enchanted world she never knew existed, and a family she never knew she had.But danger brought her here, and it followed her. Now, Hayden is on a mission to remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical, meaningful new life in this enchanted world."Absolutely brilliant, delightful, magical story. This is one book that you cannot stop reading. More please, much, much more, please! ~ Carol, Goodreads "Oh my goodness this was SO GOOD!! Please do yourself a favor and read this book." ~ Prockish"A captivating read! A great story, full of interesting people and places, with surprises around every corner." ~ Linda C. Goodreads"This is no run-of-the-mill paranormal book! Unique ideas. You will be glad this is a series!" ~ Susan G. Amazon "A magical, delightful tale with a quirky cast of characters, engaging dialogue, a pleasantly appealing universe, and an intriguing plotline that I could not put down." ~ Dru Ann, drusbookmusing.comABOUT THE AUTHORElizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books are published in over twenty languages. She is also the author of the popular Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is the mother of four and Nana to one. She hopes you have as much fun reading the Destiny Falls books as she enjoys writing them. Visit her & sign up for her mailing list at nocrysolution.com.

House at Road's End


Peggy Staggs - 2015
    JPL Corporation shredded her ground-breaking project, fired her and her team and blacklisted her. And then Ensley discovers the man who asked her to marry him is not only behind her being banished, but he’s sleeping with her supervisor. The devastation appears complete until Ensley receives a call from Sheriff Jack Trace of Spirit Springs, Idaho. Her father is missing. Ensley shoves everything else aside and leaves her high-powered life in the nation’s capital for the high desert of Idaho. The day she arrives in Spirit Springs, her father is shot, and dies in her arms. Determination consumes her as she focuses on finding her dad’s murderer. Ensley is continually hampered by Jack, the town’s great-looking sheriff who’s intent on keeping her safe, whether she wants him to or not. “Staggs’ characters are skillfully intertwined with the mystery. A must read. Bring on the next book in the series.” Jan Hambright, Romantic Suspense Author Five Star Reviews: “This book was a very easy read. I couldn't put it down. I definitely would recommend giving this new author a try.” “This book kept me on my toes with each chapter, I look forward to the next ones in this series. The writing is smart, and it will keep you interested until the end.” “This is a fast-paced book with mystery, suspense and a sassy heroine you're going to love. Ensley Markus is off to the first of many adventures! Enjoy!” “Fun to read, always looked forward to getting back to it.”

Murder & Spice and Everything Nice


Caryn Thomas Mitchell - 2017
    Baby books in the nursery, entertaining books in the dining room and romance reads in the ladies boudoir. It looked like it would work out great right up until the moment that the leader of a local religious cult turned up dead in the driveway. Soon his wife is dead as well.Through no fault of her own, Ivy feels she has to meddle...uh help, investigate. It's not at all because the lead investigator is her high school crush. It's because her livelihood is at stake. After all, who wants to shop at a bookstore where people keep dying? This is a novella, the perfect length to read in an afternoon in your favorite cozy chair.

Justifiable Deceit


Mikael Carlson - 2020
    A year later, he has become the country’s leading gun control activist and a media darling.When Ethan teams up with a powerful senator to push an extreme gun measure through Congress, a divided America watches the political fireworks in Washington. As both sides of the debate mobilize for an epic showdown, the public is about to discover that everything they know about the massacre that launched this movement may be wrong.Journalist Tierra Campos and FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen begin questioning the official investigation into the shooting and find themselves caught in the political crossfire. Despite public condemnation, covert activities, and physical violence meant to stop them, they remain undaunted in their quest – but at what price? With their careers threatened and livelihoods at stake, they must race to unlock the secrets behind this horrible mass shooting before the truth disappears forever. Amidst the maelstrom of political agendas, personal vendettas, and brash cover-ups, the push to uncover the real motives behind the tragedy will have devastating consequences. When the dust settles, a shocked nation must make a fateful judgment: do the ends justify the means in politics, or is there no such thing as Justifiable Deceit?