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Peril at the Pawn Shop


Mel Faye - 2019
    Really busy.With her petsitting client, Ralph the pug, at her side, Annie is running around town walking dogs, training greyhounds, organizing puppy classes, and taking energetic Vizlas for runs. And it's all to save money for and build interest in her not-yet-named dog store, the business she's dreamed of for years.But Annie's plans change when she finds out that the death of local pawn shop owner, George Appleby, has been ruled a suicide. She knows that there's at least one person in town who will benefit from Appleby's death: Chet West, the real estate mogul who's trying to buy up all the small businesses in her little town and replace them with chain stores and tourist destinations. And one day soon the small store going out of business might be her own. Now Annie's determined to figure out what happened to Appleby and how Chet West is involved - even if the police don't care. And the more she and Ralph run around chasing down leads and sniffing out suspects, the more Annie realizes that Little Nectar, Connecticut, is not the wholesome little town she thought it was.Peril at the Pawn Shop is Book 1 of the light-hearted Walk in the Bark cozy mystery series. It features:...an amateur detective whose spunk is liable to get her in trouble...a pug who snores in his sleep...a small town full of quirky characters...a mystery that will keep you guessing until you turn that last page...no foul language, cliffhangers, or gore Scroll up and buy it now!

The Sinister Seminar


Sara Robbins - 2013
    She helped launch the Aspen Valley Inn and now she is getting her own story. She operates Enchanted Events which is getting the reputation that they host events to die for. It was a simple writing seminar booking. First someone tries to kill one of the students and next they come after Charlotte. Nothing can stop Charlotte from getting to the bottom of this because this time it's personal. Spend some time with the characters you loved in the Aspen Valley Inn Series and you'll also get to know more about Charlotte in this first book of the Events to Die For Series.This is a novella of approximately 25, 200 words.

Never Buried


Edie Claire - 1999
    Too bad his body didn't!Advertising copywriter Leigh Koslow doesn't pack heat--just a few extra pounds. And she doesn't go looking for trouble. When she moved into her cousin Cara's refurbished Victorian house, she wasn't planning on discovering a corpse--certainly not one that had been embalmed ten years before. But as anyone in the small Pittsburgh borough of Avalon could tell her, her cousin's house has a history attached. A history dating back to two mysterious deaths in the summer of 1949.Someone wants Leigh and Cara out of the house--someone who has something to hide. But that someone doesn't know Leigh's impetuous cousin, and when Cara digs her heels in, Leigh looks to her old college chum, local policewoman Maura Polanski, for help. But the answers the trio find only point to more questions. Were the scandalous deaths of fifty years ago really an accident and a suicide? Or were they murder?The nearer the women get to the truth, the more desperate someone becomes. Because some secrets are better off kept. Especially when they hit close to home!

The Lanvin Murders


Angela M. Sanders - 2014
     But when Joanna finds a key in a 1930s Lanvin coat cast off by an ex-showgirl, everything changes. The elderly woman turns up dead, and Joanna is pulled into a long-ago drama of back room deals, blackmail, and lost love. She must find a very real—and present day—killer before she becomes his next victim. “As you dive into this intriguing mystery novel featuring vintage clothing dealer/sleuth Joanna Hayworth and a quirky cast of characters, prepare for an entertaining ride through long-buried crimes and Portland lore to solve the mystery of 'the woman in the Lanvin coat.' A truly enjoyable read!" --Christine Finlayson, author of Tip of a Bone, a Pacific Northwest mystery "Slip on a pair of pink mules and a silk robe, mix up a shaker of martinis, and relax with this delightful mystery set in a Portland vintage clothing store. Populated by a charming heroine and a flock of odd characters, this engaging tale will satisfy the sleuth in you as well as the fashionista." --Ann Littlewood, author of Endangered, a zoo-dunnit

A Hint of Murder


Mary Maxwell - 2019
    She plans to spend time with family and friends, help manage her aunt’s ice cream shop and savor the beaches and sunsets along the southern Gulf coast. The last thing she expects is landing smack dab in the middle of a homicide investigation. But after a notorious realtor is murdered and the prime suspect uses Dot’s Big Dipper for an alibi, Liz launches her own investigation to help the local police solve the case. Inspired by her experience as a 911 operator along with a passion for mystery novels and true crime podcasts, Liz digs into the death of the self-proclaimed King of Real Estate—collecting clues, gathering tips and connecting the dots—until the case is solved with one unforeseen twist of fate. A Hint of Murder is the first title in a new series from the author of Sky High Pies Cozy Mysteries.

You Can Lead a Horse to Murder


Tara Meyers - 2018
    When the evidence points to the horse as the cause of death, she vows to protect him. But horses don't talk and neither do the dead, so Ember has to rely on her intelligence and instinct to get to the truth. A truth buried under layers of small-town secrets. Some that are big enough to get you killed. Battling a reluctant Sheriff and pushy Mayor, Ember struggles to get her business off the ground while digging deeper. Why would anyone want to kill the local farrier? And who was plotting to stop her? As the town gears up for its centennial celebration, Ember is led from local ranches to the surrounding mountains in her quest. Can she unveil the true culprit before they get away with murder?

True Blue Murder


Elise M. Stone - 2016
    The former librarian has developed her first hybrid, a plant with unusual deep blue flowers, and hopes to win a first place ribbon. Maybe even best in show. But her excitement turns to dread when the aggravating Bette Tesselink, her fiercest rival, turns up dead, and she becomes the logical suspect. There’s never been a murder in the village of Rainbow Ranch, and it soon becomes apparent that the young Chief of Police is in over his head. Under pressure from the mayor, Lilliana is afraid he’ll arrest her in order to close the case. Her only option is to begin her own investigation and find the murderer before she winds up in jail. The first in a new cozy mystery series sure to engage you with its fascinating characters and twisty plot.

Deadly Gamble


Connie Shelton - 1995
    Stacy's Rolex watch is missing and she begs Charlie to help locate it before her husband finds out. Things are complicated by the fact that Stacy had been seeing another man, Gary Detweiller, and he's the one she suspects of having stolen the watch. With a little detective work, Charlie and her sidekick dog, Rusty, retrieve the missing watch and all should be well. But three days later, Detweiller is murdered. All eyes turn to Stacy as the prime suspect. Once again, Stacy begs Charlie's help in proving her innocence. As she begins to ask questions, Charlie learns that Detweiller's life was not as simple as first perceived and that any number of people had grievances against him. And before she can pinpoint the killer, her own life is in danger as well. Includes new foreword from the author upon the 20th anniversary of first publication of this ongoing series' first title.

Dead Angler


Victoria Houston - 2000
    But when Doc Osborne catches more than he bargained for, he winds up in the middle of a murder mystery -- and only Chief of Police Lew Ferris can get him out of it.

The Case of the Flashing Fashion Queen


N.L. Wilson - 2011
    firm where she's worked for years, Dix Dodd has hung out her own shingle at the ripe age of 40. There are plenty of cheating husbands to go around, and Dix has a knack for busting them. Problem is, it doesn't always pay so well. Conscious that the guys back at the old firm are laying bets about how soon she'll come crawling back, she figures she's got six months to make a go of it.The going gets even tougher when she hires Dylan Foreman. But when he told her about getting fired from his law firm and disbarred for putting common decency before the firm's interests, she hired him on the spot. In addition to being smart, he's gorgeous enough to remind her she's a woman. And at 28, young enough to make her feel like a total cougar.Things start looking up when Dix gets hired by millionaire businessman Ned Weatherby's wife Jennifer Weatherby, to tail Ned 24/7 for a week, for a cool ten grand. Easy-peasy, right? Wrong! The job lands Dix in the middle of a murder investigation - with her as the prime suspect and her arch-enemy Detective Richard Head (a.k.a., Dickhead, one of the cheating husbands she'd nailed) gunning for her.Dix will need all her ingenuity, as well as the help of Dylan and her oddball cast of supporters to extricate herself from this one.

Baking is Murder


Kathy Cranston - 2016
     Luckily for Jessie, Springdale is every bit as quirky and idyllic as she remembers, and Bee’s baking is just as mouth-watering. Then the unthinkable happens and there’s a murder on the outskirts of town. Worse still, Jessie’s new friend is the prime suspect. The cops think the case is cut-and-dry, but Jessie’s gut tells her there’s more going on than meets the eye. Can she get to the bottom of it? Baking is Murder is the first book in the Bee’s Bakehouse Cozy Mystery series. Each book is a standalone mystery.

In the Nick of Time


Susette Williams - 2018
     Nick Claussen knows he’s a workaholic but what’s a guy to do when murder doesn’t take a holiday? Hopefully they’ll be able to get through the holidays alive. THE 12 MYSTERIES OF CHRISTMAS series: • IN THE NICK OF TIME by Susette Williams • GABRIEL’S SECRET by Alexa Verde • GUARDING CANDY KANE by V.B. Tenery • MURDER: UP ON THE ROOFTOP by Tina Dee • JOY IN JEOPARDY by Lynette Sowell • HOLLY IN HIDING by P. Creeden • STARR WITNESS by Susette Williams • NOELLE ON THE RUN by Alexa Verde • GOLDEN BELLES ARE WRINGING by Gina Conroy • DEATH BY FIGGY PUDDING by Tina Dee • DANGER FOR GLORIA by Lynette Sowell • MERRY WITHOUT MALICE by P. Creeden

Crime Chowder


Hillary Avis - 2018
    So when her real estate developer boyfriend offers her a sweet catering gig, she jumps at the chance to cook for his gala and rub elbows with the town’s elite. The problem? That fancy gala is only happening because her best friend’s home was burned down by an arsonist. And the more Bethany learns about her boyfriend’s planned development, the more she suspects that he might have had something to do with it.Determined to uncover the arsonist’s identity, Bethany cooks her way through the gala, listening to the secrets, lies, and gossip swirling around Hosanna Street. But when someone close to her is killed during the party—and the murder weapon is found in her pot of clam chowder—Bethany finds herself in more than a little hot water.---------------------------------------If you like smart culinary mysteries with quirky characters and quaint seaside towns, you’ll love the Death du Jour series that follows Bethany Bradstreet as she builds her career and solves crimes with the help of her friends. Crime Chowder is the first book in the Death du Jour series. This book has clean language and mild suspense with no cliffhangers. It contains depictions of an LGBT relationship.P.S. – There’s a dog in it.

Tear Down and Die


Joanna Campbell Slan - 2013
    She never expected to uncover an old boyfriend and a dead body… Stuart, Florida--With her parents deceased and her son away at college, Cara Mia Delgatto longs to reinvent herself. And a sentimental purchase of a fixer-upper in a small, coastal town seems ideal for a new business selling repurposed relics. But when she trips over a corpse at her rundown building, she flips from renovator to prime suspect. Desperate to clear her name, it shocks Cara to discover that her property once housed a multi-million dollar art collection—stolen after the original owner’s death. And when her first love shows up and tugs at her heartstrings, her whirlwind life upgrades to a hurricane. With accusations of murder and theft looming, she’s running out of redos. Can Cara crack the case and rebuild her reputation, or will her desire to upcycle treasures send her to jail? Tear Down and Die is the charming first novel in the Cara Mia Delgatto traditional mystery series. If you like cozy reads, witty heroines, former flames reconnecting, and Florida’s beautiful Treasure Coast, you’ll adore Joanna Campbell Slan’s captivating tale.

Frosted Shadow


Nancy Warren - 2011
    She’s also got a nose for trouble and a passion for solving mysteries. Imagine Columbo in a lavender suit. She never met a woman who wouldn’t look better with a little help from the Lady Bianca line of cosmetics. But don’t be fooled by appearances. Underneath the fake diamonds and the big hair is a sharp brain and a keen eye that sees the details as well as the funny side of life. When a Lady Bianca sales rep is murdered at the annual convention in Dallas, Toni is the one who notices things that some people, like sexy Detective Luke Marciano, might easily miss. Only someone who understands as much about how to make appearances deceiving could see into the mind of this killer -- a murderer who wants to give Toni a permanent makeover. Into a dead woman.