For Rose Bennett, banking consultant turned private investigator, the event shouldn’t be more than a headline in a newspaper. Except that Rose is investigating a bank fraud at the East & Northern Bank, and Pandora Mitchell’s evidence is the key to her enquiries. As Rose begins to uncover evidence of Pandora’s involvement in the fraud, her colleagues at the bank begin to close ranks. Soon old acquaintances from the past begin to look more like enemies than friends, and as word spreads that Rose is assisting DI George Mulligan to investigate Pandora’s disappearance, someone makes it pretty clear that her presence in the town isn’t welcome.But as the days pass, and fears for the missing girl grow, there’s more at stake than a bank’s reputation, and Rose doesn’t scare that easily …*Previously published under the title Collusion

    Betrayal. Tea and Scones. When ex-novice nun, turned steamy romance writer, Maggie O’Flynn moves to the charming village of Stratford Upon Avondale to open a tea room she expects plenty of murders, betrayal, and duplicity. On the stages of the town’s renowned Shakespeare Festival. But when a theater critic is found murdered on the town’s riverbank and the prime suspect turns out to be the sexy bookshop owner Maggie has had her eye on, she takes matters into her own hands. Will she be able to dig through the layers of betrayal and duplicity to find the true murderer before that handsome bookseller, Nate Larimer, finds himself behind bars? With the help of her loud, brash, spitfire of a friend, Gina Mattucci, Maggie plans to do just that. With a bit of Shakespeare, copious amounts of tea, and a faux-English setting to rival anything the real England has to offer, ALAS, SHE DROWNED is the first book in THE STRATFORD UPON AVONDALE mystery series. Lovers of cozy mysteries will find a cozy home in Stratford Upon Avondale.

    But she had other ideas . . .This ebook contains two stories about marriages affected by supernatural forces. In the title story, FOREVER, David Scarsdale finds himself trapped in an endless void with his wife. Who is controlling it? And will he ever escape?In TWELVE MINUTES Jude must make a painful decision about the fate of his marriage - a marriage in which his wife is conscious for only twelve minutes each day . . .If you are a fan of The Twilight Zone these stories could be for you.The ebook also contains an extended preview of Lee Moan's forthcoming novel, Lazarus Island, a supernatural thriller. *This ebook: 11225 words approx.

    Her father is having one of his 'prescient turns' again, her mother is planning a trip to Spain with her informal ladies' society, and to cap it all the village baker, Ben Tonkins, has died, which means that Gretchen will be bereft of her favourite dense, jammy sponge cakes. And there is something entirely fishy about Ben's death that sits ill with the intrepid mortician.And what's worse is that Gretchen's solemn and sensible boss, the honey-voiced Carmel, seems to have come down with a case of the crazies, botching the embalming process on Ben, and getting wildly smashed on vodka before bashing both Gretchen and another villager, Rosie Tawber, with a cricket bat.But Gretchen knows Carmel, and she knows that cricket was never her game, so she sets out with the help and hindrance of the villagers to discover who, exactly, is the murderer in their midst - and what could be their motive in this sleepy corner of England.

    Confined to a wheelchair after a mass subway shooting, she has been unwilling or unable to speak since the terrifying day she was wounded in the train. One person who might be able to shed some light on the murder is compassionate caregiver Margaret, temporarily hired as Fiona’s personal assistant. From the very first day of her arrival, Margaret senses that something is not quite right about the household...something disquieting and hard to pinpoint. As the mysteries pile up and the friendship between Margaret and her patient grows, the caregiver finds herself sifting through a complicated tangle of lies while trying to help her charge heal both physically and emotionally. The slow burn suspense gradually escalates as a series of shocking revelations brings us to a devastating conclusion.

    But unruly patrons find out the hard way: Ruby is a mixed-martial-arts pro, and not one you’d want to cross.In fact, Ruby would be a champion if she hadn’t been forced to walk away and hide out in the Bahamas.Because Ruby knows too much. She knows where the bodies are buried. And she knows when it’s time to get out of town.But what Ruby doesn’t know is why there is a dead tourist in the dumpster behind her seedy bar.Or why, she, of all people, had to find it.Or why this guy was out at 3am when he had a pretty fiancé waiting in a hotel room a mile away.Or why the local cops are pinning her.Or why she’s gonna be forced into a choice: find the killer, or do hard time herself.For Ruby, good choices have never been her strong point.And this one’s definitely not going to be good…Welcome to the Bahamian world of Ruby Steele, replete with her local dive bar, her wily pet monkey, her major drinking problem, her (way) too many fights, her inability to get herself out of trouble, and her fists made of stone. Ruby’s life is a complete wreck. But there’s one thing she’s good at: capturing your heart.ON THE ROCKS (A RUBY STEELE MYSTERY) is the debut novel in a page-turning mystery/thriller series, one that will linger with you long after the last page is read.Books #2 (EXTRA DIRTY) and #3 (FULL-BODIED) in the series are also available.

    As a Family Liaison Officer he is always the bearer of bad news - it is his job to tell the friends and family of victims the fate of their loved ones.But Tom is weighted down by crimes both old and new - haunted by the death of his best friend Dani, whose murder has never been solved.When a rare opportunity emerges for Tom to take the lead in a horrific murder investigation, he is determined to get justice for the victim. A young girl has been found in her own home, cut so badly - and so carefully - that she has bled to death, leaving a deliberate pool of blood in the shape of angel wings....

    She struggles with the inability to put down roots years after the sudden death of her beloved parents. Madison and her three wise, hilarious friends all wonder if she uses her busy, work-centric lifestyle as an excuse to avoid connection with anyone but them.When Madison checks out a probate sale outside Healdsburg, California, she falls in love with the European-style house on a private tract of land overlooking Lake Sonoma. In fact, she likes the place so much she climbs in the window for a private tour. With help from lawyer and friend Genevieve Delacourt, Madison soon learns that the estate’s corrupt attorney has manipulated the sale and is attempting to steer the purchase to an anonymous client in a deceitful plan for personal gain.Good fortune enables her to purchase the Blackburne’s property, but far more than a new home and lush gardens await discovery during this renovation. As Madison works on the remodel, she’s drawn into an old love story with dangerous consequences. In the process, she discovers herself as she unearths buried secrets. The series of events both endanger Madison and lead her to love – and a permanent home. Mark of the Loon is the skillful combination of history, mystery, and romance in a novel that explores deep friendship, choices, and how individuals cope with loss.

    As time is of the essence, and the FDA will not be bought, the company is forced to conduct one last research study. They must prove through 500 study volunteers that the drug can be terminated at any time without severe side effects. But how will they achieve this when the volunteers all begin to drop like flies? And the volunteers are not the only obstacle, as Dominex finds it has some surprising adversaries.Carol Freeman discovers her medication prison after innocently becoming part of the drug company’s deceptive plan. As she works through her devastating reality, she uncovers the horrible truth about sedatives and one pharmaceutical company that will stop at nothing to get their new drug on the market, Carol, along with 499 other volunteers, like it or not, are in for the most frightening ride of their lives.Silent Epidemic, inspired by too many true stories, takes the reader on a wild journey. At the end of this adventure you will know the truth about the world’s best kept secret.

    Roth's intricate murder mystery - Mandarin Yellow - as Socrates investigates the burglary and attempts to recover the pen, all in an effort to curry favor with his lover's estranged father who is the leader of a Washington and Shanghai based criminal Triad. In a search that takes him from Georgetown to Chinatown and elsewhere in Washington, Socrates finds himself threatened, physically assaulted, suspected of having committed murder, jailed for a time, and constantly confronted by conflicts arising out of his three disparate cultures. Yet he is neither daunted nor deterred by these obstacles. Instead, Socrates draws upon his deep knowledge of vintage fountain pens, Chinese history, and the Mandarin language to puzzle out the complex motives behind the burglary and murders, until he finally uncovers the identities of the criminals and makes a discovery that forever changes his life and the lives of everyone else involved.

     It’s 1996 and high school sweethearts, Zoe and Stefano, are enjoying a valentine’s night in when Zoe realizes she is about to miss her midnight curfew. Worried about losing her car privileges, she jumps into her Ford Escort and begins the long and dark drive home. Meanwhile, Stefano is caught off guard by a troubling psychic premonition of blood – lots of blood. As the clock ticks down to midnight, Zoe comes to the bone-chilling realization that she has a bigger problem than answering to her strict father about the time. Will Zoe and Stefano survive the night? If you like paranormal thrillers, don’t miss this fast paced short story.

    So teamed with a cameraman who thinks he’s seen it all, they are sent to a rumored haunted house called Hurtleberry.With a name like that who wouldn't be terrified?Things soon take a turn for the weird, just not the kind of weird they were expecting. But it's interesting, and might even be dangerous.Still, if they pull it off The Reboot Team might actually get a good story out of it.If the story doesn't get them first.

    The mysterious death is reminiscent of the work of a serial killer who terrorized Katie’s hometown five years ago. The police arrested Katie’s brother for the murders, but the trial and her brother’s behavior left her with plenty of questions.After a second killing nearby, Katie is afraid that the Shock Killer, the man who had forced her into hiding, was back to involve her in a second round of murders. Even more frightening is the fact that Katie might have to come face-to-face with her brother and learn the truth of the murders.

     Historical researcher, Emily Haversson, and Mr Bumble (the cat) are at heritage site, Larch Hall, to go through some old records. They’ve only been there a day, when Emily discovers an old love letter which contains cryptic clues to a ‘legacy of love’ buried in the garden at Larch Hall. However, when she approaches the head gardener, Rob, to see what he makes of the clues, he expressly forbids her from digging up the garden. So when Rob discovers soil and lavender bushes strewn everywhere the next morning, he immediately accuses Emily. Only she knows the truth… Someone else is hunting for the secret hidden beneath the lavender of Larch Hall! *This book can be read as a standalone novel* Interview with the Author Q - So, what makes the Hearts and Houses British Short Story Series special? A - It's a mix of things, really. When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create something that mirrored exactly the kind of books I like to read. My top picks are usually, rural mysteries, British Chick Lit, any of the thousands of cozy mystery bestsellers, and, of course, books featuring good old fashioned small town justice. Basically, anything with a kick-ass attitude and some romantic tension gets my vote. I love getting away from predictable women sleuths mysteries! The Hearts and Houses books are a great mix of these genres. You'll find the series focuses on the fun mystery thriller suspense / Chick Lit genre overall, with some clean and wholesome romance and drama thrown in for good measure. Overall, the Hearts and Houses series is designed to keep you turning the pages - and I've made sure there's never a dull moment. Q - What order should I read the books in? A – This series is one that can be read in any order! However, they are best read in this order: - The Lavender of Larch hall - The Leaves of Llewellyn Keep - The Snow of Severly Castle - The Frost of Friston Manor - The Heart of Heathley House Q - So, why should readers give these books a try? A - Because the Hearts and Houses series is a dramatic, suspense filled, British short story series that takes no prisoners! The characters and settings are so unusual that I guarantee you won’t have read anything like it before. Ultimately, readers who enjoy cozy mystery series with plots that twist and turn all the way to the end will get a kick out of this series. And thanks for reading! Hearts and Houses British Short Story Series eBook Categories: - British chick lit - British short story series - Short stories history - Cozy mysteries women sleuths series - rural mysteries - small town justice

    In The Christmas Elf, An Angela Panther Mystery Holiday Short, psychic medium Angela Panther, her sidekick and best friend Mel, and celestial super sleuth Fran join forces to help a lost elf find its way back home. Celebrate the holiday season with this quirky holiday women's sleuth mystery short story featuring Angela, Mel and the celestial super sleuth, Fran!