Book picks similar to
The Appleton Case by Diana Xarissa
mystery
cozy-mystery
novella
mysteries
Teepees & Trailer Parks
Hope Callaghan - 2015
90 MINUTES). If you prefer longer cozy mysteries, be sure to check out Garden Girls and Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series of books."Teepees & Trailer Parks" - Episode 1 in the Sweet Southern Sleuths Short Stories: A Cozy Mysteries Women Sleuths Series.Loretta Sweet and her identical twin sister, Lacy, have recently inherited a home in Misery, Mississippi, from their distant relative, (Aunt) Tess McCoy. Their aunt's attorney insists that the girls meet him at the property to discuss the specifics of the will.When the sisters arrive for the meeting, they discover that there is more...much more to the will than just inheriting a home.As the attorney prepares to go over the details of the will, one of the "stipulations" makes a dramatic appearance, along with a body that is found in the bathtub.Will the Sweet sisters turn tail and run or will they stick around to help solve the murder?
Chef Maurice and the Rather Fishy Tale, A Short Story Prequel
J.A. Lang - 2014
A tale of intrigue, kidnap and the price of fish…
When a mysterious carved wooden fish turns up in the morning seafood delivery, bearing a desperate—albeit badly spelt—plea for help, Chef Maurice, proprietor of Le Cochon Rouge in the Cotswold village of Beakley, has only one response: if he can’t steam it, grill it or fry it, he’s not interested. Unfortunately, friend and food critic Arthur Wordington-Smythe is more than willing to get the pair embroiled—or should that be broiled?—in what could turn out to be some seriously fishy business. Time then for a trip to the Cornish seaside in search of the fish’s owner, a parking space, and a jolly good plate of haddock and chips, not necessarily in that order...
Murder Between the Lines
Thea Cambert - 2020
All three live in tiny apartments above their shops.The trio of friends share a charming rooftop garden, where they meet in the mornings for coffee from Franny’s coffee shop, and sweets from Owen’s bakery. When a new yoga studio, Bliss, opens up across the street, Alice reluctantly agrees to take a class to promote relaxation in her life, and it actually works, much to her relief.A fire breaks out in town, resulting in a tragic death, and Alice’s brother, Blue Valley PD Officer Ben Maguire, and newcomer, Detective Luke Evans—who has an irritating way of making Alice blush—lead the investigation. When it is determined that the death was no accident, Alice, Franny, and Owen get pulled smack dab into investigating the case.Will they solve it before you do?Find out in this fun and fast-paced Cozy Mystery!
Daisy McDare and the Deadly Art Affair
K.M. Morgan - 2014
Instead she finds herself heartbroken and in the middle of a murder investigation. Daisy is in the middle of a decorating job at a famed local celebrity's mansion when the arrogant painter is found murdered in his backyard studio. Suddenly there's a house full of suspects, each with a bigger reason to want the victim dead than the next. When the local police get stumped during their investigation, Daisy realizes she'll have to take matters into her own hands. But she can't crack the case alone. She recruits her cupcake-baking best friend Samantha, wise-cracking Granny Annie, and her feisty West Highland Terrier Shamus to find the killer. Other Daisy McDare books: Daisy McDare And The Deadly Legal Affair Daisy McDare And The Deadly Directorial Affair
Jacob's Coins
Gillian Larkin - 2014
A short cozy mystery about a ghost that needs help. Following their parents’ sudden death, Frankie and Grace Abrahams are left with crippling debts and an almost empty antique shop. Frankie has watched countless TV programmes about storage locker auctions and is convinced that he has what it takes to succeed in the business. He drags Grace to a nearby auction. Frankie is excited about making his first bid, he doesn't know that Grace can see ghosts in the lockers. Frankie buys his first locker, complete with a 17 year old ghost. The ghost looks so sad that Grace can’t help but talk to him. She soon finds out why he is attached to the locker. He asks for her help. Grace doesn't know how she can help him, she’s never even spoken to a ghost before – she just knows that she has to try.
Murder is a Family Business
Heather Haven - 2011
But the 34-year old Latina, WASP and 100% detective has her work cut out for her when the man is murdered on her watch. Of all the nerve. Set in the present, Murder is a Family Business is the first in a series of humorous mysteries revolving around Lee Alvarez, and rest of the Alvarez Family, detectives all. Seemingly light and frothy on the surface, the novel nevertheless explores familial love, the good, the bad and the annoying.Completing the family is Lee's Never-Had-A-Bad-Hair-Day aristocratic mother, Lila; computer genius brother, Richard; beloved uncle "Tio;" and her energetic orange and white cat, Tugger. When this group is not solving murders, they run Discretionary Inquiries, a successful Silicon Valley agency that normally deals with the theft of computer software. The love, humor and camaraderie shared within this family are what set this series apart from others.
Deadly Deals and Donuts
Cindy Bell - 2017
They love working together and despite a few hiccups things are running along smoothly. That is until business comes to a grinding halt when the owner of the hot dog truck is found murdered. Wanting the murder solved as quickly as possible so justice can be served and business on Green Street can return to normal, the friends decide to do a little digging of their own. But things go from bad to worse when it looks like the murderer is targeting the food truck owners on Green Street. It is a race against the clock to find the killer before Joyce and Brenda become the next victims. Recipe Included: Chocolate Glazed Donuts with Sprinkles
Murder Under the Magnolias
Charmain Zimmerman Brackett - 2016
After the murder of a young woman with a mysterious tattoo, Grace finds herself in the middle of an investigation and wonders if these parties she's beautifying are actually fronts for something more sinister.
A Drizzle of Murder
Constance Barker - 2019
The guy moving her bakery items, not so much. He's a grump and rattles Coco to the core. So when he ends up dead inside her new digs, Coco finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation. Masie and Scooter work with Coco at the bakery. Scooter has a way with cakes, but is he any good at solving crimes? Masie can make a mean crumpet, but her sleuth solving skills are still questionable. Stella and Vivian are seniors, but you know the old saying, 60 is the new 40, and these gals are spry as Spring chickens. Their counterparts, Red and Henry, may not keep up with them, but they're not over the hill just yet. Unfortunately, one of them is suspected of murder. Logan, the handsome police detective, is on the case. But can he keep his personal feelings separate? Can Coco and her madcap friends discover the culprit before he strikes again? And will the handsome police detective create some heat for the gals? ***Find out in the first book in the Mad Batter Mystery Bakery Series***
Depawsit Slip
Nancy C. Davis - 2015
Davis Vanessa Abbot owner of the Cat Protection League, feeds and takes care of the cats under the League's care. She also collects the money from the register every evening in the League's Opportunity Shop and takes it to the bank. One foggy evening, she finds herself standing in the bank line when Alfred Botchweather, the local barber, is suddenly found lying dead at their feet with a knife protruding from his back. Vanessa suddenly becomes a suspect and must prove her innocence before it's too late. With the help of her cat friends, Vanessa closes in on the killer. Will Vanessa catch the killer before they strike again? Read to find out! If you love animals, especially cats, you will enjoy this cozy mystery series
Peppermint Fudge and Fears
Patti Benning - 2019
Candy shop owner, Candice Rothberg, formerly Candice Darling, is excited for Christmas. It’s hard not to be, in a town as festive as Lake Marion, Michigan. When Candice learns that a local bakery is hosting a gingerbread house building contest, she eagerly dives right in. With her background in candy and all things delicious, she plans to rock the contest, whether she wins it or not. What starts out to be a fun and delicious contest, ends up being a holiday horror, when one of the competitors dies, under suspicious circumstances, leaving behind a mysterious candy wrapper and more questions than answers. When the killer targets a second victim, Candice realizes all of the mystery and intrigue, oddly, has something to do with her. Will she figure out who the culprit is, before it’s too late? Or will this be a season of suffering for Lake Marion? Find out in this delectably action-packed Cozy Mystery!
Wicked Autumn
G.M. Malliet - 2011
Edwold’s in the idyllic village of Nether Monkslip. Wanda Batton-Smythe, highly vocal and unpopular president of the Women’s Institute, turns up dead at the Harvest Fayre. Peanut allergy looks accidental, but Max has many suspects for murder.
Peril in Pensacola
Lucy Quinn - 2019
Meet Dora and Evie, two best friends who are suddenly thrown into the world of life undercover as they fight to prove Dora’s innocence in the death of her money-laundering boss.
Death by a Honeybee
Abigail Keam - 2010
They are not cozy or fuzzy, but they do try to be humorous and witty. Sometimes they succeed. Each novel/novella has a stand-alone mystery, but the stories are also about the continuing life saga of a middle-aged Southern woman as she faces many serious obstacles. Josiah faces the world with sarcastic humor and a number of quirky, oddball friends that can only be found in the Southern town of Lexington, the heart of the Kentucky horse country. Some mysteries end with a bang, some are not solved at all and the first one ends with a cliff hanger, but they always entertain in the sassy, humorous and suspenseful world as Josiah goes about sleuthing. The Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series is just like fried chicken . . . finger-licking good! Add some sweet tea and a piece of chocolate pecan pie with a scoop of ice-cream and you got yourself some tasty reading. Description Josiah Reynolds is a beekeeper trying to stay financially afloat by selling honey at the Farmers' Market. She finds her world turned upside down when a man is found dead in her beeyard, only to discover that the victim is her nemesis. The police are calling the brutal death murder and Josiah is the number one suspect! Josiah makes the rounds of quirky characters that can only be found in the lush Bluegrass horse country. Fighting an unknown enemy in the glamorous world of Thoroughbreds, oak-cured bourbon and antebellum mansions, Josiah struggles to uncover the truth in a land that keeps its secrets well. Death By A HoneyBee is the first of an episodic series and as such ends in a cliff-hanger which is crucial to the rest of the series. Attached to HoneyBee is a bonus chapter from Death By Drowning which continues our heroine's story in linear time. I hope you enjoy reading Death By A HoneyBee as much as I have enjoyed writing it. It was a labor of love.
Old Soldiers Never Die
Margaret Mayhew - 1999
He moves to a quiet country cottage in Dorset, which he’d once visited with his late wife.He finds it easy to slip into local society and decides that Frog End’s upcoming annual fete will be the start of his mission to be a pillar of the community.But when Lady Swynford is found dead on the night of the fete, it becomes clear that Frog End has a darker side. And as Inspector Squibb investigates the case, the Colonel finds himself more involved than he could possibly have imagined.DISCOVER FROG END, A BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH VILLAGE WITH SOME DARK SECRETSPerfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie and Stella Cameron.THE DETECTIVEAt the grand old age of 55, the Colonel had been put out to grass by the British Army. In the same year, his beloved wife, Laura, died after a long illness. He found himself facing a bleak and lonely future. There were the children, of course, but they were grown up and had busy lives of their own.One summer, years before, he and Laura spent their leave in England, touring the West Country. They stopped at a village in Dorset called Frog End which had a spit-and-sawdust pub called the Dog and Duck. Laura had fallen in love with a stone cottage seen across the village green. She had admired the thatched roof and the pink roses round the door. Years later, after her death, the Colonel had revisited the same village alone and seen Laura’s dream cottage had aged badly and that it was up for sale. Against his better judgement, he bought it.THE SETTINGThe cottage was called Pond Cottage and the Colonel soon discovered that he had made a big mistake. The two-hundred-year-old building had deathwatch beetle, rising damp, a falling roof, rot and decay throughout. There was no heating and the wiring was a dangerous disgrace. Logs for an open fire were kept in a tin bath in the scullery and the nettle-infested lavatory was housed outside in a jungle. There was no sign of any pond.But there were compensations: a view over the beautiful village green, clusters of other stone cottages, a Norman church built on Saxon foundations, a graveyard of ancient tombs leaning at perilous angles. And, of course, the Dog and Duck.