Book picks similar to
A Working Stiffs Mystery Boxed Set, Vol 1, #1-3 by Wendy Delaney
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Phone Kitten
Marika Christian - 2010
Throw in a gig as a phone sex operator, an unexpected hunk of a boyfriend, and a client's murder, and you have all the ingredients for the perfect chick lit romp. Even bloggers at Trashionista just had to read it: "A fabulous book.” Shy, funny, loveable Emily’s a pretty unlikely candidate for a phone sex operator. She’d die if she had to talk dirty face-to-face—especially to her hot cop boyfriend. She sure didn’t set out to do phone sex—she wanted to be a writer. But when her BFF framed her for plagiarism, she got in a tiny financial hole and saw this ad for “phone actresses”… Hey, it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds. No pantyhose or pantsuits, no regular hours, you’re your own boss, and lots of people to talk to. Guys, that is. But here’s the odd thing—lots of them want to talk about more than Emily’s imagined attributes; they start to think of her as the best friend they’ll never have to meet. Next thing you know, one of her customers gets killed. What’s a phone kitten to do? Solve the murder herself, of course! “Phone Kitten was a fun debut read with an interesting premise and some great characters – excellent chick lit.” -The Brazen Bookworm “Marika Christian's debut novel was one of the most fun reads I have had this year. Sweet Emily taking a job as a 'phone actress' has to be one of the funniest things ever.” -Just Jump A fun, refreshing treat for fans of Jennifer Crusie, Janet Evanovich, and Stephanie Bond, Phone Kitten is your ticket to hours of giggles—so long as you’re not looking for raunch. Because this is so not it! “When I first heard of this book I was intrigued; a phone-sex worker turned sleuth? Sounds like the perfect mix...a fabulous book. --Trashionista Excerpt: The girl who answered the phone sounded a lot like me. She was perky, upbeat, and wanted me to come in that night for an interview. The thought terrified me, but my only other option was Walmart. I heard Walmart locks employees in the store. I've often wondered what would happen if one of the employees were pregnant and went into labor while locked up. Would they let her out? Would her supervisor deliver the baby in housewares and slap a little smiley face sticker on the baby's bottom? Phone sex had to be better than twenty-four hour retail. The company name was Dimensions. Located in the back of an industrial park, it was a little scary. There was a gravel parking lot with a dozen cars and only one door with a camera to capture anyone who pressed the call button. I was buzzed in immediately. I wondered, Why does a phone sex place need this much security? I was met by Taylor, the bubbly girl I talked to on the phone. “Come on, I'll take you in the back and we can talk.” She wasn't what I pictured. Taylor was a tattooed Goth chick, with every piercing imaginable. Taylor isn't what most people envisioned when it came to “bubbly.” Once we were in her office, she quickly closed the door. “Look, we talk dirty here. The language is sexually explicit. You have to say it all. Tits, cock, and fuck. Can you do that?” “Yes.” There, I said it. I said I could do it. I hoped I really could. She whipped out a headset, plugged it in, and said, “I want you to listen to a call.
Lady Justice Takes A C.R.A.P. City Retiree Action Patrol
Robert Thornhill - 2009
See how sixty-five year old retiree, Walter Williams,became a cop and started the City Retiree Action Patrol. Meet Maggie, Willie, Mary and the Professor, Walt's zany sidekicks in all of the Lady Justice novels. Laugh out loud as Walt and his band of Senior Scrappers capture the 'Realtor Rapist" and take down the 'Russian Mob'. Every Golder Ager knows that as we grow older, we face a whole new set of challenges in life. Walt and his friends meet these challenges head-on and you'll have a hard time not laughing out loud as they thumb their noses at the ravages of Father Time. I guarantee, after reading Lady Justice Takes A C.R.A.P., you will come away with a new light-hearted perspective and respect for the triumphs and challenges of the Senior set. In fact, you may even be prompted to ask your Grandpa what he's been up to lately!
The Case of the Wayward Witch
A.A. Albright - 2019
But with Uncle Faster out of action, and a boyfriend-killing witch on the loose, it might finally be Katy’s time to shine. Going deep undercover at a necromancy supply store seems like a terrifying plan, but Katy soon discovers that her new friends and neighbours aren’t quite as evil as she was led to believe. She begins to suspect that she might be tracking the wrong witch, after all. Will Katy discover the real killer in time? And will she prove, once and for all, that women are up to the job? In the latest tale from A.A. Albright, you’ll meet the feisty Katy Kramer, a wizard-turned-dog called Hamish, a sarcastic cat called Cleo, and a whole new cast of characters. A few old favourites might also pop in to say hello…
Undertaking Irene
Pamela Burford - 2014
To dead people.Life gets complicated for Jane and her Death Diva business when she’s hired to liberate a gaudy mermaid brooch from the corpse during a wake—on behalf of the rightful owner, supposedly. Well, a girl’s got to make a living, and this assignment pays better than scattering ashes, placing flowers on graves, or bawling her eyes out as a hired mourner. Unfortunately for Jane, someone else is just as eager to get his hands on that brooch, and he’s even sneakier than she is, not to mention dangerously sexy.Just when she thinks her biggest problem is grand theft mermaid, things take a murderous turn. But hey, when you’ve teamed up with a neurotic seven-pound poodle named Sexy Beast, how can you go wrong?
The Jeri Howard Anthology: Books 1-9
Janet Dawson - 2018
Jeri Howard finds herself investigating in a puzzling missing persons case that sprawls throughout the grittier sections of Northern California. For a woman who told her husband she had no relatives, Renee Foster’s actually well-stocked with them….and doozies at that. The whole family—criminals, abusers, and kindly aunts alike-- comes alive in Janet Dawson’s first novel, prompting the New York Times to hail it as “a welcome addition to this tough genre.” There’s clearly a lot more here than the simple matter of a wife disappearing with the grocery money. Smelling a rat or two right from the beginning of this complex and intriguing mystery, the red-haired private detective follows many a twisty trail as Dawson weaves an equally twisty tale, which, to the reader’s delight, just keeps winding back on itself, revealing brand new secrets as fast as ancient skeletons can fall out of closets. Dawson’s Oakland is damp and properly sinister and Jeri’s as savvy as Sam Spade, with something of Spade’s seen-it-all outlook. What she doesn't know, her chic lawyer pal, Cassie, can supply; and her cop ex-husband’s on hand to make trouble. As winner of Private Eye Writers of America’s jointly sponsored contest with St. Martin’s Press for Best First Private Eye Novel, KINDRED CRIMES was a sensation even before it was published. It quickly went on to garner Shamus, Anthony, and Macavity nominations. Fans of female sleuths like Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone will particularly enjoy it, as well as aficionados of Marcia Muller’s fellow Bay Area detective, Sharon McCone. “Dawson keeps suspense and interest at high pitch.” --Publishers Weekly “A satisfyingly complex and multilayered novel. . . A wonderfully told and compelling story from a writer who’s in complete control – as is her heroine – from start to finish.” --- The Denver Post. “An auspicious debut.”-- New York Daily News “Dawson writes believable dialogue, creates quickly realized and appealing characters and has a particularly nice atmospheric touch.” --San Francisco Examiner
The Sleuth Sisters
Maggie Pill - 2014
They agree that Retta, their baby sister, will NOT be included, since she tends to take over any organization she's part of. Sweetly but firmly, Retta will tell you what you should do, could do, and will do.The sisters finally get a decent case: finding a man who apparently murdered his wife years ago and has been on the run ever since. As they try to investigate what happened, they're opposed at every turn.
Slice of Paradise Cozy Mysteries Box Set: A Culinary Cozy Mystery Anthology, Books 1-5
Nancy McGovern - 2018
She dreams of cakes & pies. She dreams of crepes & brownies. And, more than anything, she dreams of making a career of serving her delicious treats to an adoring public. So, when her grandmother calls and asks her to move to Florida to help run her café, she cannot get out of Minnesota fast enough! And before she knows it she is standing in Paradise Point, the beautiful, oceanside plaza in which Bessie's Café is located, hardly able to believe her good fortune. Life is now exactly how Faith had imagined it could be. She's made wonderful friends. The café, now renamed the Slice of Paradise, has been renovated to showcase her amazing desserts. And both locals & tourists are loving it! Well, all except for one... The owner of a nearby cupcake shop is not at all happy with Faith's arrival in Paradise Point. She has accused Faith of trying to ruin her by stealing her recipes & designs. And she is not shy about letting everyone know it. So, when the woman is found dead the day after their confrontation, people immediately begin to consider whether Faith is the killer... Is Faith guilty of murder? If not, who is? And can Faith find a way to clear her name before her dreams turn into nightmares? Learn the answers to these questions and so many more inside this big, bundled box set! We'll see you in there!
Catastrophe: A Highland Murder Most Fowl
Lucinda Hare - 2015
What's not to like about this book? It grabs the reader's attention from the start and holds on to it throughout the story. I also love the information about Wild Cat conservation which appears before the story starts: hopefully this will encourage readers of all ages to take an interest in the conservation of this beautiful animal. Whilst this book is going to appear on LoveReading for kids, it would be equally at home in the adult section. I normally clear my downloads after reviewing a book, but I will be keeping this one to reread and I can't wait to read about Catastrophe's next adventure.Sharon Hall (LoveReading4Kids review)What a delightful book! I liked the descriptions of the world as seen through Catastrophe’s eyes, as he described life in the wild for him, and then getting to know Mary and George. After a while this built to a murder mystery that had you rooting for the good guys. Overall an unexpectedly lovely book and I look forward to reading more about the family’s adventures.
Wish Upon A Witch
Lucy May - 2020
Really. Her name is literally Juliette Good. Apologies for the redundancy. Good witch or not, she often ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Returning home to Charm Cove, Maine after the holidays, she makes a nostalgic wish in the town’s fountain. As unfortunate luck would have it, seconds later the town’s ancient beloved balsam tree catches fire and is burned to a crisp. By virtue of being a witness, Juliette is also a suspect. Suddenly, wishes cast by random strangers in the fountain are granted almost instantly if Juliette happens to be nearby. In the less magical realm, residents of Charm Cove are up in arms over winter road maintenance and a few too many fender benders during the icy winter. Meanwhile, the only other person known to be present when the ancient balsam tree caught fire is Donovan Wick—a warlock who’s just moved back to town. He’s handsome and charming, and Juliette just might be falling for him. There’s not much time for romance when the witches and warlocks of Charm Cove are chasing down whoever cast the spell that harmed the tree, and the entire town is disgruntled over the state of the roads. The mundane and magical are all tangled together. Take a visit to Charm Cove, where Wicked meets Good and where you just might find there’s almost always more than meets the eye.
Casey Jones Mysteries Vol. 1-7
Katy Munger - 2019
The South will never be the same. Don't miss her.”—Janet Evanovich
“She is smart, tough, and tenacious... a wonderfully entertaining read.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
Casey Jones cannot be beat for rowdy, action-packed adventures with humor, romance, and hard-boiled mayhem aplenty. She’s hot, she’s hilarious, and she’s so headstrong her quasi-boss Bobby D. can only shake his massive head and do as the lady says. The hot and hilarious parts go hand-in-hand as the plus-size detective fantasizes her way through a small army of possible inamoratos, now and then anointing one or another, although always off the page and always accompanied by a wisecrack or three.(“I feel like I’ve been in a train wreck,” says one.“Of course you do,” replies his lovely date. “Why do you think they call me Casey Jones?”)LEGWORK, Vol. 1Author Munger masterfully blends nail-biting suspense with Casey’s hilarious wisecracking narration as she navigates an unsavory southern stew of crooked politicians, crooked cops, old grudges, ancient crimes, and everyone’s favorite, dysfunctional families.OUT OF TIME, Vol. 2The family of a death row inmate just isn’t buying the story that she killed her cop husband, and they’ve hired North Carolina’s mouthiest female sleuth to save her from lethal injection—in a month.MONEY TO BURN, Vol. 3When a favorite client gets killed on her watch, Casey vows to find the killer no matter what killers, arsonists, rapists, and spoiled rotten socialites get in her way. Then, to the cynical sleuth’s chagrin—everyone all around her starts falling in love…just before Casey herself is smitten.BAD TO THE BONE, Vol. 4BAD TO THE BONE is a rowdy, action-packed adventure with humor, romance, and hard-boiled mayhem aplenty. Its two greatest delights are its vivid antagonists, the big-hearted, tough PI and the petite, pernicious femme fatale, locked in a catfight that should have its own arena.BETTER OFF DEAD, Vol. 5Along with their significant others and the gardener, Casey and her oversize partner, Bobby, move in with a rape victim who’s receiving threatening phone calls. The victim knows exactly who attacked her, was tried for it, got away with it and who, she’s sure, is still getting away with it.BAD MOON ON THE RISE, Vol. 6Casey follows the trail of a missing basketball star to a prison town in the North Carolina mountains. In order to help out the very hot local sheriff investigate suspicious goings-on in the prison, Casey agrees to be locked up for a week inside a prison once again. Watch for the all-time best ever laugh-out-loud prison break!FIRE AND RAIN, Vol. 7Casey has her hands full avenging the death of one of her oldest friends—while trying to keep unruly strippers and bikers in line. What should have been a routine bodyguarding case has turned deadly and personal in more ways than one. Her friend is dead, one of the strippers she’s guarding is missing, and the handsome biker Casey met the night before sure seems to be in it up to his neck!
Always a rip-roaring romp, these page-turners will appeal to fans of all female sleuth myster
Dying to Get Published
Judy Fitzwater - 1995
She's sure that if she can just get famous for something, someone will have to publish her books. Why not murder?She'll find a target so mean that she'd actually be doing the world a favor by bumping him or her off. And she knows just the person:Penney Richmond, a high-powered literary agent who's made it her job to ruin people's lives. All Jennifer has to do is frame herself, do the deed, and come out with an iron-clad alibi, and she'll be well on her way to getting a three book deal. So what if she chickens out at the last minute? A vegetarian good girl who rescued a greyhound could never actually kill someone. But when Penney is found murdered and the police think Jennifer did it, she’d better find the real murderer before she goes away... for life.Along with her eccentric writer's group, spunky old ladies with a nose for sleuthing, her neurotic greyhound, and a sexy, sarcastic reporter named Sam, Jennifer embarks on a journey filled with danger, deception, and disguises that could leave her Dying to Get Published...
The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives Series
Elaine Spaan - 2015
The police claim the death was of natural causes, but the knitters aren't buying it. If the police won't do any investigating, then they will!Get all three adventures of the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives series in one bundle. The bundle includes Murder, Mystery & Dating Mayhem, Jack Gets His Man, and Love in the Time of Murder.Murder, Mystery & Dating MayhemA middle-aged widow gangs up with her gay best friend and a posse of gray-haired wannabe detectives to solve a murder. Maybe she should have stuck to speed dating? "a lot of fun to read. The characters are a hoot!!" "sweet, light and hilarious and kept you guessing!" "sure to put a smile on your face"Jack Gets His ManJack's life is awesome even if his ex is being a pain, but then his smoking hot new bookkeeper discovers things at his store aren't actually as they seem. Jack's bestie and the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives jump at the chance to solve Jack's problems. Will Jack catch a thief or find love? "I ate this book up like a grubby little kid." "expertly worded and pretty funny suspense story with a romantic touch."Love in the Time of MurderWhen Dee's ex is murdered, she's the number one suspect. The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives aren't about to let one of their own get sent to the slammer and jump at the chance to search for the true killer. "totally scrumptious cozy mystery" "This fun and witty whodunit will have you laughing till the very end."Buy now to join the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives on all of their adventures.
Booking a Killer Vacation
J.R. Ripley - 2020
Think innkeeper Dick Loudon and mystery writer Jessica Fletcher. Put 'em together, flip 'em around and what do you get? Kelly Green and Harry Leland. One is the new owner of the Beach Lovers Inn in Myrtle Beach, SC. The other is a mystery writer staying at the inn who sees mysteries and murders everywhere.When Kelly’s aunt decides to retire, she jumps at the opportunity to run the inn. But soon after, a guest is murdered and Kelly and Harry are determined to find the killer before any more guests check out for good.First in a new cozy series by critically-acclaimed, bestselling author J.R. Ripley.
Adamant (Hank Rawlings - On The Hunt Series Book 1)
E.H. Reinhard - 2020
Inmates. Innocents. A pair of sheriff’s deputies. A soccer mom. All murdered by an escaped con named Charles “Chuck” Burr, a man who has cut a bloody path from Louisiana to Texas.For Hank, the assignment is easy: find Burr and bring him to justice. With everything pointing to the Waco area, the bureau is quickly nipping at their target’s hells.But Burr will choose death over being put in another cage. He finally has his freedom, and he’ll kill anyone that tries to take that from him - FBI agents included.
Alas, She Drowned
Monica Knightley - 2016
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.