New Releases For The Week Of December 20th, 2020–Part 1

Inheriting her late aunt’s Massachusetts farm is no gift for app developer Mabel Skinner, who is about to learn that even the best-grown garlic can’t ward off murderous intent…
 
Mabel’s hope of finding an enthusiastic farmer to buy Stinkin’ Stuff Farm is dying a little bit every day. So far, all she’s found are double-dealing developers. But after a heated dispute over grass clippings with an obsessive local rhubarb breeder, she discovers something even more distressing—the breeder in question undisputedly dead in his greenhouse. . . .
 
Uncomfortably aware that she might be a prime suspect, Mabel stops digging in the dirt long enough to dig up more information about the dead man, and anyone else he might have argued with. The list is longer than she imagined, and includes a persnickety neighbor and a rival rhubarb breeder. With all the ingredients for a homegrown mystery, Mabel must unearth a killer—before the next plot to be dug is her grave. . . .
 
“Growing garlic might be my newest obsession thanks to Six Cloves Under!”
—Lynn Cahoon, New York Times bestselling author of the Farm-to-Fork mystery series (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

After a disastrous situation causes Parker Avery to lose her position at the Orlando Police Department, she opens up a private investigation firm. However, business isn’t what she thought it would be, and after spending several weeks without a case, she reconsiders her decision. Just as her discouragement is getting the best of her, Kent Walker arrives at her office with a fresh case. The older man, occupied by his granddaughter, asks for help finding a map that was stolen from his boat. As Parker looks deeper into Kent’s story, she finds an adventure filled with mysterious undoings and a treasure that is hidden on a faraway island. Parker accepts the case immediately and upon Kent’s request agrees to let his granddaughter Kay help her. As the two women embark on the mission to find Kent’s treasure, it is soon clear that they are complete opposites. Parker tries to keep her promise to Kent, bypassing the other woman’s negativity to focus on the problem at hand. However, Kay is good at pushing buttons, and she does everything in her power to get Parker to drop the case. As tension heats up, the two women find themselves in an ordeal that could impact their very survival, and when they are faced with a life and death situation, Parker and Kay finally drop their defenses and see each other for who they really are. Kay realizes that Parker might be the one person who moves her romantically, but Parker still plagued by her past, knows that her buried secrets could ruin the opportunity if they are revealed. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Paperback

A brand new thriller by USA TODAY Bestselling Author Gina LaManna

For fans of Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg, and Kendra Elliot…

Summer in the Twin Cities is hard to beat, and Detective Kate Rosetti is excited to show FBI Agent Jack Russo a nice, relaxing time while he’s back in town. Unfortunately, her plans go belly up when Tommy “Two-Toed” Bianchi is found floating face down in Kate’s favorite lake.

To complicate matters, Alastair Gem turns up with a brand-new girlfriend… which is all fine and dandy until his girlfriend goes missing. Gem begs the already-strapped-for-time detective for help, and Kate can’t refuse.

One murderer, one kidnapper, and one boyfriend are a lot for the detective to handle. But if Kate doesn’t focus on finding the killer before time runs out, she’ll be the next victim in his deadly spree… (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

On a twilit autumn night, the Falbright Jenny ferries forty passengers back to Falbright from Elmer’s Creek. Except, before the ferry can make it across the River Hore, she ends up marooned on a sand back. Mysteriously, the skipper is no where to be found.

But when the pilot’s body is later found under the pier, stabbed in the back, local authorities realise this was more than just an accident.

Though Scotland Yard’s best and brightest, Detective-Inspector Littlejohn and Sergeant Cromwell, are called in to investigate the case, they make slow progress solving the small town crime.

From local liars to wartime secrets, the whole case is muddled. The only thing that is clear: someone is trying to cover their tracks and Littlejohn and Cromwell must trace the few clues they have in order to solve the mystery before any one else dies.

PRAISE FOR GEORGE BELLAIRS

‘One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story’ – The New York Times

‘Mr Bellairs always gives good value’ – The Sunday Times

‘Pure British detective story’ – The New York Times

‘Head and shoulders above the average of our day’ – Madison Capital Times

‘Sure-fire, that’s Bellairs’ – New York Herald Tribune

‘The excellent Inspector Littlejohn… is a pleasure to watch’ – Francis Iles of The Sunday Times (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

This is book 19 in the Sweet Cove cozy mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author J.A. Whiting.
It is September in Sweet Cove and Angie and Jenna are taking a walk after work to the town park and up the hill to the cemetery overlooking the ocean. Their daughters are growing fast and are already crawling and saying words. Angie and Jenna take the girls out of the strollers so they can play on the grass, but moments later, something unexpected appears to them and it’s about to draw them into a mystery with connections that reach to another state.
It will take all four of the Roseland sisters, Mr. Finch, Chief Martin, two fine felines, and a new friend to find the evil-doer responsible for ending two lives, and maybe more. Will they find the answers they need before it’s too late?
A cozy mystery with recipes !
This story has some mild paranormal elements. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

The famous cowboy movie star
Had become the dearly beloved mayor of Palm Springs.
Too bad he was murdered.
But who could have done it and what was their motive?
Greed? Political rival? An environmental extremist?
Son? Stepdaughter? Ex-wives?
And what about his present trophy wife?
Then there’s that pesky proposed desert windmill turbine project.
They kill a lot of birds,
And the Desert Bird Sanctuary members were certainly
Against the proposal.
The mayor’s vote was needed to approve it.
Maybe he was going to vote against it.
Was that why Monty Madsen was murdered?
And maybe Monty wasn’t the only person in Palm Springs
Who wanted to be the mayor!
There’s a colorful cast of characters,
But only one of them is a murderer.

Join Marty, her husband, Detective Jeff Combs, and their psychic boxer dog, Patron, as they determine not only who had the motive, but also who had the means.

This is the 13th book in the High Desert Cozy Mystery Series by a USA Today Bestselling Author. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Murder’s a fashion faux pas. . .

The summer of 1926 brings high fashion to Hyde Park. Ginger’s Regent Street dress shop, Feathers & Flair, is a major sponsor, and when top designer Coco Chanel makes an appearance, the London fashion scene lights up.

Until a model drops dead and Miss Chanel is suspected of murder. The fashion icon hires Lady Gold Investigations to clear her name, but can Ginger discover the murderer before becoming a lifeless mannequin herself?

★★★★★

Researching for the Ginger Gold Mysteries has been so much fun. I hope you sense that as you read. Ginger Gold is smart, savvy, and delightful. The fashions, the dances, the CRIME. The character of Haley Higgins, a medical student at the London Medical School for Women allows me to further delve into another keen interest of mine: forensics. Never fear, the Ginger Gold Mysteries are COZY, so no scary, graphic on-stage violence. You’ll find these books to be clean reads, with no swearing or sex. I hope you enjoy the Ginger Gold Mystery series!


Hop aboard the 1920s!

THE GINGER GOLD MYSTERY SERIES

Murder on the SS Rosa (Book 1)

Murder at Hartigan House (Book 2)

Murder at Bray Manor (Book 3)

Murder at Feathers & Flair (Book 4)

Murder at the Mortuary (Book 5)

Murder at Kensington Gardens (Book 6)

Murder at st. George’s Church (Book 7)

The Wedding of Ginger & Basil (Book 7.5)

Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman (Book 8)

Murder at the Boat Club (Book 9)

Murder on Eaton Square (Book 10)

Murder by Plum Pudding (Book 11)

Murder on Fleet Street (Book 12)

Murder at Brighton Beach (Book 13)

Murder at Hyde Park (Book 14)

Murder at Royal Albert Hall (Book 15)

~more on the way!


A brand new 1950s series!

THE ROSA REED MYSTERY SERIES

Murder at High Tide (Book 1)

Murder on the Boardwalk (Book 2)

Murder at the Bomb Shelter (Book 3)

Murder on Location (Book 4)

Murder and Rock ‘n Roll (Book 5)

Murder at the Races (Book 6)


Don’t miss LADY GOLD INVESTIGATES, the short story companion series! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

After my last assignment almost killed me, I thought I was done with the Paranormal Temp Agency. Turns out we were just getting started…


The board of paranormal liaisons is down a member, leaving Beech Grove vulnerable to outside magical influence. Worse still, the stray cats who work as our field agents are disappearing from the streets—and they’re not winding up in shelters.


Now my boss, a black cat named Mr. Fluffikins, has ordered me to go undercover as a phony psychic and find out what’s happening to the missing feline agents.


Last week I didn’t even know magic existed; this week it’s up to me to help save it.


Yup, all in a day’s work for this part-time psychic. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Scarves of every color, sweaters in intricate weaves, and knitting needles with sharp points…

With tourist season finally over, the small mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado, can breathe a collective sigh of relief and enjoy a slower, more relaxed pace. That works just fine for Winifred Page, so she can rearrange the novels that cover the shelves of her bookshop. Watson, her beloved Corgi, is equally as excited about long uninterrupted naps by the fire.

Strings that Fred has been attempting to connect around her father’s murder, and the Irons family infiltration into her town and her life, suddenly tangle into one huge mound of brightly colored knots. It’s going to take all of her skill and strength to weave them into the truth. However, sometimes, a particularly harmless-looking thread can make everything unravel…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for the perfect chocolate chip cookie.) (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Josiah goes to a fundraiser for abandoned Thoroughbred horses and meets Rudy Lee; whereupon, he tells her a fortune teller at the event prophesied he will be murdered. But while Josiah tells Rudy the fortune is utter nonsense, she can’t help shake the notion the fortune teller might be right. Join Josiah in her search for the truth in the “dark and bloody” ground of “Caintuck” where secrets are held tight to one’s heart and deep within the dark, foamy soil of its ancient hunting grounds.

Books in the Josiah Mystery Series
Death By A HoneyBee
Death By Drowning
Death By Bridle
Death By Bourbon
Death By Lotto
Death by Chocolate
Death by Haunting
Death By Derby
Death By Design
Death By Malice
Death By Drama
Death By Stalking
Death By Deceit
Death By Magic
Death By Shock (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

A nice family trip away for Christmas is just what Darcy Sweet needs…

There’s only one problem – trouble tends to follow her wherever she goes.

But she’s determined it won’t this time…

With her track record though, Jon is not convinced.

But hey, what does it matter?

Trouble can just as easily find her in Misty Hollow – and it frequently does.

So why shouldn’t they take some time to relax at the cozy Hideaway Inn?

And if any trouble were to happen, she can handle it…

She hopes.

Murder Under the Mistletoe is the 30th book in the Darcy Sweet Cozy Mystery series. If you love paranormal cozy mysteries, with a touch of romance and family, you’ll love the Darcy Sweet Cozy Mystery series. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Lights, camera, murder!

It’s one thing when Chelsea Sponks finds out she has a secret brother. It’s another when her mother shows up for a surprise visit, with many suitcases stacked around the kitchen table. Chelsea’s mom reveals there’s more to this trip than meets the eye…

Forced into some mother-daughter time, Chelsea goes to a local film studio on Pendle Island to oversee a TV adaptation of one of her mom’s mystery novels. Not only is the head producer a total sleaze ball, but he’s also an old flame of Chelsea’s mom, and his changes to the source material leave a lot to be desired.

Things go from bad to worse when a dead body turns up on set, one that is not in the script. The police then turn their attention on Chelsea’s mother as the lead suspect in the case, and Chelsea realizes she has to solve this thing before her innocent mom is put away for good.

If that’s not enough her dear mother Lorelai reveals there is another purpose behind this trip. She came back to the island to track down Chelsea’s father, and she’s whittled her list down to three likely candidates.

All Chelsea has to do is stay along live enough to figure it all out…

And, cut! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Welcome to Candy Cane Hollow, where every day feels like Christmas!

It’s New Year’s Eve in Candy Cane Hollow.

This winter wonderland may look festive and be home to the Claus Family, but all is not as it seems. 

The festivities take a turn for the bizarre when the giant glitter ball comes crashing down on cantankerous elf chef, Greasy.

Chief Superintendent Wiggles is sure the death is just a tragic accident, but Holly isn’t so sure. Greasy was lots of things, but it appears that popular wasn’t one of them.

Holly begins her own investigation with the eager help of Mrs Claus, while dimpled Nick Claus warns them both to be careful. 

Was the death an accident? Or is that a false ho-ho-hope? 

Slay Bells Ring is a festive cozy mystery and second in an exciting new series by popular author Mona Marple. This book is a clean read, free from swearing, on-page violence or sexual content. 

Christmas Mystery Series Books In Order:

Book One: Christmas Corpse
Book Two: Slay Bells Ring
Book Three: A Lost Claus (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

To catch the hunter, become the prey.

When the body of a female backpacker is found on the Yorkshire moors, the killer seems obvious, the motive clear.

If only.

Because Grimm and his team are up against not just a murderer, but a predator, and when the key suspect disappears, it’s only a matter of time before another body is found.

To catch one of the most dangerous killers he has ever faced, and to have any chance of staying alive himself, Grimm will need to not only draw on his skills as a detective, but as a soldier, and to trust his team with his life as he goes to war once more.

But at least he won’t have to eat cheese and cake.

Hopefully . . .

Corpse Road is the third book in the DCI Harry Grimm crime thriller series, set in the Yorkshire Dales, and perfect for fans of L. J. Ross, J. D. Kirk, , Adam Croft, Simon McCleave, Alex Smith, J. M. Dalgliesh, J. E. Mayhew, and J. R. Ellis. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

One more murder.

One more killer.

One more case to solve.

Dropping Like Pies is a cozy mystery masterpiece of comedy, suspense and intrigue. The best new cozy of the year, from the hottest new author.

Yes, someone drops a pie.

And clues are dropped like breadcrumbs through the small town of Pine Grove.

Lucky for everyone, Miss May is a former lawyer with a finely tuned ear for truth. May knows that truth reveals all. And she pursues justice at all costs.

May’s best friend Teeny is a chihuahua who thinks she’s a pit bull. The lady has lots of bark. Plenty of bite. And somehow she survives on a diet of cake and sprinkles.

Chelsea is the quiet weirdo.

Every crew has one.

But Chelsea has more suitors than she can handle. There’s a hunky detective. And an eccentric boyfriend. They’re both cute, in different ways, and they both want the best for Chelsea.

But all she wants is to solve this murder!

Who was buried on the orchard? Why were they killed? And what are our girls going to do about it?

You’ll love this cozy because everyone loves suspenseful mysteries with close-knit friends.

Get your copy now.