New Releases For The Week Of June 26th, 2022–Part 1

The Mrs. Maisel of the mystery world, Sydney Lockhart, takes you on a thrill-ride around San Antonio as she searches for the next killer.

She’s at it again, Sydney Lockhart is trying to solve a murder in another famous hotel while avoiding being locked up for the very crime she’s investigating. Bribes, fixed races, dirty money and unkempt places. A string of illicit deeds that trails from San Antonio to New Orleans and back again. Be it plane, train or automobile, Sydney will get to the bottom of this case in her own determined style.

It’s 1953, and detective Sydney Lockhart finds herself solving another murder. The victim is a slick bookie named Johnny Pine who had his dirty fingers in pies from Texas to Florida. Sydney tracks Pine to the Menger Hotel in San Antonio where she discovers he’s been murdered in the room next to hers. And as usual, Sydney is a suspect. With her partner, Ralph Dixon, handling the case from Austin, or so she believes, Sydney is working alone in unfamiliar territory.

To make matters worse her car is stolen, and she elicits the help of an Irish cab driver named Taco and a bouncer named Rip. Soon she’s on the trail of Nora Jasper, a harlot jazz singer and Pine’s girlfriend. Corpses start to pile up, a string of illicit deeds surface and Sydney’s home life goes south. But the investigation takes a bizarre turn when Sydney is whacked over the head and thrown into the river. She surfaces with a faulty memory, uncertain of whom she can trust. Her only choice is to find the killer before the killer finds her, or before she gets arrested.

A cozy mystery with lots of humor and a few creepy creatures that crawl, you will find yourself on an entertaining goose chase until the very end. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

A Big, Bad Murder in a Small Town

Hi. I’m Alice, a thirty-something ex-bodyguard. I live to sleep in, but I rarely get the chance now that I’m living above my small-town’s dinner theater. Between self-absorbed actors slamming doors at all hours and the theater cat that won’t leave me alone… I swear he knows I’m allergic. Also, he led me straight to the corpse of the theater’s leading lady.
Thanks, cat.

Now my brother, the murdered woman’s co-star, is determined to solve the crime. He thinks his improv and questionable sword fighting skills somehow qualify him as a detective. Whether I like it or not, I’m going to have to solve this murder—and fast—before he gets in over his head. Or gets it taken off.

Big Bad is the second book in the Big Murder Mystery series. If you like laugh-out-loud mysteries, relationships with heart, and stories about figuring out where you belong, you’ll love Big Bad. Buy the book and start this quirky cozy mystery today.

Mystery role-playing game in the back of the book! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

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The filling is looking grim for pastry chef and amateur sleuth Juliet Capshaw in Donut Disturb, the next in Ellie Alexander’s beloved Bakeshop Series.

Love is in bloom in Ashland, Oregon. The Shakespearean hamlet is bursting with fresh spring energy. Fragrant lilacs and the sweet aroma of vanilla cake fill the air as everyone in town gathers at Lithia Park for the celebration of the year—Thomas and Kerry’s wedding.

It’s a picture perfect day. Guests gather on picnic blankets in front of the bandshell to watch Kerry walk down the aisle and wed Ashland’s favorite detective in training, Thomas. Jules and her team at Torte have been tasked with catering the outdoor reception and everything is going according to plan, until a wedding crasher shows up.

The uninvited guest isn’t just someone looking to score a free glass of champagne. It’s Kerry’s estranged father who is supposed to be behind bars. Kerry is distraught. Jules vows to do everything she can to make sure that there are no other surprises on her friend’s big day. But when the bassist for Heart Strings, the wedding band, is found stabbed with the blunt end of his instrument Jules’s promise takes on new meaning. Now she’ll have to slice through the five tiered cake and a bevy of potential suspects in order to track down a killer before they turn the knife on her. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

Jane Roland and her painter friends are enrolled in a watercolor retreat at the picturesque Gardens and Horses Resort. They’re looking forward to a week of sun-drenched landscapes, sleek racehorses, art instruction, and — best of all — laughter and conversation.

Out for their first stroll, the women discover a dead thoroughbred in the pretty reflecting pool. Next evening, they find the handsome young stable man in the horse watering trough. Surely, there’s a link between them?

When a painter from their workshop goes missing, Jane realizes that her class notes are valuable clues to catch the culprit in this light-hearted cozy mystery. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Forty, foxy, and fond of forensics.
Moving back to my old stopping grounds came with more trouble than I bargained for. I left my investigation agency back in Fort Worth, to start over free from stress.

Two weeks into my retired life, I found myself in a 55+ community—HELLO! Only 43, thank you—and bored out of my mind. I was not cut out for early retirement.

So, I did what any attractive single lady would do—jump as far out of my comfort zone as possible. My mama laughed me out of the kitchen when I told her about my new job as a baker’s assistant, but that was nothing compared to her reaction when I dropped the bomb about the new murder case I was working.

Served up in right in my backyard of all places.

At least it was as far away from the adultery I used to solve. While I had my doubts about taking on the case, the country Sheriff put his full faith in me. Not to mention the deputy that came along with the job—boy was he going to be trouble with a capital T.

Here’s to hoping my keen eye can solve the case before my nerves get the best of me.

Murder in LBJ Cove is the first book in Firedrake Investigations, a midlife P.I. cozy mystery series set in the heart of Texas. Each novel is a clean, snarky mystery, centered around murder, with a sprinkle of romance.

This series is a tie-in to our Hill Country Mysteries series, where you’ll discover Kyrah’s secret: A Fresh Brew (Book 1). (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Stella’s routine is getting back to normal after her mother’s trip to Poland. But even the simplest things can lead to unexpected adventures. While researching a tax issue for a client at the courthouse, Stella picks up an abandoned book. A handwritten note falls out with an odd message: Where she goes there are no shoes…
When she mentions the note to her Oscar, her grandpa, the retired FBI agent tells her about the missing persons case he couldn’t solve a decade ago and shows her an old newspaper clipping. The photo shows the phrase spray painted on a wall, with red paint. Before long, Stella is wrapped up in the strangest mystery she’s faced yet.

Perfect for fans of heartwarming mysteries-
Check out the entire series! Looking for more? How about 7 other series for more adventure.
(Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

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Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, returns in Dianne Freeman’s charming, lighthearted mystery series set in Victorian England, and finds her wedding day overshadowed by murder . . .

On the eve of her marriage to George Hazelton, Frances has a great deal more on her mind than flowers and seating arrangements. The Connors and the Bainbridges, two families of American robber barons, have taken up residence in London, and their bitter rivalry is spilling over into the highest social circles. At the request of her brother, Alonzo, who is quite taken with Miss Madeline Connor, Frances has invited the Connor family to her wedding. Meanwhile, Frances’s mother has invited Mr. Bainbridge, and Frances fears the wedding may end up being newspaper-worthy for all the wrong reasons.

On the day itself, Frances is relieved to note that Madeline’s father is not among the guests assembled at the church. The reason for his absence, however, turns out to be most unfortunate: Mr. Connor is found murdered in his home. More shocking still, Alonzo is caught at the scene, holding the murder weapon.

Powerful and ruthless, Connor appears to have amassed a wealth of enemies alongside his fortune. Frances and George agree to put their wedding trip on hold to try and clear Alonzo’s name. But there are secrets to sift through, not just in the Bainbridge and Connor families, but also in their own. And with a killer determined to evade discovery at any cost—even if it means taking another life—Frances’s first days as a newlywed will be perilous indeed . . . (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE

USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns.

Welcome to Normal where nothing is normal!

As we say in the south beauty is only skin deep but ugly…now that runs straight to the bone.
When Miss Daniel Boone Days is murdered and our good friend Helen Pyle, owner of Cute-icles beauty salon is standing over our beauty queen with a gun, lets just say Helen didn’t giddy up on out of there.
Nope. She was hauled down to the sheriff’s department and booked for murder.
Ranger Tucker Pyle is taken off the case because let’s just say he knows his Aunt Helen didn’t do it, but who better to snoop around to help him out?

Yep! You guessed it!

The Laundry Club Ladies and Mae West once again find themselves with their sleuthing notebook in hand and get all gussied up to find out just who is behind the murder.

After all everyone has beauty but not everyone sees it. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

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