Amateur Detective

Dr. Theo Cray has a legendary mathematical knack for catching serial killers. Until his exposure to a mind-altering pathogen knocks him off his game. It has upended an investigation, destroyed his reputation, and left him to question his own sanity. One person still trusts him to finish the job. His former professor Amanda Paulson is helping point Cray down a logical path to his prey: a nomadic health-care worker whose murder spree stretches back decades and whose victims number in the hundreds.

It's late 1936, and King Edward is in turmoil, having fallen in love with the scandalously divorced and even more scandalously American Wallis Simpson. He wants to marry her but knows that doing so will jeopardize his crown. Edward confides in his dear friend Darcy, Georgie's husband, and the couple agree to hide Wallis in their home while Edward figures out what to do. But unbeknownst to Georgie and Darcy, Sir Hubert, the owner of the estate, has given a film crew permission to shoot a motion picture about Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn on the grounds

Pelican Cove’s Favorite Resident Gunned Down! When someone close to Jenny King is found murdered on a boardwalk bench, the Magnolias are plunged into grief. Secrets from the victim's past complicate the situation. Faced with a baffling lack of suspects, Jenny has no time to mourn as she struggles to hunt for the killer. Meanwhile, Pelican Cove residents are battling a wave of mosquito infestation. Quashing the menace becomes difficult with the town ready to rebel and dwindling city funds. Muffins and Mobsters brings tragic new developments as the Magnolias must persist in the face of ...

If you enjoy Christy Barritt’s Beach Bound Books, you'll adore this cozy mystery set in the Coastal Carolinas… Here’s what reviewers had to say about Murder at Sea Oats Beach: “Those who enjoy reading cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and romance will enjoy Murder at Sea Oats Beach. It makes for an excellent beach read…” ~Crimefictioncritic “Engaging characters, perfect setting and delightful twists kept me guessing.” ~Amazon reviewer “If you love a good mystery, the beach and a bevy of cute, cuddly animals, you’ll love this new cozy mystery beach read.” ~Amazon ...

It's spring in Shady Hollow, and romance is in the air. Even reporter Vera Vixen is caught up in the season as her relationship with new police chief Orville Braun blossoms. But true love is not always smooth sailing, as two of the hollow's young residents come to find. Jonah Atwater and Stasia von Beaverpelt find themselves battling their families in order to be together. And when Alan's father, Shelby, goes over the top of Twilight Falls, all signs point to Stasia being the murderer.

The Headless Horseman. Everyone knows the legend. That’s all it is, right? When a third headless victim is found on Boston’s streets, Chloe Mayfield is tasked with finding the person behind the crime spree – no one else wants a case this weird. It would be easy to dismiss the murders as nothing more than the random acts of a madman with a cosplay fetish, but when her investigations lead her to the morgue, she comes face to face with an apparition she cannot explain. Throw in the stalker-like attentions of a deranged clown, dangerous interactions with the Salem witches, and an enemy ...

A deadly marathon. A missing runner. Can a silver-haired sleuth discover the truth before the race reaches a fatal finish? Perceptive amateur sleuth, ‘Mama Rose’ Hardie just wants to make her ailing husband comfortable. Putting aside her dedication to wildlife and community, she whisks him off to a luxury lodge for a breathtaking getaway. But when a young athlete jogs into the bush and never returns, Rose is torn between remaining at her partner’s side and her fears for the woman’s plight. When her husband is rushed to hospital and a woman’s body is found on the savannah, Rose ...

Peril on the Promenade: A Globetrotter Grannies Mystery (Book 1) When three retired women meet by chance on a luxury Mediterranean cruise, they're looking forward to scenic ports, gourmet dining, and peaceful relaxation. But Dorothy, Mabel, and Ethel quickly discover that retirement can be more dangerous—and exciting—than they ever imagined in this GOLDEN GIRLS SERIES. Dorothy Henderson, a former bed-and-breakfast owner with an uncanny ability to read people, Mabel Fitzgerald, a retired librarian whose research skills are legendary, and Ethel McCormick, an ex-emergency room nurse who ...

Bernard isn't your ordinary house cat. Former circus performer with a talent for theft, he's happily retired to a luxurious life with the wealthy Scarborough family in Los Angeles. That is, until one night when his old habits lead him into the bedroom of socialite Diedre Longhorn, just in time to find her murdered, with a mysterious golden egg-shaped artifact gone missing. When his owners Lance and Irene are implicated in both the theft of Diedre's jewelry and possibly her murder, Bernard must use his unique feline skills to uncover the truth. But he quickly discovers that Diedre's death is...

Meg's neighbors, the Smetkamps', have won a makeover for their old home from Marvelous Mansions, a flashy, yet dubious company, focused on making historic homes more "modern." The company already several days into its makeover of the Smetkamps' house, and tensions are running high—not only between the officious, demanding Mrs. Smetkamp and her neighbors, but also between her and the renovation crew.

After a disastrous accident derails Tempest Raj’s career, and life, she heads back to her childhood home in California to comfort herself with her grandfather’s Indian home-cooked meals. Though she resists, every day brings her closer to the inevitable: working for her father’s company. Secret Staircase Construction specializes in bringing the magic of childhood to all by transforming clients’ homes with sliding bookcases, intricate locks, backyard treehouses, and hidden reading nooks.

When millionaire magnate, Rex Hunter is found with his head bashed in on the eighth hole of his prestigious golf and country club in beautiful Chianti, it’s a clear case of murder. Hunter was rich and successful and the envy of many, so retired DCI Dan Armstrong thinks the case will be a hole in one to solve.But as Dan and his trusty sidekick Oscar begin to dig deeper into Hunter’s lifestyle, they discover a man despised by many. A renowned womaniser, ruthless boss and heartless family man, it seems no one is particularly sorry to see Hunter dead.

Good friends Caroline and Laura were in daily contact. When Laura fails to return her calls, Caroline is prompted to find out what is going on. It had been a lover’s tiff; Robert informed her, that had provoked Laura to walk out on him. Caroline knew that in such circumstances her best friend would turn to her for sympathy and advice, yet she hadn’t. There had to be other factors at work. Caroline, together with Robert, begin to track Laura’s movements over the past week. They follow a trail that leads them into the dark world of illegal antiques, illicit drug dealing and money ...

"A rocket ride of action, political intrigue, and suspense."—San Diego Magazine "A sharp thriller. Russell has us in the palm of his hand."—Chicago Tribune "Ingeniously imagined and skillfully told, Political Suicide must be included in any list of this year's best thrillers."—San Diego Union-Tribune Will Travis is an undercover corporate investigator whose job involves low-key assignments like checking out the service at Washington, DC, hotel bars and reporting back to management. But his evening takes an unexpected turn when he interrupts an attempted murder. Soon, Will is on the ...

Murder Among Heirs When the wealthy and enigmatic Walter Farnsworth, a pharmaceutical tycoon, brings his family to Turtle Cove for a getaway at the Willowrose Inn, the picturesque coastal town braces for a storm—both literally and figuratively. Walter’s hidden motives come to light when his favored heir, daughter Alexandra, is found dead as a fierce tempest rages outside. Suspicion falls on the troubled Farnsworth clan, each with secrets worth killing for. Inn owners Grace and Lily Garrison find themselves entangled in the mystery as the family’s dark history surfaces. With tensions ...

Set in the biggest small town in the country, Susan and Mike travel to St. Louis for their son’s Match Day ceremony. At the reception, the dean of the medical school drops dead under mysterious circumstances. Susan smells foul play. Teaming up with the detective’s mother, it's double trouble as she and her new bestie uncover secrets worthy of murder in Murder is Medical. In Murder is Universal, Susan and Valerie are on a flight when they discover the passenger in the middle seat dead on arrival. The dynamic duo is convinced it was murder. The dead passenger, owner of a successful ...

Retirement is bliss—or is it? Newly retired music teacher Susan Wiles puts her natural nosiness to work and discovers a talent for solving murders. In Murder is Collegiate, Susan and hubby Mike visit their old friends, Emily and Henry Fox. They no sooner hit the Vermont border when they are greeted with a dead body, stolen jewelry, and a barn full of secrets. In Murder is Chartered, Susan Wiles is driving home on a winding mountain road, late at night when she runs over the assistant principal at a school where she volunteers. About to admit guilt, Susan wonders if this was accident or a ...

Perished by Pasta In the charming, aroma-filled town of Cinque Terre, murder's scent mingles with the sea. When Alistair, a feared food critic, is found dead, my beagle Pepperoni uncovers the trail. With wine bar owner Marco by my side, we navigate a sea of suspects among the town’s elite, during the Harbour Festival. I must solve the mystery and save the reputation of our tourist town before my involvement is discovered, and my fate is sealed by their deadly threats. Peril by Pinot At the Riley’s Harbour Wine Festival, chef Anya faces a deadly mystery when a critic is poisoned at her ...

November 1911. Lady Emily Hardcastle is celebrating her birthday by seeing a play at the Duke’s Theatre in Bristol with her maid and confidante, the inimitable Flo. Act One is a triumph. Then Act Two opens with a body on stage—a real one. One of the cast has been brutally murdered during the interval. When other matters get in the way of Inspector Sunderland overseeing the case himself, he asks the ever-resourceful Lady H to keep a watchful eye on the suspects—and his police colleagues.

Miss Marple meets Oscar Wilde in this new series of cosy mysteries set in the picturesque Cotswolds village of Bunburry. Here, fudge-making and quaffing real ale in the local pub are matched by an undercurrent of passion, jealousy, hatred and murder - laced with a welcome dose of humour. This compilation contains episodes 13 - 15. LOST AND FOUND. Life is looking up for amateur sleuth Alfie McAlister. He has found relatives he never knew he had, and at long last, he has replaced the avocado suite in his bathroom. But he is shocked to get a plea for help from his niece Ruby.