Animal Crime

5 SHORT STORY GEMS is a compendium of short stories written by New Zealand author Lance Morcan and published by Sterling Gate Books in 2019/2020. The stories, which have also been released as standalone Kindle ebooks, are aimed at lovers of thrillers, adventure, romance and historical fiction. Details follow… ONCE WERE BROTHERS – Life will never be the same for young Benjamin Thomas after disaffected Maoris abduct his identical twin brother in this moving short story adventure set in Nineteenth Century New Zealand. Mr. 100% – When New York defense lawyer Madison ‘Mr. 100%’ Harley ...

James "Head" Guiliani, a confidante of the Gotti regime, was arrested and jailed on a weapons charge. After his release, he fell back into alcohol and drug addiction - until, one day, he came across an abandoned, abused shih tzu in the street. He rescued the dog, whom he lovingly named Bruno and, in the process, turned his own life around.

When investigative journalist, Alexi Ellis, falls victim to cutbacks, she and Cosmo, her anti-social feral cat, head for beautiful Hopgood Hall, where they plan to lick their wounds in the boutique hotel run by her old friends, Cheryl and Drew Hopgood. But when she arrives Alexi discovers Cheryl and Drew both distraught. Their close friend, Natalie Parker, who recently settled in the area, has gone missing. Alexi’s sure the woman has just taken a trip somewhere, but she still has a nose for a story and agrees to look into it.

Solving the disappearance of my best friends’ parents was NOT one of my New Year’s Resolutions… A trip to sunny Australia in the scorching summer wasn’t in my holiday plans, but when Jordi rings in a state of utter panic revealing her parents failed to turn up at the annual Shapeshifters Conference held in country Western Australia, what’s a girl to do? Despite having solved a murder or two in my time, I am completely out of my comfort zone in the harsh Aussie outback where not only the sun, insects, and snakes bite, but the locals do too. The search is interrupted when the body ...

Penelope makes a fast break from her old life to the picturesque town of Bath, Maine. But the excitement halts when a dead body is found near her dumpster. Divorcee', Penelope, starts a new chapter in the town known for it’s boutiques. But when handyman Ricky’s body is found behind her shop, the old cliche, shop ‘til you drop, suddenly becomes a literal reality. Her curiosity piqued over the unsolved murder, she sets out to unearth the truth, with her bite-sized sidekick, Teo the Teacup Chihuahua, in tow. When town gossip reveals Ricky’s shady past and his recent argument with Harry...

His best friend's been kidnapped. He could be next. Only magic can save them, but who will train him? BMC Jasmine has lost too many loved ones on his watch. Now he's on a mission to grow his CatCast followers and save the world from humans' violent drama. But when his methods anger the lottery commission and attract an unsavory crowd, his human revokes his podcasting privilege, threatening his life's work. While an enraged BMC passionately argues his case, intruders infiltrate his home and snatch his best pal. Desperate to save his friend, he throws a magical spell. Except it explodes and ...

July 1935: An oddly dressed young woman is found wandering a country road, bloody and covered in ants. Later, a body is found in a wrecked car about two miles away. The question is, what happened to the woman, and is the blood hers? Follow the continued drama of the families in Tennessee Valley Blues Mysteries.

Paw Police is the amazing story of just one heroic police dog, out of the thousands which have served with UK police forces. The story of Jet is a thrilling, funny, moving, fascinating insight into the world of the modern day police dog. Modern day Police dogs provide a vital supporting role in the reduction of crime. They track suspects from crime scenes, chase and detain offenders, search for property and search for missing persons. They can also detect explosives, drugs, cash and firearms. The average lifespan of a general purpose police dog is around eight years, although they have to ...

Now on Youtube daily paranormal sitcom: https://bit.ly/3GPU5ch Sometimes, a lifetime opportunity comes busting your door… FREE on Kindle Unlimited!Medical student Amanda Meyer thought she had her life all planned out until people started dying the moment they touched her. Being cleared of any wrongdoing didn’t stop the medical school from expelling her, and it didn’t rid her of the unfortunate nickname Grim Reaper. Luckily, having a rep as the harbinger of death isn’t a total resume killer. Rick Rowling, Special Agent for the FBI’s Paranormal Cases Division recruits her to work ...

A short read cozy series filled with mystery, romance, and a touch of magic. This is the story of Paul Madison PI, an idealistic cop turned private investigator. He will not rest until he figures out the real reason so many “accidents” are happening in his neighborhood. To his way of thinking, these “accidents” are too coincidental and need to be taken seriously. Travel back to Chicago in the 1970s and 1980s and step into the lives of… A handsome and determined Private Investigator protected by a rather unique spirit guide. A smart and beautiful Medical Examiner who won’t give ...

A series of mysterious deaths shakes the quiet town of Phoenix, leaving the police baffled. The townspeople are left on edge as they don’t know who will be next. Nick Brown, a pathologist, is drawn into the investigation after witnessing a suspicious mark on one of the victim's body. But he is thrown into the world of the supernatural when an unknown driver knocks him down. Nick is caught in the middle of the mysterious deaths after he starts losing the people he cares about. But with the help of his ghost friend, Zigi, and his new psychic abilities, he uncovers a pattern among the bodies...

Turquoise water, rum punch, and fun in the sun. What better way to celebrate 35 years of marriage. Emily and Henry Fox go on an anniversary cruise to the Caribbean expecting nothing less, but when Henry’s old med school buddy turns up dead in his cabin, it’s anything but smooth sailing. The captain chalks it up to an unfortunate accident but Emily and Henry know better. The deadly tarantula didn’t crawl from the Puerto Rican rainforest to the ship on its own furry legs. With the help of a retired detective, they search for the killer. Why did the victim and his wife have separate ...

A Bed and Breakfast Mystery Wedding photographer Laura Fisher is back in the Florida Keys to help her sister manage the Paradise Bed and Breakfast. Business has been slow, but when a guest is poisoned at a cake tasting, they’re in danger of going under. It doesn’t help that Laura confronted the victim, her high school boyfriend Charlie Porter, in front of the entire wedding party, declaring he’d answer for his actions one day. Charlie taunts her and laughs off the entire exchange, but the joke’s over when Laura becomes the prime suspect for his murder. With her sister Danielle and ...

When Tiffany and Ian go to Uncle Joe’s family reunion party, they don’t expect to run into a killer… A Cupcakes-and-Crime Caper But that’s exactly what happens when Uncle Joe’s ex-wife Beryl is found dead! Trapped inside Beryl’s creepy old house by an avalanche, Tiffany and Ian must work quickly to uncover who among the other houseguests is the killer. As Beryl’s unsavory past starts coming to light, Tiffany realizes that quite a few people staying in the house have secrets of their own, and good reason to want Beryl dead. From disgruntled family members to secret lovers, to ...

Adventure-loving penguin Jackson dreams of being a secret agent like his Uncle Bryn, who works for the Frosty Bureau of Investigation. Jackson and his gadget-inventing best friend, Quigley, might officially be too young to join the FBI, but they aren’t going to let that stop them! They just need to come up with the right plan to prove they are worthy. But when one of Q’s inventions goes dangerously wrong, Jackson suddenly finds himself dropped right in the middle of an FBI stakeout. There’s fishy business afoot at the city’s aquarium....

A Cupcakes-And-Crime Caper When cupcake-loving croupier and private investigator Tiffany Black investigates the death of a food critic, things take an unpalatable turn... Meanwhile, Nanna's meddling in Stone's love life has Tiffany contemplating her own situation. "Winters will have you giggling into your book!"

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 ...

Bubble, bubble, toil, and murder... When a woman is found dead near her village in Norfolk, the verdict is suicide. Not everyone agrees. Detective James Simpson is ordered to investigate and he brings Agatha Aston, Betty Simpson and Talleyrand the hound, with him. They stumble across a tale of murder that stretches back two centuries. Part occult story, part murder mystery - this creepy tale is steeped in witchcraft and strange rural festivals where everything is not as it seems. The second Agatha Aston murder mystery is full of laughs, twists and things that go bump in the night. Golden ...

A Cupcakes-and-Crime Caper Tiffany Black and her friend Ian investigate the death of a diner at Dimmer Dinners - a mysterious poisoning in a locked room. Tiffany learns about Emily's dangerous new case, and she and Jack try to learn the truth about what happened to Ryan and Stone. Meanwhile, Ian has to deal with Sally's ex-boyfriend showing up and trying to steal the day... Praise for A.R. Winters: "You fall in love with Tiffany Black from the start, and the mystery starts immediately" - Melissa Greenberg, Amazon.com Top 1000 Reviewer "Fans of Stephanie Plum, meet Tiffany Black, A.R. ...

A Magical Jewelry Box, a New Friend for Gus, and Murder by Family? When Betty, the Farmer's Market chief flower booth operator, is killed, all eyes turn to her philandering husband and drug addicted son. But Betty owned a Jewelry Box that was rumored to be magical and now it's missing. Did the husband or son kill Betty for the insurance money, or did the cursed jewelry box have a hand in a sinister murder? Since Betty was a dear friend, Elle and Gus are determined to find her justice, much to the chagrin of deputy and panther shifter Jason. And Gus gains a new friend, but not the kind you'd...