Clean English Mysteries

Charles Bentley, a senior professor of English at the prestigious Opal College, is forced into retirement when Garrison Underwood is brought in from England to take his place. When Underwood is found bludgeoned to death in Charles' office, he must discover who murdered Underwood in order to clear himself. Only after the investigation leads to disturbing revelations about his own past and his closest relationships does Charles discover the truth about the body in his office. Newly edited and revised for 2024.

Lieutenant Joe Boyd takes his family on a much-needed camping trip in the beautiful lakefront woods outside of town. But a leisurely trail walk with Chance, their new dog, goes haywire when he breaks loose. When they finally reach him, he’s digging furiously. What the dog finds, turns their vacation upside down and launches Joe and his partner into a puzzling cold case homicide from the late 1980s. As they begin to unravel the evidence—aided by two women from a local writer’s group—things point to an unlikely set of culprits. Their identities—if known—would shock the entire town...

Paul Yarbrough's critically-acclaimed debut novel, MISSISSIPPI COTTON, brings to light the complex history of rural Mississippi in the 1950’s. It is 1951. Young Jake Conner gets on a bus to visit his cousins in the Mississippi Delta. But when the body of an unknown man is found in the Mississippi River, Jake's summer vacation gets a little more adventurous as he and his cousins snoop around in a mystery that is better left to the grown ups. "First time novelist, Paul H. Yarbrough, masterfully transports readers deep into the world of Mississippi Cotton, where life is not as simple as it ...

What happens after the superhero gets the girl? Nobody said being married was easy, but try being married to a superhero. Not only is there laundry, cooking, and a career to balance, but throw in a few supervillains and your day’s booked. Ariana, Victoria, and Emma’s men spend more time saving the world than doing dishes. These wives want some semblance of a normal married life, but would settle for an uninterrupted meal together. How can they compete with saving the world? When a catastrophic earthquake devastates Shadow Town and crime spirals out of control, the city needs help. ...

Wade and Thelma Owens run a halfway house on the small island of Cape Refuge that caters to wayward souls just out of prison. So when Wade and Thelma turn up brutally murdered, the town goes into shock, concerned that one of the Hanover House residents is a murderer who could strike again. Shattered by her parents’ deaths, Morgan Cleary struggles to keep Hanover House running while her husband, Jonathan, has been arrested for the murder. As the killer runs free, a lethal race against time ensues, with far more than the halfway house at stake.

Duncan MacTavish might secretly be amused by his reputation as a highwayman and a rogue, despite being nothing of the sort. His preference for solitude has unintentionally sparked these rumors, and he makes no effort to refute them, finding it advantageous that they keep people at a distance, aligning with his antisocial yet not unfriendly disposition. Residing in a remote part of the moors, Duncan deals with any disturbances using either his guns or his swords, leading a life of quietude. Kenina Ross, meanwhile, is fleeing from a secret of her own. Her unexpected encounter with Duncan ...

When cupcake-loving croupier Tiffany Black is asked to investigate a suspicious book club member, she never expects her client to disappear under mysterious circumstances. But when Violeta Redgrave goes missing, Tiffany and Ian find themselves trying to uncover just what happened to her, and why she hired them in the first place… Meanwhile, Tiffany is house-sitting for her friend Jack Weber, and she and Ian find themselves entangled with an unusual secret society. Praise for A.R. Winters: "Fans of Stephanie Plum, meet Tiffany Black, A.R. Winters's new heroine." - Rea, Amazon.com "You fall...

Everlasting is the sixteenth novella in the ongoing story of the Andersen family. Livia Andersen was a woman who held her family together with a quiet smile and an iron will. It’s been months since her death and her children and grandchildren she leaves behind continue to grapple with the shifting changes in their lives now that she’s gone. Some look back at what else has been lost to them and struggle to make sense of it. Claire Andersen Slavik has invited Ethan Gilchrist to visit her lakeside resort so that he can research his family’s history in the area. She knows it’s important...

After her last encounter with a serial killer, Gabby St. Claire feels her life is smeared with the stain of tragedy. Between the exhaustion of trying to get her fiancé back on his feet, routine night terrors, and potential changes looming on the horizon, she needs a respite from the mire of life.

Fran Williams never intended to be a travel writer but circumstances made her life take a surprising turn. Now, needing to put the past behind her and desperate for a fresh new start, she finds herself assigned to attend the Mayward Literature Festival as part of a group of journalists. It’s not long before things take a turn for the worse and Fran, teaming up with tourist board guide Harry, finds herself in the middle of yet another mystery! Can Fran and Harry track down the missing celebrity author? Where is she? Why did she vanish? Will they manage to find her in time and uncover the ...

An innocent garden fence construction spirals into a chilling mystery when Della discovers her friend Jim, cold and lifeless, amidst the incomplete project. His death, determined to be from strychnine poisoning, thrusts Della into an emotional whirlwind of mourning and mystery, compelling her to sift through a perplexing web of potential culprits—from a disgruntled ex-wife and her lover to enigmatic strangers shadowed by sinister auras. Della's knack for solving crimes clashes with her intimate grief and Sheriff Jared's protective and romantic endeavors. Amidst the gripping local murder ...

Marine Veteran Jerry McNeal was born with a psychic ability that allows him to know when something will happen before it happens. Jerry can also see and speak with spirits, making for some “lively” conversations. The series starts when, one fateful night, while on patrol as a Pennsylvania State Trooper, Jerry finds himself aided by the ghost of a K-9 police officer. Without the dog’s help, a woman would have died. With each book that follows, their unique partnership grows as they navigate their next adventure.

Venice — the city of canals, masks … and murder? Tour guide Lana Hansen is having the time of her life leading a Carnevale-themed trip in Venice, Italy. Her merry group loves exploring the city’s rich artistic and cultural heritage together, as well as sampling the sumptuous cuisine the island city is famous for. Their invitation to a masquerade ball, complete with historical costumes and fancy masks, should be the culmination of a perfect week. Yet when the guest of honor is bludgeoned to death, all eyes are on the partygoers—including Lana and her group! Was it an environmental ...

Everyone has a story…and a dream. Patricia didn’t trust easily. Her ex-husband had taught her all the reasons not to. But Daine wasn't the type to give up easily. Andrew wanted to make certain his granddaughter was happy with her life…then his daughter showed up. Jillian was determined to learn more about her family’s history and the mystery surrounding the woman in the painting at Daine’s house…she didn’t count on Nic being just as interested in finding answers about the mystery surrounding the painting as she was. Hannah couldn’t be happier with her new husband…or so she...

A seemingly innocent picture. A relationship from the past. A conspiracy that’s more than just a theory. Max and Michelle Henry had the perfect marriage and an ideal life in the small town of Lakeside, Arkansas where they live with their daughter, Sarah. But tragedy strikes and shakes the foundation of their lives and marriage. Max throws himself into his work as the head football coach where he has always enjoyed success. Now he’s coming off two losing seasons and three is unacceptable at Lakeside High School. As Max retreats, Michelle is forced to grieve and cope alone. And soon finds...

A woman awakens in a hospital room, injured and surrounded by strangers. The car accident is a blur, and her mind is nearly a blank slate. The name on her driver’s license reads Elizabeth Becket, and she’s enrolled at a local college, but none of this feels right. Her college application claims she’s a writer—are her vivid and frequent nightmares a story conjured up in her imagination or could they be memories of her former life? The only thing she knows for sure is that an urgent sense of danger casts a shadow over her entire existence. Irresistibly drawn to Fitz Darcy, the man ...

Has Ian really been kidnapped? A Cupcakes-and-Crime Caper Things hit too close to home for cupcake-loving croupier Tiffany Black when her assistant Ian’s “hog brother” is killed—and Ian is accused of murder. To make matters worse, Ian is nowhere to be found, and Tiffany soon suspects he’s been kidnapped. Along with her friend Stone as a substitute sidekick, Tiffany must track down Ian before it’s too late. As the search for her wayward assistant—and the murderer—prove equally challenging, Tiffany’s family decides to host a speed-dating event for her cousin, and things ...

A kidnapping and vicious murder leave David Maguire and Jada Atwood with few options—remain in the clutches of their abductors or attempt an escape. But the attraction they discover for each other could change their lives. Will they find their way home or die in a Pennsylvania forest?

She escaped the darkness once... but will she survive its clutches yet again? Despite scars both seen and unseen from her unimaginable past, Mara returns to the home that once imprisoned her in secrets, lies, and abuse. This time, she’s no longer a victim—she’s a young woman transformed by faith and driven by love. Mara is determined to share with her siblings the hope she’s found in a God who saved her life and filled it with purpose. Reminded of her past with every glance in the mirror, Mara’s heart finds a home in Lucas, a man who loves her beyond appearances. With him, she ...

Everyone has a story…and a dream. Patricia didn’t trust easily. Her ex-husband had taught her all the reasons not to. But Daine didn’t give up easily. Andrew wanted to make certain his granddaughter was happy with her life…then his daughter showed up. Jillian was determined to learn more about her family’s history and the mystery surrounding the woman in the painting at Daine’s house…she didn’t count on Nic being just as interested in it as she was. Hannah couldn’t be happier with her new husband…or so she thought. Livy was thrilled with her and Patricia’s business ...