Short Cozy Mysteries

It's Halloween 1989. Suzy is barely out of her teens, pregnant, and on the run with a bag of money that belongs to some very bad men. Back in Camelot, West Virginia, Arvin Lee Orkney doesn't know he's about to become a daddy. But he sure knows he's in big trouble. An old enemy has vanished. Now, both the cops and the crooks call him the prime suspect. The star-crossed lovers have broken lives, fractured hearts, and no clue death is stalking them. But someone, or something, is watching from the shadows. And messing with Orkneys, dead or alive, is never a good idea. This spookily seasonal ...

In the sleepy town of Willow Grove, where flowers bloom and secrets lurk, a delightful group of smart and sassy canines leads an unsuspecting small town on a thrilling cozy mystery adventure in Planting Evidence. Meet Pretzel, the charismatic dachshund, with a nose for mischief and a flair for detective work. Alongside his loyal pack of furry friends, Pretzel uncovers more than just buried bones when a series of thefts shakes Willow Grove to its core. With stolen jewels disappearing and a crime ring operating right under their paws, the stakes couldn't be higher. But these four-legged ...

Kellyn had always loved Elias Stratton with all her heart and probably always would. She'd trusted him...but never again. Elizabeth had always believed there was nothing more magical than the precious gift of love...even now in the heart of danger, she still believed it...she always would. After telling the story of Simon's magical cowboy ranch for more years than she cared to count, Elizabeth Fountaine wondered if there might be more to the fanciful fairy-tale than being an elaborate bedtime story to tell children. More than ever before, she very much needed for even just a small piece of ...

Hawaiian holiday turns mysterious when long-time friend leads narrator on a downhill slide into Rainbow Valley. The secret hidden there is revealed in this mini twisty-turner set in modern day Hawaii on the sleepy isle of Kauai. With a derelict parrot named Barfly on his shoulder, Sky says it’s never too late to fly. Note: In response to reader comments that the timeline was confusing, I re-wrote and re-published the story in April of 2017. I hope I have corrected that problem for my readers.

Gus is having one of the best things a man that works in law enforcement can have, a very slow day. His slow day only gets better when he discovers that an ice cream shop is opening near the law enforcement complex. Even though the ice cream shop only serves gelato, that’s not enough to spoil his good mood on this slow day. The only real way his slow day could get ruined was if someone mysteriously dropped dead in the yoga studio across the street from the ice cream shop while at nearly the same time Father Xavier volunteered him to speak at the weekly Tuesday prayer breakfast at town ...

Leger's family are taking a trip to a tiny Scottish island and he is looking forward to spending the summer with Annabella, Hugh and Bob. But when he discovers he is to stay in Glasgow with Annabella's niece, Carole, while the rest of the family go on their trip he is outraged. Leger hears there has been a murder on the island and knows he has to somehow travel with them and assist in finding the killer. What he didn't count on was meeting a fellow cat sleuth on the island as well as a clowder of unfriendly gossips. The island way of life proves to be very different from Glasgow. Can he ...

In the enchanting town of Sweethaven, CT, Marla Gonzalez, the spirited owner of Tiny Delights Bakery, takes a bold step to expand her business by purchasing the adjacent space. But what starts as a promising venture soon turns sinister when a hidden body is discovered within the newly acquired property. With the help of her trusted companions, Mr. Roundbelly and Lulu, Marla embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery behind the grim discovery. As the investigation unfolds, the small town of Sweethaven is rocked by another unexpected death, casting shadows of suspicion and intrigue. Marla ...

What is a girl who hates Christmas doing driving to the most holiday-themed town in the state? Snowflake Falls was located in the coldest, most northern part of the state. Even in the middle of summer, it was rarely warmer than 70 degrees. But when her elderly aunt calls asking for help to run her shop Jolly Goods, Autumn Winter knew she needed to go.

It’s just another morning on the fifth of July. The country is another year older; Gus is a touch hungover, the coffee in his office is stale, and all Gus wants to do is go home and start over again on July sixth. Unfortunately Father Xavier visits the sheriff’s office and he’s brought along a gift. He has a green jacket that should have been put in the church’s lost and found. The father suspects it belongs to a missing girl named Erica Torres which is odd given the jacket is marked as belonging to E. Rossi. Erica went to school one day and never came home. She was picked up by a ...

Orchids, Obsession, and Omens: A Thorne Sisters Cozy Mystery Sisters Iris and Poppy Thorne are no strangers to unusual flower requests at their shop, Blossom & Thorne. But when a mysterious woman orders a rare blue orchid for a funeral, they sense something is off. Their suspicions grow when the reading of the deceased’s will reveals shocking secrets—secrets that ignite a firestorm of greed and betrayal. Before long, another murder shakes the town of Bloomwood, and the sisters realize the blue orchid isn’t just a flower—it’s the killer’s calling card. Determined to uncover the ...

Story Tree Cozy Mysteries box set includes the first three books in the series: Books, Brownies and Murder, Books, Scones and Murder, and Books, Canapés and Murder. Follow Clary as chases criminals, canapés, and crafty liars.

A missing artifact. A town losing its magic. And a feisty librarian. Two decades ago, Elara Blackwood’s parents died in a mysterious accident. Since then, Quillhaven’s magic has disappeared, along with her own. When historical manuscripts relating to the town’s history are stolen on her watch, she is determined to find the thief. As she digs deeper into the mystery with Jasper, Quillhaven’s quirky journalist, she uncovers a startling secret. The stolen books contain clues about her parents’ death and the powerful artifact they had with them when they died. With the help of Leo and...

A candy man... A cat with a mustache... Best friends... A dead body... Alivia Sue Harper (Ash) starts an event planning business in her hometown of Harpertown and her first event is a combination Halloween-Birthday-Welcome Home party for her best friend, Kaley Ann Tipton (Kat). Then they find a dead body... A short read cozy mystery.

Welcome to Frostvale, a picturesque town where holiday cheer meets magical intrigue! Holly Bell, a seasonal witch with a penchant for festive spells, returns home for the holidays expecting gingerbread cookies, sparkling snow, and the warmth of family traditions. But when Frostvale's beloved Santa impersonator, Jolly Jack, is found frozen in a mysterious block of ice, the festive season takes a chilling turn. Armed with her wits, her grimoire, and her mischievous black cat, Onyx, Holly dives into the heart of the town's secrets. Could it be the candy shop owner with a vendetta? Jack’s ...

On Christmas Eve, Leger suffers the indignity of getting stuck trying to escape from a top floor window in front of a cluster of carol singers. So, he chooses to spend the most magical night of the year at his girlfriend, Ginger's home. This decision may be one he will live to regret as they wake up on Christmas morning with a basket of newborn kittens next to them. Leger vows to find the mother of the kittens before they lose their bond with her completely but it won't be easy. He has no idea where to start and nobody in the neighbourhood was pregnant in the first place. How will he begin ...

The neighbours of Glasgow's Creamery Crescent are taking a festive break. Of course, no trip would be complete without their pets so Leger and his closest friends travel north to enjoy the Christmas period in a secluded cottage in the Highlands. The celebratory mood changes when Nicole Goldsworthy witnesses a man and woman burying a body in a shallow grave. The murderers attempt to knock her down in their car but with help from her animal friends, old and new, Nicole survives the hit and run. The situation is complicated further by the arrival of Poppy, who followed the group from Glasgow ...

Leger's lifestyle has finally caught up with him and he is now living in hiding in the highlands with Annabella and Nicole. Life in the wilderness has many benefits but Leger finds it difficult to adjust to his new, temporary home and gets lost one evening. When he is rescued by a kindly American lady and her son and returned home by them, he is filled with gratitude. The visiting Americans invite their new Scottish friends for Thanksgiving dinner the following day, but Annabella has a bad feeling about this woman. Leger decides to throw himself into the celebrations until he accidentally ...

Leger McInnes is ready to retire. He still loves detective work, but after a lifetime of investigating crimes in the local area and beyond, his priorities have changed. Ginger has lost her sight, Bob has seizures, Nicole suffered sepsis and now his beloved Annabella has found a frightening lump. It's time for Leger to move onto his next life as a nurse. However, there's just one last job to do before he retires and that's to find the people who robbed Meg, his next door neighbour. All the suspicion seems to fall on Ingrid, a mysterious woman who has turned up on their doorstep claiming to ...

Malky Maguire is dead. The news has shocked the neighbourhood, but with so many dirty deeds recently, nobody is in the mood to mourn the local gangster and former cat lover. Leger sees it as his duty to solve the case, despite having no enthusiasm for it. With the help of his father, Ragnar, who has come to visit Maxine, Leger starts piecing together little bits of information that have been collected by Lily, Sparkle and Ragnar. Can Leger focus on the case while he is still mourning the death of one of those closest to him? Can he stop rejecting Ragnar and get over his fear of losing his ...

A wedding is due to take place but the freshly decorated venue has been sabotaged. Leger sets out to catch the vandal and reconnect with the sisters he hasn't seen since kittenhood. But they have a secret and despite Amber's attempts to protect him from the truth, it seems he is going to find out that family is about more than blood.