Guest Post & Giveaway: DEATH SAID THE GYPSY QUEEN by Susan Boles

As part of a blog tour organized by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, I am thrilled to have mystery author, Susan Boles, as my guest.  She’s here to tell us about the power of rumors and about her recently released book, Death Said the Gypsy Queen (A Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery). Sounds like a spooky read in time for Halloween.

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Rumor Has It by Susan Boles

The power of rumor has been known for a very long time. And the power of rumor in a small town is like a match to kindling. The flames jump high and fast and truth is often lost in the conflagration.

Being from a small town originally, where my family has lived for generations, gives me insight into how the rumor mill works up close. Here’s an example of one that doesn’t exist anymore, but was the bane of my teenage years.

When I was a growing up, most of the people in my area had party line telephones. For those of you scratching your head – these had nothing to do with a party and everything to do with fueling the local rumor mill.

A party line telephone was one where multiple households were on the same line and each home had a particular set of rings to let them know someone was calling them. The ring for my house was two shorts and a long. And, yes, it worked exactly like is sounds. Two short rings followed by one long ring.

Any other combination was for another home. And all of us knew what combination of rings went with which home. And, if you very quietly picked up the phone at your house, you could listen in to every word of every conversation taking place. Night or day. See how that rumor mill worked back then?

That particular rumor mill option no longer exists. But, I think Facebook may run a nice second. Have you noticed, something that can be taken as a personal insult or construed as being a cut against someone is posted and folks are off to the races on the rumor mill.

In Death said the Gypsy Queen, the fourth book in the Lily Gayle Lambert mystery series, I use the local rumor mill as a backdrop to create momentum in the story line. The prophecy of the fortune-teller combines with a secret that’s rumbling underground just waiting to explode into danger for all of our favorite characters.

About Death Said the Gypsy Queen

“Beware the sign of the vampire blood,” said the fortune teller. “It brings madness and turmoil.”

Lily Gayle knows what that means, but, for the life of her, can’t figure out how the fortune teller does. A quick road trip with Dixie. An unplanned stop at a roadside park. And, an hour later a dead body. Lily Gayle, Dixie and Miss Edna find themselves knee deep in another homicide investigation when the local vet assistant turns up dead behind an outbuilding at the farmers market.

Lily Gayle believes the words of the fortune teller will have a major impact on the investigation but can’t bring herself to tell the other ladies. To reveal what she believes the words mean might bring trouble to another old friend. And would betray a trust. Only Ben knows and he, as usual, advises Lily Gayle to stay out of his investigation – which she isn’t about to do.

When the secret is revealed, the townspeople go mad and the fortune tellers words come true. Can Lily Gayle, Dixie and Miss Edna solve the murder before more people are harmed?

Purchase link:  Amazon

Giveaway

Click to enter a rafflecopter for your chance to win a tote bag, an autographed paperback of Death of a Wolfman, a flour sack kitchen towel with the logo on it and four custom bookmarks with a charm featuring the cover of each of the four Lily Gayle Lambert books.

About the Author

Susan is the award-winning author of the Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery Series and a contributing author to the Brotherhood Protectors World.

A lifelong long love of all things mysterious led Susan to write cozy mysteries. Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden were the first to show her that girls can be crime solvers. Agatha Christie showed her that even small towns have big secrets. And Phryne Fisher showed her lady detectives can be outrageously individual. She lives in Mississippi with her rescue mini dachshund, Lucy, and her rescue cat of no particular breed, Zimba. She currently writes the Lily Gayle Lambert mystery series set in the fictional town of Mercy, Mississippi featuring a multi-generational cast of female sleuths and romantic suspense in the Brotherhood Protectors Kindle World.

Susan writes mysteries and set in the big city of Memphis, TN and the fictional small town of Mercy, Mississippi.

Connect with Susan:
Susan loves to hear from readers and book lovers! Visit her website at http://www.susanbolesauthor.com  or drop her a line at susan@susanbolesauthor.com

Author Links: Website – Twitter – @SusanBAuthor – Blog – Facebook – Linked In – GoodReads – Instagram – Pinterest – Bookbub

Review: JUST THE PITS by Jinx Schwartz

Too many books on my Kindle that I haven’t read so I decided it’s time to try and catch up a bit. I downloaded Just the Pits from Amazon a really long time ago. The 5th book in the Hetta Coffey Series by Jinx Schwartz, it’s definitely not a new release but might suit bookworms who are looking for a good mystery series with a nautical theme.

Description (from Amazon)

As a self-employed engineering consultant with a penchant for oddball—read: shady—projects, Hetta Coffey has a history of inviting trouble. But now that she’s been hired for a legitimate mining project in Mexico’s Baja, it looks like smooth sailing ahead…until she discovers that people and pesos are disappearing faster than you can say, “This job is the pits!” And Hetta Coffey as sleuth? Goodness knows she’s nosy enough, but her detective skills leave a lot to be desired. Luckily for her she gets help from her best friend, Jan, and a mysterious Velveeta thief.

My Review

Hetta Coffey is not your typical female sleuth. She’s a civil engineer who lives on a yacht and  investigates the goings on at a mine operation in Mexico. She is a little rough around the edges with a unique outlook on life and sometimes outrageous behavior.  She and Jan are true friends, and their banter was candid and amusing.  This dog lover particularly liked that Hetta stops to pick up a starving stray dog and makes him her own.

I found the pace a bit slow at first, however looking back on the book as a whole, it was worth sticking with it.  The pace in the second half of the book was much better as the intricate plot developed and suspense intensified.   A good read for laughs, suspense and the glimpse into a lifestyle nothing like my own. 

You can get your copy on Amazon.

Surprise release! THE MISPLACED DOG by Christa Nardi and Cassidy Salem

Christa Nardi and I are excited to announce the early release of our third Hannah and Tamar Mystery — The Misplaced Dog.  Thanks to speedy beta readers and an efficient editing process, it was ready ahead of schedule, so we decided not to keep our readers in suspense.

Synopsis

A gorgeous addition places Playful Paws and its staff at the center of a mystery.

It’s love at first sight when Tamar meets Rusty – the newest resident at the local shelter where she volunteers. However, the arrival of the well-trained and affectionate dog coincides with the onset of suspicious and dangerous incidents involving the shelter and its staff. Is it a coincidence or is the dog the key to solving a major crime? In this latest addition to the Hannah and Tamar mystery series, the sisters are determined to find out.

Read an excerpt:

“I don’t get it. Why couldn’t you do your community service closer to home? I’m gonna be late for my study group at the library.”

The Playful Paws animal shelter was located on the eastern outskirts of Rosedale, Maryland. Only a 10 minute drive from Rosedale High, you’d think it was on the moon to judge from Hannah’s complaining.

“You know, I could drop you off at school and take the car the rest of the way myself. It’s not my fault you insist on driving.” Tamar knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“Fat chance.” Hannah shook her head.

Tamar had recently passed her driving test and was itching to spend more time behind the wheel, even if it meant putting up with her sister’s non-stop criticisms. Hannah, on the other hand, wasn’t about to give up the driver’s seat.

The Bertolet’s green Subaru Outback pulled up in front of a dreary, red brick building in Rosedale’s industrial area. The parking lot was half full.

“Be ready to leave at 6:30 – I’ll text you when I get here. And don’t make me wait for you. Dad’ll be mad if we’re late.”

“Alright. I get it. Your wish is my command.” Tamar slammed the car door shut and headed into the building.

The ever-present scent of disinfectant and incessant barking filled the building. Playful Paws was just one of the animal shelters in the greater Baltimore area that housed cats and dogs in need of a good home. Temporary residents, the animals were kept in two rows of enclosures in an old warehouse.

Tamar stopped to greet two other volunteers, Zola and Jason, who were busy sweeping out the enclosures and filling water dishes.

“Hi, Tamar. How’s it going?” Zola was a second-year student at Towson University, where she was majoring in zoology. Tall and slim with long blonde hair and big blue eyes, she looked like a model.

“Great. So looking forward to our next adoption event.”

Jason watched the two young women but didn’t say anything. A senior at a different high school, Jason flashed Tamar a shy smile. It was his second year volunteering at the shelter, and he was almost never at a loss for words, except for when Tamar was around. Zola was amused by his obvious interest in the slender, dark haired teen who seemed oblivious to his admiration.

Tamar spoke softly to the residents as she walked down the long row of enclosures to reach the office in the back. This Paws shelter had a total of 18 enclosures, eight large enclosures on one side of the aisle, 10 smaller enclosures on the other. The center currently housed 19 dogs.

Two dogs were curled up together in the enclosure closest to the office. A bit of an odd couple – a small dachshund and a full grown Irish Setter. When the setter raised its head and gazed into Tamar’s eyes, her heart melted. She immediately spoke to the setter.

“Hey there, how’d you end up here?”

Joel Newman, the manager, stood in the doorway to the office. Passionate about animal welfare, the thirty-something year old worked as a free-lance designer to pay his bills. He always wore jeans and a t-shirt regardless of the weather, and today was no different. “I see our latest guests have made an impression.”

“Wow. That setter is gorgeous. Where did she come from? How could anyone surrender such a beautiful dog?”

“First, she is a he. Of course, it’s hard to tell the way he’s curled up right now. A lady found him wandering around the industrial area and dropped him off right before you got here. He has a collar but no tags. I was about to check to see if he’s chipped.”

“I’ll do it.”

Tamar reached for the handheld RFID reader. Although Maryland doesn’t require owners to have microchips implanted in their pets, the widespread practice makes it easier to identify and contact the owners of lost pets. As soon as she let herself into the enclosure, the dog sat upright and smiled; at least it looked like a smile to her.

She crouched down and held out her hand, waiting for the dog to come to her. He ambled over and smelled her hand before giving it a gentle nudge. She scratched him behind the ears and stroked his silky fur. He had a leather collar, his fur wasn’t matted, and he wasn’t shy.

The small brown dachshund was soon bouncing around her feet, demanding her share of attention. With the scanner tucked under her arm, Tamar tried to pet them both.

“You do realize you can’t play with them and scan the setter at the same time.” Joel chided her. “I think I’d better do it myself.”

Tamar shrugged.

Joel let himself in and took the scanner from her. Standing next to the setter, he commanded, “Sit.” And the dog sat. As he waved the scanner over the animal’s left shoulder, an indicator on the device flashed.

“Great, it looks like he has a chip.” He pressed a button on the device to save the reading and smiled. “Now, maybe we can find out who he belongs to.”

Back at the desk, Joel attempted to pull up the scanned data on his screen. “That’s odd.” A popup message indicated that no ID data had been found.

Tamar peered over his shoulder. “Must be an old or faulty chip.”

“What about the dachshund?”

“Already checked. No chip. No collar, either. Found her sitting outside when I got back from lunch. Well, since it looks like these two guys are going to be here for a while, we might as well give them names.”

Zola had walked over and heard the latter part of the conversation. “Let’s call the dachshund Ducky.”

“And the setter looks like a Rusty to me.” Tamar said.

“Sounds good to me. Let’s get their general descriptions, nicknames, and photographs into the database. I didn’t notice any immediate medical needs, still I’ll let Dr. Goodman know we have two new guests.”  

Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved

 

The third book in the Hannah and Tamar YA mystery series,  The Misplaced Dog is available for Kindle at a special introductory price of just $0.99 for a limited time only.  Of course, it is also available in paperback or through Kindle Unlimited.

About the Series

The release of The Mysterious Package in October 2016 marked the launch of the Hannah and Tamar Mystery series, a new mystery series for young adults and teens written by Christa Nardi and Cassidy Salem.  Mrs. Tedesco’s Missing Cookbook was released in April 2017.  For more about the series, click here.

Calling all cozy mystery lovers

Summer is a great time for reading, whether at the beach or curled up on the sofa in the comfort of your air-conditioned home.  To celebrate the 4th of July and the onset of summer, 21  authors have organized an amazing winner-takes-all giveaway – 21 cozy mysteries and $210 in Amazon gift cards.
Click here to enter the rafflecopter (now through July 4th).

BTW, I haven’t been posting as often lately because I’ve been concentrating on finishing my next cozy mystery – Dying for Data.  I’m excited to report that it is almost done – expect a cover reveal soon and a release later this summer . If you’d like to be notified when the book becomes available, sign up for my mailing list.

Spotlight: DEATH OF A BROOKLYN LANDLORD by Susan Russo Anderson

As part  of a blog tour organized by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, I’m here to tell you about Death of a Brooklyn Landlord, the latest release by Susan Russo Anderson.

Synopsis

When newly widowed Lorraine McDuffy gets a call in the middle of the night, it’s not the ghost of her dead husband on the line, but the trembling voice of an old flame, Frank Rizzo, a local butcher. He’s found the battered body of rent-gouging Brooklyn landlord Viktor Charnov. Felled by blunt trauma to the back of his head, the victim lies in the fetal position in the back of Frank’s shop, a pork chop clenched between his teeth. The distraught butcher asks Lorraine to investigate.

As the story moves through the entangled web left behind by the landlord’s evil dealings, Lorraine searches for Viktor’s estranged wife as well as a missing teen with ties to the landlord, believed to have jumped in despair from the Brooklyn Bridge two months earlier. Along the way, Lorraine spars with Detective First Grade Jane Templeton and cares for the victim’s ten-year-old son, baseball-loving Joey Charnov, while she searches for his mother. And despite her guilt, Lorraine and Frank deepen their relationship in fits and starts.

If you’re a fan of Fina Fitzgibbons and her crew, you’ll recognize the main characters in this new series—Lorraine McDuffy, Fina’s mother-in-law and protagonist in charge of the Fina Fitzgibbons Detective Agency while Fina and Denny are on their honeymoon; detectives Jane Templeton and Willoughby, her partner Minnie, admin assistant at Lucy’s and now taking on a greater role in the agency; Cookie and her husband, Clancy; and a newcomer, Fina’s estranged father, Paddy Fitzgibbons, who creates his own boozy havoc as he tangles with Lorraine and Cookie.

Death of a Brooklyn Landlord is available on Amazon.

A Mystery, A Kidnapping, A Missing Mom … The First Book in a NEW Spinoff Series!

About The Author

Susan Russo Anderson is a writer, a mother, a member of Sisters in Crime, a graduate of Marquette University. She’s taught language arts and creative writing, worked for a publisher, an airline, an opera company. Like Faulkner’s Dilsey, she’s seen the best and the worst, the first and the last. Through it all, and to understand it somewhat, she writes. Too Quiet in Brooklyn, the first book in the Fina Fitzgibbons Brooklyn mystery series, published December 2013. The second book in the series, Missing Brandy, about a missing teen, published September 2014, and Whiskey’s Gone, about the abduction of a single mom, completes a trilogy. The working title of the fourth is Dead in Brooklyn.

Author Links:

• Website: http://susanrussoanderson.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Russo-Anderson/349374975075796
• Twitter @SusanRussoAnder

 

Review & Giveaway: KARMA’S A KILLER by Tracy Weber

Today, as part of a Blog Tour organized by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours,  I am happy to tell you  about a new release – Karma’s a Killer, the third Downward Dog Mystery by Tracy Weber.

Description

When Seattle yoga teacher Kate Davidson agrees to teach doga (yoga for dogs) at a fundraiser for a local animal rescue, she believes the only damage will be to her reputation. But a few downward-facing dogs are the least of Kate’s problems when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning.

The police arrest a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother and charge her with murder. To prove her innocence, Kate, boyfriend Michael, and German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them. All while discovering that when it comes to murder, there’s no place like hOMe.

My Review

In this light cozy mystery, Kate meets her mother after years apart. Before she has had a chance to really talk to her, her mother is accused of murdering an animal activist and asks Kate for help. In the process of investigating the murder,  Kate learns about her herself and her mother, and faces a secret from her past.  The author did a nice job integrating the subplot into the larger plot, which included multiple twists and turns.   Fans of animal rescue efforts will relate to Kate and her friends’ efforts to help animals. I think most cozy mystery fans will enjoy this mystery.

And, of course, it almost made me want to try yoga.

FTC Disclosure:   I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher as part of this blog tour.  This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

About the Author

Tracy Weber is the author of the award-winning Downward Dog Mysteries series featuring yoga teacher Kate Davidson and her feisty German shepherd, Bella. Tracy loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible. Her first book, Murder Strikes a Pose won the Maxwell Award for Fiction and is a 2015 Agatha award nominee for Best First Novel.

Tracy and her husband live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd Tasha. When she’s not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house.

Author Links

• http://tracyweberauthor.com/
• http://www.wholelifeyoga.com/blog/
• https://www.facebook.com/tracywe
• http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7148442.Tracy_Weber
• https://twitter.com/TracyWeberTypes

Purchase Links
Amazon         B&N

Giveaway
Click the link below to enter for a chance to win a copy of Karma’s A Killer.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review & Giveaway: MURDER & OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS by Lida Sideris

As part of a Blog Tour organized by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours,  I am here to tell you about Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters by Lisa Sideris.

Synopsis

Watch out Southern California! There’s a new entertainment attorney in town and she’s got game. Only problem is, it’s not the one she should be playing. Corrie Locke belongs behind a desk, not behind a Glock. She should be taking VIP calls, not nosing around a questionable suicide. Instead, she’s hot on the trail of a murderer.

Luckily, she’s the daughter of a late, great private eye and she’s inherited his love of sleuthing…and illegal weaponry. It doesn’t help matters that her gene for caution is a recessive one. Corrie finds herself in the center of a murder case, unearthing suspects in shocking places. With a cold-blooded killer on the loose, Corrie will have to up her game, or die trying.

My Review

This was a fun murder mystery.  Corrie struggles between her desire for a conventional job as a lawyer and her sense of adventure and aptitude for investigation. She ends up investigating the suicide, and in her non-existent free time investigates a couple of other matters for people who knew her father. Comic relief came in the form of  unusual subplots  and witty interchanges.  The backdrop for the story provided an interesting and (hopefully) exaggerated glimpse into interpersonal interactions and infidelities in the entertainment industry.  Although I found much of the story to be far-fetched, it was an enjoyable fast-paced read.

Note:  If you are easily offended by profanity,  this book might not be your cup of tea.

FTC Disclosure:   I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of this blog tour.  This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

About The Author

Like her heroine, Corrie Locke, Lida Sideris worked as an entertainment attorney for a film studio. Unlike her heroine, she did not get blackmailed into investigating the suspicious death of a co-worker. Lida resides in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, their rescue shepherds, and a flock of uppity chickens. She was one of two national recipients of the Helen McCloy/Mystery Writers of America scholarship for mystery writing.

Author Links

• Website:   http://www.lidasideris.com/
• Blog:  http://www.lidasideris.com/blog/
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lidasideris
• Twitter: @lidasideris
• GoodReads:    http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26139837-murder-and-other-unnatural-disasters

Giveaway
Click the link below to enter for a chance to win a pewter and glass bead bookmark from the author:
A Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Spotlight & Giveaway: A GEEK GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER by Julie Anne Lindsey

Today it is my pleasure to turn the spotlight on the latest release by Julie Anne Lindsey as part of the blog tour for A Geek Girl’s Guide to Murder organized by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

Synopsis:

IT manager Mia Connors is up to her tortoiseshell glasses in technical drama when a glitch in the Horseshoe Falls email system disrupts security and sends errant messages to residents of the gated community. The snafu’s timing couldn’t be worse—Renaissance Faire season is in full swing and Mia’s family’s business relies on her presence.

Mia doesn’t have time to hunt down a computer hacker. Her best friend has disappeared, and she finds another of her friends murdered—in her office. When the hunky new head of Horseshoe Falls security identifies Mia as the prime suspect, her anxiety level registers on the Richter scale.

Eager to clear her name, Mia moves into action to locate her missing buddy and find out who killed their friend. But her quick tongue gets her into trouble with more than the new head of security. When Mia begins receiving threats, the killer makes it clear that he’s closer than she’d ever imagined.

About The Author

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s the author of The Patience Price Mysteries and a number of YA novels. A self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun, Julie lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world.

Author links:

• Julieannelindsey.com
• Find Me on Facebook!
• Tweet Me!!
• Read with me on Goodreads
• Pin with me on Pinterest
• Blogging at Musings from the Slush Pile
• Capturing life on Instagram

Purchase Links
Amazon       B&N           KOBO          iTunes      

Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win an e-book and a Gift Package.

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Think Murder is Going on the Road with a Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour!

I am so excited.  The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Think Murder starts today.
I hope you will check out the posts on these great blogs.

I’d also like to send special thanks to Lori at http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/ for her amazing support and efforts in setting up this tour!

Tour Participants

March 26 – Brooke Blogs – Spotlight

March 27 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway

March 28 – Community Bookstop – Review

March 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

March 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

April 1 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Interview, Giveaway

April 2 – Michele Lynn Seigfried’s Blog – Review

April 3 – readalot – Review

April 3 – Tea and A Book – Review, Interview, Giveaway