Showing titles in Amateur Sleuths

Following the butler's death and the cook's retirement, the ever-gullible Lady Lavinia replaces them with a power couple who are determined to thrust the crumbling estate into the 21st century. The Dowager Countess reluctantly agrees to hold a big-ticket Christmas gala and silent auction with a mystery celebrity flying in from Monaco as the guest of honour.

When American expat and bicycle tour company proprietress Sadie Greene guides a hard-to-impress group of sophisticated seniors on a stunning trip in northeastern France, she expects some twists, turns, and sudden stops to sip the Riesling. She doesn’t anticipate a detour leading straight to murder …

What do steeplechase, playing cards, and daggers have in common? They all play vital roles in the intricately woven plot of Sneaky Pie and her human cohort Rita Mae Brown in this delightful mystery. While Mary "Harry" Haristeen and her cat Mrs. Murphy attend the annual steeplechase at Montpelier, Mrs. Murphy discovers something amiss. During the celebration following the race, one of the jockeys is found dead in the barn, a dagger through his heart and the queen of clubs impaled by the dagger.

As owner of Coffee, Books, and More, Jill Gardner looks forward to the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers. But when the mayor ropes her into being the liaison for a new work program, 'tis the season to be wary. Local businesses are afraid that the interns will be delinquents, punks, or worse. For Jill, nothing's worse than Ted Hendricks - the jerk who runs the program. After a few run-ins, Jill's ready to kill the guy. That, however, turns out to be unnecessary when she finds Ted in his car - dead as a doornail.

At Campathon, an annual eco-friendly festival held on a farm outside of Portland, fans celebrate the Pacific Northwest's music scene in quintessential PDX style-with gourmet food carts, reusable utensils . . . and lots of coffee. How else to get through three days of nonstop entertainment? Sage has scored a coveted place for her Ground Rules coffee cart thanks to her new-ish boyfriend, Bax, who's friendly with Maya, one of the musicians performing.

Aboard the Midnight Tide, what was meant to be a showcase of magic and mystery quickly turns into a deadly affair. Rose Dela Cruz, the heart of the ship's operations as cruise director, never imagined that hosting the world's top illusionists would lead to a real-life murder mystery. When the star magician is found dead, hidden away behind the grand stage's curtains, the thrill of magic turns to a chilling quest for justice. As Rose digs through layers of magic and misdirection, a cast of intriguing suspects emerges. There’s the envious rival magician, seething with bitterness; the slain ...

Welcome to Sarah’s Eatery, where the food is to-die-for! Escaping a dreadful marriage and an angry ex-husband, Kylie Berry moves to the small town of Camden Falls, Kentucky, to run her cousin’s café, Sarah’s Eatery. Only one problem: Kylie can’t cook to save her life, and the longtime chef walks out on Kylie’s first day. "Winters will have you giggling into your book!" Answering the call for a new chef, in walks lovely Rachel Summers, a friendly local brownie-addict who immediately gets the job. But when Rachel is found dead a few hours later, all fingers point to Kylie and her ...

Join the vivacious and inquisitive Camille and her companions, Elsie West and Cecily Nugent, with Ottilie Divine and Rose Dobbs, Camille and Elsie’s daughters, as they set out for a holiday filled with culture, laughter, and the promise of relaxation. Little do they know their picturesque getaway will take a sinister turn. As the trio immerses themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Sicilian life, an unexpected melody of murder disrupts the harmony. An illustrious opera singer and a renowned orchestra conductor meet untimely deaths, sending shockwaves through the island.

Sixty-year-old Kay Carrera has a new job doing internet research, but underneath her capable demeanor she's struggling with the recent death of her husband, money troubles, and better eyesight than she's ever had before. And when Kay stumbles upon a murder, she finds new purpose in solving the crimes that rock her small town. In The Tell All, the town party planner has a secret, and it'll be the death of her. In Junkyard Man, Kay finds the eccentric recluse across the street murdered. In Antique Secrets, an auction antique comes with a troubled ghost.

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh is the first woman to hold the position at University College of London. When she attends a dinner party for the school, she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon. What she doesn’t expect is for Mrs. Henry, one of the professors’ wives, to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron’s mentor, is the main suspect, and evidence quickly mounts.

For generations, the women of the Brown family on Peach Cove Island have been known for their Southern sass and sweet homemade desserts at their beloved Peach Diner. Marygene has barely returned from Atlanta and tied on an apron when a diner regular drops dead at the counter. When it turns out the old man's been poisoned, her sister Jena Lynn is led away in handcuffs and the family eatery is closed. Now, to save her sister and the diner, Marygene must find the real killer. With some assistance from her Mama's spirit, Marygene will be serving up a special order of just desserts....

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner Ezra Hilton is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra had been faltering - but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Katie can find the answer.

Welcome back to the charming Goat House Market in Dogwood Dale, North Carolina, where the scent of fresh bread and blooming flowers mingle with the whisper of local legends. This time, soapmaker Beatrice Thistle finds her curiosity piqued by talk of a philosopher's stone—not one of gold, but of wisdom. When a troubled young man seeks guidance, cryptic clues begin to surface, and Bea embarks on a gentle quest through Dogwood Dale's history and the wisdom of the natural world. With the help of the market's intriguing herbalist, Juniper, and the cryptic recollections of the town's historian,...

Title: The Quilt That Talked Series: The Stitch & Sleuth Society – Book 5 Author: Lydia Cotton When a vintage quilt is donated to The Cozy Thimble, Ruby and her friends expect to display a charming piece of Sweetwater Falls history. Instead, they find a fresh bloodstain in the center of the folded fabric—and a mystery decades in the making. The Stitch & Sleuth Society is back, and this time, the clues are stitched right into the seams. As Ruby, Bea, Maude, Tilda, and the rest of the crew piece together the puzzle, they unravel more than just fabric. Family secrets, forged identities, ...

Lila Shaw stopped trusting anyone the minute her husband went to jail for white-collar crime, taking their country club lifestyle with him. Now Lila is broke, friendless, and losing her house—and to make things worse, her true-crime-obsessed daughter, Bea, was just expelled from fourth grade. Desperate for a fresh start, Lila agrees to temporarily move in and clean out an abandoned junk-filled apartment in Richmond’s palatial Primrose building.

The Goat House Market: A Legacy Vanishes When Abigail Gable's priceless silver locket vanishes from the vibrant Goat House Market, more than just an heirloom is lost. This isn't just any locket; it's a key to the market's hidden past, a legacy that someone is desperate to control. As suspicion swirls among the quirky vendors, Bea Thistle, owner of Goat House Goodness, must unravel generations of secrets. Was Abigail just a baker, or did she hold the market's true heart? And why is a newcomer so eager to claim this history? Bea must find the locket and its secrets before the market's future ...

After a childhood spent combing the dive bars of Sarsaparilla Falls to collect her fun-loving momma, Cordelia West now enjoys a simple, respectable life in Dallas. Then one phone call from the hometown she’s spent years trying to forget throws it into chaos. Cordelia's great-aunt Penelope has passed away, naming Cordelia the sole heir to the Chickadee Motel.

Can you figure out "Who Done it?" A Note From The Sleuth Himself… Greetings and welcome! My name is Detective Archibald Limmer and I am a widower, having lived with my wife in a small, but comfortable flat in London, right above my office, Limmer Detecting. This mystery, the one you are about to become a part of, is the first grand mystery I ever solved. I acquired my substantial reputation by quickly solving minor mysteries about town. Doesn't seem like much, but it helped catapult me to who I am, honed my skills as a Master Sleuth and provided a comfortable living for my wife and I, God...

Morganna has a secret that she's bringing with her--but which will soon make an appearance. And when another shows up, laying claim to what is hers, she must choose. And whichever choice she makes, she could still lose all. NOTE: ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS "MORGANA" IN THE SWITCHBOARD SISTERHOOD series, 2023 ISBN 9781943688951

In the town of Caption, Wisconsin, resides Neka Zook, a local retiree with an odd little blog. She is known around town in her late-model Subaru, especially by local law enforcement. She truly seeks nothing more out of life than to write her blog, enjoy her family and friends, and tend to her yard and critters. But life for this retiree is anything but normal as trouble seems to always seek her out. It isn't long before Neka is once again embroiled in a number of town mysteries, much to Detective Martin's displeasure, and one could have personally devastating consequences.