It’s hard to be hard-boiled when your biggest fan and toughest critic is your twelve-year-old daughter.Comedy meets mystery and history in the summer of 1961, when Houston is still a cowboy backwater — overheated, under-air conditioned, and plagued by daily downpours that bring the Gulf of Mexico ashore and wash crawdads down suburban streets.P.I. Harry Lark is running a detective agency out of a seedy downtown office building when a well-dressed out-of-towner entangles him in President Kennedy's moon mission. LBJ and his Texas cronies are plotting to get NASA to build a space center in Houston, but somebody is out to stop them. Harry decides that he’s working for the wrong side and gives his client the brush-off, but when a dead body shows up in his office, he discovers that he can’t walk away. Then Harry is hired to clear a local civil rights group of involvement in a string of firebombings.Meanwhile, Dizzy and her pals are running a lost and found out of a suburban garage when they're hired to find a missing father who is supposed to be dead and buried.What’s the thread connecting a dead mobster, a missing father, torched buildings, and NASA’s moon mission? Harry and Dizzy race to find out before the city goes up in flames.If you like stylish, witty writers like Raymond Chandler, Robert B. Parker, Lisa Scottoline, and Elmore Leonard, you’ll see why Romance Reviews Today’s Jani Brooks rates Bayou City Burning “a Perfect 10 book.” You may agree with blogger Brooke Gunderman when she calls Bayou City Burning “one of my new favorite books!”Will Harry and Dizzy save the city? Will Harry survive a month of single parenthood? Buy Now to find out.

Welcome to Merrywell. Population: small. Secrets: aplenty.‘Murder in Merrywell is an entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.’ – Clare ChaseEx-journalist Violet Brewster is keen to make a good first impression in her new community, having just moved to the small village of Merrywell. When Violet hears about the mystery of Helen Slingsby, who disappeared from the village forty years earlier, she decides to help uncover what happened. But despite Violet’s best efforts, she can find no trace of the missing woman.As Violet talks to the other residents, it becomes apparent that something sinister is lurking beneath the village’s idyllic exterior.When a villager is found dead in their home, Violet becomes convinced that the murder is connected to Helen. Did Helen ever really leave Merrywell? Who in the village is hiding something? And can Violet finally solve this forty-year-old mystery before someone else gets hurt?An utterly gripping and page-turning English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Frances Evesham and Betty Rowlands.Readers LOVE Murder in Merrywell!'A perfect cozy mystery with an engaging cast of characters and a beautifully-drawn setting.' Roz Watkins‘If you love cozy crime/mystery books then you will not be disappointed… A book to put to the top of your ‘must read now’ pile!’ C.L. Peache‘Violet Brewster is everything you could want in an amateur sleuth; empathetic, determined, and ruthless in her quest for truth… A must read!’ Charlotte Baker‘Interesting characters, and the story is funny, thrilling and touching. A very good combination.’ NetGalley reviewer, ?????‘Murder in Merrywell has moments that will make you laugh out loud! I recommend to all readers.’ NetGalley reviewer, ?????

A fatal fall. A duchess determined to uncover the truth. And absolutely no time for tea.Fenshire, 1891. It was meant to be a birthday celebration in the country—cucumber sandwiches, polite conversation, and maybe a waltz or two. But when the Duke of Stortford is found dead at the foot of the stairs everything goes dreadfully sideways. The police declare it a tragic accident, but his wife, Alice, has her doubts. After all, only hours before, the Duke had promised to make a go of their marriage. Now he’s inconveniently deceased.Driven by a need for answers and helped by her fiercely loyal maid Maud, her observant footman George, and her childhood friend Lord Rushton, Alice sets about uncovering the truth. But as she navigates a house full of secrets, simmering tensions, and more than one guest with murderously bad manners, her suspect pool grows to include those closest to her. Can she piece together the truth? Or will her husband’s murderer get away with it after all?The guests are leaving. The killer is among them. Time is running out…With its blend of scandal, suspense, and wit, A Husband is Hushed Up is ideal for readers who love daring heroines, Victorian house party intrigue, and a mystery as twisty as it’s cozy.

In Her First Three Full-Length Cozy Mystery Adventures, Secretary and Amateur Sleuth Mercy Allcutt, Takes on Crime in 1920s Los Angeles.—1920s, Los Angeles, California—Book 1: Lost Among the AngelsNew to Los Angeles, Mercy Allcutt lands employment as secretary to Ernie Templeton, Private Investigator. Mercy's thrilled, and she's sure, with time and help, she'll become an invaluable asset to Ernie's business. Ernie doesn't yet share Mercy's sunny optimism, but nothing tests the resolve of a new employee quite like murder.Book 2: Angels FlightMercy is learning the ropes of her new job when she opens the door and discovers her mother on the doorstep. Even more surprises lay ahead for the aspiring sleuth: a couple of phony spiritualists, a Hollywood gossip columnist who gets bumped off during a séance, a semi-famous starlet, and several other colorful characters. Soon Mercy finds herself in very deep waters.Book 3: Fallen AngelsMercy sets out to find her wandering boss. She not only discovers a corpse, but she also finds Ernie bound and gagged. Even worse, when the police arrive to investigate the crime, they peg Ernie as the killer. Mercy isn't about to let the police get away with that. The question is whether she'll survive her investigatory efforts before she becomes one more "Fallen Angel."Publisher Note: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries in historical settings are sure to appreciate the Mercy Allcutt series set in 1920s Los Angeles, California. No vulgarity or explicit sex for those who appreciate a clean and wholesome read."Mercy is a pip. I laughed all through this book and stayed up until 4:00 in the morning to finish it. I was still laughing when I turned out the light. Not a bad way to end one day and start another." — Patricia Browning"This gem reminded me of the old Dick Tracy comic strips (that I avidly read as a child), as well as of the black and white PI movies we all recall with glee. The story takes place in 1926, Los Angeles. I found myself immersed in the first few pages. Author Alice Duncan either did a lot of research or grew up on stories of the era. Each character has a unique personality. The characters all dress the parts, all the way down to the bobbed hairstyle, and speak slang. Don't worry; you won't be lost. This book is headed directly to my "KEEPER" shelf. Highly recommended!" — Detra Fitch (Huntress Reviews)"I read Lost Among the Angels in one sitting and found it wonderful and so enjoyable. It is a fast-paced, exciting story and Mercy Allcutt is a terrific sleuth. I can't wait to spend more time with Mercy!" — Rob WalkerAlice Duncan spent years avoiding what she knew she should be doing—writing—by professionally folk dancing instead. Eventually, her muse won the battle, and she's been crafting engaging historical cozy mysteries ever since. Now a proud resident of Roswell, New Mexico, Alice enjoys the lack of smog and crowds while spoiling her beloved herd of wild dachshunds. Visit her at aliceduncan.net.The Mercy Allcutt Mystery Series in OrderLost Among the AngelsAngels FlightFallen AngelsAngels of MercyThanksgiving AngelsAngels AdriftChristmas AngelsHollywood AngelsCelluloid AngelsDancing Angels

First in the cozy Seaside Café Mystery series featuring mistakenly accused murder suspect turned amateur sleuth Everly Swan on the trail of a killer.Welcome to Charm, North Carolina—where the tea is sweet, the gossip salty, and the murder served hot. After a tough few years, Everly Swan returns to her coastal hometown to open Sun, Sand, and Tea, a breezy beachside café pouring her signature iced blends and fresh-baked pastries.But when a local councilman drops dead near her shop—with a jar of her chai at the scene—Everly finds herself steeped in scandal. As whispers swirl and her dream café teeters, Everly must clear her name, confront a maddeningly handsome detective, and solve a murder . . . before she's next to be served cold.Bree Baker's bestselling debut kicks off the beloved Seaside Café Mysteries—a cozy mystery series brimming with Southern charm, small-town secrets, and the kind of heroine you'll want to sip tea with. Perfect for fans of Laura Childs, Ellie Alexander, or anyone who craves slow-burn romance and culinary cozies full of sweet surprises.Includes recipes straight from Everly's kitchen!"Fun and intriguing, Live and Let Chai is filled to the brim with Southern charm." —Kirsten Weiss, author of A Pie Town Mystery series"Fast-paced, smartly plotted, and full of surprises, it's as refreshing as a day at the beach!" —Kylie Logan, national bestselling author of French Fried

Looking for a fresh start, Miranda relocates from Santa Clara to a new home near the picturesque Henry Coe State Park. On her morning trail run, Miranda discovers the body of her neighbor, Burt Roop. The unfortunate label of “Princess of Death” seems to have followed her into the countryside, and she soon finds herself embroiled in the search for the real killer. The list of suspects includes her live-in boyfriend Jason, the victim’s wife, and a mysterious real-life princess. Together with her friends Margo, Wanda and Lyanne, can Miranda find the murderer before another life is lost?