We’re four days into the New Year. Did you make any
resolutions? If not, may I suggest you resolve to discover some new mystery
authors this year? What? You’re reluctant to give a new author a try because too
often by the end of the first chapter (or even sooner) you realize you don’t
like the book and have no desire to continue reading?
I’ve been there. Sometimes I keep reading, hoping the
book will get better, but it rarely does. It’s so frustrating to have wasted
both time and money on a book I didn’t like. If you know anything about me,
you know I have neither time nor money to waste.
After too many negative reading experiences some
readers wind up swearing they’ll only read their tried-and-true favorite authors,
never again giving an unknown-to-them author a try. However, when you only
stick with authors you know, you never experience the joy of discovering a new
favorite author. Think about what you could be missing!
I have the perfect solution, and it will only cost
you a mere .99 cents. And that’s for not one but ten full-length mysteries.
That’s right—ten books by ten different authors for less than a dollar. Invest
another .99 cents, and you can try ten companion novellas, eight by the same
authors of the mystery novels, plus two additional authors.
Sleuthing
Women: 10 First-in-Series Mysteries
features works by authors Lois Winston (she’s the author who writes about me!),
Jonnie Jacobs, Judy Alter, Camille Minichino, Mary Kennedy, Maggie Toussaint,
Heather Haven, Susan Santangelo, RP Dahlke, and Vinnie Hansen. Each full-length
mystery is the first book in an ongoing series.
Sleuthing
Women II: 10 Mystery Novellas features
companion stories to existing series by the writing team of Allison Brennan and
Laura Griffin, Lois Winston, Maggie Toussaint, Jonnie Jacobs, Camille
Minichino, Heather Haven, Vinnie Hansen, Mary Kennedy, Judy Alter, and Rita
Lakin.
So resolve this year to discover some new favorite
authors. If you find you don't care for some of the stories in the collections, move on to the next. Taste is subjective. However, you never know. Even if you only like one book in each set, that author just might become one of your all-time favorite
authors.
Sleuthing Women: 10 First-in-Series Mysteries
Assault With
a Deadly Glue Gun, an Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery by
Lois Winston—Working mom Anastasia is clueless about her husband’s gambling
addiction until he permanently cashes in his chips and her comfortable
middle-class life craps out. He leaves her with staggering debt, his communist
mother, and a loan shark demanding $50,000. Then she’s accused of murder…
Murder Among
Neighbors, a Kate Austen Suburban Mystery by Jonnie Jacobs — When
Kate Austen’s socialite neighbor, Pepper Livingston, is murdered, Kate becomes
involved in a sea of steamy secrets that bring her face to face with shocking
truths—and handsome detective Michael Stone.
Skeleton in a
Dead Space, a Kelly O’Connell Mystery by Judy Alter—Real
estate isn’t a dangerous profession until Kelly
O’Connell stumbles over a skeleton and runs into serial killers and
cold-blooded murderers in a home being renovated in Fort Worth. Kelly barges
through life trying to keep from angering her policeman boyfriend Mike and
protect her two young daughters.
In for a
Penny, a Cleopatra Jones Mystery by Maggie Toussaint—Accountant Cleo
faces an unwanted hazard when her golf ball lands on a dead banker. The cops
think her BFF shot him, so Cleo sets out to prove them wrong. She ventures into
the dating world, wrangles her teens, adopts the victim’s dog, and tries to
rein in her mom…until the killer puts a target on Cleo’s back.
The Hydrogen
Murder, a Periodic Table Mystery by Camille Minichino—A retired
physicist returns to her hometown of Revere, Massachusetts and moves into an
apartment above her friends' funeral home. When she signs on to help the Police
Department with a science-related homicide, she doesn't realize she may have
hundreds of cases ahead of her.
Retirement
Can Be Murder, A Baby Boomer Mystery by Susan Santangelo—Carol Andrews
dreads her husband Jim’s upcoming retirement more than a root canal without
Novocain. She can’t imagine anything worse than having an at-home husband with
time on his hands and nothing to fill it—until Jim is suspected of murdering
his retirement coach.
Dead Air, A Talk
Radio Mystery by Mary Kennedy—Psychologist Maggie Walsh moves from NY to
Florida to become the host of WYME's On
the Couch with Maggie Walsh. When her guest, New Age prophet Guru
Sanjay Gingii, turns up dead, her new roommate Lark becomes the prime
suspect. Maggie must prove Lark innocent while dealing with a killer who needs
more than just therapy.
A Dead Red
Cadillac, A Dead Red Mystery by RP Dahlke—When her vintage Cadillac is
found tail-fins up in a nearby lake, the police ask aero-ag pilot Lalla Bains
why an elderly widowed piano teacher is found strapped in the driver’s
seat. Lalla confronts suspects, informants, cross-dressers,
drug-running crop dusters, and a crazy Chihuahua on her quest to find the
killer.
Murder is a
Family Business, an Alvarez Family Murder
Mystery by Heather Haven—Just because a man cheats on his wife and makes
Danny DeVito look tall, dark and handsome, is that any reason to kill him? The
reluctant and quirky PI, Lee Alvarez, has her work cut out for her
when the man is murdered on her watch. Of all the nerve.
Murder, Honey, a Carol
Sabala Mystery by Vinnie Hansen—When the head chef collapses into baker Carol
Sabala’s cookie dough, she is thrust into her first murder investigation.
Suspects abound at Archibald’s, the swanky Santa Cruz restaurant where Carol
works. The head chef cut a swath of people who wanted him dead from ex-lovers
to bitter rivals to greedy relatives.
Buy Links
Sleuthing Women II: 10
Mystery Novellas
Frosted, A Moreno & Hart Novella by Allison
Brennan & Laura Griffin—Three years ago LAPD Detective Scarlet Moreno and
rookie cop Krista Hart were nearly killed during a botched sting operation.
Now, they’re best friends and partners in the Orange County private
investigation firm of Moreno & Hart. But their routine assignments are anything
but safe.
Crewel Intentions, An Anastasia Pollack
Crafting Novella by Lois Winston—Craft editor Anastasia Pollack receives a
desperate call for help from former fashion editor Erica Milano, now in Witness
Protection. Erica is being stalked and is afraid to notify the authorities. She
once saved Anastasia’s life. Will Anastasia be able to return the favor before
the stalker strikes?
No Quarter, A Cleopatra Jones Novella
by Maggie Toussaint—Amnesia, the doctor says when accountant Cleopatra Jones
wakes in a distant hospital. Hours later most of her memory returns. Detective
Jack Martinez visits Cleo’s nearby wealthy client, only she’s dead and broke.
To Cleo’s horror, she’s a murder suspect. Will she totally recover her memory
before the killer returns?
What the Widow Knew, A Kali-O’Brien Novella by
Jonnie Jacobs —Attorney Kali O’Brien takes on the case of a young woman accused of
murdering her much older, very rich husband. As evidence mounts and other
possible suspects are eliminated, Kali’s doubts about her client’s innocence
grow. Meanwhile, Kali is also grappling with her feelings for longtime
boyfriend Detective Bryce Keating.
The Magnesium Murder, A Periodic Table Mystery by Camille
Minichino—While freelance embalmer Anastasia Brent prepares the body of a young
bride-to-be, she learns the girl’s mother suspects foul play. Once again
Anastasia is pressed into service as a sleuth, following a trail of clues in
search of a murderer and justice.
Honeymoons Can Be Murder, A Lee Alvarez
Novella by Heather Haven— When PI Lee Alvarez goes on her honeymoon with
bridegroom, Gurn Hanson, they find a dead woman practically on their doorstep.
Kauai breezes may be soft, but there are gale force winds of accusation against
Gurn. Will Lee find the real killer before her new hubby gets sent to a
Hawaiian hoosegow?
Smoked Meat, A Carol Sabala Novella by
Vinnie Hansen—Baker and wannabe sleuth Carol Sabala visits her mother for a
family Christmas get-together. It’s murder, in more ways than one.
A Deadly Fundraiser, A Talk Radio Novella by
Mary Kennedy—When radio talk show host Dr. Maggie Walsh and her pals start
digging up clues in a scavenger hunt at a glitzy fundraiser, the game suddenly
turns deadly. Will Maggie and her team be able to crack the case and solve the
crime?
The Color of Fear, A Kelly O’Connell Novella
by Judy Alter—Kelly receives a written kidnap threat targeting her infant
daughter, Gracie. Kelly’s assistant Keisha narrates as Kelly and her family
plot their precautions, but as time passes and the threat still looms, fear
takes a toll on the family…and on Keisha.
Papa’s Ghost, A Gladdy Gold Mystery
Novella by Rita Lakin—Gladdy and her girls accept an assignment iat a famous resort
in Key West, thinking it will combine business with pleasure. Once they arrive,
Gladdy suspects something is strange. Not only is their client an unexpected
shock, but so is the case of murder they are expected to solve. Can they
succeed when a whole city is against them?
Great blog, Anastasia. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy!
ReplyDeleteI love bundles! Not only is it an opportunity to try new authors, but there are so many reads right at your fingertips!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Angela! Stay warm today!
ReplyDeleteA great way to start the new year. Thanks, Lois!
ReplyDeleteI love a bargain, and the idea of a sampler pack of novels. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Camille and Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this, Lois. Off to share.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vinnie!
ReplyDeleteHey, Anastasia! Shared this on FB!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this feature of the Sleuthing Women anthologies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the share, Heather!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Maggie.