Amateur Detective

Librarian Minnie Hamilton spreads the joy of reading throughout Chilson, Michigan, with her bookmobile, but she doesn't ride alone. Her rescue cat, Eddie, and a group of volunteers are always on board to deliver cheer - until one of her helpers gets checked out for good....

When popular Bigfoot skeptic Kevin McNight is murdered, Jean Williams refuses to believe Detective Wheeler’s explanation that the killer was just a bear – she believes there was a human involved, and she’s determined to find justice for Kevin. With the local Bigfoot festival just days away, there many who stand to benefit from Kevin’s death - from the well-known Sasquatch believer Roy Turner, to the event organizers who profit from the festival each year, to the Bigfoot “researchers” who despised Kevin. In between working at her aunt’s bakery café, Jean finds time to slip ...

A series of mysterious deaths shakes the quiet town of Phoenix, leaving the police baffled. The townspeople are left on edge as they don’t know who will be next. Nick Brown, a pathologist, is drawn into the investigation after witnessing a suspicious mark on one of the victim's body. But he is thrown into the world of the supernatural when an unknown driver knocks him down. Nick is caught in the middle of the mysterious deaths after he starts losing the people he cares about. But with the help of his ghost friend, Zigi, and his new psychic abilities, he uncovers a pattern among the bodies...

After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will mean she can finally leave the detective work to the youngsters and focus on a quieter life. But it turns out The Homestead is far from paradise. When she discovers the body of a young woman floating in one of the pools, surrounded by thousands of dollar bills, her crime-fighting instinct kicks back in and she joins up with fellow ex-cops - and new neighbours - Philip, Lizzie and Rick to investigate the murder.

For Ellery Queen, there is no puzzle that reason cannot solve. In his time, he has faced down killers, thugs, and thieves, protected only by the might of his brain - and the odd bit of timely intervention by his father, a burly New York police inspector. But when a university professor asks Queen to teach a class, the detective finds there are people whom reason cannot touch: college students. Queen's adventure on campus is only the first of this incomparable collection of short mysteries.

When Newport's most sought after investment adviser meets her death while cruising on a sail boat surrounded by several of her biggest clients, amateur sleuth Caroline Kent finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. Newport police detective Lt. Hank Nightingale is sure he knows who murdered Althea Tanner, but Caroline is certain that the police detective is mistaken. It is up to Caroline to solve the mystery. The story is one of greed and betrayal in the city best known for its gilt and glamour and offers a tale of financial intrigue straight from today's news headlines.

In The Red Thumb Mark, the doctor works to clear young Reuben Hornby of stealing a parcel of diamonds from his uncle's safe, despite the apparently damning evidence. Then, in The Eye of Osiris, an amateur Egyptologist abruptly goes missing, leaving behind a strangely vexatious will. In The Mystery of 31 New Inn, Thorndyke's long-time collaborator Dr. Jervis consults his mentor regarding a mystery who may be being slowly poisoned. And in A Silent Witness, someone is making very determined attempts to murder inoffensive newly-qualified Doctor Humphrey Jardine.

It’s springtime in Provence! Trees are in bloom and critters are abuzz— including a murderer or two. Pastry chef Julie Cavallo is gearing up for the Easter weekend. Life is blissfully tranquil… until she learns of a wrongful conviction. Chiropractor Quentin Vernet was found guilty of fatal malpractice, stripped of his license and imprisoned for a year. And now he has lost all hope of clearing his good name. If only there was a way to help him! Unfortunately, Julie has nothing to go on. Her crew of amateur sleuths deems the case too cold and too sticky. Her gendarme boyfriend warns her...

In The Accountant’s Cookbook for Murder, buttoned-up accountant Martin Wells never expected murder at the Redwood County Cook-Off. When a food critic dies mid-bite, Martin must follow the breadcrumbs—through sabotage, suspects, and savory secrets—to solve the case. It’s a cozy mystery where spreadsheets meet sabotage, and the recipe for murder gets personal.

Six dachshunds, one inheritance, and a killer who’s unleashed chaos. Dogwood Valley is buzzing with gossip. Agatha Worthington, the 90-year-old matriarch, has shocked the town by leaving her fortune to her six dachshunds instead of her feuding relatives. Liv Barker, former lawyer turned dog walker, is hired to care for the dachshunds. But when suspicious events unfold, Liv must sniff out the truth before someone with greedy intentions puts an end to Agatha’s plans—and possibly her dogs’ lives.

When Gemma’s romantic holiday with her boyfriend is cancelled, the tearoom sleuth finds herself heading to Vienna instead with her cat Muesli and the nosy Old Biddies for company. And it’s not long before they stumble across a murder right in the heart of Austria’s historic capital. A handsome art critic dies suspiciously at their hotel, and the Old Biddies are determined to sniff out the killer. Is it the bitter hotel owner nursing a grudge? The critic’s jealous mistress wanting revenge? Or even the American horse trainer who seems inexplicably nervous around the police?

Small-town gossip, a hair salon owner, and a dead body. After notorious town rivals get into a fight, one of them winds up dead. It’s shear chaos at Ruby Tate’s hair salon once the sheriff arrests the prime suspect. Ruby agrees to help uncurl the mystery and save the reputation of her young receptionist’s mother. Luckily, her puzzle-solving skills are a cut above the rest. But can Ruby and her eccentric bestie piece together the clues before someone else ends up hurt? __________________________________________________________________________ This delightful cozy mystery is full of ...

"Rarely have I read descriptions that have left me gasping, in both their hilarity and their painful truth. A wonderful read." ―Louise Penny recommending G.M. Malliet's novel WICKED AUTUMN Is it ever okay to take the law into your own hands? That's the question at the heart of this original short story by award-winning author G.M. Malliet. Maria Ignatius Jona writes an advice column - an "Agony Aunt" column - for the daily Santa Fe Orbital. She inherited the column ten years before from her aunt Bettina, and soon discovered she'd also inherited her aunt's intuition and knack for helping ...

Tiffany, Rosie and Stone head to Southern Illinois to enjoy an old-fashioned holiday including a short cruise on a riverboat… Unfortunately, their idyllic vacation is ruined when a guest on the cruise is murdered, and Tiffany is tasked with investigating. Who could’ve killed the grumpy patriarch? Many of his family were unhappy with him, but was anyone unhappy enough to kill? When the murderer threatens to strike again, the trio must move quickly before someone else is hurt… Praise for A.R. Winters: "The perfect balance of being lighthearted, but still a serious page-turning mystery."...

The eccentric Olive Kettering swore someone was trying to harm her. Too bad no one listened, though plenty wanted her dead. When Olive is shot and killed, Mrs. Jeffries has no problem speaking her mind to see justice served.

Claire Hendricks can see ghosts, but she can't see herself having a fun vacation. Yet when her new friends/found family, Basher and Alex, insist, Claire and her dead BFF, Sophie, pack themselves off to a remote Irish island. This tempest-tossed isle is indeed full of noises: not only is the hotel where the gang is staying double booked with a posh private party, the island's crumbling old fort is being fought over by rival ghost pirates. In death, as in life, they're vying over a legendary stash of loot, supposedly hidden somewhere on the island or in the surrounding rough seas.

On Christmas Eve, 85-year-old Miriam Caravasios steps onto the ice that surrounds her seaside estate on Maine's Mount Desert Island. As a younger woman, she used to steal out on winter nights to meet her lover, walking across the frozen reach to their secret meeting place. She knows the way—but not the year. Miriam, her mind clouded by dementia, doesn’t hear the snap of thin ice until it’s too late.

Ella has discovered a secret room in the Yellow Cottage, but with it comes a ghost. Who was she? And how did she die? Ella needs to find the answers before either of them can find peace. But suddenly, things take a nasty turn for the worse.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Great series of books! Martha and Helen are new friends who now work together in a business concerning old books and manuscripts. Each book has two stories going on, but both end up related. This series has so many different kinds of characters, locations, and conclusions. It is very creative set of stories! I'm sure that you will enjoy all five books. Happy Reading!!!" -- Margaret L. A DELIGHTFUL COZY MYSTERY FULL OF QUAINT VILLAGES, QUIRKY CHARACTERS, AND MADCAP ADVENTURES BY A BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Helen Ryes and Martha Littleword, two Americans living in England, become...

Can Ace, and his new gal pal, Lilith, solve this spooky puzzle and stop the killing spree? New York City, 1923. The suspicious death of a chorus girl sends PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, to the oldest theater on Broadway. At the murder scene, they stumble upon a clue too bizarre to share with the cops or with Jax’s sweetheart, who would definitely make a haunted mountain out of this eerie little molehill. But one bizarre clue leads to the next. Laura Graystone, Broadway star and Jax’s fiancée, drags her friends into the investigation after she’s scared out of ...