Short Cozy Mysteries

Four previously uncollected stories from one of the great mystery writers of our time - swift, cunning murder mysteries (two of which feature the young Adam Dalgliesh) that together, to borrow the author's own word, add up to a delightful "entertainment".

Winner takes all? That’s not just a motto, but a lifestyle for Avery Shaw. She wants to win at all costs. Of course, she wants to help others, too. That comes second to winning, but it’s often a byproduct. Avery is a reporter about town, and there’s no story she won’t doggedly pursue, especially if she can scoop every other news reporter in the Detroit area and claim the glory for herself. This three-book omnibus includes: On Deadline & Under Fire, Above the Fold & Below the Belt, and Oracles & Obituaries.

THE GUEST ROOM - COZY MYSTERY SERIES - SHORT READ Much to her disgust, everyone at the vicarage is helping the housekeeper, Mrs. Gladys David, prepare the mansion for two events tomorrow: a wedding, and an impromptu visit from the Bishop who will stay in the guest room. She hates it when people have to be called in to help her for she feels it makes her look incompetent. Regardless, she's frantic to make everything perfect, and Father Eli has offered to help. Lots to do and no time to spare with all the preparations. As Mrs. David enters the guest room after a year of having no visitors, ...

Despite growing up in poverty, Pierre Lachance made it to law school where he developed an intense dislike of money and those snobs who had lots of it. When his government legal job in Northern Ontario is eliminated, Pierre heads south to start a new life. After rescuing a wealthy stranded motorist and his dog in a wicked snowstorm, Pierre is asked to use his real estate expertise and go undercover to investigate some property holdings in Dallas, Texas. That plunges Pierre into an intriguing financial mystery. As luck would have it, Pierre also meets a dazzling but wealthy beauty in Dallas....

Jealousy, revenge and broken hearts are all possible motives for murder in this fast-paced cozy mystery Vintage clothing celebrity Polly is murdered in her store so special agents Abi and Jake from the Celebrity Crimes Investigation Agency (otherwise known as the CCIA) are sent to uncover who killed her. Could it be a jealous ex-boyfriend? Perhaps her estranged sister had something to do with it? Could Milly from the cupcake bakery next door to Polly’s Vintage Finds have had a hand in her demise? There are certainly suspects aplenty..., Join Abi and Jake on another sleuthing mission to ...

Having your motion sensor alarm triggered at two in the morning is never a good thing—especially if you have a target on your back. Emily Bennett is tired of traveling around the world and chasing story after story as an investigative journalist. She is tired of living—as her parents have always said—recklessly. Now that she is a successful murder-mystery writer, she thinks it is time to try and lead a normal life. Time to settle down and live life quietly. And she is doing just that—in the picturesque beach town of Anchorville, Oregon. But two weeks after moving into her beautiful ...

It's the holidays, and Samantha Moon and her family are ready to get together and celebrate. No, they may not be your average family, but the love is just as real. It's two days before the big Thanksgiving meal when Sam receives a most unusual guest. Unusual because she hasn't seen her brother, Clayton, in twenty years. Turns out, he isn't just here for the pumpkin pies and yams. He's got a problem. He's been cursed and thinks his little sister is his best chance to fix it. With pie baking put on hold, Sam and company set out to break his curse, locate a kidnapped baby, and save the day. ...

Christmas is six days away - and Sarah Booth Delaney has her hands full! To honor a group of international investors, Shaw, Mississippi, resurrects the old custom of drifting miniature, lighted Christmas floats down Silver Bayou. The Italian delegation from Venice may bring much-needed new jobs and commercial opportunities. Among the investors is notorious womanizer, Enzo Aceto. He is handsome, witty, and eager for new conquests. Then Enzo disappears. Rumors of murder are buzzing.

Snow, Stars - and murder! When Bernie, the star of breakfast show TV Rise & Shine, is murdered in her dressing room, Celebrity Crimes Investigation Agents Abi and Jake are sent undercover just before Christmas to catch the killer. With suspects aplenty, the snow building up outside and the holidays fast approaching, they’ve certainly got their work cut out!

Brimley Manor, home to an eccentric museum of oddities from its owner's lifetime of exotic travels also holds dark secrets. When a suspicious fire breaks out, the biggest question must be ... was it just an accident? Sarah and Jack think not. As they begin to explore the history and people of Brimley Manor, they soon learn that this very curious place might also be quite deadly... Set in the sleepy English village of Cherringham, the detective series brings together an unlikely sleuthing duo: English web designer Sarah and American ex-cop Jack.

This is a delightful, warm, wonderful collection of short stories to be enjoyed while snuggling up in your favorite chair with a cup of tea and cookies. There are mysteries, fantasy, heart warming tales and even a sports story.

She bought the cabin on a whim. But will it transform into her perfect getaway? Burnt out from her high-flying author career and dreaming of escaping her busy Manhattan life, when Laura discovers her husband cheating on her with another writer, she knows it’s time for a change. After her brother calls her about a country Bed and Breakfast for sale, Laura ditches New York and buys it on the spot… only to realize that the run-down cabin will need more than a little elbow grease to restore it to working condition. As she’s swept up in the quiet joys of small-town life, an ad in the local...

In the charming town of Brindlewood Bay, baker Becca Lane’s world is turned upside down when a suspicious death occurs in her shop. Determined to clear her name, she teams up with her sharp-witted journalist friend, Tessa, and her ever-loyal dog, Ranger, to uncover the truth. As they follow a trail of cryptic clues, secret dealings, and unexpected betrayals, Becca realizes the mystery runs deeper than she ever imagined. With the town’s annual baking competition fast approaching, the pressure is on—not just to perfect her scones but to outsmart a dangerous opponent. With humor, heart, ...

When Ed Finnlay - computer programmer and devoted father of two - goes missing, there's not a lot the local police can do. After all, Ed himself told them he would be gone... for quite some time. As the weeks go by with no news, his wife reaches out to Jack and Sarah for help. But they soon learn that there are odd secrets about this missing husband and that he might not only be gone, but also in serious danger. Can Jack and Sarah do what seems impossible.

In the enchanting town of Sweethaven, CT, Marla Gonzalez, the spirited owner of Tiny Delights Bakery, takes a bold step to expand her business by purchasing the adjacent space. But what starts as a promising venture soon turns sinister when a hidden body is discovered within the newly acquired property. With the help of her trusted companions, Mr. Roundbelly and Lulu, Marla embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery behind the grim discovery. As the investigation unfolds, the small town of Sweethaven is rocked by another unexpected death, casting shadows of suspicion and intrigue. Marla ...

Successful attorney Larry Scott checks his watch and realizes that he is still working in his law office at four minutes past midnight which means that Larry has just turned sixty years of age while chained to his desk. He is disgusted with his workaholic ways and decides right then and there to retire from the Indianapolis law firm where he has toiled for his entire thirty-five year legal career. Larry has no idea that a bizarre set of circumstances will soon have him sorting through cryptic clues to solve three very old murders back in his home town of Vevay, Indiana. Can Larry make the ...

It’s beginning to look a lot like arson this Christmas season… The Cat Café is buzzing with excitement this holiday season as they prepare for the Holiday Fur Ball & Silent Auction. As Tinsley and her crew put the finishing touches on the treats and decorations, she can’t help but daydream about the new animal shelter she hopes to build with the money from the auction. The excitement soon fizzles, however, when a fire breaks out at the café with the fur babies inside. Thankfully, they’re rescued by firefighters and all safe and sound. But everyone at the Cat Café is shocked when ...

Tillie Winchester is annoyed with the world - what else is new, right? - and she's fraying under the pressure. Her nieces believe she's a bad influence on the youngest Winchester generation - especially an acerbic Thistle - and they want her to set a good example. That's not easy when she's fighting with her arch-nemesis and trying to convince Bay, Clove and Thistle they didn't really discover a dead body at the annual tree-lighting ceremony.

Homicide detective Tyler Odom and Daphne Janet team up once again - this time to search for a baby no one is quite sure actually exists. Tensions arise when their approaches to the case (and their apparent sympathies) diverge. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This 8500-word short story was originally published on the Kindle Vella platform.

Maintaining good personal relationships with their suppliers is one of the secrets of the Cackleberry Club Café’s success, so Suzanne doesn’t mind going out to Mike Mullen’s dairy farm to pick up some wheels of cheese. She’s looking forward to a nice visit with the mild-mannered farmer before heading back to the café’s hectic kitchen. But when she arrives, Mike’s nowhere to be found. The moaning of his cows leads her to look in the barn, where she discovers a bloodcurdling sight - the farmer’s dead body.