Town Mystery

When she was thirteen years old, Samantha Newsom’s family was murdered and their Catskills farmhouse set ablaze in an unsolved crime that left nothing behind but ashes. Twenty-two years later, Sam is pulled back to her hometown of Carney, New York, under the shadows of the grim tragedy she’s never forgotten or forgiven. Authorities mishandled the evidence, false rumors were seeded about her family, suspects yielded nothing, and the case went cold. Not anymore. Investigator Travis Meacham has been assigned to the case, and he has news for Sam....

Magic is in full bloom… but so is murder. Celeste Nightingale’s flower shop, Starlight Blossoms, is known for crafting enchanted bouquets that soothe hearts and stir fate. But after her dear friend Alistair Fenwick is found dead, she places a magical glowing moonlace flower in his memorial bouquet. It stops glowing. This is a sign of deception. Celeste knows something is amiss. With the reluctant help of botanist Nathaniel Ashford, two ghostly assistants, and a pair of clever Siamese cats, Celeste sets out to unravel the mystery. Who tampered with Alistair’s final bouquet? What secret...

When a body washes up on the state park beach, Deputy Tessa Black’s experience as a former Seattle detective tells her that the death was not an accident. All evidence points to another murder on the remote island. The victim is a local contractor with a shockingly long list of enemies. The more locals Tessa interviews, the more people she suspects - from the bitter ex-wife and estranged current wife to disgruntled former clients and employees. They all have different reasons to want him dead.

Solving murder mysteries has become old hat for former D.C. urbanite-turned-amateur sleuth Lilly Livingston. But please, not at her inn’s first big event of the summer! Having settled into small-town life in Drifter’s Cove, FL, Lilly is thrilled that her recently inherited inn is now on the map! With Magnolia Manor fully renovated and sold out for the Memorial Day weekend celebration, she is eagerly welcoming guests, fluffing pillows, and finalizing the menu. As ex-boyfriend Eric reluctantly mans the front desk, the motley crew of guests checks in—a persnickety chef, a local drifter, ...

Two brothers meet at the remote fence line separating their cattle ranches in the lonely outback. In an isolated belt of Western Australia, they are each other’s nearest neighbor, their homes a four-hour drive apart. The third brother lies dead at their feet. Something caused Cam, the middle child who had been in charge of the family homestead, to die alone in the middle of nowhere. So the eldest brother returns with his younger sibling to the family property and those left behind. But the fragile balance of the ranch is threatened.

Thirteen years ago, Maggie Ellis left her small town and vowed to never return. In her rearview mirror were two men she loved and an ominous secret that would forever haunt her. Now, tragedy has brought her back, and she’s determined to forget that fateful night. But in a town like Myers, with familiar faces and chilling memories lurking around every corner, moving on is easier said than done. Before the ink can dry on the closing documents for her new residence, Maggie begins to feel unsettled. In every room, there’s the unmistakable sensation she’s being watched.

The Heritage Hall book fair was my chance to showcase my bookbinding techniques. Instead, I become the main suspect in a murder. Paper flowers and leather bindings filled my Heritage Hall book fair booth. This was my chance to showcase traditional bookbinding techniques. Instead, I found a dead authenticator in my space. Mark Henderson, known for exposing forgeries, lay sprawled among tools stolen from my exhibit. Making me the prime suspect. Book preservation is my passion - being a murder suspect, not so much. I teamed up with Fitzgerald, my Maine Coon cat and journalist Jennifer Walsh to...

In the town of Thirty-Four Corners, Colorado, Matt Jensen rides into a savage blood feud. Thirty years ago two friends came West and built a thriving cattle business. Now, their families have become kill-crazy enemies and the town is awash in a frenzy of killing. Add in hired gunmen on both sides of the fight, and two lovers crossing the dividing line, and the terror will never end. Eager to put as many miles between himself and Thirty Four Corners, Matt Jensen just can't bring himself to leave without trying to stop the bloodshed.

What’s worse than a murder victim on your doorstep? For Rebecca Cuthbert, it’s finding a cursed Egyptian charm tucked into the dead woman’s pocket. The ominous discovery propels the fearless shopkeeper and her immortal, chatty cat on a perilous hunt for the killer and another piece of the missing magical collection. Unfortunately, Citrus Grove’s annual summer festival is tying up police department resources—including Rebecca’s new beau, Detective Nick Devon—which leaves Rebecca, her grandfather’s wisdom, and Aneksi’s mystical powers to crack the case. As her investigation ...

When the lights go out, more than just the movie ends. Lena Thompson's quiet life in the charming town of New Oslo is about to get a supernatural shake-up. With her spectral grandmother as an unlikely sidekick, Lena finds herself thrust into the role of amateur sleuth when a glitzy movie premiere party turns deadly. As a former classmate-turned-Hollywood-star lies dead in Lena's Victorian home, the list of suspects grows longer than the credits of a summer blockbuster. With the local sheriff overwhelmed, it's up to Lena and her ghostly Granny to sift through a cast of colorful characters, ...

True crime podcaster Trinity Scott is chasing breakout success, and her brand-new serial may get her there. Her subject is Clayton Jay Pelley. More than two decades ago, the respected family man and guidance counselor confessed to the brutal murder of teenage student Leena Rai. But why he killed her has always been a mystery. In a series of exclusive interviews from prison, Clayton discloses to Trinity the truth about what happened that night beneath Devil’s Bridge. It’s not what anyone in the Pacific Northwest town of Twin Falls expects.

From NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Josie Litton, writing as J.K. Litton, a wickedly funny cozy romantic mystery for the holidays The charming Westchester County village of Mulberry Falls is ringing in the New Year in style. On the village green, revelers are counting down the seconds to midnight. But when the pop of champagne corks is interrupted by gunshots, the fun goes flat. It’s up to local sleuth Verity Valence and her former high school boyfriend, Detective Ethan Lowell to cut through the confetti and catch a killer. Either that or risk Mulberry Falls’ new year ...

In a small Arizona town, a man counts his blessings: a loving wife, two teenage daughters, and a job that allows him to work at home. Then "The Store" announces plans to open a local outlet, which will surely finish off the small downtown shops. His concerns grow when "The Store's" builders ignore all the town's zoning laws during its construction. Then dead animals are found on "The Store's" grounds. Inside, customers are hounded by obnoxious sales people, and strange products appear on the shelves.

Under the shadow of an ancient celestial alignment, the Blackmoore sisters face their gravest challenge yet right in their own backyard of Noquitt, Maine. Magical stones, mystical ley lines, and bizarre occurrences threaten to unleash chaos. As dark forces align, the sisters will have to combine all their powers to mend a centuries-old rift between two feuding wizards who hold the key to stopping the destructive forces.

It's been said that all great literature boils down to one of two stories—a man takes a journey, or a stranger comes to town. While mystery writers have been successfully using both approaches for generations, there's something undeniably alluring in the nature of a stranger: the uninvited guest, the unacquainted neighbor, the fish out of water. In the newest collection of stories by the Mystery Writers of America, each author weaves a fresh tale surrounding the eerie feeling that comes when a stranger enters our midst, featuring stories by prolific mystery writers.

She just wanted to share a bottle. Instead, she uncorked a murder. Avery Parker thought a private wine tasting at a rival vineyard’s exclusive cave would be the perfect afternoon—smooth pours, a scenic stroll, and maybe a little friendly competition. But when a disturbing discovery cuts the visit short, Avery is once again drawn into the swirl of small-town secrets and not-so-innocent faces. With the police tight-lipped and tensions rising in the wine community, Avery—alongside her golden retriever Sprinkles and her ever-curious Stammtisch crew—follows the subtle hints, slippery ...

Nobody was surprised when the Captain of the Cheerleading Squad, Stacy Young, became homecoming queen her senior year, nor when she dated Shane Pruitt, the football quarterback, baseball pitcher, forward on the basketball team and, not coincidentally, homecoming king. She was the epitome of the all-American girl and they, the all-American couple. Their marriage just a few years after high school left no one surprised and seemed to please most. But, not everyone. However, appearances can be misleading. No one knew that this perfect couple had an imperfect marriage. No one would have guessed ...

🍬 A stolen recipe. A murdered baker. And a Maine Coon with a nose for macarons… Just when Liv Parker thought life at Whisker’s Bakery was finally sweet, a world-famous pastry chef arrives—followed by sabotage, scandal, and a shocking death during the town’s biggest baking competition. Now, with whispers of stolen secrets and a killer on the loose, Liv must follow the crumbs—with help from her feline sleuths—to catch a murderer hiding behind sugar and smiles. Murder at Whisker’s Bakery: The Case of the Missing Macarons is a cozy, twisty mystery filled with clever cats, ...

From the bestselling author of the Call Me Tuesday series comes a suspenseful, thought-provoking reminder of our intrinsic connection to one another and the devastating impact our choices can have on the lives of those around us. Addison Quinn was nine when her parents were killed in the worst car crash ever recorded in the sleepy town of Driftwood, Indiana. She alone survived to tell the police about a mysterious blood splatter she'd seen on the outside of the windshield seconds before she was thrown from the vehicle. Addison was convinced the splatter caused her dad to lose control of the...

After her boss fires her on unfounded grounds, twenty-nine-year-old Ashton Price leaves Denver for Cranberry Cove, Washington. She's inherited her aunt's B&B and is determined to carry on her legacy. Upon preparing for guests, she learns of a century-old tale of treasure within the inn. Many have searched for the illusive gems but to no avail. She discovers a man working on the inn's grounds, but is he the gardener Gina Price hired? Perhaps he's searching for the hidden treasure. James Atwood, corporate executive, works in the Atwood's thriving cranberry business. Tragedy strikes, and he's ...