July 2023 MBR The Mystery/Suspense Shelf part 1 of 4

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Judas Horse
Lynda La Plante
Thorpe / Charnwood Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444851267, $41.95, PB, Large Print, 336pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/judas-horse-lynda-la-plante/1137491924

Synopsis: When the wild mustangs are running free, you corral one and train it to become a Judas Horse. When he's ready, you release him and he'll bring his team back into the corral - like Judas betraying them back into captivity.

Violent burglars have been terrorizing residents across the English countryside. But when a mutilated body is discovered in a Cotswolds house, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary group of opportunist thieves.

As Detective Jack Warr investigates, he discovers locals with dark secrets, unearths hidden crimes - and hits countless dead ends. With few leads and the violent attacks escalating, he will have to act as audaciously as the criminals if he hopes to stop them.

When Warr meets Charlotte Miles, a terrified woman with links to the group, he must use her to lure the unsuspecting killers into one last job, and into his trap. But with the law already stretched to breaking point, any failure will be on Warr's head - and any more blood spilled, on his hands...

Critique: Of particular and special appeal to readers with an interest in police procedural crime fiction, murder mystery solving women sleuths, and psychological thrillers combined, this large print, paperback edition of "Judas Horse" by Lynda La Plante is an impressively well crafted, entertaining, and highly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Lynda La Plante (www.lyndalaplante.com) is an author whose novels have all been international bestsellers. Her original script for the much-acclaimed PRIME SUSPECT won awards from BAFTA, Emmys, British Broadcasting and Royal Television Society as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Writer's Award. Lynda has been made honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Writer's Award 2000. Books penned by Lynda La Plante include: The Legacy, The Talisman, Bella Mafia, Entwined, Cold Shoulder, Cold Blood, Cold Heart, Sleeping Cruelty, Royal Flush, Above Suspicion, The Red Dahlia, Clean Cut, Deadly Intent and Silent Scream, Blind Fury, Blood Line, Backlash, Wrongful Death, and Twisted.

The Dog Sitter Detective
Antony Johnston
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399125895, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 264pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dog-sitter-detective-antony-johnston/1142990363

Synopsis: Retired actress Guinevere 'Gwinny' Tuffel is finding life hard after inheriting her late father's run-down house and discovering she's broke. But Gwinny is delighted to be at Hayburn Stead for her best friend Tina's wedding to a handsome Italian business magnate. However, before they get the chance to declare 'till death do us part', the husband-to-be is found dead in the library and Tina is accused of his murder. Convinced of her friend's innocence, Gwinny must uncover the real killer from a pool of larger-than-life suspects, while also suddenly finding herself looking after Tina's expensive and demanding saluki dogs.

Critique: With the publication of this large print paperback edition of "The Dog Sitter Detective", author Antony Johnston has created a novel that will be of special interest to readers who appreciate a cozy mystery featuring amateur murder mystery solving sleuths. A fun and carefully crafted read from first page to last, "The Dog Sitter Detective" is certain to be a favored addition to personal reading lists and a welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: the career of Antony Johnston (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Johnston) has spanned books, award-winning video games and graphic novels including collaborations with Anthony Horowitz and Alan Moore. He wrote the New York Times bestseller Daredevil Season One for Marvel Comics and is the creator of Atomic Blonde which grossed over $100 million at the box office. Johnston is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers' Association and can often be found writing at home in Lancashire with a snoozing hound for company.

A Contest To Kill For
E. V. Hunter
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804835760, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 404pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-contest-to-kill-for-ev-hunter/1143065298

Synopsis: Desperate to try and rebuild the reputation of Hopgood Hall, owners Alexi Ellis and Cheryl and Drew Hopgood agree to host a realty TV baking show, spearheaded by their arrogant but enigmatic head chef Marcel Gasquet. Hopefully the ratings will bring in bookings to the struggling hotel and Cosmo, Alexi's antisocial feral cat, is hoping to get a starring role too!

Fiery and hot-headed, Marcel's antics makes for brilliant television, but off-screen trouble is brewing. One of the contestants, femme fatale Juliette Hammond, makes it clear that she will do anything to secure the winning prize - even if it means sweetening up the prima donna chef.

So when Juliette is found dead, all eyes turn to Marcel. Has his fiery French temper got the better of him or has someone else fallen victim to Juliette's devious ways?

With the reputation of the hotel in tatters and Marcel's liberty on the line, Alexi needs answers and fast. And the only person she can turn to for help is her old friend and private eye Jack Maddox. Jack's working his own case, but he can't refuse Alexi and he knows more than anyone that this murder could cost them everything!

Critique: Part of author E. V. Hunter's 'A Hapgood Hall Murder Mystery', this large print paperback edition of "A Contest To Kill For" from Boldwood Books is a classic 'whodunnit' murder mystery that plays fair with the dedicated mystery fan. With a plot that has more twists and turns than a Disneyland roller coaster making it a terrific read from cover to cover, "A Contest To Kill For" will prove to be a welcome pick for both personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collection.

Editorial Note: Evan Hunter (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Evan-Hunter", whose original name Salvatore Albert Lombino, also writes under the pseudonyms Ed McBain, Curt Cannon, Ezra Hannon, Hunt Collins, and Richard Marsten. Evan Hunter was born October 15, 1926, in New York City. and died on July 6, 2005, in Weston, Connecticut. He was a prolific American writer of best-selling fiction, of which more than 50 books are crime stories published under the pseudonym Ed McBain.

Inside Threat
Matthew Quirk
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9780063051683, $30.00, HC, 432pp

https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Threat-Novel-Matthew-Quirk/dp/0063051680

Synopsis: When Code Black is asserted it's time to assume the worst.

The day that every secret service agent trains for has arrived. The White House has been breached; the President forced to flee to a massive doomsday bunker outside DC to defend against whatever comes next. Only the most trusted agents and officials are allowed in with him -- those dedicated to keeping the government intact at all costs.

Among them is Erik Hill, who has given his life to the Secret Service. They are his purpose and his family, and his impressive record has made him a hero among them. Despite his growing disillusionment from seeing Washington corruption up close, Erik can't ignore years of instincts honed on the job. The government is under attack, and no one is better equipped to face down the threat than he is.

The evidence leads him to a conspiracy at the highest levels of power, with the attack orchestrated by some of the very individuals now locked in with him. As the killers strike inside the bunker, it will take everything Erik Hill has to save his people, himself, and his country.

Critique: A solid suspense thriller of a read from first page to last, "Inside Threat" by novelist Matthew Quirk is the stuff of which block-buster edge of your seat movies are made. Sizzling with unexpected plot twists and turns, "Inside Threat" will have a special appeal to readers with an interest in espionage thrillers and non-stop mystery action/adventure novels. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212690751, $41.99, CD), "Inside Threat" is unreservedly recommended for community library contemporary fiction collections.

Editorial Note #1: Matthew Quirk (http://matthewquirk.com) is the author of Red Warning, Hour of the Assassin, The Night Agent, The 500, The Directive, Cold Barrel Zero, and Dead Man Switch. He spent five years at The Atlantic reporting on crime, private military contractors, terrorism prosecutions, and international gangs.

Macarons Can Be Murder
Rose Betancourt
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781643859767, $29.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Macarons-Murder-Kentucky-Bakery-Mystery/dp/1643859765

Synopsis: Living in Paris, Kentucky, and having a sidekick cat named Pepe le Pew gives Marci Beaucoup's life a certain je ne sais quoi. Combining her love of baking and France, Marci opened La Belle Patisserie to bring her small Southern hometown a bit of French flair and lots of croissants. Everything is sunshine and macaronsat the bakery until her landlord calls to tell her she's selling the property.

Marci's relieved to hear that if the top bidder, an enchanting Frenchman named Antoine Dubois, gets the property, he'll renew her bakery's lease. Charmed by Antoine, Marci figures this development isn't half bad and sees a handsome new landlord in her future -- but then Antoine's estranged ex-girlfriend Kelly turns up dead in front of her bakery!

Everyone calls Marci's pastries "to die for", but nobody's actually died at La Belle Patisserie before. Antoine quickly becomes the main suspect to everyone in Paris -- as well as to womanizing detective Maverick Malone. Who else would have killed Kelly but the ex-boyfriend she was just seen fighting with on the day of her death?

Marci finds out from her landlord that if Antoine is arrested, his purchase of her building will fall through -- and her landlord will sell to developers instead, who plan to demolish the building and construct a strip mall in its place. Enamored with Antoine and with her patisserie dreams hanging in the balance, Marci is determined to prove Maverick and the rest of Paris wrong and find the true killer before Antoine winds up in jail -- and she has to say au revoir to her bakery.

Now Marci finds herself mixed up in the murder investigation, and she must find the killer before her half-baked theories result in her untimely death.

Critique: The debut novel launching author Rose Betancourt's new series of culinary themed cozy mysteries, "Macarons Can Be Murder" is a fun read from cover to cover and will leave the reader looking eagerly toward her next title in what promises to be an outstanding addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections featuring amateur female murder mystery solving sleuths. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Macarons Can Be Murder" is also readily available in a digital book formalt (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Rose Betancourt (https://crookedlanebooks.com/rose-betancourt) enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. When she's not plotting her next mystery novel, she loves reading, painting, spending time with family, and listening to oldies. Living near Louisville, Kentucky, her writing is fueled by Diet Coke and dark chocolate.

The Island
Adrian McKinty
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316531283, $28.00, HC, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Island-Adrian-McKinty/dp/0316531286

Synopsis: After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they're deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.

When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram.

But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.

When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers.

Now it's up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don't trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.

Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.

Critique: Picked to be a forthcoming Hulu original television series, "The Island" is a riveting read of the compulsive page turner variety. With a special appeal to readers with an interest in suspense thriller novels with more unexpected twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado, "The Island" by gifted novelist Adrian McKinty is particularly and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading ists of dedicated suspense thriller fans that "The Island" is also available in a paperback edition (9780316531290, $18.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Hachette Audio, $24.99).

Editorial Note: Adrian McKinty (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_McKinty) is the author of more than a dozen crime novels, including the Dagger and Edgar-award nominated debut Dead I Well May Be, the critically acclaimed Sean Duffy series, and the award-winning standalone thriller The Chain, which was a New York Times and #1 international bestseller. McKinty's books have been translated into over 30 languages and he has won the Edgar Award, the International Thriller Writers Award, the Ned Kelly Award (3 times), the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Macavity Award, and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.

Death by Food Truck
Joi Copeland, et al.
Barbour Publishing
1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
9781636095943, $14.99, PB, 448pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Food-Truck-Joi-Copeland/dp/1636095941

Synopsis: Birch Tree, Maine, is experiencing a rash of deaths, all mysteriously linked to food trucks that frequent the Birch Point Lake Park. Mey's noodle truck was her ticket to a new life, until her ex-boyfriend threatens to take it away. Angel's new donut truck was doing great, until deathly rumors started. Shanice thought she had customer support when taking over her grandpa's potato truck, until one started complaining. Marisol's taco truck is a fixture in the park, until linked to a food judge's death. Could competition between vendors have led to this murder and mayhem?

Critique: Comprised of four cozy mysteries written in a round robin style by co-authors Joi Copeland, Cynthia Hicky, Linda Baten Johnson, and Teresa Ives Lilly, "Death By Food Truck" is a delightful literary treat for all cozy mystery fans and readers with an interest in Christian themed fiction short story anthologies. While highly recommended as an addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of cozy culinary mystery buffs that "Death By Food Truck" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Oasis Audio, 9781685924065, $39.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Multi-published and best-selling author, Cynthia Hickey, has taught writing at many conferences and small writing retreats. She and her husband run the publishing press, Winged Publications, which includes some of the CBA's best well-known authors. They live in Arizona and Arkansas, becoming snowbirds with two dogs and one cat. They have ten grandchildren who them busy and tell everyone they know that "Nana is a writer."

Blind Man's Bluff
Baynard Kendrick
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
c/o W.W. Norton (distribution)
https://wwnorton.com
9781613164198, $15.95, PB, 264pp

https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Mans-Bluff-Maclain-Mystery/dp/161316419X

Synopsis: The Miners Title and Trust is typically dead quiet, having gone bankrupt. Then, late one evening, the bank's blind president, Blake Hadfield, plummets eight stories to his death in the building's lobby. The only witnesses are the security guard and Blake's estranged wife, who were both on the first floor. Blake's son, Seth, is found drunk and dazed on the eighth floor, making him the prime suspect in what the police believe to be murder.

That's when Harold Lawson and Sybella Ford call upon Captain Maclain for help. Maclain doesn't think the banker's death was a suicide or an accident. He believes someone else was in the building -- and when more murders follow, he suspects the villain is still at large. Now, Maclain will push his powers of deduction to their limits to solve one of the strangest cases of his career.

Critique: Following the loss of his sight in World War I, ex-intelligence officer Duncan Maclain honed his other senses and, with the help of his two German Shepherds, became one of the most successful and well-known private investigators in New York City, picking up on the unseen clues that often slip beneath the visual surface. That's the basis for author Baynard Kendrick's mysteries starring Duncan Maclain. Introducing a new generation of dedicated mystery fans to a brilliantly gifted novelist with a complete command of the genre, "Blind Man's Bluff" has been newly released as part of the American Mystery Classics series from Mysterious Press and will prove to be an immediately popular pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Baynard Kendrick (April 8, 1894 - March 22, 1977) was one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America, later named a Grand Master by the organization. After returning from military service in World War I, Kendrick wrote for pulp magazines such as Black Mask and Dime Detective under various pseudonyms before creating the Duncan Maclain character for which he is now known. The blind detective appeared in twelve novels, several short stories, and three films.

Final Cut
Marjorie McCown
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639103676, $29.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Final-Hollywood-Mystery-Marjorie-McCown/dp/1639103678

Synopsis: Joey Jessop enjoys working behind the scenes. As key costumer for the next epic superhero movie, her role is to make others look good while staying out of the spotlight. That means making sure to be professional around Eli Logan, her ex and the First Assistant Director, and Courtney Lisle, Eli's newest love interest and the Second Assistant Director. But this isn't a problem for Joey -- especially when the movie is shooting at a gorgeous Malibu location.

All of that changes when Joey finds Courtney's dead body on the first day of principal photography and she soon becomes the primary suspect. When the press takes hold of the story and social media begins to run with it, Joey watches her well-ordered life behind the scenes become front and center for all to see.

But that isn't even the worst of it. In the midst of this newfound and unfortunate stardom, she must also contend with the reckless behavior of the movie's predatory director and producer, Marcus Pray, who seems driven to continue his practice of making another blockbuster hit while making sure his crew endures a toxic and potentially lethal work environment. As a result, Joey finds herself embattled both personally and professionally.

With tensions building on set and a murder investigation looming over her life and future, Joey takes it upon herself to clear her name. Will she be able to expose the truth before it's a wrap?

Critique: A carefully crafted and thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover, "Final Cut" expertly showcases author Marjorie McCown's genuine flair for original and the kind of narrative driven and unexpected plot twists that make for a riveting story that will be of particular interest to fans of the cozy mystery featuring amateur women sleuths solving complicated murder mysteries. While highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Final Cut" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666638073, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Marjorie McCown (https://marjoriemccown.com) has spent her entire professional life in the story-telling business, though she started out on the visual side of the craft. She spent more than twenty-five years in Hollywood working as a key member of the costume design teams for a string of successful movies that includes Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, The Firm, A Bronx Tale, Wag the Dog, The Aviator, Hairspray, Angels and Demons, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and X-Men Days of Future Past. McCown has a BA in Theater from the University of Virginia and an AAS in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.

Take the Honey and Run
Jennie Marts
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639103072, $28.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Take-Honey-Run-Keeping-Mystery/dp/1639103074

Synopsis: As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold -- which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall.

A broken foot doesn't stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny's book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey's grandmother's infamous "Honey I'm Home" hot spiced honey turns out to "bee" the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and "smoke out" the real culprit.

With the help of Bailey's witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there's no way she's backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars.

Critique: An impressively well crafted and distinctively original cozy mystery by an author with a complete mastery of the genre, "Take the Honey and Run" is a novelist Jennie Marts' Bee Keeping Mystery and a thoroughly fun read from cover to cover. While highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated cosy mystery fans that "Take the Honey and Run" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666636963, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Jennie Marts (https://jenniemarts.com) is an author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. She loves genre-mashups, and her books range from western romance to cozy mysteries but all have the charm and appeal of quirky small-town life.

How the Murder Crumbles
Debra Sennefelder
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639102808, $29.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Crumbles-Cookie-Shop-Mystery/dp/1639102809

Synopsis: Wingate, Connecticut, is famed as one of the top ten shopping destinations in the state, and home to Mallory Monroe's beloved Cookie Shop -- a place where patrons are greeted with the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies that are as beautifully decorated as they are insanely delicious.

But things aren't going so smoothly for Mallory. Her two employees are a disaster in the kitchen, she catches her boyfriend with another woman, and she's seen having a fierce argument with food blogger Beatrice Wright, who accuses Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe. Then Beatrice turns up dead in her kitchen, flour outlining her body and a bloodied marble rolling pin nearby. Mallory immediately becomes suspect number one, her sales plummet, and she desperately tries to clear her name -- but that's not the only murder the killer is baking up.

Critique: With the publication of "How the Murder Crumbles, novelist Debra Sennefelder has cooked up another a perfect recipe for cozy mystery fans replete with endearing characters, a picture-perfect evocation of small-town life, and a quaint sweets shop. And just when things get a little too comfy, there's always a murder or two for good measure! A fun read from first page to last, "How the Murder Crumbles" is a top pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fans with an interest in amateur female murder mystery solving sleuths that "How the Murder Crumbles" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Debra Sennefelder (http://debrasennefelder.com) is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series. When she's not writing, she's either baking or reading.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells
Eva Gates
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102723, $28.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Knells-Wedding-Lighthouse-Library-Mystery/dp/1639102728

Synopsis: Lucy and Connor planned for the perfect Outer Banks wedding -- and that's exactly what they got. Aside from typical rumblings of familial tensions, the late spring weather allowed for a beautiful day, the food was delicious, and everyone had a good time, until one of the guests goes missing.

Before Lucy can look forward to the rest of her life in Nags Head and the work she does at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, she gets a phone call from her boss, Bertie James. Eddie, Bertie's friend, never made it back home after the reception. Initially, Lucy doesn't think anything of it -- sometimes wedding guests simply have a little too much fun. But this quickly turns to something darker when she discovers the body of a wedding guest strangled in a locked closet, and the police immediately start asking questions about Eddie. Lucy must figure out if the two are connected before it's too late -- both for Bertie's friend and the rest of her wedding guests.

With the Classic Novel Reading Club reading the Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Lucy wonders if the master of the macabre can assist her investigation or if the hunt for the killer's identity will remain as nothing more than an unsolved mystery.

Critique: The newest addition to author Eva Gates' 'A Lighthouse Library Mystery' cozy mystery series, "Death Knells and Wedding Bells" is a riveting read that is as original as it is fun and a 'must' for all dedicated fans of amateur women sleuths who must solve an embedded plot twister of a murder mystery. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition for community library Murder/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of Eva Gates fans that "Death Knells and Wedding Bells" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666634549, $59.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Eva Gates (https://cozy-mystery.com/Eva-Gates.html) began her writing career as a Sunday writer: a single mother of three high-spirited daughters, with a full-time job as a computer programmer. Now she has more than twenty novels under her belt in the mystery genre, published under the name Vicki Delany. She lives in Ontario, "Death Knells and Wedding Bells" is her tenth Lighthouse Library mystery.

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