Shadow Notes by Laurel Peterson (cool books to read txt) 📗

only one of a cast of fully-realized, fleshed-out characters that pull you in and keep you reading to find out what happens next. A definite winner.” — J.D. Rhoades, bestselling author, attorney, and award-winning newspaper columnist

“In her third novel involving Kevin Markinson, a hitman with a troubled and challenging past, the talented J.E. Seymour revisits a hard-boiled time when the burdens of family are ever-present, and when violence or a fired gun can break out at any moment. The writing is crisp and clear, the characters are achingly three-dimensional. This series deserves praise and wide-spread recognition.” — Brendan DuBois, author and multiple award-winning and three-time Edgar nominee, Lewis Cole series

“Take one ex-Marine/CIA assassin turned mob hitman, add an inept crime boss who wants his wife dead, stir in a U.S. Marshal who plans to stop it, and sit back for a New England Fargo. Kevin Markinson is back for a third installment of J.E. Seymour’s series and the last thing he wants another mob job. He reluctantly agrees and soon finds himself on the run; dodging bullets, his old nemesis U.S. Deputy Sally Barnard, and double crossing criminals, all the while trying draw a bead on his target.” — Ricky Bush, Author, Crime Fighting Bluesmen series

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The Hanged Man’s Noose

Glass Dolphin Mysteries, Book 1

by Judy Penz Sheluk

Print ISBN: 978-1-941295-24-3

eBook ISBN: 978-1-941295-25-0

Small-town secrets and subterfuge lead to murder in this fast-moving, deftly written tale of high-stakes real estate wrangling gone amok.

Journalist Emily Garland lands a plum assignment as the editor of a niche magazine based in Lount’s Landing, a small town named after a colorful 19th century Canadian traitor. As she interviews the local business owners for the magazine, Emily quickly learns that many people are unhappy with real estate mogul Garrett Stonehaven’s plans to convert an old schoolhouse into a mega-box store. At the top of that list is Arabella Carpenter, the outspoken owner of an antiques shop, who will do just about anything to preserve the integrity of the town’s historic Main Street.

But Arabella is not alone in her opposition. Before long, a vocal dissenter at a town hall meeting about the proposed project dies. A few days later, another body is discovered, and although both deaths are ruled accidental, Emily’s journalistic suspicions are aroused.

Putting her reporting skills to the ultimate test, Emily teams up with Arabella to discover the truth behind Stonehaven’s latest scheme before the murderer strikes again.

“A well-crafted mystery in the classic tradition. A small town with a dark past, inhabitants full of secrets, a ruthless developer, and an intrepid reporter with secrets of her own come together to create a can’t-put-down read. I look forward to the further adventures of Emily Garland and Lount’s Landing.” —Vicki Delany, author, Constable Molly Smith series

“In her debut thriller, Judy Penz Sheluk introduces us to Emily Garland, a feisty reporter sent to a small town to uncover the fraudulent schemes of a big city developer. But everyone, including Emily’s boss, has a secret agenda. And some of those secrets are deadly.” —Janet Bolin, author, the Threadville Mysteries

“Compelling characters with hidden connections and a good, old-fashioned amateur sleuth getting in over her head without the distraction of cats, spirits, or recipes makes Judy Penz Sheluk’s Glass Dolphin series one to read.” —James M. Jackson, author, Seamus McCree series

“A thoroughly engaging debut mystery… well-plotted, well-paced and just plain well done!” —Elizabeth J. Duncan, author, the Penny Brannigan and Shakespeare in the Catskills mystery series

“Emily Garland is sent to a small Canadian town about to be invaded by a mega-store to work on a magazine. She has reason to dislike the developer—and apparently, so do many others in town. As the body count rises, Emily needs to figure out who killed who, and why. Replete with twists and turns, the story keeps the reader guessing right up to the end. Highly recommended!” —J.E. Seymour, author, Kevin Markinson series

“Dedicated journalist Emily Garland arrives in Lount’s Landing to find that long-buried secrets are threatening her new friends–and her own life. The story won’t let you go until you’ve raced through the pages and unraveled all the mysteries.” —Kaye George, author, the Fat Cat and Cressa Carraway Musical Mystery series

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The Immaculate

by Marian McMahon Stanley

Print ISBN: 978-1-941295-47-2

eBook ISBN: 978-1-941295-48-9

When Sister Mary Aurelius is murdered in front of the shuttered Immaculate Conception school outside of Boston, former student Rosaria O’Reilly is determined to find justice for her mentor.

The Malford Police have identified a mentally unstable homeless man as the killer, but Rosaria wasn’t trained to settle for the easy answer. With help from a close childhood friend, Nuncie DiStephano, now losing the struggle with an aggressive cancer, her investigations unravel a much larger, more sinister story.

Working sometimes as an adversary, sometimes as a partner with Malford Police Detective Leo Gelenian, she pieces together the motive, method, and identity of the murderer through confrontations with a powerful real-estate developer, a vicious Boston crime boss, and an autocratic monsignor with passionate ambitions for his prestigious Catholic high school.

The Immaculate is a complex murder mystery with a deep sense of place, a compelling storyline, richly developed characters, and a satisfying surprise ending.

“Marian McMahon Stanley’s The Immaculate draws the reader in with a haunting murder victim, Sister Mary Aurelius, who is as widely beloved as she is feared. A taut, character-rich whodunit.” — Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author, Night Night, Sleep Tight

“Marian McMahon Stanley leads us deep into a well-written web of secrets, past transgressions, and interwoven relationships in her debut Boston-based mystery. Protagonist Rosaria O’Reilly is a smart amateur sleuth determined to unearth the true killer of her beloved Sister Mary Aurelius.You’ll be a faithful fan of Stanley’s work when you finish this tale of ambitions and betrayals, powerful