Crafted Murder


Book Description

Birdsong has everything an active senior could want, including the one thing nobody wants, murder. After Joanna’s father falls from the roof, she’s on a mission to get her parents into a Senior Living Community, so she doesn’t have to worry about him climbing on the roof or her mother cleaning an enormous house any longer. She knows the perfect one: Birdsong Senior Living Community. It has many amenities, including arts and crafts, yoga, water aerobics, and more. The one thing that isn’t in their beautiful brochure is murder. Yet, here it is, finding Joanna once again as not one but two ghosts approach her. As she is trying to figure out the murder and keep her parents safe, she is also trying to sort out her love life. When the murderer makes an attempt on Jo’s life, she finally figures it all out, the murders and her love life. Now she needs to keep everyone alive until she can prove it.




Murder, Handcrafted


Book Description

Amish quilt shop owner Angie Braddock crosses wires with a killer in the latest from the national bestselling author of Murder, Plainly Read... Spring has arrived in Holmes County and Angie couldn’t be happier. She’s got great friends, a thriving business, and is in the perfect relationship with Sheriff James Mitchell. The only thing raining on her parade is her mother drafting her into a massive home renovation project—and using their sudden mother/daughter bonding time to comment on Angie’s ticking biological clock. The house’s repairs and upgrades between the Amish craftsmen and their Englisch counterparts are proceeding well until a tremendous shock comes to the workers when the electrician is found dead on site. With the sheriff suspecting foul play, it falls to Angie to root a killer out of the woodwork. . . .




The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death


Book Description

The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death offers readers an extraordinary glimpse into the mind of a master criminal investigator. Frances Glessner Lee, a wealthy grandmother, founded the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard in 1936 and was later appointed captain in the New Hampshire police. In the 1940s and 1950s she built dollhouse crime scenes based on real cases in order to train detectives to assess visual evidence. Still used in forensic training today, the eighteen Nutshell dioramas, on a scale of 1:12, display an astounding level of detail: pencils write, window shades move, whistles blow, and clues to the crimes are revealed to those who study the scenes carefully. Corinne May Botz's lush color photographs lure viewers into every crevice of Frances Lee's models and breathe life into these deadly miniatures, which present the dark side of domestic life, unveiling tales of prostitution, alcoholism, and adultery. The accompanying line drawings, specially prepared for this volume, highlight the noteworthy forensic evidence in each case. Botz's introductory essay, which draws on archival research and interviews with Lee's family and police colleagues, presents a captivating portrait of Lee.




Crafted with murder


Book Description

Seamstress, crafter, and empty-nester Valerie Rankin has plans to open a crafter's co-op that will put Gasper's Cove, Nova Scotia on the tourist guide map. But one month before the opening day photo shoot, she still has to pin down a venue, patch up the family business, iron out corruption in town council, and unravel why anyone who tries to help her ends up dead. It's a lot, even for a woman who's used to making something out of nothing. But with the help of her Golden Retriever, an ex-con who loves cats, and a community of first, second, and third cousins, she just might pull it off.




Make, Take, Murder


Book Description

Dumpster diving for her lost paycheck is definitely the low point of Kiki's day, until she finds a severed leg. Who would toss a body part in the garbage outside the scrapbook store where Kiki works?




Heaven Preserve Us


Book Description

Wine jelly. Watermelon pickles. And a suicidal stalker? Great. Thirty-something crafter extraordinaire Sophie Mae Reynolds makes preserves by day and answers a crisis center help referral line by night. What better way to help people while still keeping a low profile? But on her very first night, she gets a call from a man who is threatening suicide...and her. Angrily deeming the caller a crank, her boss, Philip Heaven, disconnects the line. Days later, Philip dies from a nasty case of botulism. Now, as a stalker singles out Sophie Mae, Philip's eerie last words keep coming back to haunt her: Threat. Meant it. Stirring up the town with talk of murder by preserves, can Sophie Mae and her handsome boyfriend Detective Barr Ambrose spoil a mad murderer's poisonous plans? This dangerously delicious second book in the Home Crafting Mystery series also includes recipes for preserves and beauty products! Praise: "McRae writes about characters that we really care about, and her plot is thoroughly credible. Sophie Mae and her friends deserve many more adventures."—Booklist "There's something special about Ms. McRae as her strong characters and unique plot are definitely spellbinding."—Sydney Star Observer "Murder by preserves promises your enjoyment of McRae's humor."—The Coloradoan "Sophie Mae is a confident woman with an appetite for mystery and Heaven Preserve Us is a good one. The characters are engaging, the story intriguing, and the book a pleasure to read."—Mysterious Reviews "McRae delivers another satisfying and clever novel with an intriguing plot—murder by botulism."—Fresh Fiction "Nicely paced without any time wasted, Heaven Preserve Us does a fine job of leading the readers through the investigation with no false starts or cheap side trips...solid and entertaining."—Reviewing the Evidence "McRae ably navigates the waters of small-town crime, establishing believable characters and capturing the charm and camaraderie of the denizens of Cadyville. This town might well be worth visiting frequently."—Gumshoe Review "Sophie Mae is a top-notch cozy heroine."—Cozy Library




Murder Most Crafty


Book Description

15 all new stories of criminal handiwork and the art of deduction.




Murder, Plainly Read


Book Description

In the latest from the author of Murder, Served Simply, an Amish man checks out permanently, but quilt shop owner Angie Braddock’s got this mystery covered… With so much to do between running her shop and spending time with her new boyfriend, it’s amazing Angie is able to help organize the Rolling Brook library's annual book sale. Luckily she’s working alongside brash librarian Austina Shaker, a lady who isn’t afraid to make waves to get books to her patrons—even the Amish. Unfortunately, this draws the ire of cranky Bartholomew Belier, an Old Order Amish bishop, who publicly vows to ruin Austina. And she certainly might be ruined after Belier is found dead in her bookmobile. Now Angie must employ the help of her loyal quilting circle—as well as her beloved French bulldog, Oliver—if she hopes to prove Austina’s innocence before the real killer books it… INCLUDES QUILTING TIPS




Murder Under Her Skin


Book Description

A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice • Rex Stout meets Agatha Christie with a fresh twist in the new Pentecost and Parker Mystery, a delightfully hardboiled high-wire act starring two daring women sleuths dead set on justice as they set out to solve a murder at a traveling circus “A delight.... It’s a pleasure to watch [Pentecost and Parker] sifting through red herrings and peeling secrets back like layers of an onion.” The New York Times Book Review Someone’s put a blade in the back of the Amazing Tattooed Woman, and Willowjean “Will” Parker’s former knife-throwing mentor has been stitched up for the crime. To uncover the truth, Will and her boss, world-famous detective Lillian Pentecost, travel to the circus, where they find a snake pit of old grudges, small-town crime, and secrets worth killing for. Will called Hart & Halloway’s Traveling Circus and Sideshow home for five years, and Ruby Donner, the circus’s tattooed ingenue, was her friend. To make matters worse, the prime suspect is Valentin Kalishenko, the man who taught Will everything she knows about putting a knife where it needs to go. To uncover the real killer and keep Kalishenko from a date with the electric chair, Will and Ms. Pentecost join the circus in sleepy Stoppard, Virginia, where the locals like their cocktails mild, the past buried, and big-city detectives not at all. The two swiftly find themselves lost in a funhouse of lies as Will begins to realize that her former circus compatriots aren’t playing it straight, and that her murdered friend might have been hiding a lot of secrets beneath all that ink.




Unraveling the Drama: Crafting a Murder Mystery Play


Book Description

"Unraveling the Drama: Crafting a Murder Mystery Play" is your comprehensive guide to creating captivating and immersive theatrical experiences. With ten expertly crafted chapters, each packed with invaluable insights and practical advice, this book takes you on a journey through the intricate art of crafting a murder mystery masterpiece. From laying the foundation with essential elements like setting, characters, and plot, to delving into the nuances of dialogue, clues, and red herrings, every aspect of the creative process is explored in depth. Discover the secrets to designing evocative settings, developing compelling characters, and plotting intricate crimes that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Whether you're a seasoned playwright or a budding amateur, this book equips you with the tools and techniques you need to bring your vision to life. Learn how to structure your play for maximum impact, navigate the rehearsal and production process, and engage and interact with your audience in innovative ways. Packed with practical tips, inspiring examples, and actionable advice, "Unraveling the Drama" is an indispensable resource for anyone passionate about the art of mystery theater. Whether you're writing your first murder mystery play or seeking to refine your craft, this book will empower you to create unforgettable theatrical experiences that will leave audiences clamoring for more.