Murder of a Bookstore Babe

“She probably isn’t even really from this place.” Kallista blew an irritated breath through heavily glossed lips. “She only said she was after you told her you’d decided to open the new country music theater here.”

Skye blinked. A country music theater in Scumble River? How would people react to that? It was hard to tell. They generally didn’t like anything different, but this smacked of fame and glamour, so maybe they’d be more accepting than they’d been last month when the new bookstore had opened.

“Now, Baby Girl, how about you do your Big Daddy an itty-bitty favor and go back in the bedroom and try calling Suzette again? Then later tonight Big Daddy will do you just how you like.” Rex turned Kallista around and patted her on the rear until she started walking.

Ew. Ew. Ew. That was just icky. Why did men talk like that to grown women?

Skye squirmed, but focused back on the action when Rex said to Flint, “You have to help me out here. I thought you were a team player.”

“Right. And what did that get me last time? A blown knee and a ruined career.” Flint shook his head. “Now I’m looking out for number one.”

“With that attitude, I don’t know how you fool all your fans into thinking you’re such a nice guy.”

“Really?” Flint made a scornful noise. “You’re the one who taught me that sincerity is everything, and once you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”

Rex ignored Flint’s jab. “You seem to be forgetting that you’re my creation.” Rex snapped off each word as if they were bites of peanut brittle. “Without me you’d still be singing at a honky-tonk, living in your truck, and depending on the tips from a pickle jar to eat.”

“Don’t give me that crap. We both know you didn’t do me any favors.” Flint spat out the words contemptuously. “If I hadn’t been a damn good singer and songwriter, you wouldn’t have raised a finger to help me.”

“There’s more to success in this business than talent,” Rex retaliated, his voice rising.

“Bullshit!” Flint moved until he was nose to nose with the other man. “Now find that little whore, and get her out onstage before I really get mad.” He grasped Rex’s lapels and lifted him off his feet. “I’m not letting you or her ruin this career for me.”

Yikes! Skye whipped out her cell phone. It was time to call the cops.

Denise Swanson

The Scumble River Mysteries

When Skye Denison left Scumble River years ago,

she swore she’d never return. But after a fight with

her boyfriend and credit card rejection, she’s back to

home-sweet-homicide.

MURDER OF A SMALL-TOWN HONEY

MURDER OF A SWEET OLD LADY

MURDER OF A SLEEPING BEAUTY

MURDER OF A SNAKE IN THE GRASS

MURDER OF A BARBIE AND KEN

MURDER OF A PINK ELEPHANT

MURDER OF A SMART COOKIE

MURDER OF A REAL BAD BOY

MURDER OF A BOTOXED BLONDE

MURDER OF A CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY

MURDER OF A ROYAL PAIN

MURDER OF A WEDDING BELLE

Available wherever books are sold or at penguin.com

S394

Kate Collins

The Flower Shop Mystery Series

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop. She has a gift for arranging flowers—and for solving crimes.

Mum’s the Word

Slay It with Flowers

Dearly Depotted

Snipped in the Bud

Acts of Violets

A Rose from the Dead

Shoots to Kill

Evil in Carnations

Sleeping with Anemone

Dirty Rotten Tendrils

“A sharp and funny heroine.”

—Maggie Sefton

Available wherever books are sold or at penguin.com

S914

Leann Sweeney

The Cat, the Quilt and

the Corpse

A Cats in Trouble Mystery

Jill’s quiet life is shattered when her house is broken into and her Abyssinian, Syrah, goes missing. Jill’s convinced her kitty’s been catnapped. But when her cat-crime-solving leads her to a dead body, suddenly all paws are pointing to Jill.

Soon, Jill discovers that Syrah isn’t the only purebred who’s been stolen. Now she has to find these furry felines before they all become the prey of a cold-blooded killer—and she gets nabbed for a crime she didn’t commit.

“A welcome new voice in

mystery fiction.”—Jeff Abbott,

bestselling author of Collision

Available wherever books are sold or at penguin.com

OM0009

Other Scumble River Mysteries

Murder of a Wedding Belle

Murder of a Royal Pain

Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry

Murder of a Botoxed Blonde

Murder of a Real Bad Boy

Murder of a Smart Cookie

Murder of a Pink Elephant

Murder of a Barbie and Ken

Murder of a Snake in the Grass

Murder of a Sleeping Beauty

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady

Murder of a Small-Town Honey