A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT
by Marlene M. Bell
October 7 - November 1, 2024 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
From the award-winning author of the ANNALISSE MYSTERY SERIES.
THE VISIT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered.
She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave the state.
When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation.
Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.
Book Details:
Genre: Amateur Sleuth/Mystery/Cozy Mystery
Published by: Ewephoric Publishing
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 979-8-9863409-6-8
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Review:
Exciting and suspenseful culinary-themed cozy mystery!
A Hush at Midnight by fan-favorite veteran author Marlene M. Bell is a new culinary-themed cozy mystery, and this intriguing who-dun-it kept me right on the edge of my seat from the start. The suspicious death of the elderly matriarch of a wealthy local family propels her friend, Chef Laura Harris, to push for answers when the local deputy/coroner seems convinced that it is natural causes. However, when a twist in the will reveals Laura is the woman’s beneficiary, the police take notice, and suddenly, she’s suspect number one in a murder investigation.
Laura Harris moved from California to the small Texas town of Coldspell to spend precious time with her dying mother in her final months. In the days that follow, Laura takes her mind off her grief by helping a friend with her struggling bakery business. She also makes time to visit her elderly friend and mentor, Hattie, who lives in another town some distance away.
It’s been ten years since Laura and Hattie last spent time together, and Laura discovers her friend is frail and ailing. The neighbor woman who is helping out as a part-time caregiver doesn’t seem to offer much comfort or care to her friend, and when she hustles Laura out the door after a too-short visit, Laura feels uneasy. Her worry only increases on her drive back to Coldspell, and she turns around to go back and relieve her mind that things are okay. On her return, no one answered the door at the main house, and no one seemed to be on the property. Laura hears Hattie’s corgi barking from inside the guest house and discovers Hattie’s body there in the groundskeeper’s bed.
Laura is a steady and loyal friend and a highly motivated sleuth, but boy, does she have a hot mess on her hands: her mother’s recent death, Hattie’s death, accusations of food poisoning and acts of sabotage at her friend’s bakery, a questionable pilot boyfriend, and then she’s pegged as a suspect in her friend’s murder! The cookbook she’s writing is going to have to take a backseat for a bit!
The plot moves quickly, with Hattie’s death occurring early in the book. The initial foot-dragging by the local deputy acting as coroner to take a closer look at the evidence was frustrating, and Laura’s outsider status as a friend rather than next-of-kin didn’t help. With each chapter, some new twist or obstacle appeared, and strange phone calls, texts, and slanderous fliers ramped up the suspense and feeling that Laura was being expertly manipulated. All these elements kept me thoroughly engaged in getting to the final resolution.
I recommend A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT to cozy mystery readers,
especially those who enjoy culinary-themed storylines.
Author Bio:
Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch for her readers, they often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic mysteries and children’s books as characters or subject matter. Marlene is an accomplished artist and photographer who takes pride in entertaining fans on multiple levels of her creativity.
Marlene’s award-winning Annalisse series boasts Best Mystery honors for all installments including these: IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, Global Award Best Mystery, and Chanticleer’s International Mystery and Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters, the fourth mystery in the series.
She offers her children's picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! written primarily for younger kids based on true events from the Bell’s East Texas sheep ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of belonging and unconditional love between a little girl and her lamb.
Catch Up With Marlene M. Bell:
www.MarleneMBell.com
Goodreads - @dorsetghal
BookBub - @dorsetgalwrites
Instagram - @marlenemysteries
Twitter/X - @ewephoric
Facebook
Facebook - @marlenembell
Amazon Author Page
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Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading A Hush at Midnight and the great review, Karen! Loved having you join the Partner's in Crime tour.
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