In The Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty.
Kate Tessler and her crew of misfits set out to blow the whistle on two feuding crime families . . .
Former war correspondent Kate Tessler has solved multiple murders since returning to her Arizona hometown, to the grudging appreciation of the local police. Now Detective Padilla and the FBI approach Kate with a proposal. Two Russian crime families have rented a private historic train to the Grand Canyon for their children’s wedding. The route is scenic and remote. No cell phones. The FBI needs to surveil, but anyone infiltrating the train must be above suspicion.
Kate poses as herself, sent by the newspaper to cover the society wedding, while her sister Jen is the photographer. Their multi-generational and eccentric crew pose as train staff. The goal is to observe, but that quickly derails when the groom disappears, and a search for him turns up a dead body. Everyone’s a suspect and trapped on the train.
Two Russian crime families have rented a private historic train to the Grand Canyon for their children’s wedding. The route is scenic and remote. No cell phones. Jen and their multi-generational and eccentric crew go undercover. The goal is to observe, but that quickly derails when the groom disappears, and a search for him turns up a dead body. Everyone’s a suspect and trapped on the train.
Early reviewers say: “This was another great entry in the Accidental Detective series.”
“This book is a nail biter and I had a hard time putting it down. I just needed to know what happened next. It is the perfect mystery story, interesting and unpredictable.”
“I was excited to read another book in the accidental detective series. I could not figure out the ending, so I had to keep reading.”
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Quick Peek:
“We’re looking at the Russian mafia, and they mostly deal with things like identity theft and credit card fraud,” Padilla said. “Not that I’m claiming they wouldn’t commit murder under the right circumstances, but you should be safe enough if everyone follows the plan and doesn’t take any chances.”
Clarence and Arnold each clasped their hands together and widened their eyes into innocence, like two elderly angels.
I decided not to comment on the likelihood of everyone following orders. “But you won’t have any police or FBI agents on the train at all?” I asked.
Padilla’s face tensed so subtly that it almost didn’t happen. “No.” So if they were planning it, they weren’t going to tell us.
“Oh, come on!” Arnold held his finger and thumb an inch apart. “Not even one itty bitty one?”
“Or better yet a big muscular one?” Clarence bobbed his eyebrows.
Padilla sighed, or maybe it was more of a hiss. “Okay, we are actually going to try to insert a couple of people, but we’re making them obvious. Well, not too obvious, but enough that security will probably spot them and kick them off.”
“Ah!” Arnold pointed his index finger upward. “I smell a red herring!”
“Sorry, that was me.” Clearance wriggled in his seat.
Padilla closed her eyes.
“Hey, you asked for this,” I said.
She groaned. “I know. And I expected I’d regret it.”
I smiled brightly. “At least we’re not disappointing you.” I had a lot of questions, like who our targets were, what we were expected to learn, how dangerous this was going to be, and how much we were going to get paid. But those were merely details. “Okay, gang, you heard the woman! We’re going to ride the rails.”
Clarence pumped his arm as if pulling a rope for a whistle. “All aboard!”
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In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café falling in love with each other and shelter cats.
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