Something Prowling in Paradise Park is out!
Former international war correspondent Kate Tessler never imagined she’d become an amateur sleuth, much less be pursuing her PI license with her sister. But now that she’s home in Arizona, she can’t resist employing her investigative skills to untangle the next small-town mystery with an unusual cast of friends.
This time, her senior pals introduce her to the Standishes, snowbirds who came home early only to find strangers living in their house—with forged lease papers and a lot to hide. With legal eviction requiring months and money, Kate and her found family start digging into the squatters’ pasts to find any dirt they can use.
Meanwhile, her boyfriend’s teenage sons bring her a case of their own: a rash of dog thefts sweeping the neighborhood. Then a late-night stakeout ends in a shocking discovery—a dead body. Was it a freak accident… or a murder?
Filled with twists, humor, and heart, Something Prowling in Paradise Park delivers the perfect blend of cozy mystery, female sleuth suspense, and found-family crime solving. Fans of J.A. Jance, Elly Griffiths, and Ann Cleeves will love this page-turner set against Arizona’s sunbaked secrets.
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In The Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. These quirky, cozy mysteries with a women sleuth are perfect for fans of suspenseful whodunit murder mysteries with high stakes and humor. Book 1 has a 4.2-star rating on Goodreads with over 600 ratings.
Readers say: “Well written cozy mystery with a bunch of characters that feel like friends, a little humor, and a few twists and turns along the way. Looking forward to the next adventure!”
“I really enjoyed it. I liked the cast of characters and the way that everybody got involved in the case, from the old to the young.”
“I totally enjoyed this fast-paced and unpredictable book. The writing is really good and the characters feel like old friends that I can’t wait to catch up with. A great addition to the Accidental Detective series.”
Quick Excerpt:
Former war correspondent and current amateur slueth Kate and her sister Jen are investigating squatters who have taken over Bob and Leslie’s house. Clarence is an 80-year-old friend of theirs.
Clarence rang the bell and turned to beam back at Jen and me.
The door opened. A tiny lady with permed white hair looked out at us, blinking through thick glasses.
Before she could speak, someone behind her said, “Is that them?” A tall, stocky man appeared behind the woman, dwarfing her. He had thick gray hair sticking up in tufts as if he’d been pulling on it. “Come in, come in!”
The small woman backed up, pulling the door wider.
The man greeted Clarence before turning to Jen and me. “Bob Standish.” He shook hands. “My wife, Leslie.” He gestured to a woman who had been out of sight in the living room. She was almost as tall as he was, with an athletic build and short hair dyed red. The two of them wore matching green tracksuits.
After our greetings, Bob said, “Thanks for coming. We’re at our wits end. Any help you can give us . . . It’s a shocking situation, shocking. And the police!” He threw his hands in the air. “Useless.”
I turned to the woman who’d been ignored since she opened the door. “Hi, I’m Kate Tessler.”
She smiled. “Odelia. Welcome to my home.”
Was that her typical manners or was she making a point about whose home we were actually in, since Bob seemed ready to launch into his complaints without even acknowledging her?
We crowded into the living room. The decor involved a lot of shelves and niches with items from around the world: African animals carved out of wood, a terra-cotta Buddha, and decorative baskets filled with seashells, wicker fruit, and blown glass ornaments. My first thought was world traveler, but something felt off. The items were too pristine, as if they’d magically gone from manufacture to this house without the touch of any human hands. I’d picked up little items when I traveled, and got some as gifts, but my treasures looked more real somehow—or at least more battered. Maybe our host just took better care of her things.
Jen sidled up beside me and murmured, “Decorated by Pottery Barn and World Market.”
That explained it. Perhaps our host wanted to explore the world but couldn’t manage it.
“Sit down,” Leslie Standish invited. “Something to drink?” She glanced at Odelia.
Our actual host said in an entirely neutral voice, “Ice water or fizzy water? I’m afraid I don’t have much else.”
“We had a wonderful wine selection, but I suppose that’s all gone now!” Leslie spoke with all the drama of Scarlet O’Hara upset that she couldn’t get the man she wanted.
Odelia took orders and headed further into the house.
Clarance backed up to the flower patterned sofa, hovered a moment, and sort of fell backward, setting off a loud squeak. His eyes widened comically behind his thick glasses. He wiggled a bit and pulled a squeaky mouse toy from underneath him. “I deduce the presence of a cat!”
“Three of the darn things,” Bob grumbled. “Fur everywhere.”
“At least they hide when people are here. Bob doesn’t like cats,” Leslie added unnecessarily. “They make his eyes itch.” She spoke with the slight condescension of someone who’d never suffered allergies in her life and considered it a weakness.
Bob launched into his complaints about the squatters. Meanwhile, Leslie stood at the large window that looked out at the street, peering between the nearly closed curtains.
I joined her. “Which house is yours?”
“Right there.” She pointed across the street. “Who knows what those a-holes are doing? Touching our things. Sleeping in our bleeping bed!” (I’m not censoring her language. She really spoke like that.)
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In the Reluctant Psychic Mystery series, a quirky loner who can read the history of any object with her touch gets drawn into mysteries at the museum of oddities where she works. In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kris’s romantic suspense novels include treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue. Readers have called these novels “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.” She is also the author of the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series and the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series.
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Now I'm wondering what's going on since the travel treasures have been purchased locally. Something is up!
ReplyDeleteDefintely intriguing! I want to read more. And I love the last line - perfect!
ReplyDeleteAwesome scene, Kris! Poor Odelia. Is she going to be stuck with Bob and Leslie? I feel for their situation, but I wouldn't want them as house guests!
ReplyDelete