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Zusatztext Praise for the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries "Books! cats! and a tenderhearted sleuth! a perfect combination.” —Krista Davis! national bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries “[This] Southern-fried whodunit hits all the right regional marks.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch “An engaging amateur sleuth.” —Miranda James! New York Times bestselling author Informationen zum Autor Erika Chase Klappentext For the mystery book lovers of Ashton Corners! burial plots tell the most intriguing stories. The members of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society are all chipping in as Molly Mathews! now owner of the bookstore the Book Nook! prepares the first annual Mystery Book Fair. While gossip circulates about the guest authors! club member Lizzie Turner is unpleasantly surprised to see a certain book publicist make an appearance. It seems Lizzie has a history with Ashley Dixon—a chapter of her life she'd rather leave closed. But when someone gives Ashley a death sentence! Lizzie becomes the prime suspect in a murder mystery she can't put down. Now Lizzie and her fellow book buffs have to read between the lines of the publicist's past and catch the real killer before Lizzie is written off for good. Chapter One “What are we waiting for?” I said. “Let’s go.” GRACE TAKES OFF—JULIE HYZY “Iknow we are here to celebrate Stephanie’s birthday, and I do not want to take any of the shine away from your day, honey, but I was wondering if we could take a few minutes to go over the final plans for next weekend.” Molly Mathews looked around the table at the other three women, Lizzie Turner, Sally-Jo Baker and Stephanie Lowe, and they all nodded their agreement. “Good. But first off, a most happy birthday to you, Stephanie. You have had quite the year and, I say this truly, I am so happy you have become part of our book club. No, it is more than that. I am happy you are our friend. I hope this coming year will bring you true happiness.” Molly lifted her wineglass in a toast. “To Stephanie.” Stephanie’s grin covered most of her face. Lizzie hadn’t seen her so excited since her baby, Wendy, was born the previous Christmas. Once again she looked so much younger than her now twenty years. Her shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail showing off her new dangly red earrings, a gift from Lizzie; she’d started wearing more colorful eye makeup after the birth; and her figure had quickly gone back to a size six, as emphasized by the clingy white tunic top and black stretch pants she was wearing. “To Stephanie,” Lizzie repeated. “I can’t imagine the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society without you.” “Nor A Novel Plot,” Molly added. “You are my star bookseller.” “Oh, stop it all now. Y’all are going to make me start crying. I don’t know what I did to deserve such wonderful friends.” Stephanie swiped at the corner of her eye before a tear could fall. Sally-Jo clinked her glass against Stephanie’s. “It’s all true. However, I’d be cautious if I were you. Never know what extra duties might flow your way next weekend once we have you good and buttered up,” she added with a chuckle. Stephanie waited until the server had placed the three-tier cake stand filled with fancy tea sandwiches and scones in the center of the table. “I’ve always wanted to come to the high tea here at the Jefferson Hotel. It’s all so elegant and”—she spied the dessert tray at the next table—“fattening.” They all laughed. “But I gotta tell y’all,” Stephanie continued, “I’m so excited about the mystery fair that I’m starting to lose sleep. It will be such fun meeting big-name authors and spending the whole day just talking mysteries. I’m sure glad you decided to do it, Molly.” “It was not my decision entirely. I would not have taken it on if the en...
