Spyglass Lane

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-03-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

THE CASE:

Buzzy’s body is found near his dormitory on a prep school campus. His roommate, Chip, is arrested for the murder.

THE MYSTERY:

How and why did Chip bump Buzzy off?

THE CLUES:

1. Chip had a “relatively” good reason to resent his roommate.
2. Buzzy had the right time, but the wrong story.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-03-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

THE CASE:

A man is dead in a ring on a sunny afternoon. The man responsible for his death is arrested nearby with a small object in his hand.

THE MYSTERY:

Who killed the man? What was the object, and what part did it play in his death?

THE CLUES:

1. The man was killed in an act of blind rage.
2. Police made a “bull’s”-eye by arresting the perpetrator immediately.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-02-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

Something strange was happening on Elm Street. Every day, for three days straight, between 11:30 a.m. and noon, someone broke into the same empty townhouse, triggering a silent alarm. Each time, the police responded quickly, finding no evidence of theft or vandalism. On the fourth day, at 11:30 a.m., a police officer was lying in wait, hoping to catch the intruder when he or she struck—but no one came on that day, or any day after that.

THE MYSTERY:

Who was triggering the alarm? Why did it happen at approximately the same time for three days running?

THE CLUES:

1. The house belonged to a recently murdered man.
2. The mail carrier regularly arrived between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

Jacques dies in the hospital. The doctor who treats him notices something unusual, and reports it to the police. Later, Jacques’ partner Cal is arrested for murder.

THE MYSTERY:

How did Jacques die? What did the doctor notice, and why was Cal arrested?

THE CLUES:

1. Jacques and Cal had been searching for treasure.
2. The doctor made a “timely” discovery.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-02-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

The Emperor’s jade cricket box had been stolen from the imperial bedchamber. The chief of guards had narrowed the suspects down to two palace servants. Because neither would confess, the Emperor had decided to execute them both.

Then the court magician intervened. Through his magic arts, he would identify the true thief so that the innocent man could live. The emperor consented to this plan, and gathered both suspects into his courtyard.

The magician asked each servant to cut a stalk of bamboo. He then shoved the two bamboo stalks into the ground, exposing only the upper foot of each stalk. He then said, “Each bamboo now holds the spirit of the man who cut it. At dawn, when we return to this spot, we will know which man stole the box.” He then explained how his magic would work.

THE MYSTERY:

What was the magician’s explanation of his magic plan? And how did he identify the guilty servant at dawn?

THE CLUES:

1. This might have been the original Pinocchio story.
2. The courtyard was left unguarded that night.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Fun Friday

2009-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Murder on the Ol' Bunions by S. Dionne Moore. To learn more about the LaTisha Barnhart Mystery Series, check out her website!

Short Story Mystery

2009-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sweet Charity by Elizabeth Ludwig

Special FOUR part series!

Part 4

Charity’s heart turned to ice inside her chest. “Ambrose, I can explain.”

Before she could utter another word, Luisa scrambled from beneath Charity’s heavy skirts. “It was all her fault!” she screamed. “She said she would make her padre fire me, toss me into the streets to beg.”

Clasping her bone-thin hands before her face, Luisa advanced steadily upon Ambrose. “Por favor, Señor,” she pleaded, tears welling in her eyes, “you no let them blame the senoritas death on poor Luisa. Only you can prove what really happened to the lady, to Miss Jasmine.”

For several seconds, Charity was too shocked to speak, and then, all at once, she sensed Luisa’s evil intention. Fear pounded inside her chest. “Luisa, no. You mustn’t.”

Luisa refused to be deterred. She edged closer to Ambrose, her black eyes gleaming. Darting forward, Charity grabbed the wily maid by the wrist and yanked. Turning with a shriek, Luisa’s hand thrust forward and an object, sharp and shiny, scraped down Charity’s arm.

Horror widened Luisa’s eyes as she realized what she’d done. “Oh, my chica, no!” She stared at the object lying on her palm, a silver pin, and then tossed it to the floor with a wail. She leapt forward, just in time to clutch Charity by the shoulders as she slumped to the floor alongside Jasmine.

“Why you did not let me finish him? Only the doctor, with his skills, could have proven our guilt. No one else would ever have known!”

Charity groaned as the curare she and Luisa had used to coat the pin entered her bloodstream. It would only be moments now, until she joined Jasmine in deadly repose. As two men from the crowd took Luisa into custody, Charity stretched her hand toward Ambrose, pleading.

With tears streaming down his face, Ambrose hunched next to Charity’s side. “Why, beloved? What possessed you to do such an evil thing?”

Smiling, Charity let her eyelids slip closed. “I could never let that vixen, Jasmine, sink her claws into you, my darling. I would have done anything to keep her from taking you from me.” She paused to draw a final shuddering breath then exhaled one last word on a sigh. “Anything. . .”

Stay tuned next week for a brand new Short Story Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

A man’s body floats ashore on a New Jersey beach. No one ever identifies it.

THE MYSTERY:

How and why did he die?

THE CLUES:

1. The man was a German.
2. The man’s demise occurred just before World War II.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!!

2009-01-31T05:00:00.001-05:00

Worth It's Weight in Old

K.D. Hays

PAINTINGS SLASHED. . . FURNITURE BROKEN . . . SOMEONE IS WREAKING HAVOC AT THE BLUE MOON ART & ANTIQUES GALLERY.Fledgling private investigator Karen Maxwell goes undercover as a salesclerk to find out who’s behind the vandalism—and why. She learns little from Vicki, a friendly clerk who, aside from her designer clothes and sports car, seems interested only in rearranging pictures to display them to maximum advantage. Eric, the shop’s surly, tight-lipped porter, would run her over with a hand truck before he’d answer any questions. The guilt may even lay with the shop owners themselves, despite the fact that they’re the ones who hired her.Karen’s investigation seems to be going nowhere. . .just like her once-promising relationship with Brian, the handsome blacksmith who could sweep her off her feet in a minute—if he’d ever take a break from working with the church youth group. If Karen can’t crack the case soon, she may find herself busted back to plain and old office manager, and her dreams of a career as a private investigator—and a life with Brian—as old and busted as the Blue Moon’s vandalized antiques.

About the Author

Like my heroine, I am a "soccer mom" living in an old town that has become a suburb of Baltimore. But unlike my heroine, I am still happily married, active in my church, and visit every historical site I can manage. It took me almost 35 years to realize that I'd always wanted to be a writer. During those years, I worked at a variety of different jobs, serving as everything from a bookkeeper and preschool teaching assistant to newspaper columnist, hostess in a hospitality suite at Nascar races, and corporate attorney for a pest control company. Being a mom is best the job of all, but I have to say that writing books runs a close second.

And now an excerpt . . .
I found myself smiling back. “I’m here to see Mr. Photopoulos. For a job interview. I’m Karen Maxwell.”
She reached out to shake my hand. Her grip was firm and sure, just like everything else about her. “I’m Vicki Bourbonnais, nice to meet you.” Then she waved me in as if she were inviting me into her home. “Come right in. I’ll tell them you’re here.” I wondered if she was related to the owners.
But her pale, lightly freckled features and petite figure bore no resemblance to the dark coloring and large frame of George Photopoulos, owner of the Blue Moon. He was in the back of the store, bent over, examining the underside of a large, ornate cabinet.
I hung back. No one wants to meet someone with their rear end first.
“Mr. P?” Vicki announced with perfect perky flight attendant intonation. “Karen Maxwell is here to see you.”

“Ah, she is? Good.” His voice boomed as he waved toward a door in the corner. “Send her back to the office.”

Vicki led the way with gestures that made me feel I should be stowing my tray table for takeoff. From the showroom floor, we entered a dark, narrow space with a ceiling that stretched to unfathomable, unlit heights. The only light came from a series of small, wrought-iron wall sconces with battered paper shades. Most of the room was taken up by a scruffy tweed sofa and massive old desks stacked with paper.

“Mrs. P?” Vicki called as she walked in. “Karen Maxwell is here to meet with you and Mr. P.”

At first, I had no idea who she was talking to. All I could see were piles of paper and books. Then, from behind one of the piles, a woman appeared suddenly, her face and hair as dark as that of her husband, but her facial features were small and pointed, where his were large and blunt. “We’re glad you’re here, Mrs. Maxwell,” she said, her voice harsh and raspy, but friendly nevertheless.

I tried not to cringe. I hate being called Mrs. Maxwell, since I’ve been divorced for five years. I am simply Ms. Maxwell unless I decide to go back to using my always-mispronounced maiden name. Of course, the more important issue was her obvious relief at seeing me. It was vitally important for the employees to think I was just another one of them. “Yes, I understand you’ve been shorthanded lately,” I said quickly, hoping Vicki believed the explanation. “And that you need someone to help so you and Mr. Photopoulos can work on some other projects.”

She opened her mouth to say something else but closed it again when Mr. Photopoulos lumbered into the room, instantly filling it with his presence.

“Er, thanks, Vicki,” his voice rumbled. “You can go back out front now.”

With a smile and a gesture that almost looked like a curtsey, Vicki disappeared.

Mr. Photopoulos closed the door behind her with great deliberation, testing it to see if it had latched. Then he put his ear to the door as if to listen for her retreating footsteps. He motioned for me to sit down on a spindly wooden chair while he sank into a cracked leather armchair. “Okay, Mrs. Maxwell.” His voice dropped to a raspy whisper. “What do you need to know before you start?”

“Well, start by telling me,” I whispered back, “if we really need to whisper.” I glanced at the exposed stone walls on two sides of the room. The other two walls were old plaster and seemed solid enough to prevent the transmission of much sound.

“No, we don’t,” Mrs. Photopoulos said flatly.

Mr. Photopoulos looked a little sheepish.

I pulled a pad of paper and pen out of my bag. “So, tell me why you called us.”

Mr. Photopoulos frowned. “I told your brother—that was your brother I talked to, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “You talked to him when you first called a few weeks back. But I want to hear the whole story directly from you.” Clients often remembered information they hadn’t mentioned the first time around. And I didn’t always trust Dave’s notes. He has a dangerous tendency to spill food on the important details.

“Well,” Mr. Photopoulos’s voice began to drop in volume again, “we think that it might be possible that there’s a chance that—”

“One of our employees is damaging the merchandise,” Mrs. Photopoulos cut in. “Deliberately. On purpose.”

“Why?” I left my question as vague as possible to see what they’d give me.

“We don’t care why,” she snapped back. “We just want it stopped. It’s costing us a fortune.”

Mr. Photopoulos looked thoughtful. “Might be a way to make money outta it.”

“How can we make money selling damaged goods?” his wife demanded shrilly.

“Not us.” He waved his massive arm toward the showroom. “The person doing the damaging. Might be making money off it somehow.”

After looking at them each in turn for a moment to see if they would reveal anything else, I continued my questioning. “So why do you think merchandise is being damaged deliberately? Tell me what has happened.”

Mr. Photopoulos resettled himself in his chair, which creaked faintly in protest. “Well, it started a while back.”

“October 2,” his wife interjected.

“Some furniture arrived from an estate sale in Glyndon. There was a wonderful Shaker-style dining set. But two of the chairs had broken legs.” He shook his head. “They weren’t like that when I purchased the set.”

“Couldn’t they have been damaged by whoever packed up and moved the furniture?”

“Yes. But it’s our guy who brought it down for us.”

“Eric, one of our porters.” Mrs. Photopoulos added.

“So do you think Eric is damaging merchandise?”

“Maybe. The next thing we noticed was a tall clock. A piece of molding was chipped off and the case was dented.”

“An accident?”

“Possibly.”

Mrs. Photopoulos leaned forward. “But then we had artwork getting damaged.”

To read more of Worth It's Weight in old be sure to subscribe to Heartsong Mysteries

Other Heartsong Mysteries by K.D. Hays:
George Washington Stepped Here
Karen Maxwell, a divorced mother of two, is struggling to balance her life as a soccer mom with her need to have a life of her own. After working as a bookkeeper in her brother's private investigation firm for years, she finally gets the chance to go undercover and handle a case on her own. Her first assignment is to find out who has stolen the local historical society's greatest treasure. Along the way she makes some new friends, one of whom is very attractive, unmarried, and unfortunately a prime suspect in the case.

Fun Friday

2009-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Miss Aggie's Gone Missing by Frances Devine. Check out all of the books in the Misadventure of Miss Aggie Mystery Series!

Short Story Mystery

2009-01-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

Sweet Charity by Elizabeth Ludwig

Special FOUR part series!

Part 3

“Ouch!” Jasmine’s lips parted in surprise. Her eyes widened and then, soft as a whisper, she slipped from Charity’s embrace to the floor.

“Jasmine? Are you all right?” Charity backed away from Jasmine’s limp form—far enough so everyone in the room could see her hands were empty. Among the guests, gasps and questions clamored.

“Jasmine?” Concern colored Ambrose’s voice as he knelt at Jasmine’s side. He touched her cheek, his brow furrowing. After a moment, his fingers went to her neck where he checked for a pulse. Jerking his head to the puzzled crowd he ordered, “Someone fetch my bag!”

Footsteps pounded the floor as someone, Charity didn’t see who, ran to obey. Curious, she inched forward, despite Luisa’s warning earlier, before they’d left her room. Death sharpened Jasmine’s pale features, made her even more beautiful in repose. Jealousy unfurled in Charity’s stomach like a banner.

“Is she—will she be all right?” she asked, as though she did not already know the answer.

Instead of answering, Ambrose stared at the floor, toward a spot near Charity’s feet. He stretched his hand forward. She backed away, but Ambrose followed, fingers reaching. Finally, he snatched at her skirt and raised the hem high. His head lifted and anguish filled his face. “Charity,” he groaned, “what have you done?”

For Discussion: What did Ambrose see that made him suspect Charity of murder?

Stay tuned next week for Part 4 of Sweet Charity.

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-01-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

Mimi McKay, a cut-throat Hollywood gossip columnist, is found dead in the water.

THE MYSTERY:

Who murdered Mimi, how, and why?

THE CLUES:

1. Mimi had a late appointment for a massage and whirlpool.
2. The whirlpool attendant was found unconscious.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

2009-01-24T05:00:00.003-05:00

Treasure Under Finny's Nose

by Dana Mentink

A TREASURE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. A MURDERER ROAMING THE QUIET STREETS OF FINNY. WILL RUTH FIND THE STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND MURDER, MAYHEM. . .AND MOMMYHOOD?
It’s the 150th anniversary of the wreck of the Triton, a ship that foundered off the coast of Finny, California. A team of college students arrives to fi lm a documentary, and a pregnant Ruth is pressed into service. She must reenact the life of survivor Indigo
Orson, a woman who managed the perils of gold rush California by disguising herself as a man. Indigo’s writing reveals there was treasure aboard the Triton, a treasure shrouded in secrecy.
While her beloved husband, Monk, is away, Ruth stumbles on the body of one of the film crew. His death turns out to be the furthest thing from an accident. Adding to the chaos, Ruth’s estranged son arrives and Monk’s niece faces heartbreak at the hands of Finny’s police detective. Faced with murder, mayhem, and mommyhood, Ruth had better find some answers fast.

About the Author

DANA MENTINK enjoys writing in many different capacities. Her three book mystery series, beginning with Trouble Up Finny’s Nose, debuted in 2008 with Heartsong Presents Mysteries. She also writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. She enjoyed contributing to Tyndale’s Life Savors for Women and writing a traffic safety storybook for twenty local elementary schools.

Dana spent her college years competing in speech and debate tournaments all around the country. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching Sunday school, taste testing for the National Food Lab and freelancing for a local newspaper, covering stories about everything from bees to burrowing owls. When she’s not working on inspirational suspense for Harlequin, or cozy mysteries for Barbour Books, she is a cookbook reviewer for the newspaper.A former teacher, Dana enjoys life in the Golden State, living out her passion to write. Dana’s husband works for the fire department. They met doing a dinner theater production of the Velveteen rabbit. Long time California residents, they enjoy regular trips to Yosemite and the gorgeous Monterey Bay area. They have two daughters.

And now an excerpt. . .

     The birds swarmed back and forth, playing tag with the waves. They kept away from the few able bodied birds that poked in the sand. It made her sad, that her birds knew instinctively that they were not part of that wild flock anymore. She wondered if they felt a pang when they saw their able bodied brothers fly away on graceful wings. Did they realize they were forever earth bound?
     She walked carefully around the slick boulders, keeping an eye on Franklin. He was her delicate bird, after losing an eye and a foot to a cat. The vet had fashioned him a little plastic tube that slipped on his leg to protect his stump and help with balance. He despised having the contraption put on, but it helped him keep up or at least out of the way of the others.
     Looking back she saw Alva with his plastic shovel, digging for treasure. The image brought back the words of Isabel Ortiz. As she watched the gray waves scour the sand, she wondered what it had been like for the servant woman to cling to the wreckage and watch the people die all around her. All those people and their possessions, lost to the arms of an angry ocean.
     Franklin hobbled ahead and disappeared around yet another jagged rock.
     “Don’t go too far,” Ruth scolded. “I’m in no position to attempt a water rescue.”
     She edged around the obstruction.
     Franklin poked his slender beak in a pile of slippery black kelp.
     Ruth took another glance at the oddly shaped mound of seaweed.
     Her mouth went dry.
     “Alva,” she called in a shaky voice. “Can you come here for a second?”
     He trotted over, still holding onto the bucket. “Good news. I found a can opener. Ain’t that handy? You just never know when you’re gonna need a can opener. It don’t seem hardly rusted at all. Wonder why someone threw it away?”
     She pointed. “Take a look over there, Alva. Is that what I think it is?”
     The old man squinted, mashing a fist into his eyes before he peered again. “Well, would you look at that. It ain’t no sea monster.” He patted his pockets.
     Ruth fought hard against the bile that rose in her throat. It took all her strength of will to contain the scream that coalesced inside her. After a moment, she got her vocal chords to cooperate. “Alva, I think you better call the police.”
     “Who me? I ain’t got a phone, Sweet Cheeks.” He found the pencil and notebook. “I gotta add this to my report.” He licked the pencil point and began to write with relish. “Saturday. Seven fifty- five. We found ourselves a body.”

To read more of Treasure Under Finny's Nose be sure to subscribe to Heartsong Mysteries

Other Heartsong Mysteries by Dana:

Fog Over Finny's Nose
The worm business is thriving for vermi-culturist Ruth Budge. . . until a disembodied toe turns up on the golf course, and members of a strange cult begin to infiltrate the quiet seaside town of Finny, California.
Life is already crazy for forty-seven-year-old Ruth, juggling the needs of her worm farm, her new spouse, and a platoon of crippled seabirds bequeathed to her by her dead husband. Then there’s the insanity swirling around the first ever Finny Fog Festival and the discovery of a bizarre diary from one of the town’s seediest ancestors.
Things go from misty to murderous as a man plummets to his death from an exploding hot air balloon. Is the craziness a byproduct of the festival or a decades-old curse unearthed in the antique diary? Ruth had better find out fast or her worms won’t be the only things six feet under.

Trouble Up Finny's Nose

Dead bodies in the fountain? The discovery of her late husband's secret novel? Come join Ruth Budge in the not so quiet town of Finny, California where trouble doesn't stay buried for long.

Fun Friday

2009-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Fudge Laced Felonies by Cynthia Hickey. To learn more about the Summer Meadows Mystery series, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2009-01-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door Days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

Riding Off Into the Sunset

2009-01-21T10:19:00.003-05:00

When we started Mystery Author up again after the first of the year, I titled the first column "Mystery Author Rides Again." Unfortunately, the ride was shorter than I expected.

Mystery Author was a feature for Heartsong mystery authors, but the publisher who produced these wonderful mysteries has decided to discontinue the line. The authors who were a part of this great club are sad to see it end, but we understand that sometimes tough decisions must be made. So many great things were accomplished through the club. All of us have picked up new readers - and that's a super blessing!

Today will be my last post on Spyglass Lane as Mystery Author rides off into the sunset. Thanks to everyone who participated. It was fun, wasn't it? Please take the time to check out your favorite Heartsong mystery authors on their various Web sites. Almost all of us have blogs or Web sites and would love to hear from you. Cindy Hickey and I are over on Mainly Mystery. Stop by and say "Hello!" We have interviews, giveaways, and lots of fun. And if you have a few minutes, let your favorite Heartsong authors know how much you've appreciated their books. It will mean a lot to them!

Our very last winner on Mystery Author is Abi, who rightly guessed that last week's author was K.D. Hays. She will receive a copy of Kate's latest Heartsong mystery: "Worth Its Weight in Old."

Thanks again to all of you. May God bless you abundantly - even above what you can ask or think.

Nancy

Short Story Mystery

2009-01-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

Sweet Charity by Elizabeth Ludwig

Special FOUR part series!

Part 2

Charity’s gown rustled softly as she descended the grand staircase of her family’s plantation home. She looked beautiful thanks to Luisa’s careful ministrations. The admiring gasps of her guests proved that. Still, it was one pair of eyes she sought, one adoring smile—those belonging to her fiancé, Dr. Ambrose Washburn.

“Why, Charity Merriweather. You are a vision.”

Charity froze at the sound of her rival’s voice. Her hand gripping the rail tightly, she let her foot settle on the bottom step and turned to face Jasmine. She stood next to Charity’s beloved Ambrose, her fingers curled possessively about his arm.

Rage streaked through Charity, but she forced a smile. “As are you, dear Jasmine.”

Jasmine’s fan fluttered coyly. She dipped her head, her raven curls gleaming in the candlelight. “Nonsense. What am I compared to you in all your. . .” she indicated the mountainous yards of Charity’s voluminous gown with a tip of her fan, “splendor?”

Titters from a few of Charity’s so-called friends set her blood to boiling. Any misgivings she’d had about the plan she and Luisa concocted in her bedchamber fled, replaced by icy determination.

She took a step forward, her mind focused on one sole purpose—disposing of Jasmine McDrew once and for all.

For Discussion: What plan has Charity cooked up for Jasmine?

Stay tuned next week for Part 3 of Sweet Charity.

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

Eileen was happy! Today was her wedding anniversary. To celebrate, she and her husband Bobby went for a long ride in the country, followed by a picnic on a secluded riverbank. Sometime during the meal, Eileen returned to the car, retrieved Bobby’s revolver from the glove compartment and fired four slugs into her startled husband.

THE MYSTERY:

What made Eileen kill her husband?

THE CLUES:

1. Eileen smelled a rat.
2. The blanket couldn’t quite “cover up” Bobby’s activities.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!!

2009-01-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

Kitty Litter Killer

Candice Miller Speare

About the Author

CANDICE SPEARE lives in Maryland surrounded by corn fields and cattle. She writes for Heartsong Presents: Mysteries. Her first book, Murder in the Milk Case, came out in January 2008. The two other books in the series will follow in the following months. Candice is also the content review for Heartsong's cozy mysteries, working closely with editor Susan Downs. Besides plotting fictional murder and mayhem, she is an amateur photographer and fiddles with digital images. She also enjoys exercise--well, mostly. Rumors of her eccentricities are true.

To read more of Kitty Litter Killer subscribe to Heartsong Mysteries

Other Heartsong Mysteries by Candice:

Band Room Bash

None of the kids at Four Oaks High School like cold, beautiful Ms. Georgia Winters, the new English teacher. But that shouldn't be a reason to murder her, right? Or is it. . . Trish Cunningham and oldest stepson, Tommy, find Georgia dead in the band room with her head bashed in. The suspect list grows and the charges might be assault with a deadly. . .bassoon. Then again, maybe not. Once again, Trish pulls out her notebook to collect clues. But Detective Eric Scott, who is suffering his own personal issues with Trish's best friend, Abbie, pointedly asks Trish to butt out. Despite Detective Scott's warnings, she jumps in as usual and finds herself embroiled in a mystery that has its roots in thwarted love and revenge. The finale could be Trish's swan song.

Murder in the Milkcase

When mommy and wife Trish Cunningham finds the body of pharmacist Jim Bob Jenkins behind the two-percent milk, she knows she's having a bad day. Worse, she's a suspect in the case. Sleuthing to exonerate herself from murder charges, she shakes up a murderer who has nothing to lose by killing anyone in the way including Trish.

End of the Line for Barbour Cozy Mysteries

2009-01-16T11:00:00.002-05:00

I received a sad bit of news this week. Due to financial pressures, Barbour has made the difficult decision to cancel its cozy mystery line. What does this mean for cozy mystery readers? Check out the following article posted by Rebecca Germany, Senior Editor at Barbour Publishing:

2008 was the season for the cozy mystery romance at Barbour. We spent 2 years planning for our new book club. We built a strong team of managing editor and authors who worked hard on both content and marketing of the books. Then we launched the club early 2008 based on strong initial membership drives.

All was going well until our early fall membership drive (traditionally a strong time for adding new members) hit at the same time as the news from Wall Street about the financial crisis. The membership drive had the worst response that we have ever experienced or even heard of in the industry. At that point, to save the club would have required major investment dollars. By the end of 2008, we knew that the national financial climate would not allow for a marketing gamble on something that was still new and unproven.

2008 was a pretty good year overall for Barbour, but with 2009 looking to be a hard one for retailers, we know we have to tighten our belt and keep our money where we are confident it can give us the most return. So, for that reason, we will be closing the Heartsong Presents Mystery Romance Club. We have a couple more shipments that will go out, then books we have contracted will be used in other ways. Most likely they will go into 3-in-1 collections like Cozy in Kansas and Alibis in Arkansas. These 2 books released in late fall 2008 and had very good sales showings over Christmas. We hope you cozy mystery lovers out there will look for these books and support your author friends by buying them.

To read the complete article, check out The Edit Cafe.

We here at Spyglass Lane have enjoyed introducing you to these fun-filled mysteries, and we look forward to many successful ventures at Barbour Publishing. As the weeks roll on, you will continue to see fun games and puzzles posted. When the job queue expires, we'll bid you farewell. Until then, continue to enjoy all the Heartsong Presents Mysteries books have to offer!

Fun Friday

2009-01-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Kitty Litter Killer by Candice Miller Speare. To learn more about the Trish Cunningham Mystery Series, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2009-01-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door Days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

MYSTERY AUTHOR RIDES AGAIN!

2009-01-13T23:12:00.003-05:00

Time for another Mystery Author! Congratulations to "Reborn Butterfly" who wins a signed copy of Dana Mentink's newest book, TREASURE UNDER FINNY'S NOSE!

Here the the clues for our next author. Remember, you must leave a comment, along with your e-mail address to be entered into our drawing for a copy of our Mystery Author's latest Heartsong mystery novel.

Here goes!

Welcome, Mystery Author! Where do you hail from?

I’m from Chicago originally, but I’ve lived in Maryland for the last 16 years, so I consider both to be “home.” Fortunately, my favorite baseball and football teams play in different leagues so I can be loyal to all of them.

How many books have you written (and had published) in the Heartsong Mystery book club?

I have two books out in the book club. I guess if I give you the titles, that makes it pretty easy to guess who I am...

Tell us something you like to do besides writing.

I have one hobby that would be a dead giveaway to anyone who read my first book, so I’ll skip that one. I’m going to say jumping rope with my daughter. (That won’t come into play until the third book, so it’s not much of a hint!)

In three words, can you describe the romance in your latest Heartsong mystery novel?

Stalled
Uncertain
Theatrical (meaning that a lot of it takes place in a theater during play practice)

Describe one item on the cover of your most recent Heartsong mystery.

A grandfather clock

Do you have a hint you’d like to drop to our readers?

I think my books may be the only ones that don’t involve murders.

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Short Story Mystery

2009-01-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Sweet Charity by Elizabeth Ludwig

Special FOUR part series!

Part 1

“Jasmine McDrew is a man-stealing, gossip-spreading flirt, and I hate her.”

Charity jabbed a hairpin into her voluminous curls, followed quickly by a second, and then a third.

“Now, Meez Charity, why you do not let me finish your hair?” Lit by the flicker of candles, the bronze face of Charity’s maid, Luisa, appeared even warmer as she peered at Charity in the mirror. She reached up and wound one of Charity’s blond curls around her stubby finger. “You will only ruin what I’ve worked so hard over, chica.”

Charity twisted to glare at her maid. Though balanced precariously on a footstool, she still barely came to Charity’s shoulder. “I can’t help it, Luisa. I just know Jasmine has set her cap for my Ambrose. I’ll do anything to stop her from sinking her claws into him. Anything!”

Cooing in Venezuelan, Luisa gently pried a pin from Charity’s fingers and proceeded to insert it properly in Charity’s hair. “There.” She patted the last lock into place and stood back to admire her handiwork. “You are muy bonita. Why you worry about that devilish Jasmine McDrew, anyway? She is like a weed next to you. The doctor, Señor Ambrose, would be a fool to look at anyone else.”

Charity’s heart melted at the mention of her fiancé. Tonight was supposed to be their night, when they celebrated their engagement with loved ones and friends at her family’s plantation home. Instead, here she sat worrying once again about that vile, fiancé-grabbing Jasmine.

Her fingers curled into fists. She meant what she’d said to Luisa. She would do anything to stop Jasmine from getting her hands on Ambrose.

Anything.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of Sweet Charity.

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-01-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

Swami Morishi was on a hunger strike until his followers could raise two million dollars to pay off the mortgage on their cult compound.

Even into the third week of his fast, the Swami kept to his routine. He would meditate in the mornings, then meet privately with Michelle, his second-in-command, to work on any business. He would then teach in the afternoons and in the evenings tour the compound.

One night, right after his tour of the kitchen, the Swami collapsed. Michelle was called from her cabin and rushed to the scene. By the time the ambulance arrived, the Swami was already dead.

Michelle took over the cult leadership until a week later when she was arrested for murder. The Swami had been poisoned with cyanide.

THE MYSTERY:

How did Michelle poison a man who had sworn not to eat anything?

THE CLUES:

1. The Swami followed a deadly routine.
2. In some cases the cure is worse than the disease.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature !!

2009-01-10T05:00:00.002-05:00

Another Hour to Kill

Anita Higman

WHERE BAILEY WALKER LIVES, BEING NEIGHBORLY TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING. . . .
Bailey has survived the mysteries of Volstead Manor, but her latest threats are more ominous than ever. Did her neighbor B.J. die of natural causes? Or was he murdered? And why does the new neighbor, Vlad Tepes, seem to always be watching her?While searching for a lost treasure and planning a wedding the size of an amusement park, Bailey must discover what monster is still lurking in the neighborhood. Will she unravel the puzzle in time, or will Bailey merely provide the villain with Another Hour to Kill?

About the Author

ANITA HIGMAN hopes to give her audience a "Gasp and a Giggle" when they read her mysteries. She's the award-winning author of nineteen books. Anita has a B.A. in speech communication, and she's a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Anita enjoys hiking with her family, visiting show caves, and cooking brunch for her friends.

To read Another Hour to Kill be sure to subscribe to: Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Other Heartsong Mysteries by Anita:

Another Stab at Life

She has nowhere to go, except the dilapidated mansion she's just inherited from her Granny Minna. Unfortunately, Bailey discovers the house has a history as shadowy as its hidden passages and finds the neighborhood overflowing with some rather quirky folks. Bailey suddenly feels like she's trapped inside the pages of a gothic novel - but with a comedic twist. In order to honor her grandmother's wishes and stay at Volstead Manor Bailey must unravel a string of mysteries and secrets, which all seem determined to stay happily ever buried.

Fun Friday

2009-01-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing George Washington Stepped Here by K.D. Hayes. Check out all the books in The Karen Maxwell Mystery Series!

Mystery Door

2009-01-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door Days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

A NEW YEAR OF MYSTERY AUTHOR!

2009-01-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

It’s a brand new year and time for a brand new MYSTERY AUTHOR! Some things may have changed a little, but the rules are the same.

Leave a comment with your guess as to who our MYSTERY AUTHOR is, and if you're right, you'll be entered in a drawing to win a signed copy of the MYSTERY AUTHOR'S latest Heartsong book! YOU MUST GIVE US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAWING!! If you don't, your guess won't be considered. (We're not being mean, we just won't know how to find you!)

Are you ready? Here goes:

Welcome, Mystery Author! Where do you hail from?

California

How many books have you written (and had published) in the Heartsong Mystery book club?

Three.

Tell us something you like to do besides writing.

I love to cook. Soup is my specialty.

In three words, can you describe the romance in your latest Heartsong mystery novel?

Wild, wacky and wondrous.

Describe one item on the cover of your most recent Heartsong mystery.

A shipwreck on the beach.

Do you have a hint you’d like to drop to our readers?

Never wear checks and plaid at the same time.

Thanks, Mystery Author!

There you go! This year's hints might be a little tougher. Let's see how you do!

Short Story Mystery

2009-01-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Look Before You Leap

by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 3

Buck peered up into the night sky. A shower of sparks erupted, like the finale on the Fourth of July. He resisted the urge to cheer.

Picking up the booty Jerry had discarded, Buck ambled toward his truck, away from the power station where he’d set up the ring of flares designed to lure Jerry to his death. It was a simple plan, really, something that would never have worked if Jerry hadn’t been such a trusting soul.

Pressing his treasure tight to his chest, Buck climbed into his truck and started the engine. Never again would he have to split his share with greedy old Jerry. The stash inside this bag would carry him for months, maybe even years. Once it was gone, he’d find a new partner, another trusting soul.

He dropped the vehicle into drive. Pushing on the accelerator, he veered onto the highway, his heart lighter than it’d been for weeks. Gradually, he wound down the deserted road and quietly disappeared into the dark, humid night.

Stay tuned next week for a brand new Short Story Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2009-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

If it hadn't been for that beer bottle cap, they would never have figured out that Paul was murdered by his wife, Paula.

THE MYSTERY:

How did she do it?

THE CLUES:

1. If Paula had just told Paul to get lost, he'd probably be alive today.

2. Paula had a magnetic personality.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!

2009-01-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

2008 has come to a close and here is our last listing of the wonderful mysteries released by Heartsong Mysteries in the inaugaral year. Check back in the next few Saturdays to see them all. To order any of these books simply click on the book cover and it's take you to the Heartsong Mystery site.

Mysterious Incidents at Lone Rock
By Rajendra Pillai / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Professor Rich Harrison and his colleague from India, Chinni Roy, have been invited for a relaxing weekend at Lone Rock, an estate in the country
owned by a female friend of Rich's. While Rich anticipates the trip, Chinni is thinking about murder, That's not surprising. After all,he was a police detective
in India, so he's always prepared for the worst. When a shot rings out in the middle of the night and someone is found dead, Chinni uses all his tools and his
experience to help the police find the killer. Along the way, Rich learns a few things about sleuthing from his detective friend, applying the model of
algebraic formula to reach a conclusion, as well as expecting the unexpected--especially in matters of the heart.

Of Mice and Murder
by Mary Coneally / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

BEING NAMED IN GREATGRANDMA'S WILL WAS LIKE HITTING BANKRUPT ON WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
The whole family held their breath while the wheel ticked around and around-or rather while the lawyer opened the envelope. Then they all heaved a sigh
of relief when the wheel stopped on Carrie Evans's name. Carrie the heiress. Great. Clean up the house. Clean up the yard. Clean up Great-Grandma's rap
sheet. Carrie hates mice and loves the big city. So why is she living in a huge mouse-infested house in her dinky hometown? The dead guy in her pantry closet
is the most interesting thing that's happened since she came home. Of course, the carpenter who's helping her trap her mice and solve the crime is pretty
interesting, too.

Pedigreed Bloodlines
By Sandra Robbins / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Pedigreed Bloodlines, set in the fictional Smoky Mountain Resort town of St. Claire, North Carolina, introduces Leigh Dennison as the antique dealer
turned sleuth when the woman who has been like a mother to her is murdered. Leigh who struggles with ADD, her best friend Marcie Payton, and Blake
Cameron, the love of her life, will return in two more adventures.

Recipe For Murder
By Lisa Harris / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Pricilla never expected to be involved in a real life mystery, but that's exactly where she finds herself when she joins her son at his hunting lodge in the
beautiful Colorado mountains. A superb cook and articulate hostess, Priscilla plans an informal buffet for the guests at her son's hunting lodge. But the dinner
party turns to chaos when a guest is found dead after sampling one of her salmon-filled tartlets.

The Wiles of Watermelon
By Lynette Sowell / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Newlywed Andi Hartley is not at all sure she's ready to look like an over-ripe melon. . .
In fact, she's still getting used to being married. But her husband, Ben, wants to start a family right away. Gulp.
Their family plans are put on hold, however, when Andi's kitten runs from the house to their watermelon field and digs up a bone attached to the remains of
a thirty-year-old skeleton. Buried secrets come to life. . .and then the colorful owner of Greenburg's best eatery is murdered. As Andi unearths more and more
of the suspicious history surrounding the skeleton, she realizes both deaths are related. Is she also about to unearth a murderer?

There Goes Santa Claus
by Nancy Mehl / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

IVY TOWERS-TUCKER IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HER FIRST CHRISTMAS AS A MARRIED WOMAN. . . .
But a few days before December 25, Ivy and her husband Amos are awakened by noises on their rooftop. Amos's joke that Santa Claus must have arrived
early loses its humor when a body goes fl ying past their second-story window. A look outside reveals two legs covered in red velvet trousers and black boots
sticking out of a snow bank! Ivy and Amos are even more surprised to fi nd they belong to a dead man dressed as Santa Claus. The story circulates quickly
through the small town of Winter Break that Ivy and Amos have killed Santa. Who is the dead man and why was he on their roof? Ivy has a Christmas
mystery to solve that will bring a satisfying conclusion to the Ivy Towers Mystery series.

Treasure at Blue Heron Lake
By Susan Page Davis and Megan Davis / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Jeff Lewis's hunting lodge is plagued by an intruder who thumps around in the night. Emily Gray and Nate Holman try to help their friend discover who
is invading the resort. Things turn more sinister when one of Jeff's employees is murdered, with Jeff as a suspect. Is the legend of an old lumber baron's lost
treasure behind the crimes? In the midst of the turmoil, Nate proposes to Emily. Their life together begins with unmasking the murderer at Lakeview Lodge.

Treasure Under Finny's Nose
By Dana Mentink / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

A TREASURE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. A MURDERER ROAMING THE QUIET STREETS OF FINNY. WILL RUTH FIND THE
STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND MURDER, MAYHEM. . .AND MOMMYHOOD? It's the 150th anniversary of the wreck of the Triton, a ship that
foundered off the coast of Finny, California. A team of college students arrives to fi lm a documentary, and a pregnant Ruth is pressed into service. She must
reenact the life of survivor Indigo
Orson, a woman who managed the perils of gold rush California by disguising herself as a man. Indigo's writing reveals there was treasure aboard the Triton, a
treasure shrouded in secrecy.
While her beloved husband, Monk, is away, Ruth stumbles on the body of one of the film crew. His death turns out to be the furthest thing from an accident.
Adding to the chaos, Ruth's estranged son arrives and Monk's niece faces heartbreak at the hands of Finny's police detective. Faced with murder, mayhem,
and mommyhood, Ruth had better find some answers fast.

Trouble Up Finny's Nose
By Dana Mentink / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Dead bodies in the fountain? The discovery of her
late husband's secret novel? Come join Ruth
Budge in the not so quiet town of Finny, California
where trouble doesn't stay buried for long.

Where The Truth Lies
By Elizabeth Ludwig & Janelle Mowery/ Heartsong Presents Mysteries

A case of suicide leads an amateur sleuth on a trail of deceit and corruption…

Casey Alexander refuses to believe her aunt committed suicide. Convinced a murderer is hiding out in her aunt's sleepy hometown, she'll do anything to
uncover the truth. But as her personal investigation produces mounting evidence, the danger to Casey grows. Now she'll be forced to trust certain residents of
Pine Mills for help, including local nursery owner, Luke Kerrigan. . .the man with whom she's falling love. . .and who may be stalking her.

Prompted by strange clues and a mysterious stranger, Casey does a little more digging. The secrets she unearths will turn lives upside down and threaten the
peace in Pine Mills' small community-especially when she discovers that the truth can sometimes be hidden in a lie.

Worth its Weight in Old
By K. D. Hays / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

PAINTINGS SLASHED. . . FURNITURE BROKEN . . . SOMEONE IS WREAKING HAVOC AT THE BLUE MOON ART & ANTIQUES GALLERY.

Fledgling private investigator Karen Maxwell goes undercover as a salesclerk to find out who's behind the vandalism-and why. She learns little from Vicki, a
friendly clerk who, aside from her designer clothes and sports car, seems interested only in rearranging pictures to display them to maximum advantage.
Eric, the shop's surly, tight-lipped porter, would run her over with a hand truck before he'd answer any questions. The guilt may even lay with the shop
owners themselves, despite the fact that they're the ones who hired her.
Karen's investigation seems to be going nowhere. . .just like her once-promising relationship with Brian, the handsome blacksmith who could sweep her off
her feet in a minute-if he'd ever take a break from working with the church youth group. If Karen can't crack the case soon, she may find herself busted
back to plain and old office manager, and her dreams of a career as a private investigator-and a life with Brian-as old and busted as the Blue Moon's
vandalized antiques.

Mystery Door

2009-01-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

Mystery Author Takes a Break...

2008-12-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

So you can have one last chance to show off your crime solving skill!

Check out The Sleuth Shop and visit with everyone's favorite sleuth, Nancy Drew! While you're there, test your sleuthing skills with Sleuthing 101, and see how well you know Nancy Drew, girl detective, at Nancy Drew 101.

Happy New Year from all of us at Spyglass Lane!

Short Story Mystery

2008-12-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

Look Before You Leap by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 2

The radio erupted with a crackle. Jerry nodded in approval. So far, everything was going according to plan. Now, for the trickiest part. . .

He reached up and with a sharp tug, removed his bulky sweater. The Velcro released with a rip, just as intended. Around him, the passengers on board the small airplane gaped. The parachute strapped to his back was plainly visible now.

Jerry fought not to laugh. It was always the same—the shock on the passenger’s faces when he pulled the gun, the anger as they realized he intended to rob them, and ultimately, the resignation as they accepted there was nothing they could do to stop him.

“Why, you’re not chubby at all!” the stout woman at the rear of the plane exclaimed. “It was all a disguise.”

Snagging a pair of goggles he’d stashed inside his pocket, he slid them over his head and covered his eyes. Jerry held up his bag of loot, stuffed full with valuables snitched from the wealthy passengers. “You’re absolutely right,” he said, laughing. “It was all part of my plan to swindle you good folks out of your millions. Now, if you don’t mind. . .”

Before any of them could react, he reached for the handle on the cabin door and pulled. It released with a whoosh and Jerry swung out of opening, into the clear, night sky.

Wind roared past his ears, flattening his cheeks and making it hard to breathe. Darkness closed around him, pressing and black. Good thing he’d made this jump, or rather, ones like it, before. He counted the seconds, waiting for the perfect moment when he’d release his chute and drift lazily to the ground.

Below, a ring of flares blazed brightly. His landing spot. Jerry managed a grin. Good ‘ol Buck. He could always count on his partner. He flung the booty away—south of the landing spot—where they’d find it, easily.

Reaching back, Jerry found the rip cord and pulled. His chute opened, jerking him upward. Once he’d stabilized, Jerry directed the landing straight for the center of the glowing flares.

Only. . .something was wrong!

Fear built in Jerry’s chest. He muttered an oath, sucked in a breath, and then squeezed his eyes shut as a shower of sparks erupted all around him.

FOR DISCUSSION: What happened to Jerry?

Stay tuned next week for Part 3 of Look Before You Leap.

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-12-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

A Japanese whaling magnate is the keynote speaker at an industry convention. Throughout his speech he is heckled by a woman in the audience who is a radical animal rights activist. As the magnate closes his speech, the woman stands, draws a gun and fires it five times, killing the magnate instantly. The assassination is witnessed by the entire audiences, yet no one lifts a hand to arrest the woman.

THE MYSTERY:

Why wasn't the woman arrested?

THE CLUES:

1. You can't arrest what isn't there.

2. The shot was followed by a bang.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature

2008-12-27T05:00:00.003-05:00

As 2008 comes to a close, it's only fitting to review the wonderful selection of mysteries released by Heartsong Mysteries in the inaugaral year. Below you'll find the second selection of books. Check back in the next few Saturdays to see them all. To order any of these books simply click on the book cover and it's take you to the Heartsong Mystery site.

Fog Over Finny's Nose
By Dana Mentink / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

The worm business is thriving for vermi-culturist Ruth Budge. . . until a disembodied toe turns up on the golf course, and members of a strange cult begin
to infiltrate the quiet seaside town of Finny, California.
Life is already crazy for forty-seven-year-old Ruth, juggling the needs of her worm farm, her new spouse, and a platoon of crippled seabirds bequeathed to her
by her dead husband. Then there's the insanity swirling around the first ever Finny Fog Festival and the discovery of a bizarre diary from one of the town's
seediest ancestors.
Things go from misty to murderous as a man plummets to his death from an exploding hot air balloon. Is the craziness a byproduct of the festival or a
decades-old curse unearthed in the antique diary? Ruth had better find out fast or her worms won't be the only things six feet under.

For Whom The Wedding Bell Tolls
By Nancy Mehl / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Ivy Towers is getting married to the love of her life. . .But she finds that trying to run a rare bookstore and plan her upcoming nuptials is more than she
can handle. In steps Delaphine Shackleford, a new and unwilling resident in the small town of Winter Break, Kansas. Delaphine offers to be Ivy's wedding
planner, and Ivy jumps at her offer. But hiring the eccentric woman will not only drive Ivy to the brink of madness, it will also propel her into the middle of
a bizarre murder mystery!

Fudge Laced Felonies
By Cynthia Hickey / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

While transplanting the rosebush her church's handsome greeter, Ethan Banning, inadvertently killed, Summer and Ethan discover a hidden stash of
diamonds, a rusty can full of cash, and a bloody gardening. glove. This discovery sets Summer and her candy-making aunt on a search for a killer.

George Washington Stepped Here
By KD Hays / Heartsong Presents Mysteries
Karen Maxwell, a divorced mother of two, is struggling to balance her life as a soccer mom with her need to have a life of her own. After working as a
bookkeeper in her brother's private investigation firm for years, she finally gets the chance to go undercover and handle a case on her own. Her first
assignment is to find out who has stolen the local historical society's greatest treasure. Along the way she makes some new friends, one of whom is very
attractive, unmarried, and unfortunately a prime suspect in the case.

Gunfight at Grace Gulch
By Darlene Franklin / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

The feud between the Graces and the Gaynors is still going strong more than a century after its inception in the 1891 Oklahoma land run. Newspaper
editor Penn Hardy is murdered during the reenactment of the most famous gunfight in the history of Grace Gulch, Oklahoma. Cici Wilde, owner of a vintage
clothing store, feels compelled to investigate when police suspect people close to her. She soon discovers her talent for sleuthing equals her flare for wearing
period clothing. Theater director Audie Howe never expected the reenactment to end in a real murder. He cares too much for the future of the Magda Grace
Mallory Theater - and the charming Cici Wilde - to let her face danger alone. Cici and Audie take a dangerous gamble to nail the killer - and lay their lives on
the line.

Homicide at Blue Heron Lake
By Susan Page Davis and Megan Elaine Davis / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Emily Grant returns to the lakeside community of Baxter, Maine, expecting a peaceful week in her family's island cottage. Instead, she and her high
school crush, Nate Holman, discover the body of Henry Derbin, an elderly island resident. Later, Emily finds another body, buried more than a decade earlier,
on Mr. Derbin's land. Can Emily and Nate overcome past hindrances to their romance long enough to dig up clues that will help solve both murders?

In The Dead of Winter
By Nancy Mehl / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Samantha "Ivy" Towers returns to Winter Break, Kansas, where she spent her summers as a child, to make funeral
arrangements for her Aunt Bitty. While there, she begins to suspect her aunt's death, which resulted from a fall
in her bookshop, wasn't an accident after all. Childhood friend, Amos Parker, now sheriff of Winter Break, seems
anxious to get Ivy out of town. A missing book, a message scrawled by an unknown person, and an extra coffee cup
leaves Ivy with more questions than answers.

Kitty Litter Killer
By Candice Miller Speare / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

TRISH CUNNINGHAM IS PUSSYFOOTING WITH A MURDERER.
Amateur sleuth Trish has retired from her short-lived crime- solving foray. No more walking deliberately into danger. Her short-term goal is to see her best
friend, Abbie, marry fiancé, Eric Scott, in three weeks.
But the brutal murder of Abbie's ex-husband could ruin the nuptials, especially since Abbie was the last one seen with him-when they had a hostile argument
at the local convenience store.
With evidence pointing at Abbie and the possibility of jail looming in her best friend's future, Trish comes out of her self-imposed sleuth retirement. And as
the clock ticks down to the wedding date, Trish once again puts herself in reach of a murderer's claws-this time to protect her best friend.

Misfortune Cookies
by Linda Kozar / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

WHEN EVEN THE FORTUNE COOKIES HINT AT CALAMITY AHEAD, WATCH OUT!
Best friends Sue Jan and Lovita run a beauty shop/boutique in the little West Texas town of Wachita. They share a passion for food and fun. But one day,
over lunch in a Chinese restaurant, Lovita opens a fortune cookie with a sinister message: "Your father was murdered. . ." a clue that leads them to God, an
international spy ring, and several devastatingly handsome strangers. A most unlikely pair of detectives, these girlfriends "comb" the countryside with style,
sarcasm, and lots of Szechwan. This tale is like good take-out food-definitely worth bringing home.

Miss Aggie's Gone Missing
By Frances Devine/ Heartsong Presents Mysteries

When Aggie Pennington-Brown mysteriously disappears on the same day the Cedar Chapel bank is robbed, the sheriff assumes she was kidnapped by the
robbers, and the whole town seems to agree. Victoria Storm, owner of Cedar Lodge Boarding House and her elderly boarders reluctantly come to the same
conclusion. But when secrets from their missing friend's past begin to unfold, a horrible possibility arises. Could someone they know and love have harmed
Miss Aggie? Could it be one of them?
As Victoria and her elderly friends attempt to solve the mystery and locate Miss Aggie, more secrets are revealed until Victoria begins to wonder if there is
anyone she can trust.

Murder In The Milk Case
By Candice Miller Speare / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

When mommy and wife Trish Cunningham finds the body of pharmacist Jim Bob Jenkins behind the two-percent milk,
she knows she's having a bad day. Worse, she's a suspect in the case. Sleuthing to exonerate herself from murder charges,
she shakes up a murderer who has nothing to lose by killing anyone in the way including Trish.

Murder On The Ol Bunions
By S. Dionne Moore / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

LaTisha Barnhart's bunions tell her something's afoot as she delves deeper into the murder of her former employer, Marion Peters. When LaTisha
becomes a suspect, the ante is upped, and she is determined to clear her name and find the real culprit.

Fun Friday ~ Christmas Edition

2008-12-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Of Mice and Murder by Mary Connealy. To learn more about the Maxie the Mouse Mystery Series, check out her website!

Mystery Door ~ Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T08:00:00.005-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

Mystery Author Takes a Break...

2008-12-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

So you can show off your cozy addiction!

Know someone who can't stop reading mysteries? Check out some fun and unique gifts. Click on the image below then get out your checkbook. You're going to want to add to your shopping list...

Merry Christmas from all of us at Spyglass Lane.

Short Story Mystery

2008-12-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Look Before You Leap

by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 1

“Hand over all your cash. Your jewels and valuables, too.” Jerry lifted the gun higher, making sure all of the passengers aboard the plane got a good, long look.

He loved this part—the thrill of the job, the rush of adrenaline. It all made him feel…so alive.

“C’mon, lady,” he urged, brandishing his weapon at a stout woman seated at the rear of the small passenger plane. “I haven’t got all day.”

Lips quivering, she rose and stared Jerry in the eye. “I won’t do it. I won’t give you my wedding ring. You’ll have to pry it from my cold—”

The young man next to her, a grandson, perhaps, grabbed her arm and tugged. “Don’t. It’s not worth your life.”

Turning her head, she eyed him disdainfully. “What would you know about it? Your grandfather put this ring on my finger fifty-six years ago, and no common thief,” she directed a firm glare at Jerry, “is going to take it from me.”

Jerry sighed in exasperation. It never failed. Someone always had to mess things up, make his job difficult. “Forget it,” he said, waving his hand. He swung the gun so that it encompassed the entire cabin. “Put on your seatbelts, all of you. You, too, lady,” he demanded, shoving his gun toward the stout woman’s face.

With a huff, she complied.

Jerry motioned to the pilot, an elderly gentleman with hair graying at the temples. “You, take the fire extinguisher next to you and use it to smash the radio.”

The pilot’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Just do it,” Jerry growled, his temper flaring. Little old ladies were one thing—he’d have no problem shooting the pilot.

As if he read the grim intent on Jerry’s face, the pilot lifted the fire extinguisher in his shaking hands and held it above the radio.

“Do it,” Jerry ordered, his voice a harsh whisper.

Drawing a deep breath, the pilot lifted the fire extinguisher high then, with an agonized cry, brought it crashing down.

FOR DISCUSSION: What do you think Jerry intends to do now that the pilot has smashed the passenger’s only means of communication?

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of Look Before You Leap.

Monday Mystery Theater ~ Christmas Edition!

2008-12-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

On the day before Christmas, cosmetics heiress Countess Mayfair is found stabbed to death in her bedroom. The priceless Mayfair tiara is missing; so is the murder weapon.

THE MYSTERY:

Who killed the Countess, how, and why? And where was the murder weapon?

THE CLUES:

1. The Countess was a tyrant.

2. The Countess thought her tiara had been stolen.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature !

2008-12-20T05:00:00.004-05:00

As 2008 comes to a close, it's only fitting to review the wonderful selection of mysteries released by Heartsong Mysteries in the inaugaral year. Below you'll find the first selection of books. Check back in the next few Saturdays to see them all. To order any of these books simply click on the book cover and it's take you to the Heartsong Mystery site.

A Suspicion of Strawberries

By Lynette Sowell / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

When Charla Rae Thacker and her bridesmaids show up at Andi's soap shop in Greenburg, Tennessee, for a morning of pre-wedding pampering, Andi bends over backwards to make it a pleasant experience for them all. But then Charla keels over and dies from anaphylactic shock after she uses Andi's personally blended cherries jubilee facial scrub. Andi suspects sabotage and murder when she discovers strawberries - a lethal allergen for Charla - in the scrub. Now, Andi must save her business and her reputation.

Another Hour to Kill

By Anita Higman / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

WHERE BAILEY WALKER LIVES, BEING NEIGHBORLY TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING. . . .
Bailey has survived the mysteries of Volstead Manor, but her latest threats are more ominous than ever. Did her neighbor B.J. die of natural causes? Or was he murdered? And why does the new neighbor, Vlad Tepes, seem to always be watching her?While searching for a lost treasure and planning a wedding the size of an amusement park, Bailey must discover what monster is still lurking in the neighborhood. Will she unravel the puzzle in time, or will Bailey merely provide the villain with Another Hour to Kill?

Another Stab At Life
By Anita Higman / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

She has nowhere to go, except the dilapidated mansion she's just inherited from her Granny Minna. Unfortunately, Bailey discovers the house has a history as shadowy as its hidden passages and finds the neighborhood overflowing with some rather quirky folks. Bailey suddenly feels like she's trapped inside the pages of a gothic novel - but with a comedic twist. In order to honor her grandmother's wishes and stay at Volstead Manor Bailey must unravel a string of mysteries and secrets, which all seem determined to stay happily ever buried.

Baker's Fatal Dozen

By Lisa Harris / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Get ready to cook up a second helping of Pricilla Crumb and her hilarious schemes to serve up justice.When Reggie Pierce, who runs Pricilla Crumb's favorite bakery, is found dead, Pricilla finds herself hot on the trail of another sticky scandal that begins with murder. But as Pricilla chases after clues to catch a killer, will the road to her long-distance romance with Max hit a permanent detour?

Band Room Bash

By Candice Miller Speare / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

None of the kids at Four Oaks High School like cold, beautiful Ms. Georgia Winters, the new English teacher. But that shouldn't be a reason to murder her, right? Or is it. . . Trish Cunningham and oldest stepson, Tommy, find Georgia dead in the band room with her head bashed in. The suspect list grows and the charges might be assault with a deadly. . .bassoon. Then again, maybe not. Once again, Trish pulls out her notebook to collect clues. But Detective Eric Scott, who is suffering his own personal issues with Trish's best friend, Abbie, pointedly asks Trish to butt out. Despite Detective Scott's warnings, she jumps in as usual and finds herself embroiled in a mystery that has its roots in thwarted love and revenge. The finale could be Trish's swan song.

Bye Bye Bertie

By Nancy Mehl / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Ivy Towers lives in the tiny town of Winter Break, Kansas. While working hard to get her late aunt's rare bookstore, Miss Bitty's Bygone Bookstore, on its feet, she accidentally discovers a map hidden inside an old music box. Could it be the map to the Lost Gambler's Gold? The legend of the ill-fated gambler, who hid his fortune somewhere in Winter Break before an Indian raid in the 1860s, has circulated among residents ever since Ivy can remember. Unbeknownst to her boyfriend, Deputy Sheriff Amos Parker, Ivy follows the directions to the place where "X" marks the spot. What she digs up will uncover a mystery that leads to much more than she ever imagined. Lives will be changed, old secrets will be revealed, and Ivy will learn that sometimes, lost treasure can turn out to be much more valuable than a chest full of gold.

Death on a Deadline

By Christine Lynxwiler, Jan Reynolds, & Sandy Gaskin / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Headline News; Jenna Stafford's nephew is accused of killing his boss, the newspaper editor. But stop the presses! Jenna recruits her sister, Carly, and they go undercover to get the scoop on the murder. Will the next headline proclaim: Jenna and Carly Expose Killer? Or will the sleuthing sisters end up the featured subjects in tomorrow's obit column?

Dog Gone

By Eileen Key / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Cleaning lady Belle Blevins dusts off her sleuthing skills when a rash of missing dogs jeopardizes her best friend's boarding business. Why would anyone go to such extremes to steal a family pet? When Belle learns the missing animals could possibly be in the hands of dognappers, she trades her vacuum for a detective kit and enters the world of valuable show dogs. Will she win a blue ribbon in the romance category? Or will her curiosity put her on the no-show list for the next round of competition?

Down Home and Deadly

by Christine Lynxwiler, Jan Reynolds & Sandy Gaskin / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

DEATH FOR DESSERT-When Jenna Stafford quits her dead-end job to help her sister Carly open a diner, she may have jumped from the frying pan
into the fire. Even though business is really cooking, last time the sisters checked, murder was NOT on the menu. So who's the dead guy out back? And why are there more police officers on the scene than there are paying customers? Can Jenna and Carly sort out their scrambled love lives and still find the missing ingredient in time to solve the crime before their goose is cooked?

Drop Dead Diva

by Christine Lynxwiler, Jan Reynolds & Sandy Gaskin / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Free Branson vacation…in exchange for a little elbow grease and moral support. Jenna Stafford and her sister, Carly, dust off their cowboy boots, herd the kids into the SUV, and hightail it up to Branson, Missouri, to help with the grand opening of a friend's theater. To their amazement, the glittering lights and twanging tunes make a perfect backdrop for…murder! The high-maintenance star of the show gets on everyone's nerves. Until someone puts a permanent end to the diva's demands. Carly and Jenna's leading men are waiting in the wings. But with a whole band of suspects, can the sleuthing sisters make the killer play a different tune before their own song is silenced forever?

Everybody Called Her a Saint

By Cecil Murphey / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Who would want to kill the sainted Twila Belk?. . .Especially since she had footed the bill for an Antarctica cruise with 48 of her "closest friends?" But when a search team discovers the body of the murdered benefactress on Brown Bluff Island, an unlikely duo joins forces to solve the heinous crime. Though once engaged, Reverend James Burton and Psychologists Julie West are no longer even on speaking terms. Can their mutual love and admiration for a dear, departed friend allow them to set aside their animosities long enough to bring Twila's killer to justice?

Everybody Loved Roger Harden

By Cecil Murphey / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Psychologist Julie West and Reverend James Burton arrive late for dinner on Palm Island-but just in time to discover their host, millionaire Roger Harden, murdered. Ten possible suspects share close quarters on the secluded island, all of them with deep secrets and sufficient motive to have wanted the wealthy "benefactor" dead. Can Julie and Burton ignore the mysterious attraction developing between them long enough to discover who among them didn't love Roger Harden enough to let him live?

Everybody Wanted Room 623

By Cecil Murphey / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

When psychologist Julie West arrives at Cartledge Inn in response to an urgent call from Stefan Lauber, a supposedly reformed criminal recently released from prision, a near-hysterical desk clerk tells her that Lauber has been murdered in his room-room 623..

Fun with Slide

2008-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Another Stab at Life by Anita Higman. To learn more about Anita and her books, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2008-12-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

Mystery Author Takes a Break...

2008-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

So we can "present" you with a very special gift!

Fans of cozy mysteries always love a good puzzle. As our way of saying thank-you to all our loyal readers, we're "presenting" you with some fun games via the World Wide Web. Grab a cup of coffee and a warm blanket then click on the image below for a night of puzzle solving, riddle breaking, fun!

Merry Christmas to you and yours from all your friends at Spyglass Lane.

Short Story Mystery

2008-12-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

Seoul Food by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 3

Detective Dho pointed to the person closest to Cho Hee’s still body, an elderly woman whose sharp eyes said she missed nothing.

“You! Did you see what happened?”

“I saw only when Cho Hee fell,” the woman replied, her thick accent rolling the words heavily. “She screamed. When I turned to see why, she was already on the ground.”

Interesting, Detective Dho thought, stroking the fine hair growing on his chin. “And did you see from which direction she came?”

The woman lifted her gnarled hand to point. “She comes every Tuesday and stops there, at the vendor on the end, to buy meat for her guests.”

Dho’s eyes narrowed. Of course. That explained so much. But just to be sure. . .

Dho carefully lifted the basket. As he suspected, it was empty.

Ignoring the surprised stares of the throng, Dho whirled and strode to the vendor. “Are you the merchant who sold Cho Hee the snake for her dinner?”

The vendor’s wrinkled face paled. “Cho Hee comes every Tuesday.”

“But on this day in particular, you had something special for her, did you not?” Dho demanded. “A poisonous snake that you sedated until Cho Hee was far enough from your booth?”

“I. . .I. . .”

“Tell me,” Dho said, “what grudge did you hold against Cho Hee, that you would murder her in cold blood!”

A gasp went up from the crowd. Suddenly, the vendor’s face flushed with rage and he pounded both fists against the wooden counter until the jars and baskets on its surface rattled. “It is true! I killed her, but her death was necessary. The crimes of her regime must not go unpunished!”

“Indeed,” Dho said quietly. He signaled to a couple of men who promptly took the old vendor by the arms. “But it is your crimes that will be punished this day, old man, for no one who chooses to cast his lot with a serpent will ever live to see his deeds prosper.”

Stay tuned next week for a brand new Short Story Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

After a horrible plane crash, Roger Rector's remains are returned home. Soon afterward, Roger's wife Dodie remarries. A few weeks after her honeymoon, Dodie dies and is buried next to Roger. Then a flood devastates the graveyard and washes open many of the graves. In addition to Roger and Dodie, there is a third body in the Rectors' grave!

THE MYSTERY:

Who was the third person, and why was the body in the Rectors' grave?

THE CLUES:

1. The unidentified body had been there the longest.

2. Dodie's second husband was an undertaker.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!!

2008-12-13T05:00:00.001-05:00

TREASURE UNDER FINNY'S NOSE
BY

DANA MENTINK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dana Mentink lives in California with her husband and two children. Her first love is the classroom, having taught children from preschool through fifth grade for over a decade.

Dana is perpetually in search of a great story, either through painfully expensive trips to the book store or in her own labors in front of the computer. She enjoys writing cozies for Heartsong Presents Mysteries and suspense for Harlequin's Steeple Hill division. Her book Killer Cargo releases in June through Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line.

Dana enjoys mentoring other writers and finding new vehicles to provide her readers with a hefty dose of mystery, merriment and make-believe.
For more information about

AND NOW AN EXCERPT FROM . . .TREASURE UNDER FINNY'S NOSE
The birds swarmed back and forth, playing tag with the waves. They kept away from the few able bodied birds that poked in the sand. It made her sad, that her birds knew instinctively that they were not part of that wild flock anymore. She wondered if they felt a pang when they saw their able bodied brothers fly away on graceful wings. Did they realize they were forever earth bound?

She walked carefully around the slick boulders, keeping an eye on Franklin. He was her delicate bird, after losing an eye and a foot to a cat. The vet had fashioned him a little plastic tube that slipped on his leg to protect his stump and help with balance. He despised having the contraption put on, but it helped him keep up or at least out of the way of the others.

Looking back she saw Alva with his plastic shovel, digging for treasure. The image brought back the words of Isabel Ortiz. As she watched the gray waves scour the sand, she wondered what it had been like for the servant woman to cling to the wreckage and watch the people die all around her. All those people and their possessions, lost to the arms of an angry ocean.

Franklin hobbled ahead and disappeared around yet another jagged rock.

"Don't go too far," Ruth scolded. "I'm in no position to attempt a water rescue."

She edged around the obstruction.

Franklin poked his slender beak in a pile of slippery black kelp.

Ruth took another glance at the oddly shaped mound of seaweed.

Her mouth went dry.

"Alva," she called in a shaky voice. "Can you come here for a second?"

He trotted over, still holding onto the bucket. "Good news. I found a can opener. Ain't that handy? You just never know when you're gonna need a can opener. It don't seem hardly rusted at all. Wonder why someone threw it away?"

She pointed. "Take a look over there, Alva. Is that what I think it is?"

The old man squinted, mashing a fist into his eyes before he peered again. "Well, would you look at that. It ain't no sea monster." He patted his pockets.

Ruth fought hard against the bile that rose in her throat. It took all her strength of will to contain the scream that coalesced inside her. After a moment, she got her vocal chords to cooperate. "Alva, I think you better call the police."

"Who me? I ain't got a phone, Sweet Cheeks." He found the pencil and notebook. "I gotta add this to my report." He licked the pencil point and began to write with relish. "Saturday. Seven fifty- five. We found ourselves a body."

To read more of TREASURE UNDER FINNY'S NOSE be sure to subscribe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

OTHER HEARTSONG PRESENTS MYSTERIES BY DANA MENTINK

TROUBLE UP FINNY'S NOSE
Dead bodies in the fountain? The discovery of her
late husband's secret novel? Come join Ruth
Budge in the not so quiet town of Finny, California
where trouble doesn't stay buried for long.

FOG OVER FINNY'S NOSE
The worm business is thriving for vermi-culturist Ruth Budge. . . until a disembodied toe turns up on the golf course, and members of a strange cult begin to infiltrate the quiet seaside town of Finny, California.
Life is already crazy for forty-seven-year-old Ruth, juggling the needs of her worm farm, her new spouse, and a platoon of crippled seabirds bequeathed to her by her dead husband. Then there’s the insanity swirling around the first ever Finny Fog Festival and the discovery of a bizarre diary from one of the town’s seediest ancestors.
Things go from misty to murderous as a man plummets to his death from an exploding hot air balloon. Is the craziness a byproduct of the festival or a decades-old curse unearthed in the antique diary? Ruth had better find out fast or her worms won’t be the only things six feet under.

Fun Friday

2008-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Treasure at Blue Heron Lake by Susan Page Davis. To learn more about the Mainely Murder Mystery Series, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2008-12-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

MYSTERIOUS MYSTERY AUTHOR!!!!

2008-12-10T10:03:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to ABI who wins a copy of Anita Higman's book, ANOTHER STAB AT LIFE! She correctly guessed Anita as last week's mystery author. You can learn more about Anita on her Web site: www.anitahigman.com.

Before I give you the clues for this week's author, I want to encourage you to buy books for Christmas gifts. Books are gifts that can be shared and enjoyed over and over. They truly are the gift that keeps on giving. And check out your favorite author's book signing schedule. You might get the chance to meet them - and give an even more special gift this Christmas to the people in your life who love to read!

Now...this week's mystery author: (Remember, to enter the drawing for a free, signed book from the Mystery Author, you must leave your e-mail address in your comment!)

Welcome, Mystery Author!

What part of the country do you call home?

Texas is now my home, though it used to be Minnesota.

Are you married? Any children?

I've been married 20 years now and have two sons.

You used to write for a Christian Web site. What was it called?

I used to write children's devotions for The Invisible Connection.

In 2003 you were a top ten finalist in the Noble Theme contest. What category did you enter?

I entered the Historical Romance category.

In the Heartsong book you co-wrote with another author, what is the main character's name?

Casey

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Short Story Mystery

2008-12-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

Seoul Food by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 2

“She is dead! Cho Hee is dead!”

The cry picked up in the market place, only to be carried and scattered by the people crushing near for a closer look.

Detective Dho dropped the fresh vegetables he’d been examining for dinner. Grabbing the arm of a boy running past, Dho pulled him to a stop and jerked his head toward the crowd. “Tell me, what has happened? Why do the people shout so?”

“Cho Hee,” the boy panted, his face flushed with excitement. “It is said she has fallen dead in the square.”

“An assassin?”

“I do not know, sir. No one saw what killed her.”

Dho frowned. “Where is she?”

The boy pointed back the way he’d come. “That way.” He squirmed from Dho’s grasp. “I must deliver the news to my father.”

Dho let him go. If what the boy said was true, he was finished questioning him anyway. Better to investigate.

His credentials in hand, Dho pushed his way through the crowd until he found the woman. Indeed, it was Cho Hee, her pretty face distorted in agony. Next to her lay an overturned basket, the lid crushed by trampling feet. Dropping to his knees, Dho did a quick examination of the body.

A telltale mark marred the pale skin of her hand.

Sighing, Dho pushed to his feet and turned to address the crowd. Almost on cue, a sudden hush fell over the throng as each person gathered waited to hear what the detective would say.

“I must ask that no one leave the market,” Dho said, his voice ringing with authority, “until I have questioned you all. This woman,” he gestured to Cho Hee’s limp form, “has been murdered, and you are all in danger.”

Stay tuned next week for Part 3 of Seoul Food.

FOR DISCUSSION: What danger is Dho referring to?

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

Inside the charred remains of an old, dilapidated boarding house is a grisly sight. The burned bodies of three elderly men and one middle-aged man are in the parlor. The middle-aged man has a bullet hole in his head, but none of the other bodies show any apparent signs of foul play.

THE MYSTERY:

Who was the middle-aged man and why was he killed? And what role did the other three men play in the story?

THE CLUES:

1. The boarding house had a freezer in the basement.

2. The elderly men were all receiving retirement checks.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!!

2008-12-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

DOWN HOME AND DEADLY
BY

CHRISTINE LYNXWILER, SANDY GASKIN, AND JAN REYNOLDS

DEATH FOR DESSERT—When Jenna Stafford quits her dead-end job to help her sister Carly open a diner, she may have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Even though business is really cooking, last time the sisters checked, murder was NOT on the menu. So who’s the dead guy out back? And why are there more police officers on the scene than there are paying customers? Can Jenna and Carly sort out their scrambled love lives and still find the missing ingredient in time to solve the crime before their goose is cooked?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Sisters Christine Pearle Lynxwiler, Jan Pearle Reynolds, and Sandy Pearle Gaskin are usually on the same page. And it's most often a page from their favorite mystery. So when the idea for a Christian cozy mystery series came up during Sunday dinner at Mama's, they determined to take their dream further than just table talk. Thus the Sleuthing Sisters mystery series was born.

Christine writes full-time. She and her husband, Kevin, live with their two children in the beautiful Ozark Mountains and enjoy kayaking on the nearby Spring River. Jan, part-time writer and full-time office manager, and her husband, Steve, love to spend time with their two adult children and their granddogs on the lake or just relaxing at home. Sandy, part-time writer and retired teacher, works with her husband, Bart, managing their manufacturing business. She spends her spare time shuttling their teenager back and forth to school activities. But knowing how quickly these days will be gone, she wouldn't have it any other way.

To read more about DOWN HOME AND DEADLY be sure to subscribe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

OTHER HEARTSONG PRESENTS MYSTERIES BY CHRISTINE LYNXWILER, SANDY GASKIN, AND JAN REYNOLDS

DROP DEAD DIVA
Free Branson vacation…in exchange for a little elbow grease and moral support.
Jenna Stafford and her sister, Carly, dust off their cowboy boots, herd the kids into the SUV, and hightail it up to Branson, Missouri, to help with the grand opening of a friend’s theater. To their amazement, the glittering lights and twanging tunes make a perfect backdrop for…murder! The high-maintenance star of the show gets on everyone’s nerves. Until someone puts a permanent end to the diva’s demands. Carly and Jenna’s leading men are waiting in the wings. But with a whole band of suspects, can the sleuthing sisters make the killer play a different tune before their own song is silenced forever?

DEATH ON A DEADLINE
Headline News; Jenna Stafford's nephew is accused of killing his boss, the newspaper editor.
But stop the presses! Jenna recruits her sister, Carly, and they go undercover to get the scoop on the murder.
Will the next headline proclaim: Jenna and Carly Expose Killer? Or will the sleuthing sisters end up the featured
subjects in tomorrow's obit column?

Fun Friday

2008-12-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Gunfight at Grace Gulch by Darlene Franklin. To learn more about Darlene and her books, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2008-12-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

MYSTERY AUTHOR RIDES AGAIN!!!

2008-12-03T09:24:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mandy won a copy of Candice Speare's newest Heartsong mystery, BAND ROOM BASH! We'll get that in the mail to you, Mandy! Thanks for playing.

Now for this week's Mystery Author! Remember, you must post your guess as a comment and include your e-mail address. I'll draw a winner from all the correct entries.

And away we go...

Welcome, Mystery Author!

What part of the country do you hail from?

I've lived in and around Houston, Texas for about 25 years, so I consider myself a Texan. But I grew up on a farm in Western Oklahoma.

Besides your Heartsong cozy mystery, you’ve published other books. How many?

The second book in the Volstead Manor Series will be out in a few days. That mystery, Another Hour to Kill, will be my 23rd book.

One of your favorite novels has a “bird” in the title. What is it?

To Kill a Mockingbird. What a masterpiece!

You have a favorite place to write in the morning. Where is it?

In a local cafe. I've made friends there, and now it's such a reunion when I go that it's hard to get anything done. But it's pure delight!

What is the first name of the main character in your Heartsong mystery series?

Bailey

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Put your guessing caps on! Who do you think our Mystery Author is?

Short Story Mystery

2008-12-02T08:00:00.002-05:00

Seoul Food by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 1

Cho Hee Kim hiked her basket higher on her hip. All around people thronged the market place—pushing, shouting. As a member of the ruling regime, Cho Hee could easily have sent a servant for the snake meat she served to her guests every Tuesday night, but she enjoyed the bustle of the marketplace, and her worn dress and servant’s cloak gave her ample anonymity.

“Annyeong,” she greeted as she drew near to her favorite vendor, a wizened old man with thinning gray hair and eagle sharp eyes.

“Annyeong haseyo,” the vendor replied. “Here for your regular Tuesday purchase?”

Cho Hee smiled and added a quick nod. “Many guests tonight. I need something extra special.”

The vendor’s wrinkled cheeks lifted in a grin. “I have just the thing.” Reaching below the wooden plank that served as a counter, he pulled out a crate and dropped it before her with a thud.

Cho Hee picked up the lid and peered inside. The snake looked fresh. The vendor must have killed it specifically for her, knowing she would need just a such a delicacy for her honored guests. Smiling, she tipped her head. “It is perfect. Many thanks.”

She paid the vendor then slipped quietly into the crowd with her purchase, never guessing that just a few steps away, death waited to claim her, its icy cold fangs bared and ready to pierce her unsuspecting flesh.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of Seoul Food.

FOR DISCUSSION: What evil plot lies in store for Cho Hee?

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-12-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

THE CASE:

Movie star Tad Oliver's marriage was on the rocks and his agent was worried about his mental health. When Tad didn't answer his phone one day, the agent called the police and they sped to Tad's beach house. The doors and windows were all locked from the inside.

The police broke in and found the leading man on his bedroom floor, barely clinging to life. A gun was in his hand and a bullet hole in his chest. The distraght agent bent over his dying client. "Why'd you do it, Babe? Why? I just got you a four-picture deal with Metro!"

The star's dying word was whispered, but both the agent and an officer heard it: "Jealousy."

THE MYSTERY:

Tad's death was murder. What did he mean by "jealousy?" And how did the killer get out of the house that was bolted from the inside?

THE CLUES:

1. Tad never said "jealousy."

2. Tad's last look was glassy-eyed.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature !!

2008-11-29T08:00:00.003-05:00

THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS
BY

NANCY MEHL

IVY TOWERS-TUCKER IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HER FIRST CHRISTMAS AS A MARRIED WOMAN. . . .
But a few days before December 25, Ivy and her husband Amos are awakened by noises on their rooftop. Amos’s joke that Santa Claus must have arrived early loses its humor when a body goes fl ying past their second-story window. A look outside reveals two legs covered in red velvet trousers and black boots sticking out of a snow bank! Ivy and Amos are even more surprised to fi nd they belong to a dead man dressed as Santa Claus. The story circulates quickly through the small town of Winter Break that Ivy and Amos have killed Santa. Who is the dead man and why was he on their roof? Ivy has a Christmas mystery to solve that will bring a satisfying conclusion to the Ivy Towers Mystery series.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Mehl's novels are all set in her home state of Kansas. "Although some people think of Kansas as nothing more than flat land and cattle, we really are quite interesting," she says. "Creating Winter Break, Kansas for the Ivy Towers mystery series has been a lot of fun. Through my research, I've learned even more about the 'Sunflower State.'" Nancy is a long-time mystery buff who loves the genre and is excited to see more inspirational mysteries becoming available to readers who share her passion. She lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband of thirty-five years, Norman. Her son, Danny, is a graphic designer. They attend Word of Life Church. Besides the Ivy Towers series, she has one other book in print. Sinner's Song is romantic suspense, set in the world of the homeless.
For more information about NANCY MEHL

AND NOW AN EXCERPT FROM . . .THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS
Amos was back on the couch. I snuggled up next to him. We sipped our chocolate and stared at our first Christmas tree without saying a word. That's one of the most wonderful things about being married to the right person. Sometimes you don't have to talk. Just being together is enough. Of course, most people wouldn't believe I could spend much time without opening my mouth; I'm not known for keeping my trap shut. One of my weaknesses is a propensity for saying things I shouldn't. It had gotten me into trouble more than once. I was working on it, but realistically, a complete victory over this aspect of my personality probably wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

"Six o'clock comes pretty early, Ivy," Amos said finally. "I think it's time to head upstairs."

I picked up our cups and took them to the kitchen. After turning down the heat and flipping off all the lights except the one in the kitchen, I followed my husband and our animal friends upstairs. By the time I finished in the bathroom, Amos was already asleep, with Pal curled up at the foot of our bed and Miss Skiffins dozing in the overstuffed chair in the corner. Although she never started out on the bed, most mornings when we woke up she was cuddled next to Pal, sleeping peacefully.

I climbed under the covers, thankful for our electric blanket. I loved nestling under the covers when the night was cold and the blanket was warm and toasty. After I was settled in, I checked the alarm next to my side of the bed so I could wake Amos up in the morning when it went off. He had started wearing earplugs at night after tactfully telling me that my snoring could probably be heard by Odie Rimrucker, whose house was about half a mile down the road. I would have been offended, but I had it on pretty good authority from my ex-college roommate that she could still hear me even when she plugged headphones into her CD player and turned it up. I suspect she wasn't too unhappy to see me drop out of school and move to Winter Break. After assuring myself that the clock was set correctly, I fell asleep almost immediately.

I was dreaming that I was trying to prepare Christmas dinner for the whole town and all my shelves were bare. I was in a panic, slamming kitchen cabinet doors in frustration, when a loud noise startled me awake. I glanced at the clock. It was a little after one. I heard several thumps that sounded just like the cabinet doors in my dream, and then the sound of something being dragged made me sit up in bed. I reached over and grabbed Amos's shoulder, shaking him until he mumbled, "Wha-whatsa matter?"

"Amos," I hissed. "I think someone's on our roof. Wake up!"

He struggled to sit up. "What? What did you say?"

"Take the earplugs out of your ears!" I yelled while pointing to my own ears and making a gesture to show him what I wanted him to do.

"Oh," he said, "I forgot." He reached into his left ear and pulled out the blue foam plug. "What do you want, Ivy?" he asked, his eyes bleary. "I've got to get some sleep."

"There's someone on our roof," I said, trying to keep my voice down. Of course, if our rooftop visitor could actually hear me, shouting at Amos about his earplugs a few seconds earlier certainly would have alerted him that someone knew he was on the property.

"On our roof?" he repeated, scratching his head as if it would wake him up. "What are you talking about? No one could possibly be on our roof."

"I'm telling you, I heard it."

Amos shook his head. "I don't hear anything. You probably dreamed it." He grinned sleepily. "Or maybe it's Santa Claus coming a little early."

"Amos Parker, that's not funny. Something is definitely on our roof. Maybe someone is trying to break into the house."

"Through the roof? He'd have to be a pretty bad burglar."

Another loud thump right above our heads finally convinced Amos that I wasn't hallucinating. He got up and grabbed his robe. Pal was in full alert, but he didn't start barking until he sensed that we were concerned about what was happening. Miss Skiffins jumped down from the bed and leaped up on the chair, annoyed that we'd disrupted her sleep. Both Amos and I went to the window. As Amos raised the window shade, there was a strange ripping sound, and something large fell past our window and down onto the driveway below. We peered down at the ground, but it was impossible to see anything. Although the high-intensity glow from our yard light was great for illuminating our property, looking directly at it could cause temporary blindness. Amos had insisted on lighting the back and front yards to deter burglars. I wasn't sure what kind of burglars would travel the bumpy and usually snow-packed dirt road to our house for a chance to steal what little we owned, but Amos was trying to protect us and arguing with him was useless. Thick shades managed to block the light at night so I could sleep. My biggest concern was that I would wake up some morning to find that a confused pilot had ended up in our yard, thinking it was a landing strip.

Amos pulled his gun out of the drawer. "Stay here, Ivy. I mean it."

As a Stevens County sheriff's deputy, he was used to giving orders. Unfortunately, I wasn't used to taking them. I waited a few seconds and then followed him down the stairs. Pal came after me. When I reached the bottom, I saw the front door wide open. The porch light highlighted the entryway. Even before I reached the door, I heard Amos exclaim loudly, "What in the world?"

As I stepped out onto the front porch, I followed his "What in the world?" with a "Shoot and bother!"

Sticking up out of a snowbank were two unmoving legs encased in red velvet and black boots. Amos was standing a few feet from the bizarre scene with his mouth hanging open. "J-jumpin' Jehoshaphat, Ivy," he stuttered, "I think we just killed Santa Claus!"

To read more of THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS be sure to subscribe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

IN THE DEAD OF WINTER
Samantha "Ivy" Towers returns to Winter Break, Kansas, where she spent her summers as a child, to make funeral
arrangements for her Aunt Bitty. While there, she begins to suspect her aunt's death, which resulted from a fall
in her bookshop, wasn't an accident after all. Childhood friend, Amos Parker, now sheriff of Winter Break, seems
anxious to get Ivy out of town. A missing book, a message scrawled by an unknown person, and an extra coffee cup
leaves Ivy with more questions than answers.

BYE BYE BERTIE
Ivy Towers lives in the tiny town of Winter Break, Kansas. While working hard to get her late aunt’s rare bookstore, Miss Bitty’s Bygone Bookstore, on its feet, she accidentally discovers a map hidden inside an old music box. Could it be the map to the Lost Gambler’s Gold? The legend of the ill-fated gambler, who hid his fortune somewhere in Winter Break before an Indian raid in the 1860s, has circulated among residents ever since Ivy can remember.

Unbeknownst to her boyfriend, Deputy Sheriff Amos Parker, Ivy follows the directions to the place where “X” marks the spot. What she digs up will uncover a mystery that leads to much more than she ever imagined. Lives will be changed, old secrets will be revealed, and Ivy will learn that sometimes, lost treasure can turn out to be much more valuable than a chest full of gold.

Fun Friday

2008-11-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Misfortune Cookies by Linda Kozar. For more on the Until the Fat Ladies Sing Mysteries, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2008-11-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

PRE-THANKSGIVING MYSTERY AUTHOR!!!!

2008-11-26T08:54:00.004-05:00

(HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT TITLE? CATCHY, HUH? LOL!)

Seriously, we pray that you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And what to do after you've stuffed yourself with turkey, taken a nap, and are looking for some kind of entertainment? How about playing Mystery Author?!

Our congratulations to QUILTINGREADER who guessed that last week's Mystery Author was Susan Page Davis. Q.R. wins a copy of Susan's book, HOMICIDE AT BLUE HERON LAKE. (BTW, Susan is quite possibly one of the nicest people on the face of the planet.) *One note: Although Q.R. didn't post her e-mail address in the body of her comment, it was easily accessible through her profile. That's fine. I just need to be able to contact you if you win.

SO, ARE YOU READY FOR OUR NEXT MYSTERY AUTHOR? Leave a comment with your guess, and your e-mail address, and we'll draw for a winner of the Mystery Author's Heartsong mystery.

HERE GOES!

WELCOME, MYSTERY AUTHOR!

First of all, what part of the country do you hail from?

The Mid-East

You have a very special animal friend. What’s his name?

Sir Winston Churchill

Besides your writer’s hat, you wear two other “fedoras.” What are they?

Content reviewer and co-owner of a consulting business

Last question. What’s the first name of the main character in your Heartsong mystery series?

Trish

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Short Story Mystery

2008-11-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

If the Shoe Fits

Susan Page Davis

Part 3

“I’m sorry ma’am,” the officer said. “You say there was a crime, but we don’t have reasonable suspicion. The man claims he saw you slumped over in your car and stopped to ask if you were all right.”

“I saw him in the garage,” Faye said stiffly. It was hard to breathe.

“Yes, ma’am. A shoe with a foot in it. Don’t you think that’s a little farfetched?”

“No, I don’t. If he’d just clobbered a person and shoved them into the trunk—all that was showing was that foot, and he was stuffing it in when I saw him. You didn’t let him go, did you?”

The officer sighed. “No, ma’am, but it’s dark in there. He might have been stowing his tennis shoes when you saw him.”

Faye straightened and met his skeptical gaze. “No. Listen to me, Officer. I retired a month ago from the Swifter Shoe factory. The shoe I saw was our model 9-Z, top of the line. I was close enough to see the special, heavy duty grommets in the 9-Z. I’m telling you, that shoe wasn’t empty.”

The officer eyed her speculatively. “All right. That makes you a credible witness in my book.” He yelled to another officer, “Marv? Pop the trunk on that Lincoln.”

“With pleasure.”

They waited, and Faye felt suddenly unsure. How humiliating was this going to be if she were wrong?

The patrolman who opened the trunk called, “Jack? The shoe’s in here.”

“And?”

“She’s right—it ain’t empty. You want me to call homicide?”

Faye exhaled as the officer’s eyes met hers. “That’s affirmative. I’ll take a full statement from our star witness.”

The End

Stay tuned next for a brand new Short Story Mystery.

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-11-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

THE CASE:

Ratso, a sleazy-looking cowpoke, ambles into the blacksmith's shop and plops down a saddle, announcing it's for sale. The blacksmith pays the price of $50.00, then rushes to the sheriff's office. The sheriff rustles up Ratso, handcuffs him and says, "You're under arrest for the murder of Yosemite Slim."

THE MYSTERY:

On what grounds was Ratso arrested for murdering Slim?

THE CLUES:

1. The blacksmith shared a secret with Yosemite Slim.

2. Yosemite had been a prospector.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!!

2008-11-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

OF MICE AND MURDER
BY

MARY CONNEALY

BEING NAMED IN GREATGRANDMA’S WILL WAS LIKE HITTING BANKRUPT ON WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
The whole family held their breath while the wheel ticked around and around—or rather while the lawyer opened the envelope. Then they all heaved a sigh of relief when the wheel stopped on Carrie Evans’s name. Carrie the heiress. Great. Clean up the house. Clean up the yard. Clean up Great-Grandma’s rap sheet. Carrie hates mice and loves the big city. So why is she living in a huge mouse-infested house in her dinky hometown? The dead guy in her pantry closet is the most interesting thing that’s happened since she came home. Of course, the carpenter who’s helping her trap her mice and solve the crime is pretty interesting, too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Connealy is the author of Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and the soon-to-be-released Gingham Mountain. She has recently signed an exclusive contract to write for Barbour Publishing for the next three years. And yes, the ink was dry on that contract before she let them see her whacky cozy mysteries.
Of Mice. . .and Murder is coming in November from Heartsong Presents Mysteries, the first in a three book series about romance, murder, comedy and really big mice in small town Nebraska. Pride and Pestilence is book #2 and The Miceman Cometh is book #3.
Mary’s dream is to tell love stories that make people laugh. She lives on a farm in Nebraska with her husband, Ivan. She is the mother of four beautiful daughters Josie, married to Matt, Wendy, Shelly, married to Aaron and Katy. She’s got one granddaughter on the way. And later, if it turns out the doctor was wrong about Josie’s baby being a girl, we will look at this bio and laugh.
For more information about MARY CONNEALY

AND NOW AN EXCERPT FROM . . .OF MICE AND MURDER
Being named in Great-Grandma's will was like hitting Bankrupt on Wheel of Fortune. The whole family held their breath while the wheel ticked around and around-or rather, while the lawyer opened the envelope. Then they all heaved a sigh of relief when the wheel stopped on Carrie's name.

Carrie the heiress.

Great.

Clean up the house.

Clean up the yard.

Clean up Great-Grandma's rap sheet.

"I don't know why it has to be me," Carrie grumbled.

The empty kitchen-empty except for the garbage that Great-Grandma Bea had been amassing all her one hundred and three years-mocked her with its silence.

Silence except for the hammering on the porch, which stopped when Carrie started talking to herself. Carrie froze, hoping the carpenter hadn't heard her.

Spooky old house, spooky new resident.

The banging resumed. Now that her great-grandma wasn't around to drive off the hired help, the work would finally get done-except, of course, Carrie had no money.

She'd have to break that to the carpenter pretty soon.

And while he pounded away, Carrie could break her back by cleaning up this old wreck. What a waste of a beautiful, brisk, fall afternoon. She had to figure out how to get out of Melnik before she went nuts. But first she would-

A mouse dashed out of the kitchen pantry twenty feet away.

"EEEEE!" Carrie shrieked.

The mouse skittered toward her. Carrie ran the opposite direction and collided with the carpenter, who was dashing through the door, clutching his hammer.

"What happened?"

The mouse skidded to a halt under the table and squeaked.

Carrie squeaked even louder and jumped toward the carpenter. He caught her against his chest, hooking one arm under her legs and the other behind her back.

It was nice of a stranger to come to the rescue. He was the kind of man who could do the whole "white knight" thing, with his lovely height and broad shoulders. The hammer he held-in the hand now under her knees-would make a fair lance, too.

"Forgive me." Carrie barely moved her lips.

"For what?" The carpenter's whisper pulled her attention away from the mouse.

Carrie noted the tidy logo of his company on the pocket of his shirt where a little polo player ought to be. OC with the word O'Connor arced above and Construction in a half circle below. Both of the placket buttons were neatly closed, and his hair was combed and gelled as if he were afraid it would break out and go its own way. His eyes glowed with humor and kindness, though.

"Oh, you weren't supposed to hear that. I was praying for forgiveness."

Their eyes locked. His were dark blue, a rich color that begged for a closer look. Hers were blue, too, but washed out like her white-blond hair, the wimpy coloring of a pure Swede, not strong and clear like his.

After way too long, he smiled and whispered again, "For what?"

"Huh?" Her brain functioned slowly, somewhat like Jell-O.

"What do you want God to forgive you for? Jumping into my arms?" His smile faded as if that hurt his feelings.

"Oh, no."

The smile returned. "Good."

"It's something I do when a mouse scares me."

"Why?"

"Because it's a sin to be afraid of a mouse."

A dimple appeared in each cheek as he smiled wider. "Is not. Where in the Bible does it say, 'Thou shalt not run and scream when you see a rodent'?"

Carrie switched from studying his eyes to studying his dimples. Really, a woman could keep busy forever watching him. "It should be. It's a sin to be this stupid about a tiny little creature obviously put on the earth by God to feed cats. Cats need to eat."

"Oh, well then, because cats need to eat, you've sinned for sure. And what does that have to do with you jumping into my arms?"

"There's a mouse." She glanced back at the floor.

The knight eased her back on her feet. "Mouse, huh?" He gave her an I'm-not-rolling-my-eyeballs-throughsheer-willpower look that tarnished his shining armor.

"It's more afraid of you than. . ."

"Than I am of it. I know." And hadn't Carrie heard that a hundred thousand times before in her life? Hadn't helped then, didn't help now. Carrie saw the mouse turn and streak back under the closed pantry door. She grabbed a handful of the carpenter's shirtfront. He steadied her with a strong arm.

"Yeah, right, it's more afraid of me. Not even. Does that mouse lay awake nights fretting, 'What if a woman runs up my leg?' I don't think so."

"Uh, have you got a trap?"

Carrie turned back to the knight. "My hero." The words sounded reverent. "In that sack on the table. Thanks." She was just inches from him, and since she was there anyway, she let herself get lost in his eyes again. This close, she could smell his warm, clean scent.

"I'll see what I can do." He seemed even closer. "By the way, I'm Nick O'Connor. My hired man and I are repairing your porch."

"Hired man?"

"Wilkie Melnik."

Carrie gasped and backed off. "You hired Wilkie Melnik?"

The corners of Nick's mouth turned down, and the smile wrinkles on the corners of his eyes disappeared along with his dimples. Carrie regretted seeing them go, but it helped her mind work.

Nick smoothed the fist wrinkles she'd made in his shirt. "Yeah, he's not working out too well. He didn't show up yesterday or the day before, and he hasn't come today, either."

"That sounds like Wilkie."

To read more of OF MICE AND MURDERbe sure to subscribe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

Fun Friday

2008-11-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl. For more on the Ivy Tower Mystery Series, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2008-11-20T08:00:00.004-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

WELCOME, MYSTERY AUTHOR!!!

2008-11-19T08:42:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Mandy, who guessed Cynthia Hickey as our Mystery Author last week! She wins a copy of Cynthia's FUDGE-LACED FELONIES!

I happen to know that this week's Mystery Author has TWO books she wants to give away! So...try twice as hard to guess who it is!

You know the drill. Leave a comment telling me the name of the Mystery Author AND your e-mail address. I'll draw a name from all the correct guesses!

Now, on to our game!

Welcome, Mystery Author!

First of all, what part of the country do you call home?

I live the north and east quadrant of the county.

What does your husband do?

He does a lot of things, but his main job is pointing out what other people did wrong. No joke.

You took an interesting vocational course. Tell us about that.

Yes, those were the days! Silly me, I thought I wanted to be a blacksmith. Talk about hard work!

You have a hobby that has helped your writing. What is it?

Family history has taken me down some verrry interesting rabbit trails that sparked ideas.

What’s the first name of the main character in your current Heartsong mystery series?

Emily.

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Short Story Mystery

2008-11-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

If the Shoe Fits

Susan Page Davis

Part 2

“It’s all right, ma’am. I’m a police officer.”

She opened the window an inch. “Did you catch him? The man who was following me?”

"Yes, ma’am, but we don’t really have any reason to detain him. He claims he wasn’t following anyone.”

“I saw him out here. He was looking for me.”

“And why was he looking for you, ma’am?"

“Because I saw…”

“What? What did you see?”

Faye stared at him in the shadow. “Could I see your badge, please?”

He chuckled. “Certainly. Why don’t you step over to my car, and I’ll take your statement?”

Faye sat very still. He didn’t produce a badge. She closed the window, and as she redialed 911 he began pounding the window with his fists.

“What is your emergency?” a cool female voice asked.

“Help! Please! I’m in the airport parking lot. A man is trying to break into my car. Help me!” Faye should have recognized him immediately, but she’d been concentrating more on that foot, that shoe, than on his face.

She saw the flashing blue lights then. A patrol car slid down the aisle and stopped in front of her Tercel. The man abruptly stopped banging on the window and ran. Faye took a deep breath as a uniformed officer tore past.

Stay tuned next week for Part 3 of If the Shoe Fits.

FOR DISCUSSION: Why do you think the man tried to break into Faye's car?

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-11-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

THE CASE:

Hank walks into a bank and hands a teller a bag. The teller opens the bag, reads the note and smiles. Then she hands the note to a nearby bank guard. The guard draws his gun, points it toward Hank and approaches him. As Hank raises his hands, the guard immediately shoots and kills him. A few days later, a female clercial worker in a neighboring office building is charged with murder.

THE MYSTERY:

What did the note say and why was the murder committed?

THE CLUES:

1. Sometimes a surrender signals an attack.
2. Hank didn't know what he was doing.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!

2008-11-15T05:00:00.001-05:00

MISFORTUNE COOKIES
BY

LINDA KOZAR

WHEN EVEN THE FORTUNE COOKIES HINT AT CALAMITY AHEAD, WATCH OUT!
Best friends Sue Jan and Lovita run a beauty shop/boutique in the little West Texas town of Wachita. They share a passion for food and fun. But one day, over lunch in a Chinese restaurant, Lovita opens a fortune cookie with a sinister message: “Your father was murdered. . .” a clue that leads them to God, an international spy ring, and several devastatingly handsome strangers. A most unlikely pair of detectives, these girlfriends “comb” the countryside with style, sarcasm, and lots of Szechwan. This tale is like good take-out food—definitely worth bringing home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Kozar, author and speaker, is the recipient of the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year Award, and four previous awards for writing. Her first fiction novel, Misfortune Cookies, will be released by Heartsong Presents--Mysteries in 2008, followed by two sequels in 2009. Also a book of devotions titled, Babes With A Beatitude, Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, will release in 2009.

Linda works part-time at Lone Star Community College, Montgomery Campus as a Staff Facilitator for a magazine, The Global Pen, by and for ESOL students. She is the Co-Founder and Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild---South East Texas Region, in The Woodlands, Texas. She assumed a post as President of a new Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers ACFW in The Woodlands, "Writers On The Storm," in July of 2009. She also co-leads a women’s Bible Study, “Babes With A Beatitude,” at WoodsEdge Community Church and manages a ministry website by that name, and taught a previous women’s Bible Study, “Coffee, Tea and Thee,” for 14 years. She and her husband Michael, married for 19 years, have two lovely teen daughters, Katie and Lauren.

AND NOW AN EXCERPT FROM . . .MISFORTUNE COOKIES
"What's that?" she asked panicked and pointing upward.

We looked up through the windshield at a pointy black cloud in the distance. The tip of it began to rotate in a graceful pirouette.

"Uh-oh," I gasped.

Sue Jan held my shoulder in a bear trap grip. "We're gonna die Ita! That's a funnel cloud, a baby tornado coming down. Then its gonna get big and nasty and carry us away and there won't be enough left of us to pick up in a vacuum cleaner and I'll never have my date with Hans. Never."

It was strangely dark outside. The sky tinged with green. And quiet all of a sudden. No birds singing or crickets chirping. Even the leaves in the trees were still. I screeched the car to a halt by the back door. I don't even know how we got out, but in a flash we were inside tripping over chairs, spilling vases and dishes, and grabbing Sue Jan's four fat cats on our way down to daddy's fallout shelter. My daddy built it in the fifties, when everybody was scared of an atomic bomb going off. So he built our very own shelter right under the house.

I had to admit, the whole thing was pretty clever. Daddy built a secret hinged shelf inside our walk-in kitchen pantry. Behind that was a stairway full of cobwebs that led down to the airlock door, made of super thick steel. Four people could live and sleep real comfortable for a couple of weeks. It was fully stocked with food. Medical supplies too. And an air filter was supposed to protect us from breathing radioactive air. Daddy tried to think of everything.

Not many people knew about it of course. It's not the sort of thing you're supposed to advertise. You don't want everybody showing up at your shelter door wanting in. I know he was worried. That's why he built it, out of love for us. He didn't want me and Mama turning mutant or anything.

Once the door was closed and the airlock turned, everything was quiet, except for the cats who were mee-owing, all nervous-like and looking for somewhere to hide. We were snug inside. That was certain.

The overhead industrial lights went dim all of a sudden. I had 'em set on low to conserve power, but the storm was affecting things. A quick flip of a switch fixed that.

"Hey, thanks for turning the lights up." Sue Jan turned around surveying the place though she had visited the shelter a gazillion times before. "This is like a fifties museum. Even the shampoo and toothpaste, the combs and shaving cream is all from then." She held up a tube. "They don't even make this brand anymore." She drew in an excited breath. "Lovita, you could charge admission! Why didn't I think of that before? Think of the extra bucks you could make showing people a real live atomic bomb shelter right here in Wachita. What do you think?"

Hands on my hips like a sugar bowl, I scrunched up my nose in disapproval. "We have a few other things to worry about right now Sue Jan-like a tornado out there scouring through town, maybe even through this house."

I turned on the emergency radio. A siren immediately sounded. The towns of Wachita, Bentley and Dayton till 5 o'clock central standard time…WARNING…WARNING…A TORNADO SIGHTING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN THE TOWNS OF BENTLEY AND WACHITA…RESIDENTS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY…Sue Jan reached over to switch it off.

"Hey, why'd you do that?"

"We've heard enough Lovita. We've seen the twister ourselves. It's probably tearing off pieces of your house like cotton candy right now. She sniffed. Into itty bitty pieces. Yup."

"Thank you for that."

She sniffed again. "Well, at least we're safe. And the kittycats." She reached down to pet Vicki-Lou, the fattest of the four kitties and clearly the Alpha Kitty. Jealous, Kitty-Mingus, our silver Persian fell on her back purring for a tummy rub. "Aww, don't you widdle kitties worry; we'll be 'otay.

Suppose your Daddy hadn't built this place Lovita. We'd be in trouble--probably in the air spinning around like the inside of a washing machine. Hey, you got any food in here?"

"Oh Sue Jan, you know we didn't have any time to grab some food on our way down-"

I wished we had. There was some leftover chicken-fried steak and butter beans in the fridge and some popovers from the night before. My stomach growled at the thought.

She pointed to a shelf. "Well, what's that stuff over there, then?"

"It's rations, you know fallout shelter rations, the kind that last for twenty, thirty years."

Sue Jan hopped up off the cot she was sitting on. She blew dust off a can. "Hey, this looks like peaches in syrup. I love peaches."

"Now wait a minute Sue Jan…those are special rations for…just in case anything were to happen." I grabbed at the can.

"Well, I have news for you," she tugged back, "something is happening out there and I'm not gonna die hungry when I have this can of dee-lishus peaches right here in my hands." She plopped down on a cot, arms clutching the can

"Oh, all right then." I gave up, too tired to fight.

"Where's your atomic can opener, Lovita?" She winked.

I smirked back and reached for one on a shelf above the cot opposite hers.

"Ugh!" The can opener slipped from my hands and fell to the floor out of sight. A sigh escaped as I creaked down on bended knee to look for it.

Sue Jan made a few motions like she was going to help, but there's no way she was going to let go of that can of peaches.

To read more of MISFORTUNE COOKIE be sure to subscribe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

Fun Friday

2008-11-14T08:00:00.003-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Pedigreed Bloodlines by Sandra Robbins. For more on The Leigh Dennison Mysteries, check out her website!

Mystery Door

2008-11-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

ANOTHER MYSTERY AUTHOR!

2008-11-11T22:34:00.003-05:00

Once again, Brenda guessed the correct author last week! She wins a copy of MISS AGGIE'S GONE MISSING by Frances Devine.

Here's another chance to win a great cozy mystery by a Heartsong author. Leave a comment along with your e-mail address. I will draw a winner from the correct answers. And please spread the word about Mystery Author! We need more people to play our game!

Here is this week's Mystery Author:

Welcome, Mystery Author! What part of the country are you from?

I live in Arizona now, but grew up in the Arkansas Ozark mountain foothills.

How many children do you have?

7. His, mine, and ours.

Besides your "author side," you have another job. What is it?

Detention Monitor at the local school.

You work with a truly wonderful woman (and fellow Heartsong author) on an interview/review site. What's the name of this site?

Mainly Mystery Reviews

What is the first name the main character in your Heartsong mystery novel?

Summer

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Put your guessing caps on and see if you can name this week's mystery author!

Short Story Mystery

2008-11-11T08:00:00.003-05:00

If the Shoe Fits

Susan Page Davis

Part 1

Faye’s car was in a dim, distant corner of the airport parking garage, and she looked around carefully as she approached it. There weren’t many people in the garage now, but diagonally across the aisle a man was standing at the back of a beige sedan, putting something in the open trunk. Faye glanced at him, then stared. She could swear the shoe he pushed into the trunk had a foot in it.

He looked up, and she forced herself to keep walking without breaking into a sprint. As she put her key into the lock, she risked a glance over her shoulder. Big mistake. The man was staring, and their eyes met for an instant.

Faye yanked the door open and jumped in. She threw the transmission into reverse and backed out a bit more quickly than she had intended. In her mirror she saw the man watching her as he slammed the trunk lid.

Her heart hammered. She shoved the gearshift down, and her Toyota roared out of the garage.

“I’ll tell the parking attendant,” she thought. In her mirror she saw the beige sedan speed out of the garage. She hesitated, then swerved into the next aisle of the lot. She didn’t want to get caught in the line of cars at the gate with the sinister man behind her.

There were thousands of cars here, and it was quite dark. She drove quickly to the end of the row and turned left, not caring where she went, as long as the man in the beige car couldn’t see her if he looked down that aisle.

She turned again, right this time, at a gap midway down the long lane, then right again in the next row and shut her lights off. How long could she avoid her pursuer? Would he give up eventually and leave the lot?

She spotted an empty space and nosed her car in, then shut off the engine. The doors were locked, and she lay down on the seat, breathing in shallow gasps.

She fumbled for her cell phone. Maybe she should have kept moving, but light and movement would draw his eye at this time of night. Oh, where was the stupid phone?

Her fingers closed on it. “I’m in the airport parking lot, in my car. A man followed me from the parking garage in a beige sedan, and I’m hiding from him. He’s looking for me. Can you get airport security out here?”

“Calm down, ma’am. Speak slowly, please. What is your location?”

Faye risked peeking up over the back of the seat. A vehicle was crawling slowly along the aisle. She ducked down again. “Please send security to the parking lot. Someone is stalking me. I think the car is a Lincoln. It’s beige.”

“Which part of the lot are you in, ma’am?”

She raised her head as high as she dared. “Section D. Hurry! I have a blue Toyota Tercel.” The beige car was suddenly even with her parking space, and the driver was craning his neck, looking around. Faye scrunched down again. “He has roof racks.”

She huddled on the seat for several minutes. Suddenly someone knocked on her window and she jumped, terrified.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of If the Shoe Fits.

FOR DISCUSSION: Have you ever wandered through a deserted parking garage? What would you have done in Faye's situation?

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-11-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

THE CASE:

A man lies dead on a track. Near his body is a shard of glass.

THE MYSTERY:

Who murdered the man, and how?

THE CLUES:

1. Tracks can be tricky, depending on how you look at them.
2. Upon reflection, the driver should have seen the problem.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

SPECIAL FEATURE!!

2008-11-08T05:00:00.005-05:00

EVERYBODY CALLED HER A SAINT
BY

CECIL MURPHEY

Who would want to kill the sainted Twila Belk?. . .Especially since she had footed the bill for an Antarctica cruise with 48 of her “closest friends?”
But when a search team discovers the body of the murdered benefactress on Brown Bluff Island, an unlikely duo joins forces to solve the heinous crime.
Though once engaged, Reverend James Burton and Psychologists Julie West are no longer even on speaking terms. Can their mutual love and admiration for a dear, departed friend allow them to set aside their animosities long enough to bring Twila’s killer to justice?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cecil Murphey is an international speaker and award-winning author who has written, co-written, or ghostwritten 108 published books, including the NY Times bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper). Writing Everybody Loved Roger Harden, his first cozy mystery, was great fun for him. For more information about Cecil Murphey, visit his website - http://www.themanbehindthewords.com/

To read more of EVERYBODY CALLED HER A SAINT be sure to subscibe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

OTHER HEARTSONG PRESENTS MYSTERIES BY CECIL MURPHEY

EVERYBODY LOVED ROGER HARDEN
Psychologist Julie West and Reverend James Burton arrive late for dinner on Palm Island-but just in time to discover their host, millionaire Roger Harden, murdered. Ten possible suspects share close quarters on the secluded island, all of them with deep secrets and sufficient motive to have wanted the wealthy "benefactor" dead. Can Julie and Burton ignore the mysterious attraction developing between them long enough to discover who among them didn't love Roger Harden enough to let him live?

EVERYBODY WANTED ROOM 623
When psychologist Julie West arrives at Cartledge Inn in response to an urgent call from Stefan Lauber, a supposedly reformed criminal recently released from prison, a near-hysterical desk clerk tells her that Lauber has been murdered in his room-room 623.

Fun Friday

2008-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Where the Truth Lies by Elizabeth Ludwig and Janelle Mowery. For more on the Masschusetts Mayhem series, check out their websites!

Mystery Door

2008-11-06T08:00:00.006-05:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

MYSTERY AUTHOR IS BACK!!!

2008-11-05T09:13:00.006-05:00

WE'RE BACK!!! Today, we're going to meet another Heartsong Mystery Author. Remember the rules: You must indentify the author, leave a comment, AND include your e-mail address so we can contact you. We will draw a winner from all of the correct entries.

Now for today's Mystery Author!

Welcome, Mystery Author! What state are you from originally? What part of the country do you call home now?

I was raised in the great state of Texas. Now I live in the great state of Missouri and loving it.

How many children do you have? Grandchildren?

7 children. 15 grandchildren

Your Heartsong cozy mystery isn’t the first book you’ve written for Barbour. Can you tell us a little about your other book without giving away too many details?

Hmm. It's about a group of ladies who live in Arizona in the nineteenth century. It has a little bit of mystery and a lot of love.

The main character in your Heartsong cozy mystery has just received an inheritance that will change her life. What did she inherit?

A boarding house for senior citizens.

And finally, Mystery Author, what is the first name of your main character?

Victoria

Well, there it is. Kinda tough this time. Let's see if we can fool our expert guessers! WHO is our mystery author?????

Short Story Mystery

2008-11-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Sealed and Delivered by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 3

Detective Ralph Brady stooped near the fireplace, his sharp gaze scanning the smoldering ash.

Ah, there it was.

He smiled and turned his attention back to the crowd gathered around Lady Manchester and Jeffrey Monroe.

Charles scrutinized the stamp in his hand, adjusted his glasses, and stared some more. Suddenly, his face paled. “He’s right,” he whispered. “It’s a fake.”

“What!” Lady Manchester exclaimed. She grabbed the stamp in question and brought it almost to her nose. “It can’t be!”

A soft roar erupted from the bidders gathered around the room. Calmly, Detective Brady grabbed a fireplace poker and scrapped a bit of paper from the ashes. The remnant secure in his hand, he rose and faced the room.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention.” The buzz continued. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Lady Manchester, please!” Still no one heard. Drawing a deep breath, he said, “Jeffrey Monroe is under arrest.”

The room fell silent and all eyes swung to him.

“What?” Lady Manchester said.

“What?” Jeffrey repeated.

Confident, now, of their attention, Detective Brady crossed the room to stand before Jeffrey. “What did you intend to do, Mr. Monroe? Forge a new stamp after you’d destroyed the old one?”

Jeffrey’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think you do,” Detective Brady said. He took the fake stamp from Lady Manchester’s limp fingers and waved it in Jeffrey’s face. “I think you created this clever fake knowing Rochester would be able to discern the difference between this and the original. I also think you intended to profit from the affair by announcing to the world that it was you who discovered Lady Manchester trying to peddle a million dollar counterfeit.”

Tugging at his tie, Jeffery cast a quick glance at Lady Manchester. Daggers shot from her steely gaze.

“I also think,” Detective Brady continued, “that you planned to sell a newly printed forged stamp to a collector. You were banking on the idea that you’d be able to find an unscrupulous buyer regardless of the fact that they’d never be able to show the stamp in public, which is why you went to the fireplace and dropped the real stamp into the flames.”

A loud gasp went up from the onlookers in the room.

“Y-you’ll never be able to prove that,” Jeffrey stammered. “You have no proof.”

Detective Brady held up the partially burned bit of paper, his lips curled into a smile. “I have proof, Mr. Monroe. Right here. All the proof I need."

Stay tuned next week for a brand new Short Story Mystery!

For Discussion: Did you figure out Jeffrey's plan?

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-11-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

The Case:

Two men are seated side by side in a commuter train, one dressed in gray and the other in black. The man in gray hands something to the man in black. At the next stop, the man in black pulls out a gun with a silencer, shoots the man in gray dead, and leaves the train.

The Mystery:

What did the man in gray hand to the man in black? Why did the man in black kill the man in gray?

The Clues:

1. The man in black was looking for evidence.

2. The man in gray was European.

The Answer:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!

2008-11-01T08:00:00.009-04:00

THE WILES OF WATERMELON

by
LYNETTE SOWELL

Newlywed Andi Hartley is not at all sure she’s ready to look like an over-ripe melon. . .

In fact, she’s still getting used to being married. But her husband, Ben, wants to start a family right away. Gulp.

Their family plans are put on hold, however, when Andi’s kitten runs from the house to their watermelon field and digs up a bone attached to the remains of a thirty-year-old skeleton. Buried secrets come to life. . .and then the colorful owner of Greenburg’s best eatery is murdered. As Andi unearths more and more of the suspicious history surrounding the skeleton, she realizes both deaths are related. Is she also about to unearth a murderer?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LYNETTE SOWELL works as a medical transcriptionist for a large HMO. But that's her day job. In her "spare" time, she loves to spin adventures for the characters who emerge from story ideas in her head. She hopes to spread the truth of God's love and person while taking readers on an entertaining journey. Lynette is a Massachusetts transplant, who makes her home in central Texas with her husband, two kids by love and marriage (what's a step-kid?), and five cats who have their humans well-trained. She loves to read, travel, spend time with her family, and is a green-thumb-in-training.

AND NOW AN EXCERPT FROM . . .

THE WILES OF WATERMELON

Rain pounded the window of our first-floor bedroom. Thunder had woken me at who knows what insane hour in the middle of the night, and all I could do was watch the show until the storm passed. Lightning illuminated the field of watermelons across the driveway. The vines lit up with the flash, and the watermelons among the leaves remained steadfast against the rain. A sudden movement among the vines made me rise up on one elbow in bed. The movement stopped.

Another flash of lightning, and I glimpsed a bulky figure hunched over the vines. So I hadn't been seeing things. Four miles from town, we didn't have neighbors, and our property was flanked by woods on both sides and by the now-swollen Tennessee River to the rear of the property.

"Ben, someone's in our field!" I jumped up and grabbed my robe from its perch on the exercise bike.

"Hold on, sweetie." Ben was on his feet before I could finish sweeping the cobwebs from my mind. "I'llcheck it out. Though I can't say who'd be plunderin' watermelons this time of night."

He moved down the hallway, and I stayed close behind him. My wedding ring still felt new and shiny on my hand. It and the diamond Ben had given me last July slid round and round as my other hand fumbled with my fingers.

Ben stopped and spun to face me. "Andromeda Hartley, get back in bed."

"No way." I took his hand and squeezed it. "I'm at least goin' to look over your shoulder."

"Those kids better not be out there partyin'. No wonder Mrs. Flanders pulled out her shotgun and chased hooligans off her land. Crazy teenagers."

"In a rainstorm. Right. They'll probably be partying somewhere a lot dryer." I didn't like being woken up in the middle of the night, and Ben's logic escaped me.

He didn't reply but tugged me along with him around the corner then released my hand. A flash of lightning in the kitchen windows made me blink. Ben fumbled with the dead bolt on the kitchen door. Once my eyes readjusted to the darkness, I skidded to a stop on the new tile.

Ben flung open the door and dashed from the back steps, across the covered patio, and into the rain. He paused long enough to grab the baseball bat he'd left on the picnic table after softball practice. I followed. My cheeks stung from the pelting drops, and I fought to see into the grays and blacks of the night. Momma would pitch a fit if she knew I'd run into the rain during a lightning storm. It seems once I got married all my common sense went out the window. Ben and I stumbled through the muddy driveway. He stopped and I slid into him. He pulled me close and I leaned against his warmth, and we waited until the lightning flashed again.

Not thirty yards or so away from us, a figure splashed down our driveway toward a darkened car that waited at the edge of the drive. Lightning illuminated the yard but did little to help us see the stranger.The car's rear tires roared against the mud, and the car turned, headlights now on, and sped away on the rainslicked road.

Drenched to the skin, I glanced at Ben. "He sure picked a great time to steal watermelons. Makes no sense. Alone, too."

Under the yard light, Ben shook his head. "Beats me. C'mon, we oughta get back to sleep. Morning comes early. No harm done, anyway. Not worth calling the police over."

"But if it happens again?" I didn't like the idea of someone trespassing on our property. The idea of a silent lurker made me shiver.

We entered the house, arm in arm. I left a stream of water and wet footprints behind me as I got towels from the hallway linen closet. As I backtracked and wiped up the watery mess with an extra towel, I tried to make sense of what we'd seen. I just couldn't dismiss the event quickly, like Ben had. A stranger prowling in the field during a thunderstorm in the middle of the night didn't make sense. Why would someone go to so much trouble to snag watermelons in a storm? And if it was only watermelons, why keep stealing them after Ben and I had moved onto the property?

As Ben and I trudged back to bed, my foggy brain struggled to make sense of what I'd seen. The last thing I remembered before dropping off to sleep was the image of the hunched-over stranger. . .carrying nothing.

To read more of THE WILES OF WATERMELON be sure to subscibe to:

Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

Other Heartsong Presents Mysteries by LYNETTE SOWELL

A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES: When Charla Rae Thacker and her bridesmaids show up at Andi's soap shop in Greenburg, Tennessee, for a morning of pre-wedding pampering, Andi bends over backwards to make it a pleasant experience for them all. But then Charla keels over and dies from anaphylactic shock after she uses Andi's personally blended cherries jubilee facial scrub. Andi suspects sabotage and murder when she discovers strawberries - a lethal allergen for Charla - in the scrub. Now, Andi must save her business and her reputation.

Mystery Door

2008-10-30T08:00:00.010-04:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

FROM MYSTERY AUTHOR:

2008-10-29T15:23:00.006-04:00

Mystery Author is taking a brief vacation. It will be back next week with new Heartsong authors.

But today, we're exicted to introduce Andromeda Hartley from Greenburg, Tennessee. Andromeda will tell you about Lynette Sowell's wonderfuly cozy mystery, THE WILES OF WATERMELON! Remember, if you want to get to know Andromeda, Belle, CiCi, Leigh, Emily, Ivy - and many more interesting characters, you need to join the Heartsong Presents: Mysteries! book club. As cold weather approaches, there's nothing warmer than a cozy mystery to chase away the chill.

Last week's winner of Darlene's Franklin's GUNFIGHT AT GRACE GULCH is Brenda! Congratulations, Brenda!

See you next week!

Nancy

The Wiles of Watermelon

2008-10-29T14:33:00.003-04:00

Andromeda Clark here! Um, I mean Andromeda Hartley. Ben and I finally tied the knot and we're just loving married life here in Greenburg, Tennessee. We built a nice farmhouse on old Mrs. Flanders' property and her ever-present gigantic watermelon patch is right across the driveway. I have no idea who takes the trouble to plant them, but everyone in Greenburg knows about the patch and someone's carried on the deceased woman's tradition.

Tennessee River Soaps is thriving and our latest specialty scent is watermelon. I figured with the upcoming Chamber of Commerce sponsored watermelon festival, I should be supportive since I'm on the publicity committee. Ben's boss, Honey Haggerty, roped me into that one. Besides, there's something so summery about watermelon, and I can't get away from the fruit. Momma's trying to teach me how to make pickled watermelon rind and can preserves, too. But it's been hard finding the time or inclination to go across our driveway to the watermelon patch after what happened.

I should explain. We've had buckets of rain here. The most in many years, the weatherman says. Recently the crazy kitten Ben gave me headed straight for the muddiest part of the driveway, and then into the field. If Spot is supposed to get me used to the idea of motherhood, it's not working. I managed to catch up with the little darling in the watermelon patch, and part of me wishes I hadn't. Children can get into worse messes than wayward kittens!

Spot found part of a skeleton, and the police say it's been there a long time. I guess with all the rain we had or something, those remains were bound to turn up.

People just don't keel over and get buried in fields. And now I just don't care to head across to that patch anymore. I'm afraid of what I'll find.

My longsuffering brother-in-law, Jerry, says the remains belong to a young woman, barely out of her teens, early twenties at the most. I'm afraid I know who she is. I'm also afraid a few people in Greenburg won't be happy that the past has returned. And that includes my family.

Find out what Andi Hartley discovers in The Wiles of Watermelon by Lynette Sowell, available now through Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

Short Story Mystery

2008-10-28T08:00:00.003-04:00

Sealed and Delivered by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 2

Lady Manchester’s heart leapt. “What? It can’t be. That stamp has been in my family for generations.”

“A stamp perhaps, but not this stamp,” Jeffrey said, his voice smug.

Resisting the urge to slap the mockery from his face, Lady Manchester whirled to stare at Rochester. “Charles, what do you have to say to all of this?” She gave an irritated wave toward the stamp in Jeffrey’s hand.

“I-I-” Charles stammered.

“Well don’t just stand there,” Lady Manchester demanded with a stomp of her foot. “Come look.”

Stumbling from his seat, Charles scampered across the room to do her bidding. He fumbled to remove his glasses and puffed on the lenses before clumsily replacing them. The room full of bidders watched every move.

Vultures, Lady Manchester thought. Money grabbing leeches. Too bad she needed every one of them.

Desperately.

Stay tuned next week for Part 3 of Sealed and Delivered.

For Discussion: What secret is Lady Manchester hiding that makes her "desperate" for buyers?

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Case:

Mr. Basil was a methodical man who liked to plan things down to the smallest detail. This evening's schedule, for instance, included murdering his shrew of a wife. He would do it as soon as they got home.

While driving back to their house, Mr. Basil made a slight alteration to his plan. He dropped off his wife at the front door, then drove across town to the home of Dean Archway. Afer killing Archway, Basil returned to his own house and proceeded to go through with the scheduled murder of his wife.

The Mystery:

Why did Basil alter his plan and make the detour to kill Archway?

The Clues:

1. Mrs. Basil had her last meal at her favorite restaurant.

2. Basil and Archway had similar tastes in clothing.

The Answer:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!!

2008-10-25T08:00:00.003-04:00

DOG GONE by EILEEN KEY

Cleaning lady Belle Blevins dusts off her sleuthing skills when a rash of missing dogs jeopardizes her best friend’s boarding business. Why would anyone go to such extremes to steal a family pet?
When Belle learns the missing animals could possibly be in the hands of dognappers, she trades her vacuum for a detective kit and enters the world of valuable show dogs. Will she win a blue ribbon in the romance category? Or will her curiosity put her on the no-show list for the next round of competition?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eileen Key, freelance writer and editor, resides in San Antonio, Texas, near her grown children and two wonderful grandchildren. She’s published nine anthology stories, numerous articles and devotionals. Her first mystery novel Dog Gone is from Barbour publishing.
Read more about EILEEN KEY

AND NOW AN EXCERPT FROM . . .
DOG GONE

A lost show dog would reflect on Ginnie's business and hit my pocketbook. The taxes on my property had jumped significantly. And if Ginnie's revenue was cut, she'd not be able to make the quarterly lease payment in June. I certainly couldn't cover it all. I'd risk losing land that had been in my family for three generations.

While Ginnie placed the phone call, I went to the back door and stepped outside. I ran my fingers lightly over the doorjamb by the knob. No sign of forced entry. No shoe prints. I circled to the front door and two windows. Nothing. A thick black wire caught my eye. "Security cameras." I opened the door and hollered, "Ginnie, the cameras."

"What?"

"Your security cameras. Let's look at the tapes."

"Of course. They're so new I never thought of them. Where's my mind today?"

Mounted in the top corner of two hallways, black cameras gave a view of all the doggie domains. We could pull the tapes and solve our dilemma. Schotzie could be home by dinnertime.

Ginnie met me underneath a camera. "I can't believe I didn't run to them right off. This one would show more."

I braced an arm against the wall, stood on tiptoes, and peered at the camera to check its angle. It pointed toward the first row of doggie boudoirs. I couldn't see well. "Looks like something is on the lens."

"There's a stool inside the grooming area. Let me get it." Ginnie dragged it to the hallway.

"Steady it and let me climb." I swiveled the camera toward my face once I was high enough to reach it and felt a sticky blob covering the lens. My heart sank. Pinching off a bit, I smelled it. "Ginnie, it's bubblegum."

We checked the camera at the other end of the hallway. More gum. Frustration welled in my chest as I dropped to the floor. "Looks to me like these have been intentionally sabotaged."

She covered her mouth with one hand. "Oh no, this can't be happening." She shivered.

I gripped her arm. "Did you call Sheriff Connors?" At her nod, I guided her down the hall, heartsick. I wondered where Scholander's Pride might be-and who would have gone to such trouble to take her.

The sheriff 's dispatcher had promised to send out a deputy to investigate, and Ginnie and I waited in the kennel's kitchen. Ginnie had purchased a glass-and chrome dinette, a black refrigerator, and matching microwave. Pampered Pooch's lounge offered comfort to its employees, too.

"Coffee?" Ginnie motioned to the pot. "I mean tea. I know you don't drink coffee. See how scrambled my brain is?" She filled two mugs with water and placed them in the microwave. I opened a tea bag and dunked it in the cup she handed me.

"Who had access to the kennel last night?"

"Only Charlie Baker, my evening tech. He left before nine." Ginnie dipped her tea bag up and down and stared into space. "I heard him leave."

I reached for a packet of sweetener and stirred it in. "I thought it was his job to walk the dogs."

"Well, it is, but I enjoy doing it sometimes. Keeps the lonesomes away." She batted her eyelashes and fought tears. "I hate bedtime now that Mitch is gone."Her voice strained, "Two long years of emptiness."

I squeezed her hand. "We'll figure this out, honey." I sipped tea and looked at her over the rim of the cup. "Don't fret. It makes wrinkles around your eyes." And it was giving me a pounding headache.

She fingered her eyelids and smoothed out the crow's-feet, massaging her temples. Ginnie's blond curls and perfect makeup were her trademarks. I must admit, she had a touch of vanity. Often she'd tried to get me "to spruce up a bit," as she called it, but I liked my less-than-perfect look. I could smear on foundation and a dab of lipstick and be out the door faster than she could curl her eyelashes.

A car pulled up, and Ginnie popped up to look out the window. "It's Deputy Dawg." A sad smile tugged at her lips. Don Dawson seemed to enter the door behind his protruding belly. He'd earned his nickname with his slow drawl and droopy jowls, but for the many years I'd known him, he'd always proven to be a good friend. I tipped my teacup in his direction and hid my smile as I sipped.

He nodded in my direction. "Morning, Miss Ginnie." He slid his mirrored sunglasses into his pocket. "Coffee smells mighty good." Ginnie pointed to the cabinet, and he grabbed a Styrofoam cup. "Sheriff said to get here quick. What's the trouble?"

"I've lost a dog." Ginnie's forlorn voice sounded childlike.

He sipped his coffee. "Lost him?" He looked around the room as though Schotzie were under the table.

She crossed her arms. "I have searched the premises, Don, and the dog is simply not here."

I spoke up, "What's worse, the security cameras have been disabled." I explained the gum.

"Well, let's take a look-see." He ambled into the hallway and stopped. "Show me around this fancy place." He grinned. "I told my wife you'd opened a hotel for dogs, and she couldn't believe me. I'll get to tell her tonight I took a tour."

"Don, I'll gladly give you a tour, but you're here to help me find a dog." Ginnie practically stomped her tiny size 5 sandal. "Not just any dog, either. A dog worth thousands of dollars."

His eyebrows shot up. "Thousands?"

"Thousands," I echoed. "This is an award-winning show dog. We need to find her." I slid my chair from the table and patted Don on the back. "This way, Deputy."

To read more of DOG GONE be sure to subscibe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

Mystery Door

2008-10-23T08:00:00.014-04:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

GET READY FOR ANOTHER MYSTERY AUTHOR!

2008-10-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Wow! Last week we had 20 entries for our Mystery Author contest! Thanks to everyone who entered. The answer was SANDRA ROBBINS! And the winner of Sandra's book, PEDIGREED BLOODLINES, is Natalia. Congratulations, Natalia!

Today I'm going to introduce another Mystery Author. Remember that you must guess the author, leave a comment, and INCLUDE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. Unfortunately, a few folks didn't leave their contact info, so I couldn't enter them into the drawing. I will draw a winner from all of the correct answers.

Now...for our newest Mystery Author:

Mystery Author – what part of the country do you come from?
I spent the first eighteen years in New England and since then I've lived in the West. Let's just say I've never traveled further west than Utah.

You’ve received quite a few awards and accolades. Tell us about them.
Oddly enough for a fiction writer, my first award came for nonfiction, a story about the time my son was arrested for possession of LSD as a teenager.

A Christian Writers Conference recognized me for perseverance and encouraged me to continue with what felt like an impossible dream.

I once ranked third among new authors in the Heartsong readers poll. My as-yet-unpublished historical suspense story finaled in a contest sponsored by Vintage Romance.

You have two different degrees. What are they?
I earned a Bachelor of Sacred Music from Northeastern Bible College and a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

What is the first name of the protagonist in your Heartsong mystery series?
Her name is Cici.

Okay! Put your guessing caps on, and tell me who the Mystery Author is!

Short Story Mystery

2008-10-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Sealed and Delivered by Elizabeth Ludwig

Part 1

“May I examine the stamp?” Jeffrey Monroe held out his hand, ignoring the gasps of surprised bidders around the room.

“Of course,” Lady Manchester declared, glaring through her spectacles at him. “But it has already been examined—by Charles Rochester.” She pointed at the stamp expert, her jagged eyebrows rising even higher toward her hairline.

Jeffrey dipped his head. “Regardless, I’d still like a look.”

Squaring her shoulders, Lady Manchester glided toward him. The jewels at her neck glittered in the golden light cast by the chandeliers, making her blue eyes even icier by comparison. Chin lifted so she could peer down her nose at him, she placed the rare stamp in his hand.

Jeffrey carried the stamp carefully to the fireplace where the dancing flames cast an orange glow onto the aged paper. Taking his time, he twisted and turned the item, his lips a tight line. Around the room, every eye fixed upon him in fascination.

“Ah,” he said at last, and the bidders echoed after him, “ah.”

Waving his arms with a flourish, he whirled to face Lady Manchester. “It is as I suspected.”

Lady Manchester appeared unphased. Her heavily ringed hand fluttered through the air. “Oh get on with it, Monroe. What is as you suspected?”

His lips stretched into a tight smile, Jeffrey let the pregnant air ripen until it was thick enough to cut. Now was the moment. The bidders were ready. Rochester was ready. Even Lady Manchester herself, though she’d never admit it, watched him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Jeffrey slowly lifted the stamp for everyone in the room to see.

“This, Lady Manchester,” he said, his words slow and pronounced, “is a fake.”

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of Sealed and Delivered.

For Discussion: What did Jeffrey see that made him declare the stamp a fake?

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-10-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Case:

After one of her dinner parties, widowed Washington hostess Marcella Stoat dies, seemingly from an Egyptian mummy’s curse. Before her son Ernest can be arrested for her murder, HE dies.

The Mystery:

How did Marcella and Ernest die?

The Clues:

1. Marcella was a heavy drinker with sloppy habits.
2. Ernest was an archaeologist.

The Answer:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature!

2008-10-18T08:00:00.015-04:00

TREASURE AT BLUE HERON LAKE

by
Susan Page Davis

Megan Elaine Davis

Jeff Lewis’s hunting lodge is plagued by an intruder who thumps around in the night. Emily Gray and Nate Holman try to help their friend discover who is invading the resort. Things turn more sinister when one of Jeff’s employees is murdered, with Jeff as a suspect. Is the legend of an old lumber baron’s lost treasure behind the crimes? In the midst of the turmoil, Nate proposes to Emily. Their life together begins with unmasking the murderer at Lakeview Lodge.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Susan Page Davis is a native of Maine and author of romantic suspense, historical romance, and children's novels. She's a mother of six, all home schooled until college, and grandmother of five. Most recently she has been writing romantic suspense for Harvest House and Love Inspired Suspense. With her daughter, Megan Elaine Davis, she writes the Blue Heron Lake cozy mystery series for Heartsong Presents: Mysteries. Read more about Susan

Megan Elaine Davis grew up in rural Maine where she was home-schooled with her five siblings. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in Creative Writing from Bob Jones University, and has published poetry, articles, and humorous anecdotes in various publications. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, travel, theater, cooking, and chatting with friends. Her favorite authors are Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, and C. S. Lewis. Homicide at Blue Heron Lake is her first novel. She lives in Maine and will soon become Mrs. John-Mark Cullen, then make her home in England.

AND NOW AN EXCERPT FROM . . .
TREASURE AT BLUE HERON LAKE

Jeff guided the deputy toward the library, and Nate hesitated.
"Oh, come on," Emily whispered. "I want to hear what they say, too."

Nate grinned and tiptoed after the men. He and Emily stopped in the doorway just in time to see Young pick up the pocket knife and put it in an evidence bag.

"Will you check it for fingerprints?" Jeff asked.

"Well, I tell you," Young said, "it's pretty small, and you don't think anything was stolen. Truth is, we probably won't bother."

Emily's lips skewed in a scowl, and Nate slipped his arm around her.

Young smiled at Jeff. "Now, if you had a dead body lying here, that would be different, right Nate?"

"Oh, yeah," Nate said. "We'd send that knife for prints and we might even give the State Police a call."

Young barked a laugh, and even Emily cracked a smile. They all knew that the sheriff's department was not allowed to handle homicides. The Maine State Police took those over except in the state's two largest cities, Portland and Bangor. Baxter, Maine was far too small to have its own police department, let alone a homicide squad.

"I will ask around," Young said. "We have a few known thieves in the area. I'll see if all of them have alibis for tonight, though it's usually pretty hard to prove a guy wasn't in his own bed at 2 a.m."

Jeff's disappointment showed in his hangdog expression. He offered the deputy coffee, but Young turned it down and wished them all a good night as he headed for the door.

"Sorry I couldn't do more, folks, but you scared him off. At least no one was hurt. That's what's important."

"Thanks, Russ," Nate called after him. He turned to face Jeff. "He's right, you know. That burglar will probably never come back."

******

"Ready to go back to sleep?" Nate asked. They stood at the front window of the comfortable lobby at Lakeview Lodge, watching the police car's taillights disappear down the long driveway.

"I'm so wound up now, I doubt I'll get back to sleep." Emily turned to look at their host. "Why don't you tell us the rest of the story about Alexander Eberhardt, Jeff?"

"All right, but let me get a refill on my coffee. You want more?"

"Not me," said Emily. "But if you have any hot chocolate mix . . ."

"Come on. I'm sure we do."

They fixed their hot drinks in the kitchen and then moved into the snug library, where the burglar had made his getaway. Jeff raked up the embers of last evening's fire and added several sticks of wood. When the fire blazed, he dropped into an overstuffed armchair.

"Well, like I told you, Mr. Eberhardt built this lodge as the barracks for his lumbering crew. I think he had other lumber camps, too, and he made a huge success of it. He was getting along in years, and in 1901, he sold his lumber company. It was in the middle of the logging season. He went from here to Bangor by sleigh in January to close the sale. Supposedly he picked up the payment for the business and the payroll for his last disbursement to his employees before handing the company over to the new owner. There were about forty lumberjacks staying here at the lodge then, working through the winter, and a clerk, several teamsters, and a cook."

"Quite an operation," Nate said.

"Yeah. The story goes that Mr. Eberhardt paid his crews once a month. In winter, the 'boys' would get one day off after payday. They could go into Baxter or Aswontee if they wanted and spend some of their pay. A few would have Mr. Eberhardt send the bulk of their wages home for them the next time he went to Bangor."

"That must have been a rough life." Emily sipped her cocoa and nestled closer to Nate.

"Yeah, they would stay in the lumber camps for six or eight months," Jeff agreed. "They say there was a big storm the day after Mr. Eberhardt left. He had a man with him to drive the sleigh. When the snow started, all the lumberjacks were disappointed, because they figured he would be delayed. If he stayed overnight in Bangor, they wouldn't get their pay on the usual day. But-"

Emily watched him, enthralled by the story. She could easily imagine the big men snowed in by the blizzard, fretting and pacing because the boss was late returning.

Jeff raised his eyebrows and leaned forward. "The next morning, Mr. Eberhardt was found in his bed in the lodge-in the room I sleep in now."

"So he made it through in the sleigh." Nate nodded in satisfaction, and Jeff sat back and let his shoulders droop.

"Well, yeah. Unfortunately, he was dead."

Emily let out a little gasp, trying to work out the puzzle of how the man had died and yet made it safely into his own bed.

"There was no doctor," Jeff said. "André, the man who drove him to Bangor and back, assured the other men that the boss was alive, though fatigued and chilled, when they got in late the previous night. André was as shocked as they were-or so he claimed-when he heard Mr. Eberhardt was dead. The crew didn't know what to think of it, but they probably surmised he had suffered a heart attack after his strenuous trek through the storm."

"It works for me," Nate said.

"Oh, come on." Emily swiveled her head to look at him in disbelief. "That's too pat."

Jeff grinned. "There's more."

"I knew it." Emily settled back to listen.

"The clerk wasn't sure what to do, but he decided to go ahead and pay the men. But when he opened the safe-"

"The money was gone!" Emily laughed, but sobered quickly as Jeff shook his head.

"The payroll was there, enough for each man's wages. But the payment for the business and all Mr. Eberhardt's timber acreage, amounting to about a hundred and forty thousand dollars in cash, was missing."

To read more of Treasure at Blue Heron Lake be sure to subscibe to:
Heartsong Presents: Mysteries!

Other Heartsong Presents Mysteries by Susan Page Davis and Megan Elaine Davis

Homicide at Blue Heron Lake: Emily Gray returns to the lakeside community of Baxter, Maine, expecting a peaceful week in her family's old island cottage. Instead, she and her high school crush, Nate Holman, discover the body of Henry Derbin, an elderly island resident. A few days later, Emily finds another body, buried more than a decade earlier, on Mr. Derbin's land. Can Emily and Nate overcome past hindrances to their romance while digging up clues that will help solve both murders?

Mystery Door

2008-10-16T08:00:00.007-04:00

Thursdays are Mystery Door days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

HERE COMES ANOTHER MYSTERY AUTHOR!

2008-10-15T08:48:00.006-04:00

IT'S TIME TO GUESS ANOTHER MYSTERY AUTHOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO BRENDA WHO GUESSED OUR LAST AUTHOR, ELIZABETH LUDIWG. (*Remember - you must post your e-mail address to win our Mystery Author's book! Without it, I have no way to contact you!)

NOW FOR TODAY'S MYSTERY AUTHOR:

Hello, Mystery Author!

What part of the country do you come from?

I've lived in the South all my life.

A few years ago, you had another job besides being a full time writer. What was it?

I was a school principal.

You didn’t start out writing mysteries. Tell us about that.

I wanted to write historical romance, but I got sidetracked. I discovered I loved writing mysteries. I still have some historical romances I'm working on, though, and hope to sell one.

A certain girl sleuth started you on the road to the mystery genre. Who was it?

I grew up reading Nancy Drew. Her adventiures spawned my love of mysteries.

What is the first name of the main character in your Heartsong mystery?

My main character's first name is Leigh.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. And don’t give away your identity!

I have a degree in music with a major in piano. Through my college piano teacher, I can trace my line of piano teachers back to Beethoven.

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Post your guess as to who our mystery author is, along with your e-mail address, and you could win a copy of this author's latest Heartsong Mystery!

And thanks for playing!

Short Story Mystery

2008-10-14T08:00:00.003-04:00

Ride Into the Fog
By Linda Kozar

PART 3

For a moment, I thought she’d break down, that the tears would come, the wall crumble. But she pulled away. Her eyes moist and fluid, she kissed my cheek. “Bye now.” Kelsey slid into the tattered driver’s seat and put the car in reverse.

“Hey,” I yelled over the sound of the struggling engine, “can we say a prayer together?”

She shook her head. “No time.”

Following the car, I motioned. “Aren’t you going to buckle up?”

“I will, later,” she yelled back.

I blew her a kiss in the same moment she blew me one and tried to smile. The kids waved and said sweet goodbyes in little singsong voices.

The old blue Impala rattled off down the road, a trail of gray fumes in its wake. I ran down the road after it waving at the kids and followed it with my eyes as far as I could see.

Dark now, the opaque fog coiling in, I stood still, fearful of thoughts coming together like puzzle pieces. Maybe they’ll close that old bridge tonight. And I thought of Kelsey’s eyes, blue as sun-jeweled waters. I brushed a tear away.

Tune in next week for a brand new Short Story Mystery!

Monday Mystery Theater

2008-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Case:

Violet is found dead in her home with an envelope in her hand. During their investigation, police discover a bottle at the home of her boyfriend, Dusty. On this and other evidence, they arrest Dusty for Violet’s murder.

The Mystery:

How did Dusty “dust” Violet?

The Clues:

1. What killed Violet was her oversensitivity.
2. The buzz was that Dusty stole the bottle.

The Answer:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!