Beast Or Famine A Circus Of Unusual Creatures Mystery

A seaside eating contest. A cheating, song-stealing, and all-around-no-good ex. And a chain-smoking unicorn doling out dating advice. What could possibly go wrong? The Circus of Unusual Creatures has been invited to perform as the feature act at the Seaside Family Fun Fair's annual eating contest. Right from the start, trouble is brewing. Trouble that, to everyone's surprise, has (almost) nothing to do with Fergus now referring to himself as The Love Guru. Besides foul moods over the weather, the working conditions, and sand wedging itself, well, everywhere, tempers truly flare when Molly's ex-husband, Albert, shows up for the competition. Albert has a bad track record. He's cheated in a previous eating contest, he's stolen Molly's music, and he's got an ogre-sized secret that could destroy the fun fair. So, when the competition turns deadly, Duncan -- dragon and amateur sleuth -- has a long list of people who wouldn't mind sending Albert six feet under. Problem is, two of Duncan's friends are the most likely suspects. Matters only get worse when Duncan discovers Zin has agreed to a partnership that's smellier than a sack of rotting fish heads. Plus, Pepper's been so busy prepping food for the contest, she's failed to keep up with Duncan's omelet needs. Seriously, no dragon should have to sleuth in these conditions. Can Duncan find the killer before they strike again? Will Zin lose his circus to this partnership? What relationship disasters will Fergus cause? And what is up with those ogres? Find out in Beast or Famine, the latest installment of The Circus of Unusual Creatures Mystery series. Although it's the fourth book in the series, Beast or Famine is a great way to jump into Circus of Unusual Creatures Mysteries. If you like comic fantasy whodunnits that mix in laughs with murderous mayhem and mythical beasts, you'll love, not only this silly story, but also the first three books in the series: Hoard It All Before, Tipping the Scales, and Fangs a Million. Set in a 1930s that's just a tad different than what you're used to, The Circus of Unusual Creatures is a delightfully humorous and fantastical mystery series that features a detecting dragon, an aura-spotting centaur, a chain-smoking unicorn, and plenty of other quirky characters getting into all kinds of trouble as they stumble their way through clues, crimes, and perfectly cooked omelets. Note: While this cozy mystery is mostly clean, it does have a lusty, chain-smoking unicorn who makes more than a few naughty innuendos, a dragon who drinks, a tiny bit of mild swearing, and (obviously) there's a murder or two along the way.

A seaside eating contest. A cheating, song-stealing, all-around-no-good ex. And a chain-smoking unicorn doling out dating advice. What could possibly go wrong? It's time for the Seaside Family Fun Fair’s annual eating contests, and Zin's Circus of Unusual Creatures has been invited to perform as the feature act. Right from the start, trouble is brewing. Trouble that, to everyone’s surprise, has (almost) nothing to do with Fergus now referring to himself as The Love Guru. Besides foul moods over the weather, the decrepit state of the fun fair, and the sand wedging itself, well, everywhere, tempers truly flare when Molly’s ex-husband, Albert, shows up for the competition. Albert has a bad track record. He’s cheated in a previous eating contest, he’s stolen Molly the Mini-taur’s songs, and he’s got an ogre-sized secret that could destroy the fun fair. So, the moment the competition turns deadly, Duncan — dragon and amateur sleuth — has a long list of people who wouldn’t mind sending Albert six feet under. Problem is, two of Duncan’s friends are the most likely suspects. Matters only get worse when Duncan discovers Zin has agreed to a partnership that's smellier than a sack of rotting fish heads. And with Pepper so busy prepping food for the contest, she’s failed to keep up with Duncan’s omelet needs. Seriously, no dragon should have to sleuth in these conditions. Can Duncan find the killer before they strike again? Will Zin lose his circus to this partnership? What relationship disasters will Fergus cause? And what is up with those ogres? Find out in Beast or Famine, the latest installment of The Circus of Unusual Creatures Mystery series. ~ ~ ~ Although it's the fourth book in the series, Beast or Famine is a great way to jump into Circus of Unusual Creatures Mysteries. Set in a 1930s that’s just a tad different than what you’re used to, The Circus of Unusual Creatures is a delightfully humorous cozy mystery series that features a detecting dragon, an aura-spotting centaur, a chain-smoking unicorn, and plenty of other quirky characters getting into all kinds of trouble as they stumble their way through clues, crimes, and perfectly cooked omelets. If you like comic fantasy whodunnits that mix in laughs with murderous mayhem and mythical beasts, you’ll love, not only this silly story, but also the first three books in the series: Hoard It All Before, Tipping the Scales, and Fangs a Million. Story Note: While this cozy fantasy mystery is mostly clean, it does have a lusty, chain-smoking unicorn who makes more than a few naughty innuendos, a dragon who drinks, a tiny bit of mild swearing, and (obviously) there’s a murder or two along the way.

"The Circus of Unusual Creatures has been invited to perform as the feature act at the Seaside Family Fun Fair’s annual eating contest. Right from the start, trouble is brewing. Trouble that, to everyone’s surprise, has (almost) nothing to do with Fergus now referring to himself as The Love Guru. Besides foul moods over the weather, the working conditions, and sand wedging itself, well, everywhere, tempers truly flare when Molly’s ex-husband, Albert, shows up for the competition. Albert has a bad track record. He’s cheated in a previous eating contest, he’s stolen Molly’s music, and he’s got an ogre-sized secret that could destroy the fun fair. So, when the competition turns deadly, Duncan — dragon and amateur sleuth — has a long list of people who wouldn’t mind sending Albert six feet under. Problem is, two of Duncan's friends are the most likely suspects. Matters only get worse when Duncan discovers Zin has agreed to a partnership that's smellier than a sack of rotting fish heads. Plus, Pepper’s been so busy prepping food for the contest, she’s failed to keep up with Duncan’s omelet needs. Seriously, no dragon should have to sleuth in these conditions." --

It’s not every day you meet an amateur sleuth… with fangs. If you like fantastical mysteries that mix in laughs with murderous mayhem and mythical beasts, you’ll love this first book in the Circus of Unusual Creatures series! What readers are saying... "Very funny and laughs out loud will be heard when reading it…this was so good l read it in one sitting couldn't put it down!" "What a truly FUN, lighthearted read, full of fantastical and lovable characters!" "What a fun circus-themed murder mystery! …I really think [Tammie] outdid herself with this book." "I loved the humour… I loved the way the story was written. The characters are very believable, and the way the mystery unravels is very well crafted…" Like any traveling circus, Zin’s has hair-raising acts and fried food on sticks. But it’s also got an aura-spotting centaur, a chain-smoking unicorn, and an omelet-addicted dragon. Oh, and a body in the center ring. Duncan -- aka "Brutus Fangwrath, Deadliest Dragon in the West" -- wakes one morning to find his best friend isn’t just sleeping off a hangover. He’s been murdered. Suspicion for the crime quickly turns to the circus’s new hire, Cordelia Quinn. After all, she’s got motive, she's got means, and she’s got loads of circumstantial evidence stacked against her. When it looks like no one else is going to step in to help Cordelia, it’s up to Duncan to ponder the puzzling clues, prove Cordelia’s innocence, and pry open a troubling secret along the way. As soon as he’s done with his omelet, that is. Set in a 1930s that’s just a tad different than what you’re used to, Hoard it all Before is the start of a delightfully humorous mystery series with plenty of tantalizing twists, a troupe of quirky characters, and death-defying feats both in and beyond the big top. Hoard It All Before is the first in the Circus of Unusual Creatures mysteries. Other titles include… * Tipping the Scales * Fangs A Million * Beast or Famine (which is another great place to start the series) Note: While this cozy mystery is mostly clean, it does have a lusty, chain-smoking unicorn who makes more than a few naughty innuendos, a dragon that drinks heavily, a tiny bit of swearing, and (obviously) there’s a murder along the way.

Cassie Black is back, and she’s now heading up MagicLand’s newest detective agency. Well, sort of. See, she’s got a few problems, starting with getting kicked out of the Academy’s detective training program. Apparently, instructors don’t like being called Walrus Face. Who knew, right? The upside is that it’s forced Cassie to start her own agency. The downside? A complete lack of clients. Cassie thinks her career is on the upswing when Rosaria’s new mayor hires her to find a missing jewel. It’s a huge case that could turn the agency around. Trouble is, the jewel hasn’t been seen for well over 500 years, and Cassie suspects there’s more to the mayor’s sudden demands the jewel be found ASAP. What’s more… something besides tea is brewing over at Magic HQ, but thanks to a little snag in the Magic bureaucracy, Cassie isn’t allowed to lend her skills to the problem. In fact, if she doesn’t sort out that bit of bureaucracy in the next few days, her sleuthing career will be over before it ever begins. It all has Cassie looking wistfully back on the days when all she had to do was save the world. If you like contemporary fantasy filled with wry humor, paranormal mystery, and diabolical office chairs, you’ll love the twists and turns of this start to an all-new trilogy featuring Cassie Black. Note: This is book four of the “hilarious” and highly recommended” Cassie Black Trilogy. Yes, “book four”, because trilogies refuse to be tamed! But, because it kicks off an all-new unputdownable, laugh-snort filled fight against evil, you can enjoy this new trilogy without having read Books 1 - 3. Books 5 & 6 will be out in late 2024.

Book burning. Jewel stealing. Vampire hunting. Not exactly what I expected from a day’s work as a detective, but at least things are no longer dull at the agency. Sorry, I should say “a still-unlicensed detective” since the due date for my application went whizzing, since the only clients I have are dead clients, missing clients, and persnickety clients. But, after making good use of my groveling skills, HQ has given me an extension to get my license. Which would be great if the only two cases I have weren’t impossible to solve. I’m also contending with a boyfriend who’s refusing to speak to me, there's a vampire uprising close on the horizon, and more Magics going missing by the day, including my own parents…again. But the worst problem in my life right now? A bubbly new assistant, who not only believes we’re besties, but also thinks hugging is permitted. Seriously, I’ll take the vampire uprising over that. The Unbearable Inspector Oberlin is the second book in the new Cassie Black Trilogy. Or the fifth book in the old Cassie Black Trilogy. How you do the math is entirely your choice. If you like wryly humorous comic fantasy with a touch of mystery, magic gone awry, treasure-stealing ravens, and problematic trips to the British Library, you’ll love this latest installment of the Cassie Black Trilogy.

IT’S NOT EVERY DAY YOU MEET AN AMATEUR SLEUTH WITH FANGS. “…a charming tale of dragons, deception, and dastardly deeds, and I loved every minute of it." “…an excellent read…[a] hilarious series” “Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down…it was that good!” “Light and fanciful with a darn good mystery woven in. What fun!” If you like fantastical mysteries that mix in laughs with murderous mayhem and mythical beasts, you’ll love the Circus of Unusual Creatures Mysteries. HEY EVERYONE, CORDELIA HERE. Duncan (aka "Deadliest Dragon in the West") has finally finished typing up the third sleuthing adventure he got us tangled up in. It’s the one that involves booze smuggling, dragon matchmaking, too much lemonade, and a unicorn having a very bad hair day. I’m not sure about Duncan calling it a "masterpiece of mystery,” but trust me, it's a good one. Especially when that unicorn has a wardrobe malfunction and Duncan becomes a victim of his own matchmaking. Of course, things aren’t all fun and games at Zin’s Circus of Unusual Creatures. We’ve got some pesky trainees driving us all batty, a police raid that threatens to shut the show down permanently, and, yes, a couple of confounding murders to solve. Now, while I go see what Pepper's cooking up in the Cantina, why not make a dragon's day by grabbing your own copy of Fangs a Million? And if you haven't started The Circus of Unusual Creatures series yet, I'm pretty sure you’ll love, not only this tale, but also Duncan's first two books: Hoard It All Before and Tipping the Scales. Note: While you can read The Circus of Unusual Creatures Mysteries on their own, you'll get far more out of the stories if you read the books in order.

Work at a funeral home can be mundane. Until you accidentally start bringing the dead back to life. "...a clever, hilarious romp through a new magical universe" --Sarah Angleton, author of Gentleman of Misfortune Cassie Black works at a funeral home. She's used to all manner of dead bodies. What she's not used to is them waking up. Which they seem to be doing on a disturbingly regular basis lately. Just when Cassie believes she has the problem under control, the recently-deceased Busby Tenpenny insists he's been murdered and claims Cassie might be responsible thanks to a wicked brand of magic she's been exposed to. The only way for Cassie to get her life back to normal is to tame her magic and uncover Mr. Tenpenny's true killer. Simple right? Of course not. Because while Cassie works on getting her newly-acquired magic sorted, she's blowing up kitchens, angering an entire magical community, and discovering her past is more closely tied to Busby Tenpenny than she could have ever imagined. If you like contemporary fantasy with snarky humor, unforgettable characters, and paranormal mystery such as Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series and Wilkie Martin's Inspector Hobbes, you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from this first book of the Cassie Black Trilogy. *Selected as one of Apple's Most Anticipated Books of 2021 *Winner of the Novel Excerpt Prize from the League of American PEN Women *Finalist in the Yeah You Write! Novel Contest The Cassie Black Trilogy is a giggle-inducing fish-out-of-water tale that takes you from the streets of Portland to the Tower of London. It's got magic and mystery, pastries and zombies, sentient gnomes and an evil wizard...because there's always an evil wizard, isn't there? Note: While this book delivers plenty of wry giggles and a few hexes, it's fairly clean with only an itty-bitty bit of light cursing, one fight scene, and no hanky panky or sexual situations.