Mulch Ado About Murder

In this cozy mystery, a Massachusetts organic farmer must pick a peck of suspects when her own mother is accused of murder. May has been anything but merry for Cam so far. Her parents have arrived unexpectedly, and her crops are in danger. But all of that’s nothing compared to the grim murder of her neighbor, Nicole Kingsbury, the once proud owner of the town’s new hydroponic greenhouse—just after Cam’s mother publicly protested Nicole’s use of chemicals to feed her crops. Showers may be scarce this spring, but suspects keep sprouting up. Lucky for Cam, her father turns out to have a knack for sleuthing—not to mention dealing with chickens. He and Cam will have to clear Mrs. Flaherty’s name quick before the killer strikes again… Praise for the Local Foods Mysteries “Maxwell’s feisty heroine and the interesting background detail on the realities of organic farming blend to deliver a clever, twisting mystery.”—Booklist “A most enjoyable look at organic farming.”—Kirkus Reviews

It's been a hot, dry spring in Westbury, Massachusetts. As organic farmer Cam Flaherty waits for much-needed rain, storm clouds of mystery begin to gather. Once again, it's time to put away her sun hat and put on her sleuthing cap . . . May has been anything but merry for Cam so far. Her parents have arrived unexpectedly and her crops are in danger of withering away. But all of that's nothing compared to the grim fate that lies in store for one of her neighbors. Nicole Kingsbury is the proud owner of the town's new hydroponic greenhouse. She claims the process will be 100% organic, but she uses chemicals to feed her crops. To Cam's surprise, her mother embarrasses her by organizing a series of loud public protests against Nicole's operation. When Nicole is found dead in a vat of hydroponic slurry--clutching another set of rosary beads--Detective Pete Pappas has a new murder to solve. Showers may be scarce this spring, but there's no shortage of suspects, including the dead woman's embittered ex-husband, the Other Man whose affair ruined their marriage, and Cam's own mother. Lucky for Cam, her father turns out to have a knack for sleuthing--not to mention dealing with chickens. Will he and Cam be able to clear Mrs. Flaherty's name before the killer strikes again? PRAISE FOR THE MYSTERIES OF EDITH MAXWELL MURDER MOST FOWL "Another intelligent installment in this unusual cozy series. Maxwell keeps the dialogue as fresh as Cam's produce in this nice mix of cozy ambience and a realistic story of greed and hidden secrets." --Booklist "Entertaining . . . cozy fans will enjoy spending time with Cam and friends." --Publishers Weekly FARMED AND DANGEROUS "Quirky characters, lots of organic farming tips, and a well-developed mystery make this Cam's best outing yet." --Kirkus Reviews "Maxwell's feisty heroine and the interesting background detail on the realities of organic farming blend to deliver a clever, twisting mystery . . . Fans of other mysteries involving organic farming, or of foodie mysteries in general, will find plenty to enjoy here." --Booklist "For all cozy readers, especially fans of Joanne Fluke and Diane Mott Davidson." --Library Journal 'TIL DIRT DO US PART "There are plenty of farming-based cozies on the market today, but this one stands out." --Booklist "A most enjoyable look at organic farming with some charming characters and cooking suggestions thrown in." --Kirkus Reviews A TINE TO LIVE, A TINE TO DIE "With an insider's look at organic farming and a loyal, persistent heroine, Maxwell offers a series that cozy mystery fans will root for." --Lucy Burdette, author of Fatal Reservations

Stocking stuffers like handknit scarves make the coziest of Christmas gifts—unless they’re used as accessories for murder! CHRISTMAS SCARF MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR When grinchy thefts steal the good cheer at a local nursing home, Siobhan O’Sullivan manages to identify one missing item before Kilbane, Ireland’s Christmas tractor parade—a hideous shamrock scarf wrapped around a very dead body. Now, with her holiday farmhouse bash approaching, Siobhan must dash to stop a deadly Secret Santa from gifting another unwanted surprise. SCARFED DOWN by MADDIE DAY It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas at Pans ‘N Pancakes, as twelve days of menu specials dazzle hungry locals. But the festivities go cold the instant a diner dies while knitting a brilliant green scarf. With Aunt Adele tied into a murder investigation, it’s all on Robbie Jordan to find out who’s really been naughty or nice in South Lick, Indiana. DEATH BY CHRISTMAS SCARF by PEGGY EHRHART Suspects pile up faster than New Jersey snow when frosty-tempered Carys Walnutt is found strangled by a handmade scarf auctioned at Arborville’s tree-lighting ceremony. Between a winning bidder hiding behind the alias “S. Claws” and a victim who deserved coal in her stocking, can Pamela Paterson and the crafty Knit and Nibble ladies freeze a killer’s merry murder plot?

Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A. transplant to California wine country, who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from Agatha Award–winning and national bestselling author Maddie Day. As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect! With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . . .

Set in a picturesque Cape Cod town, the latest in this cozy mystery series by the Agatha Award–winning author will delight fans of Lorna Barrett’s Booktown series and Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile mysteries, as bike-shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida and her fellow book club sleuths solve a bookstore murder. A rainy July weekend in Westham means the beaches are empty and business is dead at Mac’s Bikes but couldn’t be livelier inside the Rusty Anchor Pub. But come Monday morning one patron is not so lively when the chef opens up and finds a body behind the bar. It’s last call for Bruce Byrne, an elderly high school teacher who’s been around so long it seems like he taught everybody. When Mac’s friend Flo, the librarian, makes the list of suspects, Mac gathers the Cozy Capers Book Group to clear her name. With no end in sight to the rain, the group has plenty of time to study the clues and sort through a roll call of suspects to determine who decided to teach Mr. Bryne a lesson. But with a killer desperate to cover their tracks, Mac and the group will be tested as never before . . .

Just in time for the holiday season, a new mystery collection featuring cozy mystery novellas by Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, and Maddie Day! DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER by LEE HOLLIS The church’s annual Christmas bazaar is an unqualified success until the local jeweler cries out that a valuable diamond ring has been stolen. Food writer Hayley Powell joins the search for it but discovers something decidedly more shocking—the dead body of a local knitter with a homemade mitten stuffed in her mouth. With only days to spare before the holiday, Hayley must unravel the mystery of Bar Harbor’s crafty killer before someone else receives a deadly gift. TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS by LYNN CAHOON Magic Springs, Idaho, is decked out in its sparkling best for the season, but Mia Malone is almost too busy to notice. Taking a second job at the Lodge to save Mia’s Morsels doesn’t leave her much time for festivities—until she finds a dead body near one red mitten in the snow outside the Lodge during the holiday party. Learning that an ancient curse is at play, Mia must find the missing mitten and solve the murder before someone she loves is the next victim. MURDEROUS MITTENS by MADDIE DAY A quiet Christmas in Colinas, California, at her twin sister’s charming B&B is exactly what Cece Barton needs during the holiday hustle of Los Angeles. But the morning after a lovely evening at the local wine bar, Cece learns that the bar’s proprietor, who sells mittens in her spare time, has has been found dead, hit on the head with a bocce ball nestled in one of the mittens she sells as a sideline. With her horrified twin one of the main suspects, can Cece unmask the merry murderer before this becomes a holiday from hell?

Set in a picturesque Cape Cod town, the latest in this cozy mystery series by the Agatha Award-winning author will delight fans of Lorna Barrett’s Booktown series and Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile mysteries, as bike-shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida and her fellow book club sleuths solve a bookstore murder. Everyone loves a festival, though Mac has a few concerns about the Spring equinox event organized by the new Chamber of Commerce director, Wagner Lavoie. After all, March weather is unpredictable. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy, between flower-shaped candies at Salty Taffy’s, spring rolls at the Rusty Anchor, and a parade of decorated bicycles. But the festivities soon take a stormy turn . . . Mac glimpses conflict between Wagner and other locals during the festival, but it’s a shock when he’s found dead in the Book Nook, pinned beneath a toppled bookshelf. It’s an irresistible case for Mac’s book group. She and the rest of the Cozy Capers will have to use all their sleuthing skills to bring the killer’s story to an end . . .