Scone Cold Dead

The ninth book in the bestselling Gray Whale Inn mysteries is finally here! Innkeeper Natalie Barnes is living her dream life, creating scrumptious scone recipes and relishing cool summer days on quaint Cranberry Island, Maine... until she stumbles across a dead body tucked under the blueberry bushes. Could the killer be one of her artsy out-of-town guests? Or will the murderer turn out to be uncomfortably close to home?

A former Scottish dancer turned small-town shop owner must search for a killer among her former company in this cozy mystery by the author of Kilt Dead. After a knee injury forces professional Scottish dancer, Liss MacCrimmon to give up her life of performing strathspreys, reels, jigs and Highland flings she returns to her hometown of Moosetookalook, Maine, where she runs a Scottish Emporium. With one solved murder case under her dance belt, Liss has no idea she's about to spiral into another . . . Liss still misses the life of a professional dancer with Strathspey, the Scottish dance company she belonged to. So she arranges a reception for the troupe when they're on tour, complete with a Scottish theme that includes a new spin on the classic Scottish Scone. Liss soon realizes that life in the group isn't all happy jigs and fancy stepping. Victor Owens, the company manager, has been making life miserable for everyone. But she has no idea how miserable until Victor bites into one of Liss's prized cocktail scones, collapses and dies. When the police set their sights on Liss and her best friends, it's up to Liss to find out whodunit before this culinary killer makes an encore . . . Praise for Scone Cold Dead “Enjoyable . . . Vivid descriptions of Maine during mud season and a quirky cast of characters lift this cozy.” —Publishers Weekly

Professional Scottish dancer Liss MacCrimmon jigs herself into the middle of a bizarre mystery when, after returning home to Moosetookalook, Maine, the town gossip is found dead under a special bolt of fabric called the Flower of Scotland in the stock room of her aunt's store.

In this delicious follow-up to Murder on the Rocks, developers have returned to Cranberry Island. This time, they're planning to wipe out a natural cranberry bog, along with the island's namesake berries, to build a luxury subdivision. Natalie Barnes isn't sweet on the idea of commercial interests souring their cozy oasis, but the single innkeeper has other problems on her plate: a withering relationship with her best friend Charlene, the sudden appearance of her ex-fiancé with a tempting proposal, and eerie bumps in the night suggesting the Gray Whale Inn is haunted. Worst of all, there's a killer on the loose, picking off people like ripe fruit. When Charlene's lover—the handsome chaplain with a stake in the development— is stabbed to death, Natalie promises to find the murderer for her griefstricken friend, who's also the number-one suspect. Praise: "A delicious sequel to Murder on the Rocks . A developer wants to destroy a cranberry bog on the island but that's not the only problem as a murderer strikes and Natalie's best friend becomes the prime suspect."—Mystery Scene "A truly smart and gripping cozy mystery."—OnceUponARomance.net "Deliciously clever plot. Juicy characters. Karen MacInerney has cooked up a winning recipe for murder. Don't miss this mystery!"—Maggie Sefton, author of Knit One, Kill Two; Needled to Death; and A Deadly Yarn

A Scottish dancer returns to small town Maine, where a killer keeps her on her toes in this “blithe and bonny” cozy mystery series debut (Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries). Liss MacCrimmon was a professional Scottish dancer until a knee injury ended her career. Now she’s back in her hometown of Moosetookalook, Maine, helping her aunt run a local Scottish emporium. Nestled in the hills of Northwest New England, Moosetookalook is just as charming as she remembers. But Liss’s nostalgic idyll is cut short when she stumbles on the body of her aunt's nosy neighbor, Amanda Norris, under a bolt of Flower of Scotland fabric. Suddenly, Liss is a prime murder suspect, and it’ll take some fancy foot work to clear her name. As she uncovers the shadowy secrets hiding in her postcard perfect town, Liss knows she’ll have to act fast—before the killer comes back for an encore. "Strong local color and a surprise ending will make this a hit with the cozy crowd."—Publishers Weekly

It's springtime on Cranberry Island—and love is in the air. It seems like every woman has the hots for buff trainer Dirk De Leon. He and his equally-gorgeous business partner, Vanessa Black, are leading a weight-loss retreat at the Gray Whale Inn—forcing innkeeper Natalie Barnes to lighten up her butter-laden breakfast menu. The mood on the island darkens when two grisly discoveries are made. The first is a skeleton walled up at the island's lighthouse. The second is a corpse of the fresh variety—the handsome Dirk! Could the spirit that once embodied the skeletal remains—perhaps the lighthouse keeper who disappeared a century ago—be responsible for Dirk's death? The police pin the blame on Natalie's boyfriend who—to her dismay—had a long-ago fling with Vanessa. To find the true killer and ease her own aching heart, Natalie must untangle the knot of jealous girlfriends and spurned admirers that once surrounded the hunky trainer. Praise: "MacInerney adds a dash of the supernatural, throws in some touristy tidbits and finishes with some tasty diet-right recipes."—Publishers Weekly "All thumbs up for Murder Most Maine, another in the engaging series of Cranberry Island mysteries. Karen MacInerney writes with verve and vitality, and her Natalie Barnes is a Maine original. I'm ready to book a room at the Gray Whale Inn!"—Susan Wittig Albert, bestselling author of Nightshade and other China Bayles Herbal Mysteries

First in the mystery series from the New York Times-bestselling author: “Anyone who loves novels that revolve around books will savor this tasty treat.”—Library Journal (starred review) A quirky club in small-town North Carolina holds the keys to health, happiness, friendship—and even solving a murder—all to be found within the pages of the right book… Strangers flock to Miracle Springs hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain. So when a visiting businessman reaches out for guidance, Nora knows exactly how to help. But before he can keep their appointment, he’s found dead on the train tracks. Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to earn redemption by helping others. To join, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place. Now, determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cozy bookstore. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge—proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over… “Adams kicks off a new series featuring strong women, a touch of romance and mysticism, and both the cunning present-day mystery and the slowly revealed secrets of the intriguing heroines’ pasts.”—Kirkus Reviews

At a summer event in small-town Maine, a shady politician meets his end in this “enchanting” cozy mystery (Publishers Weekly). It’s July in Moosetookalook, Maine, and Scottish Emporium proprietress Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin is prepping her wares for the annual Celtic heritage festival. But as a sinister crime wave washes over the quiet town, this year’s celebration might prove a wee bit more eventful—and deadly—than tartan and bagpipes . . . When a fire ravages the local bookstore late one evening, Liss immediately fears the worst for owner Angie Hogencamp and the two young children who live above the shop. After the terrible blaze dies down, however, the family is nowhere to be found among the ruins. It’s as if the three just vanished into smoke. Or even stranger—like they never existed at all. Disturbed by the disappearance and suspecting arson, Liss counts on the Western Maine Highland Games—complete with parade and fireworks display—to offer a temporary distraction from the questions filling her head. But when the sound of a gunshot leads Liss to a selectman’s dead body on opening day, she’s drawn into a full-blown investigation. Is Moosetookalook suffering from a streak of bad luck, or are the two grim incidents connected? Despite her worried husband’s protests, she’ll need to act swiftly. Because when it comes to this kind of game, somebody has to lose . . .