The Man On The Washing Machine

Winner of the 2014 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel CompetitionA Theo Bogart MysteryWhen former party girl and society photographer Theophania Bogart flees to San Francisco to escape a high-profile family tragedy, a series of murders drags her unwillingly out of hiding. A charming debut with wacky, colorful characters and a delightfully twisted mystery.

Following Susan Cox’s Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel award-winning debut, The Man in the Microwave Oven is her next delightfully quirky mystery featuring San Francisco transplant Theo Bogart. Fleeing from a murder and family tragedy in her native England, where she was the scandal du jour for the tabloid press, Theo Bogart changed her name and built an undercover life in a close-knit San Francisco neighborhood. She didn’t expect to find love and friendship there, and now she doesn’t know how—or if—to reveal the truth. After a confrontation with a difficult neighbor, Theo fears her secrets are about to be uncovered after all. When the woman who threatened to expose her is murdered, Theo is embroiled in the kind of jeopardy she crossed an ocean to escape. Worse yet, dangerous family secrets have followed her. Theo’s grandfather unveils a glimpse of the shadowy world he once inhabited as an agent for the British Secret Service, bringing an even bigger breed of trouble—and another death—to Theo’s doorstep. She finds herself fighting to protect herself, her family, and her new friends, aware that one of them might be a murderer. Susan Cox has once again painted a delightfully quirky portrait of a colorful San Francisco neighborhood and a woman finding her way through exactly the kind of scandalous mystery she was trying to leave behind.

When former party girl and society photographer Theophania Bogart flees to San Francisco to escape a high-profile family tragedy, a series of murders drags her unwillingly out of hiding. In no time at all she discovers she's been providing cover for a sophisticated smuggling operation, she starts to fall for an untrustworthy stranger, and she's knocked out, tied up and imprisoned. The police are sure she's lying. The smugglers are sure she knows too much. Her friends? They aren't sure what to believe. The body count is rising and Theo struggles to find the killer before she's the next victim or her new life is exposed as an elaborate fraud. But the more deeply entangled she becomes, the more her investigation is complicated by her best friend, who is one of her prime suspects; her young protégé, who may or may not have a juvie record; her stern and unyielding grandfather, who exposes an unexpected soft center; and the man on her washing machine, who isn't quite what he appears, either. Susan Cox's Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning novel is a charming debut with wacky, colorful characters and a delightfully twisted mystery.

Melissa Littles is the wife a of police officer. Through her writings of the life of a police officer's wife, she hopes to build a bridge across the country to unite all families of officers.

In MB/MWA First Crime Novel Award-winner Sue Cox's debut, Theo Bogart is hiding in San Francisco to escape a family scandal, but her new life is threatened when she witnesses a murder.

In the bestselling tradition of The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Humans of New York comes a collection of authentic, emotional, and inspiring stories about life’s most important moments, as curated by the editors at Love What Matters. “90% of the reads bring me to tears. I just can't believe the love this world truly has when all we see is hate. This is so uplifting.” —Shelsea Where do you go when you want to feel inspired? When you want to forget about the divisiveness and the anger? For over five million people, that place is Love What Matters, a digital platform dedicated to finding and sharing the daily moments of kindness, compassion, and love that so often go overlooked. This curated collection of powerful stories features first person accounts and photographs that perfectly capture each moment: A husband learning he’s about to be a dad. A new mom embracing her body. A cashier inadvertently teaching a young girl a lesson about patience. A bagel from a stranger that saved a homeless man’s life. From long overdue adoptions to military heroes returning home; from a fireman’s touching 9/11 tribute to what an old dinner plate found at a bake sale can teach us all about life—these are the moments that matter. They are genuine. Authentic. Raw. And they are perfect in their imperfection—just like all of us. You will no doubt experience goosebumps and tears, but this mosaic of life’s moments will leave you with something even more profound: a reminder that, in the end, love always wins. “This really is the best page on Facebook. It renews your love of humanity. There are still good people. We need more reports of acts of kindness.” —Johnny

Charlie, a country boy from Kansas volunteered to serve his country in a time of national emergency. Only one day after his nineteenth birthday, he enlisted into the USMC (United States Marine Corps) on December 8, 1942. He became a corporal, assigned to the Fourteenth Regiment (direct support artillery), Second Battalion, Fourth Division F. Battery, Fox Company. He and his Fourteenth Regiment fought in the famous Fourth Marine Division—a newly created amphibious landing assault fighting force during WWII in the Central Pacific Theater. They fought in the South Pacific against the Imperial Japanese Military. The Fourth Division was made up of the marine’s Twenty-Third, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Fifth Regiments, along with the Fourteenth Regiment (artillery support). In Charlie’s marine records, it shows the following: muster date (April 1943), Battery F. Second Battalion, Fourteenth Marine, Twenty-Fourth Marine (reinforced) Camp Pendleton. The First, Second, and Third Battalions were the direct support battalions of the Twenty-Fourth Regiment. In combat, Charlie’s Fourteenth Regiment, F. Battery was assigned to a single, specific rifle regiment. Keep the Twenty-Fourth Regiment in mind as you read on. Charlie’s Fourteenth Regiment, Second Battalion would be the Twenty-Fourth Marine’s direct artillery support. The Fourth Division was known as the Magnificent Bastards, second to none. They became the fighting fourth. Their home base during the war was on the Island of Maui, Hawaii. This home base for the Fourth Division became known as Camp Maui. These brave marines became known and loved by the locals. They were soon called the Maui Marines, home only to the marine’s Fourth Division. My dad fought in the Kwajalein Atolls on Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima in the South Pacific. These marines fought successfully against the Japanese, but not without a devastating number of loss from the original Fourth Division. This man Charlie, along with Geraldine, adopted me when I was about nine months old. I am the youngest and proudest daughter of the most loving and caring couple I had the privilege to call Dad and Mom. I have the deepest appreciation and admiration for both these special people. My devotion to their memory goes beyond measure. As an orphan in a Kansas orphanage at one time, I assure you the person that said, “Blood is thicker than water,” wasn’t adopted. I say, “Water is just as thick as blood.” This kind of love with an open heart runs deep into the very core of one’s soul. These gathered stories were recalled to the best of my family’s and my memories. There are stories of interest that I think will captivate you while reading. I hope you enjoy this collection of stories during WWII and get a little sense of the marine and the incredible man who was my dad.