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MURDER MANSION
The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries #1
M.K. Scott
Released November 9th, 2015
Sleeping Dragon Press
Donna’s dream of running a Victorian Bed and Breakfast is almost a reality. Her lack of inn keeping expertise, a shabby house in need of dire renovation and lack of money has slowed her down a bit. The murdered man in the upstairs parlor is her biggest obstacle. Less determined people might give it up, but not Donna. No killer is going to stop her from serving apple crumb cake to high paying guests.
Her natural skill at the Clue board game, along with the grudging assistance of veteran detective, Mark Taber, an overweight Puggle, and a chatty octogenarian neighbor should help her sniff out
the killer unless she’s snuffed out first.
the killer unless she’s snuffed out first.
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Mr. Smoky eased up next to her. “I
heard what you said about the dead man.”
Her eyes cut to the man beside her.
His skin, upon closer examination, appeared weathered and wrinkled,
not at all the appearance of a reporter. Too old, too rough, not one
of the pretty boys who ended up in front of the camera. His tweed
coat sported wide lapels, indicating the man was no slave to fashion,
or he was cheap, or possibly both.
Surreal.
Everything had shifted at some point in time to left of normal. It
could have happened while she slept. The man puffed away on his
cigarette, getting the last drag before he dropped it and ground it
underneath his loafer. Good thing they were standing in the
neighbor’s yard and not hers.
She tried for the world-weary voice
of a sexy 1940’s silver screen siren. “Yeah, what about it?”
The scratchy tone of her coffee-less voice grated. Somewhere, between
finding a deceased trespasser and calling the police, she’d put
down her hazelnut coffee.
Her eyes remained on Daniel as he
effortlessly charmed the older couple. Why couldn’t she do that? It
would be a useful skill for running a Bed and Breakfast, but her
practical nature saw small talk as a waste. She had considered making
her brother a partner, but his wife Maria quickly put the kibosh on
that plan.
The man spoke, reminding him of her
presence by her side. “You have a good eye. You remembered a great
deal while only seeing the man briefly before you called the police.”
Yeah.
True, she tended to remember things. Was he complimenting her or
accusing her? “When a dead stranger shows up in a newly purchased
house, it makes a big impression.”
“Understandable.” The man
agreed, patting down his jacket. Finding a box-like bulge, he pulled
out his cigarettes. “Do you mind?”
“Yes.”
Her quick answer stopped him in the
middle of shaking out a new smoke. He pushed it back in with his
index finger, replaced the pack, and shrugged his shoulders. “Need
to quit. Nasty habit.”
Her top teeth rested on her bottom
lip, keeping her from agreeing as much as she wanted to. She didn’t
know who the man was. It would be rude behavior anyhow. As an
innkeeper, she’d have to learn to hold her tongue. Critical B and B
owners probably earned very few return customers.
“Name’s Mark Taber, detective.”
“I’m Donna—” She never got
to finish her introduction before the man finished it for her.
“Tollhouse, the owner, I know.”
Her top teeth clamped down on her
lip again. While she could use some lessons on the art of small talk
and social etiquette, Detective Taber could benefit from an extensive
four-year course. At one time, she played with the idea of naming the
inn The Tollhouse Inn.
Daniel discouraged her by pointing out most people didn’t associate
the words Tollhouse
and cookies together. Besides, customers might believe there was a
hidden charge if the word toll
appeared in the name.
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M.K. Scott is the pen name of husband and wife team, Scott & Morgan. This is their first cozy mystery together, although Scott has worked with several of the Morgan K Wyatt books. The couple has several books planned for the series. In an effort to give the series an authentic touch, Scott and Morgan participated in cooking lessons, winery tours, and stayed at several Bed and Breakfasts. Research is a hard job, but someone has to do it.
