Recommendations based on "Louisiana Longshot (A Miss Fortune Mystery, Book 1)"

"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." --Katharine Hepburn In her bewitching novels of female friendship, fun, and delicious mischief, Dolores Stewart Riccio has charmed readers who want to know more about marvelous Cass, sweet Heather, wickedly witty Phillipa, eccentric mom Deidre, and whip-smart Fiona--five deeply committed sisters-in-arms with a little something extra on their side. Now, in Ladies Courting Trouble, the most fascinating women in Plymouth, Massachusetts, are back in the thick of the action, which suits them just fine. . . October in New England is a grand time--great for carving pumpkins, throwing Halloween parties, baking and eating brownies, and. . .dropping dead? When a helmlock-laced brownie at the church hospitality hour spells the end for an elderly townswoman, Cass Shipton and her circle of fabulous friends get to work using their very special brand of detective skills to ferret out the culprit. After all, their unorthodox recipe of magic, clairvoyance, and good old-fashioned common sense hasn't let them down yet. . . Praise for Dolores Stewart Riccio and Circle of Five "A bewitching tale."--Midwest Book Review "This story has everything from suspense to laughter. Delicious. . .with a magic all its own." --Rendezvous "Humorous moments are deftly intertwined with truly creepy ones." --Booklist "Delicious. . .filled with magic. . .and delight."--Phyllis Curott "Witty and fast-paced. . .charming. . .a fun read and food for thought." --Joe Haldeman Dolores Stewart Riccio is the author of three previous Cass Shipton novels, The Divine Circle of Ladies Making Mischief, Circle of Five, and Charmed Circle, as well as numerous highly acclaimed nonfiction books on the subjects of health and cooking. She lives in Rhode Island and is currently at work on her next novel.

Can a rookie help a veteran cop catch a diabolical killer? The hunt for the murderer of two women could be the make-or-break case of Drew Taylor's career. The veteran police officer has no time to babysit a newbie cop with something to prove. Thrilled to be partnered with the man she has long admired, Nia Brooks pursues every lead...until her life is threatened. And Drew struggles with being protector and partner to Nia. With the sole clue a bloody fingerprint, Nia and Drew race to apprehend an elusive killer who doesn't fit any criminal profile. But when a hidden agenda starts to become terrifyingly clear...it's Nia and Drew who could become the next victims. From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served. Discover more action-packed stories in the West Coast Crime Story series. All books are stand-alone with uplifting endings but were published in the following order: Book 1: The Heart-Shaped Murders Book 2: Danger in the Nevada Desert Book 3: Homicide at Vincent Vineyard Book 4: Hometown Homicide

In this latest installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s cherished No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, two confounding cases compete for Mma Ramotswe’s attention—and she may need to call in back up. “An escape from life’s woes as well as a suggestion for how to make the whole deal more palatable—fragility, fruit cake, and all.” —The Boston Globe Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni are enjoying a nice meal out at a peri-peri restaurant when an American woman named Julia approaches seeking Mma Ramotswe’s help. Julia’s beloved late grandfather was Botswanan, and he instilled in her an abiding love of his homeland. Now, years after his passing, Julia has come to visit the land he had spoken of so often and to find her relatives. Unfortunately, her grandfather’s stories, while charming and entertaining, were somewhat light on detail; all Julia can remember are a few first names and some descriptions of his village. It’s not a lot to go on, but if anyone is well poised to help, it’s Mma Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier detective. Meanwhile, a second case leads Mma Ramotswe to look for assistance from an unexpected quarter. For the first time, Charlie leads his own investigation at the detective agency, going undercover into a dubious, word-of-mouth get-together known as the Cool Singles Evening Club, where married men are encouraged to pretend to be single and meet women under false pretenses. Who could be behind such a distasteful venture? Getting to the bottom of this will be a tall order, to be sure, but Charlie is eager for the opportunity. As Mma Ramotswe learns more about Julia, she begins to understand that Julia’s heartbreak runs deeper than she had initially realized. Together, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Potokwane must find a way to help their client heal and move forward—from both her past and her present. Julia had originally come to Botswana seeking family and connection, but in the warm embrace of Mma Ramotswe and Mma Potokwane, what she ends up finding is a home.

New in the national bestselling Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper series, from the Agatha and Anthony Award-winning author of the Dead End Job Mystery series. Mystery shopper Josie Marcus is getting the dirt on doggy day-care centers, and discovers that one dog-loving local celebrity is really bad to the bone. Josie has been asked to investigate Uncle Bob's Doggy Day Camp, known for its commercials featuring Uncle Bob liking dogs so much that he acts like one. But Josie soon learns how Uncle Bob acts when the cameras are off. Her mother's new tenant, Franklin, who works for Uncle Bob, plans to quit after seeing the man's true nature. But before he gets the chance, Bob is murdered, and Franklin goes from the doghouse to the big house. Now it's up to Josie to clear Franklin's name. Her investigation reveals that Bob was more of a dog than anyone knew--and had been kicked out of his house for bad behavior. As she digs up new clues, Josie will have to catch the killer quickly, before any more trouble is unleashed. Includes Shopping Tips!

Life isn’t all sunny in Fort Lauderdale’s Lanai Gardens. Returning from a blissful double honeymoon with her sister Evvie, Gladdy Gold announces that she wants her new hubby, Jack, to join her detective agency. But Gladdy’s gals say no dice, and soon Ida, Sophie, and Bella are striking out on their own, enrolling in a class to learn how to be real PIs. But there’s more than enough trouble for two detective agencies when sultry Joyce Steiner moves in, reopening an old rivalry with Arlene Simon, whose husband ran off with Joyce fifty-five years earlier. When Joyce is found murdered, Arlene becomes the prime suspect, and Gladdy and her girls will have to band together if they’re going to prove that the truth is not just elusive but a real killer.

Why is Colt Ziegler¿s dog on the loose? More puzzling, how did Colt, a down-on-his-luck limo driver, end up dead hours after a botched break-in? Colt¿s dog sure isn¿t providing any answers. Neither is Deputy Coroner Charmaine Digby¿s childhood friend, George ¿Little Dog¿ Bassett, after he¿s charged with Colt¿s murder. Little Dog . . . a murderer? Impossible! Enlisted to help the prosecution prove their case, Char turns a nightmare assignment into an opportunity to do some sleuthing and clear her friend¿s name. But the closer she gets to the truth, the greater her risk of becoming the next victim!

Full of humor and suspense, the bestselling Java Jive series heats up as the irrepressible heroine of Death Before Decaf faces off against Nashville’s upper crust to solve a shocking murder.   Former musician Juliet Langley has barely had a day off since taking over management of the coffeehouse owned by her best friend, Pete Bennett. But there’s always more to be done—such as prepping for the annual Holiday 5K Race organized by Pete’s snobby socialite girlfriend, Cecilia Hollingsworth. This year, Java Jive has a booth right at the finish line, and since Juliet and Cecilia don’t always see eye to eye, everything has to be perfect. Nothing can go wrong. Nothing . . . like Juliet stumbling over Cecilia’s dead body on the morning of the race.   When Pete is arrested for Cecilia’s murder, Juliet sets out to clear his name. She’ll do whatever it takes—even if it means standing up to the police, her ex-boyfriend, and the grande dames of Nashville. But there isn’t enough espresso in the world for the greatest challenge in her path: infiltrating Nashville’s high society to uncover the hidden hotbed of scandal without running afoul of the law herself. With her last dime staked on Pete’s bail bond and her staff growing jittery, the last thing Juliet needs is for her trademark temper to land her behind bars. As time drips away, Juliet needs to crack this case before the killer comes back for another shot. Praise for Mug Shot “The humorous and witty dialogue, mixed with romantic tension and a puzzling mystery is a fresh and unique combination. Juliet’s first-person narrative is humorous at times and poignant at others, making her a loveable character I can’t help but cheer on. . . . The mystery-suspense elements are truly tense on an emotional level. . . . This series is delightful, well written, and wildly entertaining.”—Suspense Magazine “The story is fast-paced and keeps you guessing to the very end. This author comes up with some very interesting ways to kill someone, and her injection of humor at just the right time is perfect. On its own, Mug Shot is a really good read, but if you follow the series, it will be even better.”—Linda Thompson, host of The Authors Show   “Another winner . . . Just like the first book, this one is peppered with funny scenes. . . . This is a good series and I highly suggest reading.”—Storeybook Reviews “Once you start, you’ll want to finish it. Can’t wait for more caffeine-driven escapades.”—Sweet Mystery Books

Small towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are no matter how many murders you solve. Miss Mo LoBeau - one half of the (probably) world-famous Desperado Detective Agency - is back! She and her fellow Desperado, Dale, went famous for about a week over the summer when they solved a murder in their hometown of Tupelo Landing - population 148 minus one (murder). Now sixth grade has started and it's back to being regular. But regular doesn't come easy to a girl like Mo. So when her beloved Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn with an unidentified ghost in the fine print, Mo's itching to take the case. Plus, a historical ghost might make for some much needed Extra Credit in history. Who's haunting the old inn? And why? The Desperado Detectives set out to solve their second big case - only to find the inn might not be the only thing in Tupelo Landing haunted by the past. With some unexpected help from slick new kid in town - Crenshaw, Harm Crenshaw (as in Bond, James Bond) - Mo and Dale discover the truth about a lot of things. Even themselves. A companion to the New York Times bestseller Three Times Lucky. Small towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are no matter how many murders you solve. Praise for Three Times Lucky ' Mo is so plucky that young readers may wish she lived next door.' The Wall Street Journal 'An irresistible narrator - a literary descendant of Scout Finch of To Kill a Mockingbird.' Newsday, Top 12 Children's Books of 2012 * 'Mo LoBeau is destined to become a standout character in children's fiction.' Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The funniest deputy coroner to cut up a corpse since, well, ever." --Laura Levine Sorenson, Wisconsin's deputy coroner Mattie Winston is back on the job. . .in a nursing home examining the body of Bernie Chase--the now former president of the Twilight Home's board of directors--who is covered in a powder used to turn liquids to solids. The home's residents are certain Bernie was offing the patients who cost him too much. . .and the patient that found him can't remember a thing. Between her ongoing tug of war with Detective Hurley, fulfilling her new job requirement of seeing a shrink, and wrangling with the Twilight Home's board of directors, Mattie's got her scrubbed hands full. She'll need all of her outside-the-box forensic skills to crack a case that's turning out to be stranger--and more dangerous--than anything she's seen before! Praise for Annelise Ryan and her Mattie Winston series "A puzzler of a mystery. What a thrill ride!" --Jenn McKinlay "Has it all: suspense, laughter, a spicy dash of romance. . ." --Tess Gerritsen "Another winning mystery!" --Leann Sweeney

After years spent mourning the death of her partner, Christine Kane, Minneapolis restaurateur Jane Lawless thinks she's ready to move on. That is, until she finds a gun among Christine's belongings. The night before Christine died of cancer, three members of the Simoneau family, Christine's real estate clients, were murdered. The timing of their deaths appeared coincidental and Jane always assumed Christine knew nothing of the family's secrets. But as she searches for clues to understand what really happened all those many years ago, the gun and a few other discoveries begin to convince Jane otherwise. Where past and present collide, Ellen Hart's latest mystery in this Lambda and Minnesota Book Award-winning series proves that she remains one of the genre's best.