15 Minutes: A Maizie Albright Star Detective Humorous Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Past Perfect Press (January 24, 2017)
Paperback: 341 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0997885323
E-Book ASIN: B01N77ZK94
Synopsis
#10days #findthewoman #getthejob #doNOTfallinlove
When ex-teen star Maizie Albright returns to her Southern hometown of Black Pine, Georgia, she hoped to rid herself of Hollywood tabloid and reality show hell for a new career as a private investigator. Instead, Hollyweird follows her home. Maizie’s costar crushing, but now for her gumshoe boss. Her stage-monster mother still demands screen time. Her latest rival wants her kicked off the set, preferably back to a California prison.
By entangling herself in a missing person’s case, she must reprise her most famous role. The job will demand a performance of a lifetime. But this time, the stakes are real and may prove deadly.
Praise
“I was already a huge fan of Larissa Reinhart’s “Cherry Tucker” series, but in her new mystery series, FIFTEEN MINUTES, she had me at the end of the first line: “Donuts.” Maizie Albright is the kind of fresh, fun, and feisty “star detective” I love spending time with, a kind of Nancy Drew meets Lucy Ricardo. Move over, Janet Evanovich. Reinhart is my new “star mystery writer!” — Penny Warner, Author of DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER and THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB
“Hollywood glitz meets backwoods grit in this fast-paced ride on D-list celeb Maizie Albright’s waning star—even as it’s reborn in a spectacular collision with her nightmarish stage mother, her deer-pee-scented-apparel-inventing daddy…and a murderer. Sassy, sexy, and fun, 15 Minutes is hours of enjoyment—and a wonderful start to a fun new series from the charmingly Southern-fried Reinhart.” — Phoebe Fox, author of THE BREAKUP DOCTOR series
“Larissa Reinhart’s newest heroine, Maizie Albright, is at once naïve and worldly. As a former child star, she craves life in the real world by becoming a PI, just like the TV character that made her famous. Armed with humor, charm, and stubborn determination, Maizie is a breath of fresh air. I adored every second of 15 Minutes. Viva la Maizie!” — Terri L. Austin, bestselling author of the ROSE STRICKLAND MYSTERIES and the NULL FOR HIRE series.
Guest Post
Today we welcome Maizie Albright to StoreyBook Reviews. I loved hearing what she had to say about being a detective!
Recently I’ve been aware of a certain black Sprinter van following me. I’m used to being followed, so I’ve gotten pretty good at noticing this sort of thing. Before you start to think I’m paranoid, let me explain. I’m Maizie Albright, once known for the starring role in hit kid shows like Kung Fu Kate and more famously, Julia Pinkerton, Teen Detective. You might recognize my adult self from All is Albright.
Sorry about All is Albright. It was Vicki’s project. She thought it a great idea spinning my bad press—those unfortunate club busts resulting in my rehab stints—into a reality show. Celebrity voyeurism is not my thing, I understand why it wouldn’t be yours.
But back to the van. Paparazzi stalking is just a regular Tuesday for a celebrity in LA. But in Black Pine, Georgia—where I’ve gone back to live with my father to prove I’ve given up my “celebrity lifestyle” (Judge Ellis’s words, not mine)—I don’t expect there to be paparazzi. I’m not celebrity lifestyling in Black Pine. I don’t even own a car anymore. I’m driving the dirt bike I got for my fifteenth birthday. But I’m following my dream of becoming a private investigator by working for Wyatt Nash of Nash Security Solutions.
While riding a dirt bike to surveillance assignments. But a dream’s a dream.
However, something’s up with this black van. I have a feeling it’s one of two terrible things.
It turns out that Mr. Nash’s latest client, Mr. Waverly, works for the financial company, Black Pine Group. Mr. Waverly wanted Nash to watch his wife for cheating. That’s just a Tuesday for a private investigator in Black Pine, by the way. No biggie. Except Nash just found out that his partner, Jolene Sweeney, wants to sell Nash Security Solutions and is using Black Pine Group to handle the sale.
That’s what we call a conflict of interest.
After a month of surveillance, where Mrs. Waverly kept to the same schedule every single day, Mr. Waverly’s wife disappeared. On my watch. First day on the job. A job in which I had no training.
And I sort of really wasn’t on the job either. The day before I lost her, I kind of forced my way into spying on Mrs. Waverly after Nash announced he wanted to quit the job for Mr. Waverly. Up to that point, Mr. Nash couldn’t find any evidence of Mrs. Waverly straying and told Mr. Waverly there wasn’t any point to it.
Yep, the day before she disappeared, Mr. Nash tried to quit working for the man who’s a partner in the company that wants to sell Mr. Nash’s business. Mr. Nash calls that “hinky.” And now Mr. Waverly’s doing his own PR spin on it, using not just the local Black Pine paper, but all Atlanta media outlets. And that spitball of news has grown into a giant media storm thanks to my notoriety. Hence the black van following me around and taking pictures. Which has not helped Nash from saving his company. Kind of does the opposite.
However, there could be one other reason for the van. And this one is even worse than the PR campaign against Nash Security Solutions. Vicki has come to Black Pine to convince me to sign on for another season of All is Albright, even though she knows that would breaking my probation requirements. Vicki never takes no for an answer. So much so that she dragged the crew and cast of All is Albright to Black Pine. So not only do I need to find Mr. Waverly’s wife to save Nash’s company, I’m dealing with Vicki machinations.
Machinations that could involve a black Sprinter van filming my investigation. Which sounds even more paranoid than telling you that there’s a black van following me.
But that’s just a Tuesday in the life of Maizie Albright.
About the Author
After seeing Paper Moon as a child, Larissa Reinhart fell in love with stories about confidence capers. QUICK SKETCH is the Cherry Tucker prequel to PORTRAIT in the mystery anthology THE HEARTACHE MOTEL. HIJACK IN ABSTRACT is the third in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series from Henery Press, following STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2) and PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1), a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist. She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit.
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Giveaway
check out the other blogs on this tour
January 24 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
January 24 – Books, Dreams, Life – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
January 25 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW
January 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 26 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
January 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 28 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
January 29 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT
January 30 – Book Babble – REVIEW
January 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 1 – Jane Reads – REVIEW, GUEST POST
February 2 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
February 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW
February 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT
February 5 – Varietats – REVIEW
February 5 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 6 – Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW
February 6 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 6 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
Thanks for hosting.
Thanks so much for hosting me and Maizie Albright today!