Shrimply Dead (A Seafood Caper Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Muddle House Publishing (April 12, 2021)
• Number of Pages 237 PAGES

Synopsis

When veterinarian and amateur naturalist Jasmine Garr is shot in her yard, residents of Shell Island press caterer River Holloway into investigating the homicide. River dons her amateur sleuth cap and sets out to discover who killed her former catering customer.

Between Jasmine’s estranged cousin, a rival veterinarian, a wild animal trapper, the chicken lady, and a real estate broker, River has plenty of suspects to consider. As she peels back the layers of Jasmine’s life, dangerous secrets come to light.

Jasmine’s orphaned kitty, Iris, along with River’s cat Major, and her husband Pete help River sift through the evidence. At the same time, River recently expanded her catering business. She must service her regular catering clients, plus provide fresh baked goods for Pete’s ice cream shop.

The killer follows River’s every move relishing the thought of another victim. Time is running out. Will River solve the murder before she becomes a cold dish?

Amazon *  B&N *  Kobo * iBooks

Guest Post

Jasmine’s Enemies

By River Holloway Merrick as interpreted by author Maggie Toussaint

When a catering client is shot in her own backyard, I didn’t trust the sheriff to get the right answer. After all, he’d missed the mark on two previous homicide cases, and Jasmine Garr deserved justice.

This past summer I’d brought meals to Jasmine’s house for her ailing mother. The catering contract lasted until her mother passed away six weeks ago. I very much enjoyed the company of Jasmine and her mom, and the naturally landscaped place she carved out of the woods was so serene and breathtaking. It was a pleasure to go there.

The news of Jasmine being shot in the back was all kinds of wrong. And that the killer had done it in her own yard seemed extra cruel and unusual. These facts led me to the conclusion that she’d known the person and let down her guard.

Fueled by a burning passion for finding the truth, I dug into Jasmine’s life. Turns out, I didn’t have to dig far to find people who had grudges against her. For instance, her estranged cousin was furious about having been denied her inheritance of the family property and heirlooms. Jasmine’s veterinarian coworker was upset with her for personal and professional reasons. Then there was the wild animal trapper that Jasmine occasionally partnered with for wild animal rescue. His interest in her was personal, but Jasmine turned him down cold. Another man was in her orbit, a real estate broker. It was unclear what his interest in Jasmine was, but as I was finding out, Jasmine could be cold to people she had little use for.

Her next-door neighbor, an elderly woman who raised chickens, was the one who found Jasmine. The cops were looking at all of the above as suspects, including the Chicken Lady. I’d purchased eggs from the Chicken Lady, who’d been a friend of my late mother, and she didn’t have a mean bone in her body. Then bad things happened to the Chicken Lady, and I wondered if this might be about the adjourning properties.

I have no professional training for solving crimes, but I have two things going for me. First, I was born and raised on Shell Island, and everybody knows me. Most loved my cooking and were always happy to see me, so I have an extensive personal network. Second, my knack for finding things has gradually stretched beyond my family. In addition to finding lost keys, phones, eyeglasses, and pets, I’d successfully solved other murder cases on the island.

My biggest problem with this case was finding the time to investigate. I’d just expanded my catering business into another area, and product demand grew by leaps and bounds every week. It was thrilling and hard work, and I had to schedule extra help to fulfill the orders.

But I made a promise to myself. No matter how busy I was, I’d find time to get justice for Jasmine.

About the Author

Southern author Maggie Toussaint writes cozy and paranormal mysteries, romantic suspense, and dystopian fiction, with twenty fiction novels published. A three-time finalist for Georgia Author of the Year, she’s won three Silver Falchions, the Readers’ Choice, and the EPIC Awards. She’s past president of Mystery Writers of America-Southeast chapter and an officer of LowCountry Sisters In Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where secrets, heritage, and ancient oaks cast long shadows.

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Booklover’s Bench |  Amazon Author Central

 Website | Bookbub | LinkedIn | Pinterest

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway