Hook, Line, and Murder (The Sweet Tooth Murder Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Rose Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 9, 2026

Synopsis

What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!

When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?

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Guest Post

From Detention to Detecting by Barbara Roker as told to GG Calpo

 Why did I go along with Meg when she said “we could help investigate” Brie’s murder?

I was bored! That’s why.

Plus, that bunch of four retired grade school teachers needed someone to babysit them. The same as they always did when we were at Post Elementary School. Am I supposed to leave them to make do without me? Especially when they get this birdbrained scheme of chasing killers?

In my book, abandoning friends when they’d lost their minds is just not done.

I’m Barbara Roker—seventy-one, retired elementary school principal, professionally organized, supremely efficient, and self-appointed supervisor of Teachers Out On The Hunt. Or TOOTH, as Edna has named our group.

Silly name. But the pink shirt with the rhinestone-covered tiara on top of a molar tooth is cute. Just don’t tell anyone I said that. And don’t tell anyone I wear the shirt when I’m home by myself watching crime shows with a glass of wine in my hands. Edna would be over the moon, but Stefan would never let me forget it. And there’s nothing more irritating than that smug smile on Stefan’s face when he knows he’s got me over a barrel.

I like to think that over forty years as principal of Post Elementary School has served me well in my new role. After all, finding out who put the whoopee cushion on my office chair and throwing them into detention is not that different from solving mysteries and catching killers.

At least, that’s what I tell myself when the going gets rough. Which it did a few times. But we got through it fine. Same number of fingers, toes, arms and legs on everyone when everything was said and done. What more could one ask for?

Here are my ground rules for investigations, laid down for the safety of all:

• The living are more important than the dead – we do not risk life or limb without CONSIDERABLE planning. Notice how I emphasize a certain word? Except I’m amazed at how little planning goes on when a clue presents itself to my friends.
• Fun is overrated – investigating crimes is serious business. Let’s not do things for a laugh. If a “sting” operation is proposed to catch the perps, then it must have some shred of maturity attached to it. Liz, are you listening? Stop laughing, you’ll fall off your chair.
• Write everything down – at our ages, our brains are full of holes. Bring a notebook and pen, and write what the suspects tell you. If your fingers are gnarled with arthritis, use your cell phone to record. Then transcribe it. So we can pore over every single word. Remember that time I went looking for the whoopee cushion culprit? I was sure it was Johnny, but the kids kept saying they didn’t see him walking down the hall outside my office. What they didn’t say was that they saw Johnny running down the hall outside my office. Kids turn into adults. And wise adults remember what they did as kids.
• Never ignore your gut – we didn’t get old by being stupid. If your gut says something is off, something is off. Pay attention if you don’t want to end up six feet under. Or in the hospital with your arm or leg in a sling.
• Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable – yes, I had to trade my stiletto heels for these black, orthodontic shoes. And if I’m going to wear them, then everyone better be in sneakers or flats. Nothing more to be said.
• Give thanks that we’re old – being old is an asset when detecting. No one gets offended when we bluntly speak our minds. Indeed, suspects are amused when we accuse them of murder. And everyone thinks we’re adorable, not nosy when we poke our noses where they don’t belong.

And here’s my nugget of wisdom for what it’s worth—accumulated over my seven decades of lifetime. I know you didn’t ask for it, but bear with me.

At the heart of any crime are people. Money is a symptom, not the root. It is a metaphor for what people want or what they think they need. Their need—and want—to feel safe, to belong. When these needs and wants are overpowered by fear—fear of betrayal, of being alone and forgotten—then it becomes easier to turn to crime. Communication builds a bridge to these fears. Being an educator taught me that. Sleuthing confirms it.

Solve the mystery, yes—but understand the why. That’s where healing begins.

We do not solve mysteries for fame. And certainly not for fortune. You couldn’t afford us even if you wanted to hire us. We do it because justice matters to us. Because we live in and love our community, the way we lived in and loved our classrooms. When wrongdoing goes unanswered, trust erodes—and trust is the foundation of any relationship, whether between family, friends, neighbors, or community.

My friends and I solve crimes together—but more importantly, we take care of each other. I might be a cranky old bat. But I can’t imagine a retirement without my friends. And I’m hoping neither can they. None of us expected this chapter. We thought retirement meant gardening, lunches at Sweet Buns Café, and the occasional jog around the park. Instead, we found a new life using our old skills.

You might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but these old dogs can certainly use their old tricks for new treats.

About the Author

GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all, and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family, and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows, and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.

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