Rick Atwood, reluctant police consultant in the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mysteries, says, “When I moved to Seaside Cove with my daughter Alex, I never dreamed I’d become involved in a murder investigation. Sure, I’d seen plenty of them in my time as a reporter in New York, but I was never involved in the investigations. There, I was always R.J. Atwood, a reporter for the Times. Here, I’ve become friends with the Chief of Police, and I can’t seem to say know when he asks for help. Maybe because of my time on the crime beat, a dead body doesn’t bother me that much. To my chagrin, that also seems to be the case with Alex. I never would have guessed I was raising a true-crime junkie or that she’d always be trying to solve the case before me.”

Marla Vail, amateur sleuth of the Bad Hair Day Mysteries, says, “It was a shocker when I discovered my client dead in the shampoo chair. I was alone with her in my salon at the time and couldn’t wait until the police arrived. That was only the start of many more hair-raising adventures. Now I’ve learned to make my own observations before the cops arrive.”

Sarah Blair, amateur sleuth of the Sarah Blair Mysteries says, “Having gone through a horrible divorce from the rat, I was in shock to learn that he was dead and the police thought my twin sister, Chef Emily, killed him with a bite of her rhubarb crisp. I never imagined I’d be in a situation to solve his murder in order to prove my sister didn’t do it!”

Miranda Trent, amateur sleuth of the Paint & Shine Mysteries, says, “I’m the owner of the Paint & Shine cultural tourist business in Eastern Kentucky, smack dab in the Daniel Boone National Forest. When I set about serving my clients an authentic Southern meal, I had no idea that I would come across the body of my cook. The best biscuit maker in Wolfe County had been stabbed through the chest with her own knife. I needed to find out what happened or be prepared to lose my business before it had even gotten off the ground.”

Tabby Winslow, amateur sleuth of the Valona Jones (aka Maggie Toussaint) A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries, says, “The first crime scene I visited belonged to a hoarder, so it was difficult to move around, much less find clues. I didn’t even think that a woman had died in that place. I wanted out of there as fast as possible. As for the second question, the answer is no. My sister and I were sheltered during our childhood. We understood our lives would be centered around the family candle shop. It was only a threat to our livelihood that prompted me to take up the gauntlet.”

Anastasia Pollack, reluctant amateur sleuth of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, says, “Are you kidding? How would you feel if you walked into your office and discovered someone had killed the fashion editor and glue gunned her to your desk chair and computer keyboard? I was terrified! But do you know what was worse? Finding out my author wasn’t finished throwing dead bodies in my path. Thirteen book and three novellas later, I’m still dealing with murder and mayhem!”