Bøger udgivet af Cozy Cat Press

Madison Revere, a lawyer in her late twenties, lives on the New Jersey shore in a fancy Victorian home she got in a terrific deal from one of her past boyfriends. Although she is living well, she is lonely. Her previous boyfriend has moved to Manhattan, and her best friend is married with a baby and a busy life of her own. Even Madison's dog has moved on to live with her friend. As a result, she feels at loose ends with only her work to keep her occupied. So, when a woman her own age, who is a researcher for the local police department, comes to question her about the suspicious death of one of her elderly clients, she jumps at the opportunity to know the woman better and work with her to solve the case. Madison quickly comes to discover two things: that suspicious deaths can be dangerous to dig into and that making friends with strangers can be more challenging than you might think.

Why would spry senior Bob Weiderley suddenly faint and fall into a coma after winning a game of Bingo? After all, he was the most physically fit of all the men at the Happy Haven Assisted Living Facility (although there weren't many men at HH because women outnumbered them four to one). It was just very suspicious. That's why Essie Cobb and her friends and fellow residents--Opal, Marjorie, and Fay--decided to investigate. Was it possible that someone was out to get the friendly old gentleman? Maybe it was Violet, Happy Haven's director, trying to cover up her shady past. Or Sue, the activities director, whose behavior was unusual to say the least. Maybe it was one of the three women who sat at Bob's regular table in the dining room. Or the mysterious man who had recently sent Bob a startling letter. Essie Cobb is determined to find out-and she's not going to let her age (90) or her various age-related infirmities hold her back. Welcome to Happy Haven. If you thought most elderly residents of assisted living facilities spent their days watching television and sitting in the sun, you haven't met Essie Cobb, senior sleuth, and her three mystery-solving buddies. These four elderly ladies have insatiable curiosity, unending concern for their fellow man (especially their fellow 'man'), and energy and determination that some might find unusual for women in their 80's and 90's. They may not be able to get around as fast as youngsters in their 60's, or navigate that Interstate-Internet (or whatever that computer thing is), but they can solve a mystery. And they're starting with this one.

Eerie violin music, flashing lights, a battered security guard, a dead music teacher....more than Susan Wiles bargained for when she flew to Florida to meet her newly-found birth mother, Audrey Roberts, for the first time. Audrey is in charge of Hemingway High School for the Performing Arts, a tony private school in Banyan Beach, Florida. The bad publicity surrounding the school jeopardizes its existence when donors threaten to withhold funding, and parents begin withdrawing their children. Luckily for Audrey, Susan happens to be a retired music teacher...and an amateur sleuth extraordinaire. Against the wishes of Susan's detective daughter, who has accompanied her on the trip, Susan volunteers to substitute for the dead choral teacher, and uses her new position to work on solving the case. Can Susan solve the murder at this private school? Or will her detective work get her in more trouble than she can handle? Find out in Diane Weiner's hot new cozy mystery MURDER IS PRIVATE.

When chemist Anne Hillstrom finds her Great Aunt Sybil dead on her living room floor, she immediately contacts the police. The death scene has all the earmarks of a robbery gone awry. Unfortunately, the police seem unable to determine if the old woman's demise is a crime or an accident. When Anne attends an estate sale for recent lottery winner, Tim Whitmore, she finds an antique spoon under the deceased man's bed. Enlisting the help of her friend--journalist CC Muller, a fellow antique hunter and blogger--the two women begin an investigation into what happened to Tim Whitmore. Along the way, Anne and CC travel throughout the Great Lakes region, visiting yard sales, estate sales, and generally scrounging around, searching for antiques and possible clues that might lead to the history of the small spoon found under Whitmore's bed. With each find, the women unknowingly become closer to unraveling the truth. Eventually, their snooping becomes too much for the killer, who decides to put an end to these two nosy antique hunters. The stakes have been raised. It's no longer MURDER BY THE SPOONFUL

A thief making his get-away from a jewelry store heist, runs into an antiques shop and hides a priceless loose-cut diamond in one of the little drawers of an old slant-front desk, unaware that he has been observed by the store's mascot, Murfy the cat, and his female feline friend--Misty. Unfortunately, Murfy has no way to inform his mistress and the store's owner, Alyx Hille, of what he's seen. That same day the desk is delivered to Althea Burns, an elderly customer, who is later found murdered in her condominium. Could her death be connected to the diamond hidden in the desk? Murfy decides he must let his mistress, Alyx, know what he knows. But how? He can communicate perfectly well with his cat friends--but not so well with humans. Murfy enlists the help of his other feline housemate, Pooky, and they quickly embark on a mission to discover the story behind the hidden diamond and how it might be connected to the killing of Althea Burns. Will Murfy get his message across to Alyx so she can discover who killed her friend? Will he be able to protect Alyx from a wily murderer who is not yet done killing? And will he be able to uncover the true story of the DEADLY DIAMOND?

It's springtime in Santa Lucia and everything is blooming, including the Poppy Cove dress shop. 1958 is proving to be a banner year for its young owners Margot Williams and Daphne Huntington-Smythe--with Hollywood starlets becoming customers and attracting national attention to their business. Even the girls' love lives are blossoming. But a casual walk with their boyfriends along the beachfront after an art show suddenly turns shocking, when an unidentified man's body is found washed up on the shore, with a gunshot wound clean through his heart. The startling discovery becomes personal when the police arrive at the dress shop the next day and confirm that the dead man is none other than Nate--Nathan--Reed, Margot's ex-husband! Everyone is astounded; Margot has always been secretive about her background, but no one thought it included a spouse. The news becomes even worse when it's discovered that Margot had a hidden handgun which has now gone missing, and is the same caliber as the one that killed her ex. The young designer finds herself the prime suspect in the murder. She feels even more alone when her police detective boyfriend Tom is forbidden to associate with her while the crime is investigated. As Margot's past comes to light, Daphne must come to terms with the news about her friend and business partner, which causes her to wonder if maybe she's lived too sheltered a life. Determined to have her own secret adventure, Daphne gets herself involved in a predicament more daring than she bargained for. With Margot working hard to prove her innocence and Daphne trying to lose hers, Nathan's killer is still on the loose and creating more havoc. That dead man on the beach is truly A NATE TO REMEMBER.

Nina Bannister's good friend, Margot Gavin, has invited Nina to her bed and breakfast plantation house, The Candles, for a few days of rest. Nina is looking forward to a quiet visit with Margot, and the two friends sit down to a snack of tea and wine. Unbeknownst to them, their plans will be interrupted, first by thirty unexpected guests (and their cats) who arrive by limousines, and then by an unexpected former owner who has been deceased since the Civil War. What else can possibly occur? How about an unexpected hurricane (the aptly named Clarence)! Can Nina and Margot face the many challenges (and keep their sense of humor) for what will happen when the wind blows, the rain rains and the fur flies-literally-in this weirder than weird Climate Change?

Welcome to Goodship, New York. The sleepy suburban hamlet harbors a terrible secret. A secret that may be at the heart of two murders.Twenty-five years after the "big game" and the requisite homecoming party, Goodship's secret begins to haunt its otherwise comfortable residents. When the first murder is reported, the townsfolk are warned, but take no action. When town landmarks are vandalized, residents are aghast. And, when an attempt is made on a local hero's life, the town mobilizes, especially former soap star (and now proprietor of a favorite lunch spot) Eliza Gordon and her pal and local radio personality Midge Sumner. When the prime suspect turns up dead, Eliza and Midge mobilize to solve the murders and catch the real perpetrator.The clues are are all there. Who is doing more in Goodship than just KILLING TIME?

John Braemhor, retired former member of the Rhodesian constabulary, runs a B&B in Daraichburn in the Scottish lowlands with his wife, Mary. But the quiet life of innkeeper does not keep pace with his former, more dynamic investigative existence. The world of unique and fascinating crime puzzles continues to beckon him. And so when individuals begin vanishing from inside fairy circles under hawthorn trees, as foretold in ages old folktales, John and Mary travel to the Loch Ness region, to investigate these strange disappearances. Later the perplexing, worldwide phenomenon known as "the hum," a bizarre low frequency sound heard by very few people, causes them to enlist the assistance of Mary's eccentric aunt to unravel its origins.Beggar's Knob also claims their attention when an artist appears to be literally sucking the life out of the subjects of his paintings as he transfers their images onto canvas. Braemhor's superior knowledge of the history of crime leads to an understanding of the motives behind the criminal's actions. These and other adventures, including the use of hypnosis in crime and murder during a professional meeting, keep John and Mary Braemhor busy thwarting the criminal elements of their native Scotland and of a small college town across the pond in the Colonies.

Never judge a book by its cover unless Piper O'Donnell is prominently on display. Woodlawn, Ohio's newest library board of trustee member is busily securing her social status by organizing the library's premiere event of the season--the Booklovers' Ball. Unfortunately, Piper's dreamy vision of pink panache vanishes into thin air when she stumbles over a dead body in the library director's office. Forget the evites and the party favors. The list of possible suspects could fill a bestseller, and they include Piper's own sister who was spotted at the scene of the crime. There's also a charismatic minister thought to be short on offerings for his ambitious mega church. And rumors are circulating that the library director himself and his ditzy assistant may also be cooking the books. With help from her handsome fiancé Rusty O'Brien, Piper puts her sleuthing skills to work to investigate the complicated crime. The minutes are ticking down for Woodlawn's top party planner. Will Piper be able to uncover the mysterious killer who is intent on ruining her lavish affair--and can she do it before the next board meeting?

An urgent phone call from a principal/friend sends retired music teacher Susan Wiles rushing through the doors of Westbrook Middle School, where she discovers a ransacked office and a missing bookkeeper. Eager to keep the break-in quiet, Principal Antonio Petrocelli enlists her help. Susan had already proven her sleuthing expertise by solving murder cases at Westbrook Elementary and Westbrook High. Too bad Susan's detective daughter Lynette doesn't appreciate her mother's interference in police business. That won't stop Susan, however. What clues does she have this time? A missing bookkeeper, two brothers, a waterfall, and a suspicious death. What's the relationship? It's all very murky and Susan must solve the mystery while in the middle of coping with an acute family crisis that may forever change the life of someone she loves.

If Eve Iverson hadn't spotted her stolen painting hanging on the wall in one of Sunshine Valley's most popular restaurants, she and her husband, Adam, would never have discovered the dead body of the restaurant's owner. Suddenly, the couple find themselves enmeshed in a web of chaos and intrigue, where they become key figures in a widespread homicide investigation. Although she is able to pursue her increasingly successful art career, Eve must also face the fact that everyone she meets appears to have had a motive and the opportunity to commit murder. As the suspense increases, the Iversons come to realize that all is not what it appears to be in this seemingly tranquil oasis in the desert--including the people who live there. Will the Iversons be able to working together to identify the person responsible for the CORPSE IN THE CACTUS?

When Claire Burke receives a frantic phone call from Roscoe, a resident of the group home she supervises, she rushes to his aid. Arriving in the back alley where he asked her to come, Claire finds Roscoe traumatized, sitting beside the dead body of a young co-worker. After the mandatory police interview is completed, Claire is finally able to take Roscoe home. She knows by the way he's acting that Roscoe must have witnessed the murder, but he won't say anything. Claire realizes that the only way to protect him from becoming the next target is to find the murderer herself and she sets about to do just that. After several attempts on Roscoe's life occur, Claire sees that she will have to take more extreme measures to protect him--and extreme measures are Claire's forte. She enlists the aid of her best friend Tia, along with other friends, relatives, and neighbors. Soon everyone has their part to play in tracking down the elusive killer. Can Claire and her amateur sleuths find the killer before the killer can find Roscoe? And will doing so lead to ROSCOE'S REVENGE?

When Ethan Hille discovers his mother Alyx slumped over her kitchen table, bleeding profusely from a gash in her head, he suspects foul play. Who would want to hurt Alyx? Surely, her three cats--two small females, Misty and Pooky, and the old master, Murfy--couldn't know, although they do seem very distressed over their mistress's condition. The police investigator, Detective Smarts, is immediately suspicious of Ethan, wondering if the young man bashed his mom in the head earlier and then left, only to return a short time later to "discover" the injured woman. Neighbors had heard mother and son arguing--ostensibly about Ethan's spending habits. The evidence quickly mounts and, before Alyx recovers and is released from the hospital, Ethan has been accused of attempted murder and is sent to jail. Unfortunately, Alyx did not see her attacker and has no way to exonerate her son--or does she? Maybe if she'd just pay attention to "advice" from her cat Murfy, who is trying with all his might to tell her the real story of what happened--and what might yet happen--she might just save herself and her son. At least, that is one PAW-SIBLE THEORY.

Mario Portello is run over by a black sedan while sitting at his desk at Ralph's Roller Rink. Josephine Stuart happens to be painting a mural at the rink the day he is rubbed out, making her the only witness to the hit-and-run event. Everyone assumes it's an accident caused by an octogenarian with bi-focal vision and a lead foot. From what Josephine saw, however; she believes the hit was intentionally carried out by a shrewd killer. The police are slow to believe her theory. Mario's family and acquaintances did not like him, but Josephine must look beyond dislike and find someone with a real motive for murder.

It's been years since Sandy Fairfax was a teen idol and starred in his hit '70s television series Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth, but he still has his fans. Now it's 1993 and many of his grown-up fans see a leisurely cruise as the ideal vacation. So, when Sandy's agent finds him a pleasant gig aboard the SS Zodiac, he jumps at the chance. And, when the offer includes a spot for his musician sister, Celeste, who is blind, Sandy sees an opportunity to re-engage with his estranged sibling. However, the brother-sister duo are barely aboard the ship, when Sandy finds a singer from another shipboard show murdered in his dressing room. When the ship's security officer does little to investigate, Sandy feels obligated to jump in, even though he isn't a detective--he just used to play one on TV. Soon he's grilling potential suspects, including a burnt-out piano bar player, a Southern-fried magician, a blackmail victim, a ventriloquist with a sassy dummy and even a former flame. Will Sandy unmask the killer before the cruise ends? Will he connect with the girl of his dreams? Will he have time to enjoy the sights of Nassau? Or will he end up sleeping with the fishes in the Atlantic Ocean, another victim in this killer's CUNNING CRUISE SHIP CAPER?

Retired school teacher Nina Bannister has not been idle in her golden years. Now, this famous resident of Bay St. Lucy, Mississippi, is heeding the call of duty again, by running as a replacement candidate for the U.S. Congress, when the state's present Representative is killed in a plane crash. To her great surprise, Nina is elected, and--to her even greater surprise--she quickly finds that she is not cut out for the lowly life of a newbie--kowtowing to party leaders. When Nina suggests in an off-hand moment (which is secretly recorded by her staff and uploaded to social media) that the government would be better run by women, a nation-wide revolution begins, and Nina becomes its figurehead. Little does she know, however, that a lone disgruntled man is furious with her actions and intends to get his retribution against Nina and all of her followers. Can Nina bring about true change in Washington? Or will her nemesis bring about her demise before she even has a chance to start? This all happens when Nina Bannister goes to Washington and national politics undergoes a SEX CHANGE.

Dentist and part-time PI Arnie Katz has a problem. His ex-girlfriend, Debbie, has just been stood up at the altar because the groom is dead. Seems like a fairly good reason to miss a wedding. But that's not the problem. The problem is that Debbie believes Mickey was murdered and wants Arnie to find out who did it. It's understandable that he would be a little hesitant. Why would Arnie want to look into the death of the guy who stole his one true love? But Debbie's persistence pays off, and he finally agrees to investigate. Arnie soon discovers that it's not as simple as he thought and finds himself trapped between--not one--but two warring crime families. Add to this, the fact that a maniac is killing local orthodontists, and Arnie has his hands full. But it's what happens next that hits him hardest-Debbie is arrested for murder. As Arnie attempts to sort everything out, he makes sure his pockets are packed with dental probes and picks, so he can defend himself in case he's captured by bad guys. And there will be bad guys a-plenty before Arnie puts an end to these nefarious activities and figures out just why DEAD MEN DON'T GET MARRIED.

A suicide note found in a locked room. A shard of glass buried in a scoop of whipped potatoes. A pickle jar filled with poisonous spiders. Precious jewels yanked off of a woman's neck but left at her feet. It's just a week in the life of Damon Lassard when he boards The Vitamin of the Seas with his charismatic mother for a 'relaxing' Caribbean cruise. After Damon's acerbic dining companion is found floating alongside the ship and local police rule the death a suicide, the loveable amateur sleuth is left to find the killer himself. He encounters seductive sirens, cunning con artists, and fascinating family members en route to solving not only the murder but a handful of clever capers as well.

Nina Bannister loves to paint, and she sees nothing wrong with hanging her painting and those of her fellow painting classmates on the walls of Elementals, a small shop she runs in downtown Bay St. Lucy. But, when the shop's owner, Margot Gavin, a former administrator at the Chicago Art Institute, arrives for a visit, she is appalled at the sight of all the beginner artwork, and demands that her friend remove the eyesores--that is, paintings--from the walls. Nina is hurt but her feelings are quickly forgotten when Margot invites Carol Walker, a creative young docent she had met at the Chicago school, to visit and present a holographic art show at Bay St. Lucy's famous Auberge des Arts. The program proves so impressive, that both Margot and Nina are shocked to learn that its innovative creator has been recently summarily fired from the Institute. The young woman is miserable and confesses that she has no job prospects--and even worse, her father is in ill health and Carol, being an only child, is his only hope for saving their family farm. Margot and Nina take the young woman under their wing, but no sooner does she take up residence in Nina's small house, that they all become embroiled in a mysterious and dangerous art smuggling ring. Can Nina save Carol and herself as well as a number of valuable paintings? Can Carol find employment and save the family farm? Just who is The Red Claw and what threat does he pose to the art world? These questions and more are all answered in FRAME CHANGE.

Who would try to poison a helpless cat in an old folks' home? Is it a prank? An accident? Or something more sinister? Buckingham Courte's own Carolina Pennsbury is just the amateur sleuth to find out. As the beautiful cat Apolonia is owned by her friend Margie, one of the Courte's most pitiful and harrassed residents, Carolina suspects that the poison was actually intended for Margie, so she gathers all of her investigative powers to determine the evil mind behind the devilish plot and to protect her friend until she is able to bring the culprit to justice. She soon narrows the field of poisoner candidates down to three new residents who have filled an empty seat at the table where Carolina, Margie, and their three friends--Annie, Rita, and Dot--all dine regularly. Could the potential murderer be the lacivious Mike who can't seem to keep his hands off any of the Courte's female residents? Could it be frigid Frieda who finds Margie's behavior, appearance, and background totally tasteless? Or could it be the polite but boring Paula who has all the personality of the chair she occupies? This may be Carolina's toughest case--a case of of DINNER AND DEATH.

Retired teacher Susan Wiles thought she'd be content spending her time knitting baby blankets and volunteering at the local high school, but she was dead wrong. When her husband's best friend, Tank, is accused of sexually harassing one of his students, Susan puts her sleuthing skills into action, much to the chagrin of her husband and police detective daughter. When a dead body is discovered in a construction site behind the school, the stakes quickly escalate. But before she can solve this new mystery and exonerate Tank, she finds herself dealing with personal and family issues that force her to realize that MURDER IS SECONDARY.

Retired Bay St. Lucy teacher and principal Nina Bannister is shocked to find, during one of her morning exercise runs, the body of an ex-student and brilliant petroleum engineer who has been drowned in one of the town's drainage canals. Her search for the killer leads her to Lafayette, Lousisana, center of Cajun culture and Gulf Coast oil production, and to the massive deep water oil rig Aquatica. Murder, suspense, and high intrigue accompany this long overdue Oil Change.

It's the 1950's in Santa Lucia, California, and the height of the social season. Time for the new Miss Santa Lucia, Nora Burbank, to display her loveliness at a high society fashion show produced by the city's own fashionistas--Margot and Daphne, owners of Poppy Cove, the most elegant and "in" little dress shop in the county. Nora steals the show in her designer gown and custom-made necklace created by local jeweler Isaac Mendelson, and used on the sly by his apprentice son-in-law, Efrem Goldberg. At the conclusion of the show, the young queen is allowed to keep her dress and a replica of the necklace for her own. But Monday morning, Efrem arrives in a panic at Poppy Cove to beg Margot and Daphne's assistance in tracking down the real necklace, which he believes was inadvertently switched for the replica backstage. The girls get involved in Efrem's dilemma and try to help him before Isaac's any the wiser. But before that can happen, Miss Santa Lucia is found dead in her bed and the necklace is missing. Who killed Nora Burbank? Is it someone jealous of her new royal position and all of its perks? Or did she just happen to be in the way when a thief attempted to steal her diamond-studded necklace? Did Nora have the real or the fake necklace, and how much did the thief and murderer know about it? But, of course, before the girls can find the killer, they'll have to create several beautiful ensembles, calm numerous irate clients, and flirt with their ever-so-attentive boyfriends, before solving this mystery.

It is only with grave misgivings that Nina Bannister accepts the challenge of returning as principal to Bay St. Lucy High School. Ten years have passed since she held the post, and concepts such as politically motivated standardized testing are new to her. The job proves more daunting than she could ever have imagined. However, when she is thrust into the role of women's basketball coach and faced with the possibility that her hated supervisor may have been murdered, it all comes together in one stunning ending as the clock ticks down on an unforgettable GAME CHANGE.

Mr. Tea, everyone's favorite teahouse mascot, is back with another adventure. His owners, sisters Terry and Karen Sutter, are in high gear preparing for the upcoming high school reunion. Old friends and "frenemies" alike are just beginning to party when one of the guests, a former football player, is found bludgeoned to death in the swimming pool. Terry's boyfriend, Detective Greg Mullins, and his partner, Tom O'Hara, are on the case. When another body turns up, Terry and Karen, along with those loveable seniors Uncle Henry and Aunt Rose, put their heads together to try and find the common thread. What they uncover is a terrifying story of brutality, revenge, deceit and old secrets that won't stay buried. Did Mr. Tea know the secrets all along? Can he help the sisters solve the mystery before another body turns up?

On the surface, Sunshine Valley appears to be an idyllic small town in Arizona's picturesque Sonoran desert. When Adam and Eve Iverson, a retired married couple, move to this seemingly peaceful community, they have every intention of pursuing their individual passions. Then, one day, their plans are disrupted when they discover the body of Olive Howell, the most disliked and feared woman in the valley, floating in the community hot tub. In the days that follow, the main topic of conversation in Sunshine Valley revolves around the death of Olive Howell. At first, her death is ruled accidental, but this pronouncement doesn't sit well with the Iversons. Driven by her intuition and keen perceptiveness, Eve begins to sort through a series of clues that indicate murder, and soon discovers that several people had strong motives and opportunities to kill Olive. Based on his own reasoning, Adam begins a separate investigation. Following their individual instincts and hunches, and by cleverly sorting through all the facts, Adam and Eve work together to ferret out who among the seemingly harmless residents of Sunshine Valley could have created the HOT TUB OF DEATH.

Susan Wiles is blissfully retired from her teaching position at Westbrook Elementary School. What a joy to be able to attend the holiday concert without worrying about how her student chorus will perform. But, wait a minute. Where's the principal, Vicki Rogers? The concert can't resume before she greets the parents and guests. Susan offers to go check the main office, only to find the missing administrator lying dead on the office floor. My goodness! Nothing like this ever happened when Susan had worked here. Of course, now that she's retired she has time to help the local police (one of whom is her daughter Lynette) investigate the mysterious crime. Did the principal die of natural causes? The bruises on her face don't seem severe enough to be fatal. But what about that cupcake sitting on her desk? Could she have been poisoned? Susan has just found the perfect retirement activity--much to her daughter's chagrin. And when the dead woman's teenage daughter and one of Susan's former top students, begs for Susan's help--how can she say no? Little does Susan realize that this crime will take her far from the schoolhouse doors, as she investigates a mystery that extends back into one family's painful past.

In 1937 England, twenty years after losing contact with her only living relatives, Moira Edwards sends a Letter from Brackham Wood, where she has been serving as a maid of all work, to the last known American address of her uncle and aunt and their daughter--thus putting in motion a series of letters spanning all of World War II. In these letters, Moira and her cousin, Margaret Walker, a doctor living in Spokane, Washington, reflect on their lives, the world's condition, changing times for women, and a case of espionage in which she, Moira, finds herself at the center.

The final sale of Olivia Waterford's beautiful old bed and breakfast, the Bittersweet Inn, seems to be going smoothly. A lovely young couple--Mead and Alice Hoover--are ready to take over the running of the Inn so Olivia can retire to a townhouse and enjoy her later years. Unfortunately, just as the almost new owners are enjoying the local Pumpkin Festival on the grounds of the Inn, their real estate agent, Grace Potter, is found murdered in a shack on the back end of the property. The horror of a killing on the Inn's grounds is bad enough, but Alice Hoover is apparently psychic and claims that Grace Potter's ghost refuses to allow the sale to take place until her murderer is caught.