Scones and Scofflaws: Cape May Cozy Mysteries with a Twist
by Jane Gorman
About Scones and Scofflaws
Scones and Scofflaws: Cape May Cozy Mysteries with a Twist
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Cape May, New Jersey
Blue Eagle Press (December 19, 2020)
Paperback : 278 pages
ISBN-10 : 0999110047
ISBN-13 : 978-0999110041
Digital ASIN : B08PW7M9JC
When a gorgeous man dressed as Bridgette Bardot buys her a Scofflaw and asks her out on a date, Anna McGregor begins to suspect her murder investigation has taken a wrong turn. Her previous work as a medical anthropologist exposed her to a variety of unexpected situations, but none quite like this.
“The story does a great job of setting up the mystery and then anthropologist turned B&B hostess, Anna McGregor leads us through a merry chase and I thought I had it partially figured out but then realized...red herring. I would suggest you skip to the back of the book to find the scofflaw recipe and make one to enjoy while you armchair sleuth your way through this charming and cozy mystery.” — Tracy’s Tidbits
It all seemed so simple: fix up the Cape May Victorian mansion she’d inherited from Great Aunt Louise and re-open it as the exceptional B&B it used to be. Everything’s going great, until her very first guest turns up dead at the breakfast table, crumbs from Anna’s blueberry scones scattered on the lace tablecloth.
As the town’s gossip mill goes into overdrive, Anna leaps into the fray to save her reputation, her business and Great Aunt Louise’s legacy.
With help from a handsome handyman eager to solve all of Anna’s problems and a young police officer new to murder investigations, Anna does her best to convince the town — and her future guests — that while her scones may be killer, someone else was responsible for this murder.
EXCERPT Scones and Scofflaws
Up early after her restless night, Anna faced the prospect of dealing with the mess in her kitchen. She was in the middle of scrubbing down her counters, a fresh pot of coffee brewing, when the bell over the door jingled. She didn’t go immediately, taking a minute to remove her kitchen gloves and wipe her hands. As she stepped toward the kitchen door, Patrolman Burley stuck his head through it.
“Good morning, thought I might find you in here.”
“Oh, Patrolman Burley. Hi. I mean, um, good morning. I’m just…” she lifted her arms then let them fall in a gesture of despair. “I’m not sure what I’m doing.”
“Seems like you’ve got quite a mess on your hands.” He glanced around the kitchen. “Sorry about that.”
“I am allowed to be cleaning up in here, aren’t I?”
He smiled. “Yes, you are. And please, call me Evan.”
She felt the tension in her shoulders relax, the edges of her mouth turn up. “Evan, of course.”
The deep brown of his eyes reminded her of the Scottish hero she’d been reading about yesterday. It would be nice not to have to go chasing around the dark house in the middle of the night with a field hockey stick.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with this. I have a few minutes, I could help.” Something in her expression caused him to take a step back. “Or not, if you prefer to do it yourself.”
“Why did you tear apart my kitchen like this?”
“It wasn’t just me. We had a team going through the whole house.”
“I noticed that,” she responded, feeling her cheeks grow hot.
“The thing is, Anna — may I sit?” He gestured toward the marble-topped bar that ran opposite the sink.
“Of course. Sure. Would you like some coffee?”
He waited until she’d poured his cup, then continued. “The thing is, Anna, one of your guests died in unusual circumstances and we need to find out what happened to him.”
“Wait. What do you mean, what happened to him?”
“I mean, we need to know what killed him.” Evan said, still looking directly at her. “Or who.”
Anna gulped and looked down at the coffee pot still in her hands. She turned her back on Evan to replace it on the burner and realized her hands were shaking. She took a few breaths.
“So you think he was murdered?” she asked once she felt sure her voice would sound normal.
Evan shook his head, taking another sip of his coffee. “Well, this is a police investigation. But it’s too soon to say if it was an accidental death or intentional. We still need to determine the exact cause of death. That’s why we searched the house. We were looking for anything that might have been used.”
Anna dropped onto the stool next to Evan. “Murdered. I mean, murder. That can’t be a common thing in Cape May.”
“It’s not. Detective Walsh is running the investigation for now, but it won’t be long before this attracts attention from the higher-ups. We need to get to the truth, and fast. Walsh has some experience with this sort of thing, so…” He toyed with his mug and Anna realized there was more. The worst was yet to come.
“So?”
“So we have to consider the possibility that you may have been responsible.”
“Me?” Anna heard the shriek in her voice and shut her lips tight.
Evan seemed focused on his coffee, giving Anna the time she needed to take a few breaths.
She tried again. “Me? Why would I kill my own guests?”
Evan raised his hands in what was probably meant to be a calming gesture. “Not on purpose, I’m sure. But we don’t yet know what killed him. We need to consider all options.”
“I see. So I’m a suspect. In a murder investigation.”
“Don’t overreact. Suspect is too strong a word. What if something in this house killed him — either an allergy, or something poisonous you didn’t realize he might encounter.”
Anna shook her head, flabbergasted. “I’m a trained scientist. I know what’s poisonous and what’s not. There’s nothing here that could—”
“Okay, okay. Look, you’re simply a person of interest at this point, that’s all.”
Anna’s brain spun through possibilities. “Who else is a ‘person of interest?’” Her voice betrayed her skepticism of the term.
About Jane Gorman
Formerly an anthropologist, then a diplomat, then a park ranger, Jane Gorman now writes murder mysteries. Building on her knowledge of Philadelphia (her home for many years) and her varied experiences, her Adam Kaminski mystery series features a Philly cop who manages to solve complicated murders in far-flung locales, both in the U.S. and overseas. Her Cape May cozy mysteries paint a light-hearted, fun picture of the Cape May life of a former anthropologist who just happens to be good at solving murders - and trying out new cocktails!
Author LinksThe Rest of the Series
Boats, Bodies and the Bee's Knees: Cape May Cozy Mysteries with a Twist
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Blue Eagle Press (April 9, 2021)
Paperback : 270 pages
ISBN-10 : 0999110063
ISBN-13 : 978-0999110065 Kindle ASIN : B08TV5Y2Y9
When her friend’s uncle is accused of murder, Anna McGregor dives into the boating life to prove his innocence. She soon learns that while lounging on a luxury yacht might be fun, matching wits with a killer can be deadly.
Life has finally settled down for Anna. The Cape May B & B she inherited from her Great Aunt Louise is fully booked and Anna is looking forward to a successful summer. Her peace is shattered when a body washes up in Spicer Creek and the police focus their investigation on her friend’s uncle. Determined to find the truth, Anna turns to skills she developed in her previous career in medical anthropology. Once again, Anna teams up with her best friend Sammy, her young cousin Eoin and the local librarian to use their knowledge of the town and its people to solve this crime. But the disappearance of two local teenagers reminds Anna this is the wrong time for free fishing trips or relaxing on a yacht enjoying a Bee’s Knees cocktail. She needs to find the missing teenagers and identify the killer before anyone else gets hurt.
Killers and Kir Royale: Cape May Cozy Mysteries with a Twist
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Blue Eagle Press (December 17, 2021)
Print Length 241 Pages ASIN : B09MV26RSS
When a love of wine becomes lethal, local B&B owner Anna McGregor discovers she’s the town’s connoisseur at defending the innocent and unmasking murderers. But if she goes after the killer, will the people she cares about most get crushed in the process?
Anna loves the new life she’s built for herself in Cape May, a town known for its historic beauty, picturesque beaches, developing wine culture and … murder? Thanks to some previous successes – and a close relationship with a local patrolman – Anna finds herself pressured into accepting the task of proving a new friend’s innocence in a tragic death at a local winery. Her investigation reveals an embarrassment of suspects, not to mention one too many potential victims. As always, Anna relies on help from her friends to find the truth. This time, though, offering help means breaking the rules. Now she must not only catch a killer but also save the reputation of one of her closest friends, all while getting ready to send her young cousin, Eoin, back to Ireland, trying to solve the riddle of her love life, and figuring out her future as a medical anthropologist.
Sounds like a great cozy.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen, thanks so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Good luck with the book!
DeleteThis looks great, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThans for stopping by!
DeleteSounds great, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds like a fun read. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Delete