Molded 4 Murder (Sophie Kimball Mystery)
by J.C. Eaton
About Molded 4 Murder
Molded 4 Murder (Sophie Kimball Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Kensington (August 27, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1496719905
ISBN-13: 978-1496719904
Digital ASIN: B07L2FJ1PN
A view to a kiln …
Sophie “Phee” Kimball enjoys working as a bookkeeper for a private investigator. If only her mother Harriet could enjoy her retirement at Sun City West in Arizona—instead of constantly getting involved with retirees being prematurely put out to pasture. This time Quentin Dussler, a prominent member of the clay sculpting club, was found dead, clutching a piece of paper scrawled with Phee’s mother’s name.
Read an ExcerptTerrified she’s been targeted by assassins, Harriet begs Phee to investigate. What Phee uncovers is a complicated scheme that only the most diabolical of murderers would ever devise. And as she chisels away at confusing clues and potential suspects, Phee unearths something far more precious and valuable than she could imagine. Eager for answers, she takes a bold step—placing herself in the crosshairs of a stonefaced killer
“Grab a chair, Phee.” My mother took her spot nearest the window. “This is a nightmare. A veritable nightmare.”
I looked at each of their faces and only Nate appeared calm and collected. Lucinda, who usually had that frazzled hair thing going for her, was even more disheveled, as if she had been pulling at her hair. Shirley looked as stylish as always, but I swore, even with her dark skin, she was pale. As for my mother, it was hard to say. The combination of drama and genuine fear made it impossible to tell how upset she really was.
“So, will someone please explain what’s going on? The only thing I know is a man was found dead holding a piece of paper with my mother’s name on it.”
Suddenly, Lucinda started gasping. “Not dead. He could have been murdered, for all we know. And your mother’s wasn’t the only name on that paper. Mine was there, too.”
Murdered. The word itself had an ominous sound. I stood up, took a coffee mug from the cabinet, and helped myself to what was left in the coffeemaker.
“Yeah. Um, that’s what Augusta thought.”
Nate rolled his eyes and choked back a laugh. “Sorry, it’s not funny, but lately Augusta’s become a wealth of information and innuendo. Here’s the real deal. First off, the news media will start out reporting a death. Then they’ll tell the public the sheriff ’s department has evidence pointing to a potential homicide. In a day or so, the homicide will be verified. Law enforcement can’t give away too much information or it will compromise the investigation. You all understand that, right?”
A collective “uh-huh” followed and Nate went on. “So, what I’m about to tell you stays in this room. Let me be clear. The only reason I’m sharing this is because two of your names were found at an active crime scene. And your help is needed.”
Other than the sounds the dog was making from scratching himself under the table, no one made a noise, so Nate continued.
“Okay. The sheriff ’s department got a call midmorning from someone at the clay club who said Quentin Dussler was supposed to teach a clay class at eight in the morning and hadn’t shown up. The caller was insistent something was wrong because Quentin wasn’t answering his home or cell phones. So, since this is a senior community, a deputy was sent over to Quentin’s house on Springdale Drive to do a welfare check. No one answered the door, but the garage door was off the ground by a few feet, so the deputy lifted it up and found the guy leaning back in a chair next to a potter’s wheel. Dead.”
“Why did they think it was a crime scene? Was he murdered?”
Shirley asked. “Maybe he had a heart attack.”
Nate groaned. “Because people who have heart attacks aren’t usually found with large clay pots stuffed over their heads, waiting to dry. The clay was still moist in spots. The clay pot didn’t smother him. It was an after touch. He was probably smothered by a plastic bag first and then clay was globbed in his nose and mouth.”
Shirley fanned her neck with both hands. “Lordy! Lordy! That’s the worst way to die. Someone molding the breath out of you.”
“That is kind of gruesome,” I said, “in a medieval sort of way. And why did he have a piece of paper with Lucinda’s name and my mother’s on it?”
Nate took a sip of the coffee and reached for a cookie.
“That’s what I’d like to know and that’s why I came over here.”
Ann I. Goldfarb
New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, she has authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington) was released in June 2017. In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at www.jceatonauthor.com and www.timetravelmysteries.com
James E. Clapp
When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. His first novel, Booked 4 Murder
(Kensington) was released in June 2017. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching.
(Kensington) was released in June 2017. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching.
Visit their website at www.jceatonauthor.com and Like and Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JCEatonauthor/
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