Squashed in the Fountain
A Maggie Moore Mystery
A prize-winning pumpkin. A smashed stone fountain. And a woman who’s trading her quiet archives for a glammed up wardrobe.
Maggie Moore used to be the invisible woman of Sydney. As a researcher at the city library, she lived a life as muted as her beige cardigans. But when her marriage and her career go up in smoke on the same day, Maggie decides she’s done playing it safe.
She empties the joint account, swaps the sensible flats for designer heels, and speeds into the rural heart of Mudgee in a Ferrari-red sports car. Armed with a sharp mind and a wardrobe dressed to the nines, Maggie is ready for a quiet night of Shiraz.
The town of Mudgee has other plans.
When the B&B’s garden fountain is found crushed under a body and a massive, award winning pumpkin, the locals don’t believe in coincidence. Suspicion is cast on Maggie as the well-dressed stranger in town, and the local Sergeant is too busy being grumpy to see the clues right in front of his nose.
Maggie may have arrived in stilettos, but she isn’t walking this path alone. To unmask a killer, she’s assembled a powerhouse girl squad:
Sarah: Her new BFF and fellow peri-menopausal wreck.
Mrs. Gable: The 70+ nosy neighbor who knows exactly where every grudge is buried.
Chloe: The trend-obsessed teen who proves social media is more effective than a detective’s badge.
In a town where everyone has a secret and the wine is world-class, Maggie Moore is about to prove that a woman with nothing left to lose is the best person to have on the case.
Why readers are obsessed with Squashed in the Fountain:The Ultimate Glow-Up: A protagonist who trades her city beige clothes for bold, high-fashion glam.
Witty & Sharp: A fast-paced mystery with dialogue as crisp as a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Modern Sleuthing: A fresh take on the cozy genre, featuring TikTok-savvy sidekicks and high-tech research.
Lush Australian Setting: Explore the vineyards and secrets of Mudgee in this vibrant breakout series.
If you love Patricia Fisher, The Thursday Murder Club or Agatha Raisin, you’ll fall in love with Maggie Moore
