Molly Nolan had a plan all charted out for her twenties, and it had been going so well. College, check. Dream job teaching high school math, check. An apartment of her own, check. But then things began unwinding. The job went away. And a personal tragedy forced her to move back to the Indiana town of her childhood to live with her dad. Now she’s trying to start over.
When she discovers a dead body, it’s a shock. But it’s also a puzzle that, with her logical mind and her interest in true crime, she would dearly love to solve … and for personal reasons feels a need to solve. Except her dad and the local cops keep warning her off. The cops are even hinting that she’s a suspect. On the plus side, she’s attracting the interest of not one, but two handsome men. So there’s that.
Can Molly finally catch a break, put the clues together, and make at least one thing go right in a year that so far has all gone wrong?
TO READERS OF MY OTHER BOOKS
This is a different kind of book from the Galactic Detective Agency and Pelham and Blandings. There are no sci-fi elements and not a single crazy alien. But people can be just as quirky. And I think you’ll find here engaging characters and a good cozy mystery. Check out the excerpt below to see if it’s your cup of tea.
EXCERPT
Red and blue lights began flashing outside. They stepped to the front window to see a sheriff’s vehicle at the curb. Deputy Delgado climbed out and strode to the door.
“Let’s run out the back,” Kaylee said.
“No,” Molly said. “We have every right to be here.” Though, she thought, not with a reason she could easily explain.
She stepped to the door and opened it. Delgado shined a high-powered flashlight in their faces.
“Ms. Nolan,” the deputy said. “Care to explain what you’re doing here?”
Molly stepped to the wall and flipped on the light switch. Delgado lowered the flashlight.
“I’m reopening the store tomorrow,” Molly said. “Mr. Weber asked me to.”
“All right. And tonight?”
She flipped a hand toward Kaylee. “My friend is doing a walk-through with me. We’re thinking about switching some things around … to appeal to a younger clientele.”
“Hi,” Kaylee said. “Remember me? We met at the murder.”
Delgado scowled. “You were planning store redesign with the lights off? Because someone called saying they saw flashlights in the dark.”
“Right,” Molly said. “Right. Well … it wasn’t this dark when we started. You know how quickly evening falls this time of year.”
“Uh-huh. I take it you still have a key.”
Molly held it up. “I didn’t break and enter if that’s what you mean.”
“Okay. Next time, turn on the lights so you don’t look like burglars. It’s not uncommon for places to get hit by thieves after the owner dies.”
“That’s horrible,” Kaylee said. “Boy, some people. I tell ya.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Molly said. “I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“See that you do. Good evening, Ms. Nolan.” Delgado left and climbed in the SUV.
Molly shut the door. She and Kaylee faced each other and erupted in laughter.
