Build-in Book Search
Progressive Dinner Deadly
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Octogenarian Myrtle Clover is fit to be tied when her book club votes to change to a supper club. Who wants chips and dip when they can have Dickens and Twain?But when a body is discovered during the first supper club dinner, the evening quickly gets interesting. Myrtle pits her sleuthing skills against her police chief son's to find the killer....if the killer doesn't find her first.Retired octogenarian schoolteacher Myrtle Clover is fit to be tied when her book club votes to change to a supper club. Who wants chips and dip when they can have Dickens and Twain?The first supper club is a progressive dinner...where Myrtle loses interest during the hors d'oeuvres. But when a body is discovered during the main course, the evening quickly gets interesting. Myrtle pits her sleuthing skills against her police chief son's to find the killer....if the killer doesn't find her first.
A Notion to Murder
Elizabeth Craig
Life gets stressful when someone takes a notion to murder. Lester Dawson is a wealthy man. Unfortunately, he believes his wealth gives him certain rights—especially when it comes to his family. He meddles, coerces, and bullies. This means his children and his long-suffering wife aren't the fondest of him sometimes. But for Lester, being popular isn't as important as being influential . . . and controlling.When his 80th birthday rolls around, the family grudgingly plans a celebration. However, the festivities are cut short when Lester is found in his library—quite dead.Beatrice becomes pulled in since one of Lester's children is a quilting friend of hers. Can Beatrice figure out who killed Lester before someone else takes a notion to murder?
Patch of Trouble
Part #6 of "Southern Quilting Mystery" series by Elizabeth Craig
When it comes to solving cold cases, nothing is ever cut and dried…Quilter Beatrice Coleman is enjoying the sleepy peace of a tranquil afternoon…until it’s interrupted by her friend, Miss Sissy. The elderly lady is making wild claims about narrowly escaping an intruder. And intruders are unusual in tiny Dappled Hills.Miss Sissy isn’t the most reliable of witnesses, and her claims are swiftly discounted—until her mysterious intruder is found dead.Beatrice won’t cut corners as she unravels the threads of both a murder and a puzzling disappearance from decades ago.
A Dyeing Shame
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
When Beauty Box beautician Tammy Smith is discovered with a pair of hair shears in her back, there are suspects and secrets aplenty in her small Southern town.Octogenarian Myrtle Clover is intrigued by the crime...and her neighbors' secrets. But discovering, and blabbing, secrets got Tammy killed and Myrtle soon learns her sleuthing isn't just dangerous...it's deadly.Hera, member of the Gultur race governing the Seven Islands, thought she knew right from wrong and what her future held in store. A chance meeting with a lesser mortal, though, will turn her world upside down and force her to see her race and the laws with different eyes. For Hera, knowledge means action, so she sets out to put things right and change her world.Taking place in the World of the Seven Islands almost three years before the events in Rex Rising, this is the story of Hera’s first confrontation with the truth.
Doom and Bloom
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
There's some shady business at the garden club event.Spring has sprung in Bradley, North Carolina, and the town is buzzing as the local garden club prepares for their annual Festival of Flowers. Octogenarian Myrtle Clover is eager to showcase her exhibit and even convinced her friends Wanda and Miles to enter the competition.But the festival takes a dark turn when Myrtle stumbles on the body of one of the judges while sneaking a peek at the competition. With the police struggling to solve the crime, Myrtle takes matters into her own hands. Can she and her trusty sidekick solve the murder? Or will more victims get their lives uprooted?
Hush-Hush
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
It's hard keeping secrets in small towns. At first, librarian Ann Beckett is delighted her director hired another full-time staff member. The Whitby Library is a busy place and another librarian should make life much easier there. Instead, she soon discovers that the new hire, Ellie, seems to be bent on creating issues instead of solving them. When she's found dead at the library, no one is as shocked as they might have been. With time running out and a desperate killer on the loose, Ann starts uncovering all the secrets Ellie was trying to keep hush-hush.
Quilt Complex
Elizabeth Craig
When a quilter unexpectedly perishes, it seems everyone has a quilt complex.In the picturesque village of Dappled Hills, the peacefulness is shattered when a local quilter is found murdered. Mona, known for her sharp tongue and penchant for stirring up drama, had made plenty of enemies in the tight-knit town. But who'd finally had enough of her shenanigans?As amateur sleuth Beatrice delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of secrets, lies and motives. But just as she is closing in on the killer, another member of the quilting community is targeted. Can Beatrice solve the murder before the killer strikes again?
Death at a Diner
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Diners can prove hazardous to your health.Although Palmer Baxter hasn't lived in the small town of Bradley long, she's already become a force to be reckoned with. She's joined all the clubs in town and has effected a takeover of many of them. Palmer is married to a handsome banker, is perfectly coiffed and outfitted, and volunteers for groups that serve the needy.Needless to say, Palmer is extremely unpopular in her new hometown.Unpopularity doesn't ordinarily equate to murder, but it does in this instance. When octogenarian sleuth Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles venture out for an early breakfast at the local diner, they make the startling discovery of Palmer's demise.Will Myrtle and Miles find the killer before disaster strikes again?
Hushed Up
Part #15 of "Myrtle Clover Mystery" series by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Silence is golden …unless you’re permanently hushed up.
When Lillian Johnson was found dead one hot summer day, no one in the town of Bradley, North Carolina was all that surprised. Lillian had always talked about the trials of her various health problems and was sure to share with everyone exactly how much she suffered.
The townspeople were only slightly more surprised to discover that Lillian had been murdered. That’s because Lillian, like most folks, had a dark side. And a fair number of people had experienced this dark side.
Myrtle Clover, octogenarian sleuth and intrepid reporter, investigates Lillian’s death to discover precisely who hushed her up. . . before someone else is permanently silenced.
A Body in the Backyard
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
When octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover discovers a body in her backyard, she vows to find the murderer...before she's pushing up daisies, herself.It’s just an ordinary day for octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover—until her yardman discovers a dead body planted in her backyard. This death isn’t cut and dried—the victim was bashed in the head with one of Myrtle’s garden gnomes. Myrtle’s friend Miles recognizes the body and identifies him as Charles Clayborne… reluctantly admitting he’s a cousin. Charles wasn’t the sort of relative you bragged about—he was a garden variety sleaze, which is very likely why he ended up murdered. As Myrtle starts digging up dirt to nip the killings in the bud, someone’s focused on scaring her off the case. Myrtle vows to find the murderer…before she’s pushing up daisies, herself.
Borrowed Time
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Sometimes a weekend trip is stressful, especially if you're on borrowed time. Fall is beautiful in the small mountain village of Whitby, North Carolina. The leaves are changing color on the mountainsides, the sky is a bright blue, and the air is crisp. Librarian Ann Beckett's friend and coworker, Luna, has persuaded her to take a break from the library and attend a house party on the lake with her.The modest house Ann was expecting is more of a mansion with amazing mountain and lake views and an indoor swimming pool. The other guests initially seem fun, but as time passes, tensions grow. When one of the guests is later found murdered in the pool, Ann works through the puzzle since now someone else is on borrowed time.
A Body in the Attic
Part #16 of "Myrtle Clover Mystery" series by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Attics can be full of surprises. Who could have murdered Darren Powell? He was a very pleasant man fond of puttering around in his garden and playing chess. He didn't seem at all the type of person who'd find himself murdered in his own attic. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles step in to investigate. The more they learn about Darren, the more interesting he becomes. And now someone else might be in danger. Can they learn the killer's identity before he strikes again?
Booked Up
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
This is one doctor who's permanently booked up.Dr. Victor Wilson was one of the most popular physicians in the small town of Whitby, North Carolina. He wrote a prescription for trust with his attentive care and compassionate bedside manner. But when the doctor's own story takes a deadly twist, librarian Ann Beckett finds herself in the center of a medical mystery that's anything but routine.As Ann steps into the investigation, she uncovers hidden chapters in Dr. Wilson's life that cast a shadow of suspicion over those he once called friends. With each clue discovered, Ann becomes less startled by the doctor's untimely demise.Can Ann close the book on this mystery before someone else has a final chapter?
Spine-Tingling
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Unintended snooping can mean getting into someone's bad books.The Whitby Library has been a busy place lately, between book clubs, children's storytimes, and students working on research projects. Ann has been busy, too, which is why she's so glad to see some new volunteers to help the staff out.One of the volunteers is worried, though, and comes to Ann with a problem. She's seen something odd . . . maybe even suspicious. Ann tries advising her, but the volunteer still seems troubled. The next day, the woman meets her own suspicious end.Can Ann, with the help of her friends, help solve the mystery before someone else is permanently checked out?
Crosspatch
Elizabeth Craig
This crosspatch is at cross purposes with everyone.Summer, despite her cheery name, was hardly a ray of sunshine in the small town of Dappled Hills. She had a crabby personality and was constantly looking for ways to insert herself and her opinions into other people's business. In fact, when most people saw Summer approaching, they fancifully imagined storm clouds heading in their direction.Perhaps it wasn't much of a surprise then when Summer was discovered, dead.When one of Beatrice's friends is suspected in Summer's murder, the retired art curator and amateur sleuth starts nosing around to clear his name. Can she find out who killed Summer before the murderer strikes again?
A Myrtle Clover Christmas (A Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery, #21)
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Someone will be getting coal in his stocking . . . It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the small town of Bradley, North Carolina. Wreaths adorn doors, halls are decked, and candles cheerfully glow in windows. Adding to the Christmas excitement, there's also a lovely local wedding with many guests to wish the couple well. The wedding becomes a bit too exciting, however, when octogenarian sleuth Myrtle discovers the bride's rather outspoken aunt, mysteriously murdered. Myrtle and her senior sidekick must find the killer before someone else doesn't make it home for Christmas.
Frictional Characters
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Small towns + gossip = frictionNo one in the town of Whitby, North Carolina was excited when Jonas Merchant returned to town. Jonas was an effective muckraker; an expert at uncovering secrets, rumors, and undercurrents. Even worse, he'd fallen on hard times and was desperate for easy cash. It was a decidedly dangerous combination.It was perhaps not the biggest surprise when Jonas was discovered dead one day. More shocking, at least to local librarian Ann Beckett, was the fact that her straight-arrow director Wilson was one of the suspects in Jonas's death.Will Ann be able to track down the killer and clear Wilson's name before he strikes again?
On Pins and Needles
Elizabeth Craig
Some new residents don't deserve welcome baskets.Small towns can be notoriously cliquey. Dappled Hills, however, wasn't usually such a town. The residents ordinarily welcomed newcomers with open arms. But when Annabelle Tremont moved to town, the usual cheery greetings became angry whispers. Annabelle could be difficult and it wasn't a big surprise to anyone when she turned up dead.Beatrice was surprised when Annabelle moved from Atlanta to Dappled Hills ... but she wasn't surprised when she made enemies. That's because Beatrice knew Annabelle from her days as a museum curator. Now Beatrice must find the killer ... and clear her own name.
Murder on the Ballot
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
If you can't beat them, join them. Octogenarian Myrtle Clover is so annoyed by the infighting at tiny Bradley, North Carolina's town council meetings that she decides on a radical course of action: she'll run for the open seat on the council. After all, she taught most of the elected officials—she should be able to enact some order. But order apparently isn't in the works. This becomes clear when a fellow candidate is found . . . murdered. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles must uncover the killer before someone else becomes a lame duck.
Death of a Suitor
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
The course of true love never did run smooth.According to Myrtle, Eloise Crane set her cap for Miles long ago. Although Miles is now dating Eloise, he doesn't seem overly enthusiastic about it. Myrtle figures he's simply given in after running out of plausible excuses. Eloise drives Myrtle batty, so she's intent on avoiding her as much as possible. This isn't easy since Eloise is determined to join in whenever Miles and Myrtle are together.When Myrtle spots Eloise at a restaurant canoodling with a different gentleman, she likes Eloise even less. And she decides that Eloise has caused no end of problems when her other suitor is found dead.With Miles a suspect, Myrtle must jump into gear to clear his name and find the killer before he strikes again.
Cleaning is Murder (A Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery Book 13)
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
When Myrtle's housekeeper is a murder suspect, she swears to Myrtle that she's squeaky clean. It's easy for fellow citizens to get on your nerves in sleepy Southern towns like Bradley, North Carolina. Particularly when one of the citizens is something of a cheapskate. Amos Subers isn't one to tip waiters, pay back a loan, or behave generously with family. When it's discovered that penny-pinching Amos was actually quite wealthy, it hardly engenders goodwill in the small town … in fact, he's heartily disliked. Octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover's housekeeper is certainly no fan of his: Amos owes Puddin money for cleaning his house.It's not too surprising when Amos is later found, murdered, in his kitchen. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles resolve to track down the killer when Puddin becomes a prime suspect…and before the murderer strikes again.
Where There's a Will
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
No good deed goes unpunished.The Whitby Library is a hive of activity. The basement of the old building is under construction and there are smaller projects on the main floor, too. The work is being done practically pro-bono by Cornelius, a Friends of the Library member who's a local real estate investor and builder and now a philanthropist.Then Cornelius is found dead in an elevator shaft under mysterious circumstances. The focus falls on his family after his will is read and the amount of his fortune is realized. Can Ann track down the killer before he strikes again? Where there's a will, there's a way.
Fit To Be Tied
Elizabeth Craig
Sometimes family matters can make you fit to be tied.Although the small town of Dappled Hills is better known for its quilt shop, bakery, and other small shops, it is also home to some larger ones. When a prominent local businessman decides to sell his family business, his family isn't as thrilled as he'd first expected. Some of them would rather keep the status quo instead of allowing the business to be sold off to an outsider.But when Wyatt discovers the businessman murdered before the sale goes through, Beatrice must unravel the clues, making sure there are no loose threads, before anyone else is stitched up.
A Novel Idea
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Sometimes a novel idea can turn out to be a bad one. Sally Simmons was rather misunderstood in the small town of Whitby, North Carolina. An awkward woman with a sly countenance, she became a regular at the library, spending a good deal of time scribbling in a notebook and staring vacantly off into space.It turned out, to everyone's surprise, that Sally had been industriously penning a novel. To their greater surprise, it became something of a sensation, even landing itself on the bestseller lists.Since much of the novel had been written within the hallowed walls of the Whitby Library, reference librarian Ann and other staff members decide to hold an event to celebrate Sally's accomplishment and learn more about her book.Sadly, it soon becomes evident that Sally's book was inspired by actual residents of Whitby—and that she concealed their identities poorly.When Sally meets an unfortunate demise, it's up to Ann to figure out the...
Checked Out
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
There are no renewals when you're permanently checked out. When librarian Ann Beckett finally reluctantly agrees to being set-up on a blind date by one of her over-eager patrons, she figures that the worst that could happen would be that the two of them wouldn't hit it off.Little did she know that she'd be stood up...because her date was murdered.With the help from her patrons, Ann tries to find out who might be responsible in the small town of Whitby before more residents are permanently checked out.
A Dash of Murder
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Food for thought: seasoning with these berries results in a dash of murder.It's been a quiet autumn so far in the small town of Bradley, North Carolina. Or, as Myrtle would put it, a boring one. The slow pace and lingering post-summer heat are making life in Bradley very slow-paced, indeed.That all changes when a local resident is poisoned by what looks like a scrumptious pie. The victim is a boorish man who has plenty of enemies in Bradley. Despite this, suspicion falls heavily on Myrtle and Miles's friend—a botanist who grows the deadly nightshade the man was poisoned with.Can Myrtle and Miles solve the case and help their friend before the killer strikes again?
Edit to Death
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
This book goes from 'tell-all' to 'dead men tell no tales.' Retired English teacher Myrtle Clover is frequently asked to proofread for friends. So she wasn't totally surprised when her friend Pearl asked her to take a look at her memoir and polish it up.But before Myrtle could pull out her red pen, Pearl was found ... murdered.Now Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles must track down the memoir and the murderer before the killer makes any more final revisions.
Knot a Clue
Elizabeth Craig
Sometimes it doesn't pay to go to work.Dappled Hills is the kind of small town where it's hard to imagine anything bad happening . . . especially in the fall when the mountain trees are changing. It's a magical time in the area and Beatrice and Wyatt have been enjoying every minute of it, especially taking their new grandbaby on stroller rides in the crisp autumn air.So it was quite a jolt when tragedy did strike and Beatrice's daughter discovered her coworker at the school, murdered.At first, no one had a clue who could possibly have murdered Petunia Murray. But, as Beatrice dug a little more, she discovered Petunia carried a few secrets. Now Beatrice must piece together the clues before anyone else is sewn up for good.
End of Story
Craig Elizabeth Spann
A novel way to die.When Ann's boyfriend Grayson inherits a surprise legacy, the couple heads to historic Charleston for a much-needed vacation. Not only does Grayson adore the city, but Ann's college roommate, now a librarian, has extended an invitation for them to stay with her.As they explore the picturesque streets and soak in the rich culture, Ann and Grayson couldn't be happier. But their idyllic getaway takes a turn for the worse when her former roommate's brother is found dead in the library.Determined to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice, Ann sets out to investigate. With Grayson's help, Ann unearths clues and unravels a web of deception. Will she be able to solve the mystery before someone else is booked for murder?
Behind the Seams
Elizabeth Craig
The best-laid plans can fall to pieces.What could be more fun than a quilt retreat with friends? The Village Quilters and the Cut-Ups guilds decided to head out of Dappled Hills for a relaxing retreat at a lakeside conference center. They happily headed on their quilt trip, delighted at the prospect of the advertised sewing room that stayed open all day and night. There was also a promised campfire the last night with s'mores.However, what wasn't on the agenda was murder. Nor a winter storm that isolated them from any help. When one quilter comes to a mysterious end, Beatrice works behind the scenes to find out who's responsible before someone else is permanently stitched up.
Mystery Loves Company
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Truth blooms in unexpected corners.Octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover is caught in a bouquet of chaos on Valentine's Day. Forget chocolates and roses, she's more interested in the local florist, Teddy Hartfield, who ends up pushing up daisies instead of arranging them.When Myrtle and her trusty sidekick, Miles, venture to the flower shop for a harmless interview, they're ambushed by a bloomin' murder scene. Teddy, the mild-mannered florist, has met with foul play.Now, Myrtle must weed through the suspects, including Teddy's jealous sister, a prickly developer with a halted project, and Teddy's former business partner with a not-so-rosy history. As they sniff out clues, the killer is determined to bury the truth deeper than a flower bulb.As Myrtle and Miles tiptoe through the tulips, the killer lurks. Will they unearth the truth or end up fertilizing the flowerbed?
Embroidering the Truth
Elizabeth Craig
Little white lies can add up to big trouble.Felton Billows is known around the small town of Dappled Hills as something of a show-off. She's always dressed-up. She drives a luxurious car. And she has a quite spectacular diamond ring that she's fond of waving around.Felton, unfortunately, has other issues, too. She's not particularly kind to the people who work in her yard and run errands for her. Aside from that, Felton complacently alludes to the fact that she knows a few secrets.When Felton is discovered dead, it's still a shock—this is Dappled Hills, after all. But it may not be easy to unravel the mystery when quite a few suspects come to light. Can Beatrice uncover the murderer before he strikes again?
Cleaning is Murder
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
It's easy for fellow citizens to get on your nerves in sleepy Southern towns like Bradley, North Carolina. Particularly when one of the citizens is something of a cheapskate. Amos Subers isn't one to tip waiters, pay back a loan, or behave generously with family. When it's discovered that penny-pinching Amos was actually quite wealthy, it hardly engenders goodwill in the small town ... in fact, he's heartily disliked. Octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover's housekeeper is certainly no fan of his: Amos owes Puddin money for cleaning his house.It's not too surprising when Amos is later found, murdered, in his kitchen. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles resolve to track down the killer when Puddin becomes a prime suspect...and before the murderer strikes again.
A Body in the Trunk
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Sometimes taking a spin makes you crash and burn. When a neighbor disappears, Myrtle and Miles shift gears and hit the road to search for him. They discover their neighbor slightly off the beaten track—murdered with a tire iron. Myrtle has no intention of letting the killer give them the slip. She and Miles buckle up for a race against time to find the murderer...before someone else hits a dead end.
A Toast to Murder
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Uncorking secrets, one grape at a time.Myrtle Clover had quite a fondness for getting things for free. So she was delighted when a former student and current winery owner invited her and a friend to a free tasting. When Myrtle and Miles visited the charming Serenity Springs Winery for a relaxing afternoon of tastings, she anticipated nothing more than sipping fine vintages and enjoying the picturesque vineyards. But as any seasoned sleuth knows, murder occurs in the most unexpected places.She and Miles were savoring the various offerings and relaxing in front of the winery's large fireplace when they realized the guest dozing in the armchair nearest them was not just napping—he was out for good.Can Myrtle and Miles find the killer before more trouble ferments?
A Myrtle Clover Christmas
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Someone will be getting coal in his stocking . . . It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the small town of Bradley, North Carolina. Wreaths adorn doors, halls are decked, and candles cheerfully glow in windows. Adding to the Christmas excitement, there's also a lovely local wedding with many guests to wish the couple well. The wedding becomes a bit too exciting, however, when octogenarian sleuth Myrtle discovers the bride's rather outspoken aunt, mysteriously murdered. Myrtle and her senior sidekick must find the killer before someone else doesn't make it home for Christmas.
Quilt-Ridden
Elizabeth Craig
Do good fences make good neighbors?Miss Sissy is a talented member of the Village Quilters guild in tiny Dappled Hills, North Carolina. She's also somewhat difficult to deal with as her new neighbor, Linton, discovered. Linton doesn't understand why Miss Sissy's house is almost entirely covered by thorny weeds like something out of Sleeping Beauty. Miss Sissy, on the other hand, doesn't understand why that's any of Linton's business.When Linton ends up very dead, Miss Sissy seems to be the obvious suspect. But Beatrice and the other Village Quilters are determined to discover the real murderer and clear Miss Sissy's name—before the killer strikes again.
Overdue
Elizabeth Spann Craig
Mystery / Fiction
Carmen King is a busy woman. Not only does she sit on the library board and dabble in the Friends of the Library, but she juggles quite a few relationships at once. Apparently, this doesn't go over well with at least one of her boyfriends—Carmen is found dead at the bottom of the library staircase.Librarian Ann Beckett not only finds Carmen's body, but finds herself entangled in Carmen's mysterious death as she sets out to learn why Carmen's death, from the killer's perspective, was overdue.