by Sandra Murphy

Here is another Halloween mystery to enjoy! Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Death by Pumpkin Spice, and a link to order it from Amazon, as well as a link to purchase it from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.

Krissy Hancock is a bookstore café owner. She likes Halloween, but serving pumpkin-flavored cookies and drinks is her idea of a good time. She’s invited to a party with Will, a former love interest who had faded from the scene just when she thought things were going well. The invitation is his way of making up. Little did she know, it was the annual Yarborough party, always spookily overdone.

Vicki is the bookstore side of the business while Krissy runs the café. Rita is a loyal customer and avid gossip. She’s also the biggest fan of Krissy’s dad who writes mystery books. She’s the obvious one to give Krissy the scoop on the party and its hostess, Margaret Yarborough.

Howard Yarborough loved the party. After his death, his widow decided to continue the tradition in his memory. The house is decorated year round with ghoulish colors and surprises. After welcoming the guests and encouraging them to wander throughout the house, Margaret turns the microphone over to Quentin Pebbles. He’s obviously nervous and suddenly drops to one knee in front of one of the three costumed Marilyn Monroes and proposes. Jessica, aka Marilyn #2, is horrified and turns him down in no uncertain terms.

When Krissy discovers a dead Marilyn face down in the pumpkins, it’s hard to tell which one of the three she is, but it’s soon determined it’s Jessica. The logical suspect is Quentin for the cruel way she turned down his proposal, but what if it’s a case of mistaken identity?

Things are further complicated by the driveway to the house being washed out during the storm. No one can leave. Officer Paul is also a guest and takes charge of the scene. The problem is, people are in costume and wandering all over the house. The killer could easily stay ahead of Paul’s investigation.

Paul and Krissy had gone on one date, but since they were arrested in the middle of it by the Chief of Police (Paul’s mom no less), that relationship fizzled before it ever got started. Krissy was helpful before, so Paul is forced to ask for help again before another Marilyn is killed.

Readers will grow attached to Vicki and Krissy and long to visit the bookstore, maybe not on a night when the book club meets. It’s led by Rita and she has ‘Rules.’ Readers will also want to find out what happens with Robert, Krissy’s ex who won’t take no for an answer, Paul who may or may not want another date, and Will, who surely does.

This is the third book in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series which can be read out of order although why miss out on Death by Coffee and Death by Tea? Look for Death by Vanilla Latte in June 2017.

To enter to win a copy of Death by Pumpkin Spice, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “spice,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 22, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Death by Pumpkin Spice

You can also use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch, in the land of blues, booze and shoes—St Louis, Missouri. While writing magazine articles to support her mystery book habit, she secretly polishes mystery books of her own, hoping, someday, they will see the light of Barnes and Noble and a Kindle. You can find several of Sandra’s short stories at Untreed Reads including her newest, “Arthur,” included in the anthology titled, Flash and Bang, available now. Look for Denali, in the anthology Dogs and Dragons.