by Barbara Howard

The Festive Mayhem mystery and crime fiction anthology returns for its fourth year! In this exciting edition, thirteen talented crime writers of color have come together to bring you a baker’s dozen of fresh, captivating short stories, all set around the winter holidays. Whether you enjoy uplifting cozies, heart-pounding thrillers, or gripping suspense, this collection has something for every mystery lover. If you’re a fan of diverse voices and shorter stories with a holiday twist, this anthology is a must-read!

As a mystery author, the winter holiday season has always captivated me with its striking contrast: the warmth and joy of celebration set against the potential for dark secrets and hidden tensions. This very contrast is what inspired me to contribute to the anthology. The delicious idea of secrets simmering quietly during a time of togetherness offers a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of human nature.

In our latest Festive Mayhem crime fiction story collection, we wanted to explore how joy and danger can exist side by side, how even in the most festive moments, an unsettling mystery can linger just beneath the surface. Our hope is that readers will experience both the cozy comfort of the holiday atmosphere and the thrill of uncovering secrets as they turn the pages. We want to keep them on edge, as the unexpected twists unfold against a backdrop of festive cheer.

Here’s what you’ll find in Festive Mayhem 4:

• “The Townhouse That Cried: A Valentine’s Day Haunting” by Persia Walker. In a gorgeous but haunted townhouse, a couple’s darkest secrets and buried pasts threaten to destroy their relationship and their lives.
• “Chocolate Kisses, Deadly Wishes: A Clover City Files Short Story” by Barbara Howard. When a candy-themed reality TV show comes to Briarwood College, the event turns chilling when a celebrity chef is found dead amidst the winter wonderland set, thrusting two friends into a hunt for the killer.
• “Dearly Departed: A Crescent City Short Story” by SG Wong. Betta Ha believes deeply in her vocation as a Healer, but can her convictions be enough to protect a gifted new protégé from a predatory family, or her best friend from past mistakes that might now prove more dangerous than anyone imagined?
• “A Tokyo Christmas Dish” by Elizabeth Wilkerson. A burnt-out home health aide’s impromptu trip to Japan takes a wild turn when she finds herself entangled in a scheme to spread Christmas cheer.
• “Valentine’s Vengeance: A Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Short” by Paige Sleuth. Cherry Hills amateur sleuth Imogene Little finds herself investigating an attempted murder during a Valentine’s Day double date.
• “Appalachia Kidnappings” by Lavelle Andrew Miller. A winter storm unearths a decade old mystery.
• “The Case Of The Missing Body: A Lara’s Detective Agency Mystery” by Stella Oni. In the days leading up to Christmas, the body of a respected Yoruba chief vanishes from a funeral home under mysterious circumstances.
• “Yuletide Clean-Up” by Delia Pitts. Denise’s post-holiday chores include dismantling the Christmas tree, baking cookies, and covering up a death.
• “Before The Ball Drops” by Lekecia Barclay. With the clock ticking down to a killer’s midnight deadline on New Year’s Eve, a jaded private detective makes a deal with her estranged best friend—find the would-be murderer in exchange for freeing her son.
• “Street Smarts” by P.M. Raymond. Against the backdrop of New Orleans Mardi Gras, a savvy stripper and her most ardent admirer share a dangerous secret that puts them in the crosshairs of a scheming law enforcer.
• “Sweeten: A Naomi Sinclair Short Story” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier. When blackmail threatens to ruin a perfect Virgin Islands Christmas, St. Thomian food journalist Naomi Sinclair trades her usual bush tea for a glass of maubi and dives in to uncover the truth.
• “The Paradise” by Jill Brock. Nia Jackson, the new tenant, discovers that living at the Paradise Apartments could be deadly.
• “Delilah And The Dangerous Diva” by Carolyn Marie Wilkins. When her boss’s client, a renowned Negro opera singer, is accused of killing a crooked theatrical producer at the turn of the last century, legal secretary and aspiring novelist Delilah Rhodes must confront a vicious killer.

Universal Buy Link: books2read.com/fm4 for Festive Mayhem 4.

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Barbara Howard, a storyteller and tech-savvy master gardener, pens enchanting mysteries with diverse characters and a dash of romance. Author of “Finding Home” and “The Clover City Files” series, she brings her extensive experience as a Department of Defense at the Pentagon to her writing. Now back in her Midwestern hometown, Ms. Howard spends her days treasure hunting, spoiling her fur-babies, growing veggies, and plotting whodunits.