Brandy Wyne Mystery

I'd planned two weeks in paradise, lounging on the beach and swilling margaritas. Heaven! Unfortunately, nobody told me kidnapping, death threats, and murder were on the agenda, too! Week one: Learned to golf. Discovered dead body on the beach. Solved two murders. Escaped being murder victim number three. Barely. Check. Plans for week two: With week one's murderer now safely behind bars, settle in to enjoy said beach, swill more margaritas, and play more golf. How it's going so far: Beach and margaritas. Check. Golf. Check. Dinner with rich, hunky guy who looks great in a tux. (Last minute addition to plan.) Double check. Bashed over the head. Kidnapped. Almost drowned. Rescued by scruffy beach bum with a bad attitude. Learned I'm a suspect in the murder of one of my kidnappers. Added another dead body and confirmed the local Chief of Police really doesn't like me. Check, check, check, and check. One thing I've learned: Vacationing in paradise can be murder!

Check list for vacation in paradise: Swim suit. Sun hat. Sunscreen. Beach read book that probably won't get read. Dinner dress. Sexy heels. Sexier underwear. Stuff not included on list: Kidnappers. Murderers. All-around general bad guys. Good guys who are even scarier than the bad guys. Being a rich widow wasn't turning out anything like what I'd expected, especially since I fell for all the hype in those fancy brochures that had convinced me to book a vacation in paradise. Okay, sure, my luxury escape included all the sun, sand, and fancy drinks with cute paper umbrellas a girl could want. I'd expected that. It even threw in a rich, single hunk of a guy who seemed more than happy to help me enjoy my new life. I definitely hadn't expected that! Unfortunately, not one of those brochures had mentioned kidnapping or murder. Worse, they hadn't so much as hinted at the government guys who'd suddenly shown up at my door asking a lot of unsettling questions about my dead husband and his "associates." Questions for which they were convinced I had all the answers, even though I didn't. I hadn't even known there'd be questions! When the good guys scare you a whole lot more than the bad guys, who absolutely terrify you, you know you're in Trouble with a capital T!

Dead bodies and dirt bags and disasters, oh, my! These days, Brandy's got a cute cottage on the beach, great friends, super neighbors, and a job she loves. The DEA has (reluctantly) returned her car and restored her bank account and credit cards (long story, best forgotten). The IRS may have finally found at least some of the money her dead husband squirreled away in illegal offshore accounts. And said husband's not so friendly friends are now too busy facing murder charges to worry about hounding her over those same accounts. For Brandy, life is definitely looking up…until she walks out her front door one morning and finds a dead body on her doorstep Paradise isn't always what it's cracked up to be, but it would be a whole lot better if people stopped littering the beaches with bodies for her to trip over! Especially before she's had her first cup of coffee!

"We can't believe it! There was a murder and you weren't involved?"Brandy's friends start her morning with coffee and a lot of good-natured ribbing over Chica Perdida Key's most recent murder, which really doesn't involve her. Until, that is, a local art gallery owner gets her involved, regardless!Turns out, police think the dead man was the abusive ex-husband of an artist whose work Brandy loves. No way she'll refuse her help to a woman who, like Brandy herself, has survived an unhappy marriage and is trying to rebuild her life. Especially after they learn the ex isn't the dead man, after all-he's the suspected murderer!As the bodies multiply, Brandy gets dragged deeper into a confusing tangle of right-wing militias, dodgy business connections, and a possibly stolen inheritance. From the looks of things, it's only going to get worse-fast!

Brandy never dreamed discovering that monstrous old desk would lead to two murders (or is it three?), a lost diamond necklace, a hundred-year-old diary, and hidden family secrets that really should have stayed hidden.Not that she intended to get involved, of course! But once the Chica Perdida gossip mill is in full swing, she can't help it. It isn't long before the whole world learns of her discovery, an unexpected houseguest is sneaking around Seaview in the middle of the night, a snooty high society lady is ordering her about, and an equally snooty amateur historian is hinting at revelations that someone will kill to prevent. No way Brandy's walking away from this one!