Secret Sleuth

Final resting place? Deck chair Death on the Diversion is the start of a new cozy mystery series from a USA Today bestselling author. Sheila Mackey has a secret. To the world, she's author of a blockbuster book. Her wily great-aunt, the actual author, orchestrated this mutually beneficial masquerade. Now the aunt's retiring and Sheila must draft Act Two of her own life. This cruise is supposed to be the perfect time to do that. Crossing the Atlantic on the Diversion, Sheila finds a dead body on deck. She realizes she knows a whole lot more about the interactions of the victim and suspects than the ship's officials do. She's drawn into sleuthing, but finds herself hampered by a well-meaning but overprotective would-be Dr. Watson. This murder mystery with humor is the first book in a new series, Secret Sleuth. In later books, amateur sleuth Sheila returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new home in small-town Kentucky. If you like mysteries about the inner world of writers, set among the insular cruise ship community, where even the sleuth has secrets she's hiding (and a dog to come in subsequent books), then you'll love award-winning Patricia McLinn's newest whodunit series with humor. Get on board to sail away with crime, clues and memorable characters.

Paws for murder Far from the publishing world that once defined her, Sheila Mackey has found a new life, a new home, and a new love. The love has four legs, a plumey tail, and a lot of fur. Meet Gracie the rescue collie. Too smart for her own good – certainly too smart for Sheila's good, when Gracie discovers a dead body during a dog park gambol. Especially since Sheila delves into mysteries surrounding this dead body ... only to discover the new guy at the Torrid Avenue Dog Park is a barely retired cop. Not good for an amateur sleuth with a big secret of her own that she intends to keep. She's not exactly who she says she is. At least, she's not who she pretended to be for 15 years. Will Sheila untangle the murder mystery before her secrets are untied, exposing her previous identity to her new small-town neighbors? And will Gracie ever learn the "Quiet!" command?

No zen in sight as Sheila untangles a yoga instructor's murder.Sheila Mackey's settling into life in small-town Haines Tavern, Kentucky. Sure, she has secrets to keep, but things are rolling along nicely. Trips to the dog park with her rescue collie Gracie, meeting her friend Clara and Gracie's friend LuLu. Preparing for more work on her house by another dog park acquaintance, former cop Teague O'Donnell. And regular, relaxing yoga classes at the Beguiling Way studio … until Sheila and Clara encounter a new twist when someone murders their instructor. Law enforcement says the killer was a passing-through stranger now long gone. Sheila and Clara have their doubts. This whodunit with humor is the third book in USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn's new cozy mystery series, Secret Sleuth, which begins with a murder on a transatlantic cruise in Death on the Diversion. In Death on Torrid Avenue and later books, accidental investigator Sheila Mackey returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new Kentucky home. Secret Sleuth seriesDeath on the DiversionDeath on Torrid AvenueDeath on Beguiling WayDeath on Covert CircleDeath on Shady BridgeDeath on Carrion LaneDeath on ZigZag Trail Death on the Diversion "is such an enjoyable story, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's style, with a good study of human nature and plenty of humor. Great start to a new series!" – 5-star review Death on Torrid Avenue "is told with a lot of humor and the characters are good company. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next story." – 5-star review More cozy mystery from Patricia McLinnCaught Dead in Wyoming seriesSign OffLeft HangingShoot FirstLast DitchLook LiveBack StoryCold OpenHot RollReaction ShotBody BraceCross TalkAir Ready "While the mystery itself is twisty-turny and thoroughly engaging, it's the smart and witty writing that I loved the best." -- Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author "Colorful characters, intriguing, intelligent mystery, plus the state of Wyoming leaping off every page." -- Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author If you like mystery with romance and a bit of humor, try also:The Innocence TrilogyProof of InnocencePrice of InnocencePremise of Innocence Ride the River: Rodeo Knights (romantic suspense) Bardville, Wyoming series (romance with a little mystery)A Stranger in the FamilyA Stranger to LoveThe Rancher Meets His Match

A reviled supermarket CEO meets his expiration date The executive who’s responsible for widely hated changes at the biggest grocery store in Haines Tavern, Kentucky, arrives for a tour...and doesn’t leave alive. Sheila and Clara are on the scene - buying dog treats, of course - and on the case. Can they pick out the ingredients for the right solution? This whodunit with humor is the fourth book in USA Today best-selling author Patricia McLinn’s cozy mystery series Secret Sleuth, which begins with a murder on a transatlantic cruise in Death on the Diversion. In Death on Torrid Avenue and later books, accidental investigator Sheila Mackey returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new home in small-town Kentucky.

A cold case murder heats upFar from the publishing world that once defined her, Sheila Mackey's plan to escape to a quiet life in small-town Kentucky keeps hitting bumps in the road ... and some of those bumps are dead bodies.Sheila and her friend, Clara, are in for their toughest inquiry yet, when they take on investigating a death that's colder than a cold case, because few in Haines Tavern, Kentucky, think it was a murder in the first place. Suicide? Accident? Murder? They're determined to bring peace of mind to the dead woman's friends.At the same time, Sheila is finding it harder and harder to protect her secret past, especially from Teague O'Donnell, who's shifting from a fellow dog-lover to possibly much more.

Reunion for murder in Haines TavernSheila agrees to soothe Clara's nervousness by accompanying her friend to the 20-year class reunion for North Bend County High. Nostalgia, good memories, old friendships – this should be fun, right?Ah, but grudges, old rivalries, and long-buried secrets also show up. And before the festivities wrap up, there's one old classmate dead, another being questioned, and enough suspicion to cover several more.Sheila and Clara have their hands full making sure the wrong person isn't accused and the right one doesn't get away. Especially with Sheila also wondering about her relationship with ex-policeman Teague O'Donnell, her fledgling attempts to write fiction, and – of course – the well-being of the canine crew of Gracie, LuLu, and Murphy.This whodunit with humor is the sixth book in USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn's cozy mystery series, Secret Sleuth, which begins with a murder on a transatlantic cruise in Death on the Diversion. In Death on Torrid Avenue and later books, accidental investigator Sheila Mackey returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new Kentucky home.Secret Sleuth seriesDeath on the DiversionDeath on Torrid AvenueDeath on Beguiling WayDeath on Covert CircleDeath on Shady BridgeDeath on Carrion LaneDeath on ZigZag Trail Death on the Diversion "is such an enjoyable story, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's style, with a good study of human nature and plenty of humor. Great start to a new series!" – 5-star reviewDeath on Torrid Avenue "is told with a lot of humor and the characters are good company. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next story." – 5-star review More cozy mystery from Patricia McLinnCaught Dead in Wyoming seriesSign OffLeft HangingShoot FirstLast DitchLook LiveBack StoryCold OpenHot RollReaction ShotBody BraceCross Talk "While the mystery itself is twisty-turny and thoroughly engaging, it's the smart and witty writing that I loved the best." -- Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author"Colorful characters, intriguing, intelligent mystery, plus the state of Wyoming leaping off every page." -- Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author If you like mystery with romance and a bit of humor, try also:The Innocence TrilogyProof of InnocencePrice of InnocencePremise of Innocence Ride the River: Rodeo Knights (romantic suspense) Bardville, Wyoming series (romance with a little mystery)A Stranger in the FamilyA Stranger to LoveThe Rancher Meets His Match About the AuthorPatricia McLinn is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly 60 published novels cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women's fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.

A spooky legend twist grave matters. Sheila Mackey's dislike for cemeteries can't fend off her friend Clara's determination. Amid eerie legends, including a tailgating hearse, the accidental investigator is lured into sorting through deadly questions a century old, revolving around an unidentified victim known as ZigZag Jane. Who was she? How did she come to be found murdered in the cemetery more than a hundred years ago? Why is the third generation of one family devoting himself to finding the answer? Nothing follows a straight line in this historic inquiry, including conflict over their sleuthing with Teague O'Donnell, newly hired as a part-time detective in North Bend County, Kentucky. Especially when the past doesn't stay in the past and the victims multiply. From the dog park with Sheila's Gracie and Clara's Lulu, to the small-town post office, to yoga class, to the historical society, and always back to ZigZag Cemetery (to Sheila's chagrin), she and Clara negotiate the zigs and zags of this seventh book in USA Today bestselling author.

Season's greetings: Whodunit?Santa Claus is coming to town, but guess who's coming first to Haines Tavern, Kentucky – Great-Aunt Kit. If Sheila and her fellow amateur detective Clara want to give her author relative what she most wants this Christmas, they'll wrap up a murder investigation -- with a mysterious victim, intriguing suspects, and suspicious twists. Because this time, Kit wants to be involved firsthand in solving a suspenseful puzzle. The police – including Sheila's romantic interest – want the amateur investigators to stand down. But how can they when the clues hit so close to home? Sheila's Christmas cookie recipe is the apparent murder weapon, in the hands of one of the small town's quirky characters and one of the favorite humans of Sheila's rescue dog, Gracie the rough collie. She can't disappoint her pet by stopping her detective work short of the thrilling answer to Whodunit? Kit also has ideas on solving Sheila's romantic relationship with detective-once-more Teague O'Donnell, starting with revealing her most dangerous secret. But he's keeping secrets of his own. By New Year's, will this be a Christmas love story season to remember? Or a Grinch of a solution? Yuletide clues will keep Sheila, Clara, Kit -- and you – guessing as all celebrate the season in Book 8 of the Secret Sleuth mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn.If you're new to this page-turner cozy mystery series with humor, don't miss its start, when Sheila encounters murder on a transatlantic cruise ship in Death on the Diversion. Then follow her to dry land in Death on Torrid Avenue and the gripping books that follow, because mysteries and deception abound in her new Kentucky home.Read all of the Secret Sleuth seriesDeath on the DiversionDeath on Torrid AvenueDeath on Beguiling WayDeath on Covert CircleDeath on Shady BridgeDeath on Carrion LaneDeath on ZigZag TrailDeath on Puzzle PlaceWhat readers say about the Secret Sleuth series"If you haven't discovered Patricia McLinn yet, you are in for a treat. I have not found a book of hers that I didn't enjoy . . . Check it out!" - 5*"The trifecta: Funny, Clever and Clean! " - 5*"This series meets my criteria for twists, turns, and who-done-its easily. Patricia McLinn does not disappoint with her sharp characters and enough secrets to cover everything. If you like a good, clean mystery, do yourself a favor and read these!" - 5* "Has Agatha Christie and Poirot in the garb of two fascinating ladies. A definite read for mystery lovers." - 5*"Murder and laughs. Can't wait for more." - 5*"I so thoroughly enjoy this series and author that when a new book arrives, I drop everything to start reading." - 5*"McLinn's Secret Sleuth series has the same winning components of her Caught Dead in Wyoming series: a likable central character, well developed setting, fun supporting cast, and a great story." - 5*Looking for more mystery while you wait for more Secret Sleuth books? Caught Dead in Wyoming seriesSign OffLeft HangingShoot FirstLast DitchLook LiveBack StoryCold OpenHot RollReaction ShotBody BraceCross TalkAir ReadyHoliday BulletsCue UpThe Innocence TrilogyProof of InnocencePrice of InnocencePremise of Innocence