Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dead Man’s Duty RD Post with Fran Thomas Jr.

March 18, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

What would you do if the world thought you were dead?

If you could start over, brand new? New town, new name, new neighbors, and a chance to put a bloody past behind you?

Would you risk everything to come to the aid of someone you barely knew?

When Shannon Winters answers a desperate cry for help from a woman whose grandson died in county lockup from an alleged overdose, she thinks it’s an unfortunate but familiar story. Black, brown and poor white addicts barely rate a mention on the news or get a fair shake from a justice system stacked against them when they’re on the outside, let alone incarcerated. But something about the story resonates, and she takes up the woman’s cause. Ultimately, she finds herself wading into a vast criminal conspiracy which includes corrupt elements of law enforcement, and the wrong kinds of people notice. The more she digs, and the more questions she asks, the more she becomes a threat. And these people have ways to deal with threats. When an attempt on her life hits close to home, Ricky Hynes can only think of one man who can help. There’s a problem, though.

That man is dead.

As his best friend and one of the very few people who know otherwise, Ricky has a decision to make. He knows if the world learns Noah Winston is alive, the top spot on the FBI’s Most Wanted list is a certainty and a cold cell awaits. But Ricky also knows Shannon’s would-be killers won’t stop until they’re successful.

Deep down Ricky knows doing nothing is not an option.

When he gets Ricky’s call, the man now known simply as Hines is living in a small town on the west coast. His neighbors think he is a consultant for a defense contractor who travels frequently for business. He does, but unbeknownst to them he’s no hands-off consultant. He is what he has always been. A killer of men, and that type of business is always booming. Nevertheless, he otherwise lives a quiet, unassuming life, is friendly with neighbors, and has grown especially close with a couple of kids on the street. He seems to finally be free of the burning need for revenge which consumed him for decades and is as close to at peace as a man like him can be. He probably should have known it wouldn’t last.

Even dead men have a duty.

Readers will re-connect with familiar characters in this sequel to Ties That Kill and meet new ones as a global conspiracy is uncovered, one run by a ruthless organization that preys on the most vulnerable among us and employs a cadre of professional killers to protect itself. These people are used to working in the shadows, pulling the levers of power from afar. But they’re about to find out the shadows are a perfect place for a dead man to operate.

Silent Justice Book II, Dead Man’s Duty, is available from Tule Publishing today!

About the Author

Fran Thomas finds one of the most difficult things about the writing process is trying to find the absolute right genre to describe his books. Mystery, thriller, suspense, multicultural, Black/African-American, crime/conspiracy? As a former Principal, he now appreciates the D. All of the above option his students had on many tests.

Desperate to find heroes who looked like him while growing up, Fran gravitated to Marvel comics, and appreciated how its diverse heroes challenged cultural stereotypes. Iconic characters like the Black Panther, Storm and Luke Cage added unique perspectives and contexts to dynamic storytelling, as did anti-heroes like The Punisher. His Silent Justice series continues that tradition.

When not writing, he can typically be found in the gym, Krav Maga dojo or reading–Marvel comics are still a staple. A lifelong New Englander, he is eagerly awaiting the springtime arrival of his first grandchild.

When Reality Tries to Copy Your Fiction

February 4, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hello readers!

The 5th book in the Infiltrix series, The Extraction, releases on February 4th and I am super excited for you to read this high-octane thriller. Hold onto your seats as the team of brave spies battle against deadly odds to restore peace and save each other. The Extraction will give fans answers, hope, and lots of love. Hang in there until the satisfying end!

Send me an email at [email protected] if you figured out some of the clues or if I had you completely stumped. I love to hear from readers!

Speaking of comments, I’ve had several from readers about how the Infiltrix series mirrors some of the ugliness we are living through today. It feels like my futuristic fictional world is coming to life in real time in America and it is scary as heck.

When I created a world where a militant government destroyed basic human freedoms, I was not predicting that ICE agents would be in our neighborhoods or peaceful protestors would be killed while observing their constitutional rights. I am not a psychic. I am a writer who is heart-broken about what’s happening in our streets. Readers might be surprised to learn the origins for my Cold War spy thriller began in another country.

When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, I was scared for the Ukrainian people. I couldn’t stop thinking about how horrible it would be to have a dictator steal the rights of ordinary people. What if something like that happened in the US? How could we fight back? The idea ate at me. I started writing about Agent Heather Slade six years ago because I wanted a female spy to lead a team to save us all from such a dangerous future.

I knew then, as I do now, that there will always be brave people to fight for freedom, justice, dignity, and the truth. Regular people can do extraordinary things to help others.

We are seeing this play out in real time too.

Ordinary people are coming together far and wide to stand for freedom and human rights with nothing more than handmade signs and their voices. Neighbors are supporting neighbors. Strangers are linking arms to protect folks they’ve never met.

This is the America I love.

I am so appreciative of readers who have gone on Agent Heather Slade’s journey with me. Your reviews have given me so much strength and support. Thank you!

About the Author

Kimberley Troutte is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has been a Top 100 Amazon author and a Top 10 Romantic Suspense bestselling author for Amazon. Kimberley was a finalist in both the Vivian® and the RITA®–the highest awards for excellence in romance. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, a wild cat, a large iguana, an old snake, and all the other creatures that hubby and boys rescue.

To learn more about her novels, please visit her at www.kimberleytroutte.com and sign up for the newsletter.

A Heartfelt Thank You from Tule Publishing: Wrapping Up 2025

December 23, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

As we close out 2025, we want to take a moment to pause, breathe, and say the words we feel deeply every single day: thank you.

To our readers—you continue to amaze us. Your enthusiasm, your reviews, your messages, your passion for stories… it all means more than we can say. Every time you fall in love with a new series, discover a new author, or share a book with a friend, you help keep this community vibrant. We are endlessly grateful for the joy and support you bring to Tule.

To our authors—you are the heartbeat of everything we do. This year you delivered unforgettable characters, sweeping settings, heart-tugging romance, and stories that made readers laugh, cry, and believe in happily-ever-after all over again. Watching your creativity shine and grow is one of the greatest privileges of our work. Thank you for trusting us with your words and your worlds.

And to our incredible Tule team—what a year. You’ve shown dedication, ingenuity, kindness, and grit in every corner of the business. From editorial to design, marketing to operations, production to leadership, every person played a part in making 2025 one of our strongest years yet. We couldn’t do what we do without the care, collaboration, and passion you bring to your work every day.

As we look ahead to 2026, we’re filled with excitement. We have new stories coming your way, bold voices joining our family, and fresh adventures on the horizon. We can’t wait to continue growing, innovating, and bringing readers the heartfelt, compelling romances they love.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to a bright, joyful, book-filled new year, and to everything we’ll create together in 2026.

With gratitude,
The Tule Publishing Team

Sunburns and Shivers: New Releases That will Keep You Guessing

August 11, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the August mystery releases.

Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

Dark Mountian Ambush

By Nicole Helm

More secrets lurk in the Montana mountains…and the past

PI Samantha Price savors a slow summer at her firm Honor’s Edge Investigations, along with Nate Bennet, who recently received his license to join her as an investigator. They make a strong, though still uneasy team. When a new, but familiar client requests help, the case seems like a slam dunk, but of course there are complications. Aly Cartwright works on the Bennet ranch and is engaged to Nate’s brother. One clue leads to another, and what starts as a vandalism investigation widens to connect to a recent murder and another nearly two decades old.

Nate, who left home at fifteen, isn’t sure he’s back for good or ready to make peace with his brothers. Samantha too has made enemies with the Bennets. But when Aly’s estranged mother reappears on the heels of increased vandalism, threats and danger, can Samatha and Nate negotiate a truce with the Bennetts long enough to untangle the mysteries and save Aly and each other from a grisly end?

Dropped Like a Bad Habit

By Melissa Westemeier

The bodies keep piling up along Chestnut Street…

When Sister Bernadette hears from the local pharmacist about plans to redevelop and gentrify their small community on Chestnut Street, she rallies her neighbors at The Abbey: Senior Living to help stop it. Chestnut Street is home to local mom-and-pop businesses that The Abbey’s residents frequently access. But when the healthy pharmacist mysteriously drops dead with no discernable reason, Detective AJ Lewis is stumped. Then another, younger, business owner dies with no explanation, and AJ is suspicious and starts to dig.

Sister Bernie, trying to solve small, seemingly nonsensical thefts, is intrigued and positions herself to collaborate with the police for what she hopes will be her second murder investigation. Why did two seemingly healthy men conveniently die? Who’s behind the shadowy Vision Corporation? Each question leads to a dead end or another question. And then there’s an unexpected death at The Abbey. Coincidence or connection?

Murder’s becoming a bad habit Sister Bernie and AJ are determined to break.

Ride a Dark Trail

By Winter Austin

Will her life philosophy, “Do right, fear no man,” get her killed?

A string of bad luck has left former Army helicopter pilot Dot Ybarra with a serious case of wrecked nerves and a need for peace and solace at her family’s Idaho ranch. Instead, she encounters a desperate mother who stumbles onto their land, begging Dot to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

There’s a bounty on the kidnapper’s head, and fugitive recovery agent T.J. Roman is not about to let that paycheck slip through his fingers. Together, he and Dot rescue the child.

But their actions set off an explosion of secrets in Euskadi. The sheriff is slinking around with a new shady sidekick, Dot’s friends are stabbed, and armed mercenaries attack her ranch, forcing her to use her hunting and archery skills to defend her family. Cornered by the unknown enemy’s three-pronged attack, Dot and her charges retreat deep into the Payette National Forest. Isolated in the mountainous forest, separated from T.J. and any help, Dot must make a hard choice: fight or walk away?

Will her first recovery job be her last?

A Brush with Murder

By Tracy Gardner

Can Savanna Shepherd and her sisters unravel a deadly web of art and betrayal before the final brushstroke paints their doom?

When Savanna Shepherd’s father, Harlan, and artist friend Sebastian Alexander vanish during a sailing regatta along Michigan’s west coast, the Shepherd family is plunged into turmoil. As the Coast Guard scours the Great Lake, Savanna sets aside her work on Sebastian’s art show to join her sisters in comforting their mother and aiding in the search.

When Sebastian’s assistant is found dead—Savanna’s keen eye as an art authenticator turns to a darker canvas: decoding the secrets of Sebastian’s bitter family. Days later, the missing yacht drifts ashore, with Harlan gravely injured, Sebastian missing, and a sinister bloodstain on the bow.

In this compelling mystery brimming with small-town charm, loyal pets, and family ties, Savanna must piece together the clues to uncover who cut the lines, spilled the blood, and nearly tore her world apart.

Player Elimination

By Shelly Jones

She loves to play games, but not when it comes to murder.

Wren Winters is a businesswoman on a mission, juggling an alumni event for a rising game designer while keeping her late husband’s retail store alive. With RSVPs pouring in and her cranky landlord threatening to bulldoze her shop for high-rise apartments, Wren’s plate is full—but she’s no stranger to overcoming challenges. From economic slumps to vandalism and vicious online rumors, Wren has always found a way to persevere.

But nothing could prepare her for what she finds one fateful morning: her landlord murdered, her store turned into a crime scene, her only employee under suspicion (and hiding something), and a missing piece from an unreleased game.

Now, with her store’s future hanging by a thread and the stakes higher than ever, Wren must channel her puzzle-solving skills like never before. Can she and her friends follow the clues, clear her employee’s name, and crack the case before it’s game over?

Bonus Release!

Bitter Root Mysteries Set

By C.J. Carmichael

The Scene That Changed Everything

July 23, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Writing Blood in the Cradle has been cathartic to me and I am so thrilled that Detective Chloe Van Belle has found her home. When I took on the challenge of writing a character with synesthesia, I didn’t know that she would change everything for me. Chloe’s passion for everything she does, her undying need for justice, and her morbid curiosity really struck a chord with me. Draft after draft, pieces of her tough exterior started to crack, and her vulnerability started to shine through. The chapter that really took a turn for me was Lillian Finney’s autopsy scene.

From the start, I wanted it to set the tone for the rest of the book—unsettling and difficult. I was fortunate to have the help from forensic expert, Geoff Symon, while writing this chapter, making sure all the information was accurate, and I learned a lot about autopsies.

My other goal with the chapter was to show how Chloe’s synesthesia really messed with her. It’s not a pretty scene, it’s dark and really challenging to comprehend. I’d grown tired of reading thrillers with children who passed, who were posed in a beautiful and angelic way. I wanted to portray what it was really like to lose a child in such a gruesome, senseless way, while also staying respectful to the character.

Since Chloe’s synesthesia presents itself as death tasting like cinnamon sugar, this was the perfect opportunity to really hone in on that. The scene is emotional and raw, capturing Chloe’s tangled grief and her morbid, intrusive curiosity. It sets the tone for the rest of the story: her uneasy relationship with death, the difficulty she has compartmentalizing it, and the quiet unraveling that makes her question why she ever chose this job.

I didn’t expect there to be a pit in my stomach while writing that scene—but there was. Not because of the violence or the grief, but because something in Chloe’s reaction mirrored my own. Her need to understand death, to make sense of something senseless, felt painfully familiar. I’ve always believed that fiction lets us walk the edge of things we fear, and in that moment, Chloe was walking it for me. She seems to do that in a lot of ways for me. Chloe may have started as a character on the page, but in that moment, standing beside that little girl, she became something more. And I think I did too.

By the end of the book, Chloe isn’t healed, but she’s no longer hiding from her grief, her instincts, or herself. Writing her journey gave me permission to look at the darker parts of my own curiosity and admit that sometimes, the most unsettling stories are the ones worth telling.

If there’s one thing I hope readers take away from this scene, it’s that grief and justice can coexist, and that sometimes, the people asking the hardest questions are the ones who’ve been haunted the longest.

About the Author

Cobie LaJeanne writes palpable psychological fiction with layered characters and storylines that will haunt you for years. As an adoptee with C-PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, she is a strong advocate for mental health and the road toward healing. Her work is inspired by events in her life as well as true crime stories, exploring important topics such as familial generational trauma, religious/cult trauma, adoption trauma, and more.

Cobie lives in an RV full-time with her husband and two small girls, traveling the United States. When she isn’t writing, she loves to take French classes, listen to 90s and Y2K music, and experiment with makeup.

Her favorite authors include Loreth Anne White, Karin Slaughter, L.T. Vargus, Tim McBain, and Tana French.

Headshot by Jim Clark at Beaver County Photography

Thrills, Chills & Cozy Kills: What’s New This July

July 3, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the July mystery releases.

Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

Death Watch

by Carol Light

A dangerous killer is hunting for more than deer in this southern forest…

New police chief Tim Birch is too late on the scene to save his youngest officer from fentanyl exposure at a routine traffic stop, and the grief cuts deep into his department. Someone is trafficking dangerous pills in Crossroads, Arkansas.

Jana Nance has returned home to steer the town’s tourism and be close to her dying grandmother. But when she and her committee visit lakefront property designated to become a park, they discover the body of her godson, Eli Carson, fatally shot in a deer stand. Jana is convinced it’s murder and not suicide.

She might be on to something. Fentanyl pills were found with Eli’s body, but was he a victim or the dealer? Unfortunately, not everyone on Tim’s team wants him to uncover that answer.

It’s Jana’s job to bring change to Crossroads, and she’s determined to succeed—even though her plans threaten a lucrative illegal activity. Unless Eli’s killer is caught, Jana’s death watch may be her own.

Bonbons and Burglars

by Lisa Siefert

A high-profile wedding, a bakery disaster, and a frozen corpse—Ava Decker’s latest mystery is anything but sweet.

Pastry chef and small-town sleuth Ava Decker is thrilled to cater the most glamorous wedding of the season. But when the bride’s big day turns into a catastrophe—with a flooded venue, ruined desserts, and a dead body in Ava’s walk-in freezer—the celebration grinds to a chilling halt.

With her missing assistant as the prime suspect and a pair of mischievous kittens leading her to unexpected clues, Ava is up to her elbows in trouble. Add in her mother’s relentless matchmaking schemes and a charming yet infuriating billionaire, and Ava’s got more on her plate than just cupcakes.

Can Ava sift through the secrets and solve the case before the real killer serves up another deadly surprise?

Bonbons & Burglars is the fourth book in the delightful Frosted Misfortunes culinary cozy mystery series. If you love amateur sleuths, quirky small-town scandals, whisker-twitching feline sidekicks, and twist-filled whodunits, you’ll adore Lisa Siefert’s latest page-turning mystery!

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, Ellie Alexander, and Mia Malone.

Death at the Wharf

by Jolie Tunnell

Determined to carve out a respectable life for herself in the raw and unforgiving world of 1882 San Francisco, widowed Mrs. Kelly bakes for the Palace Hotel and rents an apartment with Miss Smith, who manages a fancy glove shop. But a fateful trip to fisherman’s wharf with her friend and the discovery of a dead woman tangled in a net with a bible, once again throws her into the cooly critical Detective Max Fisher’s path.

Although Mrs. Kelly has no intention of pursuing the case, Miss Smith’s employer is brutally slain and a hidden stash of gold coins surfaces in the glove shop. Detective Fisher’s suspicious gaze turns toward Miss Smith when clues—from the vicious Barbary Coast to a chilling orphanage to treacherous whaling ships—tie her to both murders.

Desperate to exonerate her friend, though Detective Fisher doesn’t trust her, Mrs. Kelly faces danger as she unravels the truth and reveals that Miss Smith’s role in the murders may be more complicated than previously imagined. The more Mrs. Kelly uncovers, the closer she comes to being trapped in the killer’s net of greed, betrayal, and revenge.

Blood in the Cradle

by Cobie LaJeanne

It’s a case every detective dreads—the one that forces them to confront their traumatic past.

When decorated detective Chloe Van Belle receives a call about a severed limb in a fountain, she dreads returning to Encounters, a renowned angel-worshipping church tied to her dark childhood wounds. She’s further shocked to learn six-year-old Lillian vanished from the congregation without being reported.

Chloe’s half-sister Rosie, a devout believer engaged to the reverend’s son, remains unwavering that everything unfolds according to divine will, refusing to see the evil in front of her.

An eerie search leads to Lillian’s body tucked in a cradle with a vintage watch, linking the crime to a similar murder twenty years ago. The gruesome scene triggers Chloe’s morbid fascination with death, making her visual-gustatory synesthesia, which gives murder a literal sweet taste, harder to hide. With Chloe’s nightmares and half-memories resurfacing, she engages in a macabre game of cat and mouse with the killer.

As casualties grow and evidence points to the highest levels of the church leadership, Chloe must protect Rosie and her team—but is it from a monster or herself?

A must-read for fans of Alex Marwood’s The Poison Garden and Tana French’s In the Woods!

Death at Rock Bottom

by Kris Bock

She can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it before…

After solving the mystery of her predecessor’s death, geologist Petra Cloch wants to focus on her new job as the rocks and minerals curator at a quirky, small-town New Mexico museum. But her friend and colleague Liberty is suspicious of the “accidental” death of Frank Underwood, a retired petroleum engineer and rockhound who unexpectedly died while hiking. Frank acted odd and secretive in his last weeks—mumbling about an incredible find in the desert and aliens. Was he showing the first signs of dementia, or were more sinister forces at work?

Petra agrees to help excavate the truth, and soon, instead of meeting for book club, she and her friends become amateur investigators. Petra uses her gift and her brains to sort through the contradictory stories and confusing clues as she and her friends dig for answers.

Did Frank’s heirs decide to hasten their inheritance? Or did his rock shop business partner decide to go solo? Petra joins the local geological club to discover whether someone there acquired a taste for murder, because they’ll need rock solid evidence to catch a killer.

June’s Mysteries are Sure to Keep You up Until All Hours of the Night!

June 2, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the June mystery releases.

Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

The Bordeaux Case by HL Marsay

Corkscrews, grand crus and cracking crimes.

Emma came to Bordeaux in search of the perfect claret, but instead found a cunning killer…

Emma King is half English, half French but one hundred percent disorganised. As the new head wine buyer for her family’s business, she has a keen palate, generous heart and a fiercely loyal nature. Nervous about her promotion, she’s relieved to be spending her first week of wine tasting events at the historic Château Montfleur, the home of old family friends Henri and Céleste. Joining her on her tour of the beautiful vineyards of Bordeaux are some other familiar faces: Paddy, a fellow wine buyer, Kiara, a travel blogger, Vanessa, the wine critic from hell, and the handsome, but arrogant Nico Lambert, Emma’s college crush.

On the first morning, Henri and Celeste’s new wealthy neighbour, Lucas, is found murdered and her hosts’ son, Oscar is the prime suspect. Convinced her childhood friend is no killer, Emma doggedly investigates, enlisting the reluctant help of her companions. As clues reveal more connections to Château Montfleur, Emma must tread a thin line between a dismissive chief inspector and a desperate killer.

Shadows in Chinatown by Jolie Tunnell

Karine Kelly’s dream of a fresh start as a mail-order bride in booming 1882 San Francisco becomes a nightmare when her charming Irish husband is murdered on their wedding night. Waking to destitute widowhood and fiercely angry in-laws, she discovers a series of shocking secrets that her husband left behind.

Why did he tell no one about their wedding? Why was a Chinese assailant hunting him and now stalking her? Why do residents in the city shadows seem to know more about her husband than she does? And why does the irritating Detective Max Fisher keep turning up like a bad penny?

Faced with appalling apathy and growing suspicion from the police, Karine’s determined to follow the trail of lies to find justice in a lawless city.

Warily working around each other as the killer strikes again, Karine and Detective Fisher uncover a sinister web of corruption, bigotry, and betrayals that circles ever closer to the jade pendant she wears over her heart—all that’s left of her husband’s pledge—and a ticking bomb that threatens to destroy Chinatown.

Still Life and Death by Tracy Gardner

A murder at the flower shop. An uncle suspected by the cops. Savanna and her sisters are on the case to make sure no one is framed.

Savanna Shepherd is delighted when her uncles Max and Freddie move to Carson and Uncle Max takes a job at Libby’s Blooms, where Savanna teaches a still life painting class. But while opening one morning, Uncle Max finds a dead body in the rooftop greenhouse…and even worse, it looks like an inside job.

It’s an uncomfortable spotlight for the family already trying to dodge a potential scandal brewing: Savanna’s boyfriend’s daughter is in her art class, setting off wagging tongues. Savanna and her sisters have no choice except to dig in to find the real murderer.

With their connections to the community and Savanna’s keen eye for details, they uncover longstanding resentments and a few subtle horticultural clues. But as Savanna’s investigation leads her into thorny situations, the killer may be arranging to prune yet another life: hers.

An artful cozy mystery perfect for fans of Krista Davis and Joanne Fluke.

The Intel by Kimberley Troutte

Rebel agent Heather Slade leads a dangerous and unsanctioned mission….

When Heather obtains partial intel about a prisoner of war camp from a journalist who dies before revealing the camp’s location, she’s desperate to know more. Her missing family might be held there. Using a voice-altering device to sound like billionare donor Martin Slade, she calls President Blockwell, demanding information about the secret camp. It’s a risky move that backfires when Blockwell’s guards lock Martin in an asylum to torture him for information that could compromise Heather.

Heather’s determined to rescue the billionaire, but HQ orders her to stand down. Their plan is to send a kill team after Martin to protect Heather’s secrets, ending her spy career and the chance to find her missing daughter. Disobeying HQ’s orders, she organizes an off-book mission with agents Miguel Robles, Worm, and Raven to infiltrate the hospital and extract Martin.

If HQ learns she’s inside, they could trigger her kill device, ending more than her career. Heather must stay one step ahead of HQ, but she’s committed to saving Martin and herself…if she survives the insane asylum.

The Other Boy by Heidi Field

When the worst comes calling…

Scott and Blair Bagby are a happy, successful English couple living in the suburbs with their teenage son and Great Dane. Life seems good, until one beautiful spring morning when a detective inspector knocks on their door asking if their son is home, unleashing an unspeakable horror that blows apart the life they thought they had.

Police have discovered bodies buried deep in the Peasedale forest and the inspector suspects one is Jamie, the final victim of a brutal and prolific serial killer. But Jamie’s death is unlike all the others, starting with his emergency phone call that leads to a macabre burial ground near a dilapidated hunting shack and creates shocking suspicions.

With bone deep grief threatening to destroy their marriage and their sanity, Scott and Blair set out to investigate Jamie’s death, a journey that not only upends their perceptions of who they are, but torturously reveals they may not have known Jamie at all…

May Flowers, Mystery Releases, + a Giveaway!

May 1, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Happy May fellow sleuths! We have some wonderful titles for you this month and we can’t wait for you to get into them! Plus, a GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the May mystery releases. Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

Dead in the Ditch

By: J.C. Kenney

Wild animal removal specialist Elmo Simpson needs to act fast before the good people of Paradise Springs decide to remove him!

Halloween has arrived, and all is well in Elmo Simpson’s life until his beloved cat Oscar wanders off and doesn’t return. While searching for Oscar, Elmo discovers a body in a ditch. A body that turns out to be Elmo’s former arch-nemesis, a man who Elmo believes stole intellectual property from him worth millions.

When word gets out who the victim is, the town becomes convinced Elmo is the murderer, intent on taking revenge. With nowhere to turn and the reputation of his recently purchased Sea Breeze Resort on the line, Elmo takes it upon himself to figure out who the real killer is. All the while, trying to assemble the threads that connect a dark time in his past with the equally perilous present.

A Wedding and A Murder

By: Vickie Carroll

No one invited a murderer to this wedding, and yet …

The announcement sounded innocent enough: five romance writers have chosen Peachtree Valley for their annual gathering. One of the writers is Kirk’s aunt Lily, and as one of Helen Rogers’s newest investigators at the PI firm, he’s eager to show off his new job.

Helen and her fiancé, Ted Morgan, are eager to show guests a good time at their wedding.

But then someone shows their true stripes and murders one of the visiting writers, and police have no witnesses or clues to work with. It’s an investigator’s nightmare, but the Rogers, Adams, and Brown agency isn’t daunted by hard cases. Their deep dive into the publishing world uncovers jealousy, resentment, and a boatload of motives. Including clues that the killer has their sights on Aunt Lily next.

Can the team pool their talents one more time to save their lives and the wedding too? Or will Helen have to turn the page on this new chapter in her life?

Double-Edged Reckoning

By: Nicole Helm

She seeks the truth, not revenge…

As a teenager, Samantha Price helped bruised and bloody classmate Nate Bennet disappear after his father’s violent attack. Fifteen years later and now a private investigator, she hunts Nate down in Tennessee, needing his help. Her father’s been unjustly accused of a murder that looks tied to a past murder on the Bennet ranch. Sam’s convinced Nate is the key to prove her father’s innocence.

After an injury ended his army career in Special Forces, Nate’s life is at a crossroads. Going home to Marietta, Montana, was never an option until Sam finds him. He’s not convinced his mercurial father is the real murderer, but maybe it’s time to finally unearth the truth. He knows the prodigal son role will rip open bitter wounds, but it’s long past time to face all he left. Including his brothers. Will they protect their father or face the past when he and Sam come asking difficult questions?

As new evidence is unearthed, both Sam and the Bennets are forced to question their long-held beliefs and discover that nothing is what it seems.

Vanilla and Vendettas

By: Lisa Siefert

Stolen sparkling bling. A shocking murder. Will her single-minded sleuthing free her from a sour situation?

Pastry chef Ava Decker is delighted to prepare a special cupcake for her BFF’s surprise engagement. But after the diamond ring disappears from its sugary hiding place, the empty-handed baker is suddenly suspect number one. So when a witness comes forward to the cops, Ava eagerly tracks him down… only to stumble across his dead body.

With the police insisting she mind her own business and an unhelpful psychic more worried about Ava’s stalled love life than useful clues, the amateur snoop might have bitten off more than she can chew. But when she’s arrested for possession of a poached Aston Martin, she’ll need more than her is-he-or-isn’t-he boyfriend and her impulsive bestie to extract herself from the gooey mess.

Can she turn the tables on a thief-turned-killer before she’s baking cakes behind bars?

Blackmail and Kitty Tails

By: DeAnna Drake

A glamorous gala, a cursed dagger, and a killer on the loose—Rebecca Cuthbert and her talking cat, Aneksi, face their most dangerous mystery yet.

When Rebecca Cuthbert volunteered to help with the Citrus Grove Women’s Club gala, she envisioned a night filled with elegant silk drapes, Egyptian-themed decorations, and tasty hors d’oeuvres—certainly not murder. But then the lights flicker out during the party setup, and club president Deborah Ralston is found dead, stabbed with an ancient dagger.

With Aneksi purring by her side and a murder weapon steeped in legend, Rebecca must unravel a twisted web of secrets, blackmail, and bitter rivalries behind this sinister murder. Everyone from suspicious club members to scorned lovers is a suspect, and time is running out as Rebecca’s own antique shop becomes linked to the deadly artifact.

Can Rebecca and her cat corner the killer before tragedy slashes her world again?

A cozy mystery perfect for fans of charming small towns, clever cats, and amateur sleuths!

Final Exit

By: Raemi A. Ray

Careful what you wish for…

Winter has settled over the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and newspaper columnist Kyra Gibson is relieved when her partner, forensic profiler Tarek Collins, returns home. As a birthday surprise, she arranges a meet and greet with the hosts of his favorite true-crime podcast while they’re on island to investigate a notorious cold case.

Forty years ago, a beautiful young actress was brutally murdered and her enigmatic bunkmate disappeared from the prestigious Oak Bluffs summer theater camp. Nothing about the podcasters’ attitude, their lack of preparation, or disdain for the island makes sense. When they disappear, leaving behind a bloody mess, Kyra and Tarek are ensnared in a decades-long web of intrigue. To find the podcasters, they must untangle the historic crime, but someone wants to keep the case cold. Someone willing to kill.

Every islander holds tight to their secrets, and each question leads down a dark and twisted path. When a lead draws Tarek off the island, Kyra embarks on a perilous rescue before the final curtain claims them both.

March Into Mysteries: New Releases + A Thrilling Giveaway!

March 1, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes an exciting lineup of books you won’t want to miss! Whether you’re in the mood for heart-pounding thrillers, warm and charming cozies, or twisty mysteries that will keep you guessing, these upcoming titles are sure to keep you turning pages well into the season.

To celebrate these new releases, we’re hosting a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive an eBook of one of the upcoming releases. To enter, simply comment below and let us know: What’s your favorite mystery or thriller trope?

We can’t wait to see your answers, and good luck!

Has the Ripper returned to the Royal Parks?

The Lady in Blue Mysteries, Book 4

Release: March 5th, 2025

She just wants to share her delicious sweets. But a sticky surprise has this amateur detective dusting off her snooping skills.

Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries, Book 2

Release: March 10th, 2025

Silence can be golden…or deadly

Stand-Alone

Release: March 12th, 2025

The secrets in this south Arkansas town run deep and dangerous…

Southern Secrets Mysteries, Book 1

Release: March 19th, 2025

What’s a wedding without a murder?

The Pecan, Texas Pet Groomer Cozy Mysteries, Book 6

Release: March 24th, 2025

Mission: Create a Spy Series with Kimberley Troutte

February 19, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

I am thrilled to be writing The Infiltrix Series for Tule Publishing. It has been such an amazing adventure. The Package is already available. The Surveillance releases on February 19th and the third book, The Intel, is up for pre-order.

The covers are amazing, aren’t they? Thank you cover artist, Lee Hyat!

If you are new to my books, let me tell you my thrillers are full of mystery, twists, and against-all-odds deadly missions. People ask how I come up with my stories. I’ll give you my top-secret intel on my writing process.

Plot comes first.

For the Infiltrix Series, I wanted to write about a future where militant bad guys have taken over the United States. Everyone is terrorized. Freedoms are gone and no one can escape. It’s a scary country run by a violent dictator. A group of secret agents run spy missions to block the bad guys at every turn and to save lives. Setting the series in the future allows me to create my own spy gadgets (great fun!) and a slightly new country. The series is not too far into the future, however, because I want the reader to experience an edge of concern because the new world is a little too familiar.

Once I had the idea of what the series is going to be about, I started creating the characters. I like to develop characters who have the most to lose and then I throw them right into the middle of the danger. Does that sound mean? Maybe. What I learn about the character is that she/he will either sink or swim, run or fight. Their response tells me who the character is at that start of the book and who they might become by the end.

The hero for the Infiltrix Series is a female agent who lives in constant danger.

Heather is one of my most favorite characters. She is small, but mighty, smart, stubborn and a little reckless. As a highly-trained asset, she is fast on her feet, and can fight and disarm men who are double her size. She uses her wits, charms, and ability to throw her enemy off-guard. She is a gorgeous chameleon who lives deep undercover with the bad guys and changes her persona as quickly as her fashionable outfits. Her partner is a handsome foreign asset whose main duty is to have her back and keep her safe at all costs. Both characters suffer from war trauma and are trying to piece together the parts of the lives they lost. They are flawed and injured and are stronger when they work together, especially when techniques are used to erase their memories. A secret group of brilliant geeks, hackers, and a former SEAL round out the team Heather leads. The clock is always ticking and lives are at stake. It’s a wild ride.

I hope readers will love the characters as much as I do.

Here is a snippet from The Surveillance:

On high alert, Miguel got out of his car and cautiously walked to the front door. There was no movement in the bushes and no outside security lights clicked on. The digital lockbox was hanging open on the door handle. Someone had broken it to get inside the empty brewhouse. He took his pistol out of his waistband and aimed it at the door. After taking one slow breath, he kicked the door open.

He startled when he saw two large yellow eyes staring at him. He clicked on his flashlight and saw that it was only a large red-and-black dragon with fiery breath painted on the ceiling in the entrance. Its eyes did not blink. He exhaled. The building was dark inside except for the flicker of faux candlelight down the hall. He crept toward the light with his pistol raised and stepped into a room full of giant oak barrels. He smelled mustiness and old beer. And something else. Something that felt like…

The past.

He held steady as his eyes focused in the dim light. The woman he’d seen in the picture Worm had sent to him sat on a barstool with her back to the old barrels. The mechanical candle was on the floor beneath her feet bathing her lithe figure in a warm golden light. She wore beige slacks and a pale pink blouse. Her legs were crossed and the top foot bounced, as if she were nervous or impatient. A white strapless sandal was hooked on that bouncing foot. Her brown, wavy hair draped over her shoulders. It wasn’t a wig.

Her real hair in the picture looked like this: natural, thick, luxurious. A strange expression that resembled surprise or curiosity filled blue eyes that watched him. He hadn’t realized until that moment that he’d stopped moving, maybe even stopped breathing. There was no doubt. He was looking at Heather Slade.

“You came,” she said. Her voice was sultry, rich, and strangely familiar.

“Yes,” was the best he could do.

“Please, come in. I have secured the building with cameras and alarms. If anyone comes close to the doors or windows, we’ll know it and have time to react.”

He nodded. For some reason, his mouth wasn’t able to form words.

“I’m so glad you came. I worried that…” She didn’t finish the sentence but kept looking at him with that same odd expression on her face. Curiosity? Wonder?

He stepped closer. “You worried?”

She blinked. “Nothing. It’s…nothing.”

That foot was going a mile a minute, as if in time with his beating heart. He took a step toward her and stopped again.

He thought he was prepared for this moment. He’d stared at her 3D photo long enough to have memorized every angle, every curve of her face and long neck. He knew that her complexion was smooth and tight, as if wrinkles didn’t dare crease her skin. Except when she smiled. Ah, when she turned those lips up, tiny crinkles formed around her eyes like miniature blackbird wings. A man could soar through the clouds when she smiled. He knew all this. He’d prepared himself for how beautiful she was. He’d been ready for hours.

Still, he hadn’t thought about the opposite: how ugly he’d feel next to her perfection. Most days he didn’t think twice about the battle scars raked across his neck and scalp. Suddenly, he did.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, her voice soft and silky.

Déjà vu rang through him, not like a bell, more like a song of comfort, of coming home. He felt as if he knew this woman, which, of course, he did, in some fashion. But he also didn’t, because he couldn’t recall any of their mission together. The oddness of the situation was maddening.

“What is it?” she asked again.

“Sorry, Miss…Agent…Heather…Slade.” Mierda, he didn’t even know what to call her. “I’m
having a bit of difficulty—” He struggled with words as those deep-blue eyes pored over him. Her skin was just as flawless as in the photo, but there was something underneath the almost unreal perfection. If he had to put a name to it, he would say she shimmered.

“Difficulty?” she asked, still staring at him.

He ran his hand over his short hair, scraping over the latest wound. “This is going to be tough to explain, so I’m just going to say it. You should know the truth.”

She stood up. “You’re declining the mission?”

He frowned. “No.” At least, he didn’t think so. “I need to tell you something that, uh, might
change your mind about wanting me for the mission.”

A crease formed on her forehead. It didn’t seem to belong there, and he had the strangest desire to rub it off her skin. I am losing my mind.

“I don’t remember you. At all,” he rushed on. And because he was already neck-deep in the mud, the only thing left to do was dive under. “But I feel like we do know each other. Well. So well, that I am a fool for not remembering. I’m sorry.”

He winced, waiting for her response.

To his surprise, she smiled. “I know. Me too.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t remember you either. Not really, anyway.”

They stared at each other for a long beat. How was it that they both couldn’t remember each other? Did she have a brain injury too? Or was this some elaborate joke?

“Are you making fun of me, Miss, uh, agent?”

“Of course not. It is as if we are seeing each other for the first time. That’s how it’s supposed to be, by design. But the more I study your features, hear your voice, it’s easier to stitch you to the guy I can’t see in my memories. The shadows.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I know.” She sighed. “No one does. But we did work together before, and we will again. It’s
part of the dangerous game we play to save the world.”

About the Author