Tag Archives: Tracy Gardner

Murder, Mayhem & Maple Leaves: October’s Mystery Book Haul

October 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 October 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 Asset

By: Kimberley Troutte

Agent Heather Slade’s cover might be blown, but can she still operate in the shadows? When HQ forces Heather to go dark for her safety, she fears her spy career and chance of finding her daughter are over. Then she receives an invitation to an über-exclusive foodie event hosted by her enemies. Is the party “a taste of the future” or a deadly con to poison enemies of the Union—like herself? To obtain food samples to test, she must leave her team behind and rely on Patriot Lt. Col. Henkle as her only protection on the dangerous mission. Miguel Robles’s partner has fallen off the grid. He’s desperate to find Heather, fearing she’s done the unthinkable—gone on a mission without him. Risk levels skyrocket when the double agent they’ve been searching for shows up at Miguel’s office with coordinates for a secret POW camp that he and Heather nearly died to discover. Is this the proof needed to destroy Blockwell, or is it a trap? It’s a race to stay ahead of HQ and the Patriots to find Heather and the secret camp.

Murder, She Rolled

By: Shelly Jones

Solving a murder can get dicey.

Wren Winters is thrilled when her gaming group is invited to join the town’s new superstar streamer Noelle Williams for a live demo—after all, a little publicity could put Wren’s board game shop, the Cardboard Sheep, on the map. But moments before they go live, Noelle collapses on camera, and by the time Wren arrives at her house, Noelle is dead and the police are swarming.

Detective Greene, who still remembers last summer’s murder at Wren’s shop, is back with questions—and suspicions. As Wren and her friends reel from the shock, secrets about Noelle’s life emerge: relentless online harassment, jealous exes, and a sister desperate to pull her offline. Then another member of the group falls ill with similar symptoms.

With danger closing in and a game board full of suspects, Wren refuses to sit on the sidelines. She’s determined to solve the puzzle before her friend’s game is over for good.

Bitter Past

By: CJ Carmichael

A missing woman. A small-town sheriff. A cold case no one wants solved.

Twenty years ago, a young hiker vanished in the Montana wilderness. No body. No suspects. No answers. New sheriff Zak Waller has always believed it was murder—now, he finally has the power to prove it. But without evidence, he’s chasing a ghost.

Then, a new death shakes Lost Trail, drawing investigative journalist Joelle Medler into town. As she and Zak uncover long-buried secrets, someone else is watching—someone who has kept the truth hidden for almost two decades and is willing to kill again to keep it that way.

The deeper they dig, the deadlier the investigation becomes. Can Zak and Joelle expose the past before someone else dies?

A gripping police procedural with small-town intrigue and heart-pounding twists—perfect for fans of C.J. Box and Karin Slaughter.

A Stroke Of Murder

By: Tracy Gardner

Can Savanna Shepherd discover who’s behind a deadly art heist before her New Year’s Eve wedding?

Savanna Shepherd is wishing for snow. Her Lake Michigan town needs a good cold snap to showcase the winter festival and the sparkling ice-sculpture exhibit she’s curated. Once the weather starts cooperating, she can relax and enjoy the festive season with her loved ones.

But all is not merry and bright in small-town Carson, as chaos puts her holiday cheer on ice. Her ex-boyfriend’s mother is attacked in a robbery at their prestigious art museum, and then the black-tie event at Savanna’s local art museum goes horribly wrong. Thieves have stolen priceless paintings, and many more have been defaced with menacing graffiti. Friends and colleagues become suspects, and the bodies are piling up. Who can she trust?

Now, instead of enjoying the glow of Christmas and preparing to marry the single-dad doctor who holds her heart, Savanna turns amateur sleuth. Can she crack the case before her happily ever after melts away?

Perfect for twisty mystery fans craving snowy suspense and heartwarming moments!

Candy Canes and Crimes

By: Lisa Siefert

Her cupcakes were the hit of the holiday season, but finding her baking mentor dead puts Ava on the naughty list.

Ava Decker was looking forward to Clover Creek’s magical Christmas festival. But when she discovers beloved chocolate factory owner Vera Holloway floating face-down in a vat of chocolate, Ava realizes someone wanted to permanently cancel Christmas for her favorite chocolatier. Things go from bad to worse when Ava’s usual crime-solving techniques result in one of the suspects filing a restraining order against her.

Her amateur sleuthing careens through Clover Creek’s holiday festivities like a runaway sleigh. From the festive Peppermint Parade to the elegant Snowflake Soiree to the enchanting Candy Cane Carnival, Ava manages to leave a trail of chaos, formal wear disasters, and a missing fortune in chocolate money. Can Ava unwrap this candy-coated conspiracy without getting herself arrested, or will her Christmas end with handcuffs instead of presents?

Candy Canes & Crimes delivers holiday hijinks with a deadly twist in this delightfully disastrous addition to the Frosted Misfortunes cozy mystery series. If you love Christmas chaos mixed with murder, you’ll adore Lisa Siefert’s most festive disaster yet.

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

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…

April Blossoms with New Reads & A Giveaway!

April 1, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Spring is here, and so are some exciting new book releases!  Whether you’re in the mood for a page-turning suspense or a cozy read to enjoy in the sunshine, April’s books are ready to captivate your imagination. To kick off the season of fresh starts, we’re also hosting a giveaway! Keep reading to discover your next favorite read and enter for a chance to win an ebook copy of one of our new releases!

Giveaway Question: What’s your favorite cozy mystery or thriller setting — a small town, a quirky café, or maybe an old mansion? Let us know for a chance to win!

Old Habits Die Hard

By Melissa Westemeier

Meddling and murder can both be deadly sins

When retired nun and teacher Sister Bernadette returns with her fellow residents to The Abbey: Senior Living, she is the first to discover the body sprawled in the hallway of the converted school where she once taught English and now lives.  Instead of freezing with horror, Sister Bernie has questions. Lots of them. Why does Toni Travi, the bedazzled and bejeweled resident from apartment 218, have so much chest hair? Did anyone at The Abbey know Toni was a man? Was Toni’s death related to allegations that she cheated at cards? Where’s the murder weapon? Who had motive? And did someone kill Toni, or the man hiding beneath the Revlon foundation and blonde wig?

Detective AJ Lewis is in charge of the investigation though Sister Bernie acts as if he is still her student. With unholy stubbornness, she dogs his every step, eavesdrops, sneaks beyond the police tape and offers unsolicited conjecture and clues. He wants to keep her safe, but she’s determined to lend a helping hand—it’s her habit, after all!

Karma Never Sleeps

By R. John Dingle

In a small town, the truth can’t always set you free…

When a second woman from a group of friends known as “the posse” is murdered in the woods near the New England enclave of Kendalton, FBI agent and profiler Gus Wheeler and his partner are called in to determine if this is a serial killing. He’s intrigued by a clue hidden on the body: a memorial picture of a teen who died 25 years ago.

Instead of helping with the investigation, the long-term friends stonewall the agents. But Gus can smell fear beneath their calm masks, fake smiles, and politely vague answers. Digging deeper, he discovers they are being terrorized by cyberstalking, spying, threats and mysterious break-ins. When a third member is hospitalized after a brutal attack, Gus suspects someone in the posse is the hunter instead of the hunted.

Is it the alpha leader Jules, her best friend Maria—married to the chief of police—outsider Mel, or weak link Lizzy? Or someone else bent on revenge? Time’s running out, and Gus’s life depends on his skill at determining who’s the best liar in town.

Murder On Display

By Tracy Gardner

Art in the park leads to murder in the dark, creating another crime for the Shepherd sisters to solve.

Savanna Shepherd, an art expert turned elementary art teacher, is planning the Art in the Park festival for her hometown of Carson, Michigan. But apparently, someone isn’t happy that Carson got to host the tourism boosting event and destroys the beloved statue in the park. Then Savanna discovers a local politician’s dead body following a planning committee meeting, and the festival is at risk of being canceled.

Savanna and her sisters are convinced that the arrested murder suspect, a longtime family friend, didn’t do it, despite strong evidence to the contrary. With the help of Dr. Aidan Gallager, Savanna’s new romantic interest, they uncover plenty of hidden resentments, intrigue, and suspects who had a motive for the murder. Can they find out which one of them is behind the framing of an innocent person before the murderer paints them into a corner?

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

A Stone Cold Murder

By Kris Bock

She hates her gift – but it just might save her…

Geologist Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it. It’s a miserable way to live. She studied rocks because they rarely ‘talk’ to her and she’s dodged friendships so she won’t need to explain her gift or feel like a voyeur. But when she takes a job as the rock and mineral curator at an unusual western history museum and picks up a jagged crystal in her new office, flashes of rage, fear and death hit hard.

Everyone says her predecessor died in a car crash, but what if he was murdered? Under normal circumstances, Petra would never become involved, but what if the previous curator died because of something he did on the job? She could be next. Petra knows she’ll need evidence, not her psychic sense she hides. Can she trust her chatty colleagues who invite her to lunch and to join a book club? And what about the far too watchful Sheriff who keeps showing up unexpectedly…

Rolling Up Revenge

By Emmie Lyn

Revenge is red.
Berries are blue.
When murder darkens the festival—
Will there be one victim or two?

Misty Harbor’s annual Blueberry Festival kicks off with stacks of syrupy pancakes, crumbly scones, and the rich aroma of blueberry balsamic vinegar. But the celebration curdles when Dani Mackenzie stumbles over a body behind the berry bushes.

The victim is no stranger—and a suspicious splash of vinegar leads Dani and her feisty Jack Russell terrier, Pip, straight to Christy Golden, a vendor and Dani’s own employee. Christy confesses that the dead man had been harassing her at the Little Dog Diner, and now the police are hungry for justice—with Christy as their prime suspect.

Determined to prove her friend isn’t the missing ingredient in a revenge plot, Dani starts mixing up theories and sifting through festival goers for clues. With Pip sniffing out details the police overlooked, it’s clear the real killer is still stirring up trouble.

Can Dani unravel the mystery before another victim is buried beneath the blueberries?