Patricia Meredith's Blog
December 2, 2024
Murder on the North Pole Express RELEASE DAY!
IT’S HERE!!!!! It’s release day for Murder on the North Pole Express, the second Sam Shovel Mystery!
For fans of:
—talking snowmen detectives
—the Polar Express book
—claymation Christmas specials
—Agatha Christie
—reindeer
—Yule Lads
—Santas from around the world
—Christmas carols
—Christmas cookies (and recipes!)
—Christmas movies
—It’s a Wonderful Life
When snowman Sam Shovel came to life this Christmas, he was hoping he’d manage to avoid getting sucked into another murder mystery as he hopped aboard the North Pole Express with his good friend, Kertas the Yule Lad. But things start looking bleak when Sam meets a conductor no one else has seen and then ends up melted, causing his memories to go even more slushy than usual in Murder on the North Pole Express.
Although this is Book 2 in the Sam Shovel mysteries, they can be read in any order!
***
“Intriguing and mysterious right through to the end. A worthy sequel to Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman! Meredith nails the vibe of the Christmas cozy mystery.” —Thomas Sanchez
***
“Another fantastic adventure with Sam Shovel! There is something about these Christmas ones that are just *chef’s kiss* marvelous!” —Noelle Austin
NOW AVAILABLE in your favorite format: hardback, ebook, and audiobook!Ebook— Find it in your favorite ebook format soon!
Audiobook— Find it in your favorite audiobook format soon!
Print— Pre-order a signed hardback copy from the author here now to get a FREE ebook as well!
Special Deluxe Christmas Box— Purchase only through our store!
Also available in a special Christmas Deluxe Gift Box!Murder on the North Pole Express Deluxe Gift Box now available!
Sequel Deluxe:
Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget with the gift of this Deluxe Book Box! Inside you’ll find:
—One signed hardback edition of Murder on the North Pole Express
—One handmade peppermint soap from Honey Mountain Hives, LLC
—One handmade Christmas bookmark with snowflake dangle
—One Christmas cookie cutter
—Two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in Murder on the North Pole Express
—Believe bell ornament in beautiful red bag
—Christmas train stickers
—One Christmas card from the author
Each box will be specially decorated on the outside, with gift-wrapped items inside to make it the perfect addition for under your Christmas tree! (Some items will vary in appearance such as gift wrap, bookmark paper, and cookie cutter design.)
Pre-order now for only $39.99 at our website games-afoot.square.site.
NEED BOTH BOOKS 1 & 2?
Get the Two Book Deluxe Box! Inside you’ll find all the above, PLUS one signed hardback edition of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman AND two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in DCTS!
Pre-order now for only $59.99 at our website games-afoot.square.site.
Follow my Author Page on Goodreads and add Murder on the North Pole Express to your Want to Read list!Merry Christmas!
November 7, 2024
Murder on the North Pole Express COVER REVEAL
Hello all! It’s been a hot minute (or a cold minute in this case) since I’ve updated you on my books! That’s because I’ve been busy at work on the second Sam Shovel mystery to get it ready for you in time for Christmas!
You can now pre-order the second Sam Shovel Mystery, Murder on the North Pole Express, releasing December 2nd!Pre-order the print version now through our website at Games Afoot and get a FREE ebook version, as well!Are you a fan of:
—the Polar Express book
—claymation Christmas specials
—Agatha Christie
—reindeer
—talking snowmen
—Yule Lads
—Santa
—Christmas carols
—Christmas cookies (and recipes!)
—Christmas movies
—It’s a Wonderful Life
In this sequel to Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman, new this year, when snowman Sam Shovel came to life this Christmas, he was hoping he’d manage to avoid getting sucked into another murder mystery as he hopped aboard the North Pole Express with his good friend, Kertas the Yule Lad. But things start looking bleak when Sam meets a conductor no one else has seen and then ends up melted, causing his memories to go even more slushy than usual in Murder on the North Pole Express.
***
“Intriguing and mysterious right through to the end. A worthy sequel to Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman! Meredith nails the vibe of the Christmas cozy mystery.” —Thomas Sanchez
***
“Another fantastic adventure with Sam Shovel! There is something about these Christmas ones that are just *chef’s kiss* marvelous!” —Noelle AustinPRE-ORDER NOW!
June 18, 2024
Slings and Sparrows in Print and New Store
Slings and SparrowsAre you a fan of the Beryl and Edwina mysteries by Jessica Ellicott, the Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun, Donna Andrews’s bird mysteries with Meg Langslow, Murder, She Wrote with Jessica Fletcher, Golden Girls, Thursday Murder Club, or senior sleuths?
Slings and Sparrows is the first in a new cozy, historical mystery series set in the 1990s! Sisters Goose and Penny think they’ve retired to a small slice of heaven on acreage with everything from peacocks to guinea fowl, ducks to geese, ravens to quail. Their days are filled with your typical squawking and yelping coming from all corners, until the murder of a cockatiel leads them to wonder if they’ve let a fox in amongst their kindly chickens.
“A delightfully quaint cozy mystery… Take a gander at this quacker of a novel!” —Kirsten Willett, Bookstagrammer @recipebookworm
“Utterly charming! Slings and Sparrows delivers a cozy, low-stakes mystery packed with 90’s nostalgia, references, and suspense.” —Kayla, BookTuber @kayshiddenshelf
“Bingeable and entertaining!” —Tori Tecken, Author and BookTuber @toritalks2
“Patricia Meredith does it again! A perfect cozy mystery…unique and well done…with a great twist!” —Stacy, BookTuber @wanderingwithstacy
Available Now in All Formats!Ebook— Amazon Kindle
Audiobook—All formats! Purchase the audiobook through Libro.fm and support your favorite local independent bookstore!
Print—Available everywhere books are sold! Order signed copies direct from the author here: https://games-afoot.square.site.
You can also add my books to your Want to Read list on Goodreads! Follow my Author Page while you’re there!
In celebration of the print release, find one-of-a-kind Slings and Sparrows products at my new Printify store!
Find all sorts of fun products from mugs to candles to bags to stickers! Check it out today! All purchases support my writing!
May 31, 2024
Games Afoot is Open for Business
The game is afoot and we are open for business!
My husband, Andrew D. Meredith, and I are opening the flood gates and offering our assistance to authors looking specifically for help with:
Editingdevelopmentalcontentline-editproofreadAudiobooksrecordingediting/file masteringuploading
LayoutebookpaperbackhardbackCover Designvariety of styles that speak to the genrealso available for character graphicsSamples (flip through slideshow to see all):
Our primary genre experience lies in:mysteryhistorical fictionscience-fictionfantasy(We are open to other genres but absolutely no horror, erotica, romance, romantasy, etc.)
Who are we and why should you work with us?Patricia and Andrew Meredith are a married couple publishing each in their own genres of mystery and fantasy. Together they write stories you’ll remember, and characters you’ll never forget. They started their publishing company, Games Afoot, four years ago when they decided to take the plunge into independent publishing.
Patricia Meredith is an author of historical and cozy mysteries. Her mysteries are clean, comfy reads known for their quirky yet believable characters, backed by extensive research. Before taking the dive into mystery, Patricia Meredith was a fiction editor working with magazines, businesses, and publishers on a variety of projects from art books (such as The Art of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire) to fantasy novels (such as Rising Sun, Falling Shadows, winner of the 2013 Scribe Award for Best Original Novel). She has worked with such names as George R.R. Martin, Tracy Hickman, and Graham McNeill (head here for a complete list). She launched the novel department for Fantasy Flight Games, so she also has experience in the behind-the-scenes of publication.
Andrew D. Meredith is an author of epic and cozy fantasy. His stories are slice-of-life classic tales told through intricately crafted world-building with intelligent, perceptive characters placed amidst compelling challenges and responsibilities that no one else will risk. He’s worked extensively as an audiobook narrator for both his and his wife’s books, as well as working with such authors as Tori Tecken, Troy Knowlton, and Naomi P. Cohen.
Contact us for a FREE consultation and quote!We’d love to hear about your project and how we can be of help!
Email us at andrew@gamesafoot.net.
May 28, 2024
Slings and Sparrows Release Day!
Honk the geese and cluck the chickens! It’s release day for
Slings and Sparrows is now available in ebook and audiobook formats!Pick up a copy of Slings and Sparrows, first in the Goose and Penny Mysteries, in your favorite ebook or audiobook format! (Print will be releasing in a couple weeks!)
You can find the ebook through Amazon Kindle!
I had so much fun recording this audiobook! I got to really stretch myself with the variety of voices required for this engaging and fun-filled cast!
Click on the image above to purchase the audiobook through Libro.fm and support your favorite local independent bookstore! (Audiobook also available on other streaming platforms!)Are you a fan of the Beryl and Edwina mysteries by Jessica Ellicott, the Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun, Donna Andrews’s bird mysteries with Meg Langslow, Murder, She Wrote with Jessica Fletcher, Golden Girls, Thursday Murder Club, or senior sleuths?
Slings and Sparrows“The day Cock Robin was murdered started like any other day, with the peacock crowing up the morning sun. Yes, the peacock.”
Sisters Goose and Penny think they’ve retired to a small slice of heaven on acreage with everything from peacocks to guinea fowl, ducks to geese, ravens to quail. Their days are filled with your typical squawking and yelping coming from all corners, until the murder of a cockatiel leads them to wonder if they’ve let a fox in amongst their kindly chickens.
First in a new cozy, historical mystery series set in the 1990s!
Early Reader Reviews:“Like slipping into your favorite pair of sweatpants: comfortable and engaging and had me turning pages till the very end!”
— Jessie Rizzo
“Highly enjoyable page-turning mystery, full of relatable suspects and surprising twists.”
—Sarah Pounder
“A delightfully quaint cozy mystery… Take a gander at this quacker of a novel!”
—Kirsten Willett, Bookstagrammer @recipebookworm
“Utterly charming! Slings and Sparrows delivers a cozy, low-stakes mystery packed with 90’s nostalgia, references, and suspense.”
—Kayla, BookTuber @kayshiddenshelf
“Bingeable and entertaining!”
—Tori Tecken, Author and BookTuber @toritalks2
“Patricia Meredith does it again! A perfect cozy mystery…unique and well done…with a great twist!”
—Stacy, BookTuber @wanderingwithstacy
Pick up a copy today!
May 14, 2024
Slings and Sparrows Cover Reveal
Did you miss our big cover reveal on Late Night Book Chat? That’s all right! You can watch it now!
Slings and SparrowsAre you a fan of the Beryl and Edwina mysteries by Jessica Ellicott, the Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun, Donna Andrews’s bird mysteries with Meg Langslow, Murder, She Wrote with Jessica Fletcher, Golden Girls, Thursday Murder Club, or senior sleuths?
Slings and Sparrows is the first in a new cozy, historical mystery series set in the 1990s! Sisters Goose and Penny think they’ve retired to a small slice of heaven on acreage with everything from peacocks to guinea fowl, ducks to geese, ravens to quail. Their days are filled with your typical squawking and yelping coming from all corners, until the murder of a cockatiel leads them to wonder if they’ve let a fox in amongst their kindly chickens.
From Beta Readers:
“I want to live on the farm with Goose and Penny! This story was like slipping into your favorite pair of sweatpants. It was comfortable and engaging and had me turning pages till the very end!” —Jessie
“Highly enjoyable page-turning mystery, full of relatable suspects and surprising twists.” —Sarah
“Thoroughly delightful! Laugh-out-loud funny!” —Anne
Special Pre-order Deal:Pre-order the print version of Slings and Sparrows by May 28th and get the ebook and audiobook (via Spotify link) for FREE! Only available through our website https://games-afoot.square.site.
Ebook and audiobook release May 28, print releases June 11! Pre-orders will receive each version of the book on their respective release day.
PRE-ORDER NOW!For more information, be sure to watch the full cover reveal interview on Late Night Book Chat on my YouTube channel!
April 29, 2024
Late Night Book Chat
We’ve got something crazy fun happening over on my YouTube channel now!
Late Night Book ChatLive every Monday night at 9pm MST/ 11pm EST!Join us live for a one-hour chat hosted by myself and my husband, Andrew D Meredith, where we’ll invite special guests each week to join us for an interview and to chat books!
Watch the pilot episode now!In the pilot episode, we revealed our Secret Projects!
Andrew’s got a new cozy fantasy, and I’ve got a new cozy mystery releasing this spring! Watch the video to learn more!
If you haven’t subscribed yet, be sure to do so you never miss an episode!
Tonight, we’ll be airing our second episode, with a special cover reveal for Andrew’s new book in celebration of pre-orders!
Special Pre-order Deal:Pre-order the print version of Quaint Creatures and get the ebook for FREE! The first 25 pre-orders will also receive the audiobook (via Spotify) for FREE! Only available through our website https://games-afoot.square.site.
Ebook and audiobook release May 14, print releases May 31! Pre-orders will receive each version of the book on their respective release day.
Why Late Night Book Chat?Andrew and I have really enjoyed being a part of the BookTube community. We’ve made so many amazing friendships! Our favorite part has been doing interviews—whether on other channels or my own.
We love the live chat aspect in particular, so when we were discussing how we wanted to focus our YouTube endeavors this year, we quickly landed on the idea of doing a live talk show.
Upon further discussion, we realized there’s always something happening, either online or in person on Fridays and Saturdays. Monday nights, however?
So we thought: what better way to start off the week than with a live book chat? And since we’re parents with kids, why not do it late at night after the kids are down?
Of course, we always knew we’d focus on the Bookish Community, and so we’ve got a line-up for you this year that features authors, editors, BookTubers, bookstore owners, and more!
We hope you’ll join us live when you can to be a part of our “live studio audience,” and catch up on missed episodes when it’s too late a night for you!
Our goal is to be a bright spot in the entertainment world, and to remind folks that books and stories in general can bring people together!
Set your notification bell for next week’s first live special guest!
February 12, 2024
Book Club Discussion Questions and More for A Deed of Dreadful Note
Has your book club read one of my books? Wondering what to discuss when you meet?
I recently had the honor of joining a book club discussion of my latest book, A Deed of Dreadful Note, over Zoom. So much fun!
The month before, I joined a discussion of The Leavenworth Case, which was equally as awesome!
Seriously, it is such a joy for me to get the chance to hear what people think about my book and to share more about Anna Katharine Green and her impact on the mystery genre.
Here on my website, I’ve tried to provide a plethora of background information for those interested in learning more about the research behind my historical mysteries. I’ve also come up with a list of discussion questions and have shared some specific links below to aid your Book Club’s discussion!
— Discussion Questions for A Deed of Dreadful Note —1. Before reading this book, had you ever heard of Anna Katharine Green? Have you read The Leavenworth Case?
2. Do you consider yourself an avid reader of mysteries? With which authors of the genre are you most familiar? Have you read (or even heard of) Agatha Christie? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Wilkie Collins? Dorothy L. Sayers? Edgar Allan Poe? Louisa May Alcott?
Head here for a complete timeline of Anna Katharine Green and the History of Mystery Fiction to find out where Anna falls in the timeline compared to these other authors’ important contributions to the mystery genre.
3. A Deed of Dreadful Note is a piece of historical fiction, created by blending The Leavenworth Case with Anna’s personal history, recorded thoughts, and relationships since, as she said herself, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Where possible, I have used Anna’s own words to capture the grace and wit with which she approached the world and her writing, in particular.
Did you have any favorite quotes from the book? Any lines that really stuck out to you? Find out if they were originally written by Anna Katharine Green or me by checking out this list of all of the quotes incorporated into the novel!
4. With which character did you most identify? If you could take one character out for a cup of tea or coffee, which would it be and why?
5. Was there anything surprising about the book? Did you learn anything new? (Other than about Anna Katharine Green herself!)
6. Did you guess the murderer before the ending?
7. Were there any themes that seemed especially important to you in the book?
8. One of my favorite quotes from Anna Katharine Green is this one: “I have found that the incidents in books which people pick out as improbable are the very ones which are founded on fact. Truth is stranger than fiction.” Do you find this to be true in your experience?
(This quote comes from an article she wrote entitled “Why Human Beings Are Interested in Crime?” which was published in 1919. You can read the full article here!)
Bonus question: Have you read Agatha Christie’s debut novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles? Have you read The Leavenworth Case? If so, note the similarities between the two—it is clear in an instant that Christie was greatly inspired by Green!
Having now read A Deed of Dreadful Note, I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Leavenworth Case!Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll receive Anna Katharine Green’s The Leavenworth Case, complete with my introduction, for FREE! Prefer audiobook? Pick up our edition read by Andrew D. Meredith anywhere audiobooks are sold! Support local and purchase it through Libro.fm here!
— Learn more about Anna Katharine Green —Watch my YouTube Channel playlist all about Anna Katharine Green.
AKG and I have a lot in common, it turns out! Watch my video and read this post to learn why I consider Anna Katharine Green my sister from another century.
Read Mary Hatch’s thoughts on her cousin and best friend Anna Katharine Green in an article originally published in 1889.
November 11th is Anna Katharine Green’s birthday! Read this post to learn more about her impact on mystery fiction.
Find my full review, great quotes, and learn how Anna Katharine Green inspired Agatha Christie here from when I re-read The Clocks, and began to really research who this Green woman was.
Read my full review and great quotes here from the first time I read The Leavenworth Case.
Find my full review and great quotes here from the first time I read That Affair Next Door, the first Miss Butterworth case.
What’s cooler than having the author join you for your discussion?!I would love to meet with you! Contact me today about joining your discussion by emailing me at author(at)patricia-meredith.com. I’d love to answer all your questions and reveal more about the research, writing process, and character development that went into the writing of the book!
I am available for both in-person and virtual events. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Find more discussion questions and history for my other books under the menu heading “Book Clubs.”
— Pick up your own copy! —Ebook—Amazon
Audiobook—Wherever audiobooks are sold! Support local and order through Libro.fm!
Print—Order a signed copy from me here! Support local and ask your favorite independent bookstore to order in a copy! Also available through Amazon.
You can also add my books to your Want to Read list on Goodreads! Follow my Author Page while you’re there! Add A Deed of Dreadful Note to your list here!
Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll receive Anna Katharine Green’s The Leavenworth Case, complete with my introduction, for FREE! Prefer audiobook? Pick up our edition read by Andrew D. Meredith anywhere audiobooks are sold! Support local and purchase it through Libro.fm here!
– Follow Me –Sign up for my newsletter to receive my newest blogs delivered straight to your inbox. This includes notification of my newest videos featuring sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes for all my books! You’ll receive Anna Katharine Green’s The Leavenworth Case, complete with my introduction, for FREE for signing up!
Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and Facebook to hear the latest news concerning new book releases and events. And of course, subscribe to my YouTube channel!
You can also add my books to your Want to Read list on Goodreads! Follow my Author Page while you’re there to hear when a new book is added!
Thank you for reading, watching, and supporting me and my writing!
December 14, 2023
Christmas Baking: Gingerbread Cookies
Last week, we made Baba Noël’s Egyptian Kahk. The week before, I was joined by fellow readers and BookTubers Kay of Kay’s Hidden Shelf and Andrew of Andrew’s Wizardly Reads as we baked Sugar Cookies!
In 2021, I shared three recipes from three different cookbooks. You can find them here:
In 2022, I shared three more recipes from 19th century cookbooks:
You can also find all my recipe videos in one easy playlist on my YouTube channel. (Be sure to hit that subscribe button while you’re there!)
Join me LIVE at 7:00pm MST (9:00pm EST) on Thursday, Dec 14 or watch later at your leisure!And now, Merry’s Gingerbread Cookies !This recipe can be found in the back of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman!
“Did someone say, ‘No carrots for Christmas?’”
I turned, expecting this last remark to have been made by one of the reindeer, and was surprised to find we’d been joined by a newcomer with a platter of carrot-shaped cookies that smelled more like ginger than carrots.
“Merry!” the reindeer chorused again, encircling the Gingerbread Man.
“As in ‘Merry Christmas’?” I asked.
He gave a licorice-shaped grin. “You got it! I changed my name in the ’60s from ‘Lebkuchen.’ It’s difficult to keep a business running when no one can pronounce your name properly.”
“Are those delicious-smelling treats for us?” Dancer asked hopefully, his nose almost touching the cookie nearest him.
“They’re for my favorite reindeer!” Merry said, then clarified after seeing the disappointed looks on the reindeer around him. “You’re all my favorites!”
The reindeer seemed pleased by this and helped themselves to a cookie or three.
—From Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
Ingredients:
3 ¼ C flour (all-purpose)
¾ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp nutmeg
1 T ginger
1 T cinnamon
¼ tsp pepper (more if you like them spicy)
¾ C butter, softened
½ C brown sugar
1 egg
½ C molasses
Directions:
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and spices.In an electric mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and molasses and beat until combined.Mix in the flour mixture a little at a time. You should end up with a stiff dough.Chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.Once the dough has chilled long enough, remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature while you preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).On a floured surface, roll out the dough in sections with a floured rolling pin. Cut into your favorite Christmas cookie cutter shapes! (If you roll it thick, you’ll end up with chewier cookies.)Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes.Let cool and store in an airtight container or freeze for a Christmas cookie decorating party!I hope you joined me over the past two weeks as I live baked the recipes found in the back of my latest mystery: Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman !If you missed them live, you can always go back and watch them later!
Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he’s in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaum—the world’s largest supplier of Christmas trees—has been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it.
The North Pole is full of suspects, from the owners of the neighboring candy cane farm to Santa himself! But which Santa? Is it Nick Claus, Père Noël, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, der Weihnachtsmann, Sheng dan Lao ren, Baba Noël, or someone else entirely?
Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if Sam succeeds in catching the killer in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman.
A fantastical Christmas cozy mystery perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie any time of year!
Pick up a copy in hardback, ebook, and audiobook!Ebook— Find it in your favorite ebook format!
Audiobook— Find it in your favorite audiobook format!
Print— Purchase a signed hardback copy from me here!
Special Deluxe Christmas Box— Purchase only through our store!
Also available in a special Christmas Deluxe Gift Box!Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman Deluxe Gift Box now available!
Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget with the gift of this deluxe book box. Inside you’ll find:
—One signed hardback edition of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One handmade peppermint soap from Honey Mountain Hives, LLC @honeymountainhives_
—One handmade Christmas bookmark with snowflake dangle
—One Christmas cookie cutter
—One package of hot cocoa mix with “unassembled snowman” marshmallows
—Two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman (including the two I’m sharing live!)
—One Christmas tea candle
—One candy cane
—Christmas stickers
Each box will be specially decorated on the outside, with gift-wrapped items inside to make it the perfect addition for under your Christmas tree! (Some items will vary in appearance such as gift wrap, bookmark paper, and cookie cutter design.)
This box worth over $65.00 is available for just $59.99, only at GAMES-AFOOT.SQUARE.SITE! This is your last chance to order now to get it by Christmas!
Special thanks to @honeymountainhives_ for collaborating with me on this box! Visit her website at HoneyMountainHives.com to learn more!
The post Christmas Baking: Gingerbread Cookies appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
December 10, 2023
Last Chance to Buy Books for Christmas!
This is your friendly reminder that if you’d like to order our books and have them delivered by Christmas Day, please order them this week!
My husband, Andrew D. Meredith, writes epic fantasy, and I write historical and cozy mystery, so between the two of us, we probably write something for the Reader in your life!
Head here to order now or click the image below.
Death of a Christmas Tree SalesmanFirst in a new series!
Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he’s in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaum—the world’s largest supplier of Christmas trees—has been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it.
The North Pole is full of suspects, from the owners of the neighboring candy cane farm to Santa himself! But which Santa? Is it Nick Claus, Père Noël, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, der Weihnachtsmann, Sheng dan Lao ren, Baba Noël, or someone else entirely?
Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if Sam succeeds in catching the killer in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman.
A fantastical Christmas cozy mystery perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie any time of year!
A Deed of Dreadful NoteFifteen years before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, Anna Katharine Green began writing The Leavenworth Case, inspiring the creation of detectives like Sherlock, Poirot, and Wimsey, as well as almost every device and convention we now recognize as standard in detective mystery fiction.
When her father’s client is found murdered, Anna takes up the call to prove innocent the young girl accused of the murder. The investigation inspires many of the events, characters, and descriptions that would later be published in her debut novel.
A love letter to mystery and writing itself, A Deed of Dreadful Note is an homage and reintroduction to an author who was the Agatha Christie of her time but a forgotten female today.
This book is a fictionalized account of how Anna Katharine Green’s first novel may have come to be…
A Deed of Dreadful Note is the first and only historical mystery in a series featuring Anna Katharine Green in the role of detective!
Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker
This first book in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries is a Murdoch Mysteries meets Agatha Christie historical mystery with a cast of rich, quirky characters from inventors to thieves that must work together to solve a murder. Misdirection and slight-of-hand will keep the reader guessing whodunnit until the very end.
Archie Prescot has traveled across the country to design the now-iconic Spokane clock tower for the new Great Northern Railroad Depot. When his talent for creating unique clock chimes connects him with a local patroness, he is thrilled, until she is discovered dead in the workshop of his new colleague. Her grand home on the South Hill provides ample suspects, as Archie works with his landlords, Detective Carew and his twin brother, to prove his fellow inventor, a blind Japanese man, and himself innocent of the crime. While on the hunt for the murderer, romance crops up when a young lady crosses his path with a mysterious past of her own. Six intersecting storylines create a cohesive look at a convoluted murder that will require all points of view to discover the truth…
Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker is the first in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries set in Gilded Age Spokane.
Cupboards All Bared
In this sequel to Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, we’re once again transported to Spokane, 1901. A body discovered in Hangman Creek looks to be the result of an accidental fall, but what begins as a “simple” mystery for Thomas Carew and his twin brother Bernard quickly becomes a lot more complicated, including implications that tie in with the bombings at the Idaho mines, and perhaps even President McKinley’s planned visit.
It’s been one month since the events of the first book, and readers will enjoy engaging once again with the full cast of quirky characters, from Marian and Archie to Thomas and Bernard, with a couple new faces thrown in. Those familiar with Spokane will love the entangled web that takes them from Hangman Creek to the Campbell House and the Montvale, ensuring that this story couldn’t be set anywhere but our beloved Spokane.
Cupboards All Bared is Book 2 in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries.
Crazy Maids in a Row
The insane belong in the asylum. But what if the insane are the only ones who can help you?
The Baker is in the Medical Lake asylum, which means all should be well with the world. But when a string of murders draws Marian, Archie, and the Carew brothers to her doorstep, they begin to wonder if she’s at it again…
Crazy Maids in a Row is Book 3 in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries. Be sure to read Books 1 & 2 before diving into Book 3.
Again, you can purchase signed copies direct from both authors here!Merry Christmas!
The post Last Chance to Buy Books for Christmas! appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
