C.A. Larmer's Blog, page 3

3-Minute Mystery #2 (Can YOU Guess What Happened?)

Want to try to out-sleuth me again? This year, I'm offering my dedicated email subscribers regular quick mystery reads. I provide all the clues, they try to work out whodunnit, and if they get back to me (via reply email) with the correct answer, they go in the running to win a free eBook. If you'd like to sign up to be part of the fun, click the email link on the homepage: calarmer.com. Otherwise, just read on to work it out for yourself, then check out my next blog for the big reveal. Good luck fellow sleuths!

 

QUICK DIY MYSTERY: The Nosey Neighbour

My elderly neighbour was missing and I had a hunch I knew why—and where to find him. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning...

My name is Olivia. My husband, Jonas, and I had moved into the shady suburb of Greensly about five years ago, and while our shoebox of a house was just a stepping stone to a bigger, better place one day (we had dreams of starting a large family), I took an instant liking to our next door neighbour, a widower called Harvey.

He was an old man even then, but he was fit as a fiddle and it probably had a lot to do with his fondness for gardening, which kept his heart ticking better than any medicine I knew of. He could spend hours digging about in his sprawling vegie patch at the back of his lot. It was here that he spent most of his time, toiling away from dawn to dusk and even reappearing at night with torch in hand to fend off any critters that dared to devour his precious produce.

“He’s at it again,” I would inform Jonas as the torch sent splashes of light across our bedroom wall.

“He’s wasting his energy, fussing about with all that,” Jonas would reply. “If he spent half his time painting that dingy old house and clearing up some of the clutter out the front, we’d all be better off.”

Jonas did have a point. Harvey was a massive hoarder and had let his house run down. Badly. And, to be frank, it was bringing the whole neighbourhood into disrepute. But I didn’t like to tell the old guy that. After all, I was usually the beneficiary of all that toiling — Harvey would regularly leave handfuls of spinach or punnets of cherry tomatoes at my doorstep, and, in Spring, lush bouquets of flowers. In return, I took his bins out on garbage night and brought his washing in when it rained, along with his mail, which usually just consisted of letters from a distant niece and real estate brochures.

Jonas snatched the mail from me one day and said I was wasting my time—“you’d be better off helping him paint!”—but I liked the old geezer. I really did…

Missing In Action

One week, as I prepared a pot roast in my kitchen, I realised I had not seen Harvey in a while and was just wondering what he was up to when I noticed a young man in a shiny suit standing to the side of Harvey’s house, issuing orders to a group of guys in white overalls.

“Hello!” I called out through the open window. “Harvey finally sprucing the old place up, hey?”

The man looked across to me with surprise, then smiled. “And about time, too, hey?” He winked. “This place is a goldmine, just waiting to be tapped.” Then he snatched a business card from his pocket and held it out. “I’m Ace Finnegan. Local realtor.”

I gasped. “Harvey’s selling?”

“Surprised me, too. The last time I dropped in, just a week back, Harvey sent me packing with a few choice words.” He chuckled. “Took a swing at me, too. He’s just lucky I’m a lover not a fighter.” Then he chuckled again.

“You got into a fight with the old man?” I said and he blinked rapidly.

“No! I mean, not really. He was fine when I left him. And you should know. Didn’t I see you watching us through that very window? Anyway, I must’ve got through to him because he’s changed his tune, and wants to sell, which is fantastic news for me. That’s why I’m helping Melissa get the place ready. With a bit of a clean up and a fresh lick of paint, it’ll be good as new.”

“Melissa?”

“Harvey’s niece,” Ace explained. “She’s approved the sale.”

“Does she have the right to do that? Does Harvey know?”

He nodded, uncertainly now. “Yes… I believe so…” His eyes narrowed. “It’s all above board I can assure you. If you don’t believe me, speak with Melissa yourself. She’s just arrived from out of town. You’ll find her inside.”

That, too, left me gaping. I’d seen Melissa’s very occasional letters—knew from the back of her envelopes that she lived miles away—but had never seen her actually visit, and I was confused why she was suddenly here and taking over Harvey’s life.

I needed to hear it for myself, so I waved him goodbye then grabbed a wicker basket and made my way out of my house and up to Harvey’s front door, which was wide open.

The Prodigal Niece

After stepping inside, I found Melissa seated on Harvey’s bed, wading through what looked like a box of personal papers.

“Sorry to disturb,” I called out, catching the middle-aged brunette by surprise and she almost dropped the box. “I was wondering if I could grab some—”

“Who are you? What are you doing in here?” she demanded, wedging the papers back into their hidey-hole.

“I’m Olivia, from next door.” I glanced around. “Is everything okay? I was just checking in on Harvey. He’s your uncle, yes? Is he around?”

“What? Yes, I mean, no… um, Uncle Harvey’s been on holidays for the past week. Can I help you with something?”

I gaped again. Harvey never went on holidays. “How lovely for him,” I managed. “Where did he go?”

She shrugged. Frowned. “Bali I believe. He told me he was heading away and I should go ahead and get the house ready for sale.” Then she glanced around. “Finally! The local realtor says we’ll fetch a small fortune for this place, once we’ve made some improvements. In the meantime, I’ll find Harvey a lovely little nursing home…”

“Nursing home?!” I was gaping so widely my chin was almost scraping the floor.
There was no way the Harvey I knew would ever agree to a nursing home. The last time we spoke he told me he wanted to die in Greensly and be buried in his beloved garden. As for holidaying in Bali… It was absurd.

Melissa suddenly looked as defensive as the realtor and pushed her shoulders back. “Sorry, but I’m not sure this is any of your business. Now if you don’t mind, I have a lot to sort through.”

My lips snapped shut. “Of course,” I said. Then, remembering my purpose, I added, “I’m cooking a roast tonight. Do you mind if I help myself to some of Harvey’s vegies, from his back garden? I—”

“No!” Melissa’s shoulders were up to her ears now. “I mean… it’s a bit of a shambles. The realtor says some animals must have got into it recently and made a mess of everything. Doesn’t matter now. We’ll probably pave over it and put in a patio.”

Then she turned back to her files but my mind was reeling. None of this made sense and I didn’t believe her for one minute. I sincerely doubted Harvey would want his niece rifling through his things and dragging in a realtor, let alone dragging him to an aged care home. And I absolutely knew he’d be furious to hear his precious garden was to become a patio!

Still, Melissa was right. It wasn’t really my business. I wasn’t family, right? What could I possibly do?

So I left her to it, sighing sadly to myself as I returned home, convinced something was not quite right.

Stewing Over Dinner

Jonas returned from work just as I was putting dinner on the table (sans the fresh vegies, of course), and as we ate in silence my mind returned to Harvey and my sighing resumed.

“What is it, Olivia?” my husband asked. “You’ve been quietly broody since I got home.”

“I’m worried about Harvey,” I replied. “Did he mention anything to you about going on holiday? Or selling his house?”

Jonas shook his head then frowned. “No, I haven’t seen him for weeks, why? How do you know all this?”

“I met his niece today — Melissa — and she says—”

“Hang on, Harvey has a niece? Wow, what’s she like?”

“Bossy and controlling! She just told me Harvey is on a beach holiday and she’s getting his house ready to sell, will then put him in aged care. Doesn’t that all sound odd to you?”

Jonas gave it some thought and shrugged. “Honey…” He took my hand and kissed it. “I love that you care for the old guy, I really do, but it really isn’t any of our business whether he chills on a Bali beach or goes into aged care or whatever. I know you care for him, but we have to think about ourselves now. We should also think about selling, hm? It’s time to get on with our lives.”

But it wasn’t our lives I was thinking about now. It was Harvey’s…

Digging Deeper

The next day I got up at the crack of dawn and made my way across to Harvey’s vegie patch, which was indeed a disaster zone. If a critter had got into this garden, it was a mighty big one.

“What are you doing here?” came a voice behind me and I swung around to find Melissa standing there, shovel in hand.

I took a step backwards. “I'm sorry to intrude again," I said, "but I have a really important question to ask you.” Everything depended on it. “Did your uncle tell you in person that he was going away?”

She stared at me oddly. “No, he… er… he sent me a letter, about a week ago. Why?"

"Do you have this letter with you?" I asked.

Her shoulders were high again. "No I do not." Then a scowl. "But I really don’t see how this is any of your business.”

“You’re right,” I said, my eyes filling with tears. “But I know exactly whose business it is.” Then I pulled out my mobile phone and rang the police.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO HARVEY?

Olivia knows where Harvey is and what happened to him. Did you work it out, too? I'll reveal all in my next blog.

Until then, sign up for my newsletter here or catch one of my longer, novel-length whodunnits at your favourite online book store or click:

@Amazon   @apple   @nook   @kobo   @smashwords

xo Christina

So Whodunnit? (3-Min Mystery Solution!)

Last blog I shared a quick mystery and gave readers the chance to solve the crime and, if they subscribe to my newsletter, win a prize.

I've now awarded the free eBook — congrats BIANCA CHILDS — but if you'd like to be part of the fun and receive these mysteries direct to your inbox, just sign up for my monthly newsletter by adding your email to the link on the homepage: calarmer.com.

So, Who is the Hotel Spa Thief?

Before I announce whodunnit, I'm repeating the mystery here for those who missed it or want a recap. Otherwise, just scroll to the bottom…

THE MYSTERY: The Hotel, the Thief & the Spa

Helen tried very hard to keep her emotions in check as she locked eyes with the hotel concierge, a smug looking chap called Monteray. Too smug, considering the circumstances.

“Let me make this very clear,” said Helen, her voice one octave below screaming. “When I checked in, you assured me my pearl necklace would be safe as houses in my hotel room safe. And yet it’s vanished.”

“It must be somewhere, madame,” he replied, so matter-of-factly she felt like smacking him.

“Yes, it is somewhere!” she screamed now. “It’s in the hands of a thief and you’re not doing anything about it!”

Monteray smiled stiffly then shared a very subtle eye roll with a young blonde standing at the desk of the hotel’s spa, which was located just beside reception.

Helen had been a regular at the spa and was only just perusing the spa menu so she recognised the blonde. Her name was Gina, and she was a very capable masseuse, but that eye roll was anything but professional and Helen felt her hackles rise further.

She went to give them both a piece of her mind when Monteray swept a skeleton key from his pocket and said, “Why don’t I head up to your room now, madame, and check things out for myself, while you head to the bar for a complimentary cocktail—”

“I’m not staying down here while you rummage through my belongings!” Helen shot back. “I’m stressed enough as it is. I feel like my head's about to explode. Besides, I don’t drink.”

“I could offer you a free massage!” Gina called out from the spa desk. “I’ve got an opening now if you'd like?”

Helen’s eyes narrowed. She glanced back at Monteray who looked almost relieved.

“Fine,” said Helen, “but let’s make it for two o'clock this afternoon. And don’t think for a minute that massage is going to make up for thousands of dollars’ worth of pearls.”

Still it would be a decent start…

Conversation at the lift

As Helen and Monteray marched towards the elevator to begin the search in her room, Helen couldn’t help grumbling again.

“I’m sorry if I’m causing a fuss, but I thought this was a five-star hotel, I did not expect my jewels to be stolen so easily.”

“Did you say stolen?” came a nervous voice at one side, and Helen glanced across to find a well-dressed, elderly woman clutching a spa pamphlet in one hand and her Louis Vuitton handbag in the other. It was inscribed with the name Dame Iris Vanderlim.

“I’m afraid so,” Helen said, ignoring the stunned look on Monteray’s face now (finally he seemed worried!). “I hope you haven’t got any valuables here in the hotel because there’s no accounting for their safety.”

“Oh but mine are in the safe inside my room...” Iris began.

“And so were mine,” Helen replied, shaking her head as she entered the elevator. “So were mine.”

Getting handsy at the spa

Two hours later, as the smell of vanilla, ylang ylang and the lemongrass tea Gina had provided, wafted around her, Helen tried very hard to exhale. She was lying on a bed in one of two cubicles and there was an eerie whale sound coming from the curtain beyond.

“Try to relax,” Gina purred as her fingers worked their way down Helen's spine, somehow managing to tense her further. "Just drift off to sleep if you'd like. You're now in very good hands."

But Helen could not drift off, even though the woman in the next cubicle clearly had—her snoring was now louder than the whales! Helen kept thinking of the pearls and how unsuccessful Monteray's search of her room had been. Suddenly Gina's hands gave way to a thick warm towel and she said, “I’m going to leave you while the warmth works its magic. I’ll be back in fifteen. Please, just try to let go…”

That was easier said than done, thought Helen as the masseuse vanished behind the curtain.

A sudden gasp

After just five minutes, Helen heard a loud gasp and then a muffled groan.

“Oh no, no, no, no,” came a woman’s voice from the other cubical. “It can’t be! They haven’t!”

Helen jumped up, secured the towel around her body, and dashed into the neighbouring cubical where she found the elderly woman she’d met earlier by the elevator. Dame Iris was also wrapped in a towel and scrounging frantically through her Louis Vuitton handbag.

“What is it?” Helen asked. “What’s going on?”

“My diamonds!” the woman gasped. “Somebody’s stolen my jewels!”

“What do you mean? Surely you didn’t have them with you, here at the spa?”

“Well... er, yes. I was so concerned about the hotel security I brought them along in my bag. I didn’t think—”

Helen didn’t blame her. She’d brought her bag down with her, too—not that she had anything left to steal, of course!

“Now don’t panic,” Helen told Dame Iris, “and keep your voice down. If your jewels have been taken, they can’t be far. In fact, I have a feeling I know exactly where they are. You wait here. I’m going to get dressed and then I’m going to unmask the thief at this hotel!”

THE SOLUTION: Who is the Hotel Thief?Was it the smug concierge Monteray? The eye-rolling spa manager Gina? The wealthy Dame Iris? Or was it Helen, herself?

If you guessed Helen, you were correct! Here’s how she did it:

We know from the story that Helen had been a “regular” at the hotel spa so she knew exactly how spa manager Gina operated—offering a soothing tea and massaging two clients around the same time, leaving them both to “drift off to sleep” under warm towels for 15 minutes in separate cubicles. Helen saw that as a great opportunity to sneak into the other cubicle and raid that client’s clothes, watch, jewellery—whatever they’d removed for the massage.

But on this particular day Helen decided to up the ante.

While “perusing the spa menu”, she would have had a chance to overhear Dame Iris Vanderlim book her 2:00 p.m. massage with Gina (we can conclude this, because Dame Iris had a spa pamphlet in her hand as she waited for the elevator around the same time). We can also conclude that Dame Iris was wealthy because she was carrying a designer handbag inscribed with her title.

Helen had clocked this too, and that’s when she decided to take things up a notch and instigate her ruse. Sweeping across to the concierge, she made a very loud fuss about her pearls being stolen. It was all a lie, and the concierge, Monteray, didn't seem to buy it, but Helen was really trying to grab the attention of Dame Iris, who was now waiting at the elevator. Helen wanted Iris to panic and bring all her valuables with her down to the spa when she returned for her afternoon massage appointment—which she did!

(Helen got lucky when the spa manager offered her a free massage—which she made sure to schedule in at the same time as Dame Iris—but Helen would have booked one if she hadn’t.)

Then Helen simply showed up for her massage as scheduled and implemented her plan. As Dame Iris “snored” under her warm towel, Helen snuck in, pinched her valuables, then snuck out again. When Iris awoke and discovered the theft, Helen pretended to help, but really she changed back into her clothes, grabbed the bag she had brought with her (that contained her meagre possessions and the stolen diamonds) and fled the hotel before anyone knew any different.

Did you work it out?

Well done to all those who emailed me with their answers and better luck next time. Don't forget, you can receive these Quick Reads direct to your inbox simply be adding your email on the home page link.

Next time… The Nosey Neighbour.

3-Minute Mystery #1 (Can YOU Guess Whodunnit?)

Think you can out-sleuth me? This year, I'm offering my dedicated email subscribers a free quick mystery read. I provide all the clues, they try to work out whodunnit, and if they get back to me (via reply email) with the correct answer, they go in the running to win a free eBook. If you'd like to sign up to be part of the fun, click the email link on the homepage: calarmer.com. Otherwise, just read on to work it out for yourself, then check out my next blog for the name of the thief. Good luck fellow sleuths!

The Hotel, the Thief & the Spa

Helen tried very hard to keep her emotions in check as she locked eyes with the hotel concierge, a smug looking chap called Monteray. Too smug, considering the circumstances.

“Let me make this very clear,” said Helen, her voice one octave below screaming. “When I checked in, you assured me my pearl necklace would be safe as houses in my hotel room safe. And yet it’s vanished.”

“It must be somewhere, madame,” he replied, so matter-of-factly she felt like smacking him.

“Yes, it is somewhere!” she screamed now. “It’s in the hands of a thief and you’re not doing anything about it!”

Monteray smiled stiffly then shared a very subtle eye roll with a young blonde standing at the desk of the hotel’s spa, which was located just beside reception.

Helen had been a regular at the spa and was only just perusing the spa menu so she recognised the blonde. Her name was Gina, and she was a very capable masseuse, but that eye roll was anything but professional and Helen felt her hackles rise further.

She went to give them both a piece of her mind when Monteray swept a skeleton key from his pocket and said, “Why don’t I head up to your room now, madame, and check things out for myself, while you head to the bar for a complimentary cocktail—”

“I’m not staying down here while you rummage through my belongings!” Helen shot back. “I’m stressed enough as it is. I feel like my head's about to explode. Besides, I don’t drink.”

“I could offer you a free massage!” Gina called out from the spa desk. “I’ve got an opening now if you'd like?”

Helen’s eyes narrowed. She glanced back at Monteray who looked almost relieved.

“Fine,” said Helen, “but let’s make it for two o'clock this afternoon. And don’t think for a minute that massage is going to make up for thousands of dollars’ worth of pearls.”

Still it would be a decent start…

Conversation at the lift

As Helen and Monteray marched towards the elevator to begin the search in her room, Helen couldn’t help grumbling again.

“I’m sorry if I’m causing a fuss, but I thought this was a five-star hotel, I did not expect my jewels to be stolen so easily.”

“Did you say stolen?” came a nervous voice at one side, and Helen glanced across to find a well-dressed, elderly woman clutching a spa pamphlet in one hand and her Louis Vuitton handbag in the other. It was inscribed with the name Dame Iris Vanderlim.

“I’m afraid so,” Helen said, ignoring the stunned look on Monteray’s face now (finally he seemed worried!). “I hope you haven’t got any valuables here in the hotel because there’s no accounting for their safety.”

“Oh but mine are in the safe inside my room...” Iris began.

“And so were mine,” Helen replied, shaking her head as she entered the elevator. “So were mine.”

Getting handsy at the spa

Two hours later, as the smell of vanilla, ylang ylang and the lemongrass tea Gina had provided, wafted around her, Helen tried very hard to exhale. She was lying on a bed in one of two cubicles and there was an eerie whale sound coming from the curtain beyond.

“Try to relax,” Gina purred as her fingers worked their way down Helen's spine, somehow managing to tense her further. "Just drift off to sleep if you'd like. You're now in very good hands."

But Helen could not drift off, even though the woman in the next cubicle clearly had—her snoring was now louder than the whales! Helen kept thinking of the pearls and how unsuccessful Monteray's search of her room had been. Suddenly Gina's hands gave way to a thick warm towel and she said, “I’m going to leave you while the warmth works its magic. I’ll be back in fifteen. Please, just try to let go…”

That was easier said than done, thought Helen as the masseuse vanished behind the curtain.

A sudden gasp

After just five minutes, Helen heard a loud gasp and then a muffled groan.

“Oh no, no, no, no,” came a woman’s voice from the other cubical. “It can’t be! They haven’t!”

Helen jumped up, secured the towel around her body, and dashed into the neighbouring cubical where she found the elderly woman she’d met earlier by the elevator. Dame Iris was also wrapped in a towel and scrounging frantically through her Louis Vuitton handbag.

“What is it?” Helen asked. “What’s going on?”

“My diamonds!” the woman gasped. “Somebody’s stolen my jewels!”

“What do you mean? Surely you didn’t have them with you, here at the spa?”

“Well... er, yes. I was so concerned about the hotel security I brought them along in my bag. I didn’t think—”

Helen didn’t blame her. She’d brought her bag down with her, too—not that she had anything left to steal, of course!

“Now don’t panic,” Helen told Dame Iris, “and keep your voice down. If your jewels have been taken, they can’t be far. In fact, I have a feeling I know exactly where they are. You wait here. I’m going to get dressed and then I’m going to unmask the thief at this hotel!”

Helen knows exactly who the thief is. Did you work it out, too? For the answer, check out next month's next 3-Minute Mystery read.If you're after a longer, novel-length whodunnit, check out my full C.A. Larmer selection of murder mysteries at your favourite online book store or click:

@Amazon   @apple   @nook   @kobo   @smashwords

xo Christina

NEW The Murder Mystery Book Club’s Back!

Hello and happy 2023

This new year, I'm kicking off with a fresh instalment of my bestselling Murder Mystery Book Club series. Read on to find out more…

The Widow on the Honeymoon Cruise: Book 5

"Four couples set sail on a luxury honeymoon cruise. Only two will survive. Luckily for the victims, one of the newlyweds happens to be a member of a very nosey book club…

It’s supposed to be Claire Hargreaves’ dream honeymoon, cocooned on a superyacht with a handful of couples and six crew, exploring the Great Barrier Reef. But when a passenger is found floating lifeless above the coral, romance soon plays second fiddle to murder. The killer HAS to be one of the group, and Claire couldn't be more exhilarated (just don’t tell her new hubby, Simon!). He owns the vessel and is so worried he winches in Detective Liam Jackson to investigate, followed soon after by the book club, masquerading as newlyweds.

In this gripping, closed-circle thriller, the MURDER MYSTERY BOOK CLUB are back on the high seas, but this time there's ten secretive suspects to choose from, a stalled engine that may or may not have been sabotaged, and nothing but their sleuthing skills, and some rather fabulous cocktails, to see them through.

Drawing inspiration from a modern murder mystery this time, the gang must unmask a murderer while salvaging Claire’s new marriage which is dropping faster than the bodies on the boat."

If you’re a fan of isolated whodunnits, dark humour, shocking twists and a cracking pace, the fifth MURDER MYSTERY BOOK CLUB is the ideal holiday read for you. Download your ebook copy now:

@Amazon @iBooks @nook @kobo @SmashwordsAvailable as an eBook now

Christmas Giveaway – 7 Mysteries @ $1.49 each + FREE eBook Gift Baskets!

Got an eReader you need to fill in time for the holidays? You're in luck! I've gone a bit batty this Christmas and joined TWO end-of-year sales/giveaways…

GIFT ONE: Thousands of Free & Discounted eBooks!* 7 x Ghostwriter Mysteries for under $1.50 each* 25% - 100% off a HUGE range of eBooks from other authors

Merry Christmas to YOU this year, because I've discounted ALL of my Ghostwriter Mystery eBooks at Amazon and other top eBook online suppliers.

That means you'll get SEVEN cracking reads for less than ten bucks.

But that's not all. If you go straight to Smashwords you'll also find the first in the series is available there for FREE.

Even more exciting, Smashwords are now running their 2022 End of Year Sale where you'll find my books, plus thousands of other great reads all discounted from 25% to 100% off the usual retail price. That means you have no reason to run out of good reads this festive season.

SALE ON NOW: December 15 - January 1, 2023

GIFT TWO: Gift Baskets Bursting with FREE Books!* 2 x Mega eBook "Gift Baskets" to be won* 40+ individual eBooks also up for grabs

Not keen on buying any books? Then try your luck at WINNING some! Thanks to AuthorsXP and a bunch of brilliant fellow writers, we're giving away TWO gobsmacking gift baskets, each packed with at least FORTY free eBooks and paperbacks.

That means two of you will win a seemingly bottomless stack of books to devour this holiday season. And, if you don't win the grand prize, you can still win one of forty individual eBooks, which will be randomly selected from the mix.

This competition includes my best-selling cozy crime: The Murder Mystery Book Club which is valued at $3.99.

Sound good? To be in the running just wait until December 27, then log into: https://AuthorsXP.com/giveaway and share your name and email address with the participating authors like me (and don't worry, you can always unsubscibe afterwards).

PS: Don't forget to share these great opportunities with your loved ones, too. Just forward this blog on. And good luck!

GIVEAWAY RUNS: December 27 - January 2, 2023

Finally, a really warm THANK YOU for all your wonderful support this year. I write because I love to share my stories, and your enthusiastic feedback and participation is always such a treat. I thank you for your time and wish you a very merry Christmas season!

Happy (festive) reading, everyone.

xo Christina

On the Book Behind the Book

MOVING BEYOND CHRISTIE

My longtime readers will know I changed the title of my Agatha Christie Book Club series to The Murder Mystery Book Club back in 2021. Part of the reason was to expand the range of books my beloved gang could dissect.

After all, there's only so much one can say about the Queen of Crime (sorry Agatha)…

With that in mind, when I sat down to write book 5 in the series (now finished; out soon, I promise!), I chose, as inspiration, a very different kind of mystery, a much more modern one called The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

I really enjoyed that read and knew the club would, too (after all, they went cruising themselves in Book 2, remember?). What's more, that book was a massive, global bestseller, which meant that many of YOU would have had a chance to read it, too. In turn, that means you are now better placed to enjoy some of the subtle similarities I have sprinkled throughout the text. While my story is actually very different to Ware's (no one goes missing, let me assure you) the point of this series is to celebrate murder mysteries and pay homage to other crime writers.

And that's where you come in…

I need a fresh suggestion before I start work on book 6! What mystery do YOU think my book club should study next?

Got any ideas? The book has to be a pretty well-known murder mystery, the sort of book a crime-loving club would devour. It needn't be as famous as a Christie novel but it does have to have made an impact globally as well as being fun, fast-paced and packed with adventure.

Get in touch!

If you have any ideas, do not hesitate to let me know:

Murder Mystery book titleBook authorWhy it's such a gripping read (just a few words will do)

You never know, your choice could be the next book my club dissects when they get together for the sixth installment, which I start work on in early February.

But that's not all!

Every one who gets in touch with suggestions will be in the running to WIN a free copy of the NEW Murder Mystery Book Club (book 5) when that one's released in January 2023.

Sound good?

Then email me NOW; I can't wait to hear from you. Just contact me at: christina@calarmer.com

MORE ON BOOK 5 (out soon)

The fifth Murder Mystery Book Club will be available for purchase at the start of 2023. Like The Woman in Cabin 10, this one is set on a stunning superyacht, but this time a group of revellers are sailing the Great Barrier Reef and it's a honeymoon cruise… except not all of them are honeymooners, and there's at least one killer in the group.

Luckily for the victim, one of the real honeymooners happens to be one-time member of the Murder Mystery Book Club, Claire Hargreaves. And, luckily for Claire, her book club have not forgotten her and are willing and able to jump aboard and help her solve the mystery!

Catch up on the story

I promise to share more in the next blog (or sign up for my newsletter here), as well as a title and cover reveal. Until then, you can catch up on the story (and work out who Claire is marrying) by downloading Book 4: When There Were 9. It's available at all good digital book stores, or via one of the links on the home page here.

Happy (book club) reading, everyone.
xo Christina

Meet my Merlot-Swilling Sleuth–For Less Than $1 // Paperbacks $12

HAVE YOU MET ROXY PARKER YET?

"Light fun books. I just gobble them up!"
"Nice to see smart women acting smart."
"I couldn't put them down. Dramatic, Exciting, Suspenseful!"
Amazon reviews

Long before the Murder Mystery Book Club and my SuperSleuths, there was Roxy Parker and her motley crew. A ghostwriter of other people's life stories, Roxy is a smart-talking, merlot-swilling commitment-phobe with a disapproving mother, a smitten best mate, and an all-consuming obsession with true crime. It's a good thing, then, that Roxy's clients keep getting murdered!

BOOK 1 & 7: FREE (or 99c @Amazon)*

In the very first adventure, KILLER TWIST, socialite Beatrice Musgrave is found ripped to shreds below her cliff-top mansion. The police suspect suicide but Roxy smells a rat. She's been ghostwriting the heiress's story and has uncovered a secret worth killing for.

In the seventh and latest installment, WITHOUT A WORD, young Phoebe awakes to find her entire family has vanished. Twenty years later, Roxy is hired to write Phoebe’s story. Phoebe wants to show how far she’s come. Roxy’s more interested in the missing family. Why did they just disappear? How? And can Roxy hunt them down?

OTHER eBOOKS JUST 99C & ALL PAPERBACKS $12

Whether you're into eBooks or paperbacks, you can now shadow Roxy on all seven of her breathless adventures—from the Aussie outback to the Italian Riviera—for less!
Just tap on the links below.

Happy (motley) reading everyone
xo Christina

*NB: Sorry kindle readers, Amazon do not let authors give away free eBooks. If you want your free copies you need to try a different eRetailer (see below), or contact Amazon directly to price match.

eBOOK 1 - FREE @Smashwords (Plus: iBooks, nook, Kobo…) * eBOOK 7 - FREE @Smashwords (Plus: iBooks, nook, Kobo…) * The entire series on sale @ AMAZON*: eBOOKs 99c // PAPERBACKS $11.99 C.A. Larmer @Amazon Click Here C.A. Larmer @Apple iBooks Click Here C.A. Larmer @B&N nook Click Here C.A. Larmer @kobo Click Here C.A. Larmer @Smashwords Click Here

My Book Club is Turning Japanese (& French, très excitamon!)

ON MY JAPANESE BOOK CLUB

I've been hiding some exciting news for a while but now it's official. My best-selling Murder Mystery Book Club has been so well received overseas that I now have a Japanese and a French publisher.

For a humble author from Papua New Guinea (via Australia), it's very exciting news. It means the books are now being translated into both Japanese (how FUN is that cover, as seen on Amazon Japan above?) and French (out soon).

If you happen to be fluent in Japanese or know anyone in Japan who might be interested, just click on the link here.

There'll be more on the French version in a future blog. Très excitamon!

For those of you who just want to check out the English version, go to your favourite online book store, or check out the links here.

Happy (global) reading everyone.
xo Christina

How Marvel is Behind My New Mystery Series (No, Really)

HOW MY SLEUTHS WERE BORN
As you know, the third book in my Sleuths of Last Resort series is now alive and kicking — grab your eCopy here (paperback out soon) — but how did it come about?

I'm telling you, it's all thanks to Marvel.

There I was, minding my own business…
One day I received a lovely Zoom call from a young agent in the UK. She'd had a chance to read my Murder Mystery Book Club (formerly the Agatha Christie Book Club) and thoroughly enjoyed it but wondered — as agents often (frustratingly!) do — what else I had in my kit bag.

Could I create something similar but anew?
Does Thor have killer pecs? Of course I could! And so I sat down and began to conjure up a new series. Around this time, my two sons, then still in their teens, were mad about those endless superhero movies featuring the likes of Iron Man, Black Widow, The Flash and, yes, Thor, and that really sparked my “leetle grey cells”.

Why not create a team of “supersleuths”?
I didn’t want my amateur detectives to have actual superpowers, though, because it’s so much harder for real people with real bodies, fears and foibles to triumph, don’t you think? But I did want them to each bring something special to the group, and it all started with my bumbling, seemingly clueless Clue/Cluedo champ Merry (no points for guessing MY favourite entertainment).

Boom! Bang! Kapow!
I’ve had a ball giving birth to this eclectic team, and even more fun lobbing impossible mysteries—and personal obstacles—at them and seeing how well they fare. I hope you enjoy what I've conjured up in this third adventure. This will not be the last in the series, but it does resolve a trilogy of mysteries that I put in place from the very first sentence.

But start with Book 1
While each book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone whodunit, I recommend reading this series in order as this third story contains spoilers for the first two—Blind Men Don’t Dial Zero (Book 1) and Smart Girls Don’t Trust Strangers (Book 2). If you have picked up Book 3 inadvertently, might I suggest you pop it aside and check those out first? Not only do they introduce the characters but each book contains glittering nuggets that will help you solve the mystery at the heart of this one—if you’ve got your cape handy and X-Ray vision for clues, that is!*

Happy reading everyone, and thanks for coming on the journey with me.

xo Christina

@Amazon @nook @iBooks @kobo @smashwords @bookbub @goodreads

*NB: This blog is an adaptation of the Author's Note in the front of Book 3

Book 1: Blind Men Don't Dial Zero Book 2: Smart Girls Don't Trust Strangers Book 3: Good Girls Don't Drink Vodka

Mind-bending New Murder Mystery Reveal

BOOK 3 IN THE SUPER SLEUTHS TRILOGY
Here it is at last, folks. The third book in my Sleuths of Last Resort mystery trilogy will be on sale from AUGUST 16, but you can PRE-ORDER your copy at Amazon now. While this book can be happily read as a stand-alone story, it does contain spoilers for books one and two, so it's best enjoyed in order. If you haven't yet devoured the first two, I'd highly recommend starting there (just click here). Meantime, here's a little more on book three…

GOOD GIRLS DON'T DRINK VODKA

Our SUPER SLEUTHS are back with FIVE impossible mysteries!

WHO KILLED SIR GEORGE?

The spectacular third book in the Sleuths of Last Resort series sees our amateur detectives come full circle when the mining magnate who united them is found murdered, his trusty assistant arrested – and with good reason. All the evidence points Verity Vine’s way, and at least one sleuth thinks she’s guilty.

Yet there are so many delicious suspects to choose from, especially when another prime suspect shows up murdered.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO KILA’S SISTER?

While the sleuths start solving two fresh crimes, renegade gumshoe Kila is busy with a cold case of his own. He's just learned the monster who killed his sister on a Tinder date may be innocent, and the culprit could still be out there.

What’s more, Kila’s just found a connection to two seemingly unrelated deaths…

THE BODY IN THE ALLEY & THE GIRL AT BONDI

How does the shanking of a conman in a Kings Cross laneway and the accidental drowning of a vodka drinker at Bondi Beach connect to a Tinder date gone bad? As Kila begins to unravel the layers of Chili's four-year-old case, he realises it’s more complex than he could have imagined, and it's going to take more than lemon squash and lager to swallow the truth of what happened to his sister.

Luckily, Kila has his fellow "supersleuths" to back him up…

PRE-ORDER NOW ~~~ ON SALE: AUGUST 16

SAY G'DAY TO THE SLEUTHS OF LAST RESORT

Who do you call when the cops won't listen and the mystery is impossible to crack?

Meet the Sleuths of Last Resort—five total strangers with a passion for puzzles, a unique set of skills, and more baggage than an airport carousel:

Cluedo champ Merry (she can read a crime scene like no other);
Reckless PI Kila (his rule-breaking might be what this case requires);
Bestselling crime author Martin (he wrote the book on Locked Room Mysteries);
Dinosaur ex-detective Earle (he's a straight-shooter with the inside track);
Fearless crime reporter Frankie (she knows how to sort fact from fiction)
Individually they're screw-ups. Together they're an unstoppable force…

CATCH UP WITH THE STORY NOW @ Amazon & Elsewhere
Just click on the links below for Amazon and, further down, other eStores.

And happy (gripping) reading everyone.

xo Christina