Hope Early signed up for a life-changing weekend at a snowy mountain retreat, but she didn’t expect the change to involve a corpse. With her debut cookbook on the horizon and her career poised for takeoff, the last thing she needs is a life coach peddling empty promises—or a decades-old murder resurfacing like a ghost from the past. But when Hope uncovers the woman’s web of lies and ties to an unsolved crime, the retreat’s cozy façade shatters. Now, as a blizzard traps her and a houseful of suspects, Hope must sift through secrets as carefully as she measures her ingredients. Because in this frozen wilderness, trust is as slippery as black ice, and the killer is closer than she thinks.
Here’s a sneak peek at the beginning of THE COLD CASE AND THE CORPSE, A Food Blogger Mystery.“Hope, I can’t believe you’re actually going through with it,” Sally Merrifield muttered, breaking the serene hum of the Merrifield Inn’s dining room. She plucked another sugar cube from the dish, dropping it into her tea with a decisive plunk. “A whole weekend trapped in a lodge with strangers, all in the name of self-improvement. Sounds like a nightmare.”Hope Early wrapped her fingers around her teacup, the rich scent of cinnamon tea and fresh scones wrapping around her like a familiar embrace. Outside, Jefferson’s Main Street lay dusted in fresh snow, a postcard-perfect contrast to the tension at her table. Sunlight streamed through the inn’s dining room windows, casting a golden glow over the polished wood and lace-trimmed tablecloths. But as Hope took a sip of tea, her thoughts drifted beyond the cozy charm of the moment toward the retreat she would be attending that weekend. Two days of “limitless living” awaited her, though it was clear not everyone shared her enthusiasm.“I think it sounds incredible,” Jane Merrifield countered, her eyes alight with anticipation. “Two days dedicated to personal growth? If we’d had something like this when we were younger, imagine where we’d be now.”“Well,” Hope said, setting her cup down with a soft clink, “it’s never too late.”Sally scoffed. “Sounds more like a load of nonsense to me. ‘Discover a life without limits,’ huh?” She rolled her eyes, her gaze fixed on the electronic tablet in her hands.“Sally!” Jane admonished, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Don’t be so cynical. This could be a wonderful opportunity for Hope.” She shifted her attention to Hope, seated to her right. Jane’s bright blue eyes sparkled with a youthful energy, and a hint of pink blush dusted her cheeks. Her short white hair, styled with a playful fringe, completed her vibrant look. “Don’t pay her any mind, dear. This retreat sounds like an incredible opportunity. Be sure to make the most of it.”Hope smiled. She’d been looking forward to this afternoon tea, a rare moment of peace amid the chaos of finalizing her cookbook and working on her food blog,
Hope at Home. For once, she was able to relax and enjoy the company of friends.“Are you ready to break free from the invisible barriers holding you back?” Sally read aloud from the website, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “At Limitless Living, you’ll embark on a transformative two-day retreat that will open your eyes to the true potential you’ve always had within you. This is more than just a weekend getaway—it’s the beginning of your journey toward empowerment, success, and boundless living.”Hope set down her cup. “That’s the thing. It’s about pushing yourself to a new level. And I’m curious to see just how far this so-called limitless living can take me.”Before she’d arrived at the inn, those words Sally had just read from Maisie Cox’s website had excited her, but now she questioned their sincerity and her decision to attend the two-day event at Jefferson Lodge. She fought the urge to snatch her tablet from Sally’s hold.Instead, she reached for the last crumb of her scone, chewing slowly to mask the wave of frustration creeping over her. Excitement for the weekend retreat with Maisie Cox, the self-help guru she’d discovered online last spring, had bubbled inside her for weeks. But now, as Sally’s skeptical remarks echoed in her head, Hope couldn’t help feeling a little foolish.Sure, Sally wasn’t the only one to scoff when she signed up for Maisie’s coaching packages. Others had rolled their eyes too, but Hope had defended her choices. After all, thousands of readers had found her blog the same way, through online connections, and now she had a cookbook launch soon. If anyone doubted the power of the internet, Hope’s success was proof enough.Jane, always perceptive, must have sensed Hope’s deflation. She patted her hand reassuringly. “I’m not as doubtful as Sally about the retreat. But I have to admit, I’m impressed you managed to get Maretta to sign up.”Hope was shocked that Maretta Kingston agreed to join the retreat. Jefferson’s no-nonsense mayor wasn’t exactly the type to embrace self-help woo-woo, her words, not Hope’s. Skeptical of everything, the only thing she was fiercely positive about was their hometown. So, the promise of bringing tourists to Jefferson through retreats had gotten her attention. And as mayor, she felt it was her duty to support anything that benefited the town, even if it meant enduring a weekend with a life coach.“No doubt that was a tough one to cross off your to-do list, huh, Hope?” Sally added, glancing up from her tablet with a teasing smirk.Hope pressed her lips together, trying to keep her cool. Sally’s mood was wearing thin. Sure, Sally was known for her blunt honesty, but today it felt like she was pushing the limits of even that. What was going on with her?Wiping her mouth with a napkin, Hope leaned forward. “Actually, I didn’t have to do much convincing to get Maretta to sign up.” The words came out with more bite than she’d intended, but for a brief moment, it felt satisfying to prove Sally wrong.“Really? She signed up that easily?” Jane’s surprise slipped through before she caught herself. Composing her expression, she reached for the teapot, her voice smooth again. “Would you like more tea, dear?” Hope nodded, grateful for the distraction. It had been a long time since she’d been able to relax like this, and she decided to savor it for just a little while longer. After all, once she left the inn, it was back to reality—making dinner for her fiancée, Ethan, and his daughters, and then packing for the retreat. She murmured her thanks as Jane topped off her cup, the warm steam rising to meet her.Stirring her tea, Hope briefly considered indulging in another scone but resisted. Those extra holiday pounds and the countless taste tests for her upcoming cookbook were still lingering. No, she’d resist the temptation. For now, at least.“Maretta’s only going to support Henry Greenway’s push for more retreats at the lodge,” Hope said, lifting her teacup.Jefferson’s location, just two hours from New York City and not much farther from Boston, made it an ideal destination for corporate and wellness retreats. With its reputation as the antiques capital of Connecticut, its historic charm, and its scenic horse country, the town had all the makings of a sought-after getaway. Henry seemed to recognize the potential, and the mayor was just as eager to turn that vision into reality.Hope glanced out the window just as the first delicate snowflakes began to fall, swirling lazily against the backdrop of Main Street. The weather forecast had been all over the place—snow on and off for the next week, but no one could seem to agree on how bad it would get. Typical.“We were thrilled when we heard Henry bought that old lodge,” Jane chimed in, her eyes twinkling at the mention. “It’s such a stunning location, though that driveway . . .” She trailed off with a small chuckle. “It’s a nightmare in the winter. Wouldn’t you agree, Sally?”“Hmm . . .” Sally barely looked up from the tablet as she reached for a blueberry muffin. “Awaken your mindset, elevate your life . . . I’ve read enough of this life-coach nonsense. Why anyone pays for that drivel is beyond me. If you want something done, you do it. Plain and simple.” She took a defiant bite of the muffin.Jane frowned, shaking her head gently. “Sally, we were talking about Henry and the lodge.”Sally swallowed her bite of the muffin and reached for her tea with a shrug. “I heard you. You’re right, that driveway is brutal. It’s got to be at least a half mile, all uphill. Gorgeous in the spring with all the trees around, but in winter? No, thank you.”Jane leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I have to agree with Sally on this one. That driveway? No thank you—I’d hate to use it every day.”Driveways weren’t the most thrilling of topics, but living in the northwest hills of Connecticut made them a necessity. When Hope moved back to Jefferson after more than a decade in New York City, she knew exactly what she wanted: an old house with a covered porch, a barn, and most importantly, a short, flat driveway. She’d imagined herself diving into home improvement projects, but one thing she had never dreamed of was digging herself out of snowdrifts on a steep, icy hill.“Oh, look who’s here!” Jane perked up, waving toward the dining room’s entrance.Hope turned, her curiosity piqued, as a tall blond woman stepped into the dining . She made her way gracefully across the room, her heels clicking softly on the polished wood floor. As she approached, Jane and Sally stood to greet her, their faces lighting up with smiles. The woman embraced each of them in turn, her gestures filled with genuine affection.“Melanie, it’s so wonderful to see you!” Jane beamed, gesturing to the empty chair. “Please, join us. Have you met Hope?”Hope smiled as she sized up Melanie, who was a couple of inches shorter than her with a sleek bob that framed her face sharply and a pair of dangling earrings that glimmered beneath her hair. They exchanged polite shakes of the head.“Of course, I know who you are!” Melanie’s hands flew to her chest, her excitement palpable. “Who in Jefferson doesn’t know you? I absolutely love your blog! I can’t wait for your cookbook. When will it be available? Where do you get your recipe ideas? How long does it take to film your cooking videos? And how did you get so many followers?”Melanie’s rapid-fire questions left Hope momentarily speechless. She’d met plenty of enthusiastic fans, but Melanie’s energy was on another level, bubbling over and contagious.“Look at me, bombarding you with questions!” Melanie flashed an apologetic smile, though her excitement was still bubbling over. “I’m just so thrilled to finally meet you! In fact, because of you, I’m heading to the Limitless Living retreat this weekend.” She clapped her hands together, her smile widening with enthusiasm.“You are?” Jane chimed in, her eyes lighting up. “Well, that’s wonderful! You know, if Maisie Cox holds another retreat here, I might just go myself.”Sally harrumphed.Melanie nodded eagerly, practically vibrating with energy. “I can’t wait. Hope shared Maisie Cox’s services on her social media, and with all the effort I’ve been putting into getting my calligraphy business off the ground, it felt like fate!”“Calligraphy?” Hope asked, intrigued. “How long have you been in business?”“Not long at all,” Melanie admitted, her tone upbeat despite the story. “The company I was with downsized, and I ended up being one of the unlucky ones. But I’d been doing calligraphy for years as a hobby, and when I lost my job, my husband and I figured it was the perfect time to finally launch Melanie Tucker Designs.”“She really does beautiful work, doesn’t she, Sally?” Jane refilled her teacup with a warm smile.“Top-notch quality,” Sally agreed, though her focus shifted as she closed the tablet and handed it back to Hope. “But this Maisie character sure charges an arm and a leg for her coaching. Hope you both haven’t sunk too much into this.”Hope hesitated, not quite ready to disclose just how much she’d spent on Maisie’s services. While Maisie’s rates were high, they weren’t outrageous, at least, not compared to what Hope knew other food bloggers had paid for coaching. Still, before she could reassure Sally that she wasn’t being taken for a ride, she noticed a flicker of something in Melanie’s eyes. Was it doubt? Regret? And it made Hope wonder just how much Melanie had invested in Limitless Living and whether she was already starting to second-guess it.To order :
BARNES AND NOBLE|
AMAZON*If you are a book reviewer/blogger THE COLD CASE AND THE CORPSE is available on NetGalley. Print copies will be available on Amazon soon. Newsletter Signup!
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