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Mabel McCoy #2
A Bone to Pick
Forty years ago, someone got away with murder.
When Reverend George Pickering and Ruby Bailey were found shot to death at Grimm Island's most notorious lovers' lane, the scandal rocked the tight-knit community to its core. A minister and his mistress, their bodies staged in a lover's embrace—it was the kind of murder that should have been solved. But bungled evidence, lying witnesses, and three false confessions turned the case ice cold.
Until now.
Mabel McCoy is perfectly content running her tea shop and dressing her bulldog in bowties—until Sheriff Dash Beckett hands her and the Silver Sleuths a dusty case file that sets their inner detectives ablaze. Armed with nothing but determination, vintage dresses, and a posse of gun-toting seniors who remember 1982 like it was yesterday, Mabel starts asking questions that someone definitely doesn't want answered.
Because the killer isn't dead. They're not even gone.
They're right here on Grimm Island, sipping sweet tea and keeping their secrets—and they'll do whatever it takes to make sure Mabel doesn't live long enough to expose them.
With sparkling wit, small-town charm, and enough plot twists to make your head spin, the second Mabel McCoy Mystery proves that some bones are better left buried... but where's the fun in that?
When Reverend George Pickering and Ruby Bailey were found shot to death at Grimm Island's most notorious lovers' lane, the scandal rocked the tight-knit community to its core. A minister and his mistress, their bodies staged in a lover's embrace—it was the kind of murder that should have been solved. But bungled evidence, lying witnesses, and three false confessions turned the case ice cold.
Until now.
Mabel McCoy is perfectly content running her tea shop and dressing her bulldog in bowties—until Sheriff Dash Beckett hands her and the Silver Sleuths a dusty case file that sets their inner detectives ablaze. Armed with nothing but determination, vintage dresses, and a posse of gun-toting seniors who remember 1982 like it was yesterday, Mabel starts asking questions that someone definitely doesn't want answered.
Because the killer isn't dead. They're not even gone.
They're right here on Grimm Island, sipping sweet tea and keeping their secrets—and they'll do whatever it takes to make sure Mabel doesn't live long enough to expose them.
With sparkling wit, small-town charm, and enough plot twists to make your head spin, the second Mabel McCoy Mystery proves that some bones are better left buried... but where's the fun in that?
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2025
19 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Liliana Hart
190 books3,311 followersLiliana Hart spent five years teaching music in the public education system. She molded America’s youth, busted kids for smoking pot in the restrooms, and broke up illicit affairs behind the stage on a regular basis. (Liliana’s Addison Holmes Mystery Series, about a small town teacher who gets into a whole lot of trouble, is somewhat autobiographical, but she won’t confess to which parts).
Liliana began reading romance novels with all her new found free time, and when she ran out of things to read, she decided to write her own novels. The result was a 150,000 word thriller—a dazzling adventure—where the heroine was a thirty-year-old virgin assassin (Yes, you read that right). She couldn’t imagine why people weren’t knocking down her door to read it, but she persevered and began writing a second book. She finally got the hang of things, and eventually learned that losing one’s virginity wasn’t all that romantic after all. All of her books involve some kind of suspense (she just can't help herself), laughter, and a lot of steamy sex.
Since the failure of her first attempt, Liliana’s books have won awards such as: The Daphne Du Maurier, The Suzannah, The Linda Howard Award of Excellence, The Maggie, and many others. Her affiliations include Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.
Liliana loves to cook, and is addicted to reading, Internet Boggle, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company. She loves to get emails from readers.
Enjoy the Adventures!
Liliana began reading romance novels with all her new found free time, and when she ran out of things to read, she decided to write her own novels. The result was a 150,000 word thriller—a dazzling adventure—where the heroine was a thirty-year-old virgin assassin (Yes, you read that right). She couldn’t imagine why people weren’t knocking down her door to read it, but she persevered and began writing a second book. She finally got the hang of things, and eventually learned that losing one’s virginity wasn’t all that romantic after all. All of her books involve some kind of suspense (she just can't help herself), laughter, and a lot of steamy sex.
Since the failure of her first attempt, Liliana’s books have won awards such as: The Daphne Du Maurier, The Suzannah, The Linda Howard Award of Excellence, The Maggie, and many others. Her affiliations include Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.
Liliana loves to cook, and is addicted to reading, Internet Boggle, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company. She loves to get emails from readers.
Enjoy the Adventures!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 16, 2026
An interesting puzzle
4.5 stars…this is an interesting cozy mystery with a layer os sexual tension. The 40 year old cold case the sheriff wants them to investigate is a double murder involving a church pastor, a single mother, an adulterous affair, and questionable church finances. There are several suspects and some good red herrings. But the author drops enough good clues for the reader to figure it out. And certainly the Sheriff and the Silver Sleuths should have figured it out sooner. And some of the people protecting forty year old secrets really had no reason to be doing so which I found irritating. But it was an entertaining and involving read and I look forward to the next one, especially with the way things ended. Wish I didn’t have such a wait for book three.
4.5 stars…this is an interesting cozy mystery with a layer os sexual tension. The 40 year old cold case the sheriff wants them to investigate is a double murder involving a church pastor, a single mother, an adulterous affair, and questionable church finances. There are several suspects and some good red herrings. But the author drops enough good clues for the reader to figure it out. And certainly the Sheriff and the Silver Sleuths should have figured it out sooner. And some of the people protecting forty year old secrets really had no reason to be doing so which I found irritating. But it was an entertaining and involving read and I look forward to the next one, especially with the way things ended. Wish I didn’t have such a wait for book three.
January 4, 2026
A 40-year-old murder
Mabel, Dash and the Silver Sleuths strike again! This time they take on reviewing a 40-year-old murder that may have more questions than answers. The Sleuths are an amazing group of retired people with the special talents needed for the job and the desire to see justice done. I enjoyed this second book in the series and am looking forward to the next. Highly recommended.
Mabel, Dash and the Silver Sleuths strike again! This time they take on reviewing a 40-year-old murder that may have more questions than answers. The Sleuths are an amazing group of retired people with the special talents needed for the job and the desire to see justice done. I enjoyed this second book in the series and am looking forward to the next. Highly recommended.
December 16, 2025
Silver Sleuths for the win.
I found Liliana Hart thru the JJ Graves books, so I knew any book would be a great read, but I am really enjoying this series. The humor, suspense will keep anyone intrigued. Will be recommending this series just like I do the JJ Graves series.
I found Liliana Hart thru the JJ Graves books, so I knew any book would be a great read, but I am really enjoying this series. The humor, suspense will keep anyone intrigued. Will be recommending this series just like I do the JJ Graves series.
March 1, 2026
I really enjoy this group of characters!
The characters in this series make me cozy happy when reading. And I also enjoy the “cold case” aspect; an unexpected group giving closure. I look forward to the next book!
The characters in this series make me cozy happy when reading. And I also enjoy the “cold case” aspect; an unexpected group giving closure. I look forward to the next book!
Want to read
November 23, 2025Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.
January 5, 2026
A brilliant mystery.
This book was well worth the wait. The plot and characters, the twists and tension, all went to give the reader an excellent read.
This book was well worth the wait. The plot and characters, the twists and tension, all went to give the reader an excellent read.
January 16, 2026
It took a few chapters for me to get into the story but once there it was a read that kept me up all night.
March 6, 2026
Love the Silver Sleuths but seriously did she have to endlessly repeat? Yes, I'll read Book 3 to find out Dashs' secrets, but I sure hope there isn't the repetitions.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews