The Mailbox: Priority Murder

Elizabeth Stitchway, Private Investigator #1

by Mary Jane Forbes

She delivers mail by day and solves mysteries by night. But when a hurricane reveals a dead body, will her first case be her last?Elizabeth "Stitch" Stitchway dreams of becoming a private investigator, but she remains stuck in her mail carrier day job. When a freak hurricane tosses her and her truck into fast-moving waters, a mysterious stranger is her only saving grace. But after a dead body bubbles to the surface, her raw PI instincts aren't sure if her savior is a witness or a suspect…

When Stitch starts to receive letters from her protector, she dives head first into a murder investigation. As she searches for clues, the mystery man asks her for help at the expense of her postal responsibilities. But will trusting the suspect make her the next victim?

The Mailbox is a PI murder mystery filled with clever twists and turns. If you like smart female investigators, puzzling plots, and page-turning surprises, then you'll love Mary Jane Forbes' parcel of thrills.

Buy The Mailbox to unwrap a package of suspense today!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Romance, Mystery Thriller

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Stitchway is a mail carrier trying to finish her route before Hurricane Dora makes landfall in Port Orange, Florida. Before meeting her goal, the wind has deposited Elizabeth, her mail truck, and the remains of the mail in the canal. A stranger not only rescues Elizabeth but, moments later, with Elizabeth’s help, recovers a dead body wrapped in a blanket that drifted downstream and is caught on the mail truck. By the time the police arrive, the stranger is missing but will later connect and intrigue Elizabeth, accelerating changes in her life.

Character development of Elizabeth’s maturity fluctuates throughout the storyline, exhibited by inconsistent thoughts, dialogue vocabulary, and actions. I did enjoy the colorful descriptions of Elizabeth’s daily attire, the love and joy during family mealtimes, and the mutual encouragement between father and daughter for their next life steps forward. However, the book reads more like a draft than a polished, published novel with rough sentence structure and grammatical errors. I will not continue reading the series.

Reviewer's Note: The author writes romance, mystery, and suspense novels with marketing on her website that this book is the beginning of a Cozy Mystery Series. Due to some events, it should not be marketed or recommended in the sub-genre cozy mystery.

[Laurie Hanan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a retired postal worker and a lover of mystery, I was excited to come across this book.Halfway through I was pretty sure I knew who the guilty party was, but continued to the end to find out if I was right. I was - which is fine. However, the writing is extremely amateurish and it was a chore to read. Every time I put it down, I had a hard time convincing myself to pick it up again and put myself through more pain. The premise is not bad. A good editor might have been able to shape things up and bring the plot and character to their full potential, but it would've taken major work. There are many typos, misspelled words, stilted phrases. The dialog is childish. No one talks like that. The author doesn't seem to have any knowledge of police procedure and some of the situations are improbable. And just for the record, $1000 bills have not been printed since 1945, and are rare collector's items. The protagonist didn't even realize this when her client gave her two of them as a retainer. All she thought about was padding her wallet. I wonder what happened when she tried to deposit them?

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 2/5. The story is okay but the characters stay in one place.

[Montine D. Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle read

Nothing too jarring. Romance was unnecessary. Plot twist was good. Try this book on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Not sure mail mixes with murder.

[Linda Blaker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't even finish this book. POORLY written. POORLY edited. There were so many things wrong with this book. I'm glad I got this out of the Free section because had I paid for this I would be getting my money back. With all the things wrong with this book there isn't enough room in the comment box to get them all in.

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Setting: Daytona Beach

A nice quick read with a quirky character in the lead. I have spent many days just north of the setting and found it entertaining to know the area.

[DAPHNE HARRIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than mail delivered

Loved the main character....quirky but smart. The antagonist was just evil enough without going overboard and there was a twist to the ending.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Mainly because it was an unusual story, you don't get mail cozy mysteries where the main character is a post woman. The mystery was good and it kept you wondering if Elizabeth should be trusting the stranger or not, which kept me listening. The story did have a number of points of view so you were left wondering which character was talking- I think it was to add tension to the story and make you think something else was going on and all the characters did talk to themselves a lot but other than that I did enjoy it. Elizabeth was very bubbly and knew everybody by name making her great for becoming a private investigator, if a little bit naive and trusting.
Elizabeth wants to deliver the last of her post before a hurricane hits. Unfortunately mother nature has other plans and blows her and her van into a fast flowing river. While Elizabeth struggles to save the last of her packages a stranger saves her life by dragging her out of the water, only to dive back in when another body hits the side of the van. This person wasn't so lucky and before Elizabeth can catch her breath a thank the stranger he disappears. The only clue as to who helped her is from the message he leaves in an empty mail box apologizing for leaving her with the police. Elizabeth has always wanted to become a private detective and now she gets her very first case to investigate. Who is the mystery man and who killed the woman found in the river?
I liked the narrator, as I said Elizabeth is a very bubbly character and the narrator does a good job portraying that fact

[SANDYE · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok story, good ending

While on her mail route, Elizabeth gets caught in a hurricane that hit earlier than expected. Her mail truck gets pushed into the nearby canal by a huge gust of wind. A stranger saves her life. While catching their breath on the canal bank, a dead body slams into the back of the mail truck still partially submerged in the mud and raging waters. Soon after her ordeal that day, Elizabeth, an aspiring PI, gets her first official case and is soon involved trying to clear a man suspected of murder, and embezzlement.

This story just wasn't that intriguing or exciting in my opinion. I had several problems with it. Why didn't the Police investigate the culvert where Elizabeth found fibers connected to the murder? How did they miss the gun stuck in the mud right next to that culvert? Nobody of any authority ever searched the houses of any of the murder suspects. I just have a huge problem that the bulk of the investigation was left up to an unlicensed PI, a convicted embezzled whom the Police couldn't track down, and a few of the acquaintances he'd met while in jail. The Police didn't even really need to be in most of the story which just made it a bit too unrealistic to me. The ending had an interesting twist which was revealed in a matter of just a few paragraphs in the very last chapter. Just wasn't that impressed with this book.

[Mr. Ken White · Rating 4 out of 5]

PI = Phenominal Ingenue

What fun! MAILBOX is a charming amalgum of intrigue, action, justice, and, yes, first love.
Our heroine, of course, is the prime mover and her dedication, clear- headedness, and initiative make it all work. Joe's nickname for Elizabeth, "Stitch", is a subtle hint of the relationship to come.
My 11 year old granddaughter is an avid reader and she will love MAILBOX. There is a lot to like... our pretty PI ingenue, her perseverance toward a goal, her wonderfully bight and cheery style of dress. The only downside is my young reader will probably want to move to Florida and drive a yellow coupe and ,maybe, elven a mailtruck.
Ms. Forbes has a winner here. I look forward to the next adlventures of our PI.

[Pam]

See note.

Amazon synopsis:
She delivers mail by day and solves mysteries by night. But when a hurricane reveals a dead body, will her first case be her last?
Elizabeth "Stitch" Stitchway dreams of becoming a private investigator, but she remains stuck in her mail carrier day job. When a freak hurricane tosses her and her truck into fast-moving waters, a mysterious stranger is her only saving grace. But after a dead body bubbles to the surface, her raw PI instincts aren't sure if her savior is a witness or a suspect…

When Stitch starts to receive letters from her protector, she dives headfirst into a murder investigation. As she searches for clues, the mystery man asks her for help at the expense of her postal responsibilities. But will trusting the suspect make her the next victim?

[Bruce White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Fun!

Elizabeth Stitchway is a character you can relate to. I worked for 36 years in the USPS, so I know the portions relating to the Post Office were relatively believable. The story holds your attention until the very end. I was disappointed that it "seemed" to end too soon. The reality is that i spent many nights reading myself to sleep with this terrific book! I highly recommend this fun read to anyone looking for a murder mystery that focuses on things other than just the murder. I think I'm obliged to point out at this book was obtained by me for free. Try it, you'll like it.

[D. Starr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual Cozy Mystery Premise
Appropriate reading for teens - adults
No sex
No memorable strong language

This being the first book in a series and therefore the one to induce readers to continue, mistakes should be identified and fixed. The author has had since 2010 to do so.

Grammarians beware: There are multiple issues: Odd and distracting paragraphing breaks in the Kindle edition may be due to imperfect formatting. However, an editor should review this piece for correct use of sentence structure, commas, capitalization, and spelling. For example, Bible, when referring to the book used in church, should always be capitalized.

Language is sometimes stilted, particularly when dialogue is used to give us background information.

Plot: Fairly good. A mail lady who is pursuing a career as to be a PI, naturally becomes part of a murder investigation because she finds the body.
Like others, I believed I'd guessed whodunit, but that didn't stop me from finishing the story.

Light reading. You may enjoy it.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Mailbox Elizabeth Stitchway is a mail carrier and want-to-be PI. A hurricane is coming fast and she is trying to finish the last few houses on her route and get back to the post office when the wind hits her truck and picks it up and it ends in the canal. She is rescued by a man when he jumps in and then when a body hits the back of the truck he gets the body out too. This starts an investigation and for Elizabeth she has her first case with a client know as Rocket.

The tension and suspense keeps the story moving fast. A few bullets fly to a surprise ending when the murderer is revealed and Joe Rocket is cleared of embezzlement charges. 'Stitch' successfully completes her first case with a happy ending and a new romance too.

[Sheryl Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story. While trying to slee, I picked up my KIndle and saw this book. It intrigued me. It was rather frightening in spots. I loved how she started out wanted to be a PI and ended up doing just that for the man who helped her out of the canal one night they were having a hurricane. She was embroiled in this from the beginning when they found a body attached to the mail truck. Story of a broker getting out for embezzling that he did not do and a mail carrier in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Yoursexylibrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this book two stars because of the main character. She is in her early 30's, living at home with her parents, and acts like a teenager. Her parents treat her like she is one as well. In the middle of the book, she has a breakdown over being bullied in high school/college and blames the bullying for her lack of success. I understand the author's intent; the effort was made using the wrong character in the wrong story because that part of the book fell flat. The mystery itself is good because I kept reading to find out the identity of the murderer.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very pleasant surprise! Though it could have done with some more intense editing, the execution of the plot as a whole was very well done. How the characters wove together and the stories played out was really good. I'm a huge fan of regular folks who take their good ideas and run with them. Whether they're writing a book or making a movie or whatever, I admire the spirit of independent art. If you're expecting the polish and sophistication of an Agatha Christie novel you'll be disappointed, but if you're looking for a good, fun mystery story you'll find it right here.

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was unique and I mean that in a good way. It is a cozy mystery but not the norm. I thought Elizabeth Stitchway was a fun character. I enjoyed watching her character develop from a kind of shy person into the PI she becomes by the end. I thought the little bit of romance was part of Elizabeth coming out of her shell and starting to see life and experience it. There is no strong langage or sex almost a teenage girls look at puppy love but Elizabeth is in her 30's. I will be looking into the next book in this interesting series.

[Rose Ayana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful little mystery

This was a very enjoyable little book. I loved the characters and the plot had some interesting twists and turns. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery or crime fiction. It was pleasant, easy reading. I am a hard rater reserving 4 and 5 stars for award winning type books. Otherwise I would rate higher because it was such an enjoyable and entertaining read.

[Laura Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good small read

So I've always loved quick fun stories. This was a good small read. I like Elizabeth but seemed younger then she was. She acted immature for her age. Every character talked to themselves which was a little weird. However, it was still a good story for a fiction and a good time killer in the car rider line. I knew Joe and Elizabeth would end up together, I figured out who killed Linda pretty quick, and I really don't see someone just becoming a PI over night.

[dollie ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced

This was s an interesting and well written story. It was a fast read, it kept your interest and moved right along. I am partial to settings in Florida and can relate to canals and hurricanes, we have a home on a canal in Fla and have been thru a couple of hurricanes. Not too much fun. Keep writing Mary Jane.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot, as is using a postal worker as the main character and a PI trainee.

Not a lot of action but you do learn a lot about mail sorting, loading a mail vehicle and delivery of mail. There is a hurricane, a big rain storm and hot humid days as well.

Not hard reading, nor a lot of information or characters to keep track of. The murderer, tho is a surprise.

[Judy Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mailman:Priority :Murder

Intriguing story of murder, prison and mail. Enjoy watching how a young lady gets involved in murder and love. Characters are fun and the ending will surprise you

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. It had a lot of good mystery, plenty of action, a very positively action-oriented female PI, and some unexpected (to the lead characters, although probably not to the reader), romance. Keep up the good writing, Mary Jane Forbes.

[Mary Wild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only four stars because it's listed as a Cozi, but it doesn't feel like a Cozi.

Well written. Interesting premise. Starts out with a really big storm. A hurricane.

The main character is a mail lady. I don't like the way her boss treated her very much.

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing.

This book was like a box of chocolates, you never knew what was in it! So many characters, and funny, very detailed twists and turns. Highly amusing. No sex scenes or cussing. Very clean and fun.

[Theresa Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it very much. Would recommended it to any one who likes a nice clean short story. Loved the plot, with a little mystery and romance. Could not put down.
Did not like that little was said how stitch helped her family, seemed like they were the one's helping her.

[Jennifer Malenius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting set of characters

Can't judge a book by its cover 😂 The relationships between the characters was somewhat surreal. The mystery turned out slightly differently than I anticipated. A nice beach read.

[Myra Dutkiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and easy read

A murder mystery romance which was a quick and easy read. The formatting needs revision though. The mid sentence paragraph breaks were quite jarring to the flow of the writing.

[Lori Bindner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun flirty and fascinating

Murders, prisoners and mail carriers all wrapped up in a twisty past about to reveal startling secrets! This was a fun book, kept me turning pages and rooting for my favorite characters. I eagerly anticipate reading more of Mary Jane's writings