Fiona Fleming Series by Patti Larsen

Fiona Fleming #1

A cozy murder mystery series to die for! I tried not to look down the mouth of hell staring back at me from inside the glaringly pristine outer ceramic shell of the white throne, my throat catching, stomach doing half flips and a rather impressive rollover routine that would have gotten at least a 9.5 even from the Russian judges. Instead, I forced myself to smile and swallow and remind myself the elbow length yellow rubber gloves grasping the handle of the standard issue plunger were all that stood between me and Pooageddon. Suck it up, Fee. Big girl panties and adulting and all that. "At what point," I waved the dripping plunger, wincing as droplets of yuck flew, "did I think owning a bed and breakfast was going to be glamorous and romantic?" Fiona Fleming hasn't lived in Reading, Vermont in over a decade, her escape from small town living leading her to New York City and a life of adventure. An adventure that has left her with no career, an ex who cheated on her and zero plans for the future. And then, in the shocker of a lifetime, Fee's grandmother wills her a bed and breakfast. Awesome! It's the fresh start she's been dying for. Or is it? Petunia's might seem like a refuge from her cheating ex and so-called life in the big city, but being accused of murder within two weeks of arriving back in her hometown? That's anything but charming. Can she uncover the truth before the handsome new sheriff puts her behind bars instead of asking her to dinner? Download your new favorite murder mystery today! And don't miss the exciting sequels, also available now: Chocolate Hearts and Murder Fame and Fortune and Murder **Review Praise for Bed and Breakfast and Murder "Ms. Larsen has given us a heroine that can go the distance...and then some. The action is well-paced, holding my interest the entire way through. Well done!"~Back Porchervations "I think this series is going to be a hoot and look forward to reading more about Fee and this cozy little town in Vermont."~Storeybook Reviews "I have found a new author that has grabbed my attention. She blends humor and sarcasm in a story that is sassy and full of great characters."~Texas Book-aholic "Fiona is a unique character, there was just something special about her that I was drawn to."~Bibliophile Reviews "I loved this book being small town and watching Fiona deal with everything that gets thrown her way."~Community Bookstop "Through twists and turns and sub plots the story takes the reader on a fast paced ride. A 'who dun it' for the mystery lover."~ The Journey Back From the Author I never meant to be a murder mystery writer, to stumble on the joy of telling stories from amateur sleuth Fiona Fleming. In fact, the idea of writing about a female detective really never crossed my mind. I started out reading--and then creating my own--science fiction and fantasy novels as a small girl, more into animals and swords and sorcery than murder. But it was a Nancy Drew mystery at the tender age of twelve that sparked my need to write for real and woke the creator in me. Funny how years passed in my own small town life, time spent learning my craft in ways that I hadn't intended--as a journalist, a screenwriter, an improv actor and a hair stylist--telling stories became commonplace and a part of my life even though the dream of being a writer hadn't yet come to pass. When I found YA through my niece and her love for Harry Potter, I realized I'd been writing the wrong things all along. That the Nancy Drew mystery about a young woman daring to take chances was the kind of heroine I was meant to write about. And, through that understanding, woke Sydlynn Hayle and the rest, as they say, is the Hayle Coven Universe (forty-two published books and growing). But the mystery side of things took a little longer to explore. Though most books have a mystery to them of some kind, designing a whodunit hadn't crossed my mind. Until a pilot for a TV show I'd been working on popped up in my documents and I remembered how fun it was to write a police procedural based on a fictional city filled with paranormal creatures. The Nightshade Cases were born. But something still didn't feel right. They are dark and full of the kind of nasty things that people do to each other while embracing all things supernatural. Don't get me wrong, I love them. I think, though, from reader reactions, they weren't expecting that kind of cussing, stomping and hard-assed action compared to my YA works. Fair enough! But I've hated to abandon the mystery writing idea all together. When Fiona Fleming started talking not so long ago, I listened. Here was the kind of mystery I could not only sink my teeth into, the cozy mystery genre had the kind of lighthearted fun and strong female sleuth I was looking for while staying on the giggle inducing and enjoyable side of the characters I love to write while trying something totally new--no paranormal. Not to mention the chance to write about my favorite canine companion. Petunia is based on my pair of adorable and hilarious pugs, Jelly Bean and Lula Bug. I hope you've enjoyed the first book in Fee's series. There are twelve more to come and, as I explore this genre further, I have a feeling there will be more from other voices. I'm just having too much fun killing people off not to keep going. Happy reading! Patti

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Published: 2017