A man in hiding. A gang of outlaws searching for retribution. This is no time for cupcakes. "Colin Conway has written the most unusual hero I've come across in a long time. Both touching and sweet with a razor-sharp edge. This is not your grandma's cozy." Libby Klein, Author of the Poppy McAllister Mysteries Today is Brody Steele's first day as the new owner of The Red Herring, Pleasant Valley, Maine's only mystery bookstore. The cute shop has a loyal customer base as well as an ornery cat. Unfortunately, Brody doesn't know the first thing about running a legitimate business, he doesn't want to be in the small town, and he hates cats. On top of all that, he hasn't read a book since high school. When a cute woman walks into the store, he thinks his bad luck is about to change. But as she starts asking about the previous owner's whereabouts, his safe new existence begins to unravel. For Brody Steele is a man with a secret he must protect at all costs. The U.S. Government has invested a lot to keep it hidden, and his enemies will stop at nothing to expose him. Does happiness or death await Brody in this charming seaside community?

"Very entertaining. Highly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who appreciates a well-written mystery with twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews (regarding Murder in the Manor) A VILLA IN SICILY: VINO AND DEATH is book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews (and a free download)! Audrey Smart, 34, has made a major life change, walking away from her life as a vet (and from a string of failed romance) and moving to Sicily to buy a $1 home—and embark on a mandatory renovation she knows nothing about. Audrey is busy working to open the town’s new shelter, while also renovating her own problematic home—and dating again. With the help of friends, she begins taking in sick strays. But not everyone in town is grateful for her services, and she soon makes unexpected enemies. Audrey’s small Sicilian town hires a new building inspector to deal with the influx of $1 home owners—and he sets about making Audrey’s idyllic Sicilian life utterly miserable. Just when things can’t get any worse, the inspector turns up dead—leaving Audrey as the main suspect. Audrey, without an alibi, is under more pressure than she’s ever been to solve the crime. But the inspectors list of enemies was long. Very, very long. Can she solve this impossible case? A laugh-out-loud cozy packed with mystery, intrigue, renovation, animals, food, wine—and of course, love—A VILLA IN SICILY will capture your heart and keep you glued to the very last page. Books #4-#9 are also available!

The much awaited, hilarious new installment in the USA Today Bestselling Maternal Instincts Mystery Series Girl time is hard to come by for new moms. So, when Kate's best friend, Paula, invites her to Spa Day, Kate jumps at the chance for break from diaper duty. But when a body is recovered from one of the saunas, it may prove that the guest was Pampered to Death! The killer has an agenda and it may include deadly face masks! Suddenly everyone has a motive and Kate must solve the mystery before the next victim falls prey to a ghastly seaweed wrap. "If you were expecting warm and cute you'll be mistaken. Fast paced and fun, this book gives a true feel of the modern mom,trying to juggle motherhood and career (when that career happens to be solving crimes)." --Rhys Bowen, New York Times Bestselling Author

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor) AGED FOR DEATH (A TUSCAN VINEYARD COZY MYSTERY) is book #2 in a charming new cozy mystery series by #1 bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor (Book #1), a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews—and a free download! Olivia Glass, 34, turns her back on her life as a high-powered executive in Chicago and relocates to Tuscany, determined to start a new, simpler life—and to grow her own vineyard. Olivia is falling in love with the Tuscan life and the gorgeous Tuscan scenery, especially as she travels to visit Pisa. Yet when the winery she works for auctions off a rare and expensive bottle of wine—and when someone turns up dead—Olivia must draw on her strength as a sommelier to get to the bottom of the murder. In the meanwhile, her new own attempts at a vineyard—and her love life—are failing miserably. Can Olivia turn it all around to create the life she’s always dreamed of? Or was it all a fantasy that she should let go? Hilarious, packed with travel, food, wine, twists and turns, romance and her newfound animal friend—and centering around a baffling small-town murder that Olivia must solve—AGED FOR DEATH is an un-putdownable cozy that will keep you laughing late into the night. Books #3-#7 are available!

Looking for a new cozy mystery author to love? Dive in to this collection of excerpts from the Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press WINTER 2018 season (books published from January to April). The Cozy Case Files collection includes: Another One Bites the Crust: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander A Whisper of Bones: A Jane Lawless Mystery by Ellen Hart Curses, Boiled Again! A Lobster Shack Mystery by Shari Randall Death in the Stars: A Kate Shackleton Mystery by Frances Brody The Purloined Puzzle: A Puzzle Lady Mystery by Parnell Hall Death of an Unsung Hero: A Lady Montfort Mystery by Tessa Arlen Death by Dumpling: A Noodle Shop Mystery by Vivien Chien Date with Malice: A Samson & Delilah Mystery by Julia Chapman Lost Books and Old Bones: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton Antique Blues: A Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery by Jane K. Cleland

With their intimate settings, subdued action and likeable characters, cozy mysteries are rarely seen as anything more than light entertainment. The cozy, a subgenre of crime fiction, has been historically misunderstood and often overlooked as the subject of serious study. This anthology brings together a groundbreaking collection of essays that examine the cozy mystery from a range of critical viewpoints. The authors engage with the standard classification of a cozy, the characters who appear in its pages, the environment where the crime occurs and how these elements reveal the cozy story's complexity in surprising ways. Essays analyze cozy mysteries to argue that Agatha Christie is actually not a cozy writer; that Columbo fits the mold of the cozy detective; and that the stories' portrayals of settings like the quaint English village reveal a more complicated society than meets the eye.

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor) DEATH AND A DOG (A LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 2) is book two in a charming new cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace. Lacey Doyle, 39 years old and freshly divorced, has made a drastic change: she has walked away from the fast life of New York City and settled down in the quaint English seaside town of Wilfordshire. Spring is in the air. With last month’s murder mystery behind her, a new best friend in her English shepherd, and a budding relationship with the chef across the street, it seems like everything’s finally settling into place. Lacey is so excited for her first major auction, especially when a valuable, mystery artifact enters her catalogue. All seems to go without a hitch, until two mysterious bidders arrive from out of town—and one of them winds up dead. With the small village plunged into chaos, and with the reputation of her business at stake, can Lacey and her trusty dog partner solve the crime and restore her name? Books #3-#9 are also available!