"Beneath the sun and sea of South Florida, dark crimes and bone-chilling secrets are lurking. Introducing a brand-new twisty mystery series from award-winning author Elaine Viets.
When the body of adult film star Sammie Lant is found buried next to the courtyard pool of the Florodora, Norah McCarthy’s apartment complex, she quickly becomes the police’s prime suspect.
Norah was witnessed having an argument with Sammie six months ago, the last day Sammie was seen alive—the day she gained notoriety for a shocking public stunt with a college football player.
But events take an even darker turn when more remains are unearthed—ones with an apparent connection to Norah’s tragic past. Is it pure coincidence that more than one person was buried by Norah’s pool? And is the killer closer to home than she thinks?
Introducing feisty, female sleuth Norah McCarthy, a cast of eccentric characters, and the dark underbelly beneath the palm trees and beaches of South Florida, this addictive new series is perfect for fans of Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey."
"Josie mystery-shops doggy daycare centers, including Uncle Bob’s Doggy Day Camp, known for its outrageous TV commercials, with Uncle Bob acting like a dog. But Josie discovers when the cameras are off, Uncle Bob is mean as a rabid dog. Franklin, the man who rents from Josie’s mother, works for Bob, and plans to quit now that he’s seen Bob’s cruelty. But Bob is murdered, and Franklin is arrested for the crime. Josie has to catch a killer and clear Franklin’s name – before more trouble is unleashed."
"Newlyweds Josie and veterinarian Ted Scottsmeyer are happily married, and they buy their first house, a fixer-upper, from Ted’s partner, Christine. When they tear down the rickety gazebo in the backyard, they find the body of Christine’s sister, a free spirit who supposedly took off six months ago. The police arrest Christine for murder, and Ted has to work long hours at his practice to cover for his now jailed partner. Josie has to find the real killer to save her marriage and Christine."
"Mystery-shopper Josie Marcus is thrilled to be getting married, and her latest assignment is perfect. She has to shop wedding flowers and cakes. Meanwhile, her future mother-in-law is trying to turn her simple wedding into an extravaganza. Josie’s finance is stalked by Molly, a homicidal bridezilla. Molly is shot and Ted’s mother is arrested for the bridezilla’s murder. Josie has to find the killer before she can marry the man she loves."
"Josie Marcus savors her new assignment. She has to eat local food specialties for a City Eats Food Tour. She gets paid to eat toasted ravioli at Tillie’s Off the Hill Italian restaurant, but the fun goes out of this assignment when a customer is poisoned. Tillie is an old friend of Josie’s mother, and Josie can’t refused when her mom begs Josie to investigate. Was the victim the real target, or was someone trying to ruin the restaurant’s reputation? Josie has to find a killer who has no reservations about dishing up murder."
"Husband and wife PI team Helen Hawthorne and Phil Sagemont are hired by Trish Barrymore, who is divorcing her no-account accountant Mort. When Mort is found dead, Trish is the main suspect. She wants Helen and Phil to find out who killed Mort Barrymore – and more importantly, kidnapped Justine, the couple’s pedigreed Chartreux show cat. Helen goes undercover as an assistant to a woman who shows prizewinning Persians. Under the primping, posing, and purring, cat shows are a high-pressure world, and now the stakes are life and death."
"Josie is assigned to mystery-shop a chain of lingerie stores, and she’s surprised to find her high school gym teacher, Mrs. Hayes, working as a shop manager and “C-cup counselor.” Even worse, Josie finds a high school acquaintance murdered in a restroom near the shop, her hands bound with the bra she just purchased. Thanks to a secret from her past, Mrs. Hayes has a motive for this murder, and a flimsy alibi. Josie has to find the real killer to save Mrs. Hayes."
": Husband and wife PI team Helen and Phil are hired to investigate a customer’s death at Sunny Jim’s Stand-Up Paddleboard on South Florida’s Riggs Beach. Life for Sunny Jim has been one catastrophe after another: cutthroat competitors are poaching his territory, a restaurant owner wants to turn his beach spot into a parking lot, the city wants to revoke his license, and now the husband of the dead paddleboarder has filed a wrongful death suit. Helen and Phil discover dark undercurrents of corruption behind the facades of cute beachfront businesses, as well domestic secrets. Helen and Phil have to solve this crime soon, before they’re all up a creek without a paddle."
"Josie Marcus thought mystery-shopping pricey clothes for fashion-forward pups would be fun. Until she’s hired to check out a big pet store and finds out it’s involved with puppy mills. Josie gets a tip from an employee named Edna that the designer dogs are cruelly bred in puppy mills. Josie is led to a puppy mill and secretly videos the conditions. When brave Edna is found dead, Josie realizes she’s landed in a dangerous situation. She’ll have to save herself, as well as the abused pups."
"Helen Hawthorne and her new husband, Phil Sagemont, are a PI team. To catch a jewel thief on a luxury yacht, Helen goes undercover as the ship’s new stewardess, serving drinks to snobs, scrubbing floors, and cleaning up after seasick passengers. While Helen is cruising the Bahamas, Phil has to catch a sexy gold digger who may have killed her elderly husband for his fortune. Phil is a self-proclaimed master of disguise, posing as everything from an air-conditioning repairman to Rastafarian. Helen has to watch her step as she searches for the smuggler on the yacht, or she may end up going from undercover to overboard."
"Undercover retail spy and single mom Josie has to mystery-shop three year-round Christmas stores that popped up near her home, and it’s no holiday. The three stores are in a desperate fight to survive, and it’s complicated further when Josie gives the shop owned by her boyfriend’s ex a bad rating. Her home isn’t aglow with the holiday spirit, either. Josie has to deal with murder, mayhem and motherhood."
"Josie Marcus mystery-shops scarves.
Mystery shopper Josie Marcus knows her job isn’t always glamorous. Like when she has to sample greasy fast food. Now her best friend’s husband is accused of murder. Someone has killed Halley Hardwicke, the hot new designer of thousand-dollar scarves. Halley and Jake were just a little too neighborly. Josie goes undercover for clues to help Jake, and learns that Halley’s scarves were to die for."
