BOOK DESCRIPTION
Marlene M. Bell brings distant friends together in the rural South only to have one of them become the victim of a brutal crime of passion.
Once celebrated for her show-stopping pastries and irresistible desserts, former celebrity chef Laura Harris is now making headlines for a far darker reason.
Laura has been accused of murder.
How could this petite chef have brutally smothered the beloved small-town matriarch, World War II ferry pilot veteran, Hattie Stenburg? Hattie wasn’t just a pillar of the community; she was Laura’s confidant and mentor. The shocking twist? Hattie had made recent changes to her will, bypassing next-of kin and leaving her entire fortune and historic estate to Laura.
As Laura scrambles to clear her name, she uncovers sinister secrets lurking beneath the town’s idyllic surface. The real murderer is always one step ahead, leaving taunting clues and threatening Laura to leave Texas—or face deadly consequences. With time not a luxury, Laura must untangle the web of deceit before the killer makes her the next victim.
A Hush at Midnight is available at Amazon.
“This evening is over. Humor me and leave.” She went to the door and opened it wide, allowing the hu
midity to boil the atmosphere even further.
Lucas tossed his jacket over one shoulder, shoved his tie in a pocket, and picked up his pilot’s case near
the chair. He nonchalantly strolled to the porch, then spun around to address her.
“When you’re up to it, I can explain. You can’t stay mad forever. How do you know it wasn’t an old
girlfriend who found out about you?”
“Explain? About your wife or the insatiable need to be with other women?” She shook her head.
“Lucas, you aren’t upset enough or surprised. An old flame wouldn’t have my cell number unless she got it from your co-pilot buddies or found it on your phone. You’re indifferent. Stay away from me.” Laura closed the door and then remembered her roast overcooking
in the oven.
After sitting alone for a few minutes while a pain reliever dulled the raging headache, she reached for her
phone and hit autodial.
“What did you do to Lucas?” her dad answered, breathlessly.
She was stunned by his cold reception. “You’ve talked to him already?”
“Yeah. He said you went whacky and threw him out before you’d had dinner.”
Laura’s dad had a soft spot for his new chum. Lucas had a habit of stopping in to see the head of
the Harris clan before arriving at her house. There were times when Laura believed Lucas enjoyed the male camaraderie over being with her. The caller. His lackluster signals. It made sense. She’d heard about guys like him but this was her first experience with having one of her own.
“Have you had dinner yet? I have a prime rib warming in the oven and it’s a shame to let it go to
waste. I could sure use the company.”
“Perfect timing. We were about to hit the pizza parlor. We’ll be over in a few.”
The we factor made Laura nervous, although she had plenty of food.
She’d hoped for a quiet evening with her dad to sort out the whirlwind that had blown over her.
Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch, her fans often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic suspense, thriller, and cozy mystery books as characters or subject matter.
Marlene’s multi-award-winning Annalisse series boasts numerous Best Mystery honors for all installments including the newest IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, and Global Gold Award for the fourth cozy mystery from down under.
Her children's picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! written for the younger crowd, is based on true events from the Bell’s Texas sheep ranch. Suitable reading for ages 3 - 7 years and beyond, a Mom's Choice Gold Award winner, and Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Short List winner.
Website & Social Media:
Website ➜ https://www.marlenembell.com
Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/ewephoric
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17642396.Marlene_M_Bell
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