Monday, March 04, 2024

New Release -- Tourist Trap (Kingfisher P. I. Book 3) by James Reasoner & Livia J Washburn

 

The search for one of the world’s most wanted fugitives, a swindler who is rumored to have stashed away close to a billion dollars in ill-gotten gains, leads brother and sister private investigators Callista and Joseph Kingfisher to a fabulous, luxurious resort in Mexico. But deep in the jungles of the Yucatan, they discover another secret hidden away, a secret that may mean death for both Kingfishers!

TOURIST TRAP is another lightning-paced, colorful adventure from bestselling authors James Reasoner and Livia J. Washburn featuring plenty of thrills, humor, and excitement, with suspense and plot twists that will leave readers breathless.

EXCERPT:

“He’s running,” she told Joseph as she came out of the car. “I’ll get him!”

“Callie, wait!” he called as he started to circle the front of his car, but of course, she ignored him and dashed after the fleeing figure.

Her eyes had adjusted well enough to the darkness that she could see the man throwing wide-eyed, frightened glances over his shoulder.

“Stop!” she shouted. “William Murphy, you’re under arrest!”

Wait, she thought as she ran. Was she allowed to say that? Would declaring him to be under arrest be considered impersonating a police officer?

Just to be sure she didn’t do anything that would get Joseph in trouble, she added, “I’m a bail enforcement agent!”

That didn’t sound nearly as cool as “bounty hunter”, but it was more technically correct.


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Monday, January 08, 2024

New Release -- KINGFISHER P.I. Book 2: DARK RIDE by James Reasoner and Livia J. Washburn

 

Hired to find out who’s been threatening a Texas state senator’s granddaughter, the two triplet sleuths Callista and Joseph Kingfisher find themselves in more trouble than they bargained for as Callie goes undercover at a therapeutic riding center and becomes involved in a dangerous conspiracy with roots on the other side of the world.

Between international criminals who want them dead, an enigmatic former Special Forces operator who can’t be trusted, federal agents who would like to make the Kingfishers disappear in some black site prison, and the shadowy menace who started the whole thing, Callie and Joseph will have their work cut out just trying to survive this case!

KINGFISHER P.I.: DARK RIDE is the second in a new series of thrilling mystery novels from New York Times bestselling author James Reasoner and the creator of the popular Fresh Baked Mystery series Livia J. Washburn. Mount up for these exciting and entertaining tales from two of today’s best storytellers!

Excerpt:

“Would you like to ride? We have a pony named Ferdinand that would be just right for you, I think.”

Still no response.

“You came out here to ride, didn’t you? Just a few times around the ring. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to keep doing it. But you really ought to give it a try.”

Nothing.

“Who brought you out here?” Callie asked. “Your mom? Your dad? Don’t you think they’d like to see you ride? I’ll help you switch your hat for the special riding helmet and get you mounted up. A nice lady named Connie will be controlling the horse, and I believe Jimmy will be there to help the whole way to make sure nothing happens except that you have a good time.” She reached toward his shoulder. “I really think you’d enjoy—”

“Don’t do that,” an urgent voice said behind her.

The warning came too late. She rested her hand on Tyler Harper’s shoulder.

And the little boy screamed, twisted, and lashed out, swinging his right-hand crutch at Callie’s head.

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Monday, November 06, 2023

New Release -- KINGFISHER P.I. by James Reasoner and Livia J. Washburn

 

KINGFISHER P.I. 

by James Reasoner and Livia J Washburn

Callista Kingfisher is a former mixed martial arts fighter and one of the top stunt performers in Hollywood. But when an accident on a movie set leaves her badly injured, she goes home to Corpus Christi, Texas, to recuperate.

Callie’s triplet brother Joseph is a top private investigator, and when he lands the job of tracking down a fugitive who has disappeared into the thick Piney Woods of East Texas, Callie decides she’ll give her brother a hand with the case. Both Kingfishers are plunged into the middle of a deadly feud between rival crime families, and Callie quickly discovers that the real thing is even more dangerous than making action movies.

New York Times bestseller James Reasoner and critically acclaimed mystery author Livia J. Washburn team up for KINGFISHER P.I., the first in a new series of exciting, action-packed mystery novels that will leave you breathless with their suspense, adventure, and humor.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Now Available for Pre-order -- KINGFISHER P.I. by James Reasoner and Livia J. Washburn

 

KINGFISHER P.I.

Callista Kingfisher is a former mixed martial arts fighter and one of the top stunt performers in Hollywood. But when an accident on a movie set leaves her badly injured, she goes home to Corpus Christi, Texas, to recuperate.

Callie’s triplet brother Joseph is a top private investigator, and when he lands the job of tracking down a fugitive who has disappeared into the thick Piney Woods of East Texas, Callie decides she’ll give her brother a hand with the case. Both Kingfishers are plunged into the middle of a deadly feud between rival crime families, and Callie quickly discovers that the real thing is even more dangerous than making action movies. 

New York Times bestseller James Reasoner and critically acclaimed mystery author Livia J. Washburn team up for KINGFISHER P.I., the first in a new series of exciting, action-packed mystery novels that will leave you breathless with their suspense, adventure, and humor.

Excerpt:

Patient: Callista Kingfisher

Date: August 27, 3:00 PM

I really don’t remember that much, Doctor. Falling, of course. I remember falling. I mean, it’s hard to forget that feeling of going down and down and down with nothing under you, and knowing what’s waiting at the bottom, and the seconds seem to take forever but at the same time they pass so fast…

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Wednesday, February 09, 2022

Hallam: A Lucas Hallam Short Fiction Collection (A Lucas Hallam Mystery) by L.J. Washburn

 

HOLLYWOOD IN THE 1920s, WHERE THE GLITZ AND GLAMOR OF THE SILENT MOVIE ERA CONCEALS DARK AND DANGEROUS SECRETS, AND ONE OLD COWBOY USES FRONTIER CUNNING AND GUN-SKILL TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH AND DELIVER JUSTICE IN THIS COLLECTION OF HARD-BOILED MYSTERY STORIES.

From Lucas Hallam’s first appearance in Hallam—where a cowboy who has outlived the days of the Old West becomes a gun-toting private eye and stuntman in the early days of motion pictures in California—to Hollywood Flesh—where Hallam’s most recent case is starting to give him nightmares—Hallam is told as a larger-than-life character.

He tangles with killers, solves mysteries, battles against grievous transgressions, and enjoys memorable moments with his friends while working as a riding extra in a colorful portrait of Hollywood during one of its golden ages.

In each short story, readers will begin questioning … Will Hallam win over evil by the end … or has he finally reached the end of the trail?

Hallam Collection: A Lucas Hallam Short Fiction Collection includes Hallam, The Blue Burro, Pictures in the Stars, Medicine Tongue, Ladysmith, and Hollywood Flesh.

Excerpt

The newcomer was big, too, but he wore a pin-striped suit and a pulled-down Panama instead of cowboy clothes.

He stopped in front of Hallam, looked him up and down in disbelief, and said, "You're a private dick?"

"I'm Lucas Hallam, if that's who you're lookin’ for." Hallam felt an instant dislike for this man, but he kept his voice flat and impassive.

The man jerked a thumb over his beefy shoulder. "Somebody wants to see you, Hallam."

"Question is, do I want to see this somebody?"

The man stiffened. He wasn't used to people asking questions. "You wanna see him if you know what's good for you, Tex," he snapped.

Hallam rubbed his jaw, squinted toward the long black car. He could see a figure sitting in the back seat. "Maybe your boss should do his own askin'," he said slowly.

"Why, you moth-eaten old bastard—" the man hissed. His hand shot out and clamped down on Hallam's shoulder. "You'll come when I tell you to come, you—"

Hallam hit him in the stomach with his left and jerked his shoulder loose. His right swept around as the man gasped and took a step backward. The blow cracked into his jaw and knocked him sprawling. With a growled curse, he reached under his coat and grabbed an automatic out of a shoulder rig.

Just as the gun came clear, the man froze, the point of Hallam's Bowie knife resting easily just under his chin. The blade barely pricked the skin, but it was enough to stop any threat the man wanted to make.

Hallam smiled down at him.

"This ain't a prop, son," Hallam said so softly the man could barely hear him. "You go to movin' too much, it'll slice your head right off. Now take that gun out real slow and put it on the ground."



Friday, June 18, 2021

Now Available -- Never Trifle With Murder (Fresh-Baked Mystery Novel Book 15)

 


It’s early summer in Weatherford, Texas, and retired teacher/amateur sleuth Phyllis Newsom and fellow retiree Carolyn Wilbarger are taking British cooking classes at the local senior center in this suspenseful Fresh-Baked mystery.

In the latest from Livia J. Washburn, the nationally bestselling author of the Fresh Baked Mystery Series, Phyllis Newsom learns to make a trifle that’s to die for…

While Sam Fletcher is playing dominoes with the guys, Eve Turner is busy flirting with the English chef since she has a fascination for English accents and handsome men who can cook. This puts her in competition with a couple of other ladies from the senior center, who also have their caps set for Chef Alfred Dorrington.

The third and final class features desserts, and more than the stove heats up when the trifle is poisoned! Once again Phyllis finds herself involved in a murder case filled with hidden motives and colorful characters.

Includes recipes!

(It took two long years for me to finish the next Fresh-Baked Mystery Novel. I could bore you with the details, but what's the point in that? Here it finally is, Book 15: Never Trifle with Murder. And let me tell you. That trifle is lethal. (Pictured above.) I'm pretty sure each bite has a thousand calories and the tequila doesn't hurt. I added the short story, "The Coconut Bunny Butt Caper" to the trade paperback, since it was only available digitally.  

     





Monday, April 06, 2020

New Release -- The Coconut Bunny Butt Caper (Fresh Baked Mystery Short Story) by Livia J. Washburn


Zachary “Buck” Williams asks Phyllis to help him throw a big Easter shindig with games and food and an egg hunt, inviting everybody from the whole county to join in the fun.

It’s a beautiful spring day in Weatherford, Texas, as kids are running and playing and parents are chatting and sampling wonderful home cooked foods. It was all fun and games until someone played hide and seek with the prize egg leaving Phyllis having to find the culprit.

The Coconut Bunny Butt Caper is a short story that follows DEATH BAKES A PECAN PIE the fourteenth novel in the critically acclaimed and best-selling Fresh Baked Mystery series. Phyllis and her friends tackle another complex case with all the humor, camaraderie, good-hearted warmth, and delicious recipes that have made readers around the world fall in love with this series.

Recipes included!

EXCERPT

     On a beautiful spring day under an almost cloudless blue sky, Phyllis Newsom smiled as she watched the crowd of children running and screaming across the vast green lawn. They descended on the shrubbery and flowerbeds like a swarm of locusts.

     “Dang,” Sam Fletcher said as he stood beside Phyllis. “Don’t get between a kid and an Easter egg, that’s all I’ve got to say.”
     “They’re certainly enthusiastic,” Phyllis agreed. “This reminds me of the big Easter egg hunts that went on when we were young, and even when Mike was a child. I remember taking him to several of them, sometimes put on by family, sometimes by the community or one of the local service clubs. People don’t do things like that anymore. Not much, anyway.” She shook her head. “Just another way that things have changed, I suppose.”
     “They’ve got a way of doin’ that,” Sam said. “But bringin’ back the old days was sort of the whole idea of this fandango, wasn’t it? 
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