The author of By Cook or By Crook serves up a delectable novel that's “perfect for fans of good food, small towns and lighthearted mysteries” (Blue Moon Mystery Saloon). Thirtyish Val Deniston loves the Chesapeake Bay tourist town she now calls home. Running the fitness club's Cool Down Café—and perfecting her five-ingredient recipes—is a dream come true. But keeping her grandfather out of trouble can be a challenge . . . Especially when one of his dinner party guests winds up face down in the chowder. The deceased diner apparently scammed Granddad's best buddy, and since the other dinner guests have suddenly clammed up, the police have all the ingredients to cook up a conviction for Granddad. With his freedom—and Val's café job—on the line, Val is in a sweat trying to avert disaster. But dredging up old secrets might just be a recipe for murder . . . Includes six five-ingredient recipes! Praise for the Five-Ingredient Mysteries “Cozy mystery readers will love the puzzle and the enjoyable look into this small tourist town by the sea.” —Nancy Coco, author of the Candy-Coated Mysteries “Suspects abound and the puzzle solution is deftly handled in this charming cozy . . . With recipes included, this is definitely a starter for fans of Diane Mott Davidson, Lou Jane Temple, and Virginia Rich.” —Library Journal “Corrigan keeps her simple mixture of pleasant characters, murder, and recipes in the oven.” —Kirkus Reviews

This book brings together essays written by a number of well-known writers of cozy mysteries, including Sherry Harris, Amanda Flower, Leslie Budewitz, and Edith Maxwell, among others, who provide insight into their approaches to writing. Topics covered include how they work with the form, develop characters and settings, and utilize the particular hook, skill or business that establishes the protagonist's ability to solve crimes. In addition to discussing these traditional aspects of writing, several authors focus on how they have expanded the direction the contemporary cozy mystery has taken with the inclusion of more diverse characters and social issues.

A retirement home hides a surprising amount of intrigue and danger in this novel by a two-time finalist for the Lefty Award for Humorous Mystery. A failing retirement home needs to be turned around—and unfortunately, the job has been given to a financial hatchet man who dislikes old people. But his foray into the world of geezers and geezerettes will turn out to be a life-transforming experience. He must deal with a suspicious death, a scam, a hit man, an unexpected romance—and retired magician Jerry Rhine and his five wacky sidekicks known as the Jerry-atrics. And he will face the most important decision of his life when he uncovers the secret behind an unusual murder… Praise for Mike Befeler’s mysteries: “Witty, clever, and wholly entertaining.”—Margaret Coel, New York Times-bestselling author of the Wind River Mysteries “Delightful.”—Maggie Sefton, New York Times-bestselling author of the Knitting Mysteries

Val Deniston is catering the debut of Bayport’s newest bookstore—but the death of a customer is about to draw her into a real-life murder mystery ... Suzette Cripps has been occupying a spare bedroom at Val’s granddad’s house while she takes classes in this Maryland Eastern Shore town—but she’s always seemed a little secretive and fearful, and any talk about her past is a closed book. After winning the costume contest at the Halloween-themed bookstore party, Suzette is mowed down by a hit-and-run driver—and Val and her grandfather start to wonder whether it was really an accident or if someone was after Suzette. Granddad is a little distracted by his new enterprise as a ghost-buster, but as Val talks to Suzette’s coworkers and fellow creative writing students, she grows more convinced that the dead woman’s demons weren’t imaginary—and that she needs to rip the mask off a killer ... Includes delicious five-ingredient recipes!

"Includes delicious five-ingredient recipes!"--Page 4 of cover.

A sleuthing chef tries to keep her head above water when her Titanic-themed dinner turns into a prelude to murder—from the author of The Tell-Tale Tarte. Managing a fitness club café and collaborating on a cookbook with her grandfather are Val Deniston's usual specialties, but she's about to set sail into nearby Chesapeake Bay—straight into a murder case . . . Since catering themed events is a good way to make extra cash, Val agrees to board the Titanic—or at least cater a re-creation of the doomed journey on a yacht. The owner of the yacht, who collects memorabilia related to the disaster, wants Val to serve the last meal the Titanic passengers ate . . . while his guests play a murder-mystery game. But it is the final feast for one passenger who disappears from the ship. And that's only the tip of the iceberg. Now Val has to reel in a killer before s'more murders go down . . . Includes delicious five-ingredient recipes! Praise for the Five-Ingredient Mysteries “Cozy mystery readers will love the puzzle and the enjoyable look into this small tourist town by the sea.” —Nancy Coco, author of the Candy-Coated Mysteries “Suspects abound and the puzzle solution is deftly handled in this charming cozy . . . With recipes included, this is definitely a starter for fans of Diane Mott Davidson, Lou Jane Temple, and Virginia Rich.” —Library Journal “Corrigan keeps her simple mixture of pleasant characters, murder, and recipes in the oven.” —Kirkus Reviews

Val Deniston loves the historic Chesapeake Bay town where she lives with her grandfather, the Codger Cook. Running the fitness club's Cool Down Café--and salvaging the five-ingredient dishes Granddad messes up--keeps her busy. She's used to his catastrophes in the kitchen, but not in the dining room... Especially when one of his dinner party guests winds up face down in the chowder. The demised diner apparently scammed Granddad's best buddy, and since the other dinner guests have suddenly clammed up, the police have all the ingredients to cook up a conviction for Granddad. With his freedom--and Val's café job--on the line, Val is in a sweat trying to avert a catastrophe. But dredging up old secrets might just be a recipe for murder... Includes 6 five-ingredient recipes!