I’m known around these parts as The Amazing Althea, not just because of my psychic abilities—my specialty bein’ palms and tarot cards—but because I bake some of the best banana bread y’all will ever taste. In fact, I reckon that’s how I earned my nickname. People took one bite of my bread and they said, “Mmm. That’s Amazing, Althea.” Which over time got shortened to “Amazing, Althea!” and stuck.
Nicknames aside, I always did say, good food is balm for the troubled soul, and in my business, I see a lot of troubled souls. That’s my burden to carry, though, and I gladly do so. Because if the cards are speakin’ to me, I can sometimes offer my clients a little comfort or maybe some healin’ advice. And that’s mighty rewardin’ to me.
’Course, my gift sometimes causes me a heap of worry about my own family. You see, my daughter Lila works as a literary agent at A Novel Idea. Not that there’s a worry there—fact is, she loves working for a book agency right here in Inspiration Valley, North Carolina. Does well, too. Lila reads mysteries all day, decides which writers go on to become published authors, and meets plenty of famous ones as well. Only sometimes, I swear, she fancies herself some sort of detective and has even started poking around in real life crimes. Now I know she thinks she’s just bein’ protective of her fellow literary agents, and she sure is a good mama to my nearly-grown grandson Trey, helping him out of his troubles. But if it weren’t for her fiance Sean being a real life detective, well, let’s just say I worry even at that. I keep tryin’ to warn her of the dangers, but she can be a little ornery at times.
Just the other day I got the strangest feelin’—a shiver that climbed right up my spine and settled in my bones. Made me so cold, not even a visit with my best man, Jim Beam, warmed me up. Funny thing, this premonition of mine happened at just about the same time Lila started nosin’ around in a new mystery. You see, a local garden club woman was killed. Lawd, it was an awful thing! Killed with a spade, right in her own garden. Anyhow, Lila has jumped in to try to dig up some clues but the only thing she actually found so far is a bunch of trouble. If you’d like to see what my girl does next, check out this latest Novel Idea Mystery, PLAYED BY THE BOOK. I promise y’all will enjoy it. But when you see Lila, tell her to watch her back . . . her mama’s got a bad feelin’ about this one.
You can read more about Amazing Althea in Played By The Book, the fourth book in the “Novel Ideas” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Buried In A Book.
About PLAYED BY THE BOOK:
The national bestselling Novel Idea Mysteries make their return with Lila Wilkins, literary agent and “murder magnet” planning a book signing garden party. But things aren’t coming up roses when she ends up trying to weed out a dangerous killer. . .
The owner of A Novel Idea Literary Agency is thrilled when former local boy and popular television show host Damian York returns to Inspiration Valley, North Carolina, to launch his new gardening book. But Lila is less than excited about the hubbub when she sees the mounting to-do list on her desk. Between planning York’s gala and sprucing up her yard for another event, she’s spread too thin—especially after she finds a skull buried in her flowerbeds.
As Lila’s macabre discovery leads to other secrets hidden in Inspiration Valley’s past, a member of the local garden club is found slumped over her prize roses—murdered with a garden spade. Now it’s up to Lila to dig through old mysteries and new clues to unearth a murderer before someone else is found pushing up daisies. . .
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on February 12 for the chance to win a copy of PLAYED BY THE BOOK. The giveaway is open to everyone. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes.
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Played by the Book is currently available on the shelves of your local bookstore and library, Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Powell’s and just about everywhere else.
About the author
The Novel Idea Mysteries is a New York Times bestselling series of cozy mysteries, including Buried in a Book, Every Trick in the Book, and Books, Cooks, and Crooks and, now, Played by the Book all written under the pseudonym of Lucy Arlington. The writing team of Ellery Adams and Sylvia May, two friends who collaborated on the series, first conceived of Lucy Arlington and her literary agent sleuth. Together, the duo penned the first three books in the series. As time passed and their personal writing workload grew, the two passed the baton to another author: Susan Furlong. In addition to now writing as Lucy Arlington, Susan Furlong is the author of another upcoming cozy mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, The Georgia Peach Mysteries. To learn more about Susan, visit her website at www.susanfurlong.com
This sounds like such a great series! I enjoyed this guest post. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the review of Played By The Book. It sounds like a great read. I am looking forward to getting a copy.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
I love this series. Inspiration Valley is one of my favorite fictional towns. Despite the murders I would love to live there.
This sounds like another book in a great series. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like a good one. Looking forward to reading it.
An interesting character – Althea.
My copy is on its way to me from Amazon. Can’t wait to start reading it!
Sounds great, on my TRL
A book to put on my TBR list for sure; thank you for the chance to win 🙂
I would love to win this book, I enjoy reading Lucy’s books
One of my favorite cozies!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!!
I’d love a chance to win!
Sounds like a good read—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
sounds fascinating! Would love to read these! Thanks😍😍
Another series I want to get into!
This sounds really good! Makes me wish I had a fireplace to read in front of.
This sounds like a good series to get into. I would love to win. Thanks for the offer.
Love this series. So glad there is a new book to look forward to! Thanks for the heads up.
Love paranormal mysteries.
I am excited to read this next book in the series! I love the characters and always loose myself in their company! Thanks Lucy and Dru for this opportunity to win a copy!
Sounds like a terrific read! The cover is great! Thank you for the contest!
Thanks, Dru and Althea/Lucy/Susan. 🙂 Congratulations!
One of my favorite series!!! Yay for another one!
Sounds great!! Thanks for the chance!!
Thanks for the giveaway! Great series!
I read book one in this series and really enjoyed it. Would love to read this one. Thank you for the giveaway.
I love the cover and would love the opportunity to read it. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
The story sounds awesome
It’s always nice to have a good mama watching your back.
Love this series and look forward to this next book.
Love the use of dialect. I tried to swipe to turn the page. This series has a new follower!
Sounds like a fun series—I like a like palm and tarot reading—-and an interesting group of characters.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds like a great series, I had better get started.
The story sounds fasinating. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Love this series! Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway.
Haven’t read any of these yet.
Would love to read this book and catch up with Lila and her mom! What a great series! Thank you for opportunity to win!
I can’t wait to read this one!
This is a great cozy series.
I’ve not read any of Lucy Arlington’s books. From this post I think I would enjoy them, maybe I will win a book to get me started on them?
This is the only one I have not read. Character development is superb.
I really want this book🐣🐣🐣
Need boooooks!
Sounds like an interesting read– I really enjoyed the post!
This sounds like a really great book! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds intriguing. Love to read this!
Would love to win.want to start reading this series!!!
This book sounds great, can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway :).
I enjoy this series and look foward to reading this installment.
Sounds like a wonderful series.
Sounds like the perfect series for me.
The cover is gorgeous! And the book sounds great too 🙂
Love this author can hardly wait to read
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
Sounds like a fun read.
Great title to add to my TBR list
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love this series, and Amazing Althea’s banana bread.
kaye.killgore at comcast.net
Oh, I love Amazing Althea, and this entire series sounds absolutely delightful! A Southern Cozy Mystery set in my beloved, North Carolina, books, writers, Tarot reading, a delightful psychic, a sleuthing literary agent, a handsome detective, and murder to boot~ what more can a reader ask for? They are all going on my TBR list, and I am so looking forward to reading them! Thank you for this chance, Dru Ann and Lucy. Happy reading, and writing.
stitchingfaery9@gmail.com
Oh this book would definitely make the front of my TBR pile. 😛
“Played By the Book” sounds like a hoot with Amazing Althea there to help. This book seems to have numerous points I would appreciate. Thank you for your giveaway.
sounds like great fun!
I’m a big fan of this series, and I’m eager to get my hands on a new installment! Thanks for the chance to win!
Hmmmm, sounds like an interesting series!
Intriguing use of a pseudonym with changing authors. Like to get the earlier three as well.
contest is closed.