The mornings are quiet in Badger’s Hollow. It’s my greatest pleasure in life to rise before the rest of the village and savor the time to myself. I like to start the kettle and head to the conservatory where the scent of dirt and flowers are in perfect harmony. Birds greet me as the sun peeks over the clouds. It’s almost magical. I offer each and every plant a satisfying drink while taking in the new growth and changes they’re eagerly showing.

Seclusion is the closest I’ve been to peace since losing my mother. So, spend my days tucked away in my cottage with Mrs. Greene as my only visitor. Sure, she tries to push me out of my shell but I’m like a crab, not letting go. I refuse to give second chances to people who never offered me one. Let them live out their days with more questions than answers. I hope it eats them up with guilt.

On occasion I take my tea by the bay window overlooking the street to watch the postman make his deliveries and my neighbors get on their way. I’ll never admit I’m as curious about them as they are me. Some days I have more time than others, but that depends on my clients.

I am lucky enough to work from behind a computer screen. Technology is so advanced. As a horticulturist, I help my clients identify and tend to the needs of their plants and landscapes. There have been many times, I have taken a digital tour of someone’s grounds to see the problems they are facing. It’s a rare occasion these days that I have to venture out to their homes to see in person what they are up against. But, as a failsafe, I refuse to take on anyone near my home. That was about the only way I could manage avoidance of pity or the third degree. I put that fateful day behind me and had no intention of looking back.

I take my time with the day’s appointments, only stopping long enough for Mrs. Greene to bring by mail and groceries. That’s as taxing as I can tolerate so I’m thankful my work speeds it along.

I spend my evenings much like my mornings, right back in the conservatory followed by a bath and book by the hearth. I let the quiet tuck me in with a nightcap, ready for tomorrow to begin.

Someone’s Always Watching
Genre: Traditional
Release: July 2023
Format: Digital
Purchase Link

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton, when recluse Basil Billingsly is pulled into a murder investigation that mimics that of his mother’s, he must decide if justice is worth sacrificing his peaceful existence to catch a killer and find the justice, he’s been waiting for…

Basil Billingsly has dedicated more than ten years to flying under the radar of everyone in Badger’s Hollow.

He employs Mrs. Greene to do his bidding while he sets to work with clients far from prying eyes in the Village. He answers to no one and there isn’t a soul alive that relies on him either. Everything was perfect, until it wasn’t.

Now, a decade later, the killer has struck again, and Basil is forced to revisit the unsolved murder of his mother. Torn between love and lies, Basil must sort out his feelings before it’s too late. Old habits die hard, will he break them to save his friends, or will solitude call him home?

Meet the author
J.R. Lancaster is a published journalist, Editor and CEO of Musings & Company Creative Agency. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and children. J.R. is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University and possesses an MFA in Creative Writing and Teaching Degree in English. She has a passion for writing that is only rivaled by her love of reading. In her spare time, you can find her outside with her family or behind the pages of a book. Connect with J.R. on Twitter @jrlauthor or Instagram @authorj.r.lancaster.

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