My name is Devereaux Sinclair, but everyone calls me Dev. If you would have asked me a year ago what a typical day in my life was like, I would have told you that I get up at six a.m., dress in full makeup and designer suit, drive from my hometown of Shadow Bend, Missouri into Kansas City—a ninety minute commute—and convince high rollers to trust their money to Stramp Investments. But after quitting that job and buying the local dime store, I no longer do any of those things. Now I sleep until eight, wear jeans and a sweatshirt with Devereaux’s Dime Store embroidered across the chest, and sell delectable chocolates and creative gift baskets instead of my soul.
The reason for the big change in my life is my grandmother, Birdie Sinclair. When she started having some memory problems her doctors told me I needed to be around more, and since Gran had dropped everything to take care of me when my parents deserted me, I felt that I had no choice but to return the favor. Turns out, I really like this life a lot better. Although I do miss the six-figure salary.
Never one to take half-measures, I used all my savings and sold off nearly everything I owned (okay, not my sapphire black BMW Z4 or my shoes) to buy, renovate, and stock Devereaux’s Dime Store and Gift Baskets.Unfortunately, just as I was getting my new business off the ground, my old boss was arrested. Turns out, his entire company was a huge Ponzi scheme. Of course, everyone thought I had been in on the fraud, which I wasn’t, but I can understand their suspicions. How in the world could I have not known that Mr. Stramp was cheating our clients?
That scandal finally died down, but before I could relax, the contents of an erotic gift basket I made for my ex-boyfriend’s fiancée was used to murder her. The detective on the case has me pegged as the killer, and since he was one of the many municipal employees that Mr. Stramp defrauded out of their pension funds, he’s determined to pin the homicide on me.Which means I have to find the real murderer before I end up in the prison cell next to my dad. Did I mention my father killed someone while under the influence as he tried to run away after being accused of embezzlement?
However, looking on the bright side, a smoking hot U.S. Marshal has volunteered to help me investigate. He was shot in the line of duty and while he’s recuperating, he’s helping his uncle on his cattle ranch. Now all I have to do is resist the temptation to jump into bed with him—at least until we solve the case of the sex basket and the single dead girl.
LITTLE SHOP OF HOMICIDE, the first in the new Devereaux’s Dime Store mysteries by New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson debuts March 6, 2012.
** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of LITTLE SHOP OF HOMICIDE to give away. Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends March 8. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
Meet the author
Denise Swanson is a New York Times bestselling. She has written fourteen books in the Scumble River mystery series–the fifteenth will be out September 4, 2012. Little Shop of Homicide begins the Devereaux’s Dime Store mysteries series. Denise lives in Illinois with her husband, composer David Stybr, and their cool black cat Boomerang. Visit Denise at www.DeniseSwanson.com or on Facebook
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
I love trying out new cozies! Can’t wait.
I’ve been reading the pre-release notices about this book and they are great. I would love to win a copy since I found out that none of my local county libraries have ordered this book.
This sounds like a terrific new series. Dime stores – I remember them well from the 40s and 50s.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Hi Linda and Nora-Adrienne!
Thanks for visiting my guest blog.
Best,
Denise
I miss old time dime store, the new thrift stores are not the same. Would love to visit this one in the book and met the smoking hot U.S. Marshall!
Thank you for the chance to win this great cozy
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com,
How i miss shopping the old town dime stores. We still have one about 10 miles away that i enjoy browsing. Would love to win a copy.
I love Denise Swanson’s Scrumble River books and so glad she is still writing that series. But now she has a new series as well! What a treat! I can’t wait to begin reading the Dime Store Mysteries series (and I’m old enough to remember what a dime store is!).
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
This book has had me wanting to read it since I heard about it. Love Denise’s books!!
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Karen, Carol, and Lori!
I hope my love of the old dime stores comes through in the book.
Best,
Denise
I miss dime stores! Reading a series set in one will be so much fun! Plus, if it’s by Denise Swanson it has to be good.
Thanks you Nancy B and Nancy R!!!
Best,
Denise
Dime stores were so much fun when I was a kid—but I think the smokin’ hot marshall sounds pretty good, too. Please enter me to win.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Thanks, Sue! Jake is pretty amazing!
Thanks, Vicki!
Thanks, Kiki!
Best,
Denise
Sounds like a great new series!
tori(at)torilennox(dot)com
I just love books like this.
xzjh04(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks Denise for letting Dev drop by and tell us about her day.
Thanks, Kaye!
Thanks, for inviting me Dru!
Sounds like a fun read.
This sounds like a fun book.
I really need to check out Denise’s books ~ this one sounds great.
Love your Scrumble River series and cant wait to read this new series!
Like so many others I have wonderful memories.
This new series sounds like a lot of fun. I love Denise Swanson’s writing style so I’ve been looking forward to this one. Sounds like she has another winning series on her hands! Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
scouts579(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks Sharon, kay Elaine, and Stacie!
Best,
Denise
Sounds like fun read! 🙂
s h a k e s p e a r e a n l o v e r 1 2 1 5 AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks, Lexie!
already on my WishList!!
can’t wait to read this new series!!!
cyn209 at juno dot com
Thank you, Cynthia!