Doyle Flanders wheeled his gray trash cart past the families visiting Lone Star Family Fun Time, Lindo Gato’s year-round amusement park. Rollercoasters zoomed along elevated tracks as riders lifted their hands and screamed with frightened joy. Calliope music drifted from various kiddie rides, and the aroma of fried dough floated through the park.

Willard the Wolfman waved at Doyle as a gaggle of toddlers and their parents followed in his wake. Mascots associated with the rides roamed the park—Sassy Sasquatch and Ricky the Racoon were a couple of others. The most popular was Yango the Yeti, but it remained out of commission until the park’s newest ride, The Terror, officially opened tomorrow.

Doyle didn’t care for the mascots since they attracted too much attention. That’s why he liked his position as a custodian. No one ever followed Doyle or asked to have their picture taken with him. He’d lost several recent jobs after people took his photograph and posted them on the internet. Doyle needed a career where folks wouldn’t take any interest in him.

He stopped pushing his cart near a full trash can. Doyle lifted the lid off and set it on the ground. He tugged the liner and its contents from the steel bin. With a flourish, Doyle spun the bag, twisting its neck before tossing the whole thing into his gray cart.

Doyle didn’t whistle while he worked, but he felt it might have been appropriate as he actually enjoyed his job. It had been some time since he’d felt that way. He pulled a new liner from a roll and snapped his wrists to fill the bag with air.

Before Doyle could put the liner in the steel can, two blond-haired children ran over. They were roughly seven years old and wore matching white T-shirts and blue jeans. They threw their melting ice cream cones into the steel can.

“Don’t be a litterbug,” the boy said with a smile.

“Every litter bit helps,” the girl added with a satisfied nod.

Doyle frowned. “You could’ve waited,” he said as politely as possible. He spread the trash bag wide.

“For what?” the boy asked.

“Yeah,” the girl said. “For what?”

Doyle peered into the trash can. The ice cream cones melted into a psychedelic blend of green and pink swirls.

A woman approached the children. She carried a tray of half-eaten French fries slathered in ketchup. “Kaiden and Olivia, you know the rule.” Her eyes bulged with expectation.

“Stranger danger,” the children said in unison.

The mother dunked her tray of greasy fries into the trash bin.

Doyle groaned as he frustratedly ruffled the plastic liner. The inside of the steel can now looked like a landfill.

The mother glanced at the inky ball of fire on the back of Doyle’s right hand and her expression hardened. “Stranger danger, indeed.”

Doyle frowned.

A large man wandered over. He carried a paper tray in one hand and a partially eaten hamburger in the other. Mustard dribbled down his chin. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“The kids are ready for another ride,” the mother said.

“Yay!” the children shouted in unison and jumped excitedly.

Doyle grimaced. He liked kids as much as he liked toothaches.

The father smashed his burger into the paper tray before tossing it into the steel can. He pursed his lips as he considered Doyle. “You should put the bag in before we throw our trash away.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Doyle said.

The father smiled. “That’s why we’re on vacation and you’re a janitor.”

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Cozy Up to Terror, A Cozy Up Mystery Book #7
Genre: Cozy with an edge
Release: August 2023
Format: Digital
Purchase Link

A man with a troubled past. A mob out for revenge. This is no time for cookies.

Doyle Flanders has finally found peace working as a custodian at Lone Star Family Fun Time, free from the limelight and out of trouble. But when he’s unexpectedly thrust into the role of Yango the Yeti, the theme park’s beloved mascot, everything changes.

Now, Doyle can’t go anywhere without children following him and loyal fans clamoring for a picture. Adding to the problem, the local mob is looking for the man who should have worn the costume that day.

Little do these gangsters know that Doyle is a man with a secret—one the U.S. Government has invested a lot to keep hidden. Doyle’s enemies have chased him across the country and will stop at nothing to exact their revenge.

Now, Doyle must outwit his pursuers while wearing a heavy, smelly Yeti costume. Will he escape the theme park unscathed? Or will the local mob discover his true identity? Find out in this fast-paced and funny thriller.

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About the author
Colin Conway is the creator of the 509 Crime Stories, the Cozy Up series, and others. He served in the U.S. Army and later worked as a police officer for five years. Along with writing crime fiction, Colin is a commercial real estate broker and investor. He lives in Eastern Washington with his girlfriend and a codependent Vizsla that rules their world.

Learn more at colinconway.com.

All comments are welcomed.