My late husband is the one who decided to get a dog.
Our daughter had begged him for a puppy, and he couldn’t say no—not to her.
“What kind of dog do you want?” he asked.
“I don’t want a dog.”
He waved away my objection. “Fine. No dog. What kind of no dog?”
“One that doesn’t shed much,” I replied.
I could have defined size or temperament or ease of training, but if Henry did come home with an animal, I didn’t want our housekeeper to have a fit.
The next day Henry came home with a gray puppy. He put the dog in Grace’s arms and stars danced in her eyes, rainbows swirled around her head, and love pheromones filled our kitchen.
“Thank you, Daddy. This is the best present ever.”
“What are you going to call him?” Henry asked.
Grace looked deep into the puppy’s amber eyes. They communed. “His name is Max.”
Max licked Grace’s nose.
Grace giggled.
I shot Henry the look. The how-could-you-do-this-without-consulting-me-first look.
“That’s your dog, Grace. You’ll be the one to take care of him.”
“I will, Mom. I promise.”
Ask any parent—ever—that promise never works out.
Max is my running partner. He climbs the stairs to my studio, settles in his chair, and watches me paint. He chases squirrels and the neighbors’ cats and bad guys.
It never occurred to me that Max might be lonely.
Till now.
Max has fallen in love with a golden-haired hellion.
And not just any golden-haired hellion.
He’s fallen in love with a dog who belongs to Prudence Davies, a woman with horse teeth, a braying laugh, and a deep antipathy for me and mine,
My four-legged Romeo found his Juliet and their stars are truly crossed.
Now it’s up to me—no expert in happy endings—to make sure the two lovebirds can soar into the future together.
A task that would be easier without houseguests, dead bodies, and Mother’s disapproving glare.
Stayin’ Alive is the tenth book in the ” Country Club Murder” humorous mystery series, released February 25, 2020.
Springtime. Love is in the air. So is murder.
When Ellison Russell, reluctant finder of bodies, chairs a gala in conjunction with the museum’s Chinese funerary exhibit, she expects disaster. So, she’s not remotely surprised when a body turns up.
Ellison is willing to leave the investigation to the police till an attempt is made on her life.
Now she’s juggling evading a killer, her aunt’s overly-amorous beau, her dog’s new love interest, and Mother’s displeasure.
With bodies piling up, if Ellison’s not careful, staying alive might be impossible.
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About the author
Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean–and she’s got an active imagination. Truth is–she’s an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions. Visit Julie’s website at juliemulhernauthor.com.
All comments are welcomed.
I really love this series especially since I lived this time period and so it’s a trip down memory lane when I read the time of my life comes back in memories. The writing is wonderful in these books and I’m looking forward to getting this soon.
Cynthia, hope you LOVE it!!!
I love this series and this book is next up! Julie Mulhern writes with such skill.
Kimberly, look for Killer Queen in late June! And, THANK YOU for reading!
I love these books. I find myself listening to these books in the gym and laughing out loud, my gym mates try to move away. If a writer can make me laugh out loud—she is a keeper.
Thank you!!!
Julie Mulhern’s books draw me in from the first sentence and keep me enthralled until the very end, leaving me wishing for more. I definitely savor these books. Thanks for sharing A Day in the Life of Ellison and Max ~
Celia, thank you!!!
I love Julie Mulhern’s books; they always satisfy my need for pleasing humor. And this story about Max made me laugh out loud because ten years ago, my young daughter Julia teamed up with my husband to convince me to get our dog. I’d never had one growing up, never wanted one … all that fur! all that walking! But Julia kept asking George to do these “Which dog is best for your family?” quizzes on line … and George found Beagle Fest in Tempe AZ where there was a Beagle Rescue tent … and now I don’t know what I’d do without Rosy. She’s 16 and my writing muse. 🙂
Max is based entirely on our dog Sam. A Weim who wants to rule the world. Pansy is based on a dog from my youth.
My copy is on its’ way right now!
Hurray!