I’m Emily Wilson, second flute of Colorado’s Monroe Symphony. The symphony is usually my safe place. But a really obnoxious Board member, Curtis Strange, was murdered at the annual Fourth of July concert. The fiery festivities—including the noise of cannons, liberty bells, and fireworks—covered the fatal gunshots.
Now the police suspect my friend KC. Sure, in her old life as an escort Curtis was a client. And sure, without KC’s knowledge, he’d been stalking her for years. But that doesn’t mean she murdered him, as the authorities seem to believe.
She’s turned her life around. She’s head chef at the Articulate Artichoke, a vegetarian restaurant here in town, moving toward national recognition with KC’s yummy recipes. And she’s engaged to Steve Palmer, a wonderful Board member who owns Media Masters, the Symphony’s public relations firm. So, whatever the circumstantial evidence, I don’t believe she’s the killer.
The problem is proving it.
Among the usual things— a developing relationship with my former lawyer, walking my dog, volunteering at the Supervised Visitation Center, summer concerts in the parks, flute students, practicing, and trio performances—whew!—I need to figure out the real culprit, because the police are going in the wrong direction, and I, literally, owe KC my life. She helped me when I was accused of the murder of a colleague. It’s payback time.
I know I’m getting close, though, because someone’s blackmailing me. He wants me to “stop asking questions.” Now I just need to figure out questions of whom. I’ve made a lot of enquiries in my search for the killer. But I won’t stop now, no matter the consequences, no matter the threats. I owe it to KC. And she and Steve deserve to start their new life together without worries or suspicions.
Fireworks on the Fourth, A Musical Murder Mystery Book #3
Genre: Cozy
Release: May 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
The fiery festivities of the Symphony’s annual Fourth of July extravaganza feature cannons, liberty bells, and fireworks. But the noise covers gunshots which leave a shifty Board member dead and Emily Wilson’s friend, KC, the prime suspect. Can Emily face down blackmail, danger, and a threat to her loyal companion to find the killer?
About the author
Barbara Bowen is a freelance writer. She was a finalist and Honorable Mention in the 2018 Focus: Eddy Awards for her article, “Letting Go with Grace,” published in Unity Magazine. Ms. Bowen is also an accomplished professional oboist who played with the Colorado Springs Symphony for nineteen years.
Drawing on her quirky fellow musicians and orchestral experiences, she created the mystery series, “Musical Murders.” The first is “Music is Murder” (Release date, 6-9-21). The second is “Ballistics at the Ballet” (Release date 9-14-2022) The third is “Fireworks on the Fourth” (Release date 5-9-2023).
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, lives in Colorado with two canine friends, and has a song for any occasion.
All comments are welcomed.