Tuesdays are usually ordinary days. At least, they have been mostly unremarkable since the whole question of who killed the owner of the hardware store was settled. Once I helped get my grandfather cleared of suspicion and the real murderer was waiting behind bars for his court date, things settled down. And as an unexpected bonus, in the course of it all I’d made some friends.
One of them–my new bestie Carrie–was the owner / manager / head salesperson (or, as my grandfather would say “chief cook and bottle washer”) of Aggie’s Antiques and Gifts. She had been kind enough to offer to sell some of my projects on consignment. See, I may be between “regular” jobs as an accountant (Please. I know. Could I have chosen a more conservative career path?) and I may have had to give up a lot of my possessions when I moved in with my grandfather in the little town of Wenwood, NY. But one of the things I refused to surrender was all the supplies and equipment that allowed me to indulge in my love of stained glass. I’d taken my first classes in glass crafting as a way to reduce stress and promptly became devoted to the art. The color, the precision, the patina all combined to make something beautiful. Let a little light shine through and there was a potential for magnificence.
That is, if you’re designing a church window or something equally large and impressive. Which I wasn’t. I’d only been making small pieces to show and sell in Carrie’s shop. Except for that Tuesday. . .the one that was out of the ordinary and launched me on yet another new adventure.
On this particular Tuesday Carrie picked me up early in the morning. I made sure to give my fluffy white kitten Friday an extra dozen scratches under her chin before I ran out the door while my grandfather shouted out a reminder that we needed more moist cat food. (He claims Friday is a nuisance, but I can see straight through his bluster to the soft heart beneath.)
As I settled into the passenger seat, Carrie drove us deeper into the residential area of Wenwood, onto streets lined with huge trees that had stood for more than a century and homes that had sat in their shade for nearly as long. Along the way I peppered her with request for reassurances that the endeavor I was facing was a good idea. And like I said, she’s my best friend. Plus it was her idea in the first place. Of course she was in favor.
Carrie’s idea? Long-time resident Trudy Villiers was converting her large Victorian home into a B&B in anticipation of future tourist revenue. She had hired Carrie to help with decorating. Carrie, in turn, convinced Trudy that a custom-made stained glass window over the front door would add that certain something special. Naturally, that’s where I came in. And that, I thought, was enough to mark this Tuesday as out of the ordinary. After all, it’s not every day a person embarks on a new venture.
I was so wrong.
I was still stuck on why Trudy kept pausing in the middle of our discussions of her windows to gaze at me and repeat my name like she thought she’d read it in a news headline when finally the ringing of Carrie’s phone put an end to that. An office building that Carrie was half owner of and her ex-husband worked in had mysteriously gone up in flames. So much for consulting with Trudy Villiers. We were back in the car and on our way to that office building faster than you can say “bed and breakfast”, rushing to the scene–where the police and the Fire Marshall divulged their belief that the fire was the result of foul play.
That blew ordinary out of the water.
Yeah. I may have thought poking into crime was a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I may have decided that uneventful days bordered on blissful, but this is my BFF we’re talking about. Someone is messing with her world. You can be darn sure I’m going to figure out who.
You can read more about Georgia in Death Under Glass, the second book in the “Stained-Glass” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Ill Gotten Panes.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on August 6 for the chance to win a print copy of Death Under Glass. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected.
About the author
At 5 years old Jennifer McAndrews’s greatest achievement was becoming the person responsible for choosing which kindergarten table was the first to be dismissed at the end of the day. Drunk on power, she entered into private school, where nuns promptly turned her into a nervous, twitching, Dickensian waif and (unwittingly) taught her the value of fabrication over truth and the importance of only dreaming of murdering the neighbors rather than actually carrying out the deed. Thus, the author of mysteries Deadly Farce, Ill-Gotten Panes, and Death Under Glass was born. For a slightly more mundane biography, visit www.jennifermcandrews.com
This is a new series to me and I can’t wait to start it. Thank you for the chance.
Moonbay7399@gmail.com
A mystery with stained glass sounds like a fun read!
Sounds like a great mystery book (and it had stain glass). This is a new series and author for me, and I am looking forward to reading this series. Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Sound like a fun series! Thanks for introducing me to a new author and for the giveaway!
Love the theme and dog 🙂
New author and new series, but it sounds fun.
I really enjoyed the first one in this series and looking forward to this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Can’t wait to win this one!
I have to admit to not knowing about this series so thanks for the blog. I definitely need to look into reading this.
Sounds fun, look forward to reading it
Sounds interesting to me.
This is a new author and series for me. This book sounds like a fun read. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of “Death Under Glass.”
This sounds like an awesome series.
Love discovering new series to read. Sounds great.
This sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win.
Sound fascinating.
Looks like a great read. Thanks Dru and Jennifer for the opportunity to win a copy!
love new authors and series, and book sounds great, wold love to win, ty
I still remember the stained glass window over the fake fireplace in my grandmother’s apartment (who we lived with for five or so years). How the colors would make patterns on the floor and opposite wall depending on the time of day.
Please toss my hat into the contest ring Dru.
I am not familiar with this author but the concept behind the book sounds fascinating. Thanks for the review and the chance to win a copy. robeader53@yahoo.com
i am so looking forward to this, loved Book ONE and love the bio on the author !
Sounds like an amazing read:) Thanks for chance
WOW.. this sure does sound like an awesome new mystery for me to read. I haven’t ever read anything by this author and that makes it super duper exciting to try a new author. The cover of the book is so awesome as well…..just love, love, love the adorable doggie’s cute face and the stained glass is so pretty! Thank you so much dearest awesome Dru for the chance to win this new book! Looking forward to reading it!!! God bless you girl…you ROCK!!!!
Sounds like a great read. I love the cover.
New author, new series!! Sounds great!
Great series. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you, Dru for bringing this series to my attention. I will buy the first book in the series and begin reading so I will be prepared in case I wint this second book! 🙂
Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
Hi Dru Ann! Love the blog today. New-to-me author and series. Years ago, I had the desire to try my hand at stained glass. After I found out how expensive the craft was, I changed my mind and went on with other hobbies. I’ll catch up & read the first in this series and live vicariously through Georgia! Thanks for the chance to win #2!
This is a book that I’ve been looking forward to reading for some time. The first in this series was an interesting read and I hope this latest addition will prove to be just as good. Thanks for the chance to win.
I enjoyed the first book so I can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Loved the first book and can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
This I’d definitely a book I would enjoy reading.
Looks like this is a good book for my TBR list! Thanks for the chance Dru and Jennifer.
I’d like a chance to win this book, please, Dru. It sounds like fun.
I loved the first book in this series , can’t wait to read this installment !
kathambre@yahoo.com
I would definitely like to read more about Georgia. Thanks for the chance to win!
Already bought this, it’s next on my TBR
My nuns never made me twitch, but maybe it’s true that that’s why you’re a writer today. I have tried mosaics with glass, but not stained glass. I do appreciate the craft and I know I’d enjoy two books on the subject. Count me in.
I am intrigued with this book so much that I will running my fingers to Amazon.
I need to start this series…..
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Sounds like a winner!
Would love to win this one to read.
Stained glass new series for me sounds perfect,.
Sounds so good!!
This series is calling my name!
contest is closed.