Yo, readers! My name is Gia Di Mitri, and I’m originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, a.k.a. America’s Playground. But a few months ago I headed west to Danger Cove, Washington, to do makeup and nails at my step cousin Cassidi Conti’s hair salon, The Clip and Sip. And let me tell you, a playground Danger Cove ain’t. It kind of reminds me of Cabot Cove—you know, from Murder, She Wrote? Because it’s a quiet seaside town complete with its own famous mystery writer, Elizabeth Ashby, and because murders just keep friggin’ happening here. Even in my own family.
You see, last year Cassidi’s Uncle Vincent Conti (who’s my step uncle) died under what the Danger Cove Police Department describes as “mysterious circumstances.” But, if you ask me, the only thing mysterious about Vinnie’s death is the identity of the criminal who wrapped a fishnet stocking around his neck—and tied it good and tight. Dear old Uncle Vinnie was what we Italians call a donnaiolo, or a womanizer, so Cassidi thinks one of his gumads (girlfriends) did it. But he had longstanding connections in the Atlantic City casino scene and a stash of cash, so organized crime isn’t out of the question.
The thing is, Cassidi and I didn’t really know our Uncle Vinnie. So imagine her surprise when he left her his entire estate, which included an old Victorian mansion that he’d converted into a combined house and hair salon and—best of all—a totally sick black Ferrari. At the time, Cassidi was having some problems back home in Texas, so she packed her bags and got the hell out of Dodge, i.e., Fredericksburg. Her plan was to start a new life in Danger Cove. No problem, right?
Wrong. It turns out that Cassidi’s painted lady, as Victorian homes are called, has a bad rep with the local townsfolk, and it isn’t because of the paint job. Apparently, Vinnie was doing more than his clients’ ‘dos, and before he bought the building it had a hundred-year history as a brothel, not to mention some rather choice artwork. In 1955, a mob of God-fearing (read: prostitute-loathing) women actually tried to burn the place down, and trust me when I say that there are still plenty of people who’d like to see the old girl gone.
Anyway, a few of Vinnie’s regulars continue to come in to The Clip and Sip. One of them was Margaret Appleby, an eighty-year-old Miss Marple lookalike who always drank soy chai tea. I used the past tense because we lost Margaret after our stylist, Lucy O’Connell, put a blue rinse in her hair, and she turned as blue as a bowl of Boo Berry cereal. At first, I thought that Margaret had died because she was old, but the medical examiner said it was murder.
So, now Cassidi and I are trying to prove Lucy’s innocence (which I have my doubts about), save the business, and find out just what, exactly, is going on in our house and in this town. I mean, we know that two murders in one building might be more than a coincidence, so we’re all on edge. But, like I always say, green tea vodka does wonders to calm the nerves. Cassidi has been doing some asking around, and Amy Spannagel, our (lunatic) local librarian, is helping with the research. What we want to know is this: Why did Margaret Appleby turn blue? Was it the blue dye, or something else? And who would want her dead? Last but not least, was her death connected to Vinnie Conti’s?
If you know anything about either of these crimes, please contact the Danger Cove PD. You can also get in touch with Cassidi or me. You can find our contact information on the Danger Cove website. And if you can muster up the courage, stop by The Clip and Sip and have a drink on the salon. While you’re there, I’ll give you a free makeup consultation. FYI: Being from Jersey, I do a serious smoky eye.
You can read more about Gia in Deadly Dye And A Soy Chai, the fifth book in the “Danger Cove” mystery series, published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. The first book in the series is Secret of the Painted Lady by Christina Burke.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on July 31 for the chance to win either a print or an e-book copy of Deadly Dye And A Soy Chai–winner’s choice. Two lucky commenters will be randomly selected. The print giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The e-book giveaway is open to everyone. Winners 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
Traci Andrighetti is the national bestselling author of the Franki Amato mysteries and the Danger Cove Hair Salon mysteries. In her previous life, she was an award-winning literary translator and a Lecturer of Italian at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a PhD in Applied Linguistics. But then she got wise and ditched that academic stuff for a life of crime—writing, that is.
If she’s not busy working on Amaretto Amber or A Poison Manicure and Peach Liqueur, the forthcoming novels in her two series, then she’s probably still celebrating the news that Limoncello Yellow, the debut novel in her Franki Amato mysteries, is a finalist for the 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.
To keep in touch with Traci, be sure to sign up for her newsletter at her website or on her Facebook page.
The Danger Cove series are always fun to read and good mysteries! Looking forward to this being another fun story in the series. Gotta love Traci’s style! 🙂 Thanks Dru and Traci for the opportunity to enter the contest, and for the look at this latest episode!
Barbara, thank you! I’m glad to here that I have some style! Now if someone would only tell me what it was. 🙂
I’ve haven’t read any of their books but I am looking forward to reading this one.
I’m sure you’ll like them, Barbara!
Oh wow does this sound like so much fun to read.
Thanks so much, Pamela!
A really great post, sounds like a fun read.
I’m glad you liked it, Doward!
Dru, thanks for featuring Traci. I love her writing style & this interview with Gia shows why. All of the Danger Cove mysteries are wonderful, but I believe, this will be one of the best!
You’re the best, K’Tee!
Sounds like this will be lots of fun to read. Thank you for this opportunity. 🙂
Thanks, Peggy! Good luck. 😉
The cover is delightful. Eager to see if the story is as well. Thanks for the chance to find out.
You should check out all the covers on Amazon. They’re so cool!
Sounds like a delightful read, and the cover is cool! Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, Jen! When I first saw the cover I fell in love!
I have not read this authors books; thank you for the chance to win 🙂
Good luck, Lisa! Hope you like the book.
Sounds like a fun read. Look forward to reading it
I had a lot of fun writing it, Debbie! Thanks!
What a fun write up. Another new series to try 🙂
I appreciate that, Gram! At the last minute, I almost scrapped it. 😉
Definitely count me in for this giveaway!!!
Thank you!!!
In bocca al lupo, Cyn! (“Into the mouth of the wolf,” which is the Italian way of wishing someone luck.)
Sounds fun! I would love to win a copy! Im off to get myself a copy of book one.
You will love Secret of the Painted Lady, Shelly!
I’ve never read this series and would like to. Thanks for the giveaway!
That’s awesome, Donna!
Oh, my! This sounds amazing! It also gives me another new (to me) author to check out. Yippee!
I appreciate that, Amy!
New author for me yay!
YAY for me too!
A captivating and intriguing book. Thanks for this giveaway.
I’m so flattered, Anne! Grazie mille!
Love the character, sounds like great fun!
She’s something else…
havent read one yet, but sounds like I have been missing out, they sound cute and entertaining, woukd love to win
It’s a great series, Betty!
This series sounds just wonderful. I must get it on my Kindle! I love your book musings. I thank J A Lang for pointing me to you. Ok, now I’m heading to find your books.
Thanks so much, Rebecca!
What a twist for the title of this book. It definitely perks my interest. Thanks so much for the interview/review. robeader53@yahoo.com
The next title is A POISON MANICURE AND PEACH LIQUEUR. 😉
Sounds like an interesting character, would like to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.
Gia’s kind of wild, Sally. 😉
Oh, this sounds like fun!
I hope it is, Libby!
I’m really enjoying all the Danger Cove books, and I love reading about Franki and her adventures. Ms. Andrighetti has a very humorous voice, and I’m a fan of her writing. Looking forward to reading Deadly Dye & A Soy Chai. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’m so flattered, Linda. I mean, I think I’m funny, but my husband and son don’t. LOL
What a great fun book!
So nice of you to say!
So pleased to be introduced to a new, to me, author. Thanks, Dru Ann.
Traci, I love the title!
Thanks, Reine! Like I said above, the next title is A POISON MANICURE AND PEACH LIQUEUR. How does that sound?
Yes please Dru, this looks like a great read.
Thanks!!!
Sounds like a fun read.
I hope so, Karen!
What could have killed the old lady? I doubt is was the hair dye. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Right?!
I bought my Kindle copy but crossing my fingers for a print copy to complete my TA collection at the library (it’s a thing of beauty!) I’m so glad you didn’t scrap this. I’m loving it. (Do you know where the ‘art’ is being housed now? I’d love to see it.)
I know that soy chai is a killer drink, but I don’t think it can actually kill you. lol Can’t wait to read this one or maybe win this one.
Thanks Traci for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.