May 2nd
It’s pretty rural where I live. Missisquoi, Vermont. Yeah, we have a downtown and everything, but when you drive around, there are lots of idle fields and old barns and wild animals. I’d never given the animals much thought until recently. I don’t hunt, like my pal, Bobby. And I don’t have a dog like Sally, my friend and favorite waitress at the town diner.
But for the past three months, I’ve had one animal on my mind a lot, Moe, our town’s official groundhog. Sally thinks he’s cute as a button. I think he’s the devil. Well, come to think of it, I wish he was the devil. Then it’d be warmer around here.
My problem with Moe is every freaking February 2nd, he sees his shadow, declaring we’ll have another long winter. That might not seem like a big deal to you. But then, most town groundhogs don’t actually control the weather. Here in Missisquoi, ours are different. They have special powers. Their predictions always come true, and Moe always predicts a long winter.
I realized this past Groundhog Day that if I wanted things to change around here, I’d have to get rid of Moe. It should be easy. He lives in a large chain-link pen in a sanctuary a few miles from my house. It’s at the edge of some woods, which should provide cover while I’m hightailing it back to my truck. I’ve been casing the joint for the past three months, waiting for my chance to grab him.
Of course every time I’ve been about to tiptoe into the cage, someone has come by at the last second, foiling my plot. But eventually, my plan’ll work. It has to.
What could possibly go wrong?
To learn how Gus’s plan works out, read The Shadow Knows by Barb Goffman in Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays, published October 7th by Wildside Press. Homicidal Holidays is the sixth volume in the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, and Derringer award-winning Chesapeake Crimes series. In addition to Groundhog Day, the anthology has stories set on Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and last, but definitely not least, Talk Like A Pirate Day. Arrr.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on October 22 for the chance to win a copy of CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: HOMICIDAL HOLIDAYS. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Meet the author
Barb Goffman likes her crime short and sweet. Well, maybe not that sweet. She’s the author of DON’T GET MAD, GET EVEN, a short-story collection published last year by Wildside Press that recently won the Silver Falchion Award for best single-author mystery collection published in 2013. Barb also won the Macavity Award last fall for best short story of 2012, and she’s been nominated multiple times for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards for her short fiction.
Her next story to be published, “It’s A Trap!,” will appear in an anthology of funny Thanksgiving crime stories, THE KILLER WORE CRANBERRY: A FOURTH MEAL OF MAYHEM, due for release later this month by Untreed Reads Publishing. To support her short-story habit, Barb runs a freelance editing service, specializing in crime fiction. She also serves as secretary of the Mid-Atlantic chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Learn more at www.barbgoffman.com and www.goffmanediting.com.
lol sounds like a fun book, would love to read it
Fun read…count me in 🙂
Looks great, i love holiday themed reads, thank you for the chance 🙂
Sounds amusing, yet intriguing. Thanks for the review.
I know I would enjoy this! It sounds good! Thank you!
Sounds like a fun read.!
sounds like it will be a fun read. Always enjoy a humorous story
Hah! That should be a hoot. Looks like a really fun read, too. Thank you for the chance to win.
Thanks Debbie, Gram, Lisa, Yifat, Carol, Alicia, Marylou, and Terry for checking in. And good luck!
Sounds like a lot of laughs. I would love a copy.
I love holiday-themed mysteries. This sounds like a great read.
I’d love to read this.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Made me laugh and think of the movie “Groundhog Day.” Holiday reads (and old classic movies) are fun.
Snickers for the little goblins, snickers for the adult readers. Who could ask for more?
This little town sounds like our town. Rural but yet habitable. Whether the groundhog sees it’s shadow or not we are always buried with more snow than we need. I’d love to be able to continue this saga.
This sounds like a fun book and look forward to reading it.
Looks like a great read.
Can’t wait to read
Sometimes the holidays make me feel homicidal, too with all the relatives and in-laws. Time to disappear into a good mystery. I think I’d like this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love cozies (and books in general) that have one of our New England states as the location of the novel. Vermont is one of our vacation spots and has been all of my life (we live in MA). So I definitely want to get to read this fun/interesting series by Barb as soon as I can. With winter coming soon I need to get stocked up on more great books; at least that is my excuse to order online all the time. 🙂 Thank you for introducing me to this new series, Dru. Much success to you Barb with this new cozy series.
Cynthia
Great way to have a themed holiday story at the ready. Sign me up, please.
Hi. Thanks to everyone for commenting. I’m traveling and having a hard time logging in (I hope this goes through), but I’m enjoying all the responses. Happy reading!
This sounds like a great anthology. I love the plot of the story. I, too would like to get rid of the groundhog. I live in the Midwest and get sick of snow in April. Thanks for the giveaway.
OMG!! This book looks like it going to be a real hoot to read. I’ve had my own dealings with groundhogs, so this is a must read.
scarletbegonia5858@gmail.com
I love the holiday themes! We have a groundhog who seems to live under my storage barn.He (she?) doesn’t show his/herself very often, but we sure had a cold Spring last year. or . rather, an extended Winter.
Continued good luck to you,Barb!
I’ve read several Chesapeake crimes & enjoyed them. Would love to win this to read. Thanks for the chance.
This looks I teresting
Can’t wait to read Barb’s story and all the others! Perfect Halloween treat. 🙂 No need to enter me in the contest. I already purchased the book!
Who knew you could write a story about Talk Like a Pirate Day. What fun stories.
Don’t do it Gus! He’s just a harmless little rodent. This sounds like fun, thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I would love to read this book—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I’m finally home and replying is much easier. Thanks, everyone, for your interest in the book. There will be only one winner, but I hope you all will find the time to pick up and enjoy the book. Happy holidays to all!
Sounds like a good book. The skeleton on the cover reminds me that Halloween is coming! I don’t find many new mystery short story collections anymore.
I would love this!
Can’t wait try it!
Too cute! I’m looking forward to checking out this book. 😀
Sounds like something I would read. And Halloween is almost here.!!!
I want one 🙂
Sounds like a fun read!
Sounds pretty funny! Love the whole concept! Thanks!
I like short stories collections about murder and mystery.
contest is closed.