Do you have a guilty secret? I do. I love Elvis Presley. Ever since I saw him perform on television, I haven’t been able to listen to anything else. Sometimes I wonder whether the shock of it would have killed my husband, if he’d lived long enough to see it. It was two years ago that Elvis first appeared on my screen—and four years since Frank died. Now, every morning, I pull my curtains closed and turn up the volume on my record player—after my kids are at school, of course. I shutter to think what Frank would say if he could see me humming along to the King of Rock & Roll. But it was 1958 and this music, aimed at weakening the morality of society, according to most of my peers, is the only thing that seems to help me feel better when the blues hit, as Elvis says.

My name is Isabelle Walsh. You can call me Izzy—everyone else does. Ava Russell, my best friend, is the only one who knows about my guilty pleasure. She tried to make me feel better by reminding me that it wouldn’t be the first time Frank disapproved of something I did. Not the most comforting thought, but I know she meant well. At least listening to music wouldn’t be putting my life in danger—although the church might disagree.

Ava and I have a knack for getting ourselves into sticky situations, you see. We’ve even been involved in two murder investigations. Not to worry—I’ve kept my nose out of trouble since Frank passed away. Although I will admit, I am beginning to feel the itch of curiosity creeping up again. But that’s a good thing, right? My kids are away at camp for a few weeks and they don’t need me as much as they did when they were younger. As Ava reminds me almost daily now, I need to start living again. For me, that means getting back out into the world, even if a trickle of trouble spills out.

It’s hard thinking back to when Frank died. No one knew his heart was weak—least of all, me. He was so strong, so loyal, so loving—I wouldn’t have thought anything could beat him. Maybe it was the pressure of all these things that caused his heart to give out at such a young age. Now, a widow before my fortieth birthday, I’m in the middle of trying to figure out who I am all over again. Luckily, Frank left me with enough savings to live comfortably.

Today, I have somewhere important to be. Every Wednesday I meet my three best friends for lunch at the Twin Oaks Country Club. I’m not a member, but my wealthy friend, Mary Whitmore, is. Ever since we worked together at the munitions factory during the war, four of us gals have remained close. Long days and dark nights bonded us for life. Of course, we’ve also had our share of tragedy since the war. I wasn’t the only one who lost my husband—Mary did, too. But unlike my beloved Frank, Mary’s husband was no prince. His life was cut short by murder—Mary was even the primary suspect. Luckily, we were able to figure out who the real killer was and prove her innocence.

Look at the time! I don’t want to be late. Music off, curtains open. Good, the sun is still shining. Along the New England coastline, the weather can change pretty quickly. I always wrap my hair in a scarf in an attempt to tame my unruly hair. Not that I’m overly worried about it. I guess if I were, I wouldn’t drive with the top down in my little red convertible any given chance. Did I mention Frank was a mechanic? He spoiled me when he gave me that car. Originally, he intended to sell it—the former owner dumped it at the shop with a blown engine, unwilling to pay the hefty cost of its repair. But once it was fixed up and Frank saw how much I loved it, he handed me the keys.

Red scarf tied, kitten sunglasses on. The only thing left to do was pick up Ava on the way. I hope they serve that orange chiffon cake for dessert again. . .

You can read more about Izzy in The Girls Dressed for Murder, the third book in the “Izzy Walsh” cozy mystery series, released August 31, 2019.

When Izzy gets a killer dress for her birthday, she isn’t expecting to accessorize it with murder. . .

It’s 1958 in the cozy coastal town of Twin Oaks and amateur sleuth Isabelle Walsh is armed with a fresh perspective, two years after tragedy strikes. The first stop on her journey back to joy is the best little dress shop in town—introduced to her by best friend and fashion fiend, Ava Russell.

Izzy falls in love with the store and its style. So, when the boutique is marred by murder, Izzy wants to help. But with more suspects to choose from than a spring collection, she isn’t sure where to start.

Can Izzy unravel the twisted truth or will she become the victim of a deadly trend? Find out in the third book in the Izzy Walsh Mystery Series!

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Meet the author
Lynn McPherson has worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, ran a small business, and taught English across the globe. She has travelled the world solo, where her daring spirit has led her to jump out of airplanes, dive with sharks, and learn she would never master a surfboard. Lynn serves on the Crime Writers of Canada Board of Directors, currently representing Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and is the author of the Izzy Walsh Mystery Series.

To learn more about Lynn, visit her website at lynnmcpherson.net.

All comments are welcomed.