Nice to meet you, too, Lance. The name’s Jake Martelli. Don’t even think about calling me Jacqueline, or even Jackie. Only my mother is allowed to do that. Luckily, Ma lives in Fort Lauderdale, and since it’s a good three-hour flight from where I live in Brooklyn, I don’t have to put up with hearing that too often.
Right, scotch and soda…and some of those little pretzels, if you have them.
Yeah, I actually have a pretty nice place there. I’ve got the garden apartment in a three-story brownstone, with dirt-cheap rent and pretty much a lifetime lease. There’s a bookstore on the first two floors, which is pretty nice. My best friend, Darla Pettistone, owns the shop…the whole building, as a matter of fact. Or maybe I should say, her and her crazy black cat named Hamlet. But that’s another story.
So, what’s a good-lookin’ broad like me doing alone in an Atlantic City dive bar on a Tuesday night? Not very original, are you, kid? Oh, and don’t even think about trying to put the moves on me. You’re, what, thirty? Well, I’m old enough to be your mother. But pour me another scotch and soda, and I’ll tell you why I’m here.
You remember that couple at the end of the bar awhile back? The fat bald guy in the pink shirt two sizes too small for him, and the skinny blonde with too much makeup? Well, Baldy’s married, but not to Blondie. She’s his “administrative assistant” down at the machine shop where he’s a manager. Turns out Blondie’s been administering to him, all right…and Baldy’s missus got suspicious, so she hired me to get the lowdown.
Yeah, you got it in one. I’m a private detective, just like the character in that paperback novel I see you’ve got stashed behind the cash register. Don’t worry, kid, I’ve got your number. Keep the scotch and sodas coming, and I promise I won’t tell anyone you’re a mystery fan.
Nah, tracking down these two geniuses was kid’s play. Blondie has a big mouth. All it took was going out to lunch the same place she and her pals go, and I found out all about her out-of-town “date” tonight and the “sick day” she plans to take tomorrow. So I show up here and, voila. I watched the two of them get all cozy here in the bar for awhile, and then I followed them back to their room at the motel next door.
Word to the wise, Lance…always close your curtains all the way. Oh, and skip doing a Chippendales striptease act if your belly hangs over your belt. I could go for a quart of brain bleach right about now, if you know what I mean. Anyhow, see this innocent looking smartphone? All the incriminating evidence that will help wifey get a nice little alimony settlement when she divorces the rat is right in here.
So, you think my life is more exciting than tending bar? Eh, sometimes it is. Maybe someday I’ll tell you about my little trip down to Florida last month with my friend, Darla, and her cat. Glamorous? Huh, not much. You try sitting in a parked car for hours at a time waiting for some cheating wife to show up at her boyfriend’s place, and telling yourself you don’t have to pee, and see how glamorous you feel.
Well, Lance, it’s been nice chatting with you, but time to go. I’m going to catch a few winks in that fleabag motel next door and then head out bright and early in the morning for home. But, don’t worry, there are plenty of cheated-on spouses out there just itching to hire a private investigator. I’m sure I’ll be back here again sometime soon tracking down another Baldy and Blondie.
Oh, and maybe next time we have a drink together, we’ll forget that whole “old enough to be your mother” thing and see what happens.
You can read more about Jake in Literally Murder, the 4th book in the “Black Cat Bookshop” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Double Booked for Death.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on October 2 for the chance to win a copy of LITERALLY MURDER. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.
About the author
Ali Brandon is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Bookshop Mystery series from Berkley Prime 
Crime. Writing under her real name, Diane A.S. Stuckart, she penned the popular Leonardo da Vinci historical mystery series, which has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as a Florida Book Award. Additionally, she is the author of five critically-reviewed historical romances which will soon be re-released as ebooks. A native Texan with a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, Diane a/k/a Ali now lives in South Florida. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and the Cat Writers Association.
Visit her at www.dianestuckart.com or on Facebook
I really like this series! I’d love to win this one.
I like this series. Looking forward to reading this.
Looks like a great series, thank you for the chance 🙂
Sounds like a great book. Would love to win read it
I would love to win literally Murder!
I love this series. Can’t wait to read this one.
Sounds like fun to me 🙂
This sounds really good and I love the cover!
I enjoy this series. Thank you for the chance to win
Sounds like a good read to me—thanks!
I want to start this series!
Nothing could be better-a cat and a bookstore. The first three books are great. I am looking forward to reading this one,too.
Love this series. Looking forward to this book.
I would like to start this series.I also would like to meet the cat.
What a fun sounding book, can’t wait to read it!
I love a cozy with a cat ! Thanks for the giveaway !
Dru, I SO enjoy reading your entertaining ‘A Day in the Life of…’!! You make the story come alive for me! This is a series I haven’t had a chance to read yet, so I’d love to win. Thanks for the opportunity.
Another new series and another author to get into. All her books sound intriguing.
I would love to read this book, I have not read a book by this author and I sure could start with this one.
Another series that I have missed, it sounds like a fun read, I have got to get started on it. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks, Dru! Thanks, Ali! Hello, Hamlet! 🙂
Ah, a cozy noir. Bring on Sam (Sandra) Spade.
What a really different type of cozy. Thanks for the interview and introducing me to this series.
Best excerpt from a book ! It really did pull me into the story immediately. Sounds very original. Want to meet Hanlet , the cat. Also would love to live above a book store. Nothing like immediate gratification for being near so many books. Love to win this book to read and review!!
Sounds so interesting.
I’m glad you picked Jake for your name and are sticking to it! I like some spirit in my book characters.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Jake sounds like the midpoint between purr and meow. Bring ’em on.
Sounds like a great series.
Really sounds good. Thanks for the chance to win.
That historical series looks interesting as well. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh my gosh….I absolutely love, love, love all of your totally awesome books dearest Ali and am soooooooo excited to read this next new book of yours. Love the awesome name Jake for the awesome kitty and would love to win a copy of your book……you are one totally awesome writer……so please keep on writing…..I am one very satisfied fan of you and your fantastic thrilling books! God bless you!!!! Love the cover and give your precious Hamlet a great big smooch from me!!!!!
I would like to read about Jake.
This is a ROCCO approved series, definitely!
I have the others in the series. I love black cats and have two of them (and three other cats). Of course, I love bookstores, too. Meow!
Oh love this I hope I win
a fun series!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
I enjoy this series. Love the bookstore.
Another series I’m going to have to try. Had never heard of it. Wish there was a real bookstore near where I live that just had cozies in them. I might find some of these there. But since there isn’t either the bookstore (& Wal-Mart doesn’t seem to carry cozy mysteries particularly), so glad you, Dru, are gracious enough to introduce them to me.
I like this series
contest is closed.