A typical day in my life . . . there’s no such thing. Not with the trouble-magnet in my life known as my mother. But maybe I should backup and introduce myself. My name is Kate Spencer. My mother Happy and I co-own the Flower Patch, a small gardening center along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. While we don’t make a fortune selling plants, we do well enough to keep us in the two-story house next door.
Now I know what you’re thinking. A thirty-five year old woman still living at home–What a loser! But if you’d ever tasted my mother’s fried chicken, or had the pleasure of devouring one of her gooey chocolate brownies, you’d understand my reluctance to move out.
Though as much as I love my mother’s cooking, I could do without some of her bossiness. When she makes up her mind to do something, you’d better get out of her way or she’ll mow right over you. And when she’s riled, watch out for the banty rooster. She’s been known to bring grown men to their knees.
Then there’s my doting aunt Lula Mae who, with no children of her own, is nothing like her sister. She’s tall, big-boned, generous to a fault, and recently widowed. Lately, she’s been seeing the new man in town.
At least, she’s doing better than me in the boyfriend department. The last guy I dated took me out to dinner, then tried to sell me life insurance.
The latest trouble started when we offered a free gardening class to our clients. Everything was humming along fine until my aunt showed up with her new man. Her arch enemy, who also happened to be present and seeing the same man, flew into a into rage that ended with a bucket of ice and a pitcher of tea colliding with bodies.
The next evening, the woman got herself murdered and the charming snaked disappeared under a rock. To further complicate my life, the cop assigned to the case is an ex-boyfriend of mine, and he thinks we should get back together. Heaven help us!
Of course, being a lawman, he also “strongly suggested” we keep away from his investigation. But when every clue leads back to Lula Mae, Happy and I have no choice but to get involved. How he can think the woman who once marched into our tenth grade biology class carrying a “save the frogs” sign murdered anyone is beyond me.
Find out more about Kate’s wild ride in A Talent for Murder, the first book in the NEW “Flower Patch” mystery series, published by Five Star/Cengage.
About A Talent for Murder
When Kate Spencer learns her aunt’s fiancé is two-timing her with an old rival, she has no choice but to pass along the information to her mother. They are as shocked as the rest of the town when the rival turns up dead and the two-timing fiancé disappears.
Making matters worse, the lead investigator happens to be Kate’s old boyfriend. If her aunt has any hope of being cleared, the trio must conduct their own investigation. Even if they have to alienate a few friends and tell a few lies to discover the truth.
Barbara Colley (author of the Squeaky Clean mystery series) says, “A TALENT FOR MURDER gives a whole new meaning to the term small-town busy bodies. Fun and a bit quirky, this terrific cozy mystery by Teresa LaRue is full of memorable characters and enough suspects to keep you guessing until the end. A wonderful debut!
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on October 26 for the chance to win a copy of A Talent for Murder. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
Meet the author
Teresa LaRue grew up in a small town along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She fell in love with the mystery genre in the fourth grade. She’s an avid reader, gardener, and movie buff. She now lives on the outskirts of New Orleans with her family, which includes a dog named Bones and a cat named Chloe.
Thanks for introducing me to a new series and author. This was an entertaining post and can’t wait to read the book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for a chance to enter.
Thank you for introducing me to a new author! A Talent for Murder sounds like a great book.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks Dru for providing insight into this new author and her book. I really love following your blog. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for a chance.
A Talent for Murder sounds like a great book.Another new author … thank you Dru Ann!!
Another new author to try. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
This sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win a copy
Sounds like great book!!
This is a totally new author for me to read and that makes it so exciting!!!! I sure would be thrilled to win a copy of this new and awesome book!!! Thanks for much Dru for the chance to win!!!! God bless you girlfriend!!!!!
Fun and mayhem! I need to read this one for sure! Thanks Dru and Teresa for the opportunity to win a copy! 🙂
This is a totally new author and series for me. Can’t wait to check this series out.
Sounds like a great read.
Mother’s are supposed to be inquisitive.
that’s our job.
sounds like a great new series.
thanks.
Hope you are feeling better.
Dru, this sounds like such an adorable read. Please toss my hat into the contest ring. I doubt the book will be on the shelves of either county library system I can visit.
This series sounds interesting and fun. I appreciate the offer.
Thanks for this fascinating giveaway.
Ms. LaRue is a new-to-me author. Dru, thanks for introducing her to us! Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
New to me author, and this book sounds like fun. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love Barbara Colley’s writing. This one sounds so good. Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds terrific!
I would love to read this one, I’m putting it on my TBR list!
I would love to win this one. Thanks, Dru!
Fried chicken, brownies, gardening and murder–sounds like a great new series.
Love the description of this book.
Sounds fun! Thanks for introducing me to a new one.
Love to try new authors. Can’t wait to read the book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Goody! Another southern mystery series to get into. I hope I win!
Thanks, dru for highlighting another new to me author. I think Kate and Happy sound like great characters. Thanks for the chance to iwn!
“Strongly suggested” Love it! Sounds like a great read!
New author to me. It looks like fun.
Sounds like a fun new series I would like to start. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would love to read this.It sounds good…Thank you for the chance.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
A must-read for me!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…
Sounds like a new author I need to read.
This mother sounds like my last landlady, without the culinary talents. To truly judge, I need to read more.
I don’t know this author, but it sounds like a book I’d like to read. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Contest is closed.