Me? You want to hear about a day in my life. Are you sure you have the right person? I think you may want to hear about Anna’s day, not mine. Even my boss, the nerdiest person on the planet, is more interesting than me. My life is just plain boring. I work two jobs and go to graduate school. Being that busy doesn’t exactly lead to blood-thumping, heart-stopping adventures.
If you think I’m crazy for working two jobs while going to school, you’ll think I’m even crazier when you hear I turned down a free ride as well. My parents were willing to pay for school for me – all the way through med school. But that’s just it. They were only willing to pay for med school. At least that’s what they say. I’m pretty sure if I said I wanted to go into general medicine and join Doctors Without Borders, they would have had a fit.
I may be soft spoken and not have much of a temper, but I am a bit stubborn. Okay, a lot stubborn because I flat out refused my parents’ money. Support shouldn’t come with conditions. Why can’t I just study what I want to? You can only imagine the arguments this lead to. Despite the arguments (read: guilt trips), I refused the money my parents were ‘willing’ to provide. In their words: ‘I turned my back on them’. They do love to exaggerate. Anyway, I was admitted into the School of Social Work and never looked back. I finished my Bachelor’s of Social Work in May and now I’m working on my masters.
In the meantime, bills have to be paid. I work 20 hours a week at a youth center in a shabby part of the city. I’m required to do a field placement and the youth center is mine. I’m hoping to work there full-time after I finally graduate. Can you keep a secret? I’m totally getting hired full-time when I get my masters. The job is pretty much guaranteed. Just don’t tell the cupcake girls.
The cupcake girls, Anna and Callie, are my colleagues at Callie’s Cakes where I work most mornings and weekends providing the liquor of the gods to college students and stressed-out business workers. Anna and Callie are my best friends. I love the girls, but those two could find trouble at a nunnery! There’s more than one reason I call them the troublesome twosome. They’re forever sticking their noses into places they are most definitely not welcome. Callie even ended up in some danger when she got herself embroiled in a murder investigation.
That’s not for me. Pretending to be some private investigator or super spy or something and solving murders? No way. Although, if I’m being perfectly honest, I have been dipping a toe into the investigations business lately. I heard more than a few rumors about something absolutely atrocious happening on campus. Promise not to tell Anna or Callie?
Okay, here’s the deal. Do you mind if I just whisper in your ear? Come closer. Rumor has it that someone is drugging girls on campus and . . . er. . . abusing the girls – if you know what I mean – while they’re incapacitated. Well, I couldn’t let something like that just go, could I? I tried to find out from the campus police what they’re doing to stop these horrible crimes, but they were not helpful at all. In fact, they kind of kicked me out of their station.
Well, fine then. If they’re not going to help, it’s going to be up to me. Anna does always say that I’m out to save the world. I usually roll my eyes at her saying that, but I’ve got to admit she’s got a point this time. I’ve tried to ask other students what’s going on, but no one’s talking to me. So this Friday, it’s on. I’m heading to the campus bar up the road from my apartment and I am going to find out what in the name of coffee is happening on this campus – no matter what.
I never go to bars – let alone by myself. Wish me luck.
Self-Serve Murder is the third book in the Death by Cupcake mystery series, December 2016.
Kristie is kind with a capital K, so it’s quite the surprise when she wakes up next to a dead man with no recollection of the previous night. Even worse? She’s naked. Kristie may be a sweetheart out to save the world, but sticking her nose into an investigation of rapes across campus makes her the target of a murderer. Before she knows it, Kristie is smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation with her colleagues Callie and Anna. If that’s not enough to drive a sane person up the wall, a friend has decided he’s going to keep her safe whether she wants him to or not. And, oh yeah, he’s her man and that’s that.
Come join us at Callie’s Cakes, where murder investigations are on the menu. You are most welcome, but you may need to serve yourself as our barista Kristie is busy trying to save the world.
Warning: Although there are plenty of moments that will make you shake your head and laugh at the antics of the ladies of Callie’s Cakes, the subject matter – rape on college campuses – is very real and somewhat darker than your usual cozy mystery.
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About the author
I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one 
should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although I did manage, every once in a while, to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But being a lawyer really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out being a B&B owner wasn’t my thing either. I decided to follow the husband to Istanbul for a few years where I managed to churn out book after book. But ten years was too many to stay away from ‘home’. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.
Learn more about D.E. Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon author page ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest ~ Google+
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a kindle version of the previous two books in the Death by Cupcake series: Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker and Bring Your Own Baker. The giveaway ends December 4, 2016 at 11:59 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
Death by Cupcake! What a grand way to die. Lol!
Ha! Ha! If you have to go ….
Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds really good! Thanks so much for the chance to win this! lindaherold999@gmail.com
Good luck with the giveaway!
I loved the first one in the series, so really should read two and three! (so many good books, so little time *sigh*) dragonsteeluk@gmail.com
Ha! Ha! I know all about the little time 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the first one!
The Death by Cupcake series sounds great. Thank you for this chance!
Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway!
My fingers are crossed that I am picked to receive this book since I am not familiar with D.E. Haggerty and her books. Based on your blog information I am sure it won’t be that way for long. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
Isn’t finding a new writer the best? Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
This series sounds great! I will check it out!
Thanks! And good luck with the giveaway!
Sounds like a book with a lot happening in it to me! Kristie sounds brave to take on this “problem” by herself! I am looking forward to reading Death by Cupcake…but first to bake some cupcakes in case I get hungry! Thanks Dru Ann, you pick such good books! Thanks D.E. for your generous give-away. 🙂
Definitely bake those cupcakes as cupcakes are not included 😉 Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
I love this series and can not wait to read this book also. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Thanks! Good luck with the giveaway
What great titles (Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker – awesome), and what an interesting life you’ve led! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Thinking up titles is half the fun with cozy mysteries! Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
I love the sound of this book! Definitely on my TBR list.
Awesome! Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
Your autobiographical sketch is intriguing
Thanks. The grass is always greener (or more intriguing) on the other side of the fence 😉 Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
A new series to me and the books sound like fun reads. Would really enjoy reading.
I’m all about the fun read 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
I think I’ll like Kristy—she’s got spunk.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Don’t you just love spunky women? Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
I love this title! So fitting.
Thanks! I was shocked when I googled it and no one had used it before. Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
Sounds interesting and a good subject matter.
Thank you. I was worried the subject matter would be too serious. Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
Enjoy humorous cozies.
Aren’t they the best? I just hope my books fit that category 😉 Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway.
And another new author to me.
I love finding new authors, don’t you? Thanks for stopping by!
Looks like a really good book by a new to me author Thanks for the chance to win
Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway!
Oh I love cupcakes and ebooks so definitely want to enter for this one.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Good luck!
As lawyer, I love hearing about people who have moved on from the law to other careers–can’t wait to read this.
Yes, there’s life after the bar 😉 Thanks for stopping by