My name is Rose MacGillivray, and I thought retiring would be sipping a glass of good wine, reading a book, and watching the world go by. In the three months I’ve lived in Paso Robles, I haven’t done that at all.
Watson, my sweet rescue mutt, is a scruffy little dog with an outsized personality. I swear he listens to me and understands what I’m saying. Especially when I talk about the murder. He’s my best sounding board for ruminations about suspects and motives. Why murder? Shortly after I retired and moved here, a local art gallery was robbed, and the security guard was killed. The police are investigating, and I really want to help.
Today, like most days, I rise early. Years of working in the corporate world trained me to be in the office before the rest of the employees arrived. Before the noise level rose, the phone rang, and meetings filled my day. Watson noses his way around the back patio while I read the news, then nudges me to get going for our walk.
We head down to town and our favorite coffee shop. We see tourists window shopping, grab a cup of brew, and plan their winery visits for the day. Paso Robles wines are known around the world, and we have olive oil, distilleries, and breweries as well. The vineyard-covered hills are beautiful no matter what season. It is autumn now, and the grapes are harvested, the leaves are burnished red and gold, and the dried grasses are waiting for the first rain.
After a leisurely walk around the park, we weave our way back to the house. I have a few ideas on who might have stolen the painting that I want to discuss with my neighbors, Natalie Patel and Stella Richards. Natalie works at the art gallery. She’s a painter herself, though she doesn’t share her art with anyone. Hopefully, she’ll be comfortable with me soon because I’m curious about what style she uses. Natalie is a few years younger than me, but Stella is decades younger.
Stella has a bookkeeping service and is a transplant from the UK. She says she’s hunting for her birth mom and that she’s narrowed her search down to California, and more narrowly to the area we live in. I wish her luck. I’ve grown fond of her over the last month, and if I had a daughter would want her to be just like Stella. Courageous, friendly, smart, and beautiful.
One of these days, I might get to sipping, reading, and people watching. However, that’s when I’m not thinking about murder.
OLIVE GROVES & ALIBIS
Series: A Rose MacGillivray Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 2026
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
When her friend Natalie is framed for the murder at a gallery exhibit gone wrong, Rose knows she must step beyond polite society to exonerate her friend, uncover the truth, and catch a killer. Together with a pint-sized dog named Watson, Rose and her friends navigate a web of deceit, danger, and delicious wines as Rose learns that the olive trees she’s come to love hold more than just fruit—they hide villains.
With wit, charm, and rich character development, Olive Groves & Alibis is a delightful blend of mystery, friendship, and resilience. Will Rose uncover the truth before it’s too late? Pour yourself a glass of your favorite wine and dive into this thrilling tale that proves you can choose your friends, but sometimes, the past chooses you. Grab your copy today and join Rose on her quest for justice amid the delicious allure of Paso Robles!
Meet the author
L.G. Reed first published an award winning short story in high school, then went on to practice marketing and engineering in the Los Angeles area. Her published works include The Maiden Voyage of the Maryann a science fiction/fantasy, Sydney Porter – Dog Girl, and The Science of Defying Gravity, both middle-grade novels. She lives in the rolling hills of the central coast of California.