I was telling my grandmother, Miss Amelia, only this morning, that it seems kind of unlucky, the way we keep turning up dead bodies. I don’t even know the count—now that the second book in The Nut House Series is out—Snoop to Nuts. I hear Elizabeth Lee’s already working on the third in the series. Meemaw agreed with me, that woman sure has a big imagination. We both took a deep sigh, thinking we couldn’t see any way to stick a pin in that imagination and calm her down.
You probably know by now that I’m Lindy Blanchard and that I live on the family’s pecan farm in Riverville, Texas. I guess you could say my whole life is invested in pecans since my college years were spent in agriculture and bioengineering classes at Texas A&M. What I want more than anything is to come up with a pecan varietal that is resistant to drought and scab and a host of other viruses and problems. That’s mostly what I spend ordinary days doing—working out in my barns and in my test field.
And then there are days like today. First thing this morning I got a call from Deputy Hunter Austen, my erstwhile boyfriend, that he found a dead body over in the cemetery. Now usually there’d be no problem with one turning up there—that’s where you’d expect them, but Austen said this was a bunch of bones without a grave to their name. Or maybe he said without a name or a grave. I wasn’t listening that close because he had me at “bunch of bones.”
I asked Meemaw if she wanted to go with me and that’s how we got to saying how unlucky we felt. She had a whole lot of pecan pies to get in the oven. The library was giving a kind of book social that afternoon and no party in Riverville was complete without at least ten of Meemaw’s pies. And maybe some chocolate-covered pecans to wash the pies down with. Meemaw said to be sure and call her when I got to the cemetery and I said I would.
I was almost looking forward to seeing Hunter. We’d gotten kind of close lately. I was even beginning to entertain thoughts of marrying the guy, if I could get him to ask me.
Since it was still early in the day and I hadn’t had any breakfast yet, I stopped by Cecil Darling’s The Squirrel Restaurant.
Cecil’s an Englishman and he thinks most of us Texans are an uncouth, uncultured, unsophisticated bunch of folks. He does a lot of laughing at how we eat: ordering a ham sandwich when he’s offering us perfectly good English dishes like his black pudding with coddled eggs, or the spotted dick.
I didn’t let him talk me into any of that bangers and mash stuff he pushed at breakfast. I drew a noisy and judgmental sniff when I asked for a fried egg and whole-wheat toast. The sweet tea was good, it always is. Not even Cecil can destroy the taste of the national drink of Texas.
Let’s see now—I want to get this right since Dru asked me to tell you about a day in my life. I think I stopped to talk to a few folks on my way out—they’d already heard about the bones. I told them all I was headed over to the cemetery right then and they oohed and awed at me and then Ethelred Tomroy wanted to know how come I seem to be around whenever there’s a dead body found in town. I ignored Ethelred, though she’s Meemaw’s friend. She’s also a gossip and a nag and a troublemaker. All three of those things give me license to pretend she’s not in front of me—which I did. I walked on over to the cemetery.
I can tell you right now, I should have stayed home with my trees. Hunter was standing there, hat zipping around and around in his hands. Old Miss Merrithew was yelling at him and shaking both fists in the air. He and the other deputy, there with him, just dug up her doggie burying ground, right there at the back of the cemetery. And all because one boy brought part of a leg bone home to show his folks.
I hung around a while to see how Hunter was going to get out of this one. He did like he always did, promised her a nice chain fence around her dead dog yard and made her happy.
So that’s how I spent at least half of my Wednesday, here in Riverville, Texas.
You can read more about Lindy in Snoop to Nuts, the second book in the “Nut House” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is A Tough Nut to Kill.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on January 12 for the chance to win a copy of SNOOP TO NUTS. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
About the author
Elizabeth Lee, (pseudonym for Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli) lives far back in the woods where nobody can find her unless they call first and she decides to answer. Mostly her life is about deer and fox and bear and raccoons—oh my! Part of her life is about a bunch of kids—she thinks the number’s up to nineteen as of now—that’s original kids and then grandkids. She writes murder mysteries because it’s a great way to let off steam. Get mad at a clerk in McDonald’s? Ooops, do her in in the next book. You’d never know she’s sweet as sugar most of the time. Just watch your back if you get invited to visit. Even her husband, Tony, is nervous—with all those books on poisons and guns and forensics sitting on their bookshelves.
I can’t wait to read this book, love learning about authors who are new to me.
I have not read any books by the author yet, but this book sounds like a great first read. Thank you for a chance to win.
This book sounds great. Thank you
I missed the first one in this series. Looks like a good read.
Looks like I might have another mystery series to start reading! 🙂
This one sounds funny and it’s new to me. Love the background.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Funny post – “that woman sure has a big imagination.” New series to me, looks like one I would like to catch up on.
I can’t wait to see where this leads. BTW, why did Lindy have to go to the cemetery?
That was just another one of my days here in Riverville. Me and Meemaw are kind of sick and tired of stumbling over dead bodies, or have a parson keel over after he tastes Meemaw’s best recipe–like one did in SNOOP TO NUTS. We can’t seem to stop that Lee woman from writing about us, but we sure wish she’d give us something besides dead folks to worry about.
LOVE this title!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!!
This looks like a really fun book…love the cover and the title. I have never read anything by this author, but it looks like that will definitely change with this cute book! Can’t wait to read it!!!!
This sounds good and I like finding new authors to read! Thank you!
Sounds like a fun read and Cecil Sounds like my X lol. Would love to read this
Sounds like a winner to me.
I would love to read this book—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
A snooty Brit running a diner in Texas? Love it!
I would love this!
Thank you for a chance
Looks great, thank you for the chance 🙂
This sounds really interesting. I don’t think I’ve read anything by her in the past. Always up for a new author!
Sounds like a fun read! Would love to win a copy of this one!
Sounds really interesting! Can’t wait to read.
Oh my! This sounds like a series that’s full of quirky characters – which I love! And pecans! Woo hoo!
He had me at “bunch of bones.” Pecans, an Englishman, meemaw and dead bones strewn about in the cemetery? I’m in. And, I didn’t know sweet tea was the national drink of Texas. Huh. I hope Lindy gets that marriage proposal.
Lauigl [at] carolina [dot] rr [dot] com
This looks like a very bony riot. I would love to read about them even if they are people bones.
So many books, so little time! Would love to win. 🙂
I missed the first one but it sounds like I need to add this series yo my TBR pile.
I really liked the first book of this series and can’t wait to read this one. I love to read books that take place in Texas since that is my home state.
Sounds like an interesting installment to a new to me series. Maybe a good series to start exploring? Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Sounds like a great series.
I’ve got the first book in this series still sitting in one of three TBR boxes. But I’d love to be able to go directly to this new book when I’m done with the first… TOSS MY HAT INTO THE CONTEST RING DRU!
Sounds like a fun read. Have to get the first one and get started on the series. Thanks for the chance to win.
Fascinating books and great site. Would like the opportunity to introduce my 8-book-strong Klepto Cat Mystery series here. How do I go about it?
Patricia Fry
It sounds like a great series. I haven’t read any books by this author yet, but I’d love to read this one. Thanks for this chance to win it.
I love this is set on a Texas pecan farm. Love pecans so much!
I love puns and this is a good one. Plus, I live in Texas pecan territory.
Sounds great! Thank you for the contest!
What a wonderful way to rant and vent without causing harm to a real person and/or getting arrested. This is surely an interesting read.
I enjoyed the first book in this series. I would love to win Snoop to Nuts (cute title!). Thanks for the chance.
Sounds like a great book
This does sound like fun
Sounds great, I can’t wait to read it
Now I have to get both the first and second books. Hopefully I can win the second!
This looks fun, I like the sound of these characters. Thanks for the chance to win.
I really liked the first book in the series and have been awaiting the next one! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
I think there’s some humor to be had with this murder—what fun! Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Snoop to Nuts. I would like to try this series.
Sounds like a good book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Looking forward to reading this
Sounds like a great read. And the characters seem too fun. Would love to win a copy. Thanks for the contest, for the fun and for all you do
Sounds like a great read!
A gal from MS loves good Texas dialect in a story & this was. I love the beginning as I too worry about the effect of drought on pecan production as I eat lots of pecans. Boy, I really want to read this series. I’m hoping for the best. 🙂
I’m putting this on my ever-growing TBR list.
Snoop to Nuts sounds delightful; I am looking forward to reading it. Please enter me in the giveaway. myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you
Tim and I are both looking forward to reading your next book, Elizabeth!
Will have to pick up the first book. This looks like a series for me!
Thank you!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
I would a chance to read this book, the first one was great
Can’t wait to read
Looks like a fun read, just my type of book.
This really sounds like a fun book and I would love to see how the story ends. Thank you, Dru and Elizabeth for the chance to win this book
Sounds like a fun series and one I want to get going on. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy. Texas & pecans hold a special place in my life. 🙂
Sounds great. On my list.
The book sounds great. Thank you for this giveaway.
I am nutty too😀
Looks like a great cozy mystery.
xzjh04@ Gmail.com
Love the title.
Giveaways are great way to meet new authors! Love them.
Sounds like a great setting for a new series. I sure like pecans!
Thanks for the chance! This sounds like a great new series!
I just came across the first book in my tbr pile. Need to bump it up to the top so I can read this one. Great giveaway!
I have the first book in this series. I got it at a library book sale. I love those. I get a box of books for cheap. I have not read the first one yet, but they both sound like interesting reads. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds like this will be a great read. Can’t wait to do so. Thanks for the chance to win.
This sounds great! I’d love to win a copy!
Happy New years!! thanks for the chance to win
Love pecans. When a recipe says ‘nuts’ to me that’s pecans. To my hubby, who is from CA, ‘nuts’ mean walnuts. So when I made his mother’s oatmeal cookie recipe, I used pecans — he wasn’t happy. So I told him to make the cookies — he did [and I do have to say the taste was different, and good!]. And he continued to make the cookies, until we’ve misplaced the recipe in our many moves.
I digress. I must get started reading this series. Lindy Blanchard, and her Meemaw, will be quite the characters I do believe.
Sounds a winner.
Good luck to everyone!
Looks like a great book 🙂
Love starting a new cozy mystery series!
Sorry to say that I was unfamiliar with this author, but I do love cozies and this one seems like it will be a fun and unique series to get into. Not only do I want to read the books, but I think that this author and I could get along really well after reading how she deals with things and people. 🙂 Thank you for adding me to the nice long list of hopefuls.
Cynthia
Hmmmmmm, another series to add to my list!
I haven’t read the first one in this series, which means I have some catching up to do. Thanks for the chance.
contest is closed.