Every day dawns ripe with possibilities for intrigue when you’re a private investigator. That’s one of the things I love best about the job—that and dressing up in costumes for surveillance and pretexting. Last spring, I suspected my friend Olivia and my second cousin Sarabeth were being blackmailed. They clammed up and wouldn’t talk to me, so I followed them around for a few days to see if I could figure out the whys and wherefores. Some folks might call that sticking my nose into other people’s business. But when you think about it, that’s my job. And I had my reasons for prying into their affairs. They were tangled up in a case I was working at the time—my grandmother’s murder.
One afternoon during surveillance, I was trés incognito in a landscaper’s jumpsuit with my hair tucked under a safari-style hat, old work boots, and my biggest sunglasses. I shamelessly eavesdropped on Olivia and Sarabeth while in line for coffee at the Book and Grind. They had no clue who I was, and I stood right behind them. Anyway, I overheard them whispering about meeting someone in the park at five. I slipped out of line. The best way to keep someone from discovering you’re following them is to be where they’re going first.
When I walked through the wrought-iron gate into the park that occupies Stella Maris’s town square, my long-dead best friend, Colleen, waited for me. She sat on a bench, tucked into the shade of a magnolia tree, like any live person might sit, enjoying the azaleas and the annuals the garden club had just put out. She smiled and waved like she was expecting me.
I sat down beside her.
Colleen looked me up and down. She smirked. “Nice outfit.”
Spirits shouldn’t smirk. I mean, really, what do they have to be smug about?
Something caught Colleen’s attention and she sobered.
I followed her gaze and watched as Olivia and Sarabeth strolled into the park. They looked straight at me, then away. They proceeded into the park, talking to each other in muted tones.
I stood. “Let’s go.”
A winding path led to the fountain in the middle of the park. A brick walkway encircled the fountain. We followed Olivia and Sarabeth towards the fountain, but when they turned right on the circle walkway, we turned left. I went to the far side of the fountain, ducked behind a tree, and slipped behind a hedge of large azaleas. Colleen followed. Stooping slightly, I traced the hedge back around to the other side of the fountain until I heard voices. I crouched down, straining to hear above the sound of splashing water. Colleen didn’t bother to crouch. No one could see or hear her but me.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” A man’s voice carried through the bushes, but I couldn’t place it. “Wonderful day for a walk in the park, isn’t it?”
I parted the limbs of the hedge just enough to get a peek. It was Adam Devlin. Colleen’s brother-in-law—her sister, Deanna’s, husband. Colleen’s eye narrowed.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a wonderful day for anything.” Olivia’s voice was dry ice.
For her part, Sarabeth glanced nervously around, as if to see if they were being observed.
“Well now, that wasn’t very nice,” Adam said. “There’s not a drop of Southern friendly in your voice. You ladies stay calm, now. Anybody who sees us will just think we stopped to chat while taking an afternoon stroll.”
“Just get to the point,” Olivia said. “What do you want from us?”
“It’s very simple. All I want is your good will and cooperation.”
“Cooperation with what?” Olivia asked.
A weed-eater fired into action not thirty feet away, drowning out Adam’s answer. My eyes nearly popped out of my head in frustration. I wondered if Colleen could somehow hear—with some sort of super-sensitive spirit hearing—but from the squinched-up look on her face, I guessed not.
Whatever he wanted, it must have been right up there with their first-born sons, because I could read Olivia’s lips. “You want to do what?” Her face was the perfect image of genteel, righteous indignation.
Adam stood at an angle. His head rose and his shoulders shook with a chuckle.
“You have lost your ever-loving mind.” Olivia had impeccable enunciation.
Adam said something else and then sauntered off towards the East Main Street gate.
With dumbfounded expressions, Olivia and Sarabeth watched him walk away and then collapsed on a bench just on the other side of the hedge. I could have reached out and touched them.
The groundskeeper with the weed-eater moved farther away from us.
“This makes no sense,” Olivia said.
“Well, he’s obviously crazy,” Sarabeth said.
“What are we going to do?” Olivia asked. “We can’t let him get away with this.”
Sarabeth said, “If we don’t we’ll go to jail. Our children will grow up motherless. I say we do exactly what he wants.”
They say quietly for a few moments and then went home to make dinner.
Eventually I discovered exactly what Adam Devlin was after. But I had bigger fish to fry at the time, and to this day I haven’t figured out what he held over Olivia and Sarabeth. But I will. You can bet your mamma’s pearls on that.
You can read more about Liz in Lowcountry Bombshell, the second book in the “Liz Talbot” mystery series, published by Henery Press. The first book in the series is Lowcountry Boil.
dru’s book musing is giving away one (1) kindle copy of “LOWCOUNTRY BOMBSHELL.” Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends September 18.
Meet the author
Susan M. Boyer lives with her husband and houseplants in Greenville, SC. Her debut novel, Lowcountry Boil is a USA Today Bestseller, an Agatha Award winner for Best First Novel, a Macavity nominee for Best First Novel, a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense recipient, and a 2012 RWA Golden Heart® finalist. Lowcountry Bombshell, the second Liz Talbot Mystery was released September 3, 2013. Visit Susan on the web at susanmboyerbooks.com
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
I enjoyed the first book and would love to have the second. Thank you for the opportunity!
I just remembered I can reply individually. I need more coffee! Eugenia, I’m so happy you enjoyed Lowcountry Boil! Thank you for reading! 🙂
I enjoyed “Lowcountry Boil” and am looking forward to “Lowcountry Bombshell”. And, look, a contest I can enter!
Elaine, thank you for reading Lowcountry Boil–I’m so happy you enjoyed the trip to Stella Maris and are planning a return visit. 🙂
Oooh, the lady can write. Easy to see why Susan won the Agatha. Pretty good marketer, too, I’m guessing, as this scene makes me desperate to find out what Adam wants. Did you do that on purpose? I know I shouldn’t say this, but I’ll have to buy the book if I don’t win a copy.
Jack, thank you. Your kind words mean so much to me. Why yes, I did do that on purpose. The answer to what Adam wants lies in Lowcountry Boil. The answer to how Olivia and Sarabeth figure into that comes in a future book. I’m hoping to run into you at Bouchercon!
I’d love a ghost for a companion – I think!
Deanna, I think I would, too. 🙂 What fun!!
oh fun!!!
please enter me for this giveaway!! thank you!!
Thank you so much for visiting Dru’s blog–and Liz–today!
This book is on my wish list , so I would love to win it , Thanks for the chance !
Kathy, I love it when one of Liz’s adventures is on a wish list! 🙂 Thank you!
This series is on my list. It sounds great! Thanks for the review.
Hi Jane! Thanks for having Liz’s stories on you list!
I am looking forward to Liz’s second story and am so pleased with Boyer’s success! Thanks for the fun post and chance to win!
Awww…thank you!! You are so sweet! 🙂 I’m so happy your looking forward to Lowcountry Bombshell!
I enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to seeing what happens next. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Maureen, thank you so much for reading Lowcountry Boil! I’m so happy you enjoyed it and are looking forward to the next book! 🙂
I look forward to reading the books. Have added them to my TBR List!
Thank you for allowing me a chance to win a copy 🙂
Hi Shawn! I’m so happy Liz is in your TBR list! 🙂
I look forward to reading this book/series.
Thank you so much, Pamela! 🙂
Henery Press books are wonderfully fun. I liked BOIL and I look forward to reading this one. Good work, Susan.
How many books are scheduled to be in this series so far? All I can say is, More please!
Barb, I repled below before the coffee kicked in. 🙂 Can’t wait to see you in Albany!
Good morning, y’all! Dru Ann, thank you so much for having Liz back on “A Day in the Life!” We’re both thrilled to be here!
Thank you so much, y’all for your very kind words! I’m so happy you want to read Liz’s stories! Jack, you are a gentleman and a scholar–thank you! Barb, thank you for asking! I honestly don’t know. My plans are for Liz to have many more adventures. Lowcountry Boneyard comes out next year, and Lowcountry Bordello in 2015.
Thank you so much everyone for visiting with Liz today!
Don’t you just love these titles?
I like to overhear what others are saying when in a line, or an elevator etc. But, I have never heard anything exciting. Would like this book and this series.
Annette, I get some good story ideas this way. 🙂 I’m so happy to hear you want to read Liz’s adventures!
Hoping to win copy, I have Liz’s books on my Amzon Wish List…Thanks for posting this for a chance to win!
Hi Mamie! I’m so happy Liz’s adventures are on your wish list! Thank you!
Sounds like a really good book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Hi. Nancy! Thank you so much! 🙂
I had been WAITING for the second book to come out so I have already devoured it! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the series and already can NOT wait for the next one!! Thank-you for such a fun read! 🙂
OH! Robyn–thank you so much! That means so much to me! 🙂
I loved the first book and have been looking forward to this one coming out. As a native of the lowcountry, I love to read novels set in South Carolina!
Jan, I’m so happy you enjoyed Lowcountry Boil! Thank you for reading!!
HI Susan: While reading the interview with Liz and all of her adventures, it just made me wish to be young again, and to have the CHANCE to do some of the things that your heroine does!!!! Wow!!! 🙂 I just adore the premise of this story and the hint of what the book is about, and if it is as wonderful as Lowcountry Boil, it will be one super fantastic story. Can’t wait to order it and get it on my reading table. Enjoyed the write up sooooo much. Take care and will be looking forward to many more terrific books..
Cynthia! Thank you so, so much! I confess I live vicariously through Liz myself. 🙂 I’m so happy you enjoyed Lowcountry Boil, and I so hope you enjoy the return visit to Stella Maris in Lowcountry Bombshell!
I must add this series to my TBR list!
Lisa, thank you! I so hope you ejoy your visit to Stella Maris. 🙂
Great “Day in the Life of Liz Talbot,” Susan. Can’t wait to spend time with Liz and Colleen again! Bombshell is sitting here VERY close to the top of the TBR pile, but I might have to bump it up to find out just what it WAS Adam wants them to do! Write On!
Aww…thank you, Heather! I hope you enjoy the read! You, too!!
South Carolina settings are perfect for my winter reads up here in cold Minnesota–I’m looking forward to reading this in January or February.
Wonderful–thank you! I hope the South Carolina sunshine helps keep you warm! 🙂
Delightful. I look forward to reading this story.
Thank you so much, Libby!! 🙂 I hope you enjoy the read. 🙂
This goes on my tbr list for sure. Will really be glad when this move is over & I can sit in my new home with some new books to read. thank you for the review and the giveaway.
Thanks so much, Debra! I’m so happy to be on your TBR list! Good luck with your move!! 🙂
As with pretty much all the Henery Press books, I enjoyed the first and look forward to reading the second! 🙂
Thank you so much! I am so very blessed to have Henery Press as my publisher. 🙂
I Loved, loved, loved Lowcountry Boil and can’t wait to read Lowcountry Bombshell~ Susan is a gifted writer! Thank you for the chance to win a copy, Dru Ann. Happy Reading ~ Cheers ~ Elizabeth MacGregor
Elizabeth, thank you, thank you, thank you!! You are so sweet! 🙂
You can have my momma”s pearls, tell me more!
Barbara, you are hilarious! Thank you so much!! 🙂
Thanks everyone for the comments and thanks Susan for bringing Liz’s day to my readers.
contest is closed.