I must tell you that moving a dead body is not as easy as they show on TV. Let me explain my dilemma. My name is Mabel Havelock. I’m on a bus tour of the Nordic capitals of Europe with my best friend, Violet Ficher. We are retired nurses; Violet is a bit on the OCD side and a trusting sort. She thinks the best of everyone. I have to confess I do have a suspicious nature. But I’m pretty easygoing. Violet might disagree and tell you I’m a bit surly. She might be right, but only if I have to be. You can’t let people bully you. My motto is the best offense is a good defense.

Take Hilda Karlson, our tour director. The start of our conflict began when the airline lost my luggage. And Hilda, refusing to pronounce my name properly. How hard is it to say, Havelock? She keeps pronouncing my name, Hitchcock. Really! That isn’t even close to my name. But I digress.

Our bus tour has a busy schedule. First, we visit Denmark, then Norway, Sweden, Finland. And finally, to Russia, where my dilemma takes place, Hilda is murdered. And I’m the prime suspect. I know, ridiculous! This tour group is comprised of a number of people who loath Hilda. A busload of suspects.

First, there is this professor of Nordic history. In my opinion, he doesn’t know Eric the Red from Wile Coyote. And then there is this shady couple who I think are up to no good. Did I tell you I have a suspicious nature? Talk about suspicion; there’s a lone man on the tour who may or may not be a thief. Hilda is a tyrant. She has a run-in with almost every member of the tour group. Even the bus driver and her assistant have good reason to off her. It’s beyond me why the Russian police have singled me out. Of course, if they knew what Violet and I did, I would be for the Gulag for sure. Yes, I know, Violet told me they don’t have Gulags anymore. But still, I’m scared out of my tree; I have to find the killer.

The Suspects, A Mabel and Violet’s Excellent Adventures #4
Genre: Cozy
Release: October 2021
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Mable Havelock and Violet Ficher are on a scenic bus tour of the Nordic capital cities of Europe and Russia. The tour culminates in Moscow. Where The tour director is murdered. There is a busload of suspects to choose from. A flirtatious woman and her jealous husband. A professor of Nordic History who is ill-informed. Two world travellers who describe themselves as gypsies and a mysterious man who is hiding something. The tour director’s assistant and bus driver; both have an axe to grind against the tour director Hilda Karlson.

Add to the mix smugglers and thieves. And a case of mistaken identity. But unfortunately, the prime suspect is Mabel. Mabel and Violet will have to use all their skills and ingenuity to solve the murder in Moscow. And prove to the Russian police Mabel’s innocence.

Meet the author
Joan Havelange is a Canadian author of four cozy mystery novels. She directed theatre for 15 years. She says writing is a lot like directing; only her characters show up on time and always know their lines. Although sometimes, they do go off in a direction that surprises her. She began writing romances but soon found out she was not romantic and turned to cozy mysteries. Which was the right choice as her first cozy mystery, ‘Wayward Shot,’ was published in 2019.

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