It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas. . .baseball playoff season! (Even if the Red Sox are probably out of it).
I’m Madeline Boucher, daughter of the current owners of the Abington Armadillos baseball team in Massachusetts. I’ve recently started to work back with the family business after losing my job in the big city. I don’t know what took me so long to come back here. Being back at the ballpark has brought so many memories of when I was kid with my parents in the stands. My Grandfather bought the team in the 80’s, and my family has owned it ever since. The Armadillos (and yes, there is a story about the name), are in the Independent League of Baseball which includes about eight other teams in the New England area. We are one of the older teams and have recently upgraded the stadium to accommodate more fans. Now that I’m more involved in the family business, I want to try and expand our outreach programs as well.
Since I’ve been back, I’ve found my days are pretty structured. Game days especially. On a typical game day, I’ll come in well before game time, check emails, walk the grounds, and make sure there are no emergencies to deal with. My favorite part of any day is before everyone else gets there and I can sit I the stands with the sounds of the ballpark grounds crew. The smell of the freshly cut grass is intoxicating and helps me focus for my day. Today’s focus is getting a group of little leaguers to come in and do a run the bases event. Those logistics are always fun. Plus, we have a local day camp during the summer that comes and participates with the players on off days. The business never sleeps!
Not everything goes to plan of course. Opening Day this season we had a big emergency when I found a dead body in the visitor’s dugout. That is not something I want to revisit. Definitely ruined my morning walk through the park. Then to have my brother accused. I know the police were just doing their jobs, but I knew that I had to help out and clear my brother’s name. I didn’t want to let the murder affect the team or family in anyway, especially since I knew we were not involved. Hopefully this will be the only crisis I have to deal with this season, but knowing my luck? Probably not.
Giveaway: Nicole is giving away one (1) print copy of Murder at First Pitch, limited to U.S. residents. Leave a comment below for your chance to win. Contest ends October 16, 2019. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Madeline in Murder at First Pitch, the first book in the NEW “Ball Park” cozy mystery series, released September 4, 2019.
32-year-old Madeline Boucher’s Grandfather instilled a love in the Boston Red Sox into her from an early age and increased that love by purchasing a local Independent League Baseball team, the Abington Armadillos.
After losing her corporate job in Boston, Madeline realizes her best option is to join the family baseball business. As the new “Social Media Director” for the team, Madeline attends her first business function and witnesses an argument between her brother Ben, and a strange man.
A few days later when walking the ballpark during her early morning hours, she finds the body of a man beaten to death with a baseball bat in the Visitor’s Dugout. It was the man her brother was arguing with at the party. Madeline is concerned that her brother would be considered a suspect. Through the local Detectives and Davis – the head of security for the ballpark she learns the victim is Christopher Dailey, a local baseball scout and prior felon.
When her brother is arrested and taken to the police station, she realizes she needs to figure out who the real culprit is, so her brother doesn’t take the fall for something she knows he didn’t do.
Purchase Link
# # # # # # # # # # #
Meet the author
Nicole graduated from Curry College in Milton Mass with a degree in English/Creative Writing, minoring in Dance in 2004. Now working in just outside of Boston at a Healthcare company as a Technical Writer, she lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts with her three cats Julia, Jacques, and Madeline (no relation to the main character of her book). Nicole is a current member of Sisters in Crime (National and New England) and the Mystery Writers of America. She sits on the Board of Directors for the NE branches of both groups as Social Media Liaison.
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds like a great new series!
I love baseball, although my local team didn’t do too well this season! This sounds like a fun new series…I will add it to my TBR list.
Hey Christi! Who is your team? The Red Sox bummed me out this year, but I’m cheering on the Nationals too (I lived in DC for 6 years, so I figured it counts!)
I am so happy to learn of this series! Baseball is one of the loves of my life. My husband and I are watching the playoffs most days. Thank you for this opportunity!
What a dream job! Sounds like a lot of fun.
This sounds like a great book. I love baseball! Used to go to baseball games all the time for our Triple A team, it was so much fun! Back in the late 80s they won 3 straight championships for their league and it was such a thrill for the fans. I think we went to almost every single home game and a few out of town as well. Wonderful memories!
When I lived in Harrisburg, PA, we would go to the Harrisburg Senators all the time! The atmosphere was so great, I’m hoping to evoke that feeling in this new series!
Baseball is my 1st sport-love, even today!!
Thank you for the giveaway..
Huge baseball and diehard White Sox fan! Can’t wait to read this series. Thank you for offering the giveaway!
I am a baseball fan—from Triple A to the majors. Looking forward to reading a cozy that is sure to invoke fond memories, without murder of course! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
This is a new author for me and the story sounds great, thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
Sounds like a good book
Wonderful story and baseball is my love. My grandson plays and enjoys this sport.
My sons played baseball. This book is a unique winner.
I enjoy baseball and am still hoping the Texas Rangers will win a World Series (or even make it to the World Series) one of these years. Murder at First Pitch sounds like a great start to a new series, and I enjoyed A Day in the Life of Madeline Boucher ~
There are so few books that focus around baseball. My family love to visit the various parks whether they are major or minor teams. Thanks so much for featuring Madeline Boucher insight into the game of baseball.
Sounds like a fun new series! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I love baseball. Great to see a woman involved at the administrative level. Looking forward to reading the book.
Sounds like a winner.
I’m an Astros fan so I am biting my nails these days! I’d love to know why this team is called the Armadillos.
Oh you know as a Red Sox fan I’m cheering the Astros this year against the Yankees! And you’ll have to read the book to find out about the team name! 🙂
Sounds like a good read.
My favorite sport! I watch any baseball/softball I can. I am praying & with the Astros as always. They are the home team, but now I am interested in the team name? Really want to know.
Thank you for the chance.
Hopefully the Red Sox will do well next year.
Sounds like a true sports fan’s type of book and I know two people in our home that would really enjoy this for sure.
Thanks for the review and giveaway!
I am a baseball fan so thanks for the chance to win this!!
Love baseball, my team (Seattle Mariners) are the worst, I root for them anyway. New author and series.
Love the idea of this book! Love baseball, loyalty divided between Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners. Thanks for a chance to win!
My sister was a huge Cardinals fan when we were kids. Every summer she and my parents arranged for tickets so that we could go to a game–although I wasn’t a particular fan, it was so much fun to go to a game, eat ballpark hot dogs and watch the crowds. Sounds like a great book.
I enjoy baseball. It’s such fun to play, and to go to games. Thanks so much for the chance to win this book.
**** WINNER ****
Murder at First Pitch is Mary
Congratulations!
Yay! Congratulations Mary! I hope you enjoy the book. And for those that didn’t win, find me on Facebook, Twitter, and at Nicoleasselinwriter.com for more chances!