I try not to be too judgmental when it comes to my clients. After all, I’m happy to have them. My small North Carolina home of Celosia doesn’t often have a serious case for me, the only private investigator in town, and my beauty queen past makes it difficult for some people to take me seriously. But Amanda Price is my client now, and I should have turned her down because she’s driving me crazy with her demands. She’s the wealthy, obnoxious president of the local Women’s Improvement Society whose plans to create an outdoor drama, Flower of the South, based on the life of Emmaline Ross, one of the state’s first vintners, have everyone in town stirred up. City council member Harold Stover opposes the idea, fearing Celosia can’t afford this costly venture. Camp Lakenwood owner, Nathan Fenton, also opposes the idea, because Amanda wants to use his land for the drama. Amanda has also alienated Joanie Raines, a plus-size actress who insists on playing the young Emmaline, and Megan Underwood, a local wiccan from Peaceful Meadow, a defunct commune, who claims she is Emmaline reborn. Actually, it’s hard to find someone in Celosia Amanda hasn’t alienated.
Of course, with all this going on, who should show up to complicate things but yet another of my husband Jerry’s disreputable and threatening acquaintances from his shady past. Jerry’s doing his best to go straight. He even has a great job he enjoys, cooking breakfast at Deely’s Burger World. But I always worry that once a con man, always a con man, and some day one of his old pals is going to drag him back into the game with disastrous results.
And then I found out Megan Underwood is not the only witch in the neighborhood. Years ago, a group of local women formed Darkrose Coven, a practice now taken up by some younger women in town. Recently, a young man was found dead near the vineyard, his body covered with witchcraft symbols. Has the old coven reappeared or is the new coven responsible? What’s the secret that members of the original coven are so desperate to hide?
Angry citizens, a scary con man, possible witches, and the Client From Hell.
I’ve got a full day.
Evil Turns is the fifth book in the Madeline Maclin mystery series, published by Poisoned Pen Press, May 2016.
Private investigator and former beauty queen Madeline Maclin thought she’d seen it all in her small North Carolina town of Celosia
A body covered with witchcraft symbols is found in a vineyard near Celosia. Is it the work of the disbanded Dark Rose Coven, whose members still harbor a dark secret? Madeline deals with witches as well as pushy socialite Amanda Price, whose opponent to her plans for an outdoor drama is also murdered.
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About the author
Jane Tesh is a retired media specialist and pianist for the Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mt. Airy, NC, the real Mayberry. She is the author of the Madeline Maclin Series, A Case of Imagination, A Hard Bargain, A Little Learning, A Bad Reputation, and Evil Turns, featuring former beauty queen, Madeline “Mac” Maclin and her con man husband, Jerry Fairweather. Stolen Hearts is the first in the Grace Street Mystery Series, featuring PI David Randall, his psychic friend, Camden, Randall’s love interest, Kary Ingram, and Cam’s career-driven girlfriend, Ellin Belton, as well as an ever-changing assortment of Cam’s tenants. Mixed Signals is the second in the series, followed by Now You See It and Just You Wait. Jane’s mysteries are all published by Poisoned Pen Press, located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Butterfly Waltz is her first published fantasy novel from Silver Leaf Books. All of Jane’s books are on the light side with humor and romance.
Visit Jane at www.janetesh.com and her Facebook page. You can also find her on Goodreads, Amazon’s Author Central, and Twitter. She also blogs at www.janetesh.wordpress.com.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Evil Turns. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end May 13, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds like a good series. Thanks for the chance to win.
How have I never heard of this series?!?!
Thank you for the heads-up….
A client who is a pain in the rear and an ex-husband form a great basis for a great mystery.
Sounds good to me..I am going looking for 1st books in her other series.
A private investigator who used to be a beauty queen sounds like a unique background for a good book! Thanks!
I’ve been waiting for the next book in this series! Thanks Dru for featuring it today. This is such a fun series, and with Jerry’s past, there is always some fun side plot afoot. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks Jane for the chance to win a copy. 🙂 My fingers are crossed!
Sounds like a great mystery.
Sounds like a fun series. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Sounds like my type of series,
A former beauty queen PI? Great idea.
Witches and cons, what a combination plus a beauty queen! Interesting.
I would love a chance to win a print copy of Evil Turns. Sounds like an interesting book.
I love the premise but haven’t read any of this series. I would love to try it.
So many characters combining to make a most interesting plot. I would love to have my chance to win a copy. robeader53@yahoo.com
Oooh, this sounds like a good book! Would love to win it! I haven’t read the previous books in this series though. It does sound like it may be one that could be a stand alone, but I could be wrong… If anybody could answer that question for me, I’d be grateful, but either way, I’d love to win this giveaway! Thank you for the chance!
This is a new to me series and authot. Book sounds interesting, would enjoy reading. Thanks for the giveaway.
I have not heard of this series before. Definitely checking it out – sounds like the type of book I’d really enjoy.
I have read both series and have totally enjoyed them. Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy
Would love to give this series a try. Thanks for the chance to win a print copy of Evil Turns.
sounds like a really fun series…looking forward to trying. Thanks for the chance!
Sounds great–I’m adding so many books to my must-read list that I’ll have to retire just to keep up.
I’m not familiar with this series. Looks like I have some reading to do to catch up. Sounds good.