Day In The Life ~ Melanie Hanson by D.E. Haggerty

Jan 17, 2019 | A Day In My Life

Hi! *Waves while bouncing up and down in her chair* I’m Melanie, but everyone calls me Mel. Well, not everyone, my ex-boyfriend calls me Melly. But we’re not talking about him. Nope, not happening. Mel is just fine. What does a day in my life look like? I’m a bit of a fitness freak, so the day usually starts with an hour of yoga. Just at home. Even I’m not crazy enough to get out of my cozy bed early enough to make it to the gym.

After yoga, it’s time for the day job. I work at East Side High School in Milwaukee. I’m a counselor there. It’s not as boring as it sounds. I spend the day dealing with teenagers whose hormones are raging out of control. It’s challenging to say the least. It’s also interesting as all get out. In fact, I’m working on my PhD in educational psychology now. But the best part about my job is my best friend, Terri, who works at the library. We usually meet up before the start of the day for a chat. After school’s out, I head to the gym for a yoga course. I also try to get a five-mile run in most days.

Gosh! My life sounds boring with a capital B. But that’s far from the truth, because lately I’ve developed a penchant for finding murders to solve. Now, that’s what I’m talking about! First, Terri found a diamond necklace in her attic. It was gorgeous. I told her to just keep it, but Terri’s not like that. She had to find the owner and – low and behold – the owner had been murdered and the case was unsolved. Yes! Thus started our first adventure in solving murders.

Our second detective adventure is less exciting because it revolves around me. Now, usually I have no problem with the world revolving around me. Some may say I revel in that. Slight exaggeration but not completely untrue. But being the center of attention this time is not as exciting as it usually is. Why? Because some detectives – two numbskulls to be exact – have decided I’m the prime suspect in a murder. As if! I would never kill anyone. Or at least if I did, I would never be caught. I watch those CSI shows, I know how to keep a low profile and avoid leaving evidence at the scene of a crime.

So, what’s a day like in my life currently? Besides the usual stuff, I’m searching for clues as to who could have killed my colleague, Alfred Schultz, because it wasn’t me. It’s a lot harder than I thought. Finding suspects, searching for clues, etc. But man is it fun. And in no way boring! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Giveaway: Comment below for a chance to win a print copy of Finders, Not Keepers. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends January 22, 2019. Good luck everyone!

You can read more about Melanie in Picture Not Perfect, the second book in the “The Not So Reluctant Detective” mystery series, coming January 21, 2019.

A picture tells a story. But is it the truth?

When the police find pictures of Melanie hanging up at her murdered colleague’s house, they’re convinced he was stalking her. Maybe she even killed him. Melanie was not being stalked! And she certainly didn’t kill her supposed stalker – as if. But Mel – always up for a bit of drama – jumps at the chance to go search for the real killer. When Mel’s ex-boyfriend, Owen, discovers her plans, he pulls out all the stops to ensure she’s safe and to win her back. No matter what happens with the murder investigation, he’s not letting her go. With the police setting their sights on Mel, he may need to jeopardize his own career on the police force to protect her.

Will Mel find the real killer before the detectives arrest her for murder?

Purchase Link
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About the author
I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances, to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear.

After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go.

But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

Picture Not Perfect is my fourteenth novel.

Connect with D.E. at dehaggerty.wordpress.com, her blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, on Goodreads, on her Amazon page, on Pinterest and on Bookbub.

Sign up for her newsletter here.

All comments are welcomed.

43 Comments

  1. Kim Moore
    Kim Moore on January 17, 2019 at 6:59 am

    Wow I was especially intrigued by the authors bio! Read looks good too

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:40 am

      Thanks. Good luck with the giveaway

  2. Amy Gill
    Amy Gill on January 17, 2019 at 7:50 am

    Hey!I want this one.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:41 am

      Thanks for stopping by.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:41 am

      Thanks for stopping by!

  3. ellie
    ellie on January 17, 2019 at 9:46 am

    An intriguing mystery. Thanks.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:44 am

      Thanks! And good luck with the giveaway.

  4. SandyG
    SandyG on January 17, 2019 at 10:16 am

    This is a new series for me

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:45 am

      I hope you’ll give it a try! Good luck with the giveaway.

  5. Patty Allen
    Patty Allen on January 17, 2019 at 10:19 am

    Can’t wait to read, love this author books. Thanks for the giveaway.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:51 am

      Thanks, Patty. Good luck with the giveaway.

  6. Celia Fowler
    Celia Fowler on January 17, 2019 at 10:58 am

    I’d love to read about Mel and Terri in Finders Keepers and see what happens to the diamond!

    • Celia Fowler
      Celia Fowler on January 17, 2019 at 10:59 am

      Finders, Not Keepers (oops)

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:53 am

      Fingers crossed for the giveaway!

  7. Ashley Cate
    Ashley Cate on January 17, 2019 at 11:17 am

    This is a new series to me. It sounds great though! I will definitely be adding it to my TBR list. Thanks for a great introduction to the series.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:55 am

      Great! I hope you’ll give the series a try. Good luck on the giveaway.

  8. Pauline Barlow
    Pauline Barlow on January 17, 2019 at 11:26 am

    A new series for me, and I would love to read this book.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 2:01 am

      Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway

  9. Libby Dodd
    Libby Dodd on January 17, 2019 at 11:48 am

    I agree with Kim Moore. That’s quite a bio!

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 2:00 am

      It sounds way more exciting than it was in real life. Trust me.
      Good luck with the giveaway.

  10. Rochelle F
    Rochelle F on January 17, 2019 at 11:49 am

    I love reading books written by lawyers who have left practice to do something else–I think that’s the dream of every lawyer. Sounds like a great series.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:59 am

      It does seem like a ton of lawyers become writers. Maybe because they didn’t want to do law in the first place? I loved law school but being a lawyer? Nah… Good luck with the giveaway

  11. DOWARD WILSON
    DOWARD WILSON on January 17, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:58 am

      Thanks for stopping by. Good luck with the giveaway

  12. Dianne Casey
    Dianne Casey on January 17, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    “Finders Keepers” sounds like a fascinating read. Looking forward to reading.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:58 am

      Good luck with the giveaway!

  13. Mary C
    Mary C on January 17, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    Sounds great – thanks for the chance.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:57 am

      Good luck with the giveaway!

  14. Barbara Hackel
    Barbara Hackel on January 17, 2019 at 8:12 pm

    I have read other books by this author but not this series. I am ready to rectify that right now because Mel sounds like a character I will enjoy! Thanks for today’s book suggestion, Dru Ann! And thanks, D.A. for a chance to win a copy of the first book in this series!

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 1:56 am

      Mel is one of my favorite characters (shhh… don’t tell the others) Good luck with the giveaway

  15. Linda Herold
    Linda Herold on January 18, 2019 at 2:46 am

    This looks good. It is a new series to me! Thanks for offering the chance to win it!

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 3:28 am

      Thanks! And thanks for stopping by. Good luck!

  16. Cyn209
    Cyn209 on January 18, 2019 at 6:38 am

    Thanx for the giveaway & heads-up on this series…..

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 18, 2019 at 11:14 am

      Thanks for stopping by. Good luck!

  17. Linda Farabaugh
    Linda Farabaugh on January 19, 2019 at 11:35 am

    Would love to win this book. I always like to try out new series. New to me anyway. I love the chance to discover different authors. Thanks for a chance.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 21, 2019 at 2:55 am

      Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the giveaway!

  18. Linda Moffitt
    Linda Moffitt on January 19, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    Your book looks really great 👍 Thanks for Sharing this book with us and Thanks for the chance 💖🍯😍
    Love the Cover also

  19. Karen Terry
    Karen Terry on January 20, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    Sounds like a winner and love the cover.

    • D.E. Haggerty
      D.E. Haggerty on January 21, 2019 at 2:56 am

      Thanks! So glad you love the cover. It was a struggle. Good luck with the giveaway!

  20. Jaime Minter
    Jaime Minter on January 21, 2019 at 10:29 am

    Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance!

  21. Dru
    Dru on January 25, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    **** WINNER ****
    Finders, Not Keepers is Rochelle F
    Congratulations!