Hi everyone, I’m Melody Shore. Before I tell you about my day, I need to tell you about my recent career choice. Most people I tell look at me with morbid curiosity, and assume I chose this career path to join a multi-generation family business. It’s a family business, but not my family’s business. I’m a funeral assistant at “The Peaceful Rest Funeral Home and Cemetery.” Arthur Snugg is the funeral director, and he was my dad’s best friend. I work for Snugg. My dad has gone on to a career in heaven.

The Peaceful Rest or “Old Peaceful” as I call it, is anything but a “deadly dull” place. Since I’ve come home and started working here, there have been a lot of dead, but, it’s anything but dull. Heck, we’ve had four murders! And, I myself have had a hard time staying out of the crosshairs of murder. I’m starting to wonder if I attract the trouble.

First thing this morning, I check my phone messages. No new “RDs” (recently deceased) needing our services. So, I set my “mad admin. skills” on filling out insurance claims. After that’s completed, and I’ve labeled and filed them, I turn my attention to a decorating brochure I picked up last week at my best friend’s shop, Claire’s Cottage. Claire’s is a resale shop brimming with beautiful treasures and vintage clothing. After leafing through the brochure, I get up and walk my usual loop, out of my fishbowl-sized office into the lobby, past the Rose Room, through the foyer, into the Lilac Room and back out into the lobby. I check my reflection in the large gold mirror. I love my outfit choice for today. It’s an orange cocktail dress circa 1963 and red Mary Janes with white bows. I guess Snugg is right when he says, I stand out in my vintage outfits amongst the funeral home décor. Everything in the lobby is beige. Thank goodness for the person who went wild and threw in an abalone throw pillow.

I have been trying to get Arthur Snugg to update, but he’s always busy either romancing a new love interest or polishing his other love, his grandfather clock. The clock is a six-foot, black walnut, early 1900’s German grandfather clock with an eagle, wolf, and bear carved into the wood. He never stops talking about how much it cost and how rare it is.

I can’t believe it’s been eight months since I moved back home. I tell everyone that I lost my job due to cutbacks, but truthfully, Thomas & Davis fired me for “noticing” they overbilled their clients. Well, actually, I had also sent the clients’ statements showing the billing issues. My ex-employer, like my ex-boyfriend, really believed in screwing others.

I moved in with my mom. But, a girl can only stay with her mom for a short time and not wear out her welcome. In my mom’s case it was one night. You don’t have to worry about me though, I found this cute carriage apartment above a garage on Pine Street. And, I’ve met a new guy. Not just any guy, a super cute guy with waves of curly hair waiting for me to run my fingers through and eyes the color of Irish whiskey. His name is Russell and we have a lunch date today at The Corner Cupboard. The Corner Cupboard has been around ever since I can remember, and it has never been updated. It’s an authentic diner on the corner of Main and 5th Street, in the center of Pleasantview. They serve salty fries, juicy hamburgers, and spicy gossip if you sit at the bar during happy hour.

Before I can meet Russell for lunch, I have to find Arthur Snugg’s two twin nephews, Alex and J.J. Alex and J.J. are Snugg’s nephews by marriage. They are his ex-wife, Regina Snugg’s sister’s kids. Somehow Regina snuck into the divorce decree a stipulation that the twins must work at the funeral home until they turn 30. Arthur Snugg needs to learn to read the fine print.

Snugg called me on his flip phone to tell me he needs the twins’ help in the “holding tank.” The “holding tank” is where we store the bodies. It’s one of the rooms in the basement I don’t like to enter.

Thankfully, Alex and J.J. are in their office playing foosball and more than willing to lend their uncle a hand as long as I bring them each back a cheeseburger, loaded fries and chocolate shakes.

As you can tell, Arthur Snugg really needs my help at The Peaceful Rest. And, even though I never thought I would find a career here, it’s worked out pretty good. Well, except for the murders.

This New Job’s Murder, A Melody Shore Mystery
Genre: Cozy Anthology
Release: June 2022
Purchase Link

Meet Melody Shore, a sassy, calamity-prone millennial who leaves her legal secretary career in Pittsburgh to work as a funeral assistant. She’s trying her best to send the dearly departed off to a “peaceful rest” back in her hometown of Pleasantview. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t seem to keep herself out of the crosshairs of murder. Join Melody as she buries her past, digs for clues, and unearths small-town secrets. This New Job’s Murder is a collection of five short cozy mysteries by Carole Lynn Jones.

Meet the author
Carole Lynn Jones is the author of This New Job’s Murder (The Melody Shore Mysteries). She is a member of Sisters in Crime. “Writing is like solving a crime,” she says. “You crack open the case, expose the motives, and then create a story that whistles in the dark.” When she isn’t writing cozy mysteries, Carole spends her days and sometimes nights formatting legal documents for a large law firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Married to her high school sweetheart, she enjoys spending time with her family, and biking the many bike trails of Western Pennsylvania. Find her online at carolelynnjones.com.

GIVEAWAY: Carole has generously offered to give away one print copy of This New Job’s Murder. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends July 4, 2022. Good luck everyone!

All comments are welcomed.