Hi, I’m Keri Armstrong, owner of A Friend in Need personal concierge agency. We’ll accept almost any job to help make your life easier. Need someone to pick up your dry cleaning? Check. Need to plan a birthday party? We’ve gotcha covered. How about making up flyers for your group’s bake sale, or even finding a dog sitter while you’re away? Whatever you need, we’re here to take care of you. Along with my office staff, no job is too big or too small for us to handle.

How did I get into this business? I decided to switch careers when I started getting palpitations at my high-stress job in corporate marketing. It would be more gratifying to help prevent other people from getting burned out. While I did the heavy lifting, my clients could spend more time with their loved ones… time I wish I’d had with my mother before she died from a stroke.

I never counted on solving murders as part of my plans. But when my dear friend and mentor, Fiona Sullivan, met an early demise, I felt compelled to seek justice on her behalf. Seriously, I’m the one who found her lying dead in bed, and I can’t erase that horrible image from my mind. Maybe I need Chef Jarek or Doctor Matt to distract me. They’ve both asked me out, and I can’t decide which guy I like better. Maybe I’ll date them both, but only after I find Fiona’s killer.

Thankfully, I have my two besties to help in that regard. Pam is a reporter and the pragmatic one among us. Lora is more dramatic, especially concerning her loser boyfriends. They’ll both support me when I dig deep to uncover the secrets Fiona kept hidden. No matter the cost, I’m determined to learn the truth.

If you could hire me, what would you have me do? Organize your garage? Hire a dog walker for when you’re at work? Plan a party for a milestone celebration? Or perhaps book your next vacation?

Leave a comment and you’ll be entered into a drawing for an e-book copy of Murder Pays a Call, where you can read all about my newest adventure. One entry per person. Giveaway ends September 11, 2025. Good luck everyone!

MURDER PAYS A CALL – A Keri Armstrong Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: September 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Personal concierge Keri Armstrong will accept almost any job, but solving murders wasn’t on her to-do list—until now.

When personal concierge Keri Armstrong swings by her favorite client’s mansion to drop off groceries, she expects a heartfelt chat along with a cup of tea—not Fiona Sullivan dead in bed and her room ransacked. Though police chalk it up to a botched robbery, Keri isn’t so sure. Whispers around town suggest Fiona wasn’t as adored as Keri had believed, and many of the philanthropist’s so-called friends in affluent Sunny Grove, Florida seem glad she’s gone.

Keri refuses to let Fiona’s memory be reduced to malicious gossip. Armed with a keen eye, insider access, and a fully charged tablet, she sets out to uncover the truth. Soon her file of suspects grows faster than her to-do list. Between sneaky neighbors, resentful relatives, and tight-lipped charity board members, Fiona left behind a trail of frenemies who’d happily skip her memorial brunch.

As Keri digs deeper, she discovers her late mentor had a gift for extracting people’s secrets and using them like fine china—carefully storing them until they could serve a purpose. But Fiona also kept a few skeletons in her own walk-in closet. Now, with danger creeping closer, Keri must race to crack the case before her number comes up next… and Murder Pays a Call.

About the author
Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries and the Keri Armstrong cozy mystery series. Her books have won numerous awards, including her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. Currently, she is vice president of Citrus Crime Writers and a frequent speaker at conferences, libraries, writing workshops and book club events. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.
Follow her at NancyJCohen.com.