Not The Killing TypeWhen I think of all the years I spent wasting away in a jail cells across the Northeast, I could kick myself. Hi, my name is Pixie Poe and I’m a recovering prostitute.

I never had much of an education, and when I was younger I wasn’t bad to look at. I never got caught up in drugs, and I wasn’t a bad person—honest. I just didn’t have any skills except one, and … well, I kinda liked it—when I had a regular clientele. I was never into kinky stuff and … well, that’s probably more information than you wanted to know, right?

It’s really, really boring in jail. I learned to kinda type, and I have a lot of spit, so I was always good at licking envelopes, but there’s only so many hours a day you can work in the Warden’s office, so I killed a lot of time reading in the prison library. Money is always short, so they don’t buy a lot of new books, so I had to read everything three or four times just to ease the boredom. Since I’d never had a real romance, I decided they just frustrated me, but give me a good murder story any day and I’m happy as a pig in … well, you get my drift.

When I got out on parole this last time, I went to work as a secretary and … well, I guess I wasn’t very good at it, but Grace Harris-Everett was real swell to me and gave me a chance. But, I kinda blew it by being mean to her neighbor. Well, she looked (and acted) like some kind of society … uh, I’ll use the word “witch.” She got on my nerves, and well … I was mean to her. And then, I got in trouble when I didn’t deliver a message to Grace, and well … it could have been ugly. But then the witch’s sister stepped in and … she got the witch to hire me in her bookstore. Her mystery bookstore. Can you say THE PERFECT JOB? And Tricia isn’t even a witch. Turns out I misjudged her. She’s really nice. And where else can you read ANYTHING YOU WANT when there are no customers to wait on?

I work with Grace’s hubster, Mr. E, too, and Tricia has a great cat who loves me almost as much as she loves her. I got a great crib in the next town, and I’ve made new friends. My life it the tops!

I guess jail was kinda good for me in the long run. I’ve got a new—clean—life, a great job. And books. Lots and lots of books.

Yup, I’m one happy camper.


Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of MURDER ON THE HALF SHELF to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. Contest ends July 18; US entries only per publisher’s request.


You will meet Pixie Poe in Murder on the Half Shelf and Not the Killing Type, the 7th book in the “Booktown” mystery series; both books were just released this month and are available now. The first book in the series is Murder is Binding.

Meet the author
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent — whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett — that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting “Jeff Resnick Mysteries” as well as the acclaimed “Victoria Square Mystery” series and the “Tales of Telenia” saga, and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: www.lornabarrett.com and www.lorrainebartlett.com

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.