When my beloved husband John died suddenly leaving me with an eleven- year-old to raise, I had to take stock of my life. John and I had always loved the towns in the Berkshires and had hoped to retire there. After a short grieving time, I returned to the small town of Pittman in the Berkshires, purchased Alexander’s Shoe Store, and converted it into the Bookworm Shop.

When I opened, I hoped to cater not only to the local clientele, but to all the tourists who flocked to the Berkshires for the summer theater and music scene and in the winter to the mountain towns for the wonderful skiing. After three years, my bookstore became a meeting place for all and was quite a success, until the murders. That’s right, not one but two murders. Right here in our quiet town.

Sadie, who escaped ISIS in Lebanon and immigrated to work in her Aunt Florence’s restaurant, Sweet Indulgences, became my best friend. I hated that some in our town, particularly, Mopey Tyler were so prejudiced against immigrants. He mounted a campaign to run Sadie out of town when the only person who needed to leave town was Tyler.

I never thought I would become an amateur detective, but here I am sitting at Sweet Indulgences, leading a crew of amateur sleuths. We are determined to prove the sheriff’s main suspect innocent.

I never knew the sheriff could be so opinionated and stubborn, but he’s never met me in protective mom mode or encountered Sadie’s Lebanese temper.

We will find the culprit because I always protect my family, and these wonderful kooky friends have become my new family.

Don’t Mess with Me, A Berkshire Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: January 2023
Format: Print and Digital
Purchase Link

Sheriff Houtman, who left Boston to have a more peaceful career, finds himself faced with two murders and a kidnapping. He is challenged by a band of amateur sleuths who doubt his competence. Will his conclusions hold, or will he have to admit defeat? Unfortunately, Sheriff Houtman’s judgement is impaired because of his infatuation with Sadie, and his immediate suspicion of a homeless teen that Robin and Sadie befriended.

Robin George narrates the story. She is a widow with a young son who moves to the Berkshires after her beloved husband died. Her bookstore, Bookworms, and Sweet Indulgences, her best friend Sadie’s restaurant, become the hubs for Robin’s amateur detective group where they plan how to solve the local crimes and exonerate Billy, the Sheriff’s main suspect.

Will they prove the Sheriff wrong?

 Meet the author
Ms. Jacobs is a writer, a teacher, and a writing workshop director. She became fascinated with the summer activities in the Berkshires when her daughter moved there, so she set her cozy mystery in the Berkshire Mountains. Ms. Jacobs has also published many poems and essays in various anthologies, online, and in magazines. She has taught Language Arts in elementary, high school, and college.

Connect with Mary Ann at maryannjacobsauthor.wordpress.com and at maryannjacobsauthor@gmail.com.

All comments are welcomed.