Hi, everyone! I’m Sarah Winston and it’s great to be back here with you on dru’s book musings. I’ve been hired to run a garage sale for a woman whose parents were CIA agents. I confess I’m hoping to find a shoe phone, lipstick camera, or pen with disappearing ink. A girl can dream, right? The house is crammed with things from around the world. Pricing is going to take a lot of time. And something really scary happened while I was in the house alone. So I decided to hire a helper for this sale. I ended up with two.
I turned to an Air Force friend of mine, Becky Cane, to recommend someone who might be looking for part time work. Zoey Whittlesbee is an Air Force spouse who wanted to work while her kids were in school. Perfect! She’s eager to learn and picked up on how to price things quickly. But she can’t work on the weekends so I had to find someone else too.
Harriet Ballou is a bit of an enigma. Every time I see her she’s dressed completely differently. Hippie one day, biker chick the next. She’s here in Ellington helping out a relative who had surgery, but is driving the relative batty hanging around the house reorganizing everything. I mean some people don’t want their spices alphabetized or their books organized by color. It’s kind of a win-win for the relative and me.
But little did I know when I hired them, that they both had secrets. I guess everyone does but these secrets impact my business and me. One of them has my back and the other wants to stab me in the back. Up to this point I’ve been a pretty trusting person, but this time I shouldn’t have trusted one of them.
And that isn’t my only problem. A young Air Force spouse has been murdered on base and I’ve been asked to help out with the investigation by Office of Special Investigation Special Agent Frank Bristow. I have strict instructions to only listen. But it can’t hurt to ask a couple of questions, can it?
Giveaway: What was the last thing you purchased at a garage sale? Answer the question in the comment box below for your chance to win a print copy of Sell Low, Sweet Harriet. The giveaway ends January 5, 2020 and is limited to U.S. residents. Good luck everyone!
Sell Low, Sweet Harriet is the eighth book in the “Sarah Winston Garage Sale” cozy mystery series, released December 31, 2019.
ONE WOMAN’S TRASH . . .
Sarah Winston’s garage sale business has a new client: the daughter of a couple who recently died in a tragic accident while away on a trip to Africa. Their house is full of exotic items from around the world that need to be sold off. When Sarah learns that the deceased were retired CIA agents, the job becomes more intriguing—but when an intruder breaks in and a hidden camera is found, it also becomes more dangerous. And Sarah has enough on her plate right now since she’s investigating a murder on the side at the nearby Air Force base, where her status as a former military spouse gives her a special kind of access.
. . . IS ANOTHER WOMAN’S TROUBLE
With so much work piling up, Sarah decides to hire some help. But her assistant, Harriet—a former FBI hostage negotiator—has a rare talent for salesmanship. Which is good, because Sarah may have to haggle for her life with Harriet’s assistance . . .
Purchase Link
# # # # # # # # # # #
About the author
Sherry Harris is the Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and the upcoming Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mystery series set in the panhandle of Florida. She is the immediate past president of Sisters in Crime. Sherry loves books, beaches, bars, garage sales, and Westies — not necessarily in that order. In her spare time Sherry loves reading and is a patent holding inventor. Sherry, her husband, and guard dog Lily are living in northern Virginia until they figure out where they want to move to next.
To learn more about Sherry, visit her website at Sherryharrisauthor.com. She also blogs at wickedauthors.com.
All comments are welcomed.
The last thing I purchased at a garage sale was a big duck figurine to sit outside on the front porch with a whole adorable box of clothes for the duck to wear. I’ve been going to garage sales and flea markets since I was a little girl with my parents. This brings back some memories.
Last time I went to a garage sale, I bought a set of 7 placemats (I guess there were originally 8). I didn’t need any more placemats but these were beautiful and only cost a dollar.
That sounds like so much fun!
Please tell Sarah that I work cheap, used to pick for two antique store and inside when they needed a day off.
The last thing I purchased at a garage sale was a second hand copy of Anna Karenina by Tolstoy.
I love buying books at garage sales!
The last thing I purchased at a garage sale was a serving platter and serving bowl for my Fiesta Ware.
Do estate sales count? Bought a lovely large clear glass plate.
Of course they count!!!
I rarely go to garage sales, but… probably clothes or something for the grandkids. 🙂
I bought so many toys at garage sales for my daughter when she was little!
I cannot remember the last time I went to a garage sale.
The last thing I purchased at one was a dog pillow. Quite cute until one of my dogs chewed a corner of it.
That does sound cute! I guess your dog liked it too!
They are fun but it does take a long time to find something good!
Books.
Books are great buys at garage sales!
Christmas ornaments.
I love finding Christmas ornaments at garage sales. In Let’s Fake a Deal Sarah is hunting for vintage Christmas ornaments.
The book sounds great, as all Sherry’s books are. I’m trying to remember the last garage sale item I bought, but I’m having trouble remembering what I had for dinner last night!
Laughing, Amy — I hear you! I’m so happy you like my books!
The last thing I bought at a garage sale was a penguin bank. I go out to garage sales every Saturday in the Spring and summer. Thank you for the chance. I love this series!
Your bank sounds really cute! I’m so glad you love the series! Thank you!
I don’t go to garage sales very often, but when I go I always buy books.
It’s amazing the deals you can get on books at garage sales!
I bought some safari themed stuffed animals that I used to decorate a classroom I was teaching in.
I found a small ceramic planter with beautiful painted sunflowers which I love!
That sounds so pretty!
I honestly can’t remember the last time I was at a garage sale. My car refuses to stop! LOL! It was probably a book or a piece of glassware.
Laughing. My husband’s car refuses to stop!
I’m pretty sure it was puzzles for my kids so that was a long time ago.
I used to buy Little Tykes things at garage sales for my daughter.
I don’t go to sales. I spend all of my free time keeping an eye on Sarah, as she seems to regularly find herself in dangerous situations. That girl…..
Ha! Stella Wild seems to have leaped off the page and onto the blog! Thanks for stopping by!
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I don’t attend garage sales. I’m sure Sarah would be highly distressed by that. 🙂 congratulations on the new release,and thank you for the giveaway!
Sarah understands and thank you for stopping by Autumn!
I believe the last thing at a yard sale was clothing for our newborn granddaughter (August 1, 2018.) We can’t afford anything not absolute necessary (still remodeling our home) but normally I would go to yard sales about once a month.
I was already excited because our library has this book on order. However, nothing is better than actually owning! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Garage sales are great places to find baby clothes. Good luck with the remodeling and I’m so happy your library has it on order! Thanks for letting me know!
I think the last thing I bought was probably books. Maybe a piece of carnival glass since my dad’s obsession got me interested.
I love carnival glass too! And I love that the obsession has passed from one generation to another.
I used to go to garage sales, even had garage sales, but have not done either in many, many years.
wfnren at aol dot com
Organizing a garage sale is a lot of work!
The last thing I purchased at a garage sale was a small octagonal end table and some dessert dishes. I definitely enjoy going to garage sales rather than having them!
Great finds! I agree going to them is much more fun than running them!
Congratulations on your release. I love this series as I used to be a big yard sale/garage dale looker! But for ten plus years I have not been able to do yard sales due to serious mobility issues. A friend in Maine has my wish list and if she finds one of my items she’ll get it for me and then I’ll see that when she comes to visit. So it’s a long long wait. My last item she found for me was a new metal cane for me to keep in my car. It’s orange and brown so is only “in season” in the fall however but it’s in my car if needed!
I long for the old weekend trips around town but life changed ad me along with it. I wish there were people locally that could shop for me/look for me as I need/want picture frames ASAP.
Best of everything to you. Love this series! Just love it!!!
Thank you, Cynthia. You have such a positive attitude. I have a small list of things people want me to look for when I’m out and about. So far I haven’t been successful in finding any of them. I love the idea of people looking for things for other people.
I go to garage sales for books. Have some great vintage children’s books as well as older mysteries. This book sounds like a good fit for my interest in garage and estate sales. Thanks for the opportunity.
I love finding old books at garage sales! I found a couple of Carolyn Keene books that weren’t Nancy Drew’s at a church sale.
Really enjoying this series, am on book #6 and trying to slow down to make them last but am desperate to know what will happen to Sarah next! Last thing I bought at a yard sale was 17 Old Nancy Drew books with the dust jackets! It was a great find.
Oh, wow! That is a great find! I’m so happy you like my books! Thank you.
I quit going to garage sales because they’re dangerous! I do remember buying a lamp or two and a couple of jello molds that look like copper but aren’t
They are dangerous! I don’t need much anymore, but I still get tempted occasionally!
I bought a teacup & saucer.
Garage sales are great places to find teacups!
I go to garage sales a lot. I think one of the last things I brought were some dvds for like 0.50
What a great price!
I love garage sales…who knows what lurks there waiting to be discovered? The last sale I score 2 great items. First, a 1950’s edition of The Wizard of Oz in good condition for 50 cents. (The price for all hard back books!) Second was a slightly dented “Bundy” trumpet without mouthpiece that was really a Selmer in the student line case which said Bundy. Price was $20 and reduced to $15 when I looked gullible. Value? $800 or more. A great donation to a small private school starting a band program!
Wow! Those are excellent finds! And how nice of you to donate the trumpet!!!!
The last time I went to a garage sale I bought a pitcher that heats hot water for tea or cocoa. I keep it in the RV. I also got some cardinal ornaments for our Christmas tree. They were also selling baked goods so naturally I had to buy a variety. It was my niece’s garage sale, she was raising money for The American Cancer Society in memory of my parents. I also got books and some cd’s. We also donated things for the sale.
That is so lovely that she did it as a fund raiser!
The last things I found were a couple Phyllis Whitney paperbacks–a friend and I have been rereading some of those gothic-y tales! Thanks, looking forward to the new book!
I love Phyllis Whitney! I’ve downloaded some of her books and my mom gave me one for Christmas a couple of years ago. But I’ve never seen books by her or Mary Stewart or Victoria Holt at a garage sale!
A set of plastic storage containers was my last garage sale purchase.
That is a great find! They can be so expensive at the store.
The last thing I purchased at a garage sale was a couple of books. Our church has a huge garage sale every year, so it’s a fun place to get a lot of interesting things and see what others have donated! Thanks for a chance to win!
I love church sales — they have so much variety!
The last thing I purchased was a tea kettle. It was still new and in the box. Bright red! Love it! Thanks for the chance to win!
What a great find and bright red!!!!!
I purchased a painting for my office. It’s an ocean scene & a good stress reliever!
The last thing I purchased at a garage sale was a large box of used mystery books.
Oh, how fun! I hardly ever find mysteries at garage sales.
A child’s book was the last item I bought from a garage sale.
That is a great thing to look for a garage sales!
I’m always looking for more books to read!
Me too!
Books and a teapot
What a great combination!
I can’t really remember the last thing I bought at a garage sale—I think books and picture frames? I go to thrift stores more often than garage sales.
I love thrift shops too!
I forgot: Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
Thanks, Kate!
Would love to win
Good luck!
Last thing I purchased at a garage sale i think was a book but I’m not sure
Angelcake12 at optonline dot net
All of you are having way better luck at finding books than I am.
We have held garage sales and I remember buying a playpen.
Garage sales are a lot of work to organize!
The last thing I bought at a garage sale was miscellaneous pieces of Fiesta ware, and a set of Pyrex baking dishes. Also the entire tea shop series by Laura Child’s in paperback. Love bargains !
Wow! Finding Fiesta ware and Pyrex is amazing! Well done.
I think the last things I bought at a yard sale were some Taste of Home cookbooks and a jacket. Yard sales around here kinda stop around October/ November until late spring. But we still go on our junkin’ trips as we call it when we hit the flea markets, junk/antique stores and the Goodwills or resale shops. We just went on one of those day trips on New Years Day and had a great time. I started the year out right by finding 28 pieces of Fiesta (some old, some new) at Goodwill. They were bundled in various sizes of bundles and I gave just under $21 for all of it. Only 1 piece had a small chip. I was so excited to add that much to my collection at one time! Then at the second Goodwill I found 7 books, 5 of which were cozies. After that my luck kinda went downhill, but my boys and my mom found several things.
Oh, I’d love to go on a junkin’ trip with you. The Fiesta ware find is amazing. I love going through antique stores and thrift shops too!
I love this series
Thank you, Ellen!!!!
The last thing I got was some home decor and books:)
Garage sales are great places to find home decor!
The last thing I purchased at a garage sale would be books.
3 books and a crystal bowl 🙂
**** WINNER ****
Sell Low, Sweet Harriet is Faith Creech
Congratulations!