A bead of sweat rolled around my brow and into my eye as I slathered Kelly green paint on the wood trim around the front window of the Leprechaun, my father’s Northeast Minneapolis bar. Winter in Minnesota wasn’t the best time to paint any exterior surface, but thanks to a rare stretch of fifty degrees in February, here I was, paintbrush in hand.
The Lep, a popular Northeast Minneapolis watering hole, was in the midst of a facelift. A cracked sewer line in the bar’s basement had initiated the unexpected remodel. That leak led to the discovery of a body that’d been interred beneath the bar for almost two decades. Soon homicide detectives were sniffing around for my dad, an on-again off-again alcoholic who’d disappeared the day before New Year’s Eve. Even I had to wonder what my old man might’ve done.
Of course, I’d looked into it. My snooping had evolved into one giant mess concluding with a near-murderous chase through an abandoned mental institution. The good news was my best friend Coop and I evaded a maniac with murder on his mind and my father was cleared of any responsibility in the death of the poor soul under his bar. The bad news was that during the aforementioned abandoned mental institution caper, my dad had been shot by the aforementioned maniac. Thankfully, he was expected to make a full recovery.
With a cautiously optimistic belief in the unusually warm weather forecast, I’d taken a week off from the Rabbit Hole, a coffee café I co-owned, to paint the faded, chipped exterior of the Leprechaun. My schedule was packed, and it was all I could do to string together a few consecutive days to help out.
Because of my crazy, hectic life, my newly found half sister Lisa had taken the initiative to help my father in whatever ways she could. She was a student, and had a lot more time on her hands than I did. Somehow, along the way, she’d managed to wrap my homophobic father around her lesbian pinkie finger.
For years my dad and I had butted heads over my preference for the fairer sex. It was only in the last twelve months, when he realized I was serious about my girl JT, that he’d started to come around. It was a hard pill to swallow when Lisa showed up out of the blue and he immediately accepted her with open arms. I ground my teeth when he’d tell me, “Lisa fixed this,” or “Lisa bought new chairs for the Leprechaun,” or “Lisa came and took the old man out for lunch.”
Yeah, I knew a serious attitude adjustment was in order—Lisa meant no ill will—but I just needed some time to wrap my noggin around the whole thing. If I’d only known then that very soon I’d be spending an extended period literally arm-in-arm with my sister, I wouldn’t have worried. Thanks to a kidnapping, some pesky handcuffs, and a wild and crazy chase through the Land of the North Star, we’d have plenty of hair-raising time to bond. Little did I know that it would all begin with blood money.
Blood Money Murder is the fifth book in the Shay O’Hanlon Caper Series, published by Bella Books, June 2016.
Secrets. It all begins with secrets. And one is about to implode with potentially catastrophic results.
It’s St. Paddy’s Day, and Shay O’Hanlon is finishing her shift at the Rabbit Hole, anticipating the grand reopening of her father’s bar, the Leprechaun. Two suspicious-looking strangers show up at the Hole demanding to speak to Eddy Quartermaine, the closest person Shay has to a mother. That visit sparks a firestorm spanning twenty-five years in a deadly mix of love gone wrong, stolen money, murder, and betrayal.
Will Shay and her sister Lisa pay the ultimate price for Eddy’s sins, or will Eddy confront her twenty-five year secret head-on before time runs out?
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About the author
Jessie Chandler is the award-winning author of the Shay O’Hanlon Caper series and the National Protection and Investigation Unit Operation series. Her novels have garnered two Golden Crown Literary Awards, an Independent Publisher Book Award, and two USA Book Awards for LGBTQ fiction.
Two too-adorable-for-their-own-good pooches allow Jessie and her wife of twenty years to hang with them in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as long as they are fed three squares a day—interspersed with numerous snacks.
When Jessie isn’t writing, you can find her selling T-shirts, books, and other assorted fun stuff at festivals, craft shows, and a multitude of other strange locations.
Link: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win either a print (US entries only, please) or e-book (open to everyone) of Blood Money Murder. Two lucky winners will be selected. The giveaway will end July 6, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
I wasn’t aware of this series but in reading about Blood Money Murder, I see that I must get going on it. It sounds great. Thanks for introducing me to Jessie Chandler’s work.
Hey Mary B! I hope you take a chance on Shay and co! The series is a mash up of Janet Evanovich, Clive Cussler, and Scooby Doo! All for adults LOL
Nice, a mystery with lesbians in the catbird seat. Toss my name into the magic hat please Dru. I really, really, REALLY want this one.
Hello Nora! Nothing like stirring things up with some lesbians, vegetarians, delightfully challenged minions, crazy-as-a-fox old ladies, and a couple of bumbling ex-cons. What more could you want?
What more could I want? I want to win it. LOL
I am a few books behind in this series, but would love to win this newest adventure featuring Shay and her half-sister Lisa.
Hi Grace! YAY! Hope you have a chance to catch up. This one is rocking, fast, and crazy. Kinda like the others but I think even better!
Thanks for the heads up on this author and series.
Hi Donna! If you like a little crazy with your mysteries, check out Shay and co!
How fun is this! And Risa says she’s the midwife in the book? A must-read. ‘^)
Hi Edith!!! YES! Risa is a midwife and boy does she know how to take charge! Poor Gretchen, the one who’s only trying to have a kid!
Another new series and author for me!! Blood Money Murder sounds good. Thank you for introducing me to Jessie Chandler’s books.
Hi Peggy! Good to meetcha, virtually 🙂 if you like some drama, some laughs, and some crazy antics, check out the series.
I would love to try out this series.Thanks for the intro Dru!
Heya, Fearless! I’d love for you to try out the series! Dru is unbelievable. What a wonderful human!
A new series which I would enjoy. Thanks.
Hi Anne! Hope you’ll take a chance and good luck!
Your blog is such a wonderful service for readers who enjoy finding new authors and their books. Thank you for the introduction to Jessie Chandler’s book, Blood Money Murder. robeader53@yahoo.com
Dru’s blog is amazing, Ro! If you like to laugh, cry, and shake your head at a few holy shit moments, check out the series!
Exciting new series and author, at least to me. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Hi Patty! Hope you’ll check out the books, and hope you have fun with them! Good luck!
Promises to be a cool read.
Hi Amy! I think this is the best in the series yet, but who am I to judge? LOL Good luck and hope you’ll check the books out!
I love finding new authors! thanks for the chance to win a print copy!
Hey Johnna! You love new authors and I love new readers! We’re a match made in literary heaven 🙂 Good luck!
A new-to-me author to try. Thanks for a chance to win a print copy.
Hello Elaine! Hope you’l take a moment to check the series out…if you like adventure, a little slapstick, a bit o’ drama, and some mushy happy times! Good luck!
Poor dear-she put up with all the angst with Dad, laid the groundwork, and now her sister has an “easy” time of it.
Poor dear indeed! The good news is that Lisa, the half sister, is really an awesome person. they just need a little time together (hahahahaaaaa!) to figure things out!
I love the POV and action. Having had some unknown family members foisted on me I can understand the angst of the main character. Fortunately, we didn’t have to deal with murder to get over our nervousness.
CJ, so glad you didn’t have to navigate murder! Hope the situation worked out okay. Hope you’ll check out all of Shay’s trauma and troubles!
Sounds like a good story, I would love to read this.
YAY Mary Jane! Good luck!
This is a new author and series to me. Looks like a great read, I look forward to reading. Thanks for the chance.
Dianne, hello! I sure hope you’ll check out the Shay series! Good luck!
Can;t wait to read the latest in the Shay series.. Jessie is a great writer and a great person too !!! Looking forward to connecting with you soon to pick up my copy of the latest book. And if anyone is on the fence… jump it, you won;t regret it !!
Sandi, one of my favorite super-fans! Thanks for the kind words! Can’t wait for you to get your hands on the new one, too. Did you get my email newsletter with all my appearances? Much love!
Hi! I would really love to win a paperback! Thanks for the chance and Happy 4th of July!!
Happy 4th, Linda! Good luck!
I would like to win the print book; sounds like a good read with an author I am not familiar with. Thanks.
Janet, if you like fast paced and laughs, this is the series for you! Good luck!
A series I need to binge-read….
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Cyn! Binge reading! You’re speaking my language 🙂 Hope you have a ball with Shay and Co!
Another new author and series to check out. Thanks for the chance.
Hi Mari! Hope you do check out Shay and cronies 🙂 Good luck!
Oh, I’m totally intrigued by this series. Can’t believe I haven’t heard of it before. Thanks for sharing, Dru!
Since I live in north central Minnesota, I love to read cozies set in our state. Thanks for the contest.
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