My first Christmas in the retail world was a blur of shoppers and twinkling lights, with a repetitive festive soundtrack that played all day in my ears and all night in my head. It was a welcome whirl. My boutique, All Things, was having an excellent holiday season and was on track for record sales, though the steady business the shop enjoyed every day afforded me little time to think about the gifts I would give my family and friends. I had even less time to consider what I would like to unwrap on Christmas day. There was one thing I was certain no one would be giving me, not even the magical Santa Claus: an acting role.
I hadn’t performed in months, not since the final day of filming on the soap opera I had starred on for more than thirty years. After a period of mourning the cancelled show and the end of my career, I settled into a new life in my Adirondack hometown of Barton.
My zero expectation for an opportunity to practice my craft made Gigi Swanson’s announcement sweeter than all the chocolate in the All Things’ display case. That’s where I was standing when Gigi, the founder and director of the Barton Community Theater, swept into the boutique and stormed the candy counter. I grabbed an empty box, ready to pack another order.
“I’m pulling you out of retirement, Veronica Walsh!” Gigi declared.
That didn’t sound like a request for a pound of chocolate truffles. “What?”
The BCT’s winter production would be Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, Gigi explained. “And I want you to play Madame Arcati.”
The juicy part of the eccentric medium, not the tantalizing yummies right under my nose, made my mouth water. Angela Lansbury, Margaret Rutherford, and Geraldine Page had all played Coward’s famous psychic. And now the role was mine for the taking. Joy to the world, indeed!
I didn’t care it would be an amateur production and I wouldn’t be paid a penny for the three months of rehearsals and performances. I accepted Gigi’s offer in seconds and (here’s a sign of how happy I was) didn’t bat an eyelash when Claire, the boutique’s manager, pulled out a tray of chocolate-covered vanilla creams and suggested we celebrate by eating the inventory.
The production offered an exciting start to the new year. Instead of dreading the gray, snowy Adirondack days, I looked forward to venturing into the dark, cold nights for rehearsals in the barn the BCT had converted into a beautiful performance space.
The first week’s rehearsals went by like a dream. I became fast friends with my castmates and the crew. When Gigi asked my help with a bit of fundraising for the theater, I readily agreed to sign a few letters to sponsors and donors.
The task brought me to the theater office on a bright Saturday morning, with a song on my lips (off-key; thank goodness Blithe Spirit wasn’t a musical) and not a care in my heart.
My lighthearted mood darkened minutes after I pulled into the theater’s parking lot. I found Gigi not in the office, selling tickets and organizing promotion for the show, but lying on the ground behind the barn.
Dead, by a bullet shot into her heart.
Gigi’s death spread an eerie aura over the production and cast me in a second, all-too-familiar role. Onstage I’d be the delightful psychic Madame Arcati, while behind the scenes I’d play amateur sleuth to solve my director’s murder.
I should have stayed in retirement.
You can read more about Veronica in Cast For Murder, the third book in the “Veronica Walsh” mystery series. The first book in the series is All Things Murder.
Former soap opera actress Veronica Walsh is recovering from her first holiday season in the retail world when she is pulled from retirement to star in a community production of Blithe Spirit. Delighted to play the part of a medium, Veronica must soon also assume the role of amateur sleuth when she finds the play’s director shot dead behind the theater.
Teaming with stage manager Sophie Morrissey, Veronica’s hunt for clues to the murder of Gigi Swanson leads her to a cast of colorful behind-the-scenes characters and a stunning Act Three finale. Will it be a triumph for Veronica, or will the curtain close on more than her career?
Purchase Link
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Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a paperback advance copy of Cast For Murder. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends February 17, 2018. Good luck everyone!
About the author
Jeanne Quigley grew up reading mysteries, watching soap operas, and vacationing in the Adirondacks, never imagining these pleasures would be the inspiration for her Veronica Walsh cozy mysteries. Unlike the fictional Veronica, Jeanne has never been a soap opera star, but she has worked in the music industry and for an education publisher. She lives in Rockland County, New York and is a member of the Sisters in Crime. Readers can visit Jeanne at jeannequigley.wordpress.com.
All comments are welcomed.
I really enjoy this series. Happy to see a new one. Congrats
Thank you, Kari! I hope you enjoy Cast for Murder, too.
I can see I need to read the first two books in the series post haste! Veronica sounds delightful, and apparently a seasoned sleuth. This should be a fun book to read, however if she continues working in the chocolate shop, I may need to buy some chocolates myself!
Hi, Barbara. It’s just a candy counter inside Veronica’s boutique, but that’s no reason for not buying yourself a box of chocolates. Enjoy the candy, and the book!
A new author for me writing a series I think I would enjoy reading.
Thank you, Polly! I’m glad for the introduction. I hope you enjoy all three of Veronica’s sleuthing adventures.
Looking forward to reading the latest Veronica Walsh mystery.
Happy Thursday, Mary. I hope you enjoy Cast for Murder!
This mystery is intriguing and love the series.
Hi, Anne. Thank you for joining Veronica on her sleuthing adventures!
OHHHH, this sounds interesting, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Wendy. Good luck!
I love Blithe Spirit, so a book incorporating that into the plot sounds great.
Hi, Rochelle. I share your affection for Blithe Spirit. Have you seen a performance of the play? I haven’t, but hope to one day soon.
Thank you Dru for the opportunity to enter the giveaway. I enjoy following your blog and learning about new authors and their books to me. My fingers are crossed I am picked to receive this book. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
Good luck in the giveaway, Robin. And thanks for visiting with Veronica today!
What a great introduction to a new series for me. I will definitely have to add this series to my to be read list!
Thank you for adding Veronica’s sleuthing adventures to your reading list, Ashley. I appreciate it!
I want this one!
I like your enthusiasm, Amy. Thank you!
This sounds like a great cozy mystery! I will definitely be looking at purchasing the first two Jeanne Walsh mysteries so I’ll be ready when this book is published. Thanks for telling us about this series!
Oops! Got the name of the main character wrong — it’s Veronica Walsh. Sorry about that!
That’s okay, Jan. Veronica and I are very similar!
Thank you, Jan! I hope you enjoy All Things Murder and Murder, by George. Cast for Murder is also available now 🙂
Thanks for the info on this book. I am always looking for new authors to read.
Have added this one to my TBR list.
Thanks for adding Veronica and me to your reading list, Joye. I appreciate it. Happy reading!
I have not read this series, and the author’s introduction make it sound like a lot of fun, a really enjoyable mystery with engaging characters. I love Blithe Spirit! So for me this sounds a perfect intro to the series. Great written introduction – now I’m fascinated.
Thank you for your comment, Helen. It’s good to hear from Blithe Spirit fans. Enjoy the book!
This series sounds delightful and is now on my TBR list. Thanks for the introduction to a new (to me) author and thanks for the giveaway!
Hi, Autumn. Thank you for adding Cast for Murder to your reading list!
a new to me author and series that sounds very intriguing and fun. thank you for the chance to win a copy
Hi, Johnna! Thank you for entering the giveaway. Good luck.
What a great play to have at the center of the story line.
Hi, Libby. It’s fun to hear Blithe Spirit has so much appeal to readers. I hope you enjoy the part it plays in the book!
Sounds like a fun read.
Thanks, Karen. I had a lot of fun writing the book and I’m glad I can share it with readers.
The theater is a perfect setting for a murder mystery. Can’t wait to read it.
Hi, Jana. The theater does seem a natural home for intrigue, doesn’t it? Enjoy the book!
Sounds like a good book.
Hi, Rita. Good luck in the giveaway!
I love this series. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks, Doward! I hope you enjoy the third Veronica mystery. Good luck in the giveaway.
I love mysteries that center around the theater. Cast for Murder just made my tbr list.
Thank you, Nancy, for adding the book to your reading list. I appreciate it very much! Enjoy the book.
This is a new author and series to me. Would really enjoy reading.
Hi, Dianne. Welcome to the world of Veronica Walsh! Good luck in the giveaway.
A new author and book to read. I’d love to read “Cast For Murder”.
Good luck in the giveaway, Polly!
Looks like a great book
Thanks for sharing it with us
Shared on twitter https://twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/964330666149236736
Thank you, Linda! It is very kind of you to share my post; I appreciate the tweet.
I like the title, cover, and excerpt of this book! Thanks for the chance to win it!
Thank you, Linda! The beautiful cover is by Keri Knutson at Alchemy Book Covers and Design. Good luck in the giveaway.
This is a new series for me.
Hi, Sandy. Thanks for commenting and entering the giveaway. Have a great weekend!
This is a fun series.
Thanks, Annette. I’m glad you enjoy Veronica’s adventures!
Added to my WishList…
Thank you for the giveaway….
Hi, Cyn209. Thanks for adding the book to your wish list and for entering the giveaway!
**** WINNER ****
Cast for Murder is Annette
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Annette. And thank you, Dru, for hosting me again and allowing Veronica to introduce her new mystery!