Thank you so much for having us today. I’m Edna Zimmerman and this is my sister, Ida. We’re two retired school teachers who live in Celebration Bay and rent our carriage house to Liv Montgomery, our town’s new event coordinator.”
“Yes, it’s so lovely to be here. We’re a destination town, which I for one think is a silly name, we’re just friendly folks who love to share our holidays.”
“Thank you, Ida. We are friendly, but most of the town makes its living from tourism. We’ve become so popular that the mayor decided to hire a professional coordinator from New York City.”
“And Liv is such a sweet heart, not at all like Janine Tudor who used to run the events. My dear, it was a mess. Janine still hasn’t gotten over being replaced by Liv and she’s always causing trouble. But Liv doesn’t take any nonsense and we all just love her to death.”
“Ida’s absolutely right, though I’m not sure loving her “to death” was a fortunate turn of phrase. We have seen a few murders come to town lately.”
“Edna, do we have to talk about those?”
Of course we do, we’re in a mystery series.”
“Well, there is that. The Celebration Bay Mysteries. And we’ve had a few. But you forgot to mention Liv’s precious little dog, Whiskey. He’s an adorable Westie.”
“He’s a rascal.”
“Now, Edna.”
“I was going to say that he’s a rascal but a sweetie and my sister spoils him shamelessly.”
“I do not.”
“Ida Louise Zimmerman.”
“Well . . . maybe just a little.”
“Now I was about to tell these lovely readers about the murders. And don’t give me that look. You know you’re the one who suggested Liv put together a lesson plan for investigating.”
“Oh dear, I did, didn’t I? Well, one gets caught up in the situation.”
“That’s one way of putting it, Ida. Some folks would say we’re just plain nosey.”
“You’re right, Edna. We are and it’s a good thing, too. We’ve done our part in bringing those felons to justice.”
“Ah, yes we have. And proud we are, too.”
“Which is more than I can say for Chaz Bristow. And he was always such an inquisitive boy when he was growing up.”
“You’ll have to forgive Ida. She has a selective memory when it comes to her students.”
“I don’t know what you mean. Chaz was an inquisitive child.”
“He was a horror, always getting into mischief.”
“Charming though.”
“True. Chaz—we called him Charlie in those days—could charm you right out any punishment he was due.”
“Edna, do you remember when you made him write fifty times on the blackboard, I will not confront the principal about lunch rules during assembly? He wrote The principal is a rat fink instead.”
“Don’t remind me, he went on to become an investigative reporter. Now, I just wish he’d show a little more interest in helping Liv solve our new wave of crime.”
“I for one wish he’d just show a little more attention to Liv.”
“Now Ida, we’re not here to gossip about Chaz and Liv but to tell our friends about the next murder we encounter in Celebration Bay.”
“Oh yes, and it’s a doozy, too.”
“The murder takes place during a military reenactment on the Fourth of July on the grounds of the Gallantine estate, owned by a very famous child movie star.”
“Edna, that was years ago. Henry’s just a lonely old recluse now.”
“Thank you, Ida. So the mystery takes place in the middle of the Battle of the Bay reenactment.”
“With hundreds of visitors as witnesses.”
“And nobody saw a thing.”
“Oh Edna, just thinking about it gives me chills.”
“Independence Slay.”
“Hush Edna, You don’t want to scare our readers.”
“Oh no, I wouldn’t wish to do that. Besides, with Liv and Chaz and Whiskey—”
“And us, Edna, don’t forget us.”
“And us on the case, we’re bound to uncover the culprit. But oh dear, it’s time to say goodbye to our friends.”
“And it’s been such a pleasure to be here.”
“Yes it has Ida, and we hope you’ll all join us for Independence Slay.”
“But, Edna, there’s something I must know. What happened to Henry Gallantine?”
“That, my dear sister, is something no one knows . . .yet.”
You can read more about Ida and Edna in Independence Slay, the third book in the “Celebration Bay” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Foul Play at the Fair. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on June 19, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of INDEPENDENCE SLAY. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Shelley Freydont is the author of the Liv Montgomery, Celebration Bay Festival Mysteries, the Katie McDonald Sudoku Mysteries and the Lindy Haggerty dance company mystery series.
Shelley loves puzzles of all kinds and when not writing or reading mysteries, she’s most likely working on a jigsaw, Sudoku, or crossword.
As Shelley Noble, she’s the author of the women’s fiction novels, Beach Colors, Stargazey Point, and Breakwater Bay as well as several novellas.
She lives at New Jersey Shore and loves to hear from readers.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
I think I put the first in the series on my list.
I love this series, can’t wait to read this latest installment !
My mom and I love this series!! Quite often, we argue who gets to read the next one first! If I win, I read it first. Haha!! Thanks for the giveaway!
ok, I seriously need to start this series!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!!
I would love to start reading this series! Thank you!
Looks like a series I need to read; have not read anything, as yet, from this author, thank you for the chance 🙂
I should check this series out. It sounds very interesting.
Love the sisters. Never had one so I enjoy listening to two of the scwabble (not sure how to spell that). Going to check into this series.
Sounds like a fun read!
How did I miss the first two. Sounds like a great series.
Wow! I love the inter hangs between Edna and Ida. I have to read this series. Thank you for the giveaways.
This sounds utterly delightful
This one sounds like a winner and I want to look for the dance co. one also.
Love the sound of the book, I can’t wait to read it.
What a charming introduction to Ida and Edna and this book. I like the sisters and would love to read the story. I want to find out what happened to Henry.
I just became a retiree so I want to “meet” Ida and Edna.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Retired school teachers—know lots of them. Maybe not so many involved in murder though. Sounds like a fun red, white and blues read!!
I love the sound of Ida and Edna, I have got to get started on this series. Thanks for the chance to win.
What a great write up about this series. Unfortunately, I have yet to read the first two books in this series, but I am quite sure that I do have one of the other series books in my to be read pile, but not sure. Being retired myself, makes this premise and these characters all the more appealing to me, and I will be happy to order Shelley’s book very soon.
Cynthia
I loved this time with the sisters, thank you so much, please keep the series going.
It definitely sounds like a fun mystery. I love the characters of Ida and Edna. Thanks for this chance to win the book.
What charming sisters.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
I’ve been wanting to start this series, and meet Whiskey!
Sounds like a great cozy mystery
I have enjoyed this series. Looks like a great summer read
Sounds as if I need to read this series.
Love this author’s cozies..fun! Thanks for the chance to win.
would love to win looks like a good book I would enjoy reading
I’ve the the first and second is in my TBR stack. Thanks for the giveaway. Excuse me while I go read Silent Knife! 😉
contest is closed.