Series-ously Good New Mysteries - October Edition

October brings us a fresh new batch of series mysteries. Have a look to see what your favorite authors have coming your way

Crafty Christmas is the fourth title in the Cumberland Creek Mystery series by Mollie Cox Bryan. It follows Death of an Irish Diva. This title opens with Sheila, a member of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop, winning the first place prize in a scrapbooking design contest. It is a ten-day scrapbook-themed cruise in the Caribbean. Fellow Crop members, Vera and Paige decide to come along to learn some new techniques, mingle with fellow croppers, and get in some rest and relaxation before the chaos of the fast approaching Christmas season. But when Sheila finds a famous crafter dead, and investigators determine she was poisoned, Sheila becomes the number one suspect - or was she really the intended victim?

Lee Hollis is publishing her fifth title in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails mystery series this month, Death of a Christmas Caterer, following Death of a Chocoholic. This time out, food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell needs to book a caterer for the Island Times holiday bash. Hayley thought Garth Rawlings would be the perfect caterer for this year's office Christmas party, but when the gourmet sees her budget, he runs. Then, Garth is found dead on the floor of his kitchen, with his delectable creations burning in the oven. Hayley is determined to discover just who would want to kill the Christmas caterer.


A Tale of Two Biddies is the third title in the League of Literary Ladies mystery series by Kylie Logan, followed by Legend of Sleepy Harlow. The Literary Ladies have chosen to read Washington Irving's spooky classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for Halloween. But South Bass Island has its own headless legend—of a Prohibition bootlegger named Charlie “Sleepy" Harlow. Decapitated by rival rumrunners, Harlow appears once a year in spectral form to search for his noggin. This October, the Elkhart Ghost Getters (EGG) have returned to the island. The group claims that they have film footage of Harlow's ghost, and are determined to get more. They're staying at Bea Cartwright's B and B, but it's Kate Wilder who isn't happy to see them after they trashed her winery last year. When the EGG leader turns up dead, Kate becomes the prime suspect, and the other League members need to scramble to crack the case.

Literally Murder by Ali Brandon is the fourth title in the Black Cat Bookshop mysteries. following Words with Fiends. Darla Pettistone owns her own Brooklyn bookstore as well as a big-boned black cat named Hamlet. After a video of Darla and Hamlet performing at a martial arts tournament goes viral, the Florida chapter of the Feline Society of America invites the “Karate Kitty” to be the guest of honor at their championship cat show in Fort Lauderdale. When she arrives, Darla discovers animal rights activists on the march, and a cat show contestant who stages his own angry protest when his special breed Minx—half Sphynx, half Manx—doesn’t win. Then Hamlet disappears—only to be found next a dead man's body. It's up to Darla and Hamlet to solve the murder.

Midwinter's Tail by Sofie Kelly is the sixth title in the Magical Cats mystery following Final Catcall. Winter in Mayville Heights is busy and not just because of the holidays. Kathleen Paulson is hard at work organizing a benefit to raise money for the library's popular Reading Buddies program. She has her hands full hosting the event but when a guest at the gala drops dead, her magical cats, Owen and Hercules, will have to lend a paw to  help her solve the murder. The victim is the ex of town rascal Burtis Chapman, but she hasn't lived in the area in years. Everybody is denying knowledge of why she was back in town, but as Kathleen and her detective boyfriend, Marcus, begin nosing around, they discover more people are connected to the deceased than claimed to be. Now Marcus, Kathleen, and her uncanny cats have to unravel this midwinter tale.


One Potion in the Grave by Heather Blake the second title in the Magic Potion Mystery series, following Potion to Die For. Carly Bell Hartwell runs a potions shop in the wedding capital of the south, Hitching Post, Alabama. When Katie Sue Perrywinkle walks into the Little Shop of Potions, Carly is surprised and delighted to see her old childhood friend. Katie Sue fled her hometown and a troubled family over a decade ago. Katie Sue is back in town to settle a score with Senator Warren Calhoun, who is in town for his son’s high-profile wedding. But before Katie Sue has a chance to voice any objections, Carly finds her dead. She vows to find her murderer. Were the corrupt Calhouns willing to go to any lengths to avoid a scandal? Did Katie Sue’s family take the term “bad blood” to a whole new level? And why did the bride-to-be come to Carly for a love potion? Stay tuned as Carly works out the details.