Time for the wedding, but wait! The groom is missing and their’s murder afoot in River Holloway’s busy world. Maggie Toussaint is back with her second Seafood Caper mystery, Spawning Suspicion, and she shared an excerpt with us as well as a chance to win in her giveaway!
Spawning Suspicion (A Seafood Caper Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
About Spawning Suspicion
The death of island playboy Curtis Marlin doesn’t register on busy caterer River Holloway’s radar…that is, until her brother and his girlfriend are arrested for the former athlete’s murder. Certain of the pair’s innocence, the amateur sleuth sets out to investigate. Suspicion on the island spreads like chocolate sauce when River questions the victim’s teammates. The suspects don’t appreciate her stirring up trouble, but she won’t let an election-hungry sheriff make her brother a sacrificial lamb.
But there’s more than murder on River’s to-do list. A missing groom, catered banquets, and River’s own wedding plans keep her hopping like a short order cook. And as the cherry on the sundae, she has a wild kitty to tame. Under mossy oaks and rustling palmettoes, fact and fiction blend in a mouthwatering romp of good eatin’ and yummy recipes. Spawning Suspicion is the second in Toussaint’s Seafood Capers Mystery Series.
Here’s where you can find Spawning Suspicion!
Excerpt from Spawning Suspicion
My mobile phone buzzed. I’d placed it on the console when we climbed into the van. Georgia law prevented drivers from using cell phones while driving so I used a button on the steering wheel to answer the call. “Holloway Catering. This is River Holloway. How may I help you?” My brother’s voice blasted through the car. “River, thank goodness you picked up. I’m in jail. The cops think I did something terrible, because of Viv.”
Jail? Oh, no. This couldn’t be happening. Doug’s career had traction and his girlfriend adored him. I’d known Viv Declan since we were in grade school together. “Slow down,” I said. “I don’t understand. Did they arrest you or Viv?”
“Both of us. This can’t be happening. I’ve got jobs scheduled. I can’t rot in jail. Get me out of here.”
My thoughts spun in all directions as I navigated one of Shell Island’s many traffic circles. “Do you have a lawyer?”
“I asked for a public defender, but he hasn’t arrived.”
“Should I call Mark Horton again?” We’d used that lawyer when Doug acted out after Mama died.
“No. I can’t afford him.”
“But if they have you under false pretenses, he’ll set them straight. Might be worth it to have a pro at the helm.”
From the passenger seat, Pete held up a note. I read it. Ask him what the charge is.
I nodded at Pete and stared ahead at the busy two-lane road. “What happened?
“Viv and I were there.”
I didn’t have to feign confusion. “Where?”
“Curtis Marlin’s house.”
Curtis died in his grandmother’s house a few days ago. A former high school basketball star turned playboy, Curtis hardly worked but he’d always played hard. People orbited him, as if they could be cool through association. His bad boy charm never worked on me. Who had time to be a teenage rebel when you had to go to school and be responsible for the household’s cooking and cleaning?
“He died of natural causes,” I said.
“No.” Doug’s breath hitched. “Now it’s murder.”
Icy sensations feathered the nape of my neck. Oh, no. “Since when do you and Curtis hang out?”
“I knew him by name only. We saw him at the marina recently, and he invited us to come out sometime.”
My fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “You visited his house the night he died.”
“Yeah. They say we killed him.”
Here’s where you can find Spawning Suspicion!- Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Apple
About Maggie Toussaint
Southern author Maggie Toussaint writes cozy and paranormal mysteries, romantic suspense, and dystopian fiction, with twenty fiction novels published. A multi-year finalist for Georgia Author of the Year, she’s won Silver Falchions, the Readers’ Choice, and the EPIC Awards. She’s past president of Mystery Writers of America-Southeast chapter and an officer of LowCountry Sisters In Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where secrets, heritage, and ancient oaks cast long shadows. Visit her at https://maggietoussaint.com/
Author Links
Website – https:// maggietoussaint.com
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/MaggieToussaint
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MaggieToussaintAuthor
Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/MaggieToussaint
Blog – https://www.mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com/
Linked In – https://www.linkedin.com/pub/maggie-toussaint/30/1a5/572/
Book Lover’s Bench – https://bookloversbench.com/maggie-toussaint/
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggie-toussaint
Here’s where you can find Spawning Suspicion!- Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Apple
Hey hey hey! Got a late start on promotion today, but I’m always thrilled to be a guest here, Teresa. I love the name of your blog. So many of us do have books upon books, but one can never have too many books, right? Hugs to you!
Back at you, Maggie!
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