Title: Tangerine Marmalade Murder
Author: Meg Benjamin
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
When a stranger is murdered near Roxy Constantine’s farm, she’s sure it has nothing to do with her. But the investigation turns up surprising links to Roxy’s past. As if that weren’t enough, Roxy’s quarreling with her Significant Other, Nate Robicheaux, and facing a possible break-up. Just when the stress begins to ease, the murderer strikes again, sending Nate to the hospital. Now Roxy needs to figure out the link between the Constantine Farm and a blackmailer before she becomes the killer’s next target.
Excerpt:
We settled down at the table and general conversation about the Merchants Association, blueberry jam, and just how much snow we were likely to get from the latest storm, which was still stalled somewhere on the Western Slope. I’d just gotten up to see what ice cream I had in the freezer when someone hammered on my door.
Herman whimpered, and Uncle Mike pushed himself up from the table. “What the hell?”
I started for the door, where the hammering was still going on, but Uncle Mike grabbed my arm. “Let me open it. You hold onto Herman.”
That was a good idea, since Herman had moved from whimpering to growling along with stalking toward the door as if he’d actually protect us. In fact, it was more likely we’d protect him, but I wouldn’t tell him that.
Uncle Mike threw open the door. “What the hell…” he started, then paused. “Donnie?”
I moved closer to the open door and saw Donnie McCray, Dolce’s dad and Uncle Mike’s foreman, standing on my doorstep. He’s a big man, but right then he looked like he was ready to collapse. “Come inside.” I grabbed his arm. “Sit down. What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Donnie dropped onto my couch, gasping. “There’s a woman,” he began and then stopped to catch his breath.
“What woman?” Uncle Mike said. “Where?”
“Up by the road. In a car.” Donnie gasped again, and I dropped to my knees beside him.
“What about her, Donnie? What’s wrong?”
“She dead,” he blurted out. “She’s dead up there in the car.”
Uncle Mike and I grabbed our jackets and trotted out the front door. I thought about leaving Herman behind, but he was already ahead of us, galloping toward the county road that runs by the farm. “Herman,” I yelled. “Get back here. Heel, dammit.” Sometimes Herman remembers the obedience lessons he took long ago, but usually not. This time he slowed, but stayed ahead of us, still at a brisk trot.
Donnie came too, moving slowly behind us. After we’d jogged up the drive and onto the highway, we’d come a quarter mile or so from the cabin. I saw a car on the shoulder of the road. “Is that it?”
Donnie nodded. He looked like he’d rather be almost anywhere but here. Snow had begun to fall lightly, giving the frozen ruts in the drive a sort of speckled look. It felt like the kind of snow that would pick up speed and force pretty soon.
As we got closer, I recognized the car. Or anyway, I recognized that I’d seen the car before, but I couldn’t remember where. I followed Uncle Mike to the driver’s side. He’d grabbed a flashlight before we’d left the cabin. Now he flipped it on to peer into the driver’s side window. After a moment, he gasped and moved away quickly. But not so quickly that I hadn’t seen the woman in the driver’s seat.
She was pushed up against the driver’s side window. Her eyes were open, staring at the car roof. When I realized that the smear on the window beside her was blood, I staggered to the side of the road and worked on not being sick.
It was the blonde, of course. That’s why I’d recognized the car. And she looked thoroughly dead. No wonder Donnie had been so freaked out.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?
Bambi is the first book I can remember staying up late to read. I was eight or nine, and I was fascinated by life in the woods. It was a lot different from the Disney movie, and I really wanted to know what was going to happen to all the animals. Would I recommend it today? Sure, assuming you’re a kid—it’s a great read, although sort of intense.
What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?
Not only is Roxy dealing with a murder just up the road from her farm, but she’s in the middle of her first serious fight with her beloved Nate Robicheaux. When the murder victim turns out to have a family connection, Roxy’s suddenly plunged into trying to solve the mystery. And when a hit and run accident causes serious damage, things get very personal.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs August 1 – 31, 2024
Drawing will be held on September 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance and cozy mysteries. Meg’s Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing and from Meg’s indie line). Her new cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights from Wild Rose Press, concerns a jam-making sleuth based in the mythical small town of Shavano, Colorado. Along with romance and cozies, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix and the Folk trilogy soon to be reissued on Meg’s indie line. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England Romance Writers, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers.
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Website: http://www.MegBenjamin.com/