Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

It's

Whodunit Wednesday EXTENDED!

Do you like to solve mysteries?

Do you love to win prizes?

If you said yes to both questions,

you're in the right place!

It's easy.

Read the following story and if you think you know

Whodunit, enter your answer into

the Rafflecopter form below.

Giveaway is open to US and Canada

This week's Whodunit is being hosted by author

Joyce & Jim Lavene / J. J. Cook!

And to send 2014 out with a bang, Joyce & Jim are giving one lucky reader

One copy of

SPELL BOOKED by Joyce & Jim Lavene

Book 1 in the Retired Witches Mystery series

The national bestselling authors of the Missing Pieces Mysteries summon up the first Retired Witches Mystery in a brand new supernatural series...

Once upon a time in Wilmington, North Carolina, three witches ran a curio shop named Smuggler’s Arcane. But as the years passed, their magical powers started to fade—leaving them no choice but to conjure up a retirement package…

Before they could blink their eyes or twitch their noses, Molly, Elsie, and Olivia somehow became eligible for AARP. But they can’t fly off to Boca Raton just yet. First they must give up their magic, recruit and train three new witches, and pass on their cherished spellbook.

They’ve barely begun to consider potential practitioners when Olivia winds up dead and their spellbook is stolen. To honor their friend and reclaim their spells, Molly and Elsie are about to go wand-to-wand with a dangerous young witch more powerful than the trio was in their prime. And this time they’re going to need more than magic up their sleeves…

One copy of

IN HOT WATER by J. J. Cook

Book 3 in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery series

Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, has the world’s hottest and sweetest peppers—as well as a ghost that cooks and a fire chief who fights crime…

SPARK OF INTEREST

Stella Griffin should be bubbling over with joy now that she’s the full-time fire chief of Sweet Pepper, except trouble is brewing on her doorstep. An angry resident has purchased her cabin, and—with a bulldozer in tow—is ready to tear it down. But as Stella worries over the fate of her home and Eric, her ghostly roommate, there’s soon an even greater cause for alarm.

A suspicious house fire in the pricey Sunset Beach community at Sweet Pepper Lake claims the life of ex-state representative Barney Falk. The nature of the death has Stella feeling out of her depth, so she teams up with the state’s arson investigator. Moving full steam ahead with the case, they must smoke out a killer before the firebug strikes again…

INCLUDES RECIPES!

and

One $20.oo Amazon Gift Card!

Just answer today's Whodunit and you could be the lucky winner!

Let's get started!

MRS. KRENSHAW'S SPARE KEY

"I hate to bother you, Mr. Holmes."

Sherman's neighbor, Mrs. Krenshaw, led him across the street from his house to hers, a tidy Victorian gem set in the pristine white of a recent snowfall. The elderly widow was remarkably self-sufficient and walked with a strong, confident gait.

"I know I ought to go to the police," she said in a fluttering voice. "But Hank and Edgar are both such good friends. If you could find some way of getting my vase back without calling in the authorities..." She pressed her hand into his. "You're so very clever about these things."

Sherman blushed and cleared his throat. "Tell me about the vase, Mrs. Krenshaw."

She spoke eagerly. "You know that TV program, America's Tresures, the one where people bring in antiques and the experts tell where they came from and how much they're worth. Well, I had this old vase handed down to me by my mother. I took it over to the Armory yesterday, where they were filming the show. An expert appraised it at $20,000. It was all very exciting, being on TV and having such a rarity."

"And you think wither Hank or Edgar broke into your house and stole it?"

"I don't know what else to think. Look."

Sherman looked. In the middle of the lawn sat a flowerpot on top of a stump. A single set of footprints crossed the snow-covered lawn to the stump then crossed away again toward the front door. Mrs. Krenshaw trampled through the snow to the stomp.

"The house was unlocked when I got home from shopping a few minutes ago. I never leave it unlocked. Sure enough, the antique vase was gone. Then I saw these footprints out here. I came right over to you." She lifted the flowerpot and pointed to a key hidden beneath it. "I know it's stupid to leave a key out here like this, but everybody does it."

"Both Edgar and Hank know where you keep your spare key?"

"Yes. And they knew about the vase. I just had to tell them my wonderful news."

Once inside the house, Sherman telephoned Hank, Lyda Krenshaw's next-door neighbor, and Edgar, a gentleman friend who lived two blocks away. Hank was the first to arrive.

"I've been home all morning," Hank explained. He was a young, slight bachelor and didn't seem outraged to be considered a suspect. "I was paying bills at my desk. It's got a view of the street and I didn't notice any cars stopping or people walking by. Of course, I wasn't staring out the window every second." Sherman checked the man's shoes. They were wet from the snow, but his trouser legs appeared to be dry.

Edgar rang the bell a few minutes later. He seemed more annoyed by Sherman's inquiries. "I took my dog for a walk this morning. I passed by this block, but I didn't see anyone. And I certainly didn't go into Lyda's house."

Sherman left the men and joined Mrs. Krenshaw in the kitchen. "I'm not sure I can help you," he admitted. "Was the vase insured?"

She thought for a moment. "I suppose it's covered by my homeowner's policy. Does this mean you don't know who took it?"

"Oh, I know who took it. I just don't think you'll like the answer."

Who stole the vase?

What clue gave the thief away?

The Whodunit Wednesday solution will be posted on tomorrow's blog .

I want to thank Joyce and Jim for hosting this week's Whodunit Wednesday.

Learn more about Joyce and Jim Lavene

www.joyceandjimlavene.com

As always, please leave a comment and

let me know what you think!

I would love for you to follow my blog.