Aunt Bessie assumes that she'll have the beach all to herself on a cold, wet, and windy March morning just after sunrise, then she stumbles (almost literally) over a dead body.Elizabeth (Bessie) Cubbon, aged somewhere between free bus pass (60) and telegram from the Queen (100), has lived her entire adult life in a small cottage on Laxey beach. For most of those years, she's been in the habit of taking a brisk morning walk along the beach. Dead men have never been part of the scenery before.Aunt Bessie assumes that the dead man died of natural causes, then the police find the knife in his chest.Try as she might, Bessie just can't find anything to like about the young widow that she provides tea and sympathy to in the immediate aftermath of finding the body. There isn't much to like about the rest of the victim's family either.Aunt Bessie assumes that the police will have the case wrapped up in no time at all, then she finds a second body.Can Bessie and her friends find the killer before she ends up as the next victim?

Now that prize-winning photojournalist Callie Cassidy has returned to the mountainside village of her youth, she believes she’s put crime scenes and corpses in her rear view mirror. So why does she end up—once again—focusing her lens on murder?Callie Cassidy is no stranger to dead bodies. Two decades as a photojournalist on a big-city newspaper landed her face to face with so many of them that her colleagues dubbed her Queen of the Dead. Now, Callie believes her days of hanging out with cadavers are behind her. With her lovable golden retriever in tow, she has returned in disgrace to Rock Creek Village, Colorado, where she licks her wounds in a cabin on her parents’ Rocky Mountain ski resort property.But when her mother persuades her to take a photography gig at the Snowflake Swirl winter ball, Callie’s foray back into the real world lands her smack in the middle of town drama.Before the first partygoer arrives, Callie stumbles across a deadly scene. A former classmate, one of the “mean girls” from high school, lies lifeless on her office floor. Another woman from Callie’s past crouches above the body, holding a bloody letter opener.The conclusion is obvious—at least to the rookie detective on the case. But Callie believes there’s more to the picture. With the help of an adopted stray cat, whose investigative skills may rival her own, Callie sets out to find the real murderer. Because unless she, her pets, and a quirky group of villagers can solve the mystery, Callie’s photos won’t be the only thing being framed.SILVER FALCHION WINNER FOR BEST COZY MYSTERY AND SECOND RUNNER-UP FOR BEST BOOK OF 2021!FIRST PLACE IN THE CHANTICLEER INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS MURDER AND MAYHEM DIVISION!

A classic murder-mystery set among the struggling upper classes of 1920s Perthshire as, in the aftermath of the First World War, their comfortable world begins to crumble. Dandy Gilver, her husband back from the War, her children off at school and her uniform growing musty in the attic, is bored to a whimper in the spring of 1923 and a little light snooping seems like harmless fun. Before long, though, the puzzle of what really happened to the Duffy diamonds after the Armistice Ball has been swept aside by a sudden, unexpected death in a lonely seaside cottage in Galloway. Society and the law seem ready to call it an accident but Dandy, along with Cara Duffy's fiancé Alec, is sure that there is more going on than meets the eye. What is being hidden by members of the Duffy family: the watchful Lena, the cold and distant Clemence and old Gregory Duffy with his air of quiet sadness, not to mention Cara herself whose secret always seems just tantalizingly out of view? Dandy must learn to trust her instincts and swallow most of her scruples if he is to uncover the truth and earn the right to call herself a sleuth.

When a portable shipping container washes ashore near one of Casper Cove's beloved beaches, Chief Stanard is faced with a mystery that leaves him scratching his head. What could be hidden inside? And why has it appeared now, of all times? With the summer season in full swing, the picturesque town is buzzing with tourists, but the discovery has cast a shadow of suspicion over the sandy shores.Enter Lucinda Sharpe, the town's clever amateur sleuth, and her loyal canine companion, Steele. With her keen instincts and a nose for trouble, Lucinda is determined to uncover the truth behind this peculiar find. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she quickly realizes that this case is more than just a simple shipping container.Join Lucinda and Steele as they navigate the sunny streets of Casper Cove, encountering quirky locals, hidden agendas, and a mystery that no one saw coming. In this sixth installment of the beloved Sharpe & Steele Mystery series, readers will be treated to the perfect blend of charm, suspense, and a dash of humor. Will Lucinda solve the case before the summer crowds leave, or will the secrets of Casper Cove remain buried? One thing's for sure—this case stinks, and Lucinda is on the scent! Dive into this cozy mystery, where the beach is sunny, but the truth is anything but clear.

He’s trying to forget all about crime. But now targeted as a suspect, can he keep from going down for murder?

England, 1964. Retired inspector Tom Ramsay wants to leave the past behind. Hoping to get on with his plans to hike the beauty spots of his homeland, a vacation to North Yorkshire strikes him as just the ticket. Yet while exploring the beach with his young border collie, he’s shocked to discover a decomposing body hidden in a cave.

Happy to put the case in the hands of local police, he’s relieved not to be involved in the ugly matter. But as the small-town rumor mill churns and a grudge-bearing investigator threatens Ramsay with jail, the alarmed retiree dives headfirst into an ocean of secrets, lies, and contraband.

Can this forthright ex-copper clear his name and dredge up the true culprit?

Ramsay and the Smuggling Ring is the captivating second book in the One Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries series. If you like kind but dogged heroes, animal companions, and quirky supporting casts, then you’ll love P.C. James’s riveting read.

Buy Ramsay and the Smuggling Ring to expose the truth today!