Hanging by a Thread, a Sewing Studio Mystery

When murder threatens an upcoming convention in Hideaway Grove and Abbey’s aunt becomes the prime suspect, the town’s merchants—already barely hanging by a thread financially—are on pins and needles, fearing the organization will cancel their lucrative event. Abbey must stitch together motive, opportunity, and suspects to clear her aunt’s name—before the murderer stops her!

Bargains to Die For, a Hollis Brannigan mystery

Available Now in paperback

Hollis Brannigan, personal shopper at a prestigious Los Angeles concierge service, is assigned to D-list clients, but has her sights set on a position in the company’s investigations department. To hone her investigative skills, she takes on discreet investigations for fellow employees—as long as upper management doesn’t find out what she’s up to.

Hollis becomes embroiled in a murder when she discovers a young woman on the floor of an exclusive L.A. shop, draped in designer gowns. When Hollis rushes to give aid, another woman shows up and snaps her picture, declaring Hollis is the murderer.

While trying to keep her clients happy, keep her job, and prove her innocence, Hollis takes on a case investigating a cheating boyfriend whose mysterious midnight trips all over Southern California confound her. She finally gets a lead on her sister who vanished without a trace, but fears she’ll disappear again before Hollis can get to her.

Now shopping for a killer in L.A.’s most exclusive stores and luxury shops, Hollis discovers revenge, deceit, and ambition turned deadly. A cunning murderer lurks nearby plotting another crime—this time against Hollis.

She soon learns that pursuing a murderer and discovering the truth about her sister aren’t what she bargained for!

Seams Like Murder, the first book in the Sewing Studio Mystery Series

Abbey Chandler needs a fresh start and an escape from her big-city job, so quaint, quiet Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers, seems like the perfect choice.

She barely arrives when the town is stunned by the murder of the spinster librarian. The librarian? Abbey left the chaotic, dangerous city for this?

When Abbey falls under suspicion and her car is seized, she occupies herself by setting up a sewing studio in the back of her aunt’s bakery, and attempts to make pillowcase dresses for charity.

But with the sheriff making little progress in the case, Abbey realizes she must investigate the murder herself. As she stitches clues together, a pattern develops and the truth begins to unspool. She’s got a notion about who’s guilty.

Shop Til You Drop Dead, a Hollis Brannigan mystery

Hollis Brannigan, newly arrived in Los Angeles, left Kansas for the bright lights of Tinseltown—but working as a personal shopper for a prestigious concierge service isn’t a job she ever wanted. Life only gets worse when she’s assigned to D-list clients: Fading Hollywood stars, aging industry insiders, new clients with no name value, and most any nut case who stumbles into the office with money to pay their outrageous fee.

But Hollis doesn’t intend to spend her days making other people’s dreams come true. She’s focused on getting a position in the investigations department.

She gets a chance to prove herself by posing as an investigator for a missing dog case—but when she arrives at a stately Hancock Park mansion, she learns there’s no missing dog. Instead, she’s shown a secret room, a handgun, a vintage Louis Vuitton suitcase stuffed with cash, and is told she has to find a killer.

Now shopping for a murderer among L.A.’s exclusive shops and luxury boutiques, Hollis discovers scandals, lies, broken dreams, and enough old secrets to fill a Black Friday shopping bag. But suspects and evidence are as rare as a Rodeo Drive discount outlet, and a cunning killer may be much closer than she thinks.

Somehow, she must find the murderer before her shopping days—and maybe her life—are over!

Seams Like Murder, a Sewing Studio Mystery

Abbey Chandler needs a fresh start and an escape from her big-city job, so quaint, quiet Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers, seems like the perfect choice.

She barely arrives when the town is stunned by the murder of the spinster librarian. The librarian? Abbey left the chaotic, dangerous city for this?

When Abbey falls under suspicion and her car is seized, she occupies herself by setting up a sewing studio in the back of her aunt’s bakery, and attempts to make pillowcase dresses for charity.

But with the sheriff making little progress in the case, Abbey realizes she must investigate the murder herself. As she stitches clues together, a pattern develops and the truth begins to unspool. She’s got a notion about who’s guilty.

Hanging by a Thread, a Sewing Studio Mystery

Some of the independent shops in this sleepy town are barely hanging on financially—and that includes Sarah’s Sweets, Abbey’s aunt’s bakery. The shop’s advantage—aside from the deliciousness of its products—is the fact that it’s the only bakery in the area. But it looks like that’s about to change. The second wife of a wealthy businessman wants her own bakery—and money is no object.

When murder unravels the plans for the competing shop, Aunt Sarah is an immediate suspect—and Hideaway Grove’s merchants are on pins and needles about a big upcoming women’s conference, fearing the organization will cancel their booking because of the crime. Abbey’s doing her best to stay optimistic and stitch some custom tote bags for the attendees, but she’s also concerned with patching up Aunt Sarah’s good reputation. And when it comes to sorting through the possible motives of the victim’s family members and associates, she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve . . .