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Upcoming Evelyn David Events
What's new with Evelyn David? Lots and lots and lots of promotion of Murder Off the Books and Murder Takes the Cake. We've got multiple book signings scheduled for the next few months.
August 8, 2009
9 am
AuthorFest
Tahlequah Community Center
Tahlequah, OK
September 12, 2009
1:00 pm
Pomfret Public Library
449 Pomfret Street
Pomfret, CT
860-928-3475
September 15, 2009
7 pm
Bound Brook Public Library
Bound Brook, NJ
September 24, 2009
7 pm
The Booth & Dimock Memorial Library
1134 Main Street
Coventry, CT
October 17, 2009
2 pm
Hamden Public Library
Hamden, CT
October 21, 2009
6:30 pm
Scotland Public Library
Scotland, CT
"This is a zany, fast-paced, well-written mystery by two very talented writers who combine their gifts under the name of Evelyn David . . . a page-turning mystery that begs to be read at one sitting. Well developed characters, a tight plot, and power-punched verbiage make this mystery a delightful read. Even when you think the mystery is solved, the ending has just one more final, amusing and exciting twist. Can't wait for the sequel." - Reviewed by Sherlock Bones, Astra Publishers
"One howling good whodunit, and a terrific debut. Murder Off the Books offers a plot as twisty and fast as an Irish Wolfhound. Whiskey joins the ranks of beloved four-footed sleuths. Great fun!
- Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of All Mortal Flesh
"A breezy read from beginning to end, Murder Off the Books will keep you turning the pages well into the night. Funny and fast-paced, with engaging characters and clever dialogue, the story showcases the talents and foibles of ordinary people in an extraordinary situation. Deft plotting, fine writing and a wicked sense of humor make Murder Off the Books a most promising debut."
- Nancy McKenzie, author of Queen of Camelot, Grail Prince, and Guinevere’s Gift.
"Murder Off the Books by Evelyn David is a well-crafted, skillfully done, roaring great romp of a novel filled with intrigue, suspense, a smidge of romance, and a number of good shocks and exciting twists and turns, and it somehow makes the art of cookingthe books as fascinating as the investigation itself. I for one look forward to more mysteries from Ms. David."
-Robert W. Walker, author of Psi Blue, Deja Blue & City for Ransom Hope.
"A fast-paced mystery with a lively and indomitable heroine, a tough-guy hero, and a lovable dog."
– JoAnna Carl, author of The Chocolate Bridal Bash and other Chocoholic Mysteries.
"Evelyn David's quirky sense of humor sparkles on every page. Murder Off The Books is a clever, witty romp with plenty of twists and surprises. A laudable debut."
– Kathryn R. Wall, author, Bishop's Reach and the Bay Tanner Mysteries.
"Murder off the Books is a fast-paced, engaging read with memorable characters and a plot that never quits. Readers are sure to hang on and enjoy the invigorating, unpredictable ride." – Judith Kelman, author, The Session and Backward in High Heels
"…suspenseful, fast moving, and funny. Before the mystery is solved, Rachel is up to her ears in conflicts…and needs all of her wit and grit to survive. Readers should enjoy this entertaining tale." – Philip Craig, author, Dead in Vineyard Sand and other Martha's Vineyard Mysteries
"Murder Off the Books should definitely win the award for 'Best Performance by a Wolfhound since The Hound of the Baskervilles.' In this quirky mystery, comic relief is provided by the heroine's unusual job and hero's constantly rotating fleet of undercover vehicles (most notably a pest control van)." – Lynne Murray, author of A Ton of Trouble and other Josephine Fuller mysteries.
About me: Evelyn David is the author of Murder Off the Books, a mystery released by Echelon Press LLC in March 2007. She is also the author of the sequel, Murder Takes the Cake, available for Pre-Order at Amazon.
Got Kindle? Kindle editions of Murder Off the Books and Murder Takes the Cake are available for purchase now! Murder Off the Books - Kindle Edition BUYMurder Takes the Cake - Kindle Edition BUY
Women writers on a mission to bring mystery, humor, and high heels to the world.
Sneak Peek
Murder Off the Books
Evelyn David
Prologue
Friday Night
The pop of a human head cracking against rock sounded
surprisingly loud. As the man fell against the wall of the clock tower,the killer unscrewed the silencer from the gun, musing about the number of details involved in planning and executing a perfect murder. And this was certainly not a perfect murder. Several loose ends were going to need tying. Next time a list might come in handy.
Sunday Night
Murder victims shouldn't have to wait. Discount store shoppers, people with broken dental crowns, drivers in the middle of rush hour. Those people deserved to wait. Expected to wait. But not ...
She was tired of being last on everyone's 'to do' list.
Ten minutes. Way too long to be hiding in a closet. Way too long to be in the dark.
She really couldn't stand cowering in the dark. If she had to cower, she'd do it in the light – just like always.
She clicked on the flashlight she'd grabbed in her frantic dash from the bed to the walk-in closet.
Much better.
The light was comforting. The light was ... The light was ... risky.
She hastily clicked off the beam and disappeared back into the shadows.
She left the closet door ajar. Like everything else in her life - slightly warped. Once fully closed, it couldn't be opened from the inside. She'd be stuck in there until ... until what? Who'd rescue her?
She wished again that she hadn't left her cordless phone downstairs.
Run. She wasn't going to be able to run.
Her right foot tingled – numb.
Rachel Brenner shifted, stretching out one bare leg, quietly trying to move her foot, thinking that at some point she might need to slip down into the living room and search for her second cordless phone, the one that fit into the charger on the kitchen wall and had been missing for a couple of days. She'd probably find it under the sofa or between the cushions. That's where she'd look first – if she had time.
"Enough," she whispered. "Concentrate on something besides
the damn phones."
Dust. The closet floor was cramped–and dusty. Stifling a
sneeze, she decided she had some serious cleaning to do if she survived. If she didn't, well it would be someone else's problem.
She wiggled her toes until the feeling returned and then rose to her feet intending to open the closet door and listen.
Two steps. Her heart pounded so loud that she couldn't think, much less hear.
Looking around, she grabbed a twenty-year-old trench coat that had belonged to her ex-husband and rolled it into a ball. She pressed the material against her chest to muffle the sound.
Stupid. No one else could hear her heart. No one else could hear her. The coat's owner hadn't.
Thoughts of Charlie cleared the noise from her head.
She peeked through the crack in the door. And listened.
Nothing but the furnace and the sound of her own ragged breathing.
She held her breath and opened the door a little wider.
Nothing. She didn't hear ...
No. She heard it again. Something ... just ... there. A shuffling sound – still downstairs.
Rachel carefully closed the closet door again and returned to her spot on the floor, this time sitting on the bunched trench coat, instead of hiding behind it.
She hugged her knees to her chest and stared at the bits and pieces surrounding her and wondered what would happen to all of her things when she was gone.
Sam would be the one to have to deal with selling or giving away her lifetime accumulation of clothes, costume jewelry, and mismatched china and silverware. Oh, he'd probably keep a few things. He might want some of the old family photographs she'd organized into albums. Thank goodness she'd gotten them labeled last year during one long, miserable night right after her divorce was final. At least Sam would be able to tell his children about her side of the family and put the correct name to the face.
Her brother wouldn't be of much help. Dan had his own problems. He was settling into a new job and a new life. She sighed and stretched out her legs. Rachel nudged a shadow in the corner with her toe. A well-used hockey stick – another remnant of her exhusband,something from his glory days.
She flicked on the flashlight again and played the wavering beam over the clothes, empty suitcases, and shoes. God, she had too many shoes. She glanced at the row upon row of neatly labeled shoeboxes lining the shelf above the clothes rod, and the additional stacks on the carpeted floor beneath. Setting down the flashlight, she picked up a nearby box and peeked inside.
Beautiful black leather pumps, $89 on sale. Never worn. She glanced in another box. All purchased within the last two years and she'd never worn any of them. Her well-worn favorites were in a heap by her bed: Nikes, Reeboks, high-topped, brightly colored basketball shoes. The pumps, well, they were mostly just ...
Rachel set down the box. They were a mistake. They were her way of trying to be more like the women Charlie Brenner had been screwing the last three years of their marriage. She frowned and put the lid back on the box. Like the woman Charlie currently lived with now. Tina of perky breasts and four-inch heels.
Tina would love all those shoes. Charlie would probably give them to her too, Rachel realized. Help Sam by taking them off his hands. Her shoes on Tina's feet. No way.
The spurt of anger and the loud sound of a closing door gave her the courage to act.
Rachel got up and grabbed a pair of sweat pants off a hanger and pulled them on. Picking up the hockey stick, she stalked out of the closet.
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SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN ON FOR AWHILE BUT I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY AND SO TIRED I CAN'T KEEP MY EYES OPEN LONG ENOUGH TO WRITE TO YOU,I DO THINK OF YOU AND HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL! ENJOY YOUR 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY!!!!
You have surely heard about the tragic death of a brave young woman who was murdered in Iran just for peacefully protesting with her father on the streets of Teheran.
Hey guys. We just posted a box thing on our myspace where you could buy our music. It's 99 cents a song and it would be a huge help to us. Thanks so much.
-Bravest Giant
Hello ~ thank you for being a friend of Moonwarriors. I am drumming up signatures for 14 petitions to stop the gassing of healthy, loving animals in the USA, so please visit my blog and sign them!
This video shows what can be done ~ it is not necessary to kill so many animals, nor kill them in an inhumane manner
Cat House on the Kings Cat Sanctuary ~ amazing video
Please visit the blog and sign petitions to end the animal gas chambers. There are 14, if you could sign at least some of them that would be great ~ Have a good weekend ~ Thank you for helping animals ~♥~
