Authors: Denise Swanson
045147211X
PRAISE FOR THE
NEW YORK TIMES
BESTSELLING SCUMBLE RIVER SERIES
Murder of a Needled Knitter
“Denise Swanson shows once again why she’s one of my favorite cozy mystery authors . . . another phenomenal hit.”
—Fresh Fiction
“One of Swanson’s best chapters of her Scumble River mystery series.”
—
RT Book Reviews
Murder of a Stacked Librarian
“A fun adventure in a small town with lovable characters and an intriguing plot.”
—
Romantic Times
“A well-plotted, intriguing mystery. . . . Each book in the series is like a little gem.”
—MyShelf.com
Murder of the Cat’s Meow
“Swanson serves up another romance-sweetened tale of murder in the endearingly zany town of Scumble River.”
—
Chicago Tribune
“Well-crafted. . . . From normal to nutty, the folks of Scumble River will tickle the fancy of cozy fans.”
—
Publishers Weekly
Murder of a Creped Suzette
“Another great book by this master of the small-town mystery.”
—
Crimespree Magazine
“A Swanson novel is always going to have tongue-in-cheek humor, complex motives, and unique murders. The latest cleverly crafted tale is another entertaining mystery.”
—
Romantic Times
Murder of a Bookstore Babe
“In the latest installment in her cozy Scumble River series, Swanson serves up another irresistible slice of romance-spiced mystery.”
—
Chicago Tribune
Murder of a Wedding Belle
“Carefully crafted . . . a charming heroine who is equally skilled at juggling detection and romance.”
—
Chicago Tribune
Murder of a Royal Pain
“The series remains fresh and dramatic; a great combination, which translates to an enjoyable and intriguing reading experience.”
—Once Upon a Romance
Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry
“[A] cleverly crafted plot . . . with a generous dash of romance.”
—
Chicago Tribune
Murder of a Botoxed Blonde
“Endearing . . . quirky . . . a delight.”
—
Chicago Tribune
Murder of a Real Bad Boy
“Another knee-slapping adventure in Scumble River.”
—
The Amplifier
(KY)
Murder of a Smart Cookie
“Smartly spins on a solid plot and likable characters.”
—
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Murder of a Pink Elephant
“The must-read book of the summer.”
—
Butler County Post
(KY)
Murder of a Barbie and Ken
“Another sidesplitting visit to Scumble River . . . with some of the quirkiest and most eccentric characters we ever have met.”
—
Butler County Post
(KY)
Murder of a Snake in the Grass
“An endearing and realistic character . . . a fast-paced, enjoyable read.”
—
The Herald News
(MA)
Murder of a Sleeping Beauty
“Another delightful and intriguing escapade.”
—Mystery News
Murder of a Sweet Old Lady
“More fun than the Whirl-A-Gig at the County Fair and tastier than a corn dog.”
—The Charlotte Austin Review
Murder of a Small-Town Honey
“Bounces along with gently wry humor and jaunty twists and turns. The quintessential amateur sleuth: bright, curious, and more than a little nervy.”
—Agatha Award–winning author Earlene Fowler
PRAISE FOR THE DEVEREAUX’S DIME STORE MYSTERY SERIES
“Veteran author Swanson debuts a spunky new heroine with a Missouri stubborn streak. . . . Readers will like this one for its slightly zany, mutigenerational take on small-town mores.”
—
Library Journal
(starred review)
“Swanson puts just the right amount of sexy sizzle in her latest engaging mystery.”
—
Chicago Tribune
“A new entertaining mystery series that her fans will appreciate. . . . With a touch of romance in the air, readers will enjoy this delightful cozy.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“Swanson has a gift for portraying small-town life, making it interesting, and finding both the ridiculous and the satisfying parts of living in one. I wish Dev a long and happy shelf life.”
—AnnArbor.com
Also by Denise Swanson
SCUMBLE RIVER MYSTERIES
Murder of a Needled Knitter
Murder of a Stacked Librarian
Murder of the Cat’s Meow
Novella: “Dead Blondes Tell No Tales”
Murder of a Creped Suzette
Murder of a Bookstore Babe
Murder of a Wedding Belle
Murder of a Royal Pain
Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry
Murder of a Botoxed Blonde
Murder of a Real Bad Boy
Murder of a Smart Cookie
Murder of a Pink Elephant
Murder of a Barbie and Ken
Murder of a Snake in the Grass
Murder of a Sleeping Beauty
Murder of a Sweet Old Lady
Murder of a Small-Town Honey
DEVEREAUX’S DIME STORE MYSTERIES
Dying for a Cupcake
Dead Between the Lines
Nickeled-and-Dimed to Death
Little Shop of Homicide
OBSIDIAN
Published by New American Library,
an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
This book is an original publication of New American Library.
First Printing, September 2015
Copyright © Denise Swanson Stybr, 2015
Penguin Random House supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin Random House to continue to publish books for every reader.
Obsidian and the Obsidian colophon are trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.
For more information about Penguin Random House, visit penguinrandomhouse.com.
ISBN 978-0-698-17787-1
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Contents
CHAPTER 6: AWHFY—Are We Having Fun Yet?
CHAPTER 8: FWIW—For What It’s Worth
CHAPTER 9: FAQ—Frequently Asked Questions
CHAPTER 10: TMI—Too Much Information
CHAPTER 11: FYEO—For Your Eyes Only
CHAPTER 14: F?—Are We Friends?
CHAPTER 16: GNOB—Good Night Open Book
CHAPTER 17: TTYL—Talk to You Later
CHAPTER 19: THX40—Thanks for Nothing!
CHAPTER 20: OBO—Open Book Official
CHAPTER 22: EOD—End of Discussion
CHAPTER 23: BGWM—Be Gentle with Me
CHAPTER 24: KISS—Keep It Simple, Stupid
CHAPTER 25: YBS—You’ll Be Sorry
EPILOGUE: E2EG—Ear-to-Ear Grin
Special Excerpt from
Between a Book and a Hard Place
Welcome to my new great-niece, Emma Graham
Acknowledgments
Once again, I have to thank my amazing street team, the Swanson Sleuths. And a huge hats off to my new personal assistant, Mr. S.
CHAPTER 1
LOL—Laugh out Loud
S
kye Denison-Boyd adjusted the straps of her bathing suit, then kicked off from the edge of the swimming pool. Her goal was to make it to the other end without losing her breakfast. Not that a couple of soda crackers and a cup of tea was much of a meal, but that was all she’d been able to tolerate in the mornings for the past month. And some days, even the saltines didn’t stay down.