Connie Shelton

Praise for USA Today bestselling author, Connie Shelton, and her first novel: "An impressive debut mystery!" -- Albuquerque Journal "Charlie is slick, appealing and nobody's fool--just what readers want in an amateur sleuth." -- Booklist "This is a dandy. Don't miss it!" -- Book Talk In this debut mystery series novel, Charlie Parker, accountant and partner in an Albuquerque private investigation firm, is visited by her old school friend, Stacy North. Stacy's Rolex watch is missing and she begs Charlie to help locate it before her husband finds out. Things are complicated by the fact that Stacy had been seeing another man, Gary Detweiller, and he's the one she suspects of having stolen the watch. With a little detective work, Charlie and her sidekick dog, Rusty, retrieve the missing watch and all should be well. But three days later, Detweiller is murdered. All eyes turn to Stacy as the prime suspect. Once again, Stacy begs Charlie's help in proving her innocence. As she begins to ask questions, Charlie learns that Detweiller's life was not as simple as first perceived and that any number of people had grievances against him. And before she can pinpoint the killer, her own life is in danger as well. Includes new foreword from the author upon the 20th anniversary of first publication of this ongoing series' first title. Praise for the other books in the Charlie Parker mystery series: "A well written, by the book who-done-it that will enthrall purists. Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." -- Midwest Book Review "Shelton has created a lively hero in Charlie and puts her into situations that require prompt action and good common sense. A Charlie Parker mystery is always a good read..." --Southwest Book Views "Charlie is a good detective and a pleasant companion to unravel a mystery with." -- Mystery News "Shelton's engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice." -- Library Journal "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review Search words: mystery, first in series, free ebook, freebie, female sleuth, Southwestern mysteries, crime fiction, cozy mystery, pet sleuths, animal mysteries

A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery

Deadly Gamble

USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton introduces her most delightful cozy mystery series yet—with a little romance, a little magic and a lot of chocolate! When she's not baking her delectable pastries Samantha Sweet breaks into houses for a living, and sometimes the things she discovers lead to trouble. When she finds an unmarked grave on a property in a remote spot in Taos County, New Mexico, Sam calls in the authorities. A small mural painted inside a closet in the abandoned house provides clues and Sam is caught up in an investigation with the good-looking Deputy Beau Cardwell. A fortune in artwork, a bogus will, and a wooden box that seems to give Sam powers she never dreamed she possessed— it all adds up to a dynamic paranormal romantic mystery. Then, there is all that chocolate! Sam's real goal in life is to use her elegant baking skills to open her own pastry shop, Sweet's Sweets. She's gaining quite the reputation as a baker with a magical touch, but a few obstacles stand in her way. Her grown daughter shows up on her doorstep—jobless and homeless; her bank account is at an all-time low; and trying to work from the tiny cramped kitchen in her home is becoming impossible. Somehow, Sam copes and she finds that her dreams might just have a chance of coming true. Praise for Connie Shelton's previous mysteries: "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review "Shelton, a major success for Intrigue, can only expand her fan base with this solid effort." -- Publisher's Weekly "Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist "Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life." -- Albuquerque Journal "Connie Shelton has another winner!" -- The Book Report Search words: free, freebie, first in series, mystery, mystery series, romantic suspense, paranormal, paranormal romance, cozy mystery, female protagonist, female sleuth, culinary mystery, mystery books cozy, mystery books cooking, bestselling mystery books free, mystery books in series, free and bargain first book in series, female sleuth cozy mystery, books set in New Mexico, paranormal romantic mystery series

A Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery

Sweet Masterpiece

A nearly flawless museum robbery, a missing million-dollar necklace, a stalled police investigation. For the victim of the crime, the situation calls for desperate measures. Penelope Fitzpatrick wasn’t born to wealth. Her grandfather fed the family by selling his small stash of gemstones smuggled from tsarist Russia when the monarchy fell. Now, Pen has done well for herself as a successful novelist. But when the final jewel in her family legacy becomes the target of a cunning band of thieves, and the priceless piece is stolen, the police have many excuses why they can’t solve the crime. Not one to accept defeat, Pen does the only thing she can do—gather a group of friends to help catch the crooks and steal back the necklace. It becomes apparent the thief is a master con man who is likely working with an international theft ring. The chase takes the Ladies far from home and into elegant European enclaves as they attempt to face him down. Close calls and near misses—it’s never quite certain whether the women will be able to pull their own spectacular heist and see justice done. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Jana DeLeon will love this daring and spunky group of women friends in their first mystery caper. Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous novels: “Readers can only hope the likable characters, fast-paced plots and local color will continue …” –Albuquerque Journal “Down to earth and very readable.” –Library Journal “…a delightfully complex mystery.” –Romantic Times (4 out 5 five stars) “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” –The Midwest Book Review

Heist Ladies, Book 1

Diamonds Aren't Forever

Now that Samantha Sweet has a contract to provide her special handmade chocolates for the wealthy jet-set clients of Book It Travel, Sweet’s Sweets bakery is taking on a whole new dimension. Only problem, Sam isn’t ready. It’s almost Halloween, her pastry shop is bursting at the seams and she needs extra employees but there is no place to put them. Right before the witching day, she comes upon a large Victorian house she can adapt for the business, and it seems her problem is solved. But is it? The mysterious, spooky noises at night are way more than the normal creaks and groans of an old building. Something else is going on and Sam suspects it may be related to her husband’s newest case, investigating where an abandoned duffle bag crammed full of cash came from. Beau is dealing with a greedy reward-seeker, a robbery with no leads, and a waif who appears and vanishes. Sam’s mystery has her watching for ghosts and working almost around the clock. Is she relying on magic?—well, occasionally. “Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.”—The Midwest Book Review “Just reading about Samantha Sweet and friends at her pastry shop will leave you drooling in anticipation of delicious treats.” Joanne K, 5-star review (Spellbound Sweets in Midnight Mysteries) “The teamwork between Samantha and Beau was a main draw as well as attention to detail, down to the last frosted cookie.” – Janine Thiemann, 5 stars (Spellbound Sweets in Midnight Mysteries)

Spooky Sweet

Praise for USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton and the Charlie Parker mysteries: "Charlie is...just what readers want in an amateur sleuth." -- Booklist "Tension is fast paced..." -- Bookwatch "A well written by-the-book who done it that will enthrall purists." --Midwest Book Review Charlie and Drake begin the snowy winter with plans for a dream Christmas honeymoon in a secluded mountain cabin. They will stay three months and operate a helicopter skiing service at the famed Taos Ski Valley, while Charlie works long-distance with her brother's RJP Investigations for the duration of the ski season. No sooner have they settled into their cozy cabin than the mysteries begin to pile up. Drake's assistant, Eloy Romero, is accused of a murder and the evidence looks damning. Charlie agrees to look into the case and finds herself and her sidekick pooch, Rusty, drawn into the world of the Taos art community, entangled with ties to the Catholic church and a fortune in stolen religious artifacts. Here is what others have said: "Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life in her colorful, vivid description... Readers can only hope the likable characters, fast-paced plots and local color will continue." -- Albuquerque Journal "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." -- The Midwest Book Review Search words: romantic suspense, mystery series, Charlie Parker, Connie Shelton, Christmas mysteries, Christmas stories, holiday stories, religious artifacts, romance, dogs in mysteries, pet sleuths, cozy mystery series

Honeymoons Can Be Murder

Praise for USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries: “Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.”—Albuquerque Journal “Connie Shelton has another winner!” –The Book Report In this fifth installment in the Samantha Sweet mystery series, it’s the height of the wedding season at Sweet’s Sweets and Sam has all she can do to stay ahead of the rush of bakery orders. Plus, her side job—breaking into houses—isn’t allowing much summer time off either. Not to mention that her mother is pressuring Sam and Beau to set their wedding date. When Sam encounters two older women who then die suddenly, it appears that there may be a serial killer on the loose. Sam and Beau are shocked to consider that Beau’s own mother may have been an earlier victim of someone who operates by preying on the women’s trusting natures. As they begin to investigate, a number of suspects emerge and it looks like someone is out to keep Sam quiet. “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review Search words: mystery books, mystery series, series books, romantic suspense, romantic mysteries, chocolate shop mysteries, bakery mystery books, culinary mysteries, paranormal mystery and romance books, books set in New Mexico

Bitter Sweet

“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.” –Midwest Book Review Charlie and Drake are working a helicopter job in rural Maine when a man approaches and asks for their help. At first glance, it seems he’s just an old man who needs to get to his son’s remote cabin in the woods. But the cabin holds more secrets than Fergus McNab will admit, and it isn’t until Charlie returns to Albuquerque that she discovers they may have just aided and abetted a criminal who has escaped the law back home. The secrets get twistier, the more she looks into the ten-year-old case where Rory McNab, facing a life in prison, seemed to vanish from the reach of the law. Just as Charlie is thinking she should report McNab’s whereabouts, there’s a murder that seems to rock the foundation of the old case. And Charlie is in handcuffs, caught in the middle. Praise for the Charlie Parker mysteries: “Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” –The Midwest Book Review

Escapes Can Be Murder

Elizabeth Gunn

Allana Martin

Tom Mitcheltree

How Still We See Thee Lie

"Connie Shelton has another winner," --The Book Report Samantha Sweet is about to realize her dream of opening her pastry shop, Sweet's Sweets, in picturesque Taos, New Mexico. Juggling the crazy amount of work to get her new business off the ground, with her old job of breaking into houses, she's got her hands full. When a blood-soaked garment is found among the discards at one of her properties, and a friend makes a shocking confession, Sam finds herself pulled into a pair of mysteries. The wooden box that came into her possession (in Sweet Masterpiece) is still working its magic, giving Sam the power to see inside people's secrets and figure out who the killer is. There's a little romance, a little magic and a whole lot of chocolate in this delightful cozy mystery series from USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton. Praise for Connie Shelton's previous mysteries: "Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist “Fans of Southwestern mysteries will find that Shelton's engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice.” – Library Journal Search words: mystery books, bestselling mystery series, cozy mystery, culinary mystery, paranormal mystery, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, series books, mystery books in series, female sleuth cozy mystery, books set in New Mexico, romance and mystery

Sweet's Sweets

Praise for USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton's previous books: "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review "Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life." --Albuquerque Journal Will there be Valentine wedding bells for Samantha Sweet and Beau Cardwell? (introduced in this mystery series opener Sweet Masterpiece) Sam's pastry shop, Sweet's Sweets is busier than ever this Valentine week, as she struggles to replicate the magical chocolate-making techniques of the enigmatic chocolatier who boosted her winter holiday sales into the stratosphere. However, candy classes take second place to a new mystery, when Sam meets a woman whose missing son's case seems to have been dropped by the authorities. Marla Fresques learns that she is dying and needs for her son to come home and raise the daughter he left behind. Sam agrees to help, hoping that Sheriff Beau's inside connections will bring about a quick and happy resolution. But what about Sam's and Beau's own wedding plans? They may be in jeopardy when an entirely new development appears in the form of Beau's ex-girlfriend who is determined to win him back. With the familiar mix of mystery, romance and a touch of magic that has enchanted readers of this series, Sweet Hearts draws the reader even further into the captivating world of Samantha Sweet. "Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist

Sweet Hearts

USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton introduces her newest Samantha Sweet cozy mystery. With nearly 2 million books sold and downloaded in more than 110 countries, find out what the fuss is all about! Samantha Sweet is back at Sweet’s Sweets, her bakery with a magical flair, while husband Beau is now a full time rancher. When he hires a young cowboy to help out, no one suspects that Danny Flores comes with a lot of baggage until Lila, the girl he left behind, shows up. She says she has romance on her mind, but Danny finds her manipulative and domineering. He changed his number and moved out of state, but she has managed to track him down. Beau and Sam wish Danny all the best, but there isn’t a lot they can do. But then Lila is murdered and the most damning clue, the words Sweet Dreams, point to Danny. Sam doesn’t want a mystery to solve—she’s ready for cozy time with her young granddaughter. Plus, she and Kelly have been cooking up some new mischief, discovering that the strange book with the rune-like writing actually contains something magical. As Danny’s situation gets worse, Sam realizes no one else, except maybe Eliza the calico cat, is going to help her solve the murder. Plus, Sam is more than a little involved, since it might have been a potion she and Kelly brewed up from the magic book that got Danny into this jam in the first place. Readers are raving about these lighthearted, relaxing, well-written books—Samantha may not be young, beautiful or have the perfect body, but she is intelligent, independent, and hard working, the kind of person you feel you already know. ~ ~ ~ Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries: “The best yet!! Not only was Sweet Magic fantastic, it left me dying to see where life is headed for Samantha and her family! Heart-gripping, fast-paced, and amazing.” – J.J. 5-stars, online review “LOVE, LOVE these books!” —5 stars, online review “Fantastic! Impossible to put down!” – 5 stars, Amazon reader “Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review

Deadly Sweet Dreams

USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton introduces her newest Samantha Sweet cozy mystery. With nearly 2 million books sold and downloaded in more than 110 countries, find out what the fuss is all about! Samantha Sweet is back at Sweet’s Sweets, turning out her amazing cakes and pastries for the busy holiday season, when Emily Plankhurst, the new young librarian in town, stops in. Emily tells Sam a strange story involving a hidden niche in the library revealed to her in a vision, supposedly, by her dead grandmother. Would anyone believe this farfetched story? Possibly not anyone but Sam, who has had more than a few unexplained occurrences in her own life. It turns out the hidden space contains a rare painting, The Ghost of Christmas, which was believed to have been destroyed in a fire twenty-five years ago at the luxury home of a hedge fund billionaire. A young man died in the fire and the insurance company paid the claim for the valuable painting. But now that the painting has turned up, how can Emily prove that her own grandfather wasn’t the one behind the arson? It's a sticky situation when she approaches Sam with the case. If she turns the painting over to the authorities they will almost certainly believe that her grandfather was involved in the theft of the piece and most likely complicit in insurance fraud as well. Would the police actually take him out of the Alzheimer care facility where he now resides and throw him in jail? Emily’s only chance of saving her grandfather’s life, and the reputation of the family-founded library, is to investigate the old crime and find out who really stole The Ghost of Christmas. And Samantha is the only person she can trust to help her, one of the few who remembers when the fire started and the insurance claim was paid. It’s a Christmas mystery with a lot of twists and turns! Readers are raving about these lighthearted, relaxing, well-written books—Samantha may not be young, beautiful or have the perfect body, but she is intelligent, independent, and hard working, the kind of person you feel you already know. ~ ~ ~ Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries: “The best yet!! Not only was Sweet Magic fantastic, it left me dying to see where life is headed for Samantha and her family! Heart-gripping, fast-paced, and amazing.” – J.J. 5-stars, online review “LOVE, LOVE these books!” —5 stars, online review “Fantastic! Impossible to put down!” – 5 stars, Amazon reader “Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review

The Ghost of Christmas Sweet

Charlie Parker Mysteries, Book 17

Alibis Can Be Murder

It’s here -- USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton’s newest Samantha Sweet cozy mystery. With nearly 2 million books sold and downloaded in more than 60 countries, find out what the fuss is all about! Breaking into another house, creating chocolates worth $200 a box, and helping her sheriff husband solve a traffic accident-turned-murder … Samantha Sweet has her hands more than a little full as the new year begins. “Love Connie Shelton’s work. She usually has me at the first word.”—5 stars, Terry Brown It's the beginning of a new year at Sweet's Sweets pastry shop and chocolate factory, and Samantha Sweet finds herself busy as ever, especially when her top client comes in with a new idea. His travel firm is selling a new Travel the World itinerary for the jet-set, and Sam is to come up with special chocolates to make the spectacular trip even more memorable for his wealthy clientele. At $200 a box, she can't exactly say no. Things get a little sticky when a friend calls with a problem, which involves Sam going back to her old job (temporarily, at least) of breaking into houses. How she manages to juggle it all ... well, it just might involve a little magic. Meanwhile, Beau answers the call to a traffic fatality that turns way more complex when he realizes he has a murder to solve. The couple's paths cross less frequently than they would like, but as luck would have it, Sam ends up providing some of the critical clues in Beau's case and the answers come as a surprise to both of them. “I get started reading and find myself not wanting to stop”—5 stars, online review “I love this series. This is one that is hard to put down when you start to read it.”—5 stars, Goodreads “Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.”—The Midwest Book Review

Sticky Sweet

In this third book in the Samantha Sweet cozy mystery series, it's Christmas and a quirky Romanian chocolatier shows up at Sweet's Sweets, offering to create a special line of hand-dipped chocolates for Samantha's customers. With mystery and romance, Sweet Holidays takes us into the special magical world of northern New Mexico at the holidays.

Samantha Sweet Mysteries

Sweet Holidays

"Another delicious read for the beach!" -- The Pilot, Southern Pines, NC "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review Tucked into the mountains and valleys of northern New Mexico are the hidden towns, little enclaves of history and tradition--and secrets. It is to one of these towns, Valle Escondido, that Charlie and her office assistant Sally Bertrand go for a July 4 weekend getaway. But almost immediately after their arrival they receive upsetting news and suddenly Charlie has a new mystery to solve. Meanwhile, Drake Langston, the handsome helicopter pilot that Charlie met in Hawaii (Vacations Can Be Murder) is still in her life. He's coming to New Mexico for a visit, with the idea that he might convince her to move to Hawaii rather than continuing a long-distance relationship. The plots intertwine and Charlie finds herself sifting through the clues to discover the hideous secrets harbored in Valle Escondido, while she wrestles with the decisions about her personal life as well. Here is what others have said: "A good story and a challenging puzzle." -- Robert O. Greer for National Public Radio . . . and for the earlier books in this series from USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton.... "Good selection for all collections." -- Library Journal "Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth!" -- Midwest Book Review "Tension is fast-paced in this involving account" -- Bookwatch Search words: bestselling mystery series books, crime fiction, New Mexico mystery, Charlie Parker, female sleuths, romantic suspense, pet sleuths, mystery books cozy, mystery books with dogs, mystery books in series, mystery and romance, female sleuth cozy mystery, books set in New Mexico

Small Towns Can Be Murder

“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.” –Midwest Book Review A cryptic message in a fortune cookie sends Charlie again to England, to visit her favorite aunt. She’s having lunch in a local café when construction workers come upon a human skeleton behind a wall. The police are called to a more urgent case, so Charlie begins sleuthing around on a cold-case crime website, only to discover Aunt Louisa was one of those questioned when the victim disappeared. The more questions she asks, the deeper becomes the mystery, and suddenly there are suspects everywhere in this quaint English town. Can she save her aunt from arrest, or will the real killer come after them both? Praise for USA Today bestseller and the Charlie Parker mysteries: “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” –The Midwest Book Review “…starts to really pull you in and you just can’t read fast enough!” – 5-star online review “I always love Charlie's escapades. She keeps me glued to the story, unable to put it down.” – 5 stars, Amazon “Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist

A Charlie Parker Between-the-Numbers Novella

Old Bones Can Be Murder

Revenge is often a cold dish, but in the tiny northern New Mexico town of Sembramos emotions are running decidedly hot. When Lee Rodarte and Jessie Starkey, convicted of murdering a local girl, are released from prison after serving only a few years, their convictions overturned, the town's old pain rises to the surface and tempers flare. Samantha Sweet has her hands full with Easter at her pastry shop, Sweet's Sweets, while her husband, Taos County Sheriff Beau Cardwell, is charged with keeping order among the two hundred residents of Sembramos. Topping it off, as part of her sideline job, Sam is assigned another house to break into and must drive to the huge abandoned mansion daily, right through the small war zone where payback seems to be on everyone's mind. Praise for USA Today bestseller, Connie Shelton: "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."--The Midwest Book Review "Shelton, a major success for Intrigue, can only expand her fan base with this solid effort." --Publisher's Weekly "Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist "Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life." --Albuquerque Journal

Sweet Payback

Samantha Sweet is about to realize her dream of opening her pastry shop, Sweet's Sweets. Juggling the crazy amount of work it takes to get her new business off the ground, with her old job of breaking into houses, she's got her hands full. When a blood-soaked garment is found among the discards at one of her properties, and a friend makes a shocking confession, Sam finds herself pulled into a pair of mysteries. The wooden box that came into her possession (in Sweet Masterpiece) is still working its magic, giving Sam the power to see inside people's secrets and figure out who the killer is. Praise for Connie Shelton's previous mysteries: "Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist "Connie Shelton has another winner." --The Book Report

Praise for USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton's previous mysteries: “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” –The Midwest Book Review “Once again Connie Shelton has given “us readers” another great book. Both of Connie’s series are a must read.” —online reviewer, 5 stars "Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist In this seventh book in Connie Shelton’s bestselling cozy mystery series, Samantha Sweet learns that an Irish great-uncle left her an inheritance, so she and Beau change their honeymoon plans and go to the Emerald Isle. Will the gift be something lavish and wonderful, or is there no pot of gold waiting for Sam? Meanwhile, before Sam fully has the answers to her questions, a new mystery presents itself when a local charter boat is found adrift near the rocky Irish coast, its occupants missing. The family of the captain wants answers and when it looks like a group of Americans might be implicated, the Galway homicide detective in charge of the case enlists Beau’s help. With all the extra excitement, the honeymooners begin to wonder if they will ever find some romantic time alone. "Love this new series. Can't wait for the next!" --5 stars, Smashwords Search words: mystery, mystery series, crime fiction, Irish mystery, Ireland, romantic suspense, romance fiction

Connie Shelton

About

Books

Join the club