Facing the Diamond-Hard Truth: Cathryn Harcourt Mysteries, #3

By Joslyn Chase

Careless whispers. Murderous intent.

At a meeting of her book club on a military base in England, Margot overhears two unseen conspirators planning a murder.

Without enough evidence to take to the police, Margot calls her Aunt Cathryn, a well-known mystery writer, with an invitation to speak at the next book club meeting.

And the enticement of a murder plot to solve.

Will Cathryn sift through the crazy cast of characters and find the diamond-hard truth before the killers claim another victim?

Grab your copy of Facing the Diamond-Hard Truth and find out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paraquel Press
• Release date: Apr 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781952647192

Joslyn Chase

Joslyn Chase is a prize-winning author of mysteries and thrillers. Any day she can send readers to the edge of their seats, chewing their fingernails to the nub and prickling with suspense, is a good day in her book. Joslyn's story, "Cold Hands, Warm Heart," was chosen by Amor Towles as one of The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Fiction River, Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem, Mystery Magazine, and Pulphouse Fiction, among others. Known for her fast-paced fiction, Joslyn's books are full of surprising twists and delectable turns. You will find her riveting novels most anywhere books are sold. Joslyn's love for travel has led her to ride camels through the Nubian desert, fend off monkeys on the Rock of Gibraltar, and hike the Bavarian Alps. But she still believes that sometimes the best adventures come in getting the words on the page and in the thrill of reading a great story. Join the growing group of readers who’ve discovered the thrill of Chase! Sign up at joslynchase.com and get VIP access to great bonuses, like your free copy of No Rest: 14 Tales of Chilling Suspense, as well as updates and first crack at new releases. See you there!

Book preview

Facing the Diamond-Hard Truth

A Cathryn Harcourt Mystery Short

Joslyn Chase

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Paraquel Press

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

about Joslyn Chase

Author Joslyn Chase has now confirmed my first impressions of her being a formidable suspense writer bound to make readers sit up and take notice.

~ Manie Kilian (reader, Amazon.com)

As always in her writing, the settings and action scenes are vividly portrayed and the relationships between the characters are seamless and authentic. Ms Chase has a talent for bringing characters to life.

~ ReadnGrow (Amazon.com)

There is a reason Chase is an award-winning author. Highly recommended.

~ Justin Boote, author of Badass

The author is a great storyteller.

~ AstraDaemon

Joslyn Chase skillfully connects subplots, then injects a few surprises, then connects things again in an interesting cycle; weave, disassemble, weave, repeat.

~ Ron Keeler, Read 4 Fun

In the movie Field of Dreams, there is a now famous line, If you build it, they will come. Apply this sentiment to Joslyn Chase--if she writes it, we will come and read it.

~ William DeProspo, author of Unlikely Outcome

Joslyn Chase paints intriguing pictures with vivid, colorful descriptions…you feel like you have a front row seat from which to watch as everything unfolds.

~ Gabi Rosetti (reader, Amazon.com)

The flow of her writing is a delight to me, elegant and soothing, woven like fine linen.

~ Margherita Crystal Lotus, author of The Color Game

Contents

1. Facing the Diamond-Hard Truth

2. Bonus Extra

3. A Time to Dance

4. A Temptation Too Far

More books by Joslyn Chase

About the Author

Copyright

Facing the Diamond-Hard Truth

Margot Cummings held her breath and lifted the heavy molded plastic cover off the rubbish bin. A wave of fetid air washed over her face and she wrinkled her nose, pushing the bag of garbage quickly inside and lowering the lid with a muffled thump. She stepped back and turned her head, gasping in a breath of fresh air and rubbing her hands down the front of her apron to get rid of that wormy feeling.

It was dark in the partially fenced cubicle where the bins were kept, and Margot’s eyes hadn’t adjusted from the bright lights inside. She stumbled on the uneven pavement and came down onto one knee, bracing her hand on the wooden fence where she felt something cold and slimy, like a wad of abandoned chewing gum.

Grimacing in disgust, she bunched her muscles to rise but froze when she heard a loud hiss not more than three feet away. The clubhouse garbage bins were shielded behind a raised wooden barrier, built like a bathroom stall, and Margot sensed someone standing just outside the wooden cubicle.

A hint of heavy, musky perfume overrode the odor from the garbage bins and from her crouching position, Margot glimpsed a set of shadowy feet and watched as they were joined by another.

The voice she’d heard continued in a hoarse whisper and Margot squeezed her eyes shut as if she could shut out the noise or disappear altogether. She did not want to be privy to a few snatched moments between lovers, but she hesitated to make herself known.

And that was her undoing.

With the next harshly murmured sentence, Margot knew it was too late to move.

We need to make this problem go away.

The answering whisper was soft but carried an intensity that raised the hair on the back of Margot’s neck. Agreed. Kill him, if you have to. It’s not ideal, but it worked for us last time.

The feet moved away and the voices faded as the night grew quiet and darkness bloomed. Margot felt frozen to the spot, unable to process what she’d just overheard. It felt like a dream, and part of her wanted to pretend that it