Five Golden Rings: Stoneybrook Mysteries, #2
By Kimila Kay
()
About this ebook
Sheriff Wyatt Stone has a holiday murder on his hands. Someone has killed Wallace Dunn, the owner of the hardware store, and resident Santa. How will he tell his autistic cousin, Deputy Derrick Stone, that someone stabbed Santa under a Christmas tree? As Wyatt and Derrick search for a killer, Wyatt's life is complicated when his brother returns to Stoneybrook. But he faces his biggest challenge when Harley is abducted from the Rocky River Bar on Christmas Eve.
Harley Harper wants her first Christmas with Wyatt to be a festive event. And she's looking forward to her best friend's arrival from New York for the holidays. While Harley and Busy catch up, guests for Harley's Christmas party begin to arrive. When a few friends, including Wyatt, are no shows, worry snakes through Harley's gut. But then she learns a more pressing concern is keeping Derrick calm until Wyatt can break the horrible news about Santa's demise.
Related to Five Golden Rings
Titles in the series (2)
Five Golden Rings: Stoneybrook Mysteries, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhispering Willows: Stoneybrook Mysteries, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhispering Willows: Stoneybrook Mysteries, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKiller in a Winter Wonderland: A Rosalie Hart Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKiddieland and other misfortunes Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Killing Carol: An Anna Greenan Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDeadly Decisions: 5 Tales of Crime and Suspense Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsForgotten Ghosts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Third Twin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKissing Lightning: Borderlands-Whitehall Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Cañon City Chronicles: Books 1, 2 & 3 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Death at the Salon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeniors Sleuth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCometh the Reaper Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bonus Mom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Southern Gothic Holiday Special: Southern Gothic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThere Is a River: A Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Poison in the Pudding: Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRuined Stones: By the author of The Guardian Stones Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love You Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Vampires, Bones and Treacle Scones Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Time's Daughter: A Romantic Suspense Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBoxed Set: The Charming Shifter Mysteries: The Charming Shifter Mysteries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDead Man's Leap: A Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Woman with a Mystery Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Christmas Cover-Up Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hiding From Death: A Darcy Sweet Cozy Mystery, #6 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Loving the Horseman Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dickens with Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An Imperfect Death: The Unlikely Heroine, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBiddleborn: A Fantasy World Attacks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Hard-boiled Mystery For You
The Fourth Monkey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wendigo: A Thriller Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Get Back Jack: The Hunt for Jack Reacher, #4 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A Drink Before the War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5So Shall You Reap Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Outfit: A Parker Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Don’t Know Jack: The Hunt for Jack Reacher, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bunny Lake Is Missing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Welcome to the Game Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Bullet for Cinderella (Thriller) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death Stalks Door County Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPromised Land Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Last Wife: The completely addictive psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Local Girl Missing, J.A. Baker Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLicensed to Thrill 1: Hunt For Jack Reacher Series Thrillers Books 1 - 3: Diane Capri’s Licensed to Thrill Sets, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe G-String Murders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Devil's Necktie Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Red Tide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Los Angeles Noir 2: The Classics Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Queenpin: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hunter: A Parker Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Live and Die in L.A. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Shot Up: The Classic Crime Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Six Easy Pieces: Easy Rawlins Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Savage Holiday Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5New Orleans Noir: The Classics Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch Series Reading Order Updated 2019: Compiled by Albie Berk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Librarian: The unforgettable, completely addictive psychological thriller from bestseller Valerie Keogh Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ride the Pink Horse Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dog on It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Five Golden Rings
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Five Golden Rings - Kimila Kay
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS
Also by Kimila Kay
STONEYBROOK MYSTERIES
Redneck Ranch (2023)
MEXICO MAYHEM SERIES
Peril in Paradise (2019)
Malice in Mazatlan (2022)
Vanished in Vallarta (2023)
ANTHOLOGIES
Whispering Willows
Whispers (2023)
Happy Birthday
Harbinger (2023)
Table Talk
Guests (2022)
Hates Kids
A Cup of Comfort for Mothers (2010)
Burying Bea
A Cup of Comfort for the Grieving Heart (2010)
The Apology
A Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers (2008)
ADVANCED REVIEWS
I just finished reading Five Golden Rings. It was fun to see Derrick and Sloan’s names in print! Great job! ~ Kendra Henson, Crime Never Takes a Holiday
A big twist in Five Golden Rings. The story really held my attention because the sheriff has an autistic deputy who is really valuable at a crime scene. This anthology is well worth the time and money! ~ Reader, Crime Never Takes a Holiday
"Five Golden Rings allowed me to return to Stoneybrook and be reunited with the town’s colorful characters. Reading novella’s is a challenge for me since I love spending more time in a story. But Kimila Kay kept me engaged and left me longing to return to Stoneybrook soon." ~ Sharon North
Five Golden Rings is an intriguing holiday story, and I couldn’t wait to know who killed Santa. With each book I’ve read, Kimila Kay has honed her writing skills and continues to craft engaging tales. I can’t wait for her next release, whether it’s set in Mexico or in the adorable town of Stoneybrook. ~ Ruth Dehaven, Crime Never Takes a Holiday
Kimila Kay’s holiday mystery, Five Golden Rings brings us back to Stoneybrook where her entertaining characters are all wondering who killed Santa. And will the town be able to celebrate a Merry Christmas!" ~ Cindy Schmid
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS
A Novella
STONEYBROOK MYSTERIES-BOOK TWO
KIMILA KAY
This is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
COPYRIGHT © 2023, Kimila Kay
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
www.KimilaKay.com
author@kimilakay.com
Windtree Press
http://windtreepress.com
info@windtreepress.com
Cover Art by James McCracken
Five Golden Rings, Stoneybrook Mysteries, Book 2
Published in the United States of America – History:
ISBN 978-1-962065-22-1
1st Release: October 31, 2023
DEDICATION
For all of you who choose to believe, as Deputy Derrick Stone believes, in the wonderment and magic of Christmas.
Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS
CHAPTER ONE
A christmas tree decorated with presents Description automatically generated with medium confidenceHoly holidays!
Deputy Barnes lifted his cap and scratched his graying buzz cut. It looks like Christmas threw up in here.
Wyatt Stone scowled at his deputy, then knelt by the body lying under the Christmas tree. A pool of blood stained the decorative snow scene of the tree skirt. When he moved the tree’s branches, a sweet, pine smell from the branches filled the room. Now, Barnes had a better look at Wallace Dunn, the retired hardware store owner who also served as Stoneybrook’s resident Santa Claus.
Oh, man.
Barnes leaned over to get a better look, the buttons on his tan shirt straining to contain his girth. Old man Dunn?
He huffed an expletive, a sharp contrast to the rendition of O Come, All Ye Faithful
which played on the radio.
Wyatt pulled a glove from his shirt pocket and lifted Dunn’s left hand. It was still in a tight fist—except for an index finger now set at an odd angle. He turned the arm over and studied the other fingers. The fist wasn’t closed tightly, as if Dunn had been holding something.
What’cha got there, Sheriff?
Barnes asked over Wyatt’s shoulder.
Not sure.
Wyatt held out an open palm to Barnes. Do you have an evidence bag?
Yep.
Barnes placed the small plastic sack and a zip tie into Wyatt’s hand.
Wyatt secured the bag over Dunn’s fist, took the second setup from Barnes, and repeated the process. He stood and stepped back from the body, surveying the crime scene one last time. He knew the techs would process everything thoroughly, but Derrick had taught him to pay attention to every detail right from the start. Good advice since his autistic cousin always caught something the techs missed—thanks to his photographic memory.
Wyatt headed for the front door; Barnes close on his heels.
Who’d do such a thing, Sheriff?
"I guess it’s up to us to find out