Deb Powers: Otherworldly PI Series

Meet the New PI in Town, Whether She Likes It or Not Deb Powers leaves her old life as a private investigator behind. Hoping mountain life in Estonoa, Virginia, suits her better. Determined not to let her troublesome sheriff cousin draw her right back in. Deb never expects an odd case of disappearing tools to sneak right past her common sense. And open her eyes to all of the weird at the heart of her new home town.   Also available in the collection Investigations Beyond Belief   An excerpt from Making a Change for the Stranger: A Case Too Odd To Ignore   "That is more than a little strange," Deb said. "I'm still not committing to anything, but what are you thinking? Want me to head over and check it out?" Terri blushed, and Deb knew the truly big ask was about to step out into the open at last. "Sure, that makes sense. But that really would be going back over ground we already covered. Trouble is we have so much ground to cover in the whole county that we're short-handed most of the time. I don't have anyone trained to do what you do. And yes, I do know you're damn good at it." "Enough flattery, Sheriff Walsh. Cousin or not, cut it and get to the point. There have to be private investigators around here I'm sure." Terri held both hands up. "Absolutely, and fine investigators they are. They'd be none too happy with me if they knew I wanted to bring you in instead. But the truth is there's something strange here, Deb. I feel it, I know it in my bones. I don't trust anyone besides you to handle this one."

Something Strange Lurks in a Shadowy World Deb Powers settles into her new mountain home town, hoping to build a new career to match. But her cousin brings a case too eerie and weird to ignore.   A return to a childhood haunt that now lives up to the name. And an unconventional friend to help Deb see the other side. What will the Otherworldly PI discover in the underworld? Also available in the collection Investigations Beyond Belief   An excerpt from A Cave of Whispering Secrets: The Mysterious World Underfoot   "What kind of noises?" Deb said. Terri picked up Deb's empty coffee mug and tapped it with her non-existent fingernails. "Well, that's the part that got my attention, to tell you the truth. I'm sure you remember how the cave entrance is close to the maintenance shed around back? Apparently one of the janitors was out there for a while a couple of weeks ago. The whole time, something in the cave was tapping." "Tapping? Like you're doing right now, even though you know it gets on my nerves?" Terri stared into Deb's eyes and nodded slowly, continuing her increasingly more annoying random noise. "Like this, yes. Other folks have heard what sounds like deep breathing, or a rumble like a train was going by under there." She paused—thankfully both talking and tapping—as more distant thunder muttered outside. "One of them mentioned it sounded like a thunderstorm underground."

Not the Best Place for a Good Night's Sleep Deb Powers finally gets to work. Helping an old friend with new potential upgrade his life. This time her cousin brings a case at a B&B in town that threatens the owner's sanity. A free stay plus a chance to investigate the bizarre proves too much for Deb to resist. Will she figure out the trouble before she loses her own sanity in the process? Also available in the collection Investigations Beyond Belief   An excerpt from The Strange Critter at the Old Johnston Place: When an Old Friend Fears His Own Mind   "Cliff's been finding things like his razor in the freezer," Terri said. "An egg inside his pillowcase, which unfortunately had not been hard-cooked first. Piles of salt and pepper in his underwear drawer, potting soil in the silverware drawer, and the remote for the television inside the oven. Apparently he checked inside before he turned it on a couple of days ago, because he melted a pair of his reading glasses in there last week."   "And no one else has been inside?" Deb said.   "Nope, not until he called me personally to come take a look," Terri said. "He hasn't seen anyone skulking around on any of the security recordings."   "Maybe he'll let us install a few just for this?" Jeff said. "Help ease his mind?"   "I don't think that would help Cliff feel better," Deb said."Not unless it shows him sleepwalking, right? I'm going to guess he's afraid he's doing all of it himself but just can't remember."

On the Trail of Something Scary Deb Powers struggles to focus on her new job. Helping her unusual friend set up a website out of the ordinary. Her sheriff cousin hears of eerie incidents in town that spell trouble for all of Estonoa. Now Deb takes a chance on digging out the weird before word gets out. Can she crack the case before it's too late for everyone?   Also available in the collection Investigations Beyond Belief   An excerpt from An Eddy of the Unexplained: When a Good Place Turns Bad "Strange how?" Deb said, refusing to throw out suggestions for Terri to shoot down. Partly because she enjoyed the surprise too much. "This one really is hard to put into words, even for me," Terri said, frowning and looking serious for a change. "People say they feel...threatened lately. Even people who've been hiking that trail since it opened four years ago. They swear their skin crawls, like they're being watched. Not just people, either. Their dogs get freaked out and don't even want to walk through there. It's strong enough that several people have called us in." "Did you take police dogs out there?" Annie said. "To see how they react?" "We did, or we tried to. These aren't fresh-out-of-training dogs or officers, but the dogs refused to get within twenty feet of the eddy. They didn't bark or alert. They simply stopped walking."

When Clues Point to Impossible, Deb Takes the Case Deb Powers probes an odd case of disappearing tools. Opening her eyes to all the strange goings on around her. Deb returns to an old haunt that now lives up to the name. A case too eerie and weird to ignore right under her feet. Strange nights at a new B&B threaten the owner's sanity. What Deb discovers makes her doubt her own mind. Eerie incidents at the local trail threaten the town's plans. A hidden mystery stirring up fear and trouble for everyone. Renovation at the old train depot uncovers bizarre clues. Deb calls in help to solve the puzzle before work derails.   Deb Powers leaves life as a big city private investigator behind. Trying to ignore all the weird at the heart of her new hometown. But Deb's sheriff cousin needs help with so many unusual cases in Estonoa, Virginia. And wants a talented PI back on the job. Will Deb's ornery curiosity draw her into her old line of work with a new paranormal twist? Join Kari Kilgore on a delightful trip into the unexpected corners of her home, and imagination.   With five original tales: Making a Change for the Stranger, A Cave of Whispering Secrets, The Strange Critter at the Old Johnston Place, An Eddy of the Unexplained, and Finding the Tracks to the Past

Echoes of a Plan Gone Wrong Deb Powers finally welcomes friends and family with a neighborly new addition. But renovation at the old train depot alerts her sheriff cousin to unexplained happenings. A perfect case to save Deb from making progress in the career change she might not want. Will she uncover the trouble before the whole town's plans derail for good?   Also available in the collection Investigations Beyond Belief   An excerpt from Finding the Tracks to the Past: When New Changes Stir Up Old Trouble "Did Gina tell you what's happening at the depot?" Deb said. Terri took another big swallow of her beer and scooted around on the couch until she sat cross-legged and facing forward. "Not until this afternoon. But she's been calling in reports of trespassing that don't make sense all week long. Things knocked off shelves or knocked over. Footprints all through the dust, inside and out. Tools moved around, doors either locked or unlocked, day and night. Same with windows. Got a few complaints of noise from people who live nearby, too, when no one was there working. Dead in the middle of the night." "Charming choice of words," Deb said. "Your deputies checked it out?" "Of course they did. Couldn't find a trace of anyone sneaking around, not outside of what Gina reported. I hate this for her, but apparently nothing happens when one of the patrol cars hangs around. That kind of thing can drive you crazy."