Mesdames of Mayhem series of crime anthologies

In this second volume of their crime anthology series, the Mesdames of Mayhem are thrilled to bring you 15 tales of desperation and evil deeds. From courtroom drama to identity theft, from cottage country to the city's deadly pace -- crime is everywhere, and in every era. The Mesdames of Mayhem are 16 friends who are established Canadian crime authors. Most of the Mesdames have won or been short-listed for major crime writing awards, including the Arthur Ellis, Bony Blithe, Bony Pete, CWA’s Debut Dagger, Derringer, MWA’s Edgar, Indie and Polar Expressions. To learn more about our novels and stories, follow the links in these pages and visit our website at www dot mesdamesofmayhem dot com. TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword, M.H. Callway Perfect Timing, Melodie Campbell Pulling a Rabbit, Catherine Astolfo Thrice the Brinded Cat, Joan O’Callaghan Being Leda Fox, Lynne Murphy Life Lesson, Ed Piwowarczyk Glow Grass, M.H. Callway The Test of Time, Melodie Campbell The Bench Rests, Rosemary Aubert The 14th of Forever, Donna Carrick Beat the Clock, Catherine Dunphy Troubled Times, Lisa de Nikolits Nick of Time, Rosemary McCracken Life is a Big Headache, Sylvia Maultash Warsh Hidden, Jane Petersen Burfield Mirror, Mirror, Cheryl Freedman Afterword, Joan O’Callaghan Acknowledgments, Donna Carrick

Holy Menagerie! The Mesdames of Mayhem, a group of established, acclaimed Canadian crime writers, have teamed up with three talented newcomers to create a book to add to your library favorites! 13 Claws includes 17 fantastic tales (pun intended), featuring cats, dogs, dragons and snakes! With thrillers, cozies and mysteries of every variety, 13 Claws is sure to find a sweet spot with crime lovers. M.H. Callway, Mesdames of Mayhem Founder, contributing author and Afterword Donna Carrick, contributing author, editor and Foreword Ed Piwowarczyk, contributing author, copy editor Authors: Catherine Astolfo, Rosemary Aubert, Jane Petersen Burfield, M.H. Callway, Melodie Campbell, Donna Carrick, Lisa de Nikolits, Catherine Dunphy, Marilyn Kay, Sylvia Maultash Warsh, Rosemary McCracken, Lynne Murphy, Mary Patterson, Ed Piwowarczyk, Rosalind Place

The Mesdames of Mayhem are delighted to bring readers their fourth anthology of crime stories. Our current theme is music, mischief and murder: In the Key of 13! Music from Mozart to Beethoven to Elvis is a sweet accompaniment to sin in 19 wicked tales, ranging from cozy to noir, by 18 acclaimed Canadian crime writers and one talented newcomer. Can you hear the violins? They may be plotting your demise. Are you an opera lover? Take care, your passion means a revenge served cold. And that tune that refuses to leave your mind? It will truly drive you mad... Many of the Mesdames are winners or finalists of leading crime fiction awards, including the Arthur Ellis, Edgar, Derringer, Bony Pete and Debut Dagger awards. To learn more about us and our novels and stories, follow the links in these pages and visit our website at mesdamesofmayhem dot com. Editor: Donna Carrick Copy-editor: Ed Piwowarczyk Project manager: M.H. Callway Foreword: Donna Carrick The Moonlight Sonata, Caro Soles Farewell to the King, Rosemary McCracken A Contrapuntal Duet, Blair Keetch Hit Me with Your Pet Shark, Lisa de Nikolits Requiem, Jane Petersen Burfield Under the Lamplight, Kevin P. Thornton Soul Behind the Face, Madona Skaff Winona and the CHUM Chart, Catherine Dunphy Brainworm, M.H. Callway The Beethoven Disaster, Rosemary Aubert Her Perfume, Marilyn Kay Bad Vibrations, Rosalind Place Death of a Cheapskate, Melodie Campbell Let the Sunshine In, Lynne Murphy Gentle Rain from Heaven, Catherine Astolfo None Shall Sleep, Sylvia Maultash Warsh Solace in D Minor, Donna Carrick The Ballad of Will Robinson, Ed Piwowarczyk Modern Myst'ry Scribble'er, Cheryl Freedman Get your Blue Shoes on and thrill to these fabulous stories of music and murder, brought to you by this acclaimed group of award-winning authors!

** Recipient of two nominations for the coveted Arthur Ellis Award 2014 for Best Short Story, as well as one Derringer Award nomination! ** Arthur Nominations: Watermelon Weekend by Donna Carrick and The Emerald Skull by Sylvia Maultash Warsh Derringer Award Nomination for Best Short Story: The Sweetheart Scamster by Rosemary McCracken. A meeting place for deadly minds... Thirteen Mesdames of Mayhem bring you a thrilling cocktail of crime fiction, from dark supernatural thrillers to outrageous comedy capers. This merry band of authors includes winners and finalists for the Arthur Ellis awards, Canada’s national prize for excellence in crime fiction. An eerie emerald skull holds the clue to a woman’s origins...and to murder. A bureaucrat stumbling home on a winter evening sees a lion...or does he? Senior citizens show their mettle...and their sinister side. And, more importantly, how do you get rid of a troublesome body and plan the perfect wedding...at the same time? Within these pages lie the answers! We bring you an exceptional lineup of Award-winning authors: Catherine Astolfo, Rosemary Aubert, Jane Petersen Burfield, M.H. Callway, Melodie Campbell, Donna Carrick, Vicki Delany, Catherine Dunphy, Rosemary McCracken, D.J. McIntosh, Lynne Murphy, Joan O’Callaghan, Sylvia Maultash Warsh

Ghosts and demons and booze, oh my! To celebrate their 10th anniversary, the Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem have let their imaginations run wild to bring you their fifth anthology, In the Spirit of 13. Does “spirit’ mean ghost or demon - or debunking of same? Or simply the evil in twisted human hearts? Or could it be alcohol? You must read these 23 tales to find out! The Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem are established award-winning authors as well as talented new writers. They aimed to keep their stories light-hearted to counter the world’s troubled times, but some of them have strayed into the dark. They are crime writers after all! Laugh, shed a tear and prepare to be deliciously frightened. M.H. Callway, Project Manager - Foreword, Amdur's Ghost Donna Carrick, Editor - Beloved Ink Ed Piwowarczyk, Copy Editor - The Haunting of Mississippi Belle Catherine Astolfo - The Spirit of St. Lewis Rosemary Aubert - The Phone J.E. Barnard - Rubies for Romeo Melodie Campbell - The Kindred Spirits Detective Agency Lisa de Nikolits - In a Land of Fear and Denial Cheryl Freedman – Possessed Therese Greenwood - The Iron Princess Marilyn Kay - Rise Up Blair Keetch - To Catch a Kumiho Sylvia Maultash Warsh - Aunt Bertie Tries to Save the World Rosemary McCracken - The Fur Coat Conundrum Cat Mills - The Dollhouse Lynne Murphy - The Trespassers, Gracie, the Invisible Dog Jane Petersen Burfield – Whispers Rosalind Place - A Faint Disturbance of Hope Madona Skaff - Moving On Caro Soles - The Yellow Bird Kevin P. Thornton - The Fixer Melissa Yi - The Mob Bar Mob