Return to Citrus Beach Series

When Emma Cassidy, a budding graphic designer, returns to her sun-soaked hometown of Citrus Beach, Florida, she's expecting a tranquil holiday season. But her plans take a turn for the mysterious when she finds herself at the center of a baffling Christmas murder. Reunited with old friends, Jake and Kim at Susie's Diner, Emma's holiday cheer quickly turns to intrigue when she arrives at the Anderson estate, home of her new client, and makes the shocking discovery of a lifeless body under the Christmas tree. When it is discovered that a series of diamond ornaments have also vanished, Emma is drawn into her clients' inner circle, full of secrets and simmering resentments, and finds the line between sleuthing and yuletide shenanigans blurring as she becomes more involved with the Andersons. Enter Travis Anderson, the client's son, who's as charming as he is frustrating. He waltzes into the investigation (and Emma's thoughts) with the grace of a reindeer on a rooftop. Sean Young, an old friend an old friend who's swapped playground antics for police badges, agrees to their offered help. Emma navigates through a maze of quirky characters, including the elusive gardener with a green thumb for trouble and Oswald McAllister, the eccentric diamond collector, knowing she must unravel the truth before the thief strikes again. With her new puppy Dixie by her side, Emma finds herself in a race against time, deciphering clues that lead her from the sandy beaches to elegant mansions and festive parties. As the investigation heats up, so does the chemistry with Travis, tangling her detecting skills like a string of Christmas lights. "Gift of Murder" is a whirlwind of suspense, humor, and holiday spirit, where sunlit shores hide dark secrets, and finding the truth is as tangled as the Christmas lights. Can Emma solve the mystery before the festive season turns fatal? Join her in this cozy, quirky, Floridian adventure where eggnog isn't the only thing spiked with surprises.

Dive into the sun-soaked, sometimes silly, always surprising world of Citrus Beach, Florida, where graphic designer and part-time detective Emma Cassidy finds herself unraveling a mystery that's as tangled as a leash at a dog park. The grand opening of "Paws and Relax," the latest and greatest doggy day spa, ends not with a bark, but a bang, when the beloved owner is found murdered. Known for her eye for design and her nose for clues, Emma can't resist sniffing out the truth, especially when her mischievous pocket beagle, Dixie, digs up the first puzzling piece of evidence. From a spa rival who's more cutthroat than a pair of grooming shears to a fired employee with a bone to pick, the suspects are as plentiful as sand on a Florida beach. With the help of her friends, the feisty reporter Kim Hart and crime-solving whiz Jake, Emma wades through a swamp of red herrings and comic mishaps. And amidst all the sleuthing, there's a whiff of romance in the air with the dashing Travis Anderson, making things a tad more complicated, but a lot more fun. As Emma untangles this hairy case, she discovers Citrus Beach is bursting with secrets, some as hidden as a lost ball in tall grass. Will she collar the culprit before they scamper away? Or is this mystery too ruff for even Emma to handle? "Puppies and Paybacks" is a rollicking jaunt through the quirks and quibbles of Florida life, where humor, romance, and a good old-fashioned whodunit blend together like a tropical smoothie. Grab your sunhat and join Emma and her crew in this delightfully zany cozy mystery, where the laughs are abundant, and the paybacks are as satisfying as a belly rub.