Small Town Scary (Cozy Mystery Collection) Read online

  “That’s nonsense. She wanted Mayor Glisson dead! Now Chief, I’ll admit that I went searching through the trash for this cyanide, but it was only to protect my wife. Is that a sin?” Phil asked with feigned innocence.

  “No, but it’s a crime,” Chief Harrison retorted. “However, it’s not quite as serious a crime as murdering someone. Philip Jenkinson, you’re under arrest.”

  In tandem, Officers Crawford and Richmond strode into the backyard and handcuffed my fuming uncle. He ranted ferociously as they led him out of the yard. “This is false arrest! And false imprisonment! I didn’t try to kill anyone! It was Bernice! She’s a very political woman, you know, and she didn’t see eye to eye with Mayor Glisson! I swear!”

  “Tell it to the judge,” I muttered as Ron embraced me tightly.

  “Mystery solved,” he whispered. “Everything’s going to be okay now.”

  For the first time in endless days, I actually believed that was true.

  ***

  One Week Later

  Chocolate Mousse Mansion was bustling with hungry customers as Aunt Bernice and I buzzed around like diligent worker bees to please them. Released from jail and completely exonerated of any wrongdoing, Aunt Bernice had confided in me how Uncle Phil had insinuated several times over the years that he wanted her dead. Naïvely, she had brushed aside his words as anger spewed in the heat of the moment. With Ron’s information as further ammunition, Phil was sure to be locked away for the rest of his life. The charges against the man were steep: since Mayor Glisson was an elected official, the prosecutor had filed the case under Capital Murder, which carried the severest of penalties.

  “How are you doing?” I asked gently when we finally had a free moment.

  “I’m managing. One day at a time,” Aunt Bernice replied. “You know, I’m thinking of selling the cabin and getting out of Cobalt Horse. I’ve always wanted to live somewhere warm, although I can’t bear to think of quitting and leaving you high and dry!”

  “Don’t you worry about me. Things change. Life moves forward. If you want to live somewhere warm, then you should! Any place you had in mind?”

  “Oh, maybe the coast of South Carolina. I hear that Hilton Head Island is beautiful! Or maybe Savannah, Georgia. You know, some quaint little southern town. I could start brand new,” Aunt Bernice said dreamily.

  “Yes, you could,” I affirmed. “I support you 100%.”

  “But what about the shop? I’ve been working here since you opened Chocolate Mousse Mansion 9 years ago!”

  “I know and I couldn’t have made it without you,” I squeezed her hand affectionately. “But my life is going to be changing soon too. I might actually sell the business!”

  “Sell the business? But why? This place is like your baby!”

  My lips twisted into a grin. “Funny you should say that because Ron and I are going to be having a real baby. I’m pregnant!”

  “Oh honey, congratulations! I’m so happy for you, I could cry!” Indeed, tears of joy were falling down her face.

  “Thank you. I didn’t really know how to tell you…I mean, I know you always wanted a baby, but…”

  “But it didn’t happen for me. And it’s a good thing it didn’t! Besides, my baby years are far behind me. This is your time, Patsy. And I couldn’t be happier!” She gushed. “Just promise me one thing, though.”

  “Sure, what?”

  “That you’ll come visit me when I’m soaking up the southern sun!” She laughed and cried as I hugged her close.

  “I promise!”

  Feeling rejuvenated, even in the midst of my developing morning sickness, I was excited that life was moving forward. Yes, everything was going to be okay. Life would never be as smooth as a bowl of chocolate mousse, but everything was still going to be okay. Justice was served, dessert was served, and dreams were blossoming like spring flowers in a Montana prairie.

  ***

  Sweet Readers,

  Thank you for reading Whipping Up Murder! If you enjoyed the story, then maybe you’ll also enjoy some Strawberry Lies…

  STRAWBERRY LIES by Renee Summers

  SWEET LITTLE LIES & STRAWBERRY PIES…

  What do you do when nothing in your life is going right? Grab your two best friends and treat yourself to a luxury ski vacation in Colorado! Caitlyn’s plan to get away from it all backfires royally from the moment she checks into a chalet in glamorous Aspen. As she tries to enjoy a little R&R (and her favorite strawberry rhubarb pie) Caitlyn becomes the target of an unidentified stalker. The slopes are slippery and Caitlyn is about to take a tumble. As her stalker closes in, will Caitlyn emerge on top of the mountain or buried under an avalanche of snow?

  *FEATURES A SLEW OF BERRY DELICIOUS RECIPES LIKE STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES, BELGIAN BERRY WAFFLES & MORE!*

  Strawberry Lies - Kindle edition by Renee Summers. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

  BONUS RECIPE SECTION

  TURN THE PAGE &

  START WHIPPING UP A CREAMY DELIGHT!

  Classic Chocolate Mousse

  2 cups heavy cream

  10 oz baking chocolate broken into bits

  Beat heavy cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until it has a creamy thick texture. Set a bowl over a saucepan with simmering water on the stovetop and melt the chocolate bits in the bowl (or use a double boiler if you have one). Pour the melted chocolate into the whipped cream and mix. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Then serve with additional whipped cream to top, fresh berries, chocolate shavings, etc. So many possibilities!

  Cool Lime Chiffon Cake

  Graham cracker crust

  1 cup heavy cream

  ¼ cup sugar

  2 tbsp lime juice

  1 tbsp grated lime peel

  1 tsp vanilla extract

  Lime slices

  Mint sprigs

  Beat heavy cream with an electric mixer until thick. Add in sugar, juice, peel, and extract. Blend into a smooth mousse texture. Scoop evenly into graham cracker crust. No baking required! Garnish with lime slices and mint sprigs. Incredibly refreshing!

  Smooth Lemon Chiffon Pie

  1/2 cup of sugar

  3 egg yolks (organic, cage-free)

  3 tablespoons of water

  Rind and juice of 1 fresh lemon

  Baked pie shell

  Beat yolks until lemon color. Add sugar, juice and rind. Cook in double boiler until thick like custard. Cool yolk mixture. Whip egg whites until stiff. Add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 3 drops of lemon extract. Fold half of egg white mixture into yolk mixture. Pour into pie crust. Put remaining egg whites on top and bake at 325 degrees until brown.

  Raspberry Mousse Cake

  CAKE:

  1 tbsp. butter

  4 eggs, separated

  ½ cup sugar

  7 tbsp. flour

  1¼ tsp. vanilla extract

  MOUSSE FILLING:

  9 cups fresh raspberries

  ¾ cup sugar

  1 package plain gelatin

  2 cups heavy cream

  Cake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a pan and line bottom with buttered parchment. Whisk egg yolks and sugar in a bowl. Beat in flour until mixture is smooth. Add vanilla and set aside. Whisk egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form, then fold whites into yolk mixture. Pour into pan and bake until brown for 30 minutes. Set aside to cool. Filling: Put raspberries, sugar, and 1 cup water into a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Press through a sieve set over a bowl to catch purée. Return purée to pan and set over low heat. Sprinkle gelatin in ¼ cup cold water, set aside until softened, then add to purée in pan, stirring until dissolved. Whip cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Fold purée into cream. Unmold cake and discard parchment. Slice cake in half, then return cake bottom to pan. Pour in filling, then replace cake top. Cover with plastic; refrigerate overnight. Serve cool with your choice of fruit sauce (strawberry sauce is recommended).

  Fabulous Fondue


  1 block of Cheddar cheese

  1 block of Monterey Jack cheese

  1 block of Pepper Jack cheese

  Loaf of crusty French bread

  Recipes don’t get any easier than this! All you need to do is melt the three cheeses separately and then spoon the fondue into bowls. Slice up some French bread and start dipping! The above cheeses can also be substituted with any of your favorite flavors! Get creative and melt yourself some fabulous fondue!

  Who Is Renee Summers?

  Well I’m so glad you asked! I make my home near Branson, Missouri where I’m busy raising my two sons, ages 8 and 10. I’ve always loved to bake and write, so I decided to combine the two with my novellas, Bake Sale Brawl, Strawberry Lies, and Whipping Up Murder. My books are designed for the busy modern woman who deserves a break with a light, airy, and uncomplicated story. Raspberry Cupcake Mistake is the next title I’ve got cookin’! Look for it in the coming weeks on Amazon.

  Cookie Dough Crook

  Anisa Claire West

  Prologue

  Bluebird Landing, Wisconsin

  Vonnehaus Family Kitchen

  The second my tongue touched the egg beater, my grandmother’s temper snapped like a crisp autumn twig. “Cathleen Vonnehaus! Put that down! You know better, young lady!”

  Sheepishly, I set the metal baking tool on the kitchen counter, turning my head away as I licked the gooey cake batter off my lips.

  “I see you!” Grandma Gerta scolded as my cheeks flamed. “Really, Cathleen! Not only is it unsanitary to lick the egg beater, but you could also get salmonella!”

  My 10 year old brain didn’t know what “salmonella” meant, but it certainly didn’t sound good. “I’m sorry,” I whispered guiltily.

  Grandma nodded curtly and proceeded with our latest baking adventure. Every Sunday since my tenth birthday, Grandma had revealed another of her top secret Bavarian recipes, passed down from her own mother who grew up in rural Germany. The recipe of the day was a light and sweet angel food cake graced with ripe strawberries and homemade whipped cream.

  Crinkled and worn, the angel cake recipe sat proudly on the kitchen table, reminding me of a page from the books of incantations that I loved to read. “Is this recipe magical?” I asked my grandmother, holding the delicate sheet reverently in my sticky hands.

  “In a sense, yes it is,” she replied, her voice as soft as a Mozart lullaby. “Someday, Cathleen, I will give you all my recipes. After I’m gone…” she faded out as my heart lurched at the prospect of my darling grandmother being anywhere but our cozy kitchen, whipping up luscious delights together. She continued, “When these recipes are all yours, you must guard them like gold. Never share them with anyone outside the Vonnehaus bloodline. They’re old and precious. And they can make youvery rich.”

  “I don’t want to be rich, Grandma. And I don’t want you to go anywhere…” I said, huddling closer to her side.

  Stroking my coiled blonde hair, she urged gravely, “Just follow my words, Cathleen. And guard these recipes like gold!”

  With that passionate plea, Cathleen’s Cookie Castle was born…

  Chapter 1

  Bluebird Landing, Wisconsin

  23 Years Later

  Cathleen’s Cookie Castle

  “A huge order just came in!” Mikaila, my baking assistant yelled from the front of the store.

  Frustrated, I set my car key and handbag down on the counter. I can never get out of here at a decent hour. Why do I even expect to? Never mind that I had a date that night. At 33, my love life had always played second fiddle to my culinary career.

  “How huge?” I asked, infusing my voice with a false chipper note.

  “Two dozen cookie tins for a PTA meeting,” Mikaila announced, looking at me sympathetically through soft brown eyes. Employed at my bakery for almost a year, she knew what a work-a-holic I was and how it took a toll on my personal life.

  “Two dozen tins? Is it a PTA meeting or a Medieval banquet?” I scoffed wryly, adjusting my twisted flaxen updo.

  “The PTA president wants to give a cookie tin to each parent as a gift for the end of the school year,” Mikaila explained, laughing gently and handing me the order.

  “And I’m guessing the meeting is tonight?” I presumed, already rolling up my sleeves and preparing to do some heavy duty baking in a powdery whirlwind.

  “Yup. But we have about half the inventory already.” Mikaila pointed to a selection of Mint Surprise, Double Chocolate Brownie, and Sour Cream Droplets that had gone unsold that day, all fashioned from my grandmother’s secret recipes.

  “I guess I shouldn’t complain,” I mused. “We’re actually going to sell out today.” I grabbed a rolling pin and headed to the refrigerator to fetch a round of dough.

  “You never complain, Cathleen! But I would if I were you!” Mikaila called, following me into the kitchen. “Didn’t you say before that you had a date tonight?”

  I frowned, reflecting on the dinner date I had scheduled with Chad, a cheese shop owner I met at a culinary convention in Madison last weekend. Before I launched into a flour frenzy, I typed an apologetic text, telling Chad I would be about an hour late. My eyebrows raised as a reply immediately beeped in. “That was fast,” I mumbled. Glancing up at Mikaila, I added, “I do have a date. It’s just been postponed a little.”

  Smiling at Chad’s flirtatious reply of no problem, I’m sure you’re worth waiting for, I put my phone back in my purse and promptly attacked the mound of dough with my rolling pin. Fashioned from the bark of a walnut tree, the rolling pin had been in my family for three generations and was one of my most prized possessions. If I closed my eyes, I could clearly see Grandma Gerta expertly smoothing out a lump of cookie dough and prepping it for a few magical minutes of baking. Her idea that the Vonnehaus family recipes could make me rich hadn’t been as outlandish as I had thought as a 10 year old. A millionaire I was not, but the success of my bakery had allowed me to mortgage a century-old split level home tucked awaybehind a sprawling dairy farm. Grandma Gerta was a wise woman.

  “Am I on the schedule tomorrow?” Mikaila queried, interrupting my reminiscences of the woman who had taught me everything I knew about baking.

  “Um, yeah, I think you’re opening. Byron and Jade will be here later on,” I informed, referring to the high school boy and college co-ed who worked part-time in my bakery.

  “And I’m guessing you might be coming in a little late.” Mikaila winked at me knowingly.

  “It’s a first date, Mikaila. There won’t be any hanky panky,” I assured, although the memory of Chad’s toffee colored waves and burnt sienna eyes gave me a thrilling chill.

  “You said his name is Chad, right? And he owns a cheese shop?” Giggling, she pinched her nose as if an odorous Roquefort had assailed her senses.

  “Yeah, you know the place downtown. Gouda & Ready.” My lips swirled into a half grin as I uttered the shop’s name.

  “Ha! Gouda & Ready! Are you gouda and ready for your date?!” She chirped as I rolled my eyes. At 24, Mikaila was like the silly younger sister that I had never had but always wanted. I didn’t know much about her outside of the fact that she had both a passion and talent for baking. She was also delightfully charming with my customers.

  “I’ll be ready…as soon as these cookies come out of the oven.” I spooned the brownie dough onto greased baking sheets and topped each ball with a chocolate kiss.

  An hour later, we had finished baking, but the task of artfully arranging the cookie tins and wrapping them with green and silver ribbon still remained. I sighed, wondering if I should reschedule my date with Chad. If he really thought I was worth waiting for…

  Perceiving my thoughts, Mikaila offered, “I can finish up here if you want. Why don’t you go ahead? You’ve been here since dawn. I’ll lock up. Don’t worry.”