NEW RELEASE - Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles - Available Now!

The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma

Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles continues in 2023 with the 10th book in the series. Author Linda Pirtle has just released the first mystery of the year for the crime series and it's a doozy! 

Last year, Pirtle's entry into the series was with The Dewey Decimal Dilemma. It was a fun, cozy involving a strange mystery centered around dogs and murder. Book 10 brings us back into the world of the town librarian, Caroline McCluskey along with some of her closest friends who fashion themselves as a group of amateur private investigators. 

Here is the blurb describing this fun cozy mystery:

 Lately, Magnolia Bluff, a quiet little community in the Texas Hill Country near the Burnet Reservoir, has seen too many gruesome murders. In Linda Pirtle’s The Dewey Decimal Dilemma, Caroline, the town’s librarian, found the body of her friend Terresa Brown in the alley which separated their Victorian homes. Terresa was only the first to be targeted.

Six months have passed since Caroline McCluskey’s friend, neighbor, and fellow Standard Poodle owner, Esther, disappeared while visiting the Magnolia Bluff Public Library. Left behind were her new crimson hat and her dog named Adam. Neither the local police nor the FBI have been able to find her. Caroline temporarily adopts Adam. She plans on reuniting him with his owner.

In Pirtle’s The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma, Caroline, sleuth extraordinaire, has grown weary of waiting for the authorities to solve the disappearance of her friend Esther. She organizes a group of friends and creates a mystery club called The Round Table. Caroline, along with Magnolia Nadine, LouEllen Mueller, and Daphne Leigh, are determined to find their missing friend.

Looking for clues, the women become cat burglars when they break and enter Esther’s house. Their search is interrupted when they hear voices of two men who have also entered the house. The words diamond stock certificates and the words she still won’t talk even though we stole her dog for her tells the members of the Round Table that Esther is still alive.

However, where is she being held and by whom? Why would anyone think that Esther, a retired school teacher, could own stock certificates in a diamond mine? Daphne, owner of the Head Case Salon, gathers an important clue. Alas, someone finds out about it, and Daphne becomes another victim. Will the Round Table members be able to rescue Esther from her captors before they, too, become the next victims?

To purchase or read for FREE w/Kindle Unlimited click here: The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma

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The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles is a unique multi-author crime fiction series that began in 2022. The 9 books released during the first year were so well received that the authors decided to continue the series into 2023 and beyond. 

The award-winning writers who pen the stories for this little town in the Texas Hill Country are as diverse as the books they've contributed to this superb series. But all have one thing in common. Our love for a good mystery. 

The authors responsible for last year's books turned out 9 page turning mysteries that were full of murder and mayhem. Some were cozies and some a little grittier. All taking place is the same small town, centered around some of the same people and businesses, yet all uniquely different stories.

If you missed any of the books published last year, now's a great time to catch up as we enter into 2023. But that doesn't mean you can't start with Linda Pirtle's new and wonderful cozy mystery, The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma. Wherever you begin, just be prepared for a fun ride into a town whose population continues to shrink due to its murder rate.

Catch up on the series by clicking here: First 9 MBCC Books

Video Trailer: MBCC YouTube Video

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I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. And of course, your thoughts and comments are always welcome. 😊

Meanwhile, you can find my books here: The Razzman Mystery Crime Files

Until next time...😎

 Meet Scott McHenry and Tony Razzolito aka The Razzman 

If you read my post from January 12^th, you got to meet Vinnie Gabrianno from my PI series, The Razzman Mystery Crime Files. This time I’d like to introduce you to the Razzman himself and his partner in the gumshoe business, Scott McHenry. But instead of just me telling you about these two characters, I thought I’d let them speak for themselves. So, what follows is part of a recent conversation I had with them when I got the chance to sit down and interview the fellas about how they got into the PI biz:

 Me: Hi Scott. I wanted to thank you and Tony for allowing me this interview time. Speaking of which, where is the world’s greatest PI, anyway?

Scott: First, thank you for having us. We are deep inside our current murder investigation, so it’s nice to take a break and just talk. He should be along in a minute. He texted to say he was picking up some sandwiches and a six-pack of beer for us. And I’m gonna forgive you for calling the Razzman the world’s greatest… you know I trained him, right?

Me: Yes, Scott. I know you trained him. In case it slipped your mind, I write the stories. But while we’re waiting for him to show up, I’ve got to ask-- What’s the obsession you guys have with all the food? It seems like you’re always eating when you, Tony, and Vinnie get together.

Scott (laughing): Well, you can blame Vinnie for that. He’s the one that started it by always bringing pizza or sub sandwiches, other assorted snacks, and of course, beer, every time we wanted to hash through the clues about whatever case we were working on. It’s kind of become our thing. Now it’s weird if we’re not eating or drinking whenever we get together. And that happens now even when it’s just me and the Razzman.

Me (looking over Scott’s shoulder): Here comes the Razzman now. Hey Tony, come on in and pull up a seat. What did you bring us?

Tony (passing out the grub he brought along): Meatball subs for everybody… and some nice cold brewskis. I went to a new family-owned Italian sandwich and pizza joint that’s close by. They recently opened and they add that kiss of Brooklyn love to all their recipes. I know you’re gonna love it. Go ahead. Eat up… or as the Italians say... Mangia!

Me (taking a bite and smiling): Wow, this is good. Vinnie would be proud.

Scott (laughing): Vinnie’s the one who turned him on to the place.

Me: So, Vinnie approved, then. Okay, guys, tell me about how you got into the PI business and what type of cases you usually take on?

Tony: Well, I met Scott a few years back when I was investigating my wife’s murder back in my hometown, Syracuse, NY. I wasn’t actually in the PI game at that time. I was an out-of-work appliance salesperson. Without giving away the whole story, my wife and I were going through some rocky times. To the point that we were constantly at each other’s throats. I was out of work and really wasn’t too focused on finding another job. It was hard on her. I see that now. Anyway, we were fighting again, and she went out to a club with a friend of hers to blow off some steam. That was the last time I saw her alive.

Scott (Seeing that Tony was getting a bit choked up): I’ll take it from here, buddy. I used to be a cop, and I went through the academy with a friend of Tony’s. I had left police work to start my own business as a private investigator and moved to North Carolina. Joe, that’s Tony’s friend, made the introductions when it became obvious that the killer had a connection here in Charlotte. So, the Razzman and I got together and pursued the bad guys.

Tony: Once that case was wrapped up, I knew I had to make a fresh start somewhere. Scott offered me a job as a jr. investigator so I moved to Charlotte and joined his firm, McHenry Investigative Services. He helped me get my PI license and taught me the ropes. Eventually I bought into the business and now co-own the firm.

As far as the type of cases we work, our bread and butter is the cheating spouse stuff. Never a shortage of those type of cases. But we’ve also been involved in a few high-profile murder investigations over the years as well. Those are the cases we like to share with our readers.

Me: You’ve come a long way, Tony, and folks can read about your journey through that first case in your first book, Dead is Forever: A Tony Razzolito PI Story. 

I understand that since moving to Charlotte you’ve gotten your life back together.

Tony: Well, it took about five years from that first case to becoming a co-owner, but I learned a lot in that time period. And not just about how to be a damn good investigator, but also how to be a better person to my friends and family.

Scott: Yeah, the Razzman has definitely experienced some personal growth since I first met him. He’s in a steady relationship, and he’s been a good friend to me over the years. Especially during the period when my father passed away. I don’t know if I would’ve come out of my depression if not for the Razzman.

Me: I agree. I see how confident Tony has become with himself over the series. That confidence has helped him to build inner strength that has helped his PI career as well as his relationship with you, Scott, and of course, with his girlfriend, Karen.

I think the readers would be interested in hearing a little about the case you’re working on now.

Tony: Our current case has been frustrating to the both of us. A rookie sensation for the Charlotte Hornets basketball team was murdered and left in the alley behind the arena where the team plays.

Scott: It’s been frustrating because the murder might tie back to a previous case we worked on a year ago. Our connection at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department hired us to help her detectives look into the shooting. Detective Cahill—he’s one of the detectives—is convinced that both murders were committed by the same person.

Tony (scoffing): I’m still not convinced the two deaths are connected. Cahill’s a horse’s ass and probably doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but we’re working all the angles just in case.

Me: Sounds interesting. When can we expect to read all about it? I know you’ve got some readers that are waiting patiently for your next PI adventure to hit the bookstore.

Tony: I can’t tell you the exact date just yet since we’re still sorting through all the clues. But we should have this case solved sometime in March.

Me (in between finishing the last of my meatball sub): That's awesome and not that much longer to wait. 

This really is a great sandwich. What’s the name and where in Charlotte is this new Italian eatery? I need to check it out.

Tony (smiling): That’s my little secret for now. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you can read about it when the new book comes out.

Me: Is it part of the mystery?

Tony: Only by way of trying to guess what kind of pizza Vinnie will bring to one of our debrief sessions—you know he’s gonna bring some of those real deal Brooklyn inspired pies to one of those meetings.

Me (laughing): You're right about that! Listen guys, this has been fun. I've enjoyed sitting down and having this chat with you and I'm looking forward to the release of the next book. What's the title?

Tony: It's called, Best Served Cold: A Tony Razzolito PI Story.

Scott (rolling his eyes): There you go again; putting your name all over the title. No wonder everybody thinks you're the world's greatest PI.

Me (still laughing): Come on, Scott. You know the stories couldn't be written without you. You're an integral part of the series.

Tony (grinning at his partner): Yeah, Scott. We both have equal roles in the series.

Scott: Okay smart guy, how about we put my name on the title, then? A Scott McHenry PI Story has a nice ring to it.

Tony: Sorry, the cover is already done.

Scott: Okay. The next one, then...

Tony: Scott, let me explain someth...

Me (cutting them off before this turns into a real fight): Okay guys, time's up. Gotta go. I appreciate you both giving me some of your time today. 

Scott: This isn't over, Razzman. We'll pick up this discussion later. Maybe get Vinnie's opinion.

Me (Speaking louder than the two of them so maybe they'll get the hint): I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read my blogpost. And of course, your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Meanwhile, you can find my books here: The Razzman Mystery Crime Files

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Until next time...😎