VINEYARD MAMBO Excerpt

Hi everyone! I'm here to share the first excerpt from the first Anna Romeo mystery, Vineyard Mambo. God, but I love the way that sounds! The first Anna Romeo mystery... Now that's something I could get used to.

But I'm, as usual, in a rush. Have got to whip together a school break reading program for next week. Kids are off school, you know. No day care, either, so the library's going to be packed starting Monday. A good thing, I think, but I've got to figure out some snappy ideas for stimulating young minds. Any ideas?

Oh, that's right! I'm here to share the excerpt, not solicit ideas for my library program. Oops! Mi dispiace.

Without further ado, an excerpt from Vineyard Mambo:

Anna heard a deep breath from the other end of the phone line, first pulled in slowly, and then let out in a whoosh. “Where have you been all day? How could you not already know?”

“I’ve been where I usually am, in the library. You know, my job? Remember?”

“It’s hard to believe you haven’t heard by now. Hasn’t anyone told you?”

Anna sighed, shaking her head. She walked over to the back door, unlocked it and pulled it open. A soft breeze fluttered a curl against her cheek as she stood before the old-fashioned screen door. “I haven’t seen anyone all day long. The place was silent as a tomb. Now—what are you talking about?”

“The Pilchards,” Diane answered. Her voice caught on the name, and Anna felt her gut twist. Whatever this was, it couldn’t be good.

“Marge and Sam?”

“That’s right. They were found this morning at their house. The newscaster on the radio said they suspect foul play. I don’t know; some sort of intruder or something. Sam is in Good Samaritan Hospital. No one knows yet if he’ll pull through.”

“And Marge?”

“Marge is dead.”

A sheen of perspiration broke out on Anna’s brow at the same instant she felt her body temperature drop. Funny how shock does that, makes a person feel an immediate chill just as sweat first appears.