A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell

October 7 – November 1, 2024
Virtual Book Tour

From the award-winning author of the ANNALISSE MYSTERY SERIES.

THE VISIT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered.

She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave the state.

When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation.

Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.

My Thoughts

Bell has delivered a taut, suspense-filled tale full of intrigue, betrayal, and surprises. The characters are both engaging and despicable, the plot well-constructed, and the descriptive narrative of the Texas landscape beautifully done.

Complicated relationships abound, as do strong women characters who drive the action of the story forward to its exciting conclusion. The relationship between Laura and Hattie and the suspicion that falls on Laura after Hattie’s death is the stuff that makes a gripping story and Bell deftly leads the reader through some twists and turns. Fans of harder-edged domestic suspense will thoroughly enjoy this one.

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuth/Mystery/Cozy Mystery
Published by: Ewephoric Publishing
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 979-8-9863409-6-8
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Shortlinks:

Author’s Website    https://pictbooks.tours/sywjz    
Goodreads    https://Pict books.tours/BZhYK    
BookBub    https://pictbooks.tours/pRMCn    
Instagram    https://pictbooks.tours/3nZa9    
Twitter    https://pictbooks.tours/9ivZk    
Facebook – Author    https://pictbooks.tours/jFZCa    
Amazon Author Page    https://pictbooks.tours/AVTZV    

Retailers:
Amazon –    https://pictbooks.tours/FFAHA    
Goodreads –    https://pictbooks.tours/Dp80f    

Author Bio:

Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch for her readers, they often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic mysteries and children’s books as characters or subject matter. Marlene is an accomplished artist and photographer who takes pride in entertaining fans on multiple levels of her creativity.

Marlene’s award-winning Annalisse series boasts Best Mystery honors for all installments including these: IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, Global Award Best Mystery, and Chanticleer’s International Mystery and Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters, the fourth mystery in the series.

She offers her children’s picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! written primarily for younger kids based on true events from the Bell’s East Texas sheep ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of belonging and unconditional love between a little girl and her lamb.