by Anne R. Tan
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And then, there are my beta-readers—Marion D., Cindy I., Della D., Susan J., and Debi P.—thank you, ladies, for volunteering your time to catch these sneaky typos and grammatical errors.
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Thanks, reader Carol Jean Wise for volunteering to be a character in my book. This woman is a dynamite. In her own words:
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I am proud of being resilient, adventurous, creative, good at solving puzzles and mysteries. My background is in law enforcement. When I retired, I pursued a career in the medical field. I am blonde and small(5'4") but strong and physically fit, even at 64 years old!
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Also, thanks to service dog, Poe, for lending your name to Maggie Louie’s service dog in the story.
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And finally, thank you, Susan C. for the awesome cover.
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I wouldn’t have been able to bring this story to life without all of you. Thank you!
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—Anne R. Tan
Just Shoot Me Dead
Blurb:
While on a blind date with a doctor and his mama, Lucy Fong gets a call that her estranged mom is found shot in the stomach in her private investigation office. She returns to Morro Cliff Village to search for answers and her sister...and finds only a dead body in her sister's apartment.
When the local police chief zeros in on her sister as a "person of interest," Lucy must brush up her sleuthing skills. It's a race to find her sister before the police—and the killer—do.
She must use all her wits (and those she can borrow) to find this hidden killer before he strikes at her family again.
Don't miss this fast-paced cozy mystery—get your copy of Just Shoot Me Dead today!
Teaser:
Lucy reached into the closet and depressed the button hidden in the pole bracket, holding it down for ten seconds. A latch clicked, and the back wall swung open. Voila! Secret passage.
Po Po clapped her hands. “This is so cool. I need one of these at home.”
“I don’t even think they do carpentry like this anymore,” Stella said. “This is over a hundred years old.”
The darkness gaped at them, and something shuffled below. “Breanne?” Lucy called out. She reached inside, groping along the wall for the light switch. The shadow shifted, and she withdrew her hand. What was that? Her heart thumped against her chest. “Breanne? It’s Lucy.”
“What is that?” Po Po said sharply.
“I don’t hear anything,” Stella said, peering over Po Po’s shoulder.
The shadow hissed and leaped onto Lucy’s chest. She turned her head, and her hands went up to protect her face. The weight slammed into her, and she fell back, knocking over Po Po and Stella. Lucy’s nostril flared at the wet animal fur. As the Maine coon bounded off her, it left deep burning scratches down her forearms.
The cat spun around, its tail rigid as a pole and just as deadly. It was probably male because it was close to thirty-five pounds and spitting mad. The fluff of light gray chest hair was stiff around its face, and his lips pulled back to show sharp dagger-like teeth. A lion protecting its pride couldn’t look more dangerous. Somehow the animal had landed on the far side of the room, and Lucy and the Bosom Buddies stood between it and the doorway to freedom.
Po Po fumbled in her bag. “Where is the pepper spray when I need it?” she mumbled to herself, her eyes wide.
Stella dragged herself up from the floor with the help of the coat closet pole. She held it in front of her like a warrior to face down a wild beast. “Bring it.”
Lucy ignored the blood running down her arms and held up her hands, palms out. Her heart raced with fear and adrenaline. How did the cat get into the Hideout? Did this animal belong to her sister? “Easy, kitty.” She muttered under her breath, “Let’s get out of his way. He just wants to leave.”
Po Po scrambled away from the door. Stella hesitated but shifted grudgingly like she had been spoiling for a fight. She probably needed to release the tension from this morning.
The Maine coon hissed and leaped before he finished his threat. Lucy lunged to the right, curling her hands over her head, and got whacked in the face by the animal’s tail. It yowled and disappeared from the office.
As Lucy lay on the floor, her chest heaved. Her hands bled, and her face stung. This day had to be a nightmare. This entire week had to be a nightmare. What was she doing here? Pretending to be some kind of superhero? She couldn’t save her family. She could barely save herself.
Just Shoot Me Dead
Lucy Fong Amateur PI Mystery #1
Available now
Also by Anne R. Tan
Thanks for reading Smoldering Flames and Secrets. I hope you’ve enjoyed it!
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Want More Raina Sun?
Raining Men and Corpses (Raina Sun #1)
Gusty Lovers and Cadavers (Raina Sun #2)
Breezy Friends and Bodies (Raina Sun #3)
Balmy Darlings and Death (Raina Sun #4)
Sunny Mates and Murders (Raina Sun #5)
Murky Passions and Scandals (Raina Sun #6)
Smoldering Flames and Secrets (Raina Sun #7)
Hazy Grooms and Homicides (Raina Sun #8) - coming spring 2019.
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How about another series by Anne R. Tan?
Just Shoot Me Dead (Lucy Fong #1)
Just Lost and Found (Lucy Fong #1.5) - Available now in the charity boxed set (12 stories from various authors).
About the Author
Anne R. Tan is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes the Raina Sun Mystery series and the Lucy Fong Amateur PI Mystery series. Her humorous cozy mysteries feature Chinese-American amateur sleuths dealing with love, family, and life while solving murders.
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Sign up for her newsletter for new release announcement, sales, and exclusive content at http://annertan.com/newsletter/
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FIVE THINGS ABOUT ANNE
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1. I can't resist ice cream.
2. I started my first book a month after I had my first baby.
3. And now that she's seven, I brainstorm story ideas with my girl.
4. Instead of reading to my children, I make up stories round-robin style with my children at bedtime.
5. I secretly want Raina Sun’s life.
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A NOTE FROM ANNE:
My books are my legacy to my children. Unfortunately, they won't grow up in the San Francisco Bay Area as I did. Without a cultural hub to keep the language and philosophies alive, our family will lose this part of our heritage in one generation. My children will be visitors to this rich culture just like my readers. I hope you'll enjoy your time with Raina Sun and her large dynamic family.
