Homicide by Hamlet (Cozy Mystery) Book #3 (Chubby Chicks Club Cozy Mystery Series)

by Lois Lavrisa

  Homicide

  by Hamlet

  Book Three

  Chubby Chicks Club Cozy Mystery Series

  By Lois Lavrisa

  BestSelling Award-Winning Author of

  Liquid Lies

  Dying for Dinner Rolls

  Murderous Muffins

  SunLake Press

  Homicide by Hamlet

  By Lois Lavrisa

  Lavrisa, Lois Marie (03-20-2016). Homicide by Hamlet

  Copyright 2016 Lois Lavrisa

  Discover other titles by Lois Lavrisa at loislavrisa.com

  Amazon Edition, Licensing Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission from the author.

  All Trademarks mentioned herein are respected.

  All quotes are intended as fair use and not intended to abridge copyright.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or to actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  sunlakepress.com

  Reviews

  What Authors and Reviewers are saying about Lois Lavrisa’s Novels:

  DYING FOR DINNER ROLLS (Book One: Chubby Chicks Club Cozy Mystery Series)

  “Hold onto your hats for this humorous and quirky mystery which involves a group of friends of The Chubby Chicks club. Set in Savannah, Cat and her friends set out to solve a mystery to catch a killer, but as amateur sleuths find themselves way in over their heads pretty fast. This cast of Friends comes together in this quirky hard to put down mystery. Cat, Annie Mae, José. Can’t wait to read the next of the Chubby Chicks Club mystery series.”

  ~Luvbooks, Amazon Reviewer

  “I want more, please! Cat and Annie Mae are an entertaining pair in their quest to solve the murder of their friend. Their bumbling tactics prove to put them in danger, but their hearts are in the right place. I enjoyed collecting the clues right along with them. “Dying for Dinner Rolls” is a delightful read I recommend. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.”

  ~Ladyhawk, Amazon Reviewer

  “This was a fun book to read because of the wacky characters and their escapades. I will be looking forward to the next book.”

  ~Cheryl K. Craig, Amazon Reviewer

  MURDEROUS MUFFINS (Book Two: Chubby Chicks Club Cozy Mystery Series)

  “I have a soft spot for a good cozy and here’s an author who hits the spot dead on. Characters you just know you’d like if you met them… villains I didn’t figure out on the third page… and bumbling amateur detectives that you are absolutely sure are headed for trouble. If you like cozies for those relaxing moments you cannot go wrong with Lois Lavrisa. Murder, mystery and all wrapped up in humor. I’m headed out to buy the two following this one. Enjoy!”

  ~J.R. Webberon, Amazon Reviewer

  “A delicious cozy mystery covered in sugar or is it poison? …It’s a crazy romp and a fun read. Lots of eccentric characters that make for a great distraction from every day life. Confusion reigns, and liars abound. You won’t be able to put down….I highly recommend it for cozy lovers.”

  ~Sandy Penny, Amazon Reviewer

  “This book was great. I actually was guessing right up to the end. I love the characters and it was nice learning more about them. I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Great friendships too. The ending really left me wanting more in a good way.”

  ~ Gwen M. Reamer, Amazon Reviewer

  HOMICIDE BY HAMLET (Book Three: Chubby Chicks Club Cozy Mystery Series)

  “Smart, clever, and witty: Homicide by Hamlet is everything a cozy mystery should be. Fantastic!”

  ~ Dorothy St. James, Author of the White House Gardener Mysteries

  “From beginning to end I rooted for Annie Mae. An enjoyable read.”

  ~ Cindy Blackburn, bestselling author of the Cue Ball Mysteries

  LIQUID LIES (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller: NOVEL)

  “Full of breathtaking twists and turns! Liquid Lies had me whipping through the pages, never quite sure whose number was up next. A great whodunit mystery laced with suspense.”

  ~ Ann Charles, Award-winning and Bestselling Author

  “Lois Lavrisa delivers a fantastic book —five stars! I could not stop reading Liquid Lies once I started. So suspenseful wondering how much more CiCi could take. This is definitely a must read!”

  ~ Laura Fortin, Reviewer

  “I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had the bad guy/gal figured out only to be proved wrong more than once! Kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to reading more from this author.”

  ~J. Anderson Avid Reader, Reviewer

  “I loved the heroine of Liquid Lies. CiCi is sympathetic but flawed…a well rounded character. The plot was fast-paced and multi-layered with a mystery that’ll keep you guessing until the last page. A fantastic debut novel by an exciting new author. Bravo.”

  ~ Reading Cat Review

  “I could not put this book down! Liquid Lies is a tightly woven mystery steeped full of quirky characters on an emotion-packed thrill ride. This is one story you’ll want to tell your friends about!”

  ~ Cynthia Cooke, Award Winning Author, Luck and a Prayer

  Table of Contents

  Reviews

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Connect Online

  Also by Lois Lavrisa

  Dedication

  Homicide by Hamlet

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Afterword

  Additional Works by Lois Lavrisa

  A few of Lois Lavrisa’s moments:

  Acknowledgments

  Any story starts with an idea and then grows from there. Along the way, many people helped and supported me as I turned my idea into a finished book. First and foremost, thanks go out to my husband Tom and our children: Sean, Melanie, Tiffany and Ryan.

  To my many writer friends who reviewed, edited, critiqued drafts and gently nudged me along when I needed it—including but not limited to Lauren Lapointe, Victoria Logue, Ginger Michelle
Collins McGee and Gail Byrd. Also, thank you to my editors Deborah Nemeth, Chrissy Szarek, Prateek Jain “PJ” and Sharyn Ellison. And to my fabulous and talented cover designer, Karen Phillips.

  My biggest gratitude is extended to you, my readers.

  Without you, my stories would never be given life.

  Thank you!

  About the Author

  Lois Lavrisa writes “Mystery with a Twist.”

  Lois Lavrisa is the author of LIQUID LIES, a 2013 Eric Hoffer Finalist Award winner and Amazon Kindle bestselling mystery. The first two books in her Chubby Chicks Club cozy mystery series, DYING FOR DINNER ROLLS and MURDEROUS MUFFINS, were both Kindle bestsellers, won Readers’ Favorite Awards, and were nominees for Georgia Author of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

  She’s been married to her aerospace husband Tom since 1991 and they have four children —two sons and two daughters. She’s a member of several writing organizations including: Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Sisters in Crime (SIC). She served as Vice President of the Low Country RWA. For the past decade, she’s been a member of several writing groups in Savannah. Lois has written for a local newspaper, a magazine, numerous newsletters and a weekly blog. Additionally, Lois has worked as an adjunct instructor and a technical writer.

  Connect Online

  Lois Lavrisa Website

  loislavrisa.com

  Liquid Lies Website

  liquidlies.com

  Facebook (Author Page)

  facebook.com/authorloislavrisa

  Twitter

  twitter.com/loislavrisa

  Pinterest

  pinterest.com/loislavrisa

  Instagram

  @loislavrisa

  LinkedIn

  Lois Lavrisa

  Google Plus

  Lois Lavrisa

  Also by Lois Lavrisa

  Liquid Lies: Novel (Mystery, Thriller, Suspense)

  Christmas Corpse Caper: Short Story (Mystery/Romance: Prequel to Liquid Lies)

  Chubby Chicks Club: Cozy Southern Mystery Series

  Dying For Dinner Rolls: Book One

  Murderous Muffins: Book Two

  Homicide by Hamlet: Book Three

  Killing with Kings: Book Four

  Puzzled by Purple: Book Five

  Thomson Twins Tales: Chubby Chicks Club Spinoff

  Thomson Twins Tales (Short story box set) contains all three stories below:

  Picture Not Perfect: Volume One YA Short Story (Mystery/Sweet Romance)

  Turnabout Twist: Volume Two YA Short Story (Sweet Romance)

  Treat or Trick: Volume Three YA Short Story (Suspense)

  Dedication

  For my eldest son, Sean Thomas Lavrisa, USA Airman and former high school theater major. “All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts…” ~William Shakespeare. May your world’s stage be filled will deep fulfilling relationships, abundant happiness and countless adventures.

  I love you Sean.

  Homicide by Hamlet

  Chapter One

  I took in a breath as I ran my fingers down the faded red velvet drapes. The theater had that familiar musty smell that I’d come to love so much. I was going to miss the students, the faculty, and the college atmosphere when summer ended.

  I was about to retire after thirty years as the first black female drama professor at Armstrong State University in Savannah, Georgia.

  My heart felt a tug of sadness. My last responsibility was to advise local high school students participating in the University’s summer one-act play competition. I’d been working with the high school students for the past few summers. It was always a thrill seeing the kids take on Shakespeare and turn it into something fresh and modern in just a week.

  Footsteps and chatter distracted my reminiscing. My team, a group of ten students, made their way toward me.

  “Dr. Maple, I hope you don’t mind, but we were talking, and they decided I could have the lead in Hamlet, since it’s my last year here,” said Wilbert. He wore black-framed glasses and stood a lanky six feet tall, with long arms and legs. “And the team elected Umika as assistant director, and me as director.”

  Umika, a gorgeous Indian girl with large, cocoa brown eyes, who wore her thick inky-black hair in a loose braid, raised her hand. “Only if it’s okay with you, Dr. Maple.”

  “Sure. If that’s what your team wants, that’s fine with me. But I know how hard it will be, Wilbert, to be a principle actor and director, but if anyone can do it, you can. Remember, this is your play and you, as a team, make all the decisions. I’m merely an advisor.”

  I looked at the group of eager high school students from freshman through seniors. Gosh, how I was going to miss the excitement, chaos, and challenge of competition.

  Wilbert said, “We know, but since this year is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the contest, it’s even more important. They’re also awarding scholarships for the first place team.”

  Umika gestured at me. “Dr. Maple, this is your last year, too. We want to win for you. You’ve got a four year winning streak to beat!”

  I shook my head. “Don’t you worry about that. It adds unnecessary stress. Just do your best, work as a team, be creative, and most of all, have fun.”

  “But, Ms. Annie Mae, I mean, Dr. Maple, I think we’re destined to win,” said Umika. “My mom had my astrology charts checked, and she said that something big would happen this week. Apparently the stars are aligned just right.”

  “Big? Like in good, or bad?” Wilbert asked. “I mean, it could go either way.”

  “Well, I just assume good.” Umika shot him a glance. “Like victory. After all, I’m named for the Goddess Parvati. She represents feminine energy of the universe, like intuition. So, I know things.” She folded her arms across her chest, giving Wilbert a look that dared him to argue with her.

  I laughed as I held up my palms. “Oh now, there are five other talented teams who want to win as well. Nothing is guaranteed. Let’s stop dawdling and get to work. Did you choose a theme for your interpretation of Hamlet?”

  “Yes.” Wilbert smiled. “Rap.”

  “Inventive,” I said.

  “Isn’t it great?” Umika spread her arms wide. “We’re so excited about this. We’re also going to create a large ghost that will fly into the set.”

  The rest of the team nodded with enthusiasm.

  “But until we submit our theme this afternoon, we have to keep it secret,” Wilbert stated. “So no one steals it.”

  Umika bounced on her toes, her hands clasped in front of her. “I have an idea. If anyone comes in here while we’re rehearsing, we need to stop what we’re doing and, I don’t know, do ballet or something.”

  Wilbert raised his cleft chin in indignation. “I’m so not doing that.”

  There was a general grumbling amongst the rest of the team members.

  Umika squared her shoulders. “Then you think of something else.”

  Wilbert shrugged.

  “Whatever you decide is fine with me,” I grinned. “But I agree, you need to keep your theme confidential, at least for a while.” I clapped my hands. “Let’s get to work. The building materials for your set, including wood, paint, and tools, are in the prop shop behind the stage. Costumes and fabric are there as well. What you do with all of it is up to you.”

  Just then Wilbert gasped and his mouth dropped open. He shouted, “Swan Lake now!” He began what looked like a pirouette. The others quickly followed suit, attempting various ballet moves.

  Wilbert looked like he was in pain as he twirled, his face contorted and his balance off kilter. Some of the others looked as though they were going to fall over as they spun around.

  I laughed. “Now hold on there, what’re you doing?”

  Wilbert motioned behind me.

  I turned and saw a woman walking toward us and recognized my nemesis. The tapping of her h
igh heels on the wooden floor echoed throughout the room.

  Priscilla Woodham, a theater summer camp team leader, stopped in front of me and smirked. “My, my. It appears your Hamlet theme is well, um, rather classical. It looks like some bizarre form of ballet.” When she spoke, her S’s whistled like a teakettle. “But I didn’t expect anything less than that from a seasoned, albeit retired, professor who is doing her last summer theater camp.”

  She wore her standard uniform—a black designer pantsuit, with a white silk blouse and black pointy heels. A leopard print Gucci bag the size of a suitcase hung from one shoulder and diamonds sparkled on her neck, wrist, and manicured fingers. Her thick auburn layered hair framed her heart shaped face.

  I held back rolling my eyes. “You know, I can never tell if what you say is really praise or merely a criticism concealed under layers of sugar coating.” I can dish it out as good as I get it when I’m backed into a corner—which she did to me every chance she got. “It’s a shame I don’t see you more often.”

  Priscilla played with her diamond necklace and stared at me with her cat like hazel eyes. “Well, I wouldn’t want to interrupt your team’s burst of creativity.”

  Why did I feel so frumpy next to her? At sixty-five, I was in decent shape. I did water aerobics three times a week. Maybe, my waist is a little thicker than it once was. I guess chubby would best describe me.

  People tell me that bright colors flatter my dark skin and black hair. I tugged my yellow blouse down over the top of my navy slacks. “Why are you here, anyway?” I snapped. “You know the rules. Until each team declares a theme tonight, no one is allowed into the rehearsals.”

  She huffed. “I wasn’t spying, if that’s what you’re implying.”