The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books recently updated its list of September 2013 hardcover mysteries as well as shelved new September paperbacks on The Mystery Bookshelf.
In this series of monthly posts, which we call Firsts on the 1st, we're introducing readers to new series characters who will make their mysterious American debut in print during September.
And this month, because there are so many new first-in-series titles, we're splitting our post into three: hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and mass market paperbacks. This post will cover new mass market paperbacks.
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Title: Murder, Plain and Simple
Author: Isabella Alan
Series Character: Angela Braddock, Amish Quilt Shop
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook
What we know about the character: When Angela Braddock inherits her late aunt's beautiful Amish quilt shop, she leaves behind her career and broken engagement for a fresh start in Holmes County, Ohio.
Her first case: With her snazzy cowboy boots and her ornithophobic French bulldog, Angie doesn't exactly fit in with the predominantly Amish community in Rolling Brook, but her aunt's quilting circle tries to make her feel welcome as she prepares for the reopening of Running Stitch.
On the big day, Angie gets a taste of success as the locals and Englisch tourists browse the store's wares while the quilters stitch away. But when Angie finds the body of ornery Amish woodworker Joseph in her storeroom the next morning, everything starts falling apart.
With evidence mounting against her, Angie is determined to find the culprit before the local sheriff can arrest her. Rolling Brook always appeared to be a simple place, but the closer Angie gets to the killer, the more she realizes that nothing in the small Amish community is as plain as it seems …
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Title: First-Degree Fudge
Author: Christine DeSmet
Series Character: Ava Oosterling, Fudge Shop
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook
What we know about the character: New candy store owner Ava Oosterling specializes in making heavenly homemade fudge and fresh starts. This series is set in Door County, Wisconsin.
Her first case: Between getting her store up and running and uneasily settling back into her charming Lake Michigan hometown, Ava Oosterling has her plate full. She hopes using local fresh dairy and her own flavorful imagination to cook up one-of-a-kind fudge will also create a brand-new start for her. And if she can tempt wealthy ex–film star Rainetta Johnson to try her newest creation, Cinderella Pink, at a local fund-raiser, maybe her road to big-time success will be short and sweet.
But when Rainetta chokes to death on a stolen diamond hidden in the fudge's fluffy depths, Ava is pegged as the prime suspect. Now saving her business and reputation means investigating a batch of townspeople who had numerous reasons to hate disdainful, hard-bargaining Rainetta. With Ava's best friend and her former flame in the suspect mix, she must figure out who the real culprit is fast or face a very bitter end …
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Title: Bran New Death
Author: Victoria Hamilton
Series Character: Merry Wynter
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook
What we know about the character: Expert muffin baker Merry Wynter is making a fresh start in small-town Autumn Vale, New York, in the mansion she's inherited from her late uncle.
Her first case: Merry's house is run-down and someone has been digging giant holes on the grounds, but with its restaurant-quality kitchen, the place has potential for her new baking business. She even has her first client — the local retirement home.
Unfortunately, Merry soon finds that quite a few townsfolk didn't like Uncle Mel, and she has inherited their enmity as well as his home. Local baker Binny Turner and her crazy brother, Tom, blame Melvin for their father's death, and Tom may be the one vandalizing her land. But when Tom turns up dead in one of the holes in her yard, Merry needs to prove she had nothing to do with his death — or her new muffin-making career may crumble before it starts …
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Title: A Skeleton in the Family
Author: Leigh Perry
Series Character: Georgia Thackery, Family Skeleton
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook
What we know about the character: Georgia Thackery has moved back into her parents' house with her teenaged daughter after getting a job the local college. Sid is the Thackery family's skeleton, who has lived in the house as long as anyone can remember.
Her first case: Moving back into her parents' house had not been Georgia's "Plan A". But with a job at the local college, it seemed the sensible thing to do. So she settled in and began reconnecting with old friends.
Including Sid. Sid is the Thackery family's skeleton. He's lived in the house as long as Georgia can remember, although no one, including Sid, knows exactly where he came from and how he came to be a skeleton.
Sid walks, he talks, he makes bad jokes, he tries to keep Georgia's dog from considering him a snack. And he manages to persuade Georgia to let him leave the house. But when she takes him to an anime convention — disguised as a skeleton, of course — he sees a woman who triggers memories of his past.
Now he is determined to find out how he died — with Georgia's help. But their investigation may uncover a killer who's still alive and well and bad to the bone …
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Title: Going Through the Notions
Author: Cate Price
Series Character: Daisy Buchanan, Deadly Notions
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook
What we know about the character: A retired schoolteacher — and yes, daughter of an F. Scott Fitzgerald fan — Daisy Buchanan has finally found her calling in the quaint village of Millbury, Pennsylvania. While her husband Joe endlessly renovates their old house, Daisy happily presides over Sometimes a Great Notion, a quirky shop nearby that sells sewing bits and bobs, antiques, and jewelry.
Her first case: Daisy has her eye on an antique dollhouse and a classic Singer Featherweight at the local auction — until her friend and mentor, auctioneer Angus Backstead, is led away in handcuffs. It appears he bashed in the head of a drinking buddy who stole a set of fancy fountain pens. Daisy's sure the sprightly old-timer couldn't have done it. But if Daisy can't stitch together the bidder truth — and soon — Angus will be going once, going twice … gone forever.
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Title: Clammed Up
Author: Barbara Ross
Series Character: Julia Snowden, Maine Clambake
Formats: Mass Market Paperback and ebook
What we know about the character: Julia Snowden returned to her hometown of Busman's Harbor, Maine to rescue her family's struggling clambake business.
Her first case: Summer has come to Busman's Harbor, Maine, and tourists are lining up for a taste of authentic New England seafood, courtesy of the Snowden Family Clambake Company. But there's something sinister on the boil this season. A killer has crashed a wedding party, adding mystery to the menu at the worst possible moment …
Julia Snowden returned to her hometown to rescue her family's struggling clambake business--not to solve crimes. But that was before a catered wedding on picturesque Morrow Island turned into a reception for murder. When the best man's corpse is found hanging from the grand staircase in the Snowden family mansion, Julia must put the chowder pot on the back burner and join the search for the killer. And with suspicion falling on her old crush, Chris Durand, the recipe for saving her business and salvaging her love life might be one and the same.
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For a list of more hardcover mysteries scheduled for publication during September, please visit our New Mysteries home page. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, also updated with September 2013 releases. See also our regularly updated eBook site for new mysteries, suspense novels and thrillers, MysterEbooks.com.
Please also visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.
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