A Baker's Dozen: 13 Tales of Murder and More

About A Baker's Dozen: 13 Tales of Murder and More

Love mysteries? Love short stories? Put them both together and you've got a wonderful 5-star debut!

A Baker's Dozen: 13 Tales of Murder and More is a diverse compilation of short stories spanning 30 years, crafted by a former journalist and including two contributions by her mother, a court reporter and professional editor. From murder in the mountains of Tennessee to the adventures of an all-woman air conditioning repair crew in Northern Virginia, a trip down the runway of a senior citizen beauty pageant, and the secrets revealed in the aftermath of a violent tornado, this page-turner is a blend of psychological suspense, surprise endings, satire, tearjerkers, and just plain, laugh-out-loud fun. Stories include: "Dog's Best Friend," where a farmer's wife has to make the ultimate decision between life and death; "Mrs.

Gallagher," featuring a determined 85-year-old who is most definitely not what she seems; "The Sampler," the co-author's award-winning short story about a happy retired couple with a really big secret; and "Burying Toby," a touching yet humorous story of two teenagers who help their beloved younger sister stage a funeral for a favorite pet. Other don't-miss tales include an affectionate and rollicking satire of Nancy Drew, the story of a young boy's convenience store run that morphs into a fantastical adventure, a tongue-in-cheek piece on soap operas and game shows, and a first-person account by an intelligent house cat who witnesses a brutal murder and lives to tell the tale. Readers of authors as diverse as Alfred Hitchcock, Ellery Queen, and Maeve Binchy will enjoy these stories.