Thursday, April 15, 2021

The Milkwood Murder Series Tour and Giveaway

 


The Puccini Connection
A Milkwood Murder Book 1
by Sam Bond
Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery


An idyllic English village, a lovable heroine, and a Puccini-inspired murder. Who knew opera could be so deadly?

British expat, Josie Monroe, returns to the idyllic village of Milkwood and finds herself chief suspect in a family murder. Surrounded by cricket greens, duck ponds and lies, Josie must discover the culprit if she wishes to return to the US and Lady Belle DeCorcy is just the pal to help her.

Josie is a down-to-earth, classical music-loving pianist. Belle is a flighty, beautiful and slightly unhinged debutante, making the two amateur sleuths an unlikely and comically inept, team. As if Josie doesn’t have enough problems, she is also dealing with the “Witches of Milkwood,” an elderly trio convinced that Josie is the murderer and that Belle is one sandwich short of a picnic.

Living with a cantankerous cat named Elgar and her aunt’s handsome, but seemingly untrustworthy, lodger, Josie is also coming to terms with resurging feelings for her childhood sweetheart, Detective Inspector Adam Ward. Luckily, tea and tenacity will see her through, even if every time Josie hears Puccini she risks discovering another body.

The Puccini Connection is a cozy English murder mystery with a classical music-loving amateur female sleuth in a picturesque English village with quirky, lovable characters and an extremely grumpy cat. No cliffhangers, gore, graphic violence, sex or overtly strong language.


I entered Plum Tree Cottage, not to the sound of Puccini, but to the sound of laughter — male laughter. I darted towards the kitchen. Which unsuspecting man had Finolla sunk her claws in today? I almost put my ear to the door, but to quote Finolla, “one should never listen at doors, especially if there’s a chance one’s going to get caught.”

 

Instead, I inched open the door and found Finolla in Adam’s arms and, if I wasn’t mistaken, they were doing the tango. I’ll be honest, I was speechless. Not so Finolla.

 

Josie, darling, you’re back and just in time.”

 

Just in time for what?” I could hear the petulance creep into my voice and, gosh darn it, I couldn’t do a blessed thing to stop it.

 

To be my partner. Adam here is hopeless. Here, let’s show him how it’s done. I’ll lead, shall I?”

 

Before I had a chance to protest, Finolla pressed a switch on the CD player and Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango blasted across the toaster. Next thing I knew, Finolla had me in a vise grip, arms locked, toes pointed and was leading me across the floor towards the dustbin. Our faces were cheek to cheek and I took advantage of this.

 

What the heck do you think you’re doing?”

 

Oh darling, don’t tell me all those dance lessons were wasted?”

 

I heard a snigger. I was going to slap Adam Ward when I got out of this.

 

Argentinian tango, darling. That summer in Buenos Aires with TomásBueno!”

 

It was Joaquín,” I corrected, instinctively kicking my leg backward from the knee. “And I got hives from my polyester hot pants.”

 

Finolla dipped me and I hung on for dear life. “I’d forgotten that part. All that calamine lotion. The Pink Panther had nothing on you.”

 

Yeah, it was hysterical,” I hissed.

 

Finolla broke away, letting me tumble to the floor. “Oh, Josie, was it really that bad? Remember the empanadas, the chimichurri, the Malbec?”

 

Mum, I was thirteen.” Although, as a matter of fact, I did recall the Malbec — it had been superb.



The Unread Prophecy
A Milkwood Murder Book 2


It’s summer in Milkwood and life for piano-playing expat, Josie Monroe, is one picnic away from perfect.

When Josie’s newly discovered aunt is asked to participate at a local writing conference, Daisy jumps at the chance and ropes Josie in to help. A day in the idyllic Surrey countryside learning about love potions, lock picking and poisons — what could possibly go wrong?

However, when a bizarre murder occurs, events are set in motion that look likely to destroy the happiness of Josie’s new best friend, Belle DeCorcy.

Josie once again finds herself wellyboot deep in murder, mayhem and Maltesers. With Belle’s sanity hanging by the proverbial thread, Josie must discover the killer--or risk losing her best friend.

Join Josie, Belle, Daisy and the rest of the villagers of Milkwood for a romp through the British countryside in this delightful sequel to The Puccini Connection.

Set amongst the picturesque villages of Surrey, The Unread Prophecy is a cozy murder mystery featuring a classical music-loving amateur female sleuth, quirky, lovable characters, and the world’s grumpiest cat. No cliffhangers, gore, graphic violence, or overtly strong language.  




Eunice followed my gaze. “Meat fuel’s the blood,” she added, grasping a deadly-looking carving knife from the table and spinning it like a majorette in a baton twirling competition.


So, Ms Perkins—”


Perkins was my maiden name,” said Eunice, with a scowl. “Maiden! So antiquated, so patriarchal, do you not think?”


We all stood around and thought about this for a second. 


I go by the goodly name of Mountjoy,” Eunice continued.


Is your husband with you?” I asked, interested to see what type of husband Eunice had managed to snag. Warlock? Wizard? Public accountant?


He is betwixt this world.” A smile coursed Eunice’s lips. “I poisoned him!”


Oh, don’t be silly, Eunice,” said Mabel Jane, rescuing the knife and returning it to the table. “He got gastroenteritis eating snails in Marbella and died of complications.”



Sam Bond is the best-selling, award-winning author of The Cousins In Action series for middle grade readers and The Puccini Connection, the first book in the upcoming Milkwood Murder series.
Sam was raised in a small village in England before moving to the States twenty-five years ago. When not writing you can find Sam behind the lens of a camera, playing Chopin, or reading one of the many books suggested by the three book clubs she runs. Sam has also been known to make a half-decent shepherd's pie and lives in Austin, Texas with her two daughters and a dog named Sausage.





Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$25 Amazon 

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