A Woman's Touch: 11 Short Stories of Murder and Misdemeanors

by Libby Hellmann, Miles Archer, Denise Dietz, M.M. DeVoe, Karen Burgess

Overview

This collection of 11 short stories places women at the heart of murder and misdemeanors--in some they are committing the crime, in others solving it, and in some cases both. These shorts are by both established and new authors, and include:

House Rules, by Libby Fischer Hellmann: If Marge had known their trip to Las Vegas would break all the rules, she would have gone to the Wisconsin Dells. Her husband thinks his luck has changed when they find a valuable hidden cache, but when the box's owners come looking for it, it seems their luck has changed for the worse.

Crazy, by Laura Hartman: With a mother who is always just this side of crazy, a girl needs to stay on her toes.

Never Kill a Cat, by Miles Archer: There is an old saying among mystery writers--never kill a cat. This story about an old lady whose beloved cat is killed by a wicked neighbor boy shows why--when she decides to seek vengence.

Aunt Charlotte, by Courtney L. Mroch: Ashley thought her Aunt Charlotte was dead, until the day that the elegant woman shows up at the family home--trailing danger.

Victory, by Marianne Crone: A micro-short story, in which a husband really should have listened to his wife.

A Feast for Fools, by JoAnne Lucas: It's All Fool's Eve and some smart-alecky clowns are serving up death in the town's poshest restaurant, owned by a brother-sister team. Now the sister must prove the case, or her chef brother might be accused of wielding the killing knife.

Do the Right Thing, by Karen Burgess: Detective Kathy Martinez convinced Lerone Johnson to do the right thing and testify against the man who killed her neighbor. So when the jury fails to convict him, she feels she must protect the woman and her daughter. But can she?

The Murder of Katie Boyle, by Libby Fischer Hellmann: When the body of Katie Boyle tumbles out of a closet in a North Shore health club, it will take two women to solve the case. This story marks the first pairing of this author's two series' protagonists.

Annie's Blue Christmas, by Denise Dietz: In this amusing tale, Annie's doctor has just told her she's got an incurable illness and she suspects her husband of two-timing her, but she's not about to go quietly into the Christmas night.

Pyro, by Tracie McBride: It's 2 a.m. and there's a cop at her door. Will Julie's heart be warmed by the flames of her boyfriend's car?

Ants, by M.M. De Voe: Pull up a chair and enjoy this tale of a rich woman who insists she's communing with intelligent ants. Is it possible they know something about her missing two-timing husband?

Product Details

BN ID:	2940012488121
Publisher:	Sniplits Publishing
Publication date:	04/07/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	761 KB

About the Author

Libby Fischer Hellmann has published seven novels, and her most recent, SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE, was shortlisted by ForeWord Magazine as one of the best mystery/suspense books of 2010. She writes two award-winning crime fiction series, and edited the acclaimed crime fiction anthology, CHICAGO BLUES.

Laura Hartman is the author of numerous short stories, flash fiction pieces and essays. Her column about Ella Fitzgerald was featured in the premiere issue of Penwomanship Magazine.

Miles Archer is the pen name of a Pacific Northwest writer with numerous published stories, and several novels in The Adventures of Doug McCool series.

Courtney Mroch indulges her passion for blogging as the Director of Paranormal Tourism for Haunt Jaunts, a travel blog for restless spirits, and with the SAHW Experiment, where she shares life lessons. She has received 18 awards for her fiction, including winning 1st place in the Writers' Journal 2010 Fiction Contest.

Marianne Crone is a Dutch author who has traveled throughout the world, mostly to offbeat destinations. She writes both fiction and non-fiction.

JoAnne Lucas is a multi-award winning author whose works can be found in fine print magazines and several anthologies.

In addition to penning the short story series featuring Det. Kathy Rodriguez, Karen Burgess is working on the second book in a series introducing a clever but stubborn former actress who marries insight with improv to solve crimes. Karen blogs about writing, literary events, and books at www.literarylunchbox.wordpress.com.

Denise Dietz now has four books in her culinary mystery series, and hit the bestseller list with FOOTPRINTS IN THE BUTTER. She followed that with her stand-alone, FIFTY CENTS FOR YOUR SOUL, and her "reluctant witch mystery," EYE OF NEWT. She also writes historical romance novels as Mary Ellen Dennis.

Tracie McBride is a New Zealander living in Australia. Her work has appeared in more than 50 print and electronic publications, and in 2007 she won the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best New Talent. Her short story and poetry collection, GHOSTS CAN BLEED will be released in 2011.

M.M. DeVoe is an award-winning short story writer based in New York City who has published 20 short stories and has won awards or been nominated for eighteen literary prizes. As executive director of Pen Parentis, she co-hosts the monthly Pen Parentis Literary Salons in lower Manhattan.