Praise for the Zoe Chambers Mystery Series
“I loved Bridges Burned. The action starts off with a bang and never lets up. Zoe’s on the case, and she’s a heroine you’ll root for through the mystery’s twists and turns—strong and bold, but vulnerable and relatable. I adore her, and you will, too.”
– Lisa Scottoline,
New York Times Bestselling Author of Betrayed
“New York has McBain, Boston has Parker, now Vance Township, PA (“pop. 5000. Please Drive Carefully.”) has Annette Dashofy, and her rural world is just as vivid and compelling as their city noir.”
– John Lawton,
Author of the Inspector Troy Series
“I’ve been awestruck by Annette Dashofy’s storytelling for years. Look out world, you’re going to love Zoe Chambers.”
– Donnell Ann Bell,
Bestselling Author of Deadly Recall
“An easy, intriguing read, partially because the townfolks’ lives are so scandalously intertwined, but also because author Dashofy has taken pains to create a palette of unforgettable characters.”
– Mystery Scene Magazine
“Dashofy has done it again. Bridges Burned opens with a home erupting in flames. The explosion inflames simmering animosities and ignites a smoldering love that has been held in check too long. A thoroughly engaging read that will take you away.”
– Deborah Coonts,
Author of Lucky Catch
“Dashofy takes small town politics and long simmering feuds, adds colorful characters, and brings it to a boil in a welcome new series.”
– Hallie Ephron,
Author of There Was an Old Woman
“A vivid country setting, characters so real you’d know them if they walked through your door, and a long-buried secret that bursts from its grave to wreak havoc in a small community—Lost Legacy has it all.”
– Sandra Parshall,
Author of the Agatha Award-Winning Rachel Goddard Mysteries
“A big-time talent spins a wonderful small-town mystery! Annette Dashofy skillfully weaves secrets from the past into a surprising, engaging, and entertaining page turner.”
– Hank Phillippi Ryan,
Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha and Anthony Award-Winning Author
“Discerning mystery readers will appreciate Dashofy’s expert details and gripping storytelling. Zoe Chambers is an authentic character who will entertain us for a long time.”
– Nancy Martin,
Author of the Blackbird Sister Mysteries
“A terrific first mystery, with just the right blend of action, emotion and edge. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are well drawn and believable…It’s all great news for readers.”
– Mary Jane Maffini,
Author of The Dead Don’t Get Out Much
“Intriguing, with as many twists and turns as the Pennsylvania countryside it’s set in.”
– CJ Lyons,
New York Times Bestselling Author of Last Light
“Dashofy has created a charmer of a protagonist in Zoe Chambers. She’s smart, she’s sexy, she’s vulnerably romantic, and she’s one hell of a paramedic on the job.”
– Kathleen George,
Edgar-Nominated Author of the Richard Christie Series
Books in the Zoe Chambers Mystery Series
by Annette Dashofy
CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE (#1)
LOST LEGACY (#2)
BRIDGES BURNED (#3)
WITH A VENGEANCE (#4)
NO WAY HOME (#5)
UNEASY PREY (#6)
CRY WOLF (#7)
FAIR GAME (#8)
UNDER THE RADAR (#9)
TIL DEATH (#10)
Copyright
TIL DEATH
A Zoe Chambers Mystery
Part of the Henery Press Mystery Collection
First Edition | June 2020
Henery Press
www.henerypress.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Henery Press, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Copyright © 2020 by Annette Dashofy
This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Trade Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-623-6
Digital epub ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-624-3
Kindle ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-625-0
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-626-7
Printed in the United States of America
I dedicate this book to all my faithful readers who’ve followed Zoe and Pete and who’ve asked over and over if these two were ever going to get together. This one’s for you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am deeply grateful for my “support team” in helping me create this story. Big shouts of thanks go out to Tami McClain for coming up with the seed of the idea to the entire mystery, to Chris Herndon for helping with so many of the forensic details, to Terry Dawley for answering all my police questions, and to Charles Van Keuren for tirelessly answering my legal questions regarding retrials. Any mistakes or variations from legal or medical fact are all on me and me alone.
For their help in keeping my storytelling sharp, I thank Jeff Boarts, Liz Milliron, and Peter Hayes, my incredible critique group. I couldn’t do it without your guidance and brainstorming. Also to my freelance editor, Erin George, thank you for being brutal and fabulous in not allowing plot blunders, small or large, to slip through. And to my proofreaders, Anne Tiller, Wanda Anglin, Donnell Bell, and David Freas—I deeply appreciate your eagle eyes, especially on such a tight schedule.
A huge shout of thanks to Ramona Long and her morning sprint club. We meet every single morning on her Facebook page to pledge at least one hour of writing. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes, that’s the only writing I get done. But it allows me to meet my deadlines.
Two characters in this story got their names from real readers of mine who entered contests. Cheryl Sweppenhiser, who requested I use her maiden name (Vranjes), and Felicia Graley, thank you!
I wouldn’t be published at all were it not for Pennwriters and Sisters in Crime. You are my tribe. Thank you. And to those at Henery Press who took a chance on my very first Zoe Chambers mystery and have supported me all along the way ever since, I will be forever grateful.
I have the absolute best readers, fans, and friends, many of whom hang out with me on Facebook at my Zoe Chambers Mysteries and Friends group. If you enjoy this book, look us up. We’d love to have you join us in the Clubhouse.
And finally, to my social-media-shy husband, Ray. This page is where I get to publicly shine a light on all you’ve done to support my writing, handing out bookmarks and postcards to total strangers, tagging
