The Morgan sisters are BACK …
“This dusty corner of Arizona is about to have a replay of the O.K. Corral!”
* * *
When “Crazy” Kate Morgan learns that her sisters are the next targets on a killer’s to-do list, she’s hell-bent on chasing down trouble before it rides into Jackrabbit Junction.
The problem: The darn law dogs keep nipping at her heels, tossing her in the hoosegow, and sidetracking her hunt.
The solution: A posse—the pricklier the better.
If Kate can dodge this peck of pickles long enough to catch the killer, she can prove she’s not so “crazy” after all.
Special Guest Stars: Hanging out in Jackrabbit Junction in this book are Natalie Beals (the Morgan sisters’ cousin), Detective Cooper, and Ol’ Man Harvey from the USA Today bestselling Deadwood Mystery series. You don’t want to miss the heated hijinks happening down in the Arizona desert!
* * *
“Long-time fans of Ann Charles will be thrilled with her latest Jackrabbit Junction mystery, and new readers are sure to fall in love with the Morgan sisters, their daring exploits, and their extended family. Filled with danger, intrigue, snark, raging hormones, and twists galore, IN CAHOOTS WITH THE PRICKLY PEAR POSSE is wicked, can't-turn-the-page-fast-enough fun.”
~Julie Mulhern, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures
“The Morgan sisters are back in this sexy and screwball mystery series set in the Arizona desert. And for fans of Ms. Charles’ Deadwood series—a snarly detective just might make an appearance. You don’t want to miss this one!”
~Kristy McCaffrey, Author of the Wings of the West Series and The Pathway Adventure Series
“I loved this book and the law dogs on the pages!”
~Francesca Garcia, Retired Phoenix Police Detective.
Table of Contents
Start Reading
Dear Reader
About the Author
Connect With Me Online
Also by Ann Charles
Acknowledgments
Copyright
Chapters
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25
Dear Reader,
One of the things I enjoy about writing multiple book series that take place in one overall story universe is the opportunity to write character crossovers from one series to another. These crossovers can be either a simple mention, like in the Dig Site Mystery series when Quint thinks about his sister, Violet Parker, the star of my Deadwood Mystery series; a cameo for one scene, such as when Claire and Kate Morgan visited Deadwood during Halloween in AN EX TO GRIND IN DEADWOOD; or an actual point-of-view character role … which is what I’ve done in this book with Natalie Beals from the Deadwood series, aka Violet’s best friend and main partner in troublemaking.
I’ve always wanted to know more about what was happening in Natalie’s head. Finally, we discover Natalie’s thoughts on life with her rowdy cousins, her feelings about her sabbatical from the dating world, and her struggles with her long-running attraction to a certain Deadwood detective.
This story is character-driven through and through, which is my favorite kind to read and write. It’s my first book with four different characters’ points of view, which in itself was a fun challenge. Even better, the theme of the book revolves around the craziest character of them all.
I hope you enjoy reading IN CAHOOTS WITH THE PRICKLY PEAR POSSE. I certainly had a blast trying to keep up with all of the wild antics on the page.
Ann Charles
www.anncharles.com
Also by Ann Charles
Deadwood Mystery Series
Nearly Departed in Deadwood (Book 1)
Optical Delusions in Deadwood (Book 2)
Dead Case in Deadwood (Book 3)
Better Off Dead in Deadwood (Book 4)
An Ex to Grind in Deadwood (Book 5)
Meanwhile, Back in Deadwood (Book 6)
A Wild Fright in Deadwood (Book 7)
Rattling the Heat in Deadwood (Book 8)
Gone Haunting in Deadwood (Book 9)
Don’t Let It Snow in Deadwood (Book 10)
Short Stories from the Deadwood Mystery Series
Deadwood Shorts: Seeing Trouble (Book 1.5)
Deadwood Shorts: Boot Points (Book 4.5)
Deadwood Shorts: Cold Flame (Book 6.5)
Deadwood Shorts: Tequila & Time (Book 8.5)
Deadwood Undertaker Series (with Sam Lucky)
Life at the Coffin Joint (Book 1)
Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series
Dance of the Winnebagos (Book 1)
Jackrabbit Junction Jitters (Book 2)
The Great Jackalope Stampede (Book 3)
The Rowdy Coyote Rumble (Book 4)
The Wild Turkey Tango (Book 4.5)
Dig Site Mystery Series
Look What the Wind Blew In (Book 1)
Make No Bones About It (Book 2)
The AC Silly Circus Mystery Series
Feral-LY Funny Freakshow (Novella 1)
A Bunch of Monkey Malarkey (Novella 2)
Goldwash Mystery Series (a future series)
The Old Man’s Back in Town (Short Story)
For Kristy McCaffrey
You write what I love.
You read what I write.
You daydream with me.
You make writing more fun.
Thank you for letting me stalk you way back when.
This one is for you!
Cast
**KEY: Character (Book # in which they appear)—Description**
Claire Alice Morgan (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Main heroine of the series, Mac’s girlfriend, Harley’s granddaughter
MacDonald “Mac” Garner (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Main hero of the series, Claire’s boyfriend
Kathryn “Kate”/“Katie” Morgan (2,3,4,4.5,5)—Claire’s and Ronnie’s younger sister, Deborah’s youngest daughter
Veronica “Ronnie” Morgan (3,4,4.5,5)—Claire’s oldest sister, Deborah’s oldest daughter
Natalie Beals (3,4,5)—Claire’s cousin from South Dakota, Harley’s granddaughter (crossover character from the Deadwood Mystery Series)
Valentine “Butch” Carter (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Owner of The Shaft (the only bar in Jackrabbit Junction), Kate’s boyfriend
Sheriff Grady Harrison (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Sheriff of Cholla County, Ronnie’s boyfriend
Chester Thomas (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Harley’s old Army vet buddy
Harley “Gramps” Ford (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Claire’s maternal grandfather, Ruby’s husband
Henry Ford (1,2,3,4,5)—Harley’s beagle/dog
Ruby Ford (previously Ruby Wayne-Martino) (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Mac’s aunt, owner of the Dancing Winnebagos RV Park, Harley’s new wife
Jessica Wayne (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Ruby’s teenage daughter, Harley’s stepdaughter
Manuel “Manny” Carrera (1,2,3,4,4.5,5)—Harley’s old Army vet buddy, Deborah’s husband
Deborah Ford Carrera (2,3,4,4.5,5)—Claire’s mother, Harley’s daughter
Detective “Coop” Cooper (5)—Deadwood detective (crossover character from the Deadwood Mystery Series)
Willis Harvey (5)—Detective
