Pups in Peril: Book 6
Dying To Get Married-In: Book 7
Deadly Drive-In: Book 8
Secrets of a Stranger: Book 9
Library Lockdown: Book 10
Vandals & Vigilantes: Book 11
Fatal Frolic: Book 12
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set I: (Books 1-4)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set: II: (Books 5-8)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set III: (Books 9-12)
Sweet Southern Sleuths 12 Book Box Set (Entire Series)
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Summer Sleuths Cozy Mysteries Collection
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Fall Into Murder 6 Book Fall Themed Cozy Mystery Collection
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Key to Savannah: Audiobook 1
Road to Savannah: Audiobook 2
Justice in Savannah: Audiobook 3
Swag in Savannah: Audiobook 4
Cast of Characters
Carlita Garlucci. The widow of a mafia “made” man, Carlita promised her husband on his deathbed to get their sons out of the “family” business, so she moves from New York to the historic city of Savannah, Georgia. But escaping the family isn’t as easy as she hoped it would be and trouble follows Carlita to her new home.
Mercedes Garlucci. Carlita’s daughter and the first to move to Savannah with her mother. An aspiring writer, Mercedes has a knack for finding mysteries and adventure and dragging her mother along for the ride.
Vincent Garlucci, Jr. Carlita’s oldest son and a younger version of his father, Vinnie is deeply entrenched in the family business and not at all interested in leaving New Jersey for the Deep South.
Tony Garlucci. Carlita’s middle son and the second to follow his mother to Savannah. Tony is protective of both his mother and his sister, which is a good thing since the female Garlucci’s are always in some sort of a predicament.
Paulie Garlucci. Carlita’s youngest son. Mayor of the small town of Clifton Falls, New York, Paulie never joined the “family business,” content to live his life with his wife and young children away from a life of crime. His wife, Gina, rules the family household with an iron fist.
Chapter 1
Mercedes Garlucci picked up the pace and hurried across the street to Savannah’s historic riverfront district.
Despite it being early fall, a warm breeze blew off the Savannah River and Mercedes impatiently swiped her hair from her eyes. She warily kept her eyes on the dark corners of the towering buildings surrounding her, and let out a yelp as she stumbled on one of the loose cobblestones that formed the historic city street.
For the umpteenth time, Mercedes wondered why she had agreed to meet the mysterious author, Jon Luis, near the creepy old warehouse.
A small ping noise echoed from the alley behind the sprawling Artisan Hotel, and the pungent odor of rotting fish filled the night air.
She slowed her pace as she rounded the side of the building and let out the breath she was holding when the bright streetlights illuminated the riverfront walkway. At least she wasn’t meeting Jon Luis in some dark alley, although, technically, this wasn’t much better.
The promise of an inside scoop on a decades-old murder case, The Madison Square murder, had been too tempting. Mercedes was fascinated with the story of old Georgia money and greed. The fact that some of the people involved once held prominent positions in Savannah deepened the mystery.
Mercedes hoped to do a little “sleuthing” and get her hands on some insider information for her new murder mystery novel, Savannah’s Secret Society. Her plan was for the new novel to tie in with the mafia, something Mercedes was all too familiar with.
Mercedes jumped at the tinkling of laughter echoing from one the Artisan’s upper balconies. She cast a quick glance toward the building before stepping onto the sidewalk out front. Luis’ last message directed her to make her way past the Artisan, where she would find a fountain and a display of a bronze tall-ship.
“Turn left,” she muttered under her breath. “Where is he taking me?” She carefully navigated the uneven brick street and briefly wondered what was worse…the cobblestone streets or the old bricks, which were literally stumbling blocks.
Finally, Mercedes reached the corner and the parking lot adjacent to the last string of shops in the tourist district. She peered to the left of the parking lot, at a large industrial building with smoke billowing out of the smokestacks. Private Lot B. “This is it.”
She tiptoed along the edge of the parking lot until she was standing directly under a cluster of trees that lined the riverbank. “Jon Luis?” she hissed. “It’s me. Mercedes Garlucci.” There was no answer, so she circled the tree, stepping closer to the fence when she nearly tripped over something lying on the ground.
Mercedes shuffled to the right, attempting to ease around what she thought was a tree root and her pulse quickened when she realized it was a man, sprawled out on the ground.
“Hello?” Mercedes nudged the man with the tip of her shoe. “Hey.”
Mercedes stuck her fingers in her mouth and let out a low whistle, the signal to her friend, Autumn, who was trailing close behind and keeping a watchful eye on Mercedes, that she needed her.
Autumn flew around the side of the tree, her gun drawn and her eyes darting wildly.
“Oh my gosh! Autumn. Watch where you point that thing!” Mercedes jumped back and out of Autumn’s firing range.
“Sorry.” Autumn eased her stance. “You were only supposed to call me in an emergency, so I assumed it was weapon-worthy.”
“It might be. I guess I
