Mind Over Murder

By Evelyn David

Frank Herbert, the science fiction author, once said, "Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken." 

While the two halves of Evelyn David aren't moving into writing sci-fi, we did make a conscious decision to try, for our newest project, something entirely different. It's not that we don't love Mac Sullivan and gang, and adore Brianna Sullivan and her whole crew in Lottawatah. And of course, we are positively cuckoo crazy about Whiskey and Leon, our canine stars. 

We even started a new Mac-Rachel story, and we'll get back to it, but about a third of the way through we hit the proverbial brick wall. The Southern half sent the Northern half, the first two chapters of a book we'd begun a few years ago. Bingo! We started writing, like a house on fire (or in this case, two houses afire). The scenes unfolded so fast that we could barely keep up. 

New characters, new setting. What has stayed the same is our love affair with mysteries – and this one is a doozy. MIND OVER MURDER will thrill you, chill you, delight you. As always, there's a healthy dollop of humor, because, well, that's us. There's also a terrific romance because we're suckers for a good love story. 

Nothing bad ever happens in Seamont, New York, a quiet village 20 miles outside The Big Apple. Nothing, except for the brutal murders five years earlier of Lee and Vera Chang. But the local police made a quick arrest and life returned to suburban normal in Seamont. Except Valentine Zalmanzig Cohen knows differently. She knows, without a shadow of doubt, that Alex Fletcher, the man sentenced to life in prison, didn't kill the Changs. Val is a psychic. But the local cops don't want anything to mess up their slam-dunk case. 

Five years later, when the Bermans, a middle-aged couple who had just bought the Chang house are also brutally murdered, the police come knocking at Val's door. Is it a copycat killer? Has Fletcher hired a hit man to mimic the crime so he can appeal his own conviction? Or is there a serial murderer loose in quiet Seamont?  

Val doesn't want to relive the gruesome murder scenes that cloud her mind, but she wants to stop this killer once and for all. Things go from bad to worse after a brutal attempt on her life results in the loss of her psychic abilities. Val discovers that when all is said and done, she has to rely on her wits to save herself before the killer strikes again.  

Evelyn David and Valentine Zalmanzig Cohen invite you to find out whodunnit and why in this spine-tingling, roller coaster of a ride, new mystery. 

MIND OVER MURDER will be available for sale in late June. Thanks for all your continuing support and encouragement. You make it possible for us to take on new challenges. 

Marian and Rhonda, the collective Evelyn David

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Evelyn David's Mysteries 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Fireworks - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Leaving Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah - trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 - I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 - A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Book 3 - Lottawatah Fireworks (includes the 8th, 9th, and 10th Brianna e-books)
Book 4 - Leaving Lottawatah (includes the 11th Brianna e-book and some special features.)

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series
Murder Off the Books Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback 
Murder Doubles Back Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

EVELYN DAVID AUDIOBOOKS 

I TRY NOT TO DRIVE PAST CEMETERIES

Audible

iTunes

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER IN LOTTAWATAH

Audible

iTunes 

THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT(S) OF LOTTAWATAH

Audible

iTunes

UNDYING LOVE IN LOTTAWATAH

Audible

iTunes

 

 

A HAUNTING IN LOTTAWATAH

Audible

iTunes

MURDER OFF THE BOOKS

Audible

iTunes

 

 

MURDER DOUBLES BACK

Audible

iTunes

COMING SOON - MURDER DOUBLES BACK!

 

 

 

It's been a long time coming but if you listen carefully you can hear the sounds of an Irish wolfhound running towards you. Whiskey is back!

We're celebrating the upcoming publication of our third book in the

Sullivan Investigations Mystery series,

MURDER DOUBLES BACK

with excerpts

from the first book - MURDER OFF THE BOOKS

and the second book - MURDER TAKES THE CAKE. 

"The gun should be right about there." Edgar pointed to a spot under a rose bush about a foot from where Mac was kneeling.

"Gun!" Mac's voice was a little louder than he'd intended, but the old man had failed to mention a gun before.

"What did you think we were digging for? Bulbs?" Edgar cackled and then coughed.

"Shush. We don't want to wake her up," Mac warned, glancing at the dark house, glad he'd left Whiskey in the truck.

The old man nodded, lowering his voice to a whisper. "It was late, just past 11 P.M. on Saturday night. The brother drove up and instead of going to the front door, he came around to the side of the house and started digging by that bush. I saw him pull a gun out of his jacket, wrap it in one of those knitted caps, and stick it in the hole. He covered it up real nice with some of that cedar mulch you see there."

"How did you see all that? The goggles?"

"Nah. Didn't need them. The Wilsons'," Edgar pointed to his right, "have one of those motion detector lights. When the brother walked across the yard, it lit up."

Mac looked towards the house the man had indicated. He didn't remember any light when Whiskey was busy stealing a ham on Sunday night. "It must not be working now."

The old man shrugged his bony shoulders. "Hasn't worked since the burglary. Think the thieves did that?"

"I don't believe in coincidences. What happened after you saw Thayer bury the gun?" Mac continued sifting through the loose soil and mulch around the bush, trying to avoid catching his coat on the thorns.

"He left. Just got in his car and drove away."

Mac leaned back on his heels. "Okay, I've found the hole but nothing is here now. How come you didn't call the police?"

"Did call–twice. They put me on hold–twice. I don't have enough time left in this world to be spending any of it on hold."

Mac dusted off his hands on his jeans. "You didn't see anyone around later that night? Or how about the burglary on Sunday night?"

Before the old man could answer, the lights in the house began coming on.

"Let's go," Mac whispered, scrambling to his feet.

The sound of the back door opening panicked both men.

"Save yourself," Edgar gasped, waving Mac towards the nearby oak tree. "Get up there. I'll divert her."

Feeling as foolish as he probably looked, Mac climbed the tree, hoping there were enough leaves left on the branches to hide him.

 

"Like I told you on the phone when I asked you to come in, Mac left me in charge until he gets back tomorrow," JJ announced to the man and the Irish wolfhound sitting in front of her desk. "He's in Boston checking out the police corruption Bridget was involved in. We're supposed to work on the turkey farm murder and try to keep tabs on Bridget without being too obvious about it. He also wants you to finish up that background check on Joshua Lasky." 

Edgar and the dog stared at her. 

"What?" She didn't need to ask why they were staring at her. After Mac's order to change her wardrobe, she'd visited a consignment shop. Currently she was wearing a circa 1930s, knockoff, Chanel suit. Even though she'd had to re-sew the seams, the old suit had still cost her more money than she was comfortable spending–especially just to make a point. It was black wool with gold metal buttons. She'd added a white silk blouse. Around her waist she'd cinched a black leather belt to hide the fact the jacket was a little large. The four inch heels were already killing her feet and it wasn't even noon yet. She'd left her jet-black hair in its normal spiked style, but she'd replaced her large hoop earrings with fake pearl studs and a matching double strand necklace. 

"You got one of those little hats with the black netting?" Edgar asked, waving one gnarled hand across his eyes showing where the netting would be. 

"Maybe." She had seen one of those at the shop and thought about buying it. But she wasn't about to take fashion advice from the old man. "Why?" 

"Widow's weeds. You could get a job as an extra at O'Herlihy's when Mac fires you. You know, as one of those paid mourners." He chuckled, and then coughed. "They still have those?" 

"I don't like you very much. If anyone is going to get fired around here, it's going to be you. You were the one who was supposed to research Brian Crager. Instead, at the least, you let us get fooled by an imposter and at the most, let a killer escape." 

Whiskey barked and looked towards Edgar. 

"I'm not the one who signed up a dead client and traded the services of this firm for a few turkeys and a percentage of nothing!" 

Whiskey turned towards JJ and whined.

"Hey, don't you start too. Who drove you through your favorite fast food place this morning?" 

"Now you're bribing the dog so she's on your side? Come here, girl!" 

Whiskey looked from one to the other, then stood and walked into Mac's office. 

The door slammed. 

JJ and Edgar both jumped.

They looked at each other, then the door. 

"Did she just.…" 

"I'm not even going there," Edgar mumbled. "Didn't happen."

 



 

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Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback 
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

 

 

Zoned for Murder
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Trade Paperback

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah - trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 - I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 - A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)

Romances
Love Lessons - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

The Mystery of the Vanishing Dollar

I don’t have to tell you that the economy is in the tank. I think all of us know that everything from gas to milk to healthcare costs more; housing values have plummeted; jobs are disappearing. We’re all more nervous about our futures, unsure when, if ever, we can retire.

Though most of us think books are as vital as oxygen for our existence, a shaky economy means that there is less disposable income. Books sadly become luxury items. Book buyers are becoming a rare breed, with fewer dollars to spend. I think the big publishers are less willing to take a chance on unknown authors who don’t yet have proven track records. Even worse, public library budgets are being slashed. And here’s the conundrum: According to the American Library Association, in the face of economic hardship, visits to libraries and circulation are on the rise…and yet, budget pressures are forcing many libraries across the country to scale back hours or close.

Despite the fact that Wall Street and Main Street are both struggling, I think the case can be made that now, more than ever, we need cozy mysteries. As the wonderful Carolyn Hart, author of the Death on Demand series, explained, she writes traditional mysteries (she loathes the term, cozies), because in her world, the good guys always win. While we deal with the practical, often dispiriting, issues of life, we need escapes that capture our imaginations and make us laugh. We need heroes and heroines who make sure that good triumphs over evil; that wealth and power don’t trump honesty and hard work.

I can't begin to fix this economy, but the Sullivan Investigation mysteries are Evelyn David's investment in the future -- our readers, ourselves. We believe that a world of books is the foundation of a strong economy - in dollars and sense.

Evelyn David

http://www.evelyndavid.com/