ALL THE MURDER FIT TO PRINT                       Editor-publisher Emma Lord and her Alpine Advocate staff suspect excitement when glamorous Ursula O'Toole Randall returns to Alpine to marry her third husband. But hers is a lethal homecoming. . . .Ursula, clad in satin pajamas, is found dead in the shallow waters of the Skyhomish River. Sheriff Dodge suspects foul play. Yet as Emma hunts for a stop-press story, a snake-in-the-grass killer, unappeased by one murder, slithers unnoticed through the shadows. . . .From the Paperback edition.From the PublisherMary Daheim and I go back a long way -- well, seventeen or eighteen years. That's a long time for a publishing association. Years before I became Mary's editor on the Emma Lord/Alpine series for Ballantine, I was an editorial assistant at another trade house -- and that's where we met, long distance. She lives in Seattle; I live in New York; even eighteen year ago, the phone lines stretched in both directions. At the time Mary was writing successful historical romances for my then-boss, a senior editor. One day Mary and I revealed our unbridled passion for reading crime fiction. Little did I dream then that, soon after I arrived at Ballantine, Mary would become a crime writer herself. Of course, now she's a nationally renowned one . . . and I especially treasure her novels about Emma Lord, the editor-publisher of a small-town weekly newspaper in fictional (but based on fact) Alpine, Washington. The paper is called The Alpine Advocate, which is also the title of the first novel in the series. For any readers who haven't visited Alpine, I heartily recommend starting with Book One -- and then continuing forward (in alphabetical order) to THE ALPINE BETRAYAL, THE ALPINE CHRISTMAS, THE ALPINE DECOY, THE ALPINE ESCAPE, THE ALPINE FURY, THE ALPINE GAMBLE, THE ALPINE HERO, THE ALPINE ICON, THE ALPINE JOURNEY, and (coming soon) THE ALPINE KINDRED.--Joe Blades, Associate Publisher From the Inside FlapALL THE MURDER FIT TO PRINT                       Editor-publisher Emma Lord and her Alpine Advocate staff suspect excitement when glamorous Ursula O'Toole Randall returns to Alpine to marry her third husband. But hers is a lethal homecoming. . . .Ursula, clad in satin pajamas, is found dead in the shallow waters of the Skyhomish River. Sheriff Dodge suspects foul play. Yet as Emma hunts for a stop-press story, a snake-in-the-grass killer, unappeased by one murder, slithers unnoticed through the shadows. . . .

When the garishly grotesque clan of wealthy carpet-sweeper magnate Otto Broadie sweeps down upon Judith McMonigle's Hillside Manor Inn, it looks like there'll be a wild night of drinking, dining, and fortune-telling in the offing. But when their soothsayer-for-hire Madame Gushenka drops dead after someone douses her tea leaves with bug killer, harried hostess Judith and her irrepressible cousin Renie are left to clean up the mess. One of the Brodie bunch would dearly love to sweep the Madame's murder under the rug, however, and that might mean eliminating the nosy Ms. McMonigle as well. But with the help of her one-time beau, policeman Joe Flynn, Judith is determined to rattle the dust off some closeted family skeletons, in order to coax a killer out of hiding before coffee is served.Review"Zany adventures with plots that would make dame Agatha proud."-- "Mystery Lovers Bookshop News About the AuthorMary Richardson Daheim is a Seattle native with a communications degree from the University of Washington. Realizing at an early age that getting published in books with real covers might elude her for years, she worked on daily newspapers and in public relations to help avoid her creditors. She lives in her hometown in a century­old house not unlike Hillside Manor, except for the body count. Daheim is also the author of the Alpine mystery series and the mother of three daughters and grandmother of two granddaughters, all of whom live within shrieking distance.

THE ALPINE ADVOCATE SCOOPS A MURDEREmma Lord, the Advocate's editor, finds the body in the facial room of Stella's Styling Salon *anonymous under a mud pack, throat slashed.The victim turns out to be the sister-in-law of Sheriff Dodge's girlfriend, who had initially made the appointment for herself. Perhaps she was the killer's intended target. After all, no one in Alpine really knew the dead woman personally. Then rumors begin to fly, shady strangers turn up in town, and a young woman disappears into thin air. What looks like the story of the year is fast developing, and Emma means to have it *or die trying . . .From the Paperback edition.From the PublisherMary Daheim and I go back a long way -- well, seventeen or eighteen years. That's a long time for a publishing association. Years before I became Mary's editor on the Emma Lord/Alpine series for Ballantine, I was an editorial assistant at another trade house -- and that's where we met, long distance. She lives in Seattle; I live in New York; even eighteen year ago, the phone lines stretched in both directions. At the time Mary was writing successful historical romances for my then-boss, a senior editor. One day Mary and I revealed our unbridled passion for reading crime fiction. Little did I dream then that, soon after I arrived at Ballantine, Mary would become a crime writer herself. Of course, now she's a nationally renowned one . . . and I especially treasure her novels about Emma Lord, the editor-publisher of a small-town weekly newspaper in fictional (but based on fact) Alpine, Washington. The paper is called The Alpine Advocate, which is also the title of the first novel in the series. For any readers who haven't visited Alpine, I heartily recommend starting with Book One -- and then continuing forward (in alphabetical order) to THE ALPINE BETRAYAL, THE ALPINE CHRISTMAS, THE ALPINE DECOY, THE ALPINE ESCAPE, THE ALPINE FURY, THE ALPINE GAMBLE, THE ALPINE HERO, THE ALPINE ICON, THE ALPINE JOURNEY, and (coming soon) THE ALPINE KINDRED.--Joe Blades, Associate Publisher From the Inside FlapTHE ALPINE ADVOCATE SCOOPS A MURDEREmma Lord, the Advocate's editor, finds the body in the facial room of Stella's Styling Salon *anonymous under a mud pack, throat slashed.The victim turns out to be the sister-in-law of Sheriff Dodge's girlfriend, who had initially made the appointment for herself. Perhaps she was the killer's intended target. After all, no one in Alpine really knew the dead woman personally. Then rumors begin to fly, shady strangers turn up in town, and a young woman disappears into thin air. What looks like the story of the year is fast developing, and Emma means to have it *or die trying . . .

In this charming madcap entry in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Bed-and-Breakfast series, innkeeper and amateur sleuth Judith McMonigle Flynn's plans for a relaxing vacation go awry when she realizes her fellow guests have a different kind of getaway planned.Vacations can be murder. No one knows that better than Judith McMonigle Flynn, owner of Seattle's popular Hillside Manor B&B. After a busy summer, she desperately needs some R&R. Leave it to her thoughtful husband, Joe, to surprise her with a trip to the Canadian Rockies. Thrilled to be getting away, Judith's overjoyed when Cousin Renie and Bill agree to join them. Though the husbands have made the arrangements, how bad can a short time away in the beautiful mountains be? Judith and Renie are about to find out!While the accommodations certainly leave something to be desired, the other guests are the real prize. They've gathered on the mountainside to give a relative a proper and permanent...

While witches fly and ghosts go by on a Halloween weekend, a Hollywood cast and crew descend upon Hillside Manor. Judith McMonigle Flynn′s worst nightmare is realised when yet another guest, mega-producer Bruno Zepf, drowns in the kitchen sink. When is a murder not a murder, but an accident that could cost Judith her beloved B&B? The police are baffled, so Judith and cousin Renie try to find a killer - any killer will do - to fend off a five-star lawsuit. From Publishers WeeklyIn her 18th cozy B&B mystery, Daheim offers more amusing action than in last year's Suture Self, now that her two sleuthing heroines, Judith Flynn and cousin Renie, have almost fully recovered from surgery and are no longer stuck in a hospital room. When a group of Hollywood hotshots arrives on Halloween weekend for a movie premiere and takes over Judith's beloved B&B, Hillside Manor, she's ready for anythingexcept the sudden death of famous producer Bruno Zepf, whose body she finds slumped into the standing water of her kitchen sink. Fearing she may be sued for negligence, Judith with Renie's help begins to investigate everyone involved with Zepf, in an effort to prove the accident was murder and exonerate Hillside Manor. Just as they've almost exhausted their leads among the stars, a new suspect appears on the scene and the plot hurtles to its surprising conclusion. The fog, mist and rain of a Pacific Northwest October add to the Halloween atmosphere, while the trick-or-treating ghosts and goblins aren't the only strange characters afoot. The neurotic producer, the egocentric actor, the blossoming starlet and the overzealous director, who literally looks at life through a camera that he keeps around his neck, are ghoulish enough for any Halloween. Also contributing to the holiday fun are the zany antics of Gertrude, Judith's aging mother, and the carryings-on of Renie's three children, plus the banter between the two irresistible cousins. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From BooklistA quaint bed-and-breakfast seems so cozy. Yes, but guests of the Hillside Manor in Seattle might think differently if they knew how many crimes had been committed there in the past. Now, it's Hollywood producer Bruno Zepf and members of the cast and crew of his latest picture who have reservations at the lethal inn, sight of several previous episodes in Daheim's Bad and Breakfast series. Bruno's film is set to premiere in Seattle, and he thinks it's good luck to spend the night before the festivities at a B and B. This time, Bruno's luck runs out. He's found drowned in a sink, and it's up to the inn's owner and series star, Judith Flynn, to find the killer, presumably among the backbiting Hollywoodites. Although this series sets up like a cozy, there's always a slightly over-the-top zaniness to the characters and their actions; this time is no exception, what with all those easy-to-parody L.A. types. A bit silly but bound to please series fans. Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Mary Daheim's The Alpine Winter.Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, the charming hamlet of Alpine is preparing for Thanksgiving, while Emma Lord, editor and publisher of The Alpine Advocate, feels her spirits sink. There will be no family or friends to share the day, but a call from Sheriff Milo Dodge on the Monday after the holiday weekend leaves her no time to wallow. Three alarming letters, sent to the sheriff from an anonymous writer, assert that the murder conviction of Alpine resident Larry Petersen ten years earlier was the result of a wrongful arrest. Adding to the miscarriage of justice, Petersen recently died behind bars. Then a fourth letter arrives, threatening retribution in the form of another death—most likely Emma’s or Milo’s. Mary Daheim’s new Emma Lord novel is a rich and authentic blend of small-town life and chilling menace.From Publishers WeeklySet in 2004, Daheim's meandering 22nd Emma Lord mystery (after 2009's The Alpine Uproar) finds the editor/publisher of The Alpine Advocate in Alpine, Wash., revisiting an old crime to solve some new ones, including maple tree poaching and the shooting of an old friend, eccentric and reclusive artist Craig Laurentis. Meanwhile, Sheriff Milo Dodge, Emma's crusty current lover, has been receiving anonymous letters suggesting the innocence of Larry Petersen, convicted 10 years earlier of killing his sister, Laura, over control of the local bank, a case recorded in 1995's The Alpine Fury. Larry dies of heart failure while in prison, but the disturbing letters continue. Emma wonders if any of Larry's family members, including his ditzy daughter, Denise, an Advocate employee, can help exonerate him. While the investigation drags in places, the unexpected conclusion is sure to please series fans. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. ReviewPraise for Mary Daheim and her Emma Lord mysteries“Always entertaining.”—The Seattle Times“Mary Daheim writes with wit, wisdom, and a big heart. I love her books.”—Carolyn Hart“Daheim writes . . . with dry wit, a butter-smooth style, and obvious wicked enjoyment.”—The Oregonian“The characters are great, and the plots always attention-getting.”—King Features Syndicate“Even the most seasoned mystery fans are caught off-guard by [Daheim’s] clever plot twists.”—BookLoons Reviews“Witty one-liners and amusing characterizations.”—Publishers WeeklyFrom the Hardcover edition.

Fall has fallen upon Judith McMonigle Flynn, leaving her Hillside Manor nearly devoid of guests. And what better cure for the off-season blahs than a brief bout of B&B sifting for a friend amid the quiet rustic splendor of secluded Chavez Island? Judith and cousin Renie both are more than ready for some relaxation. But their peace goes to pieces when Renie conks an odious interloping blowhard on the noggin with a heavy china dish-and, moments later, the woozy lout takes a fatal tumble down an inconvenient staircase. Judith suspects that death by dinnerware was not the real cause of this fellow's demise. But to prove her cantankerous cuz innocent, she'll have to uncover the real killer from among the motley island crew. And that could pile a lot more nastiness on Judith's plate than the harried bed-and-breakfast hostess can consume in one sitting!

Life has hit some sour notes as of late for B&B hostess Judith McMonigle Flynn and her cousin Renie. Graphic design guru Renie's up to her eyebrows in debt after some seriously overzealous spending sprees. Meanwhile, Judith's got her hands full with her wacky new neighbor, Rudi, a virtuoso violinist whose daily--and usually unclothed--practices are unhinging her and other neighbors in the cul-de-sac.But, though they'd all love to kill nude, rude Rudi, it's his larger-than-life mentor, Dolph Kluger, who takes his final bow after ingesting some ruthlessly poisoned rhubarb. To add to the musical mayhem, Rudi's priceless violin bow goes missing, Renie's useless credit cards are stolen, and each murder suspect seems loopier than the last. Once again, the cousins are going to need some fancy fingering to make a cold-blooded killer sing--but if they're not careful, the next music they hear will be their funeral march.

Bed-and-breakfast hostess Judith McMonigle and her policeman beau Joe Flynn hgave finally gotten hitched-and they're off on a sunny honeymoon to beautiful Buccaneer Beach.But an unfortunate confrontation with a dune buggy run amok puts hubby Joe in hospital traction-leaving his beleaguered blushing bride stranded in paradise with a bad case of ennui by the sea. Luckily irrepressible cousin Renie has selflessly agreed to keep Judith company. And when the landlady of their cozy, costly cottage by the shore turns up dead in their living room, the cousins suddenly have a murderous mystery to keep them afloat. Rumors of a fortune in buried pirate gold add spice to their adventure. But digging up both a treasure and a killer is dirty business-and Judith and Renie might end up digging their own graves.

Bed-and-breakfast hostess Judith McMonigle Flynn isn't exactly bellowing "Bravo!" over the news that obnoxious opera star Mario Pacetti and his entourage are coming to stay at the Hillside Manor. The world-class tenor is a renowned pain-in-the-neck—a bloated buffoon who could easily eat her out of house and home. So when the puffed-up, would-be Pavarotti inadvertently drinks poison and falls down dead on his tosca, accusing eyes turn to Judith and her amateur sleuthing partner, cousin Renie. Now it's curtains unless the cousins can unmask the real culprit—before a killer's final, fatal encore.