March 2017
On Sale: February 27, 2017
Featuring: John Pickett
286 pages ISBN: 0692729836 EAN: 9780692729830 Kindle: B06XCQTWRQ Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
When I first conceived the idea for a romantic mystery series set in Regency
England, I had no idea how many books it would run; I figured a lot would depend
on the critical reception and sales of the first book, IN MILADY’S CHAMBER.
Fortunately, the mystery reviewer at Library Journal took a liking to
it, calling it a “lively historical romp.” Bow Street Runner John Pickett and
the recently widowed Julia, Lady Fieldhurst, were on their way!
Still, I assumed the series would end once the
romance between this unlikely
couple was resolved. I didn’t want it to fall victim to “Moonlighting
Syndrome”; if you remember that 1980s TV series, viewers lost
interest once
Maddie and David consummated their relationship. Bearing that example in mind,
it was obviously to my advantage to delay that event as long as possible;
unfortunately, John and Julia kept rushing into each other’s arms! The Big Event
took place in Book 5, 2016’s TOO HOT TO HANDLE. In
theory, at least, I could leave them to their Happily Ever After, and begin a
new writing project.
But a funny thing happened somewhere between the first book and the fifth: I’d
grown attached to this pair, and I wasn’t ready to stop writing about them yet.
More importantly, I realized that a marriage between two people of such
different social classes had plenty of built-in conflict to be explored. How
would John Pickett feel about not being able to support his wife in the manner
to which she was accustomed? How would Julia cope with her reduced social status?
FOR DEADER OR WORSE is
the first post-wedding book, and its “meet the parents” scenario gave me plenty
of opportunity for writing humor, which I love. Julia’s father had appeared
briefly in the first book, and although her mother wasn’t “on stage,” there were
enough references to her to suggest her personality. Suffice it to say that Sir
Thaddeus and Lady Runyon are not impressed with their daughter’s new
husband! When their head groom is discovered with his throat slit, John Pickett
sees a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of his in-laws.
Here’s a peek at that first meeting:
Julia took a deep breath. “Mama, Papa, I should like you to meet Mr. John
Pickett”—her fingers, which had been tucked into the curve of Pickett’s elbow,
slid down his forearm to cling tightly to his hand—“my husband.”
A moment of stunned silence greeted this pronouncement. Pickett, finding himself
the object of two penetrating and far from admiring gazes, addressed his beloved
under his breath.
“You didn’t tell them?”
“I thought it would be better done in person,” Julia murmured.
“But you wrote a letter—”
“I told them I was bringing a surprise,” she offered, half hopefully and half
apologetically.
Pickett sighed. “I suppose that’s one way of putting it.”
Lady Runyon, whose cool composure few circumstances had the power to disturb for
long, found her tongue at last. “Well, Julia, this is very sudden,” she said in
a voice that shook only slightly, as she crossed the room to kiss her daughter’s
cheek.
To her new son-in-law she offered her hand, and Pickett, correctly surmising
that any attempt to raise it to his lips would be seen as either toad-eating or
impertinence, contented himself with pressing her fingers with what he hoped was
the correct degree of respectful deference.
“Damme, I know who you are!” exclaimed Sir Thaddeus, who up to that point had
been puzzling over where he might have seen this vaguely familiar young man
before. “You’re that fellow from Bow Street!”
“Yes, sir,” Pickett said, sketching a bow. He would have expressed his pleasure
in meeting Sir Thaddeus under happier circumstances, but his tongue was bridled
by the realization that Sir Thaddeus was unlikely to view his daughter’s unequal
marriage in such sanguine terms.
SHERI COBB SOUTH is the author of more than twenty books. In addition to the
John Pickett mystery series, she has written a number of Regency romances,
including the critically acclaimed The Weaver Takes a Wife. Her works
have been translated into five languages, released in large print and audio
editions, and recorded by the Library of Congress for its Books for the Blind
program. She and her husband live in Loveland, Colorado—an excellent town for a
writer of romantic novels to call home.
John Pickett and his bride Julia depart London for a wedding trip to
Somersetshire, where Pickett faces his greatest challenge yet: meeting his
in-laws. Sir Thaddeus and Lady Runyon are unimpressed with their new son-in-law,
but the squire asks for his help nevertheless. Lady Runyon believes the house is
haunted by the ghost of her elder daughter Claudia, who disappeared thirteen
years earlier and whose body was never found. When Sir Thaddeus’s groom is
discovered dead, Pickett asks the Justice of the Peace (who happens to be
Claudia’s widower) for permission to investigate. When Claudia’s childhood
sweetheart takes a hand, it appears the distant past is not so distant, after
all. It may not even be past ...
Mystery Historical
[Belgrave House, On Sale: February 27, 2017,
Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780692729830 / ]
I'd love to win! It sounds like a really good book. Keeping my fingers crossed! (Catherine Wooster 6:47pm March 7, 2017)
i love to read sounds like a great book to read (Ann Unger 7:44pm March 7, 2017)
I tend to enjoy following characters into marriage. There is an awful lot to adjust to but I think that in the case of these characters where there is also the class issue to contend with, there is plenty of material to explore. (G. Bisbjerg 11:06am March 8, 2017)
After the marriage books are fascinating and interest me greatly. (Sharon Berger 11:15am March 8, 2017)
I love to see what happens after the wedding. I love to know what happens to the characters. (Tanja Dancy 7:42pm March 8, 2017)
I like to see the after, because there is no "happily ever after". (Linda Knowles 12:37pm March 9, 2017)
I enjoy learning what happens to the characters 'after the wedding'. How they cope with the transition after the courtship is over. (Irene Menge 5:12pm March 9, 2017)
Have enjoyed all the books in this series and look forward to seeing what happens after the Picketts' marriage. (Doris Losey 7:12pm March 9, 2017)
There is nothing I love more than reading a good book!! (Patricia Simpkin 8:30am March 11, 2017)
Would love to read this book. (Mamie Lum 1:07am March 13, 2017)
What an interesting series! I enjoy reading about after the wedding in order to see how the characters grow in their relationship. Great excerpt. Thanks for sharing. (Bonnie H 10:15am March 13, 2017)
Yes, I enjoy reading after marriage stories. In fact, I sometimes wonder what happens to some of the "they lived happily ever after" couples. This couple seems to have some exciting events happening around them and I'd love to read the book. (Anna Speed 11:47am March 13, 2017)
I like the marriage in books in most cases. If the books continue in a series, I like to read a stand alone but include the characters from the previous book(s). (Leona Olson 3:43pm March 13, 2017)