Elliott (Elli) Lisbon, director of the charitable
Ballantyne Foundation on Sea Pine Island, South Carolina,
is also working to obtain her official Private
Investigator's license. Her PI training comes in handy as
Mr. Ballantyne expects her to handle discreet inquiries
whenever needed for the foundation's zany assortment of
board members.
When she discovers one of those board members dead in his
home, and when the chair of the board is accused of the
murder, Elli finds herself working closely with an old
college flame from 20 years ago. Lt. Nick Ransom has
recently taken a job on the island and is lead detective on
the murder case. Frustrating Elli further is the fact that
Nick has moved into the house next door to her cottage.
Elli knows she must protect the Ballantyne reputation
during this investigation, but things go from bad to worse
the deeper she delves into the case. She laments that she's
more like a camp counselor than foundation director as she
continually breaks up fights among the wacky members of the
board. She also realizes this PI business can be quite
dangerous the closer she gets to the killer's identity.
BOARD STIFF by Kendel Lynn is the first book in the
humorous cozy mystery series featuring the intrepid Elliott
Lisbon. With an intelligent woman sleuth, a unique blend of
quirky supporting characters and a well-devised mystery
plot, BOARD STIFF is delightfully entertaining.
As director of the Ballantyne Foundation on Sea Pine
Island, South Carolina, Elliott Lisbon scratches her
detective itch by performing discreet inquiries for
Foundation donors. Usually nothing more serious than
retrieving a pilfered Pomeranian. Until Jane Hatting,
Ballantyne board chair, is accused of murder. The
Ballantyne's reputation tanks, Jane's headed to a jail
cell, and Elliott's sexy ex is the new lieutenant in town.
Armed with moxie and her Mini Coop, Elliott uncovers a
trail of blackmail schemes, gambling debts, illicit
affairs, and investment scams. But the deeper she digs to
clear Jane's name, the guiltier Jane looks. The closer she
gets to the truth, the more treacherous her investigation
becomes: a brutal attack on her own suspect and the murder
of a witness. With victims piling up faster than shells at
a clambake, Elliott realizes she's next on the killer's
list.