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Southern Cousins
Kensington
October 2009
On Sale: October 1, 2009
304 pages
ISBN: 0758225911
EAN: 9780758225917
Kindle: B003IYI822
Hardcover / e-Book
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Peggy Webb

Peggy Webb
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Every year, a hip-shaking herd of Elvis impersonators descends upon the King's birthplace of Tupelo, Mississippi, for the annual Elvis festival. Usually the main attractions are lot of sequined jumpsuits and even more off-key singing, but this year something much more deadly has the town all shook up…

When the first Elvis impersonator is found slumped over his piano, a heart attack seems the likely suspect. But when a second keels over mid-swagger at Callie Valentine Jones's party, suspicious minds begin to wonder if something foul is afoot. Because everyone knows two dead Elvis impersonators add up to only one thing: murder.

As it turns out, Callie's cousin Lovie-a 190-pound bombshell who's had more lovers than the King had hit records-turns out to be suspect #1. Callie knows she's innocent but to prove it, she and Lovie will have to find out who the real killer is. Could it be Texas Elvis, who's sworn to out-swivel his rivals? Maybe the female Elvis from Australia, with the fake sideburns? Or one of the endlessly bickering officers of the fan club?

It's a mystery fit for a King, and with a little help from Callie's hunk-a-burnin' love ex Jack, and her talented hound dog Elvis-who's convinced he's the true reincarnation of the King-Callie and Lovie are determined to have the killer singing Jailhouse Rock. But they need to move fast and be ready for the killer's next move, because their chance may be now…or never!

Excerpt

Elvis Opinion #1 on Impersonators, the Valentine
Family, and Fried Pigskins

If you ask me, all these impersonators running around
Tupelo in sequined jumpsuits could use remedial voice
lessons. Nobody can hold a candle to the King. That would
be me, though these days I could pass through a crowd
unnoticed if it weren’t for my pink bow tie. I also wanted
to wear my black pompadour to the Elvis Festival, but
Callie (my human mom) said basset hounds look silly in
toupees.

What does she know? Don’t get me wrong. She’s the
best human mom a dog could have, but she can’t even keep
her own life straight, much less mine. If she’d seek my
sage advice, I’d tell her to stop trying to take care of
the world (and that includes picking up stray dogs and cats
as well as loaning money to everybody with a sob story who
walks into her beauty shop). Mostly, though I’d tell her to
stop divorce proceedings.

If any two people belong together, it’s Callie and
Jack (my human daddy). She says they split over his Harley
Screamin’ Eagle, but I know better. They split because she
wants a family and he’s worried about having children and
then getting shot and leaving them fatherless.

Of course, he’s never told Callie the truth because
he’s never even told her about his real profession – and if
I told you, I’d have to kill you. Suffice it to say, Jack
Jones makes Rambo look timid.

Callie and Jack are at an impasse and “All Shook Up.”
At the rate things are going, it looks like I’ll be punted
between them for the next three years. Like a pigskin.

Speaking of which, I think I’ll mosey on over to the
refreshment booth and see what’s cooking. Fried pigskins,
for one thing. Lovie’s in charge. She shares my opinion
that the body ought to be primed with sugar and fat...