Easy Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #8
By Maggie West
()
About this ebook
There's something sinister at the county fair.
Antique pickers Sherri and Carol have entered some of their best wares for judging in the Pope County Fair. But a murder during a food competition becomes front and center.
Can they figure out who killed a fair judge while they navigate the fair food and small town goings on?
Easy Pickings is a clean and wholesome short read perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries set in a small town that feature an amateur sleuth.
Easy Pickings is the eighth short book in the Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mysteries series, and is a complete mystery that you can read in an hour or two. As a clean read, it does NOT contain strong language or graphic violence. There's just Sherri and her sidekick Carol. Oh and Sherri's husband Ralph and their sweet cat, Kitty Jo. And don't forget Leon Fletcher, Carol's boyfriend who also happens to be a deputy sheriff.
Be sure to check out all of the short books in the Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery series, Picked to Death, Cotton Picking Murder, Picked On, Pick a Letter, Pick a Tune, and Picked Clean for more small town fun and crime solving in the close-knit community of Paradise.
Read more from Maggie West
Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series Same Old Same Old Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Marriage Deadline Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Easy Pickings
Titles in the series (10)
Picked to Death: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Cotton Picking Murder: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPick a Letter: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #4 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Fatal Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPicked On: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEasy Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #8 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPick a Tune: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPicked Clean: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #7 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Pick a Secret Santa: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #9 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPick a Favorite: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #10 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
Fatal Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPick a Favorite: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #10 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCotton Picking Murder: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPick a Tune: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Deadly Beach Read: Cozy Mystery Beach Reads, #2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pirate Booty: (Miss Fortune World) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pick a Letter: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #4 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Picked On: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPick a Secret Santa: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #9 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPicked Clean: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #7 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Killer Bouquets & Chardonnay: A Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series, #4 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Elected For Murder: Happy Bear Cafe Cozy Mystery Series, #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5News and Nutmeg: Tri-Town Murders, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMurder Is Where the Heart Is Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPicked to Death: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Bait and Snitch: A Ponderosa Pines Mystery, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wrong Stuff: A Jane Wheel Mystery Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Dead of Winter Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChristmas and Criminals (A Standalone Short Story): A Miss Fortune Universe Short Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death And Decorations: Happy Bear Cafe Cozy Mystery Series, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMerry Wrath Mysteries Boxed Set Vol. V (Books 13-15) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsResolution For Revenge: Happy Bear Cafe Cozy Mystery Series, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWedded Blintz: Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series, #7 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Breezy Friends and Bodies: A Raina Sun Mystery, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Deadly Discovery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBayou Summer: Bayou Cozy Romantic Thrills, #9 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKiller Soufflés & Clichés: A Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series, #2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Vague Images Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHigh Flying Murder: A Molly Wright Cozy Mystery, #2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Spine-Tingling: A Village Library Mystery, #7 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Cozy Mysteries For You
Color Me Murder Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nemesis: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secret of Poppyridge Cove Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures: a joyful and heart-warming novel you won't want to miss Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Line to Kill: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Epitaph: A Gripping Murder Mystery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Marlow Murder Club: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Herb of Death: A Miss Marple Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murders at the Montgomery Hall Hotel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/54:50 from Paddington: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Word Is Murder: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder Under a Red Moon: A 1920s Bangalore Mystery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All Her Little Secrets: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death Du Jour: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Caribbean Mystery: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Eight Perfect Murders: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Murder at the Vicarage: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Whispers Underground Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quiche of Death: The First Agatha Raisin Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5They Do It With Mirrors: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Regatta Mystery And Other Stories: Featuring Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Mr. Parker Pyne Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Golden Spoon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Murderous Affair at Stone Manor: A Completely Gripping Cozy Murder Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Murder Is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Three Things About Elsie: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nearly Departed: Miss Fortune World: Sinful Stories, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rivers of London: 10th Anniversary Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Secret, Book & Scone Society Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Marple: Twelve New Mysteries Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Easy Pickings
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Easy Pickings - Maggie West
Chapter 1
The crisp late summer air smelled like apples and a fresh breeze. Once inside the Pope County fair event hall, Sherri Green studied the competition in her category and sighed. The numerous displays of vintage handkerchiefs astounded her. In comparison to the others, she thought her little trio of delicate white vintage hankies with hand-embroidered monogrammed initials, pretty flowers, and delicate crocheted edges looked a little sad. Well, maybe not sad, but certainly not all that special. Sort of common in fact .
A display of practically see-through white handkerchiefs with delicate pastel fabric cut outs of flowers and butterflies that had been appliqued to the top using the tiniest stitches particularly made Sherri nervous.
Aren’t they all so pretty?
Carol O’Brien scanned the table then turned to look at her picking partner.
Yes, all but mine.
Sherri grimaced and her shoulders fell.
Oh, no, don’t say that, Sher. Yours are great!
Carol ran a finger over a couple of matching hankies with pretty pale blue-bordered fabric and bluebell flowers hand embroidered in the corners.
Carol, those aren’t mine.
Sherri then pointed to her display and added, These are.
Carol’s silence said it all. She was a talker through and through, and Sherri knew that if Carol was speechless that said something. After a moment Carol piped up, Well, those are beautiful. Where’d you find them? Guess I just didn’t recognize them is all.
Carol plastered a big grin on her face. Her eyes landed on a pure white handkerchief. Oh, did you see this one?
Sherri nodded, glad she didn’t have to answer. Yep, gorgeous, isn’t it?
The solitary handkerchief featured thin white linen with hand embroidery and drawn work creating tiny cut away boxes and lines in the corner. It was titled Bridal Handkerchief.
She smiled and said, It’s so delicate and —
Sherri was interrupted by a loud thud. She and Carol both turned in the direction of the sound and caught sight of a woman next to a food table across the hall. Well, part of her. She was prone on the event hall floor.
What happened?
Carol peered around Sherri for a better look. Do you know who that is?
Sherri shook her head. I’m not sure. All I can see are her feet sticking up, and no one I know wears navy blue loafers.
Me neither.
Carol inched forward toward the commotion. Sherri followed close behind.
I t was a food allergy that killed her. Well, that’s what we think it was.
The fire fighters arrived in their engine to assist as needed and had stayed behind after the blue-shoed woman’s body was removed from the event hall .
So, it was Brenda Bainbridge? And you say she died from a food allergy?
Sherri had caught a glimpse of the poor woman and realized she’d seen her around town, at the IGA and the post office and a few other places through the years. And definitely at city council meetings. Brenda was always in attendance, usually complaining about how bright the streetlights were outside her bedroom window. She was known for this particular gripe, and the suggestion by council members for her to install blackout curtains fell on deaf ears. Sherri always wondered if maybe Brenda just wanted to keep the complaint going for something to do. To add some drama to her life. Now Sherri felt pity that the dead woman had seemed to concentrate on something so seemingly trivial.
Sherri and Carol had watched from a respectable distance immediately after Brenda collapsed. Sherri stood stock-still. She reached for Carol’s arm. This isn’t right! Did that woman really just died right in front of us? This sort of thing doesn’t happen at the fair!
Afraid it did, Sher.
Carol shrugged and craned her neck as she watched as several people close by tried to resuscitate the woman to no avail.
By the time the paramedics and fire personnel had arrived everyone in shouting distance had a pretty good idea that she was gone. When the paramedics took a pulse, or tried to take her pulse, and then half-heartedly used the portable defibrillator on the woman a couple of times, it was clear to everyone in the crowded event hall that Brenda Bainbridge was dead.
The fire fighter nodded. "Looks that way. From what everyone said about how she acted right before she fell. The coroner will have to do an autopsy of course to