"The charming heroine and the supporting cast shine in Clark's fun and funny solo mystery debut...which doesn't take anyone too seriously in the best way possible."—Kirkus Reviews
"Cozy fans should enjoy this funny and affecting view into a mystery writer's life."—Publishers Weekly
"Charlee Russo is my new favorite amateur sleuth! Wickedly witty author Charlee takes us along on her wild ride to prove her innocence in the murder of her literary agent, a murder based on the plot of one of her own books! Giving readers an inside look at the writer's life, Becky Clark pens a funny, clever page turner of a mystery and I can't wait for the next one in this terrific new series!"—Jenn McKinlay, bestselling author of the Library Lover's Mysteries
"Becky Clark wields a witty pen, writing about an author who is plunged into her own mystery."—Marty Wingate, author of the Potting Shed and Birds of a Feather series
"Becky Clark is a hilarious new talent in mystery fiction. With a mixture of humor and plot, Fiction Can Be Murder pulls back the curtain on the creative writing process and exposes the homicidal thoughts that take place while writing a book."—Diane Vallere, national bestselling author of the Costume Shop mysteries
"In Fiction Can Be Murder, Becky Clark gives us a fun and funny peek into the writers' life. Although in the case of her protagonist, the smart, likeable, and feisty Charlee Russo, that life includes the real murder of her agent. This clever mystery, first in a new series, is perfect for book lovers."—Vicki Delany, national bestselling author of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries
"Fresh, fast, and furiously fun, Fiction Can Be Murder packs one surprise after the next. Becky Clark writes with wry wit, a keen eye, and no shortage of authority on this particular subject. Charlee Russo is like a lot of authors I know—except most of them only dream of killing their agents."—Brad Parks, Shamus-, Nero-, and Lefty-award-winning author of Closer Than You Know
"This killer plot will take you on the literary ride of your life. In this new series, Clark has crafted an intriguing mystery that opens the door into the crazy world of literary agents, publishers, royalties, critique groups, and murder."—Cheryl Hollon, author of the Webb's Glass Shop Mysteries
"A promising series debut."—Booklist
2018-01-23
A murder mystery comes to life when a literary agent is killed in the manner of her author's latest book.Beloved by none, Melinda Walter dies suddenly when her car careens off the road and into a tree. She's killed not by the impact but by the mercury gas someone's pumped into her car. While Charlemagne Russo naturally mourns her longtime agent (though her grieving is mixed with the same relief everyone in Melinda's life seems to feel), she has special reasons for being concerned with the manner of Melinda's death. It just so happens that Melinda was killed in the same way as the victim in Charlee's latest novel, and Charlee worries that the connection may spell danger for her. The police see it another way, a way that puts Charlee at the top of their suspect list. Charlee tries to get her cop brother, Lance, to vouch for her, but to no avail. Instead, she launches her own investigation into the people who read her latest novel: her writing critique group and volunteer beta readers. Armed with a list of potential suspects, she interviews those who could have had the means to implement the death sentence Charlee imagined, since Melinda was so unpleasant that Charlee thinks she's got motive covered. As she learns more about those she thought were closest to her, Charlee is surprised at some of the secrets they've been hiding in their daily lives. Nothing shocks her more than the revelation that her own boyfriend, Ozzi Rabbinowitz, believes she may be the one who killed Melinda. Now finding the killer isn't just her mission, but a matter of pride.The charming heroine and the supporting cast shine in Clark's fun and funny solo mystery debut (co-author: Marshmallow Mayhem, 2015, etc.), which doesn't take anyone too seriously in the best way possible.
