Murder in a Tourist Town

Book 0: Tourist Trap Mystery

by Lynn Cahoon

Genres: Amateur Sleuth; Mystery; Animal Cozy Mysteries

Synopsis

In this delightful prequel to the beloved Tourist Trap mystery series, lawyer Jill Gardner flees job burnout to take a vacation—and finds a brand-new life on the California coast.

Jill’s family law career is in a rut. Watching a client go back to her abusive husband, yet again—and then learning she’s been passed up for a partnership, yet again—finally prompts her to take a break. She’ll have to dip into her emergency fund. But after all those long days in her windowless office, subsisting on leftover cake from the breakroom, it’s time to smell some flowers.
 
When she arrives in picturesque South Cove on the Pacific coast, she finds friendly residents, a peaceful beach, and nature’s beauty. But she also witnesses a shouting match between two business owners with a big score to settle.  And when someone she knows turns up dead in the local coffee shop, she finds the town needs her skills, just as much as she needs the town.  It’s time to set her roots where they belong . . .

Praise for Lynn Cahoon and the Tourist Trap Mysteries
 
“Well-crafted . . . Cat and crew prove to be engaging characters and Cahoon does a stellar job of keeping them—and the reader—guessing.”
—Mystery Sceneon A Story to Kill
                                                   
“Lynn Cahoon’s popular Tourist Trap series is . . .  one of my go-to cozy mystery series!”
—Hope By the Book
 

Release date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Print pages: 208

Sample

Praise for Lynn Cahoon and Her Irresistible Cozy Mysteries

THREE TAINTED TEAS

“A kitchen witch reluctantly takes over as planner for a cursed wedding... This witchy tale is a hoot.”

—Kirkus Reviews

ONE POISON PIE

“One Poison Pie deliciously blends charm and magic with a dash of mystery and a sprinkle of romance. Mia Malone is a zesty protagonist who relies on her wits to solve the crime, and the enchanting cast of characters that populate Magic Springs are a delight.”

—Daryl Wood Gerber, Agatha winner and nationally best-selling author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries and Fairy Garden Mysteries

“A witchy cooking cozy for fans of the supernatural and good eating.”

—Kirkus Reviews

A FIELD GUIDE TO HOMICIDE

“The best entry in this character-driven series mixes a well-plotted mystery with a romance that rings true to life.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Informative as well as entertaining, A Field Guide to Homicide is the perfect book for cozy mystery lovers who entertain thoughts of writing novels themselves... This is, without a doubt, one of the best Cat Latimer novels to date.”

—Criminal Element

“Cat is a great heroine with a lot of spirit that readers will enjoy solving the mystery (with).”

—Parkersburg News & Sentinel

SCONED TO DEATH

“The most intriguing aspect of this story is the writers’ retreat itself. Although the writers themselves are not suspect, they add freshness and new relationships to the series. Fans of Lucy Arlington’s ‘Novel Idea’ mysteries may want to enter the writing world from another angle.”

—Library Journal

OF MURDER AND MEN

“A Colorado widow discovers that everything she knew about her husband’s death is wrong... Interesting plot and quirky characters.”

—Kirkus Reviews

A STORY TO KILL

“Well-crafted... Cat and crew prove to be engaging characters and Cahoon does a stellar job of keeping them—and the reader—guessing.”

—Mystery Scene

“Lynn Cahoon has hit the golden trifecta—Murder, intrigue, and a really hot handyman. Better get your flashlight handy, A Story to Kill will keep you reading all night.”

—Laura Bradford, author of the Amish Mysteries

TOURIST TRAP MYSTERIES

“Lynn Cahoon’s popular Tourist Trap series is set all around the charming coastal town of South Cove, California, but the heroine Jill Gardner owns a delightful bookstore/coffee shop so a lot of the scenes take place there. This is one of my go-to cozy mystery series, bookish or not, and I’m always eager to get my hands on the next book!”

—Hope By the Book

“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.”

—Susan McBride, author of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries

“This was a good read and I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly... I can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderfully appealing series.”

—Dru’s Book Musings

“I am happy to admit that some of my expectations were met while other aspects of the story exceeded my own imagination... This mystery novel was light, fun, and kept me thoroughly engaged. I only wish it was longer.”

—The Young Folks

“If the Shoe Kills is entertaining and I would be happy to visit Jill and the residents of South Cove again.”

—MysteryPlease.com

“In If the Shoe Kills, author Lynn Cahoon gave me exactly what I wanted. She crafted a well told small town murder that kept me guessing who the murderer was until the end. I will definitely have to take a trip back to South Cove and maybe even visit tales of Jill Gardner’s past in the previous two Tourist Trap Mystery books. I do love a holiday mystery! And with this book, so will you.”

—ArtBooksCoffee.com

“I would recommend If the Shoe Kills if you are looking for a well written cozy mystery.”

—Mysteries, Etc.

“This novella is short and easily read in an hour or two with interesting angst and dynamics between mothers and daughters and mothers and sons... I enjoyed the first-person narrative.”

—Kings River Life Magazine on Mother’s Day Mayhem

Chapter 1

Looking around my small, dark office, I opened the top left drawer of my desk and pulled out a bottle of Excedrin Migraine. As I listened to Caitlyn Moore explaining why she would miss this week’s court-ordered mediation with her sniveling, abusive jerk of a husband, I shook out two pills, then added a third. The court had immediately ordered mediation sessions this time since the last two filings had ended there.

I wanted to reach through the speakerphone and shake some sense into the twenty-five-year-old woman who now seemed to believe her husband to be a reformed saint, at least this week. A saint who had broken Caitlyn’s collarbone a month ago during an argument about the lack of kitchen cabinet organization. Maybe someone else shaking her wasn’t what the woman needed.

I took the pills with the last swig of cold coffee in my cup, then stood to refill the cup. “Caitlyn, you’ve been here before. You know Adam isn’t going to change. How many times has he put you in the hospital already?”

“Just this once. I went to the ER a couple of times. Jill, he sent me roses and a long letter explaining that his father beat him as a kid. He’s trying to be a better man. How can I just walk away when he’s trying?”

I could hear the hope in her voice. Caitlyn wanted the fairy-tale relationship and was willing to do the hard work to have it. The problem was her husband had the DNA of a toad rather than a prince. And he liked to hit her. “Leopards don’t change their spots, Caitlyn.”

“What?” The saying confused her.

I sat back down and took another sip of my coffee. “Caitlyn, if you don’t go to the appointment, the judge will find you in contempt and close the divorce case. This is the third time you’ve filed, and you always change your mind when he sends roses.”

“It’s different this time, Jill,” Caitlyn said. Her voice dropped in volume. “I just found out that I’m pregnant.”

I closed my eyes. Bringing a child into an abusive relationship was never the fix. In fact, the stress of being a parent often caused the abuse to escalate. I tried one more time. “Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you have to stay with him.”

The line was quiet for a long second. “Even if I divorce him, he’ll always be in my life because of the baby. I need to sleep in the bed I made. I’m not going through with a divorce. Besides, I can’t afford a divorce and a baby. I need to save what little we still have for delivery and medical costs. Thank you for your help.”

I stared at the phone long after Caitlyn had hung up. I didn’t mind losing a client. But she was in a dangerous situation, and I hadn’t done my job. I hadn’t saved her. I opened her file on the computer and started working on the brief to send to the judge. I needed something stronger than a cup of coffee right now. Like a cinnamon roll. Or one of those apple pies they sell prepac. . .