Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
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Book 1
Deadly Gamble
Praise for USA Today bestselling author, Connie Shelton, and her first novel:
"An impressive debut mystery!" -- Albuquerque Journal
"Charlie is slick, appealing and nobody's fool--just what readers want in an amateur sleuth." -- Booklist
"This is a dandy. Don't miss it!" -- Book Talk
In this debut almost-cozy mystery series novel, Charlie Parker, accountant and partner in an Albuquerque private investigation firm, is visited by her old school friend, Stacy North. Stacy's Rolex watch is missing and she begs Charlie to help locate it before her husband finds out. Things are complicated by the fact that Stacy had been seeing another man, Gary Detweiller, and he's the one she suspects of having stolen the watch. With a little detective work, Charlie and her sidekick dog, Rusty, retrieve the missing watch and all should be well. But three days later, Detweiller is murdered. All eyes turn to Stacy as the prime suspect.
Once again, Stacy begs Charlie's help in proving her innocence. As she begins to ask questions, Charlie learns that Detweiller's life was not as simple as first perceived and that any number of people had grievances against him. And before she can pinpoint the killer, her own life is in danger as well.
Includes new foreword from the author upon the 20th anniversary of first publication of this ongoing mystery series first title.
Praise for the other books in the Charlie Parker mystery series:
"A well written, by the book who-done-it that will enthrall purists. Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." -- Midwest Book Review
"Shelton has created a lively hero in Charlie and puts her into situations that require prompt action and good common sense. A Charlie Parker mystery is always a good read..." --Southwest Book Views
"Charlie is a good detective and a pleasant companion to unravel a mystery with." -- Mystery News
"Shelton's engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice." -- Library Journal
"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review
Book 2
Vacations Can Be Murder
Second installment in this USA Today bestselling author's cozy mystery series. Charlotte "Charlie" Parker's last case (Deadly Gamble) left her tired and emotionally drained. She books a vacation trip to the beautiful garden island of Kauai. In her own words, "Vacations mean different thing to different people. There's the planning, the packing, the anticipation. Then there's the late arrival, the sunburn, the fuzzy pictures. In my case, add a romance with a good-looking pilot and fourteen stitches in the back of my skull."
So starts her vacation. Her first day on the island, Charlie takes a helicopter tour and partway around the shoreline she and the pilot, Drake Langston, spot a dead body lying on the rocks below. When Drake's friend and employer is accused of the murder he implores Charlie to help find the real killer.
Although Charlie misses home and her usual sleuthing sidekick dog, she finds herself romantically intrigued with Drake and wondering what will happen between them once she leaves the island.
"This is a dandy. Don't miss it!" -- Book Talk
"....a promising series." -- Booklist
"A good selection for all collections." -- Library Journal
"Tension is fast-paced in this involving account." --Bookwatch
Book 3
Partnerships Can Be Murder
USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton brings the third installment in her popular pet-sleuthing mystery series. Charlie Parker returns from her Hawaiian vacation to find her older brother Ron involved with a much younger woman. The more Charlie sees of cute Vicky, the more she realizes how deceitful Ron’s new love is. Is it simply a case of male mid-life crisis, or is there something more devious going on?
Meanwhile, Charlie doesn’t have much time to ponder Ron’s problems. Her friend Sharon Ortega is a partner in a restaurant business with David Ruiz. When David turns up dead, an apparent suicide, Sharon comes to Charlie for help. Sharon’s problem is a double-edged sword. If he did kill himself, David’s life insurance won’t pay and Sharon will probably lose the restaurant because she can’t afford to hire a replacement. But if he didn’t kill himself, then it was murder, and Sharon could very well find herself a suspect.
Charlie and her sidekick dog, Rusty, partner up to work on the case, a move that ultimately puts them both in danger.
“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.” –Midwest Book Review
“Shelton again has done a superb job.” -- Albuquerque Journal
Book 4
Small Towns Can Be Murder
Tucked into the mountains and valleys of northern New Mexico are the hidden towns, little enclaves of history and tradition--and secrets.
It is to one of these towns, Valle Escondido, that Charlie and her office assistant Sally Bertrand go for a July 4 weekend getaway. But almost immediately after their arrival they receive upsetting news and suddenly Charlie has a new mystery to solve.
Meanwhile, Drake Langston, the handsome helicopter pilot that Charlie met in Hawaii (Vacations Can Be Murder) is still in her life. He's coming to New Mexico for a visit, with the idea that he might convince her to move to Hawaii rather than continuing a long-distance relationship.
The plots intertwine and Charlie finds herself sifting through the clues to discover the hideous secrets harbored in Valle Escondido, while she wrestles with the decisions about her personal life as well.
"A good story and a challenging puzzle." -- Robert O. Greer for National Public Radio
. . . and for the earlier books in this series from USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton
"Good selection for all collections." -- Library Journal
"Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth!" -- Midwest Book Review
"Tension is fast-paced in this involving account" -- Bookwatch
Book 5
Memories Can Be Murder
Praise for USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton:
“This novel offers memorable details . . . and an edgy, paranoid atmosphere.” –Booklist
“Connie Shelton has another winner.” –The Book Report
“Charlie is a good detective and a pleasant companion to unravel a mystery with.” –Mystery News
“The best of the series. Memories Can Be Murder demonstrates Connie Shelton’s talent as the audience will find a night with Charlie is an exciting evening.” –Harriet Klausner, online reviewer
While stowing boxes away in her attic in preparation for her fiancé’s move-in, Albuquerque CPA Charlie Parker uncovers chilling information about her father — and his work as a scientist during the Cold War years. Worse, she now suspects the fatal plane crash that killed both her parents was murder, and that her father's employer squashed the investigation.
Determined to solve the fifteen-year-old crime, Charlie quickly learns that asking questions is dangerous. Soon, dead ends — and dead bodies — have her worried she's next on the hit list. But what secret is worth killing for after all this time? And who is worried enough to go to murderous lengths to keep the door to the truth closed? The shocking answers are tied inexorably with the past — and present — and just might cost Charlie her future.
"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review
Book 6
Honeymoons Can Be Murder
It's Christmas and Charlie and Drake are finally able to go on their dream honeymoon. It's a mixed blessing--they get to spend three months at the famed Taos Ski Valley, but Drake will be working, shuttling skiers with his helicopter. When Drake's assistant, Eloy Romero, is accused of killing his own brother, a Catholic priest, Charlie offers to help sort out the clues.
Drawn into the art world for which Taos is known, Charlie and her sidekick dog Rusty begin to uncover connections between the murdered priest and the theft of millions of dollars in religious artifacts. As the pieces click into place, she finds that she, Rusty and Drake are placing their lives on the line.
Here is what others have said:
"Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life in her colorful, vivid description... Readers can only hope the likable characters, fast-paced plots and local color will continue." -- Albuquerque Journal
"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." -- The Midwest Book Review
Book 7
Reunions Can Be Murder
Praise for USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton's previous mystery books:
"Charlie is slick, appealing, and nobody's fool--just what readers want in an amateur sleuth." --Booklist
"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review
"...Shelton's engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice." --Library Journal
Charlie gets her newest case (the seventh in this bestselling mystery series) when an ill-tempered female attorney hires her to find the family's missing patriarch in time for an upcoming family reunion. The elderly man took off two months earlier to do some gold prospecting in the hills of southern New Mexico. Charlie agrees to ask around but privately she thinks the old man probably just left town to avoid his irritating daughter
However, when she visits the almost-ghost town of White Oaks, Charlie comes upon a body that could be the missing Willie McBride. The mystery deepens and Charlie finds herself hiking Arizona's Superstition Mountains in search of the truth. What she finds leaves her facing a huge moral dilemma and there is no one to ask for advice.
Editorial Reviews:
"A Charlie Parker mystery is always a good read." Southwest Book Views
"This is a dandy. Don't miss it!" -- Book Talk
"...a female sleuth with an original slant to her methods." -Small Press Magazine
"Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." --Midwest Book Review
"A good story and a challenging puzzle." --Robert O. Greer, National Public Radio
"Down to earth and very readable." -Library Journal
"Tension is fast-paced in this involving account." --Midwest Book Review
Book 8
Competition Can Be Murder
Charlie and Drake are spending a few months in Scotland, fulfilling a helicopter contract for a friend. Flying over the frigid North Sea is dangerous enough, but they soon learn that there is an ongoing feud between the helicopter operators in the area and the union-run boat operators. Charlie and Drake find themselves right in the midst of the battle.
The upside of the assignment is that they are experiencing life on a Scottish estate, living in a rented cottage on the elegant grounds of historic Dunworthy Castle. The resident lord and lady of the manor have problems of their own--several valuable lambs from their flock have gone missing and Robert Dunbar wants Charlie to investigate. And then there is the Dunbar's grandson, Richie, who is visiting with two friends. When Richie is kidnapped and the ransom demands begin, Charlie tries to convince the Dunbars to call the police but they resist. Before she knows it, Charlie finds herself pulled into the vortex of that dark mystery.
Editorial comments about the Charlie Parker mysteries:
"...will enthrall purists. Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." -- Midwest Book Review
"Charlie is a good detective and a pleasant companion to unravel a mystery with." -- Mystery News
Book 9
Balloons Can Be Murder
USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton puts her own real-life experience to work in this, the ninth Charlie Parker mystery. Three days before the start of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, balloon pilot Rachael Fairfield walks into the offices of RJP Investigations. She has received threatening notes, which she believes came from her father, a convicted felon whom she sent to prison fifteen years earlier. To complicate matters, her brother has initiated a huge publicity campaign for the world altitude record Rachael plans to attempt on the final Sunday of the Fiesta.
It seems simple enough. Charlie and Ron will locate William Fairfield and keep him away from Rachael for the duration of the Fiesta. But as they follow leads on William Fairfield, the threats escalate and Ron and Charlie start to wonder whether he's really the stalker. Amid the color and beauty of the world's largest ballooning event, Charlie also finds herself at odds with her husband and reassessing her life's priorities. Only when she nearly loses her own life do the answers begin to fall into place.
Reviews for the Charlie Parker mystery series:
"...Shelton's engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice." -- Library Journal
"This is a dandy. Don't miss it!" -- Book Talk
"Readers can only hope the likable characters, fast-paced plots and local color will continue...." -- Albuquerque Journal
Book 10
Obsessions Can Be Murder
Charlie, Drake and their dog Rusty want a little time away from it all. A cozy cabin, good books, a little fishing at the lake. It's what Charlie needs to relax and enjoy herself.
But the town of Watson's Lake, New Mexico, has a little unsolved mystery. Four years ago a showplace home--tucked away in the mountains above the lake--blew sky high. A young woman died. The owner of the home disappeared the same day.
His gold-digging wife wants the insurance money; his daughter wants him to come home. And Charlie can't resist investigating. As she sorts out the clues she finds that the citizens of this little mountain town--including the sheriff--have loads of secrets. The missing homeowner's life is an intricate puzzle and Charlie is determined to piece it together.
Here is what others have said about USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton and her books:
“Shelton can only expand her fan base with this solid effort.” –-Publishers Weekly,
“Charlie Parker is getting rather good at her vocation, as Connie Shelton is proving to be an adept practitioner of hers.” –New Mexico Book Talk,
"Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist
Book 11
Gossip Can Be Murder
Charlie is invited to a plush Santa Fe spa, a week-long spiritual/nutrition retreat with her friend Dr. Linda Casper. The massages and spa treatments sound great, until she realizes that there is something darker going on at the mountain resort.
Meanwhile, Drake has his own set of concerns. He's been asked to testify as an expert witness in a helicopter crash case and it's causing him more anxiety than any feat of flying ever did.
It seems that they are each on their own but their two cases overlap and dangers abound, from all sides.
"Charlie is just what readers want." -- Booklist
"Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." -- Midwest Book Review
"Readers can only hope the likeable characters, fast-paced plots and local color will continue." -- Albuquerque Journal
"A fun and fast read." -- Small Press Magazine
Book 12
Stardom Can Be Murder
USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton brings her most edge-of-seat Charlie Parker mystery to date. It’s a terrible case of mistaken identity when a gang of bank robbers think that Charlie is a famous movie star. Disappointed with their take from the bank, they decide that a hefty ransom will be their ticket to riches. Charlie is terrified to think will happen when the real star steps forward and reveals their error. She knows that only her wits will save her from this band of desperate men.
Meanwhile, in a race against the clock, Charlie's husband Drake is working with the FBI and local authorities to get Charlie back before her captors realize their mistake.
Praise for Connie Shelton's previous books:
"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review
“Shelton again has done a superb job.” –Albuquerque Journal
“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.” –Midwest Book Review
Book 13
Phantoms Can Be Murder
It’s almost Halloween when Albuquerque accountant Charlie Parker receives an enigmatic letter from her namesake aunt she has never met. Charlie is off on a quick trip to England, and soon she’s seeing ghosts in the medieval Suffolk town of Bury St. Edmunds. But it isn’t only slightly-eccentric Aunt Louisa’s beliefs in the occult or her spooky “haunted sites” tours that pique Charlie’s interest. Something sinister is brewing in this quaint village and Charlie finds herself drawn into an investigation of crimes that are far too real.
Praise for USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton and her Charlie Parker mysteries:
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” –The Midwest Book Review
“Charlie is just what readers want in an amateur sleuth.” –Booklist
"Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." -- Midwest Book Review
"Shelton again has done a superb job." -- Albuquerque Journal
"Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." -- Booklist
Book 14
Buried Secrets Can Be Murder
It’s Christmas in Albuquerque; Charlie and her family are ready for a quiet holiday at home. But right away, her hopes for that scenario fade when Charlie’s brother and PI business partner, Ron, brings in two new cases, one of which made national headlines.
Five years earlier, in a tide of media attention and despite public sentiment against her, Tali Donovan was acquitted of killing her two children and then she disappeared from the radar. Now, at the anniversary of the children’s disappearance, their father wants to find his kids. Charlie realizes that the distraught man will not find peace until he knows what really happened. RJP Investigations digs up more than past history as Charlie and Ron work to find the answers.
“Charlie is just what readers want in an amateur sleuth.” –Booklist
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —Midwest Book Review
“Shelton again has done a superb job of bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal
Book 15
Legends Can Be Murder
USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton takes her readers on a wild trip, in distance and in time, in the fifteenth installment in her original series.
Charlie Parker and her husband Drake Langston accept a job with Gold Trail Adventures in Skagway, Alaska, flying visitors by helicopter to remote cabin sites to experience the outdoor lifestyle and seek their fortunes. It isn’t long before one of the guests finds a set of bones in an old mine, remains that date back decades. His hands full with present-day cases, police chief Sam Branson tells Charlie and her new reporter friend, Mina Gengler, that they are free to investigate.
A second body is found, bringing up a lot of questions. Charlie gets a peek into the lives and times of Gold Rush-era Alaskans when she discovers a box of old letters written by one of the stampeders and begins to wonder if it's possible that the two bodies are connected. And, ominously, it seems that someone in Skagway today doesn’t want the women to dig for the truth.
“Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist
“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.” –Midwest Book Review
Book 16
Weddings Can Be Murder
Charlie Parker's brother, Ron, is ready for the happiest day of his life when he will marry long-time girlfriend Victoria Morgan. Charlie will be matron of honor, her husband Drake the best man. But when Charlie stops by the bride's house to pick her up for the ceremony, the place is in disarray and Victoria is missing. And Ron has no proof of where he was the night before, after he and his fiancée had a terrible argument. Was the fight nothing more than pre-wedding jitters, as Ron claims? Or did the unthinkable happen? Things go from bad to worse when the media jumps on the story and the police treat Ron as a suspect.
However, as usual, the answers are not quite so simple. Charlie has her hands full sorting out clues from the distant past, learning things about Victoria none of them knew.
Praise for Connie Shelton’s Charlie Parker mystery series:
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” --The Midwest Book Review
“Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist
“Shelton has done a superb job bringing New Mexico to life.” --Albuquerque Journal
“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.” –Midwest Book Review
Book 17
Alibis Can Be Murder
The weather turns to spring, and Charlie faces a pair of puzzles. Against Charlie’s better judgment Ron, her PI partner, takes a cheating-spouse case that turns into a comedy of errors involving a star football player and his wife’s petty vengeance. Meanwhile, Charlie’s neighbor Elsa has a bad feeling about a family up the street. Is it a case of the neighborhood busybody having too much time on her hands, or is there truly something sinister happening with twin teen girls who’ve been left with too much money and not enough supervision? Charlie finds herself remembering what her own teen years were like as she tries to decipher what the twins are up to.
Praise for the Charlie Parker series:
“Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.”--The Midwest Book Review
Book 18
Escapes Can Be Murder
Charlie and Drake are working a helicopter job in rural Maine when a man approaches and asks for their help. At first glance, it seems he’s just an old man who needs to get to his son’s remote cabin in the woods. But the cabin holds more secrets than Fergus McNab will admit, and it isn’t until Charlie returns to Albuquerque that she discovers they may have just aided and abetted a criminal who has escaped the law back home.
The secrets get twistier, the more she looks into the ten-year-old case where Rory McNab, facing a life in prison, seemed to vanish from the reach of the law. Just as Charlie is thinking she should report McNab’s whereabouts, there’s a murder that seems to rock the foundation of the old case. And Charlie is in handcuffs, caught in the middle.
Praise for the Charlie Parker mysteries:
“Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” –The Midwest Book Review
Book 19
Sweethearts Can Be Murder
Charlie is alone in the office when a teen girl comes in, wanting to hire RJP Investigations to find her mom, who vanished without a trace years ago. The clues were sparse at the time, and the old police file doesn't have much that can help Charlie with the search. The problem for young Cassie is that the grandmother who has raised her is now dying and Cassie’s life is about to be upended. All that's holding her together is the belief that her mom is out there somewhere.
Meanwhile, Charlie’s neighbor Elsa may have a boyfriend! Or not. Iris, a friend from her church is trying to set her up with a buddy of the new hunk she’s dating. But Charlie smells scam all over this deal. Now she just has to keep an eye on both Elsa and her friend … at the same time she’s on the clock with her new missing persons case.
Charlie sees so many parallels to her own teen years and her heart goes out to Cassie. Knowing she has mere weeks to find answers the police couldn't uncover in years ... well, the pressure is on!
Praise for the Charlie Parker mysteries:
“Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist
“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” –The Midwest Book Review
“A page turner!” - K. Coonce, 5 star review (for Escapes Can Be Murder)
“I always love Charlie's escapades. She keeps me glued to the story, unable to put it down. Love the mixture of humor and suspense. Can't wait for the next adventure!” – Meg, 5 stars on Amazon
“Each book in the series just keeps getting better and better.” – Vine Voice reviewer on Amazon
“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth!” – Midwest Book Review
Book 20
Money Can Be Murder
There’s cash missing from a local charity thrift shop—lots of it. And when it looks like her surrogate grandma might be accused, there’s nothing for Charlie to do but take a job there and try to catch the thief from the inside and clear Elsa’s name. As she and Elsa begin tracking the missing money, it becomes obvious that the shop is a little goldmine and there are a number of people who could easily be after the money.
She’s narrowing down the suspects, but when the person who is tops on her list suddenly and mysteriously dies, well it looks there’s a lot more going on in the little shop than anyone ever guessed. Now Charlie has to face down both a thief and a killer.
Praise for this USA Today bestselling series:
“Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist
“A page turner!” - K. Coonce, 5 star review (for Escapes Can Be Murder)
“I always love Charlie’s escapades. She keeps me glued to the story, unable to put it down. Love the mixture of humor and suspense. Can’t wait for the next adventure!” – Meg, 5 stars on Amazon
“Each book in the series just keeps getting better and better.” – Vine Voice reviewer on Amazon
“Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth!” – Midwest Book Review
Connie Shelton
USA Today Bestselling Author
Connie Shelton's novels have sold nearly two million copies in more than 115 countries worldwide. In addition to her three cozy mystery series, she has written three non-fiction books and two children's books. She was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul.
She's known for a light touch when it comes to steamy scenes or violence, but is much more lavish with food and chocolate. She and her husband and two dogs live in northern New Mexico.
Check out Connie's other books!
The Charlie Parker Mystery Series: A girl and her dog
The Samantha Sweet Mystery Series: Cozy bakery mysteries with a paranormal touch
The Heist Ladies: They'll steal anything, from the bad guys!
Daisy and Maisie Children's Series: Two pups and their adventures