Book Fair and Foul (Ashton Corners Book Club)

Praise for the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries

Cover Story

“[This] Southern-fried whodunit hits all the right regional marks, [and] offers a surprising conclusion and a cast of interesting characters.”

—
Richmond Times-Dispatch

“The characters drive this novel, and the relationships between the book club members are genuine and sweet. The dialogue is fun and spirited and will please readers looking for a lighthearted, spritely mystery.”

—
Kings River Life Magazine

Read and Buried

“Destined to become a favorite with cozy mystery lovers everywhere. Full of Southern charm, excellent reading suggestions and an engaging amateur sleuth named Lizzie Turner,
Read and Buried
will have readers clamoring for the next in the series even before they turn to the last page.”

—Miranda James,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries

“A nosy book club, cozy cats and a great whodunit!”

—Krista Davis, national bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries

“This book is a model for how cozy mysteries should be written. There are lovable characters, an engaging plotline and no lack of suspects and motives that will leave you intrigued until the very last page. Erika Chase is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery authors.”

—
Girl Lost In a Book

A Killer Read

“This is a terrific debut! I want to join this book club, eat those cheese sticks, keep an eye on those romances and wander around Ashton Corners. But most of all, I’d love to have Lizzie Turner as my friend. Especially if another body turns up.”

—Mary Jane Maffini, author of the Charlotte Adams Mysteries

“Who can’t love a debut novel filled with mystery references and a pair of cats named Edam and Brie? And who can’t adore dedicated, saucy Lizzie Turner, a literacy teacher with high hopes for her students? Readers should have high hopes for this series. And thanks to the author’s fine research, readers just might find a delicious assortment of new authors to browse.”

—Avery Aames, Agatha Award–winner and national bestselling author of the Cheese Shop Mysteries

“Book a date with
A Killer Read
. Mystery-loving book club members will keep readers guessing as they page through clues to prevent themselves from being booked for murder.”

—Janet Bolin, author of the Threadville Mysteries

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Erika Chase

A KILLER READ

READ AND
BURIED

COVER STORY

B
OOK FAIR AND FOUL

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) LLC

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

USA • Canada • UK • Ireland • Australia • New Zealand • India • South Africa • China

penguin.com

A Penguin Random House Company

BOOK FAIR AND FOUL

A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author

Copyright © 2014 by Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Excerpt copyright © 2014 by Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

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For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

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eBook ISBN: 978-0-698-13950-3

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / August 2014

Cover illustration by Griesbach/Martucci.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

As always, my heartfelt thank-you to the entire team at Berkley Prime Crime, especially my editor, the amazing Kate Seaver, and editorial assistant Katherine Pelz. Many thanks also to my terrific agent, Kim Lionetti of BookEnds Literary Agency.

But let’s not forget that it’s the ground crew who provide a smooth takeoff and landing for any new book. I readily admit I couldn’t do it without the support of Lee McNeilly, my eagle-eyed sister, and Mary Jane Maffini, my dear friend and author extraordinaire.

Many thanks also to Sylvia Braithwaite for her friendship, reading and querying skills. And to Randy Williams for being Southern and so willing to share. I also value the support of my writing group, The Ladies’ Killing Circle, for many, many years of projects and fun!

Also, thank you to all my friends who believe writing is a serious business and treat it with due respect, especially for knowing when not to phone.

Readers are the other invaluable part of the equation, and writers would be nowhere without them. Thank you for reading and commenting. Please help keep mysteries around for a long time!

“What are we waiting for?” I said. “Let’s go.”

GRACE TAKES OFF
—JULIE HYZY

“I
know we are here to celebrate Stephanie’s birthday, and I do not want to take any of the shine away from your day, honey, but I was wondering if we could take a few minutes to go over the final plans for next weekend.” Molly Mathews looked around the table at the other three women, Lizzie Turner, Sally-Jo Baker and Stephanie Lowe, and they all nodded their agreement.

“Good. But first off, a most happy birthday to you, Stephanie. You have had quite the year and, I say this truly, I am so happy you have become part of our book club. No, it is more than that. I am happy you are our friend. I hope this coming year will bring you true happiness.” Molly lifted her wineglass in a toast. “To Stephanie.”

Stephanie’s grin covered most of her face. Lizzie hadn’t seen her so excited since her baby, Wendy, was born the previous Christmas. Once again she looked so much younger than her now twenty years. Her shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail showing off her new dangly red earrings, a gift from Lizzie; she’d started wearing more colorful eye makeup after the birth; and her figure had quickly gone back to a size six, as emphasized by the clingy white tunic top and black stretch pants she was wearing.

“To Stephanie,” Lizzie repeated. “I can’t imagine the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society without you.”

“Nor A Novel Plot,” Molly added. “You are my star bookseller.”

“Oh, stop it all now. Y’all are going to make me start crying. I don’t know what I did to deserve such wonderful friends.” Stephanie swiped at the corner of her eye before a tear could fall.

Sally-Jo clinked her glass against Stephanie’s. “It’s all true. However, I’d be cautious if I were you. Never know what extra duties might flow your way next weekend once we have you good and buttered up,” she added with a chuckle.

Stephanie waited until the server had placed the three-tier cake stand filled with fancy tea sandwiches and scones in the center of the table. “I’ve always wanted to come to the high tea here at the Jefferson Hotel. It’s all so elegant and”—she spied the dessert tray at the next table—“fattening.”

They all laughed. “But I gotta tell y’all,” Stephanie continued, “I’m so excited about the mystery fair that I’m starting to lose sleep. It will be such fun meeting big-name authors and spending the whole day just talking mysteries. I’m sure glad you decided to do it, Molly.”

“It was not my decision entirely. I would not have taken it on if the entire book club had not been so enthusiastic. Even with everyone pitching in, I had no idea how much work it would be.” She said it with a smile but Lizzie felt concerned that the oldest member was the one doing the most work.

“Is there something else we can be doing, Molly?” Lizzie asked. Not that Molly couldn’t handle it. At seventy, she could match even Andie Mason, the youngest member of the book club, in the stamina department any day. Of that, Lizzie was certain.

Molly shuffled through the papers on the table next to her place setting. Lizzie could hear the clatter of teacups threaded with the soft din of voices. One didn’t want to speak too loudly in the hotel’s Echo Lounge.

“I don’t think so,” Molly finally answered, having found the page she was searching for. “You will be able to stop by the Quilt Patch Bed and Breakfast on Thursday after school? I’ll try to get there by about two
P.M.
I can’t imagine that Margaret Farrow and her husband will arrive any earlier. They said they would be leaving Columbus after lunch and just take a leisurely drive over.”

“I’ll be there. You can just text me when they arrive.” She grinned as Molly frowned. Although Molly was resisting learning to text, Lizzie had a feeling that she was also secretly intrigued by the idea. Lizzie would get her on board sooner than later. “When did you say the other authors are arriving?”

“Well, A.J. Pruitt said in the evening and Lorelie Oliver won’t be there until Friday afternoon. I sure hope she arrives in plenty of time for the evening dinner I have planned. Gigi Briggs should also be arriving early Friday afternoon. That’s the four of them. I can’t imagine keeping track of any more authors than that.” Molly sipped her tea.

Sally-Jo moved the sandwiches closer to Stephanie and, after she’d chosen a smoked salmon pinwheel, helped herself to one of the same before passing the tiered stand over to Lizzie. “I’ve heard there’s often a bit of tension between Lorelie Oliver and Margaret Farrow, or Caroline Cummings as she’s known in the mystery world.”

“Really?” Molly asked. “I hadn’t heard that. Oh dear. Let’s hope we do not have a couple of divas on our hands.”

“Well they both have series with a Southern belle as protagonist,” Lizzie said. “That could put them in competition, don’t you think?”

“They do, but Lorelie Oliver has a fashionista and Caroline Cummings writes about a caterer. You’d think that would provide enough distinction between the two,” Sally-Jo ventured. “I understand they’re pretty much Southern belles themselves.”

“Now that could make things mighty interesting,” Molly reflected. “Does anyone know anything about A.J. Pruitt?”

“Only that Bob is extremely happy that we’ve got one writer on the list who has a police procedural. I haven’t heard any gossip about him,” Sally-Jo added as she tucked a stray strand of auburn hair behind her ear. She’d started growing out her pixie cut but constantly complained about it getting in the way. Lizzie secretly hoped she’d go back to the shorter style, which totally suited her small build and large green eyes and hot pink glasses frames.

“According to their promotional flyer, the three of them have appeared together before, so it seems to me that they should be able to cope. I just hope Gigi Briggs doesn’t get lost in the fray.” Lizzie had worried about adding the much younger author to the guest list but it had been hard to turn down an enthusiastic writer who made such an earnest appeal to be included.

“Well, we’ll all see that that does not happen. Isabel Fox is moderating their panel on Saturday morning and she will just have to keep them under control. Perhaps you could give her a heads-up, Lizzie?” Molly suggested.

“Yes’m,” Lizzie managed to say, her mouth full of goat cheese and watercress sandwich. She glanced around the room as she ate. She was lucky to have been able to schedule all her appointments for the morning, which proved easy enough to do since most people, she realized, have an aversion to Friday afternoon commitments. Except if they involve food. As the reading specialist with the Ashton Corners Elementary School, her days consisted mainly of meetings with students, parents and teachers. A far cry from the very chic lounge where they now sat, enjoying the ever-so-special high tea.

Trust Molly to choose something so beyond Stephanie’s usual activities as a birthday treat. In fact, Molly had insisted on treating them all. The room was full even on this Friday afternoon and the variety in ages spoke to the fact that gracious rituals still appealed to a wide range of women. The crisp white linen tablecloths, edged in a taupe trim, the plush taupe chairs, the crystal chandeliers and the expanse of window overlooking the back gardens made the setting idyllic. Lizzie realized how happy she felt to be in this place, at this time, and with her close friends.

“The food arrangements are all confirmed, Sally-Jo?” Molly asked, pulling Lizzie out of her reverie.

“They are. The Ladies’ Guild of St. John’s will prepare a salad and cold cuts buffet for lunch for the participants, and the Baptist Women’s Group at Bethany Church have a yummy menu for the afternoon tea break.”

“Now, try to visualize it,” she continued. “You’re in the Picton Hall at the Eagles Center. We’ll have the authors sitting onstage and the audience seated theater-style facing them. That should take up about half the floor space. At the opposite end of the room, we’ll set up the tables for lunch and leave them up for the break, too. It’s really spacious, so nobody should be crowded.”

“That’s excellent. And both groups will attend to cleanup?”

“They will. And they’ll supply all the dishes and linens. I think we really lucked out here.”

Lizzie snagged another sandwich before the serving plate was removed and a bone china tray filled with squares, cookies and cakes put in its place. “I managed to get some great donated items for our gift basket draw at the end of the day. And, I confirmed with George Havers at the
Colonist
that he’ll have both a reporter and a photographer at the hall first thing next Saturday morning. We’ll do a photo op with the authors to start and then he’ll wander around and take pictures of the attendees for a couple of hours. If there’s space, George will devote about half a page to the event in the following Thursday’s newspaper.”

“The authors should be very pleased,” Molly said, adding, “not to mention that it’s great publicity for the bookstore.” Since Molly had bought the closed store several months before, she and Lizzie had been working on rebranding the store away from the former owner and her misdeeds. It even had a new name, A Novel Plot. The fact that almost everyone in Ashton Corners knew Molly and thought well of her for her many philanthropic ventures made the task easier than it might otherwise have been.

Stephanie let out a low moan. “Oops, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, looking sheepishly at them. “It’s this chocolate thingy. It’s just the most delicious treat I’ve ever tasted. I had no idea. What’s it called?”

Lizzie looked at the menu. “That must be the Viennese Chocolate Sable. I’ll have to try some, too.”

Molly reached over and snagged the final mini vanilla meringue and placed it on Stephanie’s plate. “Enjoy this, too, my dear. In fact, all of you enjoy today because come next Thursday, we are headed for a weekend of mystery and mayhem.”