A Body in the Backyard: #4 - Elizabeth S. Craig - Wattpad

A Body in the Backyard: #4

ElizabethSCraig

Reads 205,795
Votes 8,619
Parts 19
Time 4h 53m

Reads 205,795
Votes 8,619
Parts 19
Time 4h 53m

ElizabethSCraig

amateur amateur-sleuth cozy humor mystery senior southern

It's just an ordinary day for octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover-until her yardman discovers a dead body planted in her backyard. This death isn't cut and dried-the victim was bashed in the head with one of Myrtle's garden gnomes. 

Myrtle's friend Miles recognizes the body and identifies him as Charles Clayborne... reluctantly admitting he's a cousin. Charles wasn't the sort of relative you bragged about-he was a garden variety sleaze, which is very likely why he ended up murdered. As Myrtle starts digging up dirt to nip the killings in the bud, someone's focused on scaring her off the case. Myrtle vows to find the murderer...before she's pushing up daisies, herself.All Rights Reserved

amateur amateur-sleuth cozy humor mystery senior southern

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19 parts

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Death Pays a Visit : Myrtle Clover #7 by ElizabethSCraig

At Greener Pastures Retirement Home, leisure time can prove perilous. When psychic (and hubcap retailer) Wanda Alewine pays a late-night visit to Myrtle Clover, she urges the octogenarian sleuth to head straight to Greener Pastures Retirement Home. But Wanda doesn't want Myrtle to consider the Home's dubious amenities-she wants Myrtle to prevent a murder seen in a vision. Reluctant Myrtle investigates with sidekick Miles, who seems a lot more interested in Greener Pastures than she is. As the duo digs, they uncover more than just Sudoku and Scrabble-they discover a sinister undercurrent... with murder as its outcome. Praise for Myrtle Clover Mysteries: Publishers Weekly: "Myrtle's wacky personality is a delight." Mystery News: "Wonderful cozy mystery: solidly written, well-plotted and funny." ForeWord: "The treat here is Myrtle's eccentricity, brought to life with rich humor and executed ...with breezy skill." "I hope I'm half as lively as she is when I reach my 80's.." Amazon Reviewer "Sassy and funny as ever" Amazon Reviewer "Myrtle is a feisty lady and I enjoy her wit and ability to figure

Death at a Drop-In: Myrtle Clover #5 by ElizabethSCraig

Cosette Whitlow is a society matron...if tiny Bradley, North Carolina, has one. She kindly volunteers for all the town's charities, but isn't nearly as kind to her own family, neighbors, and friends. In fact, Cosette is emphatically disliked by much of the town-including octogenarian Myrtle Clover. And Myrtle knows that dislike in Bradley can quickly turn deadly. No one seems surprised when Cosette's body is discovered during a party she's hosting-she was struck on the head with a croquet mallet. Wanting to restore order to the small town, Myrtle resolves to track down the killer-before the killer strikes again.

A Dyeing Shame--Myrtle Clover #3 by ElizabethSCraig

Some beauty secrets are more dangerous than others... When Beauty Box beautician Tammy Smith is discovered with a pair of hair shears in her back, there are suspects and secrets aplenty in her small Southern town. Octogenarian Myrtle Clover, bored by bingo and bridge, is intrigued by the crime...and her neighbors' secrets. But discovering, and blabbing, secrets got Tammy killed and Myrtle soon learns her sleuthing isn't just dangerous...it's deadly.

Hushed Up--Myrtle Clover Mystery #15 by ElizabethSCraig

Silence is golden ...unless you're permanently hushed up. When Lillian Johnson was found dead one hot summer day, no one in the town of Bradley, North Carolina was all that surprised. Lillian had always talked about the trials of her various health problems and was sure to share with everyone exactly how much she suffered. The townspeople were only slightly more surprised to discover that Lillian had been murdered. That's because Lillian, like most folks, had a dark side. And a fair number of people had experienced this dark side. Myrtle Clover, octogenarian sleuth and intrepid reporter, investigates Lillian's death to discover precisely who hushed her up. . . before someone else is permanently silenced.

The Porn Identity by DeliriousMoon

There's something odd about Evie's latest case. Ashley Pham has been hacked by an anonymous blackmailer who's threatening to leak her nudes if she doesn't pay up. She goes to Evie Harper, café owner and part time private investigator, in hopes of catching the creep before he can make good on his promise. As Evie digs deeper into the case, she discovers the blackmailer is not only more prolific than expected, but also closer than imagined. When he's discovered dead the police set their sights on Ashley. After all, she was the last person he threatened. But Evie has a hard time believing the timid woman could stand up for herself let alone pull a trigger. Not when there's three other suspects who had the motive and opportunity to pop the pervy extortionist themselves. All Evie knows is whoever it was won't stop at one murder to keep their dirty little secret. And what's done in darkness, will come to light by the time she's done with them.

Cooking is Murder, A Myrtle Clover Mystery #11 by ElizabethSCraig

Myrtle has decided that she's actually a very good cook. In fact, she feels she's such a good cook that she elects to hone her skills at a cooking school. She persuades her reluctant friend Miles to join her, convinced they both could use some inspiration in the kitchen. This cooking school enrolls one rather loudmouth student who quickly makes everyone fed-up. This unfortunate student, fond of telling tales out of school, learns that one man's meat is another man's poison. Myrtle and Miles must use class act detecting skills to learn who's been schooled in murder before someone else's goose gets cooked.

Murder on the Ballot, Myrtle Clover #17 by ElizabethSCraig

If you can't beat them, join them. Octogenarian Myrtle Clover is so annoyed by the infighting at tiny Bradley, North Carolina's town council meetings that she decides on a radical course of action: she'll run for the open seat on the council. After all, she taught most of the elected officials-she should be able to enact some order. But order apparently isn't in the works. This becomes clear when a fellow candidate is found . . . murdered. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles must uncover the killer before someone else becomes a lame duck.

A Body at Book Club: Myrtle Clover #6 by ElizabethSCraig

This is one book club meeting that doesn't go by the book. When octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover discovers Naomi Pelter's dead body during a book club meeting, the other members seem shocked. But Myrtle can read between the lines. Naomi had riled everyone up by flirting with other people's husbands, arguing with neighbors, and generally making a nuisance of herself. Murdering troublemakers is the oldest trick in the book. The book club members seem too sweet to be killers, but Myrtle knows better than to judge books by their covers. Myrtle's investigation into the murder will take a more novel approach than her police chief son's by-the-book methods. Can Myrtle and her widower sidekick uncover the killer...before he writes them off for good? (This mystery will be uploaded on Wednesdays. If you can't wait for the next installment, the completed book can be found on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/o6wn4sk ) . The series is also available on Amazon India: https://tinyurl.com/ohdbffq . Thanks!

Nobody Knows Your Secret by JG9843

It was a heck of a shot. It was the perfect murder. Someone killed Kyle Winthrop as he lay in his bed. His mother, Claire, doesn't care much - she's too strung out on prescription pain pills. But his Grandmother cares, and she begs her good friend, Hadley Pell, to try to solve this horrible crime. Hadley runs into a brick wall - there's little to go on. Still, her curiosity and keen mind won't let her abandon the case. She's determined to help her friend. In the middle of another Appalachian murder mystery, Hadley doesn't have clue where to begin. She's up to her eyeballs in clutter. Literally. While cleaning out a hoarder's house, she stumbles upon old papers. Could these dusty old newspapers and legal documents hold information that will help her crack the case? A humorous tale full of local color and wit, this is the second book in the Hadley Pell Cozy Mystery NOBODY mystery series. The Hadley Pell Cozy Mystery Series: 1. Nobody's Sorry You're Dead 2. Nobody Knows Your Secret 3. Nobody Can Say It's You 4. Nobody's Fool Y'all 5. Nobody Says It's Easy

Pretty is as Pretty Dies: Myrtle Clover #1 by ElizabethSCraig

Pretty on the outside may not mean pretty on the inside. Parke Stockard was certainly sitting pretty. Blessed with good looks and business sense to boot, she should have been content. Instead, Parke makes trouble in her small town. When retired octogenarian schoolteacher Myrtle Clover discovers her body, no one in Bradley is particularly upset. Myrtle decides to show up her police chief son and investigate the crime herself. And, just in time to play detective, she meets a widower newcomer who proves the perfect sidekick.

A Dash of Murder by ElizabethSCraig

Food for thought: seasoning with these berries results in a dash of murder. It's been a quiet autumn so far in the small town of Bradley, North Carolina. Or, as Myrtle would put it, a boring one. The slow pace and lingering post-summer heat are making life in Bradley very slow-paced, indeed. That all changes when a local resident is poisoned by what looks like a scrumptious pie. The victim is a boorish man who has plenty of enemies in Bradley. Despite this, suspicion falls heavily on Myrtle and Miles's friend-a botanist who grows the deadly nightshade the man was poisoned with. Can Myrtle and Miles solve the case and help their friend before the killer strikes again?

A Body in the Attic : Myrtle Clover #16 by ElizabethSCraig

Attics can be full of surprises. Who could have murdered Darren Powell? He was a very pleasant man fond of puttering around in his garden and playing chess. He didn't seem at all the type of person who'd find himself murdered in his own attic. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles step in to investigate. The more they learn about Darren, the more interesting he becomes. And now someone else might be in danger. Can they learn the killer's identity before he strikes again?

Cleaning is Murder : Myrtle Clover #13 by ElizabethSCraig

When Myrtle's housekeeper is a murder suspect, she swears to Myrtle that she's squeaky clean. It's easy for fellow citizens to get on your nerves in sleepy Southern towns like Bradley, North Carolina. Particularly when one of the citizens is something of a cheapskate. Amos Subers isn't one to tip waiters, pay back a loan, or behave generously with family. When it's discovered that penny-pinching Amos was actually quite wealthy, it hardly engenders goodwill in the small town ... in fact, he's heartily disliked. Octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover's housekeeper is certainly no fan of his: Amos owes Puddin money for cleaning his house. It's not too surprising when Amos is later found, murdered, in his kitchen. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles resolve to track down the killer when Puddin becomes a prime suspect...and before the murderer strikes again.

Adventures in Funeral Crashing (Complete Novel) by MildaHarris

Sixteen year old Kait Lenox has a reputation as the weird girl in her high school, mostly because of her ex-best friend turned mean popular girl, Ariel, but maybe it has a little to do with the fact that Kait has a hobby crashing funerals. At one of these, Kait is outted by the most popular guy in school, Ethan Ripley. Yet, instead of humiliating her for all the world to see, he asks for her help, and Kait finds herself entangled in a murder mystery. Not only is the thrill of the mystery exciting, but more importantly Ethan knows her name! A little sleuthing is well worth that!

Nobody Can Say It's You by JG9843

A monster is running down Main Street! An old mountain hermit, dressed as Death, drops dead at a Halloween festival in Hope Rock County. Nobody knows why. But mysterious forces are at work on the Appalachian ridges. Granny witches and the Ancients. Black witches and sin eaters. Most folks think the old ways and traditions are a thing of the past. But the past rears up its aged head, and there's more going on here than meets the eye. A lovely tract of land is threatened by developers. Will life in the sleepy little town be forever changed? Can Hadley Pell solve the murder and keep Paradise from being lost forever? The Hadley Pell Cozy Mystery Series: 1. Nobody's Sorry You're Dead 2. Nobody Knows Your Secret 3. Nobody Can Say It's You 4. Nobody's Fool Y'all 5. Nobody Says It's Easy

Bleed for the Camera by DeliriousMoon

It's been smooth sailing for Evie Harper lately. Business at her café is booming and her new man seems to be on a mission to keep a smile on her face. But when her actions directly lead to one of her clients getting murdered her happiness quickly turns into guilt. Even worse, the older woman died before Evie could get paid! Just when she's about to cut her losses, opportunity comes knocking in the form of a woman begging Evie to find the killer before things get even more out of hand. Now, Evie's got to race against the clock to find a murderer, help a kidnap victim, and ease her guilt for causing all this in the first place. Being the good person she is, of course she takes on the case out of the goodness of her heart...not to mention a three thousand dollar bonus waiting if she succeeds. Evie Harper Mysteries: Book 3

More Poison in Your Coffee? by DeliriousMoon

Evelyn's day couldn't get any worse, until a local news anchor drops dead in her café. If that weren't bad enough the police suspect her former drug dealing cousin as the culprit, and Evie's not someone who just sits by while her family's in trouble. Putting on her sleuth hat she's in a race to find the true killer; not an easy task considering the deceased was a total ass to just about everyone he knew. Was it his neglected wife, sick of the constant verbal abuse? His pretty assistant, tired of being sexually harassed on a daily basis? Or was it his brother, jealous of the success he could never find himself? Hell, maybe it's that strange new guy that's only a quarter-step from being a bum. If Evie thought today was a hot mess, she's in for ride of her life. Evie Harper Mysteries: Book 1

Edit to Death : Myrtle Clover #14 by ElizabethSCraig

This book goes from 'tell-all' to 'dead men tell no tales.' Retired English teacher Myrtle Clover is frequently asked to proofread for friends. So she wasn't totally surprised when her friend Pearl asked her to take a look at her memoir and polish it up. But before Myrtle could pull out her red pen, Pearl was found ... murdered. Now Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles must track down the memoir and the murderer before the killer makes any more final revisions.

Progressive Dinner Deadly: Myrtle #2 by ElizabethSCraig

Retired octogenarian schoolteacher Myrtle Clover is fit to be tied when her book club votes to change to a supper club. Who wants chips and dip when they can have Dickens and Twain? The first supper club is a progressive dinner...where Myrtle loses interest during the hors d'oeuvres. But when a body is discovered during the main course, the evening quickly gets interesting. Myrtle pits her sleuthing skills against her police chief son's to find the killer....if the killer doesn't find her first.

A Body in the Trunk : Myrtle Clover Book 12 by ElizabethSCraig

Sometimes taking a spin makes you crash and burn. When a neighbor disappears, Myrtle and Miles shift gears and hit the road to search for him. They discover their neighbor slightly off the beaten track-murdered with a tire iron. Myrtle has no intention of letting the killer give them the slip. She and Miles buckle up for a race against time to find the murderer...before someone else hits a dead end.

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Death Pays a Visit : Myrtle Clover #7 cover

Death at a Drop-In: Myrtle Clover #5 cover

A Dyeing Shame--Myrtle Clover #3 cover

Hushed Up--Myrtle Clover Mystery #15 cover

The Porn Identity cover

Cooking is Murder, A Myrtle Clover Mystery #11 cover

Murder on the Ballot, Myrtle Clover #17 cover

A Body at Book Club: Myrtle Clover #6 cover

Nobody Knows Your Secret cover

Pretty is as Pretty Dies: Myrtle Clover #1 cover

A Dash of Murder cover

A Body in the Attic : Myrtle Clover #16 cover

Cleaning is Murder : Myrtle Clover #13 cover

Adventures in Funeral Crashing (Complete Novel) cover

Nobody Can Say It's You cover

Bleed for the Camera cover

More Poison in Your Coffee? cover

Edit to Death : Myrtle Clover #14 cover

Progressive Dinner Deadly: Myrtle #2 cover

A Body in the Trunk : Myrtle Clover Book 12 cover

Death Pays a Visit : Myrtle Clover #7

At Greener Pastures Retirement Home, leisure time can prove perilous. When psychic (and hubcap retailer) Wanda Alewine pays a late-night visit to Myrtle Clover, she urges the octogenarian sleuth to head straight to Greener Pastures Retirement Home. But Wanda doesn't want Myrtle to consider the Home's dubious amenities-she wants Myrtle to prevent a murder seen in a vision. Reluctant Myrtle investigates with sidekick Miles, who seems a lot more interested in Greener Pastures than she is. As the duo digs, they uncover more than just Sudoku and Scrabble-they discover a sinister undercurrent... with murder as its outcome. Praise for Myrtle Clover Mysteries: Publishers Weekly: "Myrtle's wacky personality is a delight." Mystery News: "Wonderful cozy mystery: solidly written, well-plotted and funny." ForeWord: "The treat here is Myrtle's eccentricity, brought to life with rich humor and executed ...with breezy skill." "I hope I'm half as lively as she is when I reach my 80's.." Amazon Reviewer "Sassy and funny as ever" Amazon Reviewer "Myrtle is a feisty lady and I enjoy her wit and ability to figure