BOOKMAIL THAT ARRIVED THIS WEEK.
WHAT ARRIVED FOR YOU?
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.
Mailbox Monday is now hosted by Vicki!!
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Just north of Parker City in the small town of Wakeville, a string of robberies have the residents of the quiet community on edge. Then, when two homes in one of Parker City’s wealthiest neighborhoods are broken into on the same night, PCPD Detectives Ben Winters and Tommy Mason wonder if the crime wave has spilled into their jurisdiction. There’s one chilling difference, though. This time, the intruders left a dead body behind in their wake.
Book Details:
Genre: Traditional Mystery - Police Procedural with a dual timeline element
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: February 18, 2025
Series: PARKER CITY MYSTERIES; 5 [Amazon | Goodreads]
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Tommy Mason sat in his beat-up, but much-loved, Bronco on the side of the road. His hands rested on the steering wheel as his eyes focused on the rearview mirror. Behind him, an unmarked police car with a red bubble light on its roof pulled up and parked. This certainly wasn’t how Tommy was expecting to start the day, being pulled over on his way to work. What he’d been pulled over for, he had no idea. He drove this stretch of road every day. He knew the speed limit. There were no stop signs or red lights to run. The Bronco was just in the shop, so he knew there were no lights out or any sort of violations that a cop would think it necessary to pull him over for. And his license plate tags were up-to-date. He was going to have some questions for whoever this patrol officer was.
Keeping his eyes on the rearview mirror, he watched as the door to the police car swung open and a square, rather unkept looking officer stepped out. Tommy raised an eyebrow as he watched him approach the Bronco. The officer was wearing a pair of dark Aviator sunglasses and a blue windbreaker with a badge pinned to his chest. He looked as though he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days and could use a comb to run through his hair. As he sauntered up to Tommy’s window, he placed a traditional eight-point police hat on his head to complete the official appearance.
“Huh…” Tommy grunted, watching the cop giving the Bronco a thorough, yet overly exaggerated examination. “This is going to be fun.”
When he reached the driver’s side of the truck, Tommy rolled down the window and gave the officer his trademark thousand-watt smile. The same smile that had gotten him out of so many jams in the past. Incidentally, it had also been the cause of a few problems as well. But he preferred to think of the good his smile had done. And might do for him again.
“Good morning, officer. What seems to be the problem?” He tried to sound as cheery as possible.
Tommy expected some sort of response, but instead found himself staring silently at his own reflection in the officer’s sunglasses while the man chewed on an enormous wad of gum.
When he finally spoke, he said, “I’m Officer Smith with the Parker City Police Department. Do you know why I pulled you over this morning?”
“Officer Smith? I can’t say that I do. I don’t think I was speeding. But I guess I could have been. You see, I’m just traveling through Parker, so I don’t know the area all that well,” Tommy lied.
“Well, you were speeding back there, sir. Sorry to say. It happens sometimes. But unfortunately, I had to pull you over. It’s all about safety. You understand.”
“Dang, Officer! I really didn’t mean to be speedin.’” Tommy had suddenly taken on an accentuated southern drawl. “I guess it’s just such a nice mornin’ I wasn’t paying much attention. Look how beautiful that sky is. So bright blue. I just love the spring. Don’t you?”
“Spring is very nice but–”
“And I was just thinkin’ about all the flowers. It’s been a bang-up season for the flowers this year. Have you noticed how vibrant the flowers have been? I think that’s the best word for them. Vibrant.”
“I really haven’t–”
“I mean, I’m not much of a flower guy, to be honest with you. But something about them this year just got to me. My girlfriend’s always bringing home fresh flowers. I guess I’ve started paying attention to them.”
Trying to take control of the conversation, the officer raised his voice slightly. Tommy could hear a hint of irritation, but Smith was trying to keep himself in check. Tommy admired that. “Sir. If I could please see your license and registration card.”
“Officer…Smith? Was it? I really am sorry about this. Was I really goin’ that fast that you need to give me a ticket? I didn’t feel like I was goin’ too fast. Not that this old bucket of bolts can even get its giddy-up on to start with. I mean, maybe you could just give me a warning. And I promise the next time I come through Parker City I’ll drive real slow.”
“I need to see your license and registration, sir.”
Tommy leaned over and opened the glove box, rifled around looking for the Bronco’s registration for a moment, then popped back up and said, “Really, I’m very sorry. I must have been daydreamin.’ You see, I’m plannin’ on askin’ my girlfriend to marry me. I’m on my way home. I was in Baltimore for a job last night. And tonight I’m taking Suzanne out…Suzanne’s my girlfriend…I’m taking Suzanne out to dinner to pop the question. She’s gonna be so surprised. She didn’t think I was ever gonna ask her. But I am. I asked her father’s blessing and everything. It’s gonna be perfect.”
“Uh huh. Well, it sounds like you’re a man in love.” The officer’s stone-cold demeanor began to melt. A smile slowly spread across his lips. “Maybe there is something we could do.”
“That would be so great. I would really appreciate it. Because I really have to be going. But not too fast!” Tommy forced a laugh. He knew he must sound completely ridiculous.
“Let me think here. If I write you up and turn in the speeding ticket as is, it could be a few hundred dollars in fines. Plus, you’ll have to show up in traffic court. Nobody likes that. The judge might even say you have to go back to driving school.”
“You’re kiddin’?” Tommy’s eyes went wide, dutifully playing his part.
“Let’s see. What can I do?” Smith made a show of scratching his head while he looked off at some point in the distance. “What say you just give me fifty dollars to take care of the warning notice fee right here and we’ll be square. I’ll be able to let you get on your way and I’ll fill out all the paperwork later.”
“A warning notice fee,” Tommy repeated. “Well, fifty sounds better then three hundred any day.”
“Hey, not all policemen are hardasses. And you’re right. It’s a nice day. You caught me in a good mood,” Smith said, a smirk curling the side of his lip. “So, fifty dollars and it’s all taken care of.”
“Okay. I just want to make sure I got this. I just have to pay you fifty dollars for the warning notice fee and we’ll be all good? No ticket? No traffic court?”
“That’s right.”
“But you still need my license and registration so you can get my name for the paperwork. Right?” Tommy asked, reaching into his back pocket.
“Um. Yeah. Right. I need your name and address for the warning.”
Tommy handed over a black leather wallet and smiled. He watched intently as Officer Smith opened it. He could only imagine what Smith’s eyes looked like behind the sunglasses.
“Wha…what’s this?” Smith asked.
“You see, that is a real Parker City Police Department badge,” Tommy said leveling his gaze. “And you can see by my ID card that my name is Detective Thomas Mason. I know everyone in the PCPD. Who the hell are you?”
Before Smith could answer, Tommy raised his service revolver from beneath the edge of the window. The color drained from the imposter’s face. Tommy knew exactly what was about to happen, so he was fully prepared. As the fake cop dropped the badge wallet, Tommy flung open the driver’s side door, hitting Smith square in the hip. Losing his balance, Smith stumbled and fell to his knees. Tommy swung the door again, this time hitting him full-on in his side, sending him sprawling across the pavement. Before he could even think about getting up, still dazed from the unexpected blows, Tommy was standing over him with his foot firmly in the middle of his back.
“You, dipshit, are under arrest for impersonating a police office and ruining my good mood.”
***
Excerpt from Cops & Robbers by Justin M Kiska. Copyright 2025 by Justin M Kiska. Reproduced with permission from Justin M Kiska. All rights reserved.
When not sitting in his library devising new and clever ways to kill people (for his mysteries), Justin can usually be found at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, outside of Washington, DC, where he is one of the owners and producers. In addition to writing the Parker City Mysteries Series, which includes Now & Then (Finalist for the 2022 Silver Falchion Award for Best Investigator), Vice & Virtue, Fact & Fiction (Killer Nashville Top Pick and Finalist for the Chanticleer CLUE Award), and Black & White, he is also the mastermind behind Marquee Mysteries, a series of interactive mystery events he has been writing and producing for nearly twenty years. Justin and his wife, Jessica, live along Lake Linganore outside of Frederick, Maryland.
JustinKiska.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @JustinKiska
BookBub - @JMKiska
Instagram - @JMKiska
Facebook - @JMKiska
Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!
Just as Clara's mother haunted her for her entire life because she disappeared, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham also became a mystery and an obsession for Charles Jameson who found Bronwyn's satchel inside his father's office.
The satchel had made it to London from Bluffton, South Carolina, but how?
Everyone thought Bronwyn and her satchel filled with the sequel to the book she wrote when she was twelve were both at the bottom of the ocean.
When Charles called Clara and said that he found these papers with a note attached saying they had to be returned to Clara Harrington in person, and he could NOT mail them to her, she had no choice.
Clara had to retrieve them, but how?
London was a long way from South Carolina, and it was an expensive trip to make.
Does Clara make the trip?
Does she find her mother's papers to be what she thought they would be?
Does she do anything with them since they were to be a sequel?
What else happens in London?
You will find out everything in this beautifully written, detailed read you won't be able to put down and a read with absolutely wonderful characters and a gorgeous setting.
It is filled with love, longing, and fulfillment. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.
From the author of the buzzy rom-com caper, The Takedown, comes a sparkling romantic adventure that delivers heart-racing suspense and romantic hijinks.
When two former exes are brought back together for a CIA mission on the Amalfi Coast, old passions and assassins collide.
CODE WORD ROMANCE has something for every reader: romance, action, humor, spice, and so much more!
March 18, 2025
Berkley Trade Paperback Original
Action & Adventure
Romantic Comedy
Contemporary Romance
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ABOUT CODE WORD ROMANCE:
The story: Max is just your average girl.
She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt, and happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to Europe’s youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen. Sofia is powerful, beautiful—and unfortunately, someone is trying quite hard to assassinate her.
When the CIA approaches Max with a deal, a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister’s annual Italian vacation, Max packs her bags for the Amalfi Coast.
The delicious food, the breathtaking views—this trip would be a dream if it weren’t for those pesky assassins and Flynn, the handler assigned to Max’s case.
Flynn, who has an unexpected history with Max, from another sun-drenched summer years and years ago. Now he’s instructed to stay in Max’s suite to protect her, as old passions and assassins collide.
Losing herself in the role of a prime minister is one thing. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that’s a risk she isn’t willing to take…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carlie Walker attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she first majored in Peace, War and Defense, a feeder program for intelligence services—before realizing that she is way too anxious to be a spy.
Having gone on to study at Oxford University and at City, University of London, she worked briefly in publishing before becoming the bestselling author of eight books for children and young adults.
She has a registered 250-pound dead lift, volunteers in a cat shelter, and used to spend her Saturdays practicing martial arts.
She lives in Marietta, Georgia, with her husband, young son, and their American dingo.
Ooooo…this is good.
What is the Lingate family hiding?
Why do they come back to Capri every year?
The family goes back to make sure nothing new has been found out about Sarah's death.
Did someone kill Helen's mother, Sarah Lingate, or did she have an accident?
Helen lost her mother on the family's vacation in Capri when she was very young, and it has always been recorded as an accident, but was it?
Helen was always kept under strict guard as she grew because the family was afraid she would say something about the incident.
As they do every year, the family is back in Capri and have their assistant Lorna with them.
She and Helen had become friends, and Lorna knew all about how Helen grew up.
What is going to happen this time?
Will Lorna be under scrutiny and close watch now that she is with them? Will she be safe? She isn’t family, but does it matter?
What about the necklace Sarah wore? How could it have been found after thirty years?
And...who sent the necklace to the family at their villa?
What does all this mean?
Find out in this book that details Capri perfectly and makes you want to go there or go back.
And...find out about the secrets and lies kept by this wealthy family.
You won’t want to stop reading - and just wait for the twists. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
