Lois Lavrisa - Chubby Chicks 02 - Murderous Muffins Read online

  Murderous

  Muffins

  Book Two

  Chubby Chicks Club Cozy Mystery Series

  By Lois Lavrisa

  BestSelling Award-Winning Author of

  Liquid Lies

  Dying for Dinner Rolls

  SunLake Press

  Murderous Muffins

  By Lois Lavrisa

  Lavrisa, Lois Marie (10-03-2014). Murderous Muffins

  Copyright 2014 Lois Lavrisa

  Discover other titles by Lois Lavrisa at loislavrisa.com

  Amazon Edition, Licensing Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission from the author.

  All Trademarks mentioned herein are respected.

  All quotes are intended as fair use and not intended to abridge copyright.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or to actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  sunlakepress.com

  Reviews

  What Authors and Reviewers are saying about Lois Lavrisa’s Novels and Short Stories:

  DYING FOR DINNER ROLLS (Cozy Mystery: NOVEL)

  “Hold onto your hats for this humorous and quirky mystery which involves a group of friends of The Chubby Chicks club. Set in Savannah, Cat along with her friends set out to solve a mystery to catch a killer, but as amateur sleuths find themselves way in over their heads pretty fast. Set in Savannah this cast of Friends come together in this quirky hard to put down mystery. Cat, Annie-Mae, José, can’t wait to read the next volume of the Chubby Chicks Club mystery series.”

  ~Luvbooks, Amazon Reviewer

  “I enjoyed the characters in this book, and the mystery had me guessing the whole time. Lois Lavrisa blends just the right combination of humor, sentiment, and clever detective work in this cozy mystery about four good friends in Savannah. I’m glad to see this is the first book in a series because I want to read more.”

  ~Nancy Brandon, Bestselling Author

  “I want more, please! Cat and Annie Mae are an entertaining pair in their quest to solve the murder of their friend. Their bumbling tactics prove to put them in danger, but their hearts are in the right place. I enjoyed collecting the clues right along with them. “Dying for Dinner Rolls” is a delightful read I recommend. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.”

  ~Ladyhawk, Amazon Reviewer

  “This was a fun book to read because of the wacky characters and their escapades. I will be looking forward to the next book.”

  ~Cheryl K. Craig, Amazon Reviewer

  LIQUID LIES (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller: NOVEL)

  “Full of breath-taking twists and turns! Liquid Lies had me whipping through the pages, never quite sure whose number was up next. A great whodunit mystery laced with suspense.”

  ~ Ann Charles, Award-winning and Bestselling Author

  “I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had the bad guy/gal figured out only to be proved wrong more than once! Kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to reading more from this author.”

  ~J. Anderson Avid Reader, Reviewer

  “I loved the heroine of Liquid Lies. CiCi is sympathetic but flawed…a well rounded character. The plot was fast-paced and multi-layered with a mystery that’ll keep you guessing until the last page. A fantastic debut novel by an exciting new author. Bravo.”

  ~ Reading Cat Review

  “Liquid Lies is one of those books that when you start it, it’s hard to put down. Secrets can be destructive which CiCi gets to know very well. Well-written, full of action, suspenseful, in fact everything one could ask in a mystery, this was a no-brainer to rate 5 stars!”

  ~ Mimi Barbour, Bestselling Author, He’s Her

  “This is a thrilling fast-paced mystery that whisks you through a whole range of emotions as you read. Told through the point of view of the main character CiCi, we see her life unfold and an old secret come back to haunt her. With a wonderful cast of secondary characters this is a well written engrossing read that kept me in suspense right up to the end. Loved it!”

  ~Loves Romance, Amazon top reviewer

  “I could not put this book down! Liquid Lies is a tightly woven mystery steeped full of quirky characters on an emotion-packed thrill ride. This is one story you’ll want to tell your friends about!”

  ~ Cynthia Cooke, Award Winning Author, Luck and a Prayer

  CHRISTMAS CORPSE CAPER (Short Story -Prequel to LIQUID LIES)

  “This is a quick fun read, a little different than the normal fare you get this time of year. Unusual setting, characters that will seem familiar from your youth, yet done imaginatively with unexpected twists. I will definitely keep my eye on this author for upcoming work, well done.”

  ~Nanakulikane, Amazon Reviewer

  “What a hilarious comedy! A laugh-out loud with a bunch of wacky protagonists and a hero who’s so eager to succeed at work—as a mortician— and to date his sweetheart. Lois Lavrisa’s witty writing style and comical situations will keep you entertained from the first to the last page of this fast-paced story. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to read LIQUID LIES.”

  ~Reader Forever, Amazon Reviewer

  “You wouldn’t think Christmas and corpses go together, but Lois Lavrisa does a fine job of doing just that. Mark works in funeral home and he has a crush on Kim. Little does he know what is about to happen in the Serenity Room. Lavrisa writes this quirky and fun short story in the first person and leaves you wanting more at the end. The flow is good and dialog is authentic. A great, quick read.”

  ~ Johnny Rotten Apples, Amazon Reviewer

  Table of Contents

  Reviews

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Connect Online

  Also by Lois Lavrisa

  Dedication

  Murderous Muffins

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Afterword

  Additional Works by Lois Lavrisa

  Five Fun Facts about Lois Lavrisa

  Acknowledgments

  Any story starts with an idea and then grows from there. Along the way, many people helped and supported me as I turned my idea into a finished book. First and foremost, thanks go out to my husband Tom and our children: Sean, Melanie, Tiffany and Ryan.

  To my many writer friends who reviewed, edited and critiqued drafts including those in the Savannah Pen & Ink Writers group, The Annual Women’s Writers’ Retreat gorgeous gals and the Rebel Writers Group. In addition, to all of my friends who listened to me
while I plotted out my stories and talked about characters (as though they were real), thank you for letting me bend your ear. Also, thank you to my editors Alicia Street at IProofread & More and Amy at Blue Otter. And to my fabulous and talented cover designer, Karen Phillips.

  My biggest gratitude is extended to you, my readers.

  Without you, my stories would never be given life.

  Thank you!

  About the Author

  Lois Lavrisa writes “Mystery with a Twist.”

  Her first mystery LIQUID LIES, an Eric Hoffer 2013 Finalist Award Winner and an Amazon Kindle Bestseller, is set in an affluent lake town in Wisconsin.

  “Fast paced with twists and turns. This is a winner!”

  ~Rita Herron, Award Winning Bestselling Author.

  She’s been married to her aerospace husband Tom since 1991 and they have four children - two sons and two daughters. She’s a member of several writing organizations including: Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Sisters in Crime (SIC). She served as Vice President of the Low Country RWA. For the past decade, she’s been a member of several writing groups including the Savannah Pen & Ink. Lois has written for a local newspaper, a magazine, numerous newsletters and a weekly blog. Additionally, Lois has worked as an adjunct instructor and a technical writer.

  Connect Online

  Lois Lavrisa Website:

  loislavrisa.com

  Liquid Lies Website:

  liquidlies.com

  Chubby Chicks Club Website:

  chubbychicksclub.com

  Facebook (Personal Page):

  facebook.com/loissanderslavrisa

  Facebook (Author Page):

  facebook.com/authorloislavrisa

  Twitter (Lois Lavrisa):

  twitter.com/loislavrisa

  Also by Lois Lavrisa

  Liquid Lies: Novel (Mystery, Thriller, Suspense)

  Christmas Corpse Caper: Short Story (Mystery/Romance: Prequel to Liquid Lies)

  Chubby Chicks Club: Cozy Southern Mystery Series

  Dying For Dinner Rolls: Book One

  Murderous Muffins: Book Two

  Homicide by Hamlet: Book Three

  Killing with Kings: Book Four

  Puzzled by Purple: Book Five

  Thomson Twins Tales: Chubby Chicks Club Spinoff

  Thomson Twins Tales (Short story box set) contains all three stories below:

  Picture Not Perfect: Volume One YA Short Story (Mystery/Sweet Romance)

  Turnabout Twist: Volume Two YA Short Story (Sweet Romance)

  Treat or Trick: Volume Three YA Short Story (Suspense)

  Dedication

  For my Aunt Linda and Uncle Steve Esser, thank you for your abundant and gracious hospitality at your lovely Minnesota lake home. I want to extend a heartfelt appreciation for teaching me to water-ski on Round Lake when I was sixteen, and decades later, for teaching my children to water-ski on the very same lake. Your door and your heart are always open—you have a gift of making everyone feel welcome and at home.

  Murderous Muffins

  Chapter One

  The oven’s digital temperature flashed zeros.

  “Doggone thing could make a preacher cuss.” I yanked out the muffin pan and slammed the oven shut. Setting it on the cooling rack, I poked a toothpick in the top of one of the chocolate chip treats. Dry. Praise the Lord, at least they’d finished cooking before the oven went out again. The switch probably needed to be rewired.

  “Good thing you learned some fixer-upper techniques from YouTube,” I told myself.

  Continuing my morning routine, I reached in the refrigerator, which thankfully still worked, pulled out a glass pitcher of orange juice, and placed it on the table. After pouring the freshly brewed coffee into a warming carafe, I set out cups, glasses, silverware, and small plates. I placed crisp white linen napkins near the flowered heirloom dishes and rearranged the blue hydrangeas in the crystal vase in the center of the kitchen table. Straightening the yellow lace tablecloth to smooth out any wrinkles, I lined up the glasses and cups.

  Before my boarders woke, I returned to the walk-in pantry—which doubled as my makeshift bedroom. I gathered the tattered quilt and threadbare blanket. Folding the blanket, I set it on the small cot with the paper-thin mattress and placed my pillow on top of the pile. Closing the pantry door, I looked around my sunny yellow kitchen with ten-foot ceilings, splinter cracks in the plaster, and worn whitewashed pine cupboards that stretched high above gray-speckled Formica countertops. As I walked, the heart pine floors creaked, a comforting sound that brought me back to my childhood. Hide-and-seek had its challenges then because the seeker could always hear the telltale squeak in the floorboards and the hider would be discovered in short order.

  Throughout my youth, I’d considered this house a castle, with me as the resident princess. With the help of my nanny, Hattie, I named our home Amia, which meant beloved.

  Sighing aloud, I put my hand on a yellow plaster wall as I rubbed my fingertips along the peeling rough and brittle paint. As a child, I’d taped my drawings on the very same wall. Every inch of this house seeped with memories of the Gordons’ generations who once lived here. Sometimes I could close my eyes and hear laughter floating from the sitting room, where my parents and grandparents had spent countless hours entertaining friends, family, and visitors. The parlor was where Hattie and I would stay up late at night watching old movies, memorizing our favorite lines. “Amia, you are all I have left of my family, even if you’re falling apart. I’ll keep us together. I promise.”

  A quote from Citizen Kane popped into my head: “I can remember everything. That’s my curse, young man. It’s the greatest curse that’s ever been inflicted on the human race: memory.” How true that was.

  The doorbell chimed. Who could that be at 7:00 a.m.? Taking a quick glance at my reflection in the silver teakettle, I smoothed my flyaway blonde hair and straightened the bow on my pale blue sundress. Good enough for this early in the morning.

  Upon opening the door, I saw my dear friend, Cat. Even at this hour, she looked adorable. Her pale skin and dark hair made her white teeth look even brighter. Half Korean and half Caucasian, Cat stood about five foot six, a few inches shorter than me. At forty, and after her two sets of twins, she had a remarkably cute, slim figure.

  I stood five foot ten, slender with wispy shoulder-length blonde hair and green eyes, quite a contrast to Cat’s dark hair and more athletic build. Sometimes I envied Cat. Her husband, Andrew, adored her and had to be the nicest guy this side of the Mason-Dixon Line. My only luck attracting men seemed to be of the bad variety.

  A suitcase stood next to her. Was she heading to the airport? “Good morning.” I tried to hold down the confusion in my voice for fear of sounding rude. “How lovely to see you.”

  A strand of Cat’s hair fell across her eyes. “Bezu, I’m sorry about the early hour and all, but I knew you’d be up.”

  “Please, come in. Would you like some breakfast? I have fresh muffins.”

  “It smells great in here. Like my mom’s kitchen when she gets in the baking mood.”

  “Hattie used to say, ‘A home is warmed by love and what is baking in the oven.’ Let me get you something to eat.” I then asked, “Are you going somewhere? I don’t want to keep you from anything.”

  “Like what?”

  “Your flight? Or travel plans?”

  Cat tilted her head. “Why do you think that?”

  “You have a suitcase. I thought that perhaps you were on the way to the airport.” Always glad to help a friend, I added, “I’d be glad to give you a ride if you need one.”

  “No. Not going anywhere too far.” Cat’s eyes were puffy, as if she hadn’t slept. “I sort of moved out of my house.”

  “Oh my.” My heart sank for her. She and Andrew had been married over twenty years. Was there something wrong with her marriage? “Moved out?”

  Dread overcame me. As much as I loved her, I hoped she wasn’t
going to ask to stay here. My house was full. And then there was my secret. It was all too complicated.

  “It’s only temporary.” Cat picked up the suitcase and followed me back to the kitchen. She plopped down in a chair.

  Thinking of Cat moving out of her beloved home caused a vise-like grip in my gut. I hoped that she was okay. Pouring two cups of coffee, I set one down in front of her.

  Poor thing. “I don’t mean to pry, but what’s going on? I’m assuming that something not so great happened at your house?”

  Cat sighed. “It’s tricky.”

  “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay.”

  “No. I mean, I’ll talk. It’s not that things are bad. It’s just that they aren’t right, either. That’s the reason I left.”

  I pulled a chair up to the table and sat next to her. “Oh?”

  “You see, my mom took the girls to Korea, and Andrew and Tadcu went with them. My mom and dad took the boys when they were the same age. Of course, they wanted me to go, too, but no way was I going. I put my foot down and said no one should go, not after my dad got killed.”

  “Your dad died here, not in Korea.”

  “I know.” Cat shook her head. “It’s weird, but I have this feeling that it’s not safe if we’re not together, keeping an eye out for each other.”

  “You mean, it’s not safe if you can’t keep a constant vigil over everyone. Which means keeping them all here under your watchful eye?”

  “Hmmph.” Cat grabbed a muffin and tore off a piece.

  I reached over and placed my hand on top of hers. “Cat, I’m sorry about what happened to your dad.”

  Cat nodded, looking at me with watery eyes. She turned a ring on her thumb. “I need to stay in Savannah and find his killer. It’s hard to explain, but somehow I feel that I’d lose momentum if I stopped now.”

  “You still think it was murder and not just a botched robbery like the police said?”